USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume III > Part 9
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Mr. Rudolph married, April 18, 1872, Mary S., born in Philadelphia, daughter of Edwin and Louisa Hansell, both now deceased. Mr. Hansell was a woodcarver by trade, and lived on Thirteenth street, Philadelphia. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph : Edwin, born September 7. 1873, died September 2, 1893 ; Thomas, born June 14, 1875, married Anna Hearst, and assists his fath- er in the care of the cemetery ; Laura, born February 7. 1884, died May 7, 188.4.
KERLIN The Kerlins were early settlers in Delaware county, where
they have ever been prominent. John Kerlin, of Chester, was the fourth president of the Bank of Delaware County, state senator, 1824-1832, and a well known lawyer. The present day representa- tive, John H. Kerlin, of Lima, Pennsylvania, is a grandson of William Ker- lin, for many years a prominent figure in Chester.
(I) William Kerlin located on a farm at Chester, Pennsylvania, a part of which is now known as the Deshong property. He was a wealthy landowner and a man well known and respected. At one time time he owned the Washington House in Chester, and the ground on which the old Delaware county courthouse stood was donated by him, with the provision that should the county seat ever be removed, the land should revert to him or to his heirs. This proviso, however, was never carried out. Mr. Kerlin was an active Whig during the Revolution, and after the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British army, named his hostelry, purchased April I, 1772, the Washı- ington House, the former name having been Pennsylvania Arms. General Washington, in passing to and from the seat of the government at New York and his home at Mount Vernon, often stopped at this hotel, and on those occasions a certain room, the best in the house, was assigned to his use. The ancient mahogany chairs which stood in the room occupied by the first presi-
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dent during these visits are still preserved among the descendants of William Kerlin. He took an active part in the discussion fromn 1780 to 1786 regarding the removal of the county seat to West Chester, and after the county seat had been moved from Chester he labored energetically to bring about the formation of the present county of Delaware. He did not remain "mine host" of the Washington House until his death, for by his will, proved April 29, 1805, he alluded in his devise to his daughter, Sarah Piper, to "the tavern house," being at that time under lease to Isaac Tucker. After the death of her father, Mrs. Sarah (Odenheimer ) Piper inherited the Washington House, which was conducted under the management of her second husband, Major Joseph Piper, until his death, when his widow continued as its manager for several years, then leasing it to Evan S. Way. By her will, proved September 13, 1841, Sarah Piper directed that "the tavern house and thereto belonging, be sold within one year after my decease." This wish was carried out, not within a year, but on April 2, 1844. when her executors sold the property to Henry L. Powell, and all connection between the Kerlins and the famous old hostelry ceased.
William Kerlin married Hannah Byers. Children: I. William B., of whom further. 2. Jane Maria, married Martin Rulon, an undertaker of Swedesboro, New Jersey, and Chester, Pennsylvania. 3. Elizabeth, died unmarried. 4. Henry, accidentally killed at Chester by a yoke of oxen, which threw him to the ground and then drew a loaded wagon over him. 5. Sarah, married (first) an Odenheimer. (second) Major Piper.
Hannah Byers was a daughter of Jacob Byers, a farmer of Lower Prov- idence township and a large landowner. His wife was a Miss James. Chil- dren: Jacob, a farmer ; Jesse, a carpenter, and Hannah.
(II) William B., eldest son of William and Hannah ( Byers) Kerlin, was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1790, died in 1856. He grew to manhood at the home farm and was educated in the schools of Chester and Philadelphia. He learned the trade of a harnessmaker and later established in that business in Chester, having a large and lucrative business. He also owned and man- aged a large farm near Chester. He was a Whig in politics and active in the political affairs of his day. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and a man held in high esteem. He married Martha Baynes Yates, born in Eng- land, who was brought to Claymont, Delaware, when a babe, by her mother, Mary (Baynes) Yates. They lived with a brother of Mrs. Yates, James Baynes, a wealthy wool grower and owner of two thousand acres of land. Mrs. Yates later made her home with her son-in-law, William B. Kerlin. She died in 1870. Children: 1. Hannah L., deceased: married Edward L. Gardner, of Chester. 2. John H., of whom further. 3. Mary, married Joshua Garsid, of Rockdale, Pennsylvania, whom she survives. 4. Martha Frances, died aged twenty-three years. 5. Elwood, died young.
(III) John H., eldest son of William B. and Martha Baynes ( Yates) Kerlin, was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, May 12, 1842. He was educated in the public schools and Professor Gray's Academy, entering the drug busi- ness at an early age, taking a course at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. When the war between the states broke out, he enlisted in the United States Navy in February, 1862, and for eight months served as surgeon's steward on board the warship "U. S. S. Sangamon-Monitor." He reenlisted at Chester in Company A, 197th Regiment. Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. under Captain James Barton and Colonel Hazlett. By a confusion of orders he was sent to Rock Island, Illinois, where he was assigned to guard duty over Confederate prisoners : later was on duty in Philadelphia, receiving hon- orable discharge at the close of the war in 1865. Returning to Chester he was
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engaged for one year as manager of the drug store of Jerry Flickner at No. 109 Third street. He then established his own drug store at the corner of Third and Penn streets, continuing there four years, after which he located his business at Marcus Hook, where he remained for several years. He was elected director of the poor of Delaware county in 1875, and served six years. He was then elected recorder of deeds for Delaware county, an office he creditably filled for six years. He then purchased a good farm of one hun- dred and twenty-four acres in Cecil county, Maryland, near Chesapeake City, overlooking the bay and river. He remained there for three years, then returned to Chester, where he was appointed chief of the bureau of delin- quent taxes, serving two years. In 1906 he was appointed steward at the Delaware County Home at Lima, a position he now fills. Since 1858 Mr. Kerlin has been an active volunteer fireman, joining in that year the America Hose Company of Philadelphia, known derisively as the "Sarsaparilla" Hose Company, from the fact that the company was composed of business men and clerks. When the Franklin Fire Company of Chester was organized he became a member and rose to the position of chief engineer. He assisted in the organization of the Chester Fire Department, of which he is yet a mem- ber. He belongs to Wilde Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Chester ; and L. H. Scott Lodge, No. 352, Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. Kerlin is one of the best known men in Delaware county, and has a host of warm friends. He is an authority on Delaware county happenings of the past fifty years, and has a wealth of interesting reminiscences for the entertainment of his friends.
He married, July 3, 1865, in Chester, Mary E., daughter of James S. and Jane (McCluen) Bell. James S. Bell, a tanner by trade, was later a partner with Judge Hinkson, of the firm Hinkson & Bell, the leading tanners of the day. Children of John H. Kerlin: I. Jane Bell, residing at home. 2. Mary Frances, married L. B. Walters, a salesman residing in Chester; children. Mary Kerlin and John Kerlin. 3. Martha, residing at home. 4. Malachi Harris, a salesman of Chester. 5. John H. (second), engaged with his broth- ers in the cigar business in Chester; married Lucretia Bentley ; one child, Lucretia Bentley. 6. James, now with the Sun Oil Company of Chester, mar- ried Sarah A. Abrams.
WAY An adopted son of Delaware county, John Way has displayed all the interest and enthusiasm of one native born, in the matter of furth- ering the public good, since becoming a resident of Lansdowne, in 1897. Mr. Way is a grandson of David and Elizabeth (Blackburn) Way, and a son of Samuel Way, of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, born in 1818, died in 1882, and his wife, Jane Wilson, born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, Feb- ruary 21, 1831, died in 1909.
John Way was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, October 21, 1871, and obtained his early preparatory education in the Bedford county schools. He then entered Friends Boarding School at Westtown, Chester county, Penn- sylvania, leaving that institution to engage in business. His first position was in a store in West Chester, Pennsylvania, remaining there until 1893, when he entered the employ of the Provident Life and Trust Company of Philadel- phia, taking a clerical position. He won his way upward, filling positions of a greater trust with each promotion, until in 1910 he was elected assistant treas- urer of the company, which responsible post he most acceptably fills at the present time.
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An Independent in politics, Mr. Way has been active in all reform move- ments in Delaware county, since becoming a resident of Lansdowne, in 1897. He is a birthright member of the Society of Friends, and from an early age has been actively identified with the activities of the Society. He is also treasurer of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, organized in 1787 as "Society for the Al- leviation of the Miseries of Public Prisons," and said to be the oldest organi- zation of its kind in the world.
Mr. Way married, May 18, 1897, Lydia Annette Greene, of Clarksville, Ohio, born February 7, 1872 ; child : Mary French, born December 18, 1905.
The Halkett family came originally to this country from HALKETT Scotland, and is now represented by William G. Halkett, whose abilities have been directed to the accomplishment of valuable results.
George Halkett, the father of William G. Halkett, was born in Scotland, in Perth, and came to America when a very young man. He was a ship-build- er by trade. He went to Chicago, and there made his home, residing in that city until his death in 1899. In Chicago he met Christina Bruce, also born in Scotland, in Aberdeen, and they were married. Mrs. Halkett died in 1897. Children : Margaret : Isabel, deceased; William G.
William G. Halkett was born in Chicago, Illinois, February 1, 1857. The public schools of his native city provided him with an excellent training and on the completion of his education he entered upon his business career. For a period of eight years he held a number of positions in various lines. In 1873 he entered the employ of George B. Carpenter & Company, ship chandlers. Eigh- teen years were spent in the employ of this concern, during which time he had risen to the responsible position of manager. He resigned this office in order to go to New York City, where he was engaged in the manufacture of cotton duck for a period of four and a half years, with a large and thriving concern. In 1897 he went to Philadelphia and purchased the business in which he is still engaged, that of jobbing cotton duck, and other heavy cotton goods. The firm is the largest concern of its kind in Philadelphia and operates under the name of William G. Halkett Company. It has more than quintupled since 1897. Mr. Halkett is also one of the directors of the Ridge Avenue Bank of Philadelphia. In his political affiliations Mr. Halkett is Republican, has been a member of the Ridley Park borough council for many years, and served as its president, 1908-10. In religion both he and his wife are members of the Ridley Park Presbyterian Church, of which he is a trustee. He is also a member of the Art Club, the Ridley Golf Club, and the Spring Haven Country Club. Mr. Halkett has lived in Ridley Park since 1899, and in 1907 he erected a beautiful residence on the corner of Swarthmore and Sellers avenues. It is constructed of stone, with porches on three sides, and has a garage : the shape of the land is triangular, thus permitting the grounds to face on three beautiful thorough- fares.
Mr. Halkett married (first) in 1882, Margaret Ainslie, who died in 1907; he married (second) Elizabeth Miller. Children, all by the first marriage : I. Adelaide Bruce, educated in Swarthmore and Wellesley Colleges, and a graduate from the latter institution; married William Freeman Kershaw. 2. Walter, educated at the University of Pennsylvania. 3. George William, deceased. 4. J. Spencer, educated at the Staunton Military Academy, Vir- ginia. Both the sons are now associated in business with their father.
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The name of Sanderson is one which has been con- SANDERSON nected with railway, shipping and kindred interests for many years, both in this country and in Europe. Richard P. C. Sanderson, at the present time in charge of the plant, at Eddystone, of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, is a worthy representative of the family name.
Richard P. C. Sanderson was born at Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, January 9, 1858. He received a very thorough education in mechanical engi- neering in schools in both England and Germany. For some years he worked printer's trade, which he followed all his life. In 1864, he enlisted in the United States in 1879. For a time he worked at his calling in the city of New York; then he joined the service of the Norfolk & Western railroad, up to 1900. Two years were then spent on the Santa Fe railroad, at Topeka, Kansas, as assistant superintendent of motive power. He next served as superintendent of motive power on the Seaboard Air Line railroad, and then for the Vir- ginian railway at Norfolk, Virginia. On April 2, 1910, he came to Ridley Park, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, to act as superintendent for the Bald- win Locomotive Works, and he has been given charge of their plant at Eddystone, which employs approximately six thousand men.
Mr. Sanderson married, in October, 1882, Clare Otey, born in Lynchburg, Virginia, and they have one son: Richard, who is in business in the city of New York.
RODGERS The immigrant ancestor of the Rodgers family, of Brandy-
wine Summit, was James Rodgers, a landscape gardener of Ireland, who came to America in 1847. where he followed the same occupation until his death. He and his wife adhered to the Catholic faith. Children : John ; James, died in 1864; Mary ; Arthur ; Thomas ; Susan ; Joseph, a member of Company D, 95th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, killed in the battle of the Wilderness: Alexander Augustine, of further men- tion.
(II) Alexander Augustine, youngest child of James Rodgers, was born in Ireland, in 1847, and died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 16, 1908. He grew to manhood in Philadelphia, where he attended first the public school and then a private institution on Pine street. Leaving school, he learned the printers trade, which he followed all his life. In 1864, he enlisted in the United States Marines, and on the night that President Lincoln was assassinated, he was on duty at Long Bridge, Washington, D. C. He was relieved from duty a half hour before the committal of the crime, and the marine who relieved him was arrested upon a charge, the nature of which was never revealed. In poli- tics he was a Democrat, but never held public office. With his wife he was a member of the Catholic church. He married Margaret A. Hagerty, who died in Philadelphia, September 13, 1901, daughter of Robert James, a hotel pro- prietor of Philadelphia, who died there in 1900, and Catherine (Woods) Hag- erty, of Armagh, Ireland. Children of Robert James and Catherine (Woods) Hagerty ; Mary Ellen, married William T. Smith; William C., married Ellen Myers; John E., married Ella Kavanaugh ; Elizabeth, married John Bolden ; Robert J., married Susan Macauley; Catherine, married Michael Carmody ; Margaret A., of previous mention, married Alexander Augustine Rodgers. Children of Alexander Augustine and Margaret A. (Hagerty) Rodgers: Jo- seph P., of further mention ; Catherine M., married Edward F. Higgins ; Mar- garet A. ; Mary, died in infancy ; Robert J .; Arthur A .; James, died in infancy ; Elizabeth, died in infancy; Susan ; Anna; Mary.
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(III ) Joseph P., eldest child of Alexander Augustine and Margaret A. ( Hagerty) Rodgers, was born in Philadelphia, September 21, 1878. He ob- tained his early education in the parochial schools, later attending the Roman Catholic High School. His business interests are in the Kaolin and Feldspar Company of Brandywine Summit, the largest company of its kind in the United States, of which he is secretary and treasurer. In politics he is an Independent Republican, holding the office of school director in Brandywine Summit. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus, and is a past master of the Patrons of Husbandry. He married, October 21, 1907, Bessie Pusey Steele, born in Toughkenamon, Chester county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Amor M., born in Cecil county, Maryland, a miller of Unionsville, Chester county, and Sarah Elizabeth (McCoy) Steele. of Cecil county, Maryland. Children of Amor M. and Sarah Elizabeth (McCoy) Steele : Cecil ; Harry; Mabel, married William Hipple ; Anna, married Jolin J. Garvine ; Amos, married Hannah Collins ; Bes- sie, of previous mention, married Joseph P. Rodgers; Raymond, married Elma Ireland. Child of Joseph P. and Bessie Pusey (Steele) Rodgers: Helen Eliza- beth, born December 22, 1910.
TURNER The family of which Albert James Turner, member of the firm of Patton & Turner, of East Lansdowne, is an honored representative, is of English extraction, in which country the various members of the family were actively identified with the religious, commercial and social interests of the communities in which they resided.
(I) Thomas Turner, the earliest known ancestor of the family, was born, and lived and died in Derbyshire, England; and the active years of his life were spent as local minister in the Friends' church, he performing the sacred duties of that office faithfully and conscientiously, pointing out to the people of his congregation the right way of living and setting them an example which was well worthy of emulation. He was married twice and was the father of twenty-three children, all of whom he reared to manhood and womanhood ; four of them came to this country, as follows: Richard, a tinsmith, resides in Germantown, Pennsylvania; Catherine, married William Brooks, resides in Germantown: Elizabeth, married Harry Charlesworth, resides in German- town; James, of whom further. The father of these children died at the age of eighty-two years, honored and respected by all with whom he was brought in contact.
(II) James Turner, son of Thomas Turner by his first wife, was born in Derbyshire, England, February 25. 1861. During his youth he attended the public schools and worked as a coal miner. Upon attaining his majority he came to the United States, locating in Germantown, Pennsylvania, where he learned the trade of bricklayer, which he followed until twenty-seven years of age, when he became a contractor, and he has since devoted his attention to that work, contracting for all kinds of concrete, stone and brick work, and has achieved a fair degree of success in his undertaking, being a man of energy and perseverance. He is a Republican in politics, and in religion he and his
wife are members of the Episcopal church. Mr. Turner married Maria Willis, born in Essex, England, April 20, 1862, daughter of Joshua Willis, who was superintendent of a large estate in Essex, and died at the age of seventy-nine years. The first wife of Joshua Willis died at the birth of her daughter, Maria, mentioned above, and the other children of this union were: Joseph, who left home and was never heard from again; Samuel, who resides in Essex, England, serving as superintendent of the estate his father served; Alice, married a Mr. Killenback, both of whom are deceased. By his second
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wife Mr. Willis had no children. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Turner : Albert James, of whom further; Florence, Willis and Thomas, all of whom reside at home.
(III) Albert James Turner, eldest son of James and Maria (Willis) Turner, was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, August 6, 1883. He attended the public schools of Germantown, and later took a course of architectural drafting in Drexel Institute, Philadelphia. He then accepted a position as draftsman with the Conklin, Armstrong Terra Cotta Company, in whose employ he remained for seven years, and in 1908 accepted a similar position with William Grey & Sons, remaining with them for two years. At the expiration of this period of time he formed a partnership with Harry E. Pat- ton, under the style of Patton & Turner, dealers in coal, feed and building materials, locating at the corner of Fifth street and Baltimore avenue, Fern- wood, and during the three years of this connection their business has increased greatly in volume and importance, ranking now among the chiefest in that locality. Mr. Turner possesses the attributes of a successful merchant, energy, perseverance, determination and pluck. In religion he is a member of the Presbyterian church, a Republican in politics, and fraternally a member of the Royal Arcanum.
Mr. Turner married. September 2, 1909, Mabel Bardsley Barr, born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1885, daughter of Samuel and Florence Barr. Mr. Barr is in charge of the stock department of a woolen mill in Germantown, Pennsylvania. Children: Albert Edwin, born October 16, 1910; Mildred May, born June 24, 1912. In 1913 Mr. Turner erected his present house, which is attractive in appearance and modern in every respect, and here Mr. and Mrs. Turner, who are highly thought of in the neighborhood, offer hospitable welcome to all who come.
BRYAN Ireland has furnished many men to this country, who have as- sisted in building up her prosperity and have aided nobly in main- taining her prestige; and this is most certainly the case with the members of the Bryan family, now of Lansdowne, Delaware county, Pennsyl- vania.
(I) Patrick Bryan was born in Ireland, and after his marriage and the birth of three of his children, immigrated to the United States, and made his home at Little Falls, New York, where he was engaged in business as a manu- facturer of shoes until his death. He employed a number of men to assist him in the industry of which he was the head, and was a man of considerable in- fluence in the town in which he lived, although he was naturally of a quiet and retiring disposition. In religion he and his wife were both members of the Roman Catholic church. He married Bridget -, also a native of Ire- land, and their children were: Edwin R., a lumberman, who died in Philadel- phia ; Thomas, a liveryman, who died in New York state; Michael, the only son now living, was a farmer near Canajoharie, New York; Mary, who mar- ried Andrew Armstrong, now deceased, lives in Corning, New York; James Simpson, see forward; Rose, married John B. McBurney, and lives in Corn- ing, New York; John, a wholesale liquor dealer, died in Utica, New York.
(II) James Simpson, son of Patrick and Bridget Bryan, was born at Lit- tle Falls, New York, December 25, 1856. He received an excellent education in the public schools of his section of the country, and this was supplemented by a complete course at the Elmira Seminary. For the long period of twenty- four years he was the manager of the "Philadelphia Times," after which he organized the Electric Horseshoe Company, of which he was elected president. 54
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This corporation commenced its business operations on Walnut street, below Fifth street. Philadelphia, but before it had been long established, Mr. Bryan died, June 7. 1901. In political matters he was a staunch supporter of Repub- lican principles. About 1898 he removed to Yeadon, Delaware county, Penn- sylvania, and it was there that his death occurred. In that town he served as a councilman for the period of one year, and also was influential in starting the electric light system in the town. He was naturally active and energetic, and to these traits he added a marvelous power of systematizing work, which en- abled him to accomplish wonders. He displayed fine public spirit, and by his example many others were influenced to act for the benefit of the community. His widow and children removed to Lansdowne about 1905. and have lived there since that time.
Mr. Bryan married, July 1, 1882, Elizabeth E. Savage, who was born in Philadelphia. Her father, John Savage, was born in England, and immigrated to America ; he was a tailor by trade, but in this country was mostly engaged as a salesman for Wanamaker & Brown : he died young. Mr. Savage married EI- len Jane Hagerty who, married (second) William Maloney. Mr. and Mrs Bryan had children : Edwin Ridgeway, a chauffeur, who resides at Cape May. New Jersey : Eleanor Adele, died at the age of twelve years : James Vincent. lives in Lansdowne: Arthur Savage, resides with his mother.
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