USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, comprising a historical sketch of the county > Part 21
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BIOGRAPHIY AND HISTORY
In politics the subject of this sketch is an active and enthusiastic republican. and has served as a delegate to many State and Na- tional conventions. He served as mayor of the city of Negaunee, Michigan, while resid- ing there, and has been six years a member of the city council of Chester, during three of which he served as president of the council, and had the honor and pleasure of presiding over the only solid republican council this city ever had. Captain Houston also served as chairman of the building committee having in charge the erection of the Chester hospital, built during the winter and spring of 1893. In religious faith he is a Quaker, and has long been a strict member of the Society of Friends. On the 26th of September, 1866, Captain Houston was united in marriage to Sue M. Slokom, a daughter of Samnel Slokom, of Lancaster connty, Pennsylvania, and a lady of fine education and many rare qualities of heart and mind.
H ENRY FREDERICK MORROW,
.
a business man of many years' experience, and one of the most active prohibition leaders of Chester city and Delaware county, is a son of John and Ann S. ( Rowland ) Morrow, and was born in Wilmington, Delaware, Angust 28, 1833. John Morrow was of Scotch-Irish descent, and came in 1824 from his birthplace, near Belfast, Ireland, to the Brandywine creek, near Wilmington, Delaware, in which city he died on January 19, 1861, when in the sixty-second year of his age. He was a Pres- byterian and a prominent Free Mason, and during the latter part of his life was engaged successfully in the real estate business. He married Ann S. Rowland, a native of Pikeland township, Chester county, and who died at Chester, May 5, 1871, aged seventy-six years. Mrs. Morrow was a Presbyterian, and her father, John Rowland, was a grandson of John Rowland, who came over in the ship " Wel- come," with William Penn, in 1682. His son built the first grist mill in Tredyfrin township,
Chester connty, in 1744. John Rowland was a native and farmer of Tredyfrin township, and died in Wilmington, Delaware, October 8, 1844, aged eighty-fonr years. He was a whig and a Friend, and ranked high as an up- right man.
Henry F. Morrow was reared in W Iming- ton, Delaware, received a good English edu- cation, and became an apprentice to John L. Hadden, of that city, to the trade of tinsmith, on February 21, 1848. After completing his trade he and his brother, W. J. Morrow, were engaged in the tin and stove business until 1860. On June 20, 1860, Mr. Morrow came to Chester, where he was in the cement and roofing business up to 1872, since which time he has acted as a general agent. He now represents an improved metal for bearings.
On April 16, 1861, Mr. Morrow married Mary Frances Belt, daughter of William Belt, of Wilmington. They have one child, a daugh- ter, named Mary L.
Henry F. Morrow and his family are all members of the Presbyterian church, and in politics Mr. Morrow was a republican, having voted for Fremont in 1856, but has been iden- tified with the Prohibition party ever since its organization. He served for some time as chairman, and is now secretary of the county Prohibition committee, and in the days of temperance organizations, before the organ- ization of the Prohibition party, he was recog- nized as one of the foremost temperance men in eastern Pennsylvania. In 1839 he con- nected himself with the Juvenile Temperance society of the Hanover Street Presbyterian church, and has always been a total abstainer.
G EORGE W. WOOD, the energetic pro- proprietor of a large meat market, and member of the council of Chester city from the Fifth ward, is a son of John and Emma E. Wood, and was born in the city of Chester, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, September 27, 1856. His paternal grandfather, Humph-
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rey Wood, was a native of Slaithwaite, York- shire, England, and married Grace Dodson. To their union was born thirteen children, five sons and four daughters, who grew up to man and womanhood and all married : Eph- raim, George, John, William, Samuel, Sarah Rawcliffe, Jane Armitage, Hannah Wise- man, and Mary Hirst. His grandparents both died in the one year, 1836, aged forty-six and forty-eight years. They followed the butcher- ing business until their deaths. George W.'s father, John Wood, learned the trade of butcher, and came from Liverpool to Chester in the year 1856. He married Emma Eliza- beth Ledger, of Liverpool, in 1855, and to their union was born fourteen children, ten boys and four girls. They reared nine, five sons and four daughters : George W., John, Rev. Samuel R., Harry A., Herbert, Sarah A. Buck, Emma Wood, Louisa Wood, and Laura Burton. J. Wood commenced business by opening a shop in Market street, Chester, in 1856, and continued until the Farmers' mar- ket was built, in 1868, and is still doing busi- ness in the market. He is a republican, and an active member of the North Chester Bap- tist church. George W. Wood received his education in the public schools of Chester and Leiperville. He learned the trade of butcher with his father, and then engaged in the butch- ering business on a small scale at No. 37 Third street, where he was so successful that in 1890 he purchased his handsome three-story brick residence adjoining his butchering establish- ment. Mr. Wood's residence is worth over ten thousand dollars, and he has enlarged and refitted his meat market until it is one of the best of its kind in the city.
On March 3, 1878, Mr. Wood married Ad- die E. Taylor, of Laurel, Delaware. To their union have been born two children : Frank (deceased), and Lillie.
George W. Wood has always been a demo- crat in politics, and is now serving on his sec- ond term as a member of the council from the Fifth ward, being elected the first time by a
majority of eighty-four, and the second time by a majority of one hundred and sixty-four. His largely increased majority at his election attests his growing political popularity. As a member of council Mr. Wood has been active alike in the interests of his ward and his city. He was instrumental in securing arc lights on Broad street and Morton avenue. Mr. Wood is a member of Chester Lodge, No. 96, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows; Tuscarora Lodge, No. 29, Improved Order of Red Men ; and Penn Conclave, No. 59, Improved Order of Heptasophs.
A. B. ARMSTRONG, one of the live and useful citizens of Delaware county, and one of the organizers of the Chester patrol system, is a son of James and Mary Ann (Bailey) Armstrong, and was born in Bethel township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, January 31, 1845. His paternal grandfather, John Armstrong, was of Yankee or New Eng- land descent, and after passing his early life in the State of Delaware, he removed to Bethel township, this county, where he died. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a stone mason by trade, and a democrat in poli- tics, and married Susan Weir, by whom he had ten children, five sons and five daughters: Margaret, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary Anne Suter, Keziah, Samuel, William, Jonathan, Robert and James. James Armstrong (father) was born in the State of Delaware, June 16, 1816, and learned the trade of stone mason. He was styled the Delaware county bridge builder, because he built nearly all the bridges in the county that were erected in his day. In 1846 he removed from Bethel township to Chelsea, where he purchased a farm, on which he died March 25, 1889, at seventy-three years of age. He was a democrat and a Methodist, and was twice married. He married Sarah E. Bright, who died and left one child, Lewis. He then wedded Ann Bailey, who was a daughter of James Bailey, who died January 16, 1883, aged
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seventy-four years. By his second marriage he had five children : A. B., James, George, Mary A. (deceased ), and Joseph H.
A. B. Armstrong received his early educa- tion in the common schools of Aston and Bethel townships and the Rockdale school, and is one of the " Rockdale Boys " who re- cently celebrated an anniversary year of their old school. Leaving the Rockdale school he attended the Village Green seminary, and afterward took the full course of the Quaker academy of Clarkson Taylor, which then stood at the corner of Eighth and Woliston streets, Wilmington. Leaving the academy he spent four years and eight months in learn- ing the trade of machinist, which he followed as a journeyman for seventeen years. He then became master machinist of the Irving & Leiper Manufacturing Company, with whom he remained until his health became so im- paired that he was compelled to resign. Be- ing forced to look for some lighter occupation he started his present confectionary business, at No. 120 West Third street, where he has built up a first-class and remunerative trade. Mr. Armstrong is a republican in politics, and works energetically for his party in the Sixth ward, and on February 15, 1894. was appointed one of the finance committee. He served one term as assessor, being nominated and elected without any opposition. He was a candidate for county commissioner in 1892. The present patrol system of Chester is due to Mr. Arm- strong's efforts, and he assisted in raising the money to buy the patrol wagon and pay some of the expenses of its first trips. He is a member of Washington Camp, No. 43, Pat- riotic Order Sons of America ; John P. Crozer Council, No. 187, Senior Order of United American Mechanics : and John Morton Coun- cil, No. 738, Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He is a trustee of John Morton Council, and the treasurer of John P. Crozer Council. He is a past grand of Upland Lodge, No. 253, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has held membership for twenty
years ; and has been for fourteen years a mem - ber of the Franklin Fire company. Mr. Arm- strong is also a charter member of the city patrol, of which he has been treasurer ever since its organization. He is a trustee of Trinity Methodist Episcopal church, with which he united seventeen years ago.
On September 5, 1870, Mr. Armstrong mar- ried Jennie Willey, daughter of Absalom and Eliza (Wilson) Willey. To Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong have been born three children : Annie E., A. Lewis, and Livia, who died.
S AMUEL J. BURTON, a practical and prosperous ship-builder of Marcus Hook, and one of the most useful and best known citizens of Delaware county, is a son of John T. and Hannah P. (Webb) Burton, and was born in Sussex county, Delaware, December 4, 1826. The Burtons are of English origin. and rank with the older families of Delaware, where they have resided since colonial times. In that State Thomas Burton, paternal grand- father of the subject of this sketch, was born and reared. After attaining manhood he be- came a farmer, and passed a long and active life engaged in agricultural pursuits, dying at his home in Delaware in 1832. He married Lydia Burton, and had a family of ten chil- dren, one of whom was John T. Burton ( father ), who was born on the old homestead in Sussex county, Delaware, in 1792. There he grew to manhood and received the best education af- forded by the country schools of that day. Leaving school he engaged in farming, and after a few years also embarked in general merchandising, in both of which occupations he was very successful. In the midst of his activity he was stricken by disease, and died at his Sussex county home in 1848, when only fifty-six years of age. He was a prominent member of St. George Episcopal church, and an old-line whig in politics. In 1823 he mar- ried Hannah P. Webb, a daughter of Sylves- ter Webb, of Sussex county, and to them was
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OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
born a family of seven children, three sons and four danghters: Samuel J., Sarah A., Jose- phine M., Mary H., Samuel P., Edward T., and Hannah E., deceased. Mrs. Hannah Burton was born in the town of Lewis, Sussex county, Delaware, and died in Kent county, that State, in 1866, aged sixty-one years. Her father, Sylvester Webb (maternal grandfather ), was a native of Scotland, and came to the United States while yet a young man. He settled in Sussex county, Delaware, where he married Sara Painter Walton, and reared a family of three children. His death occurred in 1812.
Samuel J. Burton was reared in his native county, and obtained his education in private schools there. After completing his studies he went to Leipsic, Delaware, where he served an apprenticeship at the trade of ship carpen- ter. Being endowed with fine mechanical ability and great energy of purpose, he soon made himself master of all the details of that business, and in 1848, at the age of twenty- two, embarked in ship-building on his own account at Leipsic. He remained at that place until 1860, when he removed to Penn's Grove, New Jersey, where he conducted the business for three years. In 1866 he located at Chester, Pennsylvania, and was engaged in ship-building at that place until 1869. In the latter year he removed to Marcus Hook, where he has successfully conducted the ship-build- ing business ever since. Being a thorough mechanic himself, employing only skilled labor, and always using the best material, his work soon became popular, and orders for boats and vessels of various kinds were numer- ous, being at times beyond the capacity of his works. The work turned out from his ship- yards has ranged all the way from three- masted schooners to small oyster boats, and has proved so reliable and satisfactory in ser- vice that Mr. Burton has become widely known for the uniform excellence of his work, which is justly regarded as among the best of its kind in eastern Pennsylvania.
Samuel J. Burton has been twice married. In 1854 he wedded Catharine Wilson, of Leip- sic, Delaware, who died in 1857. To them was born one son, Wilson C. On November 21, 1861, Mr. Burton was united in marriage with Sarah E. Maclary, a daughter of John and Mary K. Maclary, also of Leipsic. To this union was born a family of three children, two sons and a daughter: Edward C., S. Lee, and Katharine K.
In his political affiliations Mr. Burton has always been a republican, but has been too much devoted to business ever to have taken much active interest in politics. He is a mem- ber of Union Lodge, No. 7. Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of the city of Dover, Delaware.
H UGH MCCAFFERY, proprietor of the well known McCaffery house, Third and Kerlin streets, Chester, is a son of Hugh and Emma (Brady) McCaffery, and was born in County Cavan, Ireland, July 18, 1848. His parents were both natives of the same county, and resided there until removed by death, the father dying in 1890, at the age of seventy- three, and the mother passing away during the same year. aged seventy. They were mem- bers of the Catholic church, and the parents of nine children.
Hugh McCaffery was reared in his native conntry until he had attained the age of fif- teen years, receiving a good practical educa- tion in the National schools of Ireland. When fifteen he left the Emerald Isle and made his way to America, settling in Philadelphia. Two years later he began learning the trade of cooper, at which he worked in that city until 1868. He then came to Chester, Delaware county, where he worked at his trade until 1885, and in May of the latter year embarked in the hotel business as proprietor of what is known as McCaffery's hotel, at the corner of Kerlin and Third streets. Here he has con- tinned a successful business ever since, and has become widely known and quite popular
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with the traveling public, being well qualified for the business, and a thorough master of the art of entertaining.
In 1872 Mr. McCaffery was united in mar- riage to Mary McGolrick, of the city of Chester, who has proved herself an intelligent and use- ful companion, and materially aided Mr. Mc- Caffery in the positive financial success which he has attained in life. They are members of the Catholic church, and in politics Mr. Mc- Caffery is an ardent democrat, always giving his party a loyal support on National and State issnes. He is very pleasant and genial in manner, and has the satisfaction of knowing that by industry and good management he has succeeded in life beyond many others, though he had only his own energy and ability to de- pend on when he began.
EMIL CHRISTIAN WAGNER,
junior member of the firm of Swayne & Wagner, dealers in coal and feed at Sharon Hill, this county, and one of our most enter- prising and successful citizens, is a son of Christian and Mary ( Steffan ) Wagner, and was born at Eslingen, Wurtemberg, Germany, March 24, 1859. The Wagners are an ancient German family whose members have been nu- merous and well-to-do in the Fatherland, en- gaged in milling for generations. Possessing the twin virtues of industry and frugality- qualities which distinguish the German race at home and abroad -- they have been import- ant factors in the industrial history of their section of the German empire. Christian Wagner ( father ) was a machinist by trade, and for fifteen years was employed in the Es- lingen Locomotive works, which are among the largest of their kind in the old world. Having accumulated considerable property, he then embarked in the milling business at Wurtemberg, which enterprise he conducted successfully until his death, in 1885, when in the fifty-sixth year of his age. For many
years he was a strict member of the Lutheran church, and married Mary Steffan, a native of Germany. By that union he had a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters: Charles W., who married Anna Schmidt, and now resides in the city of Chicago, Illinois, where he owns extensive works; Mary, who has been twice married, and lives in Germany ; Emil C., the subject of this sketch ; Sophia E., wife of Carl Braun, a merchant in Chicago ; William, a merchant miller of Wurtemberg, Germany: Pauline, living in Germany ; and Herman, a confectioner in the city of Phila- delphia. Mrs. Mary Wagner is still living in Germany, aged nearly sixty-four years.
Emil Christian Wagner was reared in the Fatherland, and obtained his education in the National schools and a German High school. Leaving school at the age of fourteen years, he entered the mill with his father to learn the milling business, and after completing his trade lie worked as a journeyman in different parts of Europe, traveling through Wurtem- berg, Bavaria, Prussia, and other parts of the old world, in order to see the country and be- come familiar with the characteristics of the people and the business opportunities pre- sented by the different places he visited. He finally made a tour through France, and then turned his face toward the new world, landing at Philadelphia, May 31, 1884. Soon after locating in that city he engaged in the retail milk trade, and successfully conducted that business for more than three years. In 1888 he removed to Glen Olden, Delaware county, where he operated a flouring and grist mill until 1890, at which time he formed a partner- ship with Jolm Swayne, under the name of Swayne & Wagner, and the new firm embarked in the coal and feed business at Sharon Hill, grinding chop and handling all kinds of coal, feed, pipe, cement, and other articles con- nected with these lines. In 1890 they erected a large structure thirty by one hundred and eighty feet in dimensions on Chester pike for the accommodation of their business, and
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have ever since remained at that location. They are energetic, wide awake gentlemen, giving close personal attention to their busi- ness in all its details, and they have built up an excellent trade and become quite success- ful and widely known.
On August 31, 1884, Mr. Wagner was mar- ried in Philadelphia to Louise Frederika Staib, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Christian D. Staib. To Mr. and Mrs. Wagner have been born three children : Emil Christian, jr., Harry, and Louise. In his political affiliations Mr. Wagner is a stanch republican.
G EORGE MILES WELLS, M. D., a
graduate of the university of Pennsyl- vania, and one of the most prominent young physicians of Delaware county, who has been in successful practice at Wayne since 1890, is a son of Francis Marion and Mary (Stewart) Wells, and was born at South Easton, North- ampton county, Pennsylvania, February 9. 1855. The family from which Dr. Wells is descended is of Norman extraction, and the name was originally spelled DeWelles, but was changed to its present spelling more than a century ago. The date of their coming to America is not accurately known, but they were settled in Virginia long prior to the Rev- olutionary war. In that State Miles Wells, paternal grandfather of Dr. Wells, was born and reared. The family was then in affluent circumstances, and after reaching manhood Miles Wells removed to North Carolina, where he became a wealthy planter. Later he went to Mississippi, where he held large landed interests. He married twice, and reared a large family of children, all of whom are now deceased. His son, Francis Marion Wells (father), was born in North Carolina in 1824. He received a classical education, conducting his preliminary studies in his native State, and afterward entered the Miami university at Oxford, Ohio, from which he was graduated
in 1846. While attending college he met Mary Stewart, whom he afterward married. She was a native of Easton, Pennsylvania, and after their marriage in 1847, Mr. Wells settled in South Easton, where he remained several years. Removing to Louisiana, he became a planter, and followed that occupation until the breaking out of the civil war. Although greatly opposed to secession on principle, yet after Louisiana had passed the ordinance of secession he felt his allegiance was due to the State, and enlisted in the Confederate army. His death occurred in 1863, at the early age of thirty-nine, by drowning in the Bayou Macon, while attempting to ford that stream. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and by his marriage to Mary Stewart had a family of six children : John Stewart, Francis Marion, Anna Stewart, George Miles, Mabel, and Edward Stewart.
Mrs. Wells was the daughter of John Stew- art, and his wife, Elizabeth Green, both of which families were of Scotch- Irish extraction, and occupied a prominent and influential posi- tion in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She was a devoted member of the Presbyterian church, and died at Wayne, Pennsylvania, June 22, 1892, in her sixty-eighth year.
George Miles Wells was reared principally at Easton, this State, and in the city of Phil- adelphia. His education was acquired in the public schools of Easton, and at Lafayette college, from which latter institution he was graduated in 1877. In that year he accepted a position as assistant superintendent in the Andover Iron works at Phillipsburg, New Jersey, where he remained until 1881. He read medicine with his great uncle, Dr. Traill Green, of Easton, and with Dr. James Hendrie Lloyd, of Philadelphia. Later he matricu- lated in the medical department of the uni- versity of Pennsylvania, from which he ob- tained his degree of M. D. on May 1, 1885. The next day he began practice as an assis- tant in the Blockley hospital of Philadelphia, where he remained for fourteen months, and
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then became assistant physician at the State hospital for the insane at Norristown, Penn- sylvania. After ten months spent in this in- stitution Dr. Wells returned to Philadelphia, as chief resident physician of the city hospital, including the department for insane. He con- tinued to occupy that position with great ac- ceptability until February 15, 1890, when he located at Wayne, Delaware county, Pennsyl- vania. for the general practice of his profes- sion. Here he was received kindly, and soon built up a fine practice, which he has retained and constantly enlarged, until it is second to none in the village. He is regarded as an ex- pert in nervous diseases.
On the 19th of February, 1889, Dr. Wells was united in marriage with Mary E. Lane, a daughter of Rev. Cornelius R. Lane, Ph. D., . D. D., of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. To Apon leaving school he learned butchering their union has been born two children, on'e son and a daughter: Mary Stewart and Cornelius Lane.
Dr. Wells is an earnest student of his pro- fession, and an active member of the Neuro- logical society, Philadelphia, the Pathologi- cal society, of the same city, and the Amer- ican academy of medicine. In religion he is a member of the Presbyterian church, and in politics an ardent republican. His stand- ing as a citizen is only equaled by his reputa- tion as a learned and successful physician.
JAMES COOK, a member of the carriage
firm of J. Cook & Bros., and a select councilman for the city of Chester from the First ward, is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Johnson) Cook, and was born at Pottsville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1865. Thomas Cook was a native of England, which country he left in 1858 to become a resident of Pottsville, this State, where he remained until 1871. In that year he removed to Ches- ter city, in which he resided continuously up to the time of his death, which occurred
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