USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, comprising a historical sketch of the county > Part 57
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
of emergency troops. and was paymaster in the army for a time, with headquarters at Wheeling, West Virginia. After the war he was elected to the borough council of South Chester, and served several terms as a mem- ber of that important body. In 1884 he was made burgess of the borough, and filled that office one term. During his earlier years he took an active part in politics, and was re- garded as one of his party's ablest local leaders. He married Hannah Cornog, who was a native of this county, descended from an old English family, and died in 1866.
Gasoway O. Yarnell grew to manhood in this county, part of his boyhood being passed in Aston township and part in Middletown. He was educated in the public schools, and afterward served as deputy sheriff under his father. In 1861 he enlisted as a member of Co.G, 97th Pennsylvania infantry, and served for three years and two months. Early in his term of service he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, and participated in all the important battles in which his regiment was engaged. At the time of his discharge, which occurred at Shafen's larm, near Richmond, Virginia, in 1864, he was serving as an aid on the staff of General Butler. He retired from the army while his father was serving as pay- master, and immediately became a clerk in the paymaster's office, at Wheeling, West Virginia, where he remained until December, 1864. Returning to Pennsylvania, he soon afterward accepted a position as clerk in the general store of J. Frank Black, at Media, this county, where he remained until 1868. In that year he came to South Chester and embarked in the grocery business on his own acconnt, but two years later disposed of his store and became finisher in his father's cotton manufactory here. Mr. Yarnell maintained his connection with the factory until 1888, when he was elected treasurer of Delaware county, and he then left the former to assume the re- sponsible duties of the latter position. For three years he occupied the important office
of county treasurer, discharging his official obligations with an ability and care that were alike acceptable to the people and highly hon- orable to himself. Since retiring from office he has been connected with his father's cotton mill, in South Chester, as book-keeper, and in other capacities.
On October 24, 1871, Mr. Yarnell was united in marriage to Emma J. Elliott, a daughter of George and Ellen Elliott, of this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Yarnell have been born two chil- dren, a son and a daughter: Lulu B. and How- ard G., both living at home with their parents.
Politically the subject of this sketch is a life long republican, but not an extreme par- tisan. He is inclined to liberal views, and while always supporting the National ticket of his party, exercises a degree of indepen- dence in State and local politics. Mr. Yar- nell is a regular attendant and liberal con- tributor to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Yarnell is a member, and for a number of years he has been a member of George W Bartram Lodge, No. 198, Free and Accepted Masons. of Media. He is also vice president of the Felton Fire Company, of which he was the first secretary, and has always manifested a deep interest and taken an active part in this organization.
J EREMIAH J. KENNEDY, proprietor of the National Iron works at Marcus Hook, this county, and one of the most ac- complished civil engineers and successful bus- iness men of southeastern Pennsylvania, is a son of Jeremiah J. and Annie ( Kelley) Ken- nedy, and a native of Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, where he was born October 22, 1864. In Philadelphia he grew to manhood, receiving a liberal education at St. Michael's parochial school and a private school in that city. At the age of ten he entered the old dry goods house of Curwen, Stoddart & Brother, Phila- delphia. where he remained for three years. Leaving them in 1878, he accepted a position
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OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
in the dry goods house of Sharpless & Sons, of the same city, with whom he remained un- til January, 1882. About 1878 he began study- ing the theory of civil engineering, devoting his evenings and leisure time to that subject. and in 1882 secured the position of rodman with a party of engineers who were surveying the Norfolk & Western railroad through south- western Virginia. He remained with that company for nine months, during which time he became proficient in field work, and then devoted several months of study to other de- partments of civil engineering. visiting bridges and mines for the purpose of obtaining infor- mation. In June, 1883, he received the ap- pointment of chief assistant engineer to Gen- eral Thayer, chief engineer of Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, and took charge of the office and all outside work, which was quite exten- sive at that time. Mr. Kennedy remained in this position one year, and during that time made surveys of Atlantic City, the inlet and thoroughfares, and superintended the design- ing and construction of water supplies and drainage systems for several other cities. He then spent six months in the North, and in Kentucky and Tennessee, examining timber lands and other properties as the representa- tive of a number of Pennsylvania capitalists. Virginia and the Carolinas were also visited by him on the same mission, and he made a number of reports on water powers, and sev- eral plans for the improvement and develop- ment of properties in those States. In 1885 he entered the employ of General E. Burd Grubb, in connection with the Lynchburg Iron Company, as engineer, and was with them about one year, during which time he constructed a railroad at Blue Ridge Springs, Virginia, to connect with the Norfolk & Wes- tern railroad, and also developed the Blue Ridge iron mines. He also prepared plans for extensive improvements at Lynchburg, and for a bridge across the James river.
In March, 1886, Mr. Kennedy returned to Philadelphia, and until April of the following
year was in the employ of New York and Philadelphia capitalists in the capacity of consulting engineer. Having had extensive experience in all departments of civil engineer- ing, he entered the employ of Henry Disston & Sons, Philadelphia, for the purpose of ob- taining a practical knowledge of rolling mill work, becoming assistant to the manager of the iron and steel department. Some months later he was employed to prepare plans and look after the construction of the plant erected by the Loomis Gas Machinery Company, in which Hamilton Disston had a large interest. During his connection with the Disstons Mr. Kennedy took up the study of the chemistry of iron, steel and gas, and after obtaining a practi- cal knowledge in these lines, resigned his posi- tion to connect himself with Morris, Tasker & Company, of Philadelphia and New Castle, Delaware. He was with that firm until August, 1892, when he purchased their unfinished con- tracts and portable tools, and leasing the old Eddystone boiler works at Marcus Hook, owned by Dougherty & Feeley, of Chester, he engaged in the iron business for himself under the style of the National Iron works. Within a month after starting he employed over sixty men in the shops, and by November had ninety-six men in his employ, including some twenty or more at distant points engaged in setting up machinery and other work. He has never advertised his business nor employed solicitors, having from the first secured all the work the shops could turn out, through his wide acquaintance with men engaged in building and other industrial enterprises. It has been necessary at times to have part of the work done at other establishments, as more orders were received than could be filled by running the National Iron works at their full capacity. Among the work done here was a two hun- dred and fifty thousand cubic foot telescope gas holder for the Passaic Gaslight Company, of Passaic, New Jersey, which, while not the largest, is the heaviest of its size in this coun- try. It was made from original plans prepared
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
by the National Iron works. and has been pro- nounced one of the best gas holders ever con - structed. A similar holder was manufactured for the Bethlehem Gas Company, the entire structure containing five hundred thousand pounds of steel. These works also furnished the complete plant of the Economic Gas Company, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and another in Minnesota. They were also successful in competing for the work of re- modeling and enlarging the gas works at the United States Military academy at West Point, the plans and specifications submitted by Mr. Kennedy having been accepted by the secre- tary of war, in competition with others from all parts of the country, because they were thought to be the most desirable and best for the interests of the government, although the bid of the National Iron works - $41,993 was the highest of the eleven submitted. As the responsible head and actuating spirit of these works Mr. Kennedy has met with almost phenomenal success, and has amply proved his great executive ability, wonderful capacity for business, and rare accomplishments as a civil engineer. Since 1887 he has also en- joyed a lucrative consulting practice in the different branches of engineering -- including electric railways, iron structural work. and steel bridges - giving expert opinions. and report- ing on the feasibility of proposed enterprises. He is now connected in this capacity with the National Tube Works Company. of Boston, New York, and Mckeesport. this State. and with the Monongahela Natural Gas Company, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
In December, 1891, Mr. Kennedy was united in Marriage to Annie G. France, of the city of Wilmington, Delaware. Mr. Kennedy is a member of the Catholic church, and a repub- lican in politics. He resides in Philadelphia. but his business at Marcus Hook, this county, identifies him closely with the interests of Delaware county, and has made him an im- portant factor in the material prosperity of this section.
The Kennedys are of Irish descent. and the father of the subject of this sketch was born and reared in the south of Ireland, while his mother was a native of Belfast. They came to the United States in 1850, locating in Phil- adelphia. where the father died in 1867, and where the mother still resides with her son.
J ESSE W. RAWCLIFFE, proprietor of the Park hotel in South Chester, and a gentleman of superior business ability and fine social qualities, is the youngest and only sur- viving son of James and Sarah ( Wood) Raw- cliffe, and was born at Lenni, Delaware county, Pennsylvania. July 9, 1853. James Rawcliffe (father ) was a native of Yorkshire, England. who came to the United States about 1843 and settled in Delaware county. where he re- sided until his death in 1865. In 1854 he be- gan merchandising in Chester, handling fur- niture and queensware, the latter of which he imported direct from England in large con- signments. when what is now the city of Ches- ter contained not more than three hundred houses. This business he successfully con- ducted for a period of eleven years. ending only with his death. He was an Episcopalian in religion. and a democrat in politics until the opening of the civil war in 1861, when he became a republican. He married Sarah Wood, also a native of Yorkshire, England, who died in 1878. She was a member of the Episcopal church, and to their union was born a family of three sons, of whom the sub- ject of this sketch alone survives. The eldest, Capt. Edwin Rawcliffe, was the first man to enlist colored troops from this county in the civil war. He organized a company of colored men in the city of Chester at the beginning of the war. was elected captain, and commanded the company for two years, when he was pro- moted to the position of superintendent of the transportation department in Virginia. At that post he served until a few months prior to the close of the war. when his health failed
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OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
and he was discharged on account of disability. He returned to his home in this county, and died a few months later from disease con- tracted in the army, at the early age of thirty- seven. The second son, James Rawcliffe, enlisted at the commencement of the war, when only fifteen, as a drummer boy, and after a continuous service extending over three and a half years, during part of which time he was left with his brother, Edwin, on the Po- tomac, in Virginia, he too returned home to die in a short time from the effects of exposure incident to his service in the army. These were two of the precious lives sacrificed in that gigantic contest, which in magnitude perhaps outranks any single conflict of arms ever witnessed on this earth, and their names deserve an honored place on whatever monu- ment shall commemorate the achievements of the soldiers of Delaware county.
Jesse W. Rawcliffe was too young to take part in the civil war; and perhaps to that fact alone is the family indebted for having a rep- resentative in Delaware county to-day. He grew to manhood in the city of Chester, re- ceiving his education in her public schools, and after leaving the school room became a clerk in a general mercantile establishment in this city. He continued in that occupation until 1876, when he embarked in the hotel business as proprietor of the Aubrey house, corner Third and Howell streets, this city. After running the hotel successfully for a couple of years he sold out, and at once en - gaged in the manufacture of hosiery yarn at Germantown, near Philadelphia, where he re- mained in business for two years, and then, in the spring of 1890, opened the Park hotel in South Chester. This is one of the prettiest and most comfortable little hotels in the county, and is widely known and very popular with the general public. To its careful manage- ment Mr. Rawcliffe has given most of his time during the past three years, and his large patronage is proof that his efforts to make his guests comfortable are fully appreciated. 25a
On Easter Sunday, 1879, Mr. Rawcliffe and Lue A. Sterling were united in marriage. She is a daughter of John N. Sterling, of the city of Chester. To Mr. and Mrs. Rawcliffe have been born three children, two sons and a daughter : Jennie A., William Christ, and John Freddie Betts.
Politically Jesse W. Rawcliffe is an ardent republican, and for a number of years has been active in local politics. He served for three years as a member of the city council in Chester, and is now a member and treasurer of the school board of South Chester. For some time he has been prominent in secret society circles, being actively connected with L. H. Scott Lodge, No. 352, Free and Ac- cepted Masons : Chester Chapter, No. 256, Royal Arch Masons ; St. John Commandery, No. 4. Knights Templar, of Philadelphia ; Lulu Temple of Philadelphia, and Lamokin Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men.
ADMIRAL DAVID D. PORTER,
one of the most distinguished naval offi- cers of this country, was a son of Commodore David and Evelina (Anderson) Porter, and is said to have been born in Philadelphia in June, 1813. He was reared at Chester, and entered the navy as a midshipman in 1829. He took part in the Mexican war, and was in command of the twenty-one mortar boats in ... the attack on the forts below New Orleans in 1862. He rendered valuable services on the Mississippi and Red rivers in 1863-64, and at the siege of Vicksburg his mortar fleet threw shells into the city and works for forty days without intermission. For his conspicu- ous services at Vicksburg he was made rear- admiral. In 1864 he was given command of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, and rendered efficient service in the capture of Fort Fisher, in January, 1865. In 1866 he was made vice-admiral, and on July 17, 1870, admiral of the United States navy, and died some years afterwards.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
C HARLES S. MCCOY, dealer in gentle- men's furnishing goods in South Chester. and manager of the Wellman Iron & Steel Company's store, in this borough, is the eldest son of Emmor E. and Harriet (Rissell) McCoy. and a native of Honey Brook township, Ches- ter county, Pennsylvania, where he was born May 4. 1858. The family is of Irish descent, and was planted in America by the paternal great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, who came to this country and settled in Penn- sylvania at a very early day. Emmor E. Mc- Coy (father) was born January 26, 1826, in Chester county, where his father was a pros- perous farmer. After attaining manhood the son became connected with the hotel business, which he followed at different places for many years, and in 1875 he came to South Chester, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1880, at the age of fifty-four. He was a whig and republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. At the time of his death he was serving his second term as assessor. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias in Chester county. On January 15, 1854, he married Harriet Rissell, a daughter of John Rissell, of Lancaster county, this State, and by that union had a family of fourteen children : Susan, deceased in child- hood; Charles S., whose name heads this sketch : Mary L., wife of Michael Joyce, of South Chester : Susanna, married Thomas McDowell, of South Chester ; Harriet R., Hannah (deceased ), William\V.(dead ), George E. F., a justice of the peace in U'pper Chi- chester township : Margaretta E., married Alfred Detwilder : Norah J. (deceased), John E. (also dead), Harry M., Emma S. and Ber- tha, the fonr last named being also residents of South Chester. Mrs. Harriet McCoy was born December 23, 1832, was a life long mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and died at her home in South Chester, January 28, 1878.
Charles S. McCoy grew to manhood in his native county of Chester, and obtained a su-
perior English education in the high school of Coatesville, that county. After completing his studies he learned the puddler's trade, and in 1887 became foreman in the puddling de- partment of the Wellman Iron & Steel works in South Chester, which position he held for five years, and until that department was closed in 1892. He has since had charge of the company's store in South Chester, and in partnership with his brother. Harry M. McCoy, also owns a gentlemen's furnishing store at No. 1909 West Third street. In addi- tion to this he also owns a block of eight houses. His success in life has been won by honest work, backed by an energy and ability which is not easily discouraged, but rather finds inspiration in opposing circumstances, and overcomes all obstacles by persistent and patient effort.
On the 3d of November, 1891, Mr. McCoy was wedded to Anna C. Hicks, youngest daugh- ter of Henry Hicks, of the city of Wilming- ton, Delaware. To their union has been born three children, all sons: Charles S., Harry M. and Roy G.
In politics Charles S. McCoy is a stanch republican, though he has never taken a very active part in political affairs. For many years he lias been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, serving as a mem- ber of the church council, secretary of the board and superintendent of the Sunday school connected with his church. He is a member of Ledger Lodge, No. 300, Knights of Pythias ; treasurer of Washington Camp, No. 281. Patriotic Order Sons of America ; and a mem- ber of Upland Lodge, No. 253, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of South Chester.
JAMES MONROE MYERS, now man- ager of the Western Union telegraph office in the city of Chester, is a young man of fine ability, who has already met with great success and won the confidence and esteem of the general public. He is the youngest
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OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
son of Joseph and Lorinda (Noel) Myers, and first saw the light of day at Rehrersburg, Berks county, Pennsylvania, November 12, 1870. His family is of German extraction, and its members have been residents of Berks county for many generations. Joseph Myers. pater- nal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a well known farmer of that county, a democrat in politics, and a member of the Lutheran church. He married, and reared a family of ten children, one of his sons being Joseph Myers (father), who was born and reared in Berks county, and now resides at Shar- tlesville, that county. He was one of the young- est children, and after attaining manhood also engaged in agricultural pursuits, making a specialty of stock raising. For a number of years he bred fancy stock extensively, and be- came quite successful and prosperous. His home farm contained about four hundred acres, and he owned other land in Upper Berne town ship. that county. Politically he is a demo- crat, and in his earlier years took an active interest in local politics. For nearly half a century he has been a member of the Lutheran church, and was always liberal in supporting the various interests of his denomination. He married Lorinda Noel. By this union he had a family of six sons and three daughters : En- gene B., Ambrose J., Robert A., Howard, de- ceased in infancy ; John, also dead ; and James Monroe, are among the number. Mrs. Lo- rinda Myers is a member of the Lutheran church, and is greatly respected by a wide circle of friends.
James M. Myers was reared in his native county of Berks, and educated in the common schools. Leaving school at the age of eighteen, he learned the business of telegraph operator, and is at present manager of the Western Union telegraph office in the city of Chester, which position he has ever since acceptably filled.
In April, 1892, Mr. Myers was united in marriage to Ida V. Hinkson. In political senti- men. Mr. Myers is an ardent democrat.
A RCHIBALD FREDERICK TAR-
GETT, M. D., a graduate of the "Columbian " class of Jefferson Medical col- lege, and a resident physician of Upland, is a son of John and Emma (Addison) Targett, and was born at Wilmington, Massachusetts, February 1, 1865. His paternal grandfather, John Targett, sr., was a native of France, but spent the larger part of his life on old Church street. in the city of London, England. He was an Episcopalian, and married twice. By his first wife he had three sons : John, George, and Thomas. By his second marriage he had one child, a daughter, who went to Australia with her half-brother Thomas, the latter own- ing a large sheep ranch in that country. John Targett (father) was born in Paris, France, and came to Boston, Massachusetts, where he was engaged in the shoe business for some time. Twelve years later he removed his shoe business to Philadelphia, where he re- mained but a short time until he was placed in charge of the shoe furnishing department of the Fort Leavenworth Military prison. He served eight years in that capacity, and then, in 1893, returned to Philadelphia, where he is living a retired life. Mr. Targett is an Epis- copalian and an Odd Fellow, and married Emma Addison. To their union were born fonr children, three sons and a daughter : Charles (deceased), William, Emma L., and Archibald F.
Archibald F. Targett received his elemen- tary education in the Franklin and Bunker Hill institutes, and the public schools of Phil- adelphia, and then took a grammar school course and spent three years in private study under Professor Walls. Leaving school, he entered Pierce's Business college, from which he graduated at the end of his course. He then formed a co-partnership with his brother, and engaged at the corner of Fourth and Chestnut streets, Philadelphia, in the manu- facture of shoes. At the end of that time he went on the road as a traveling salesman for their house, and during his three years' ex-
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perience in that line he conceived the idea of studying medicine. Leaving the road in 1890, he then entered Jefferson Medical college, from which he was graduated in 1893, in what is styled the " Columbian " class. Immediately after graduation he came to Upland, where he engaged in the active practice of his chosen profession.
Dr. Targett is a republican and an Episco- palian. He is a member of Lyrian Castle, Knights of the Golden Eagle, at Cromer's Hill, New Jersey. While at Jefferson college, Dr. Targett paid special attention to the study of the diseases of the throat and nose, under Professors Braden, Chalmbers and Da Costa. He also spent considerable time in the labora- tory, and made use of every opportunity that presented for qualifying himself for the pur- suit of one of the important professions in the world.
R EV. THOMAS KITTERA CON-
RAD, D. D., the builder of the edifice and the first rector of St. Mary's Memorial church of Wayne, was one who faithfully and conscientiously did his duty in every field in which he was called to labor in the cause of the Divine Master, and who left the impress of his personal influence on all with whom he came in contact. Of fine scholarship, of high culture, and of pleasing manners and unselfish nature, Dr. Conrad gave all the active years of his life for the spiritual good of his fellow man, and the moral and religions uplifting of the hu- man race to that high sphere of duty and happi- ness which it is their privilege to enjoy. He was the only son of Harry and Hannah S. Con- rad, and was born at Philadelphia, January 19, 1836. After receiving his elementary edu- cation, Dr. Conrad entered the university of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in the class of 1855, and immediately became a candidate for holy orders. On May 24, 1857, he was admitted to the diaconate by the elder Bishop Potter, in St. Phillip's church, Vine
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