USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume III > Part 5
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(IV) James Caldwell, son of David Caldwell, was born in Springfield township, 6 mo. 14, 1802, died 4 mo. 8, 1886. In early life he learned the trade of carpenter, to which he devoted many years, achieving success as the result of activity and perseverance, but in his latter years he was a farmer, prosperous and contented. In 1863 he was chosen as one of the supervisors of Spring- field township, and he was a prominent member of the Springfield Friends' Meeting. He married, February 21, 1839, Susanna D., born 10 mo. 4, 1815, in Nether Providence, died 10 mo. 3, 1898, daughter of James and Margaretta (Brant) Seary, who were the parents of three other children, namely: Cath- arine, born 10 mo. 3, 1801, died 4 mo. 27, 1887, wife of William G. Ward; Patrick, born in 1802, died in 1865, married Susan Hall; John, born about 1805, died about 1876, married Elizabeth Bonsall. James Seary came from Ireland about the year 1795 and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and after his marriage he settled in Nether Providence, where he died about 1817, and his wife about 1823. Mrs. Caldwell was a member of the Ridley Baptist Church, now known as the Prospect Hill Baptist Church. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell: I. David L., of whom further. 2. Mary G., born 3 mo. 4, 1842 ; married Edmund Stewart, born in Ridley township in 1839. 3. Han-
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nah P., born 2 mo. 14, 1845, died 4 mo. 22, 1898, unmarried. 4. Anne E., born 12 mo. 25, 1850, died 7 mo. 16, 1851. 5. Charles E., twin of Anne E. died 7 mo. 19. 1851:
(V) David L. Caldwell, son of James Caldwell, was born in Springfield township. 2 mo. 7, 1840. He attended the common schools adjacent to his home. obtaining a practical education, and was reared on a farm, becoming inured to the labors thereof, and upon attaining manhood chose that occupation as a means of livelihood, and has so continued to the present time (1913), having about thirty-five acres of the old Caldwell Homestead, which he has cultivated to a high state of perfection, raising the general products. The entire appear- ance of his property indicates the personal supervision of one who thoroughly understands agricultural pursuits, and his crops compare favorably with those of others engaged in the same line of work, finding a ready sale in the nearby markets owing to their excellence and superiority. Having acquired a repu- tation for honesty and integrity. both in private and public life, he was chosen to serve as director and officer of the Springfield Building and Loan Associa- tion, which he has served for over four decades, and as one of the board of directors of the Springfield school district, which he has served for almost two decades. He was elected a member of the board of directors of the Media Title & Trust Company in 1895 and is serving at the present time. About 1903 he was elected a member of the board of directors of the Delaware County Mutual Insurance Company. In 1882 he assisted in forming the Springfield Free Fountain Society, whose object was to raise funds to erect fountains along the highways of Delaware county ; he was at first elected a manager of said society, and for the past eighteen years has performed the duties of sec- retary. Although not a member of any church, he has for the past ten years acted as one of the trustees for the Louns Free Church, built in Springfield township in 1832 by Bolton Louns for the use of a meeting place when churches in Delaware county were very few in number. He is a self-made man, and has won the respect of all who have been associated with him, either in business or social relations. Mr. Caldwell is unmarried.
WILLITS Francis Parvin Willits, recognized as one of the most progres- sive and successful representatives of the agricultural interests of Concordville, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, is a member of a family that has long been resident in the state of Pennsylvania, devoting their attention to the tilling of the soil, and leading quiet, peaceful lives, leav- ing an influence for good in the various communities in which they resided.
David Willits, father of Francis P. Willits, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, November 12, 1827, son of William Willits and Esther (Light- foot ) Willits, the former a resident of Maiden Creek, Pennsylvania, a farmer by occupation. David Willits attended the district school, and his active career was devoted to farming, being a man of energy and thrift. He married Char- lotte Dunkle Parvin, born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, July 15, 1833, daughter of Francis and Mary (Dunkle ) Parvin, the former a successful farmer of Berks county. Children: I. William, born October 4, 1852, in Maiden Creek, Pennsylvania, and living there at the present time (1913); married Amanda Yoder; children: Allen, Charlotte, Howard, deceased, and Sally, deceased. 2. Francis Parvin, of whom further. 3. Ellen Emily, born February 17, 1859; unmarried; resides in Maiden Creek. 4. Sally, born December 4. 1861, died in infancy. David Willits died March 9, 1863, and his wife died January 29. 1863, both of typhus fever, aged respectively thirty- six and thirty years.
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Francis Parvin Willits was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, Novem- ber 3, 1856. He attended the public schools of Lower Oxford township, Ches- ter county, Pennsylvania, where he went to live after the death of his parents, with Franklin and Mary Garrett, cousins of his father, he being then six years of age, and he remained with them until he was eighteen years of age. His early training in the public schools was supplemented by a course of study in the Maplewood Institute at Concordville, Delaware county, which he attended for two winters. He then accepted a clerkship in a mercantile business, remaining in that capacity for one year, under Merkle & Willits, and later he purchased the interest of his brother's partner and operated the store in connection with his brother. This relationship continued until 1885. when he disposed of his interest to his brother, removed to Concordville, and there pur- chased his present farm, which consists of ninety-five and a half acres, devoted to general farming and dairying. He makes a specialty of asparagus and mushrooms, beginning the cultivation of the latter in 1901, and now has five large houses for that purpose, readily disposing of his product in the markets of New York, Philadelphia and Boston. The appearance of his property indi- cates that he is master of his business, of progressive ideas, and the success he has attained is the natural sequence of his well directed efforts. He was chosen to serve on the directorship of the Grange National Bank of East Downington, Chester county, Pennsylvania; as a member of the school board of Concordville, and as one of the jurors of View, Delaware county. He has taken an active interest in the Progressive movement, being an Independent Republican. He is a member of Concordville Lodge, No. 625, Free and Accepted Masons, in which he has served as trustee; member and past mas- ter of Concord Grange, No. 1141, Patrons of Husbandry, and is now (1913) member of the executive committee, also past master of Pomona Grange, No. 3, of Delaware and Chester counties.
Mr. Willits married, February 18, 1885, Elizabeth Paschall, born Febru- ary 19, 1858, daughter of Henry L. and Annie ( Pancoast) Paschall, of Con- cord township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, who were the parents of four other children, as follows: I. Hannah B., married Elwood Hannum, now deceased, has two children: Anna P. and William E .; they reside in Concord township. 2. Joseph H., married Laura Mattson. 3. Catherine R., married Jacob J. Styer; children: Elizabeth; John, deceased; Paschall, deceased : Mildred : Franklin. 4. Susan, unmarried, resides with her sister, Hannah B. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Willits: 1. Paul Lincoln, born March 23, 1887; resides on the home farm and is engaged in business with his father ; married Anna Miller, of Concord township, April 21, 1909; two chil- dren : Frances P., born April 28, 1910, and Jennie Bennett, May 14 1912. 2. Joseph Henry, born June 16, 1889; graduate of Media High School; of Swarthmore College, 1911, receiving the Master's degree from the same insti- tution in 1912, and during the past year has served as professor in economics at the Pennsylvania University; he married Ruth Clement Sharp, of River- ton, New Jersey, May 3, 1913. The family, who are highly esteemed in the community, taking an active part in its social life, are regular attendants of the Episcopal church of Concord township, Mr. Willits being a member of the vestry.
The history of the English speaking family of the Carrs and Kerrs, CARR is as old as the Norman Conquest. One of the followers of Wil- liam the Conqueror, taken from a charter in Battle Abbey, bore the name of Karre. The early posterity of this Norman soldier undoubtedly set- tled in the North of England, and succeeding generations spread on both sides 52
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of the border land of England and Scotland and afterward into the North of Ireland. From this Norman-French name, Karre or Carre, the simpler Eng- lish form of Carr has been evolved. The Scotch branch had various ways of spelling the name, but most generally Karr, Kerr or Ker is used.
In America, a William Carr landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in the fall of 1621. coming in the ship "Fortune" and founding the earliest New Eng- land family of Carr. In Pennsylvania, Andrew Carr came with the English forces that conquered the province, and married a widow, Margaret LaGrange. To them Governor Lovelace, on October 1. 1669, issued a patent for land thus described "To Andrew Carr and Margaret, his wife, formerly the wife of Joost De LaGrange, deceased, to confirm to them a certain island in Delaware river. called by the name of Matiniconck, containing by estimation three hundred acres more or less, the said island lying about six Dutch miles up the river from the town of Newcastle." After this patent was granted. Andrew Carr and his wife resided at Tinicum, later going to Holland to obtain an inherit- ance, leaving a Captain John Carr, as their attorney, in charge of their Tini- cum estate. This makes the Carr family one of the earliest known families in Pennsylvania.
Barney Fries (2) Carr. of Darby. Pennsylvania, is a grandson of Barney Fries (1) Carr, and a son of Amos Johnson Carr, the latter born in Darby township. Delaware county, February 10. 1834. died in Darby borough, Dela- ware county, in July, 1910. He was educated in the public school and was en- gaged in farming front boyhood until his retirement. He was a Republican in politics and he and his wife were members of the Episcopal church. He mar- ried (first) Rebecca, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Rudolph, the former a mason and contractor of Darby and vicinity, who died in Philadelphia, aged seventy years. Amos J. and Rebecca Carr were the parents of three children. two died in infancy. Barney Fries (2) being the only survivor ( 1913). He mar- ried (second) Sarah C. Young and had two children : Mary J. and Thomas Y., both died young. He married (third). Amy Gravener, and has three children, all living : Charles, Amos J. and Samuel T.
Barney Fries (2) Carr, son of Amos Johnson and Rebecca (Rudolph ) Carr, was born in Darby township, Delaware county. Pennsylvania. January 31, 1863. He was educated in the public schools of Darby borough and from early boyhood until 1889 was engaged in general and dairy farming in Darby township. In 1889 he disposed of his interest in these lines, located in the borough of Darby, where he established a hardware business, which he still successfully conducts. He is interested in the Darby Bank and for the past sixteen years has been a director of the Sharon Building and Loan Association. He is a Republican in politics : was a member of the first borough council of Colwyn ; was coroner of Delaware county six years, and for fourteen years was a member of the Delaware county Republican committee.
Mr. Carr married. October 1. 1884. Ida Germaine Downnard. born in Wilmington, Delaware, daughter of James Germaine Downnard, born in Vir- ginia, October 6, 1837. died in Coatesville. Pennsylvania, June 16, 1904 : mar- ried Ellen Louisa Young, born in Wilmington, March 24, 1840, died in Coates- ville, May 4. 1904, leaving issue : James ; Germaine, married Leah Cramer and resides in Coatesville, Pennsylvania : Augerers, married a Mr. Thomas : Ellen, married a Mr. Soule: Ida Germaine, wife of Barney Fries (2) Carr. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Carr is Harry G. D., born May 26, 1887, married Ella M. Yates, of Darby, and has one child, Ida Germaine.
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The Burnley family has been identified with the business inter- BURNLEY ests of the state of Pennsylvania since the commencement, or early days, of the nineteenth century, when several brothers of this name located there. George Burnley, the eldest of these brothers, became the American ancestor of the branch of the Burnley family of which this sketch treats, and his record will be found at length below. John Burn- ley, his brother, was born in Littletown, Yorkshire, England, May 14, 1820, and died November 26, 1883. He came to America in 1838, was head of the firm of Burnley & Company, which later became the Parkmount Cotton and Woolen Company, Limited, and he acted in the capacity of secretary and treasurer of the company until his death. Another brother, Charles Burnley, was born in Levisage, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, June 21, 1808, and died October 13, 1881. For many years he was associated with his brothers in manufacturing interests, then purchased a farm in Middletown township to which he devoted his attention. All the brothers married and raised families.
(I) George Burnley was born in Littletown, near Leeds, Yorkshire, Eng- land, December 28, 1804, and died August 9, 1864. His early years were spent in his native town, where the education he received was a very limited one. He was a very young lad when he commenced to work in a factory in that sec- tion and, after he had acquired a thorough knowledge of the manufacturing of cotton goods and yarns, he emigrated to America in 1825. He went at once to Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and subsequently entered into the manufacture of carpets in Philadelphia. He was unsuccessful in this venture, and upon removing to Haverford, commenced the manufacture of cotton goods in a mill he had rented on Cobb's creek. Removing to Darby creek, in Upper Darby township, he erected the Tuscarora mills in which he manufac- tured cotton goods and spun yarn. He was occupied with this industry until 1861, by which time he had amassed a considerable fortune, and he retired from the active management of affairs, delegating these duties to his brothers, Jolın and Charles, and to his son, George E. Mr. Burnley was a supporter of Whig principles in politics until the organization of the Republican party, when he affiliated with that body. He was a member and trustee of the Sweden- borgian church. Mr. Burnley married, December 31, 1838, Hannah, daugh- ter of James Lomas, of England. Of their ten children we have record of the following: I. George E., born February 9, 1840, received his early edu- cation in the public schools, and this was supplemented by a course of instruc- tion in the private school of Thomas Griffith, at Media, Pennsylvania. He entered the business founded by his father, upon the latter's retirement, con- ducting it in association with his uncles for a time, then alone until 1868, when he closed the mill and purchased the farm on which he now resides. He rep- resents a number of insurance companies, and has held several public offices. He married Sarah A., daughter of the Rev. Thomas Wilkes, of Swansea, Wales. 2. Rev. Charles W., married (first) Annie Corson, and had one child, George Corson; he married (second) Updegraph, and had, Lucy, Cloyd and Charles. 3. Washington, see forward. 4. Michael, born December 2, 1859, was educated in the public schools, Swarthmore College, West Chester Normal School and the Bryant and Stratton Commercial School, in Philadelphia; purchased the Marker farm and is extensively engaged in dairying. He married (first) Anna Snape, and had one child, Anna ; he mar- ried (second) Jane Ellen, a sister of his first wife, and had: George Michael, Elsie Dinsmore and Michael Clarence. 5. Alice, married Dr. W. A. Fries, of Philadelphia, where she now resides.
(II) Washington, son of George and Hannah (Lomas) Burnley, was
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born December 21, 1847. His occupation was that of farming, and he was a member of the following orders: Free and Accepted Masons, Knights of Pythias and Improved Order of Red Men. He married (first) Anna Fields, ( second) Anna Chitick.
(III ) Harry, son of Washington and Anna ( Fields) Burnley, was born in Upper Darby, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, May 12, 1870. Having passed with honor through the public schools, Mr. Burnley became a student at the Dickinson Seminary, at Carlisle, and completed his education at Wil- liamsport. He engaged in the general mercantile business, with which he has been identified since 1888, as a successor to E. R. Curtis, of Marple, Pennsyl- vania. He is a member of the Methodist church, and contributes liberally toward the support of that denomination.
Mr. Burnley married, in Springfield, Pennsylvania, October 12, 1893, Bertha May, daughter of Davis and Margaret Manning, of Greenwood, Colum- bia county, Pennsylvania. They have had one child: Harry Parker, born December 31, 1895.
STOCKTON The first person bearing the name Stockton to come to this country was Rev. Jonas Stockton. M. A., who with his son, Timothy, then aged fourteen years, came to Virginia in the ship "Bona Nova" in 1620. He was for many years incumbent of the par- ishes of Elizabeth City and Bermuda Hundred. Among his descendants he numbered many men of prominence. His cousin, Prudence, daughter of Rev. John Stockton, rector of Alchester and Kingbolt, married June 18, 1612, Ed- ward Holyoke, of Tramworth, later of Lynn, Massachusetts, and from them springs the Holyoke family of America. The next Stockton to emigrate ac- cording to "Hotten's List" was Thomas Stockton, aged twenty-one, who sailed from London to Boston in the ship "True Love," September 16, 1635. Later came Richard Stockton, who is found at Charleston, Massachusetts, in 1639, when he witnessed a deed. Next he settled on Long Island, but between the years 1670 and 1680 he joined the Society of Friends, sold his Long Island property and moved to Springfield township, Burlington county, New Jersey, where he purchased twelve hundred acres of farm land.
From him and his wife, Abigail, descends the famous Stockton family of New Jersey, who number as signers of the Declaration of Independence, gover- nors, chancellors, commodores, and men distinguished in every walk of life. One branch of the Stocktons remained loyal to the King. Joseph and Richard Witham Stockton were sons of Samuel and great-grandsons of Richard Stock- ton, the emigrant and founder ; Joseph, went to the Bermuda Islands and there founded the Bermuda branch ; Richard Witham fled to New Brunswick, Cana- da, with four sons, but his son, Charles Witham Stockton, returned and settled in Western New York, founding the Walton, New York, branch.
The branch from which Dr. H. Thomas Stockton descends, remained in New Jersey, settling at Beverly, Burlington county. The line of descent is Richard, the emigrant, died 1707: Job, 1752; William, born 1736, died 1781 ; Benjamin, born 1756, died 1779: Daniel, born 1778; Thomas W., born 1822; Loui Mulford, born 1859, father of Dr. Harry Thomas Stockton, born 1883. The first five generations were farmers and land owners of Springfield town- ship, Burlington county, New Jersey.
Thomas W. Stockton, born in 1822, was a well known contractor and builder of Beverly, New Jersey, until 1876, when he moved to Philadelphia and there died March 12, 1891. He married Anna Meeks, the mother of his six
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children, now all deceased. She died in Philadelphia, April 16, 1898; both were active and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Loui Mulford, son of Thomas W. and Anna ( Meeks) Stockton, was born in Beverly, New Jersey, September 16, 1859, and died in Philadelphia, Novem- ber 9, 1907. He was educated in the excellent public schools of Beverly, and at Shortlidge Academy, Media, Pennsylvania, and became engaged as a gro- cer, conducting his store until a few years before his death. In politics he was a lifelong Republican, and in religion both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Julia Sheaff Curry of Philadel- phia, daughter of John Curry, a manufacturer of chandeliers and brass cast- ings, whose concern is said to have been the largest of that kind in Philadel- phia, and his wife, Elizabeth (Sheaff) Curry, of the Sheaff family prominent in early Philadelphia. Children of Loui Mulford Stockton: Harry Thomas, of further mention ; Carrie Emily, born November 22, 1889: Edna Thomas, October 30, 1891 ; Julia Sheaff, September 15, 1896.
Dr. Harry Thomas Stockton, only son of Loui Mulford and Julia Sheaff (Curry) Stockton, was born in Philadelphia, May 10, 1883. He was educated in the public schools, and spent his early life in Philadelphia. After leaving the Central High School, he followed a business career for seven years and in 1904 entered the Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital of Philadelphia, whence he was graduated M. D., class of 1908. He is now, in 1913, well es- tablished in the general practice of his profession at Marcus Hook, Delaware county, Pennsylvania. He is a Republican in politics, is an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church ; on the staff and lecturer at the J. Lewis Crozer Hospital, . Chester ; member of the Delaware County Homeopathic Medical Society, Tri County Medical Society, American Institute of Homeopathy and various patriotic orders.
Dr. Stockton married, February 19, 1907, Mary Deacon Bowden, born in Philadelphia, November 1, 1885, daughter of Thomas Roberts Bowden, born in Falmouth, England, later removing to Philadelphia, where he became a mem- ber of the firm of N. J. Bowden and Sons, master stevedores. He married Isabella Burke, now living in Philadelphia. Their children were : Mary Deacon, Kathryn Trevarthean, Isabella, Thomas Roberts, Elizabeth, Edward James. Children of Dr. Harry T. Stockton and Mary Deacon ( Bowden) Stockton : Dorothy May, born May 5, 1908: Ruth Eleanor, November 2, 1909; Loui Mulford, February 17, 1912; Isabella Kathryn, twin of Loui Mulford.
Jerome Levis Pyle, M. D., of Gradyville, Delaware county, Penn- PYLE sylvania, represents worthily one of the oldest families of the state of Pennsylvania. For many generations they have been identified in religious belief with the Society of Friends. The great-grandparents of Dr. Pyle were Stephen and Rachel ( Stokes) Pyle.
Eli, son of Stephen and Rachel (Stokes) Pyle, was a farmer in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, his farms consisting of 280 acres, which he utilized largely as pasturage for cattle. He was a man of influence in the com- munity, and affiliated with the Democratic party. He married Rachel Es- worthy and had four sons and five daughters, of whom there is now one daughter living.
Eli (2), son of Eli (I) and Rachel (Esworthy) Pyle, spent all his life in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, where he owned and operated two farms aggregating about one hundred acres, and where he died October 23. 1910. He married (first ) Hannah Levis, and they had five children: George M .; Lafayette; Eli E .; Jerome Levis, see forward; Elias R. He married (sec-
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ond ) Asenath Minshall, and had children: Hannah L., Asenathı M., Ada and Ida.
Dr. Jerome Levis Pyle, son of Eli (2) and Hannah (Levis) Pyle, was born in Concord township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, September 9, 1857. The public schools of his native township furnished his early education, and he then became a student at the Maplewood Institute, where he took a three years' course. He then commenced the preparatory study of medicine, after which he matriculated at the Jefferson Medical College, taking a complete course in medicine and surgery, which consumed three years, and was gradu- ated from this institution with honors in the class of 1884 and 1885, the degree of Doctor of Medicine being conferred upon him. He established himself in the general practice of his chosen profession at Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, and his faithful and consistent good work has enabled him to build up an exten- sive as well as lucrative practice. He has won the affection as well as the confidence of his numerous patients. He has been the medical examiner for many foreign and local insurance companies, and has always taken a great interest in a number of fraternal organizations. Among them may be men- tioned: The Order of Free and Accepted Masons, George W. Bartram Lodge, Media, Pennsylvania; Tamenend Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men; Westmont Lodge, Knights of Pythias, Tanguay, Pennsylvania. His profes- sional membership is with the State Medical Society and the County Medical Society. In a large number of these organizations he has held official posi- tion. Dr. Pyle has always been an ardent supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, and was appointed pension examiner by the late President Cleveland, holding this office three years. For six years he served as a mem- ber of the board of education, and he filled the office of supervisor for several years.
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