USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, comprising a historical sketch of the county > Part 62
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On April 26, 1886, Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Mary E. Gilton, a daughter of George and Mary Gilton, and to that union has been born an only child, a daughter, named Lena E. Mr. Jones is an ardent republican in politics, and a member of Chester Lodge, No. 46, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a worthy representative of one of the old families of Pennsylvania, and takes rank with the best and most useful citizens of Dela- ware county.
SMITH LONGBOTTOM, a member of the worsted manufacturing company of Lee & Longbottom, of Crum Lynne, is one of the representative manufacturers in his line of goods in Delaware county. He is a son of John and Susannah (Lind) Longbottom, and was born at Bradford, England, Angust 29, 1844. His paternal grandfather, Richard Longbottom, stone cutter by trade, and a gen- eral stone work contractor by occupation, was a member of the Independent church and the Order of Odd Fellows. His children were : Thomas, John, Edward and Mary Hambler. John Longbottom (father), who was born in Yorkshire, England, was of the same trade, and held membership in the same church and order as his father before him. John Long-
bottom wedded Susannah Lind, and their children were : Elizabeth, who died at seven years of age; Anna and Richard, twins, of whom the first named died in infancy ; Smith. and Lydia, who died at seven years of age.
Smith Longbottom received his education in the Bingley Grammar school. in Yorkshire, England, and at fifteen years of age became a jobber boy in the spring room of a cotton worsted mill. From that time on until 1864, he was engaged in various departments of the worsted mills, and in the above named year came to the United States, where he found employment in the worsted mills of Frank- fort, New Hampshire. After a six months' residence there he came to Philadelphia, and was a sorter for two years in the mill of J. and N. Yewdall, of Fairmount, that city. Leaving their employ he was for many years a wool buyer for Charles Spencer, of Philadelphia, and then engaged in the wholesale and retail wool business, at 47 North Front street, that city. Two years later he became connected with the firm operating the worsted mill of Camden, New Jersey, as a wool buyer and traveling salesman, which positions he held until 1890. In November of that year he came to Crum Lynne and formed a copart- nership with Thomas Lee, under the firm name of Lee & Longbottom, for the purpose of manufacturing medium and fine yarns. They succeeded the Crum Lynne Worsted Company, whose mill they bought. Lee & Longbottom have fully equipped their Fair- view Worsted mills, which comprise a two- story stone spring mill, one hundred and twenty by one hundred and sixty feet, and a one- story brick carding mill, one hundred and forty by one hundred and forty feet, beside ware, scouring, boiler, engine and oil houses. Both steam and water power are used to run the machinery of this large and well appointed plant. Mr. Longbottom's practical experience in all the branches of worsted manufacture, in connection with his extensive knowledge of all the different grades of wool, is invaluable
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to him in manufacturing a first class staple and fancy goods that he puts upon the mar- ket and in the purchase of the superior mate- rial that he uses in his mills. He manufactures medium and fine worsted yarns in all num- bers, that find ready market in this and ad- joining States and in New England, on ac- count of being representative goods in their class.
On October 14, 1869, Mr. Longbottom wed- ded Matilda C. Spear, daughter of William Spear, of Delaware station, New Jersey. To their union have been born seven children : Effie May, John Harry, Fred, Horace, Louis (deceased ), Albert S. and Walter S.
In politics Smith Longbottom is a repub- lican, although on local matters he votes in- dependent of party. He attends the Episcopal church, and is a member of Lodge No. 10, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, at German- town ; Apoll's Senate, No. 6, Order of Sparta, in Philadelphia ; and the Artisan's Building & Loan association, of Camden, New Jersey. He is a successful business man, and ranks with the most enterprising and prosperous citizens of the county.
w ILLIAM K. MITCHELL, a suc-
cessful business man and an influential citizen of Ridley Park, is a son of Robert and Mary J. (Cairns) Mitchell, and was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 26, 1859. Robert Mitchell came, in 1856, from Londonderry, in the north of Ireland, to Phil- adelphia, where he was engaged in Fairmount Park until 1872. He then owned and culti- vated a farm at Glen Olden, this county, for four years, and returned to Philadelphia and his former employment at Fairmount Park. He retired from active life in 1885, and resides on the corner of Eighteenth and Chester streets. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, was a stock- raiser in Ireland, and is a zealous member of the Eighth United Presbyterian church of Philadelphia. Mr. Mitchell is a republican in
politics, and married Mary J. Cairns. To their union were born seven children : John, Jemima M. Logan, Robert T., William K., James (deceased ), James C., Ella M., and Lilly R.
William K. Mitchell was reared in Phila- delphia, and received his education in the pub- lic schools of that city. At fourteen years of age he commenced life for himself as an assis- tant to a farmer who was engaged in the milk business, and in a short time became a milk dealer himself. After four years spent in handling milk he had secured means enough to take a business college course, and entered Bryant & Stratton's Business college, from which he was graduated at the end of his term. He then became book-keeper and general manager for David Carrick & Co., crockery manufacturers, of Philadelphia, with whom he remained for nine years and eight months. At the end of that time, in 1886, he came to Ridley Park, where he started his present successful coal and lumber business at Ridley station, on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad at that place. In 1893 he formed a stock com- pany to operate his rapidly increasing busi- ness. This company has twenty-five thousand dollars' worth of stock, of which Mr. Mitchell owns one-half. He is also superintendent and general manager of the company, which deals in coal, ice, lumber, lime, cement, sand, terra cotta, pipe, and other builders' supplies. They employ twenty men, and have a large and lucrative trade that extends far beyond the limits of Ridley Park, and several towns along the lines of the Pennsylvania and Baltimore & Ohio railways that pass through the bor- ough. In politics Mr. Mitchell is a republi- can, and has always taken an active part in borough affairs, being a member of the town council of Ridley Park for the last three years, or since 1890. He is a member of Prospect Lodge, No. 578, Free and Accepted Masons, and Osage Tribe, No. 131, Improved Order of Red Men, of Philadelphia. In every position civil or business, that William K. Mitchell
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has held he has so discharged its duties as to gain respect and receive praise.
On April 22, 1890, Mr. Mitchell wedded Sallie J. Davis, daughter of Lucullus Nandain Davis, a retired gentleman of Philadelphia of considerable means. Their union has been blessed with one child, a daughter named Florence Davis.
E VAN RUSSELL SMITHI, now living a retired life on his farm near Camp Ground, and one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Delaware county, was born August 13, 1841, in the city of Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, and his parents were Joseph B. and Anna (Dumphry) Smith. He is descended from one of the oldest settled families in Penn- sylvania, his earliest American ancestors hav- ing come from England and located in the city of Philadelphia among the first Quaker emigrants to seek for broader privileges in this growing colony. The paternal grand- father of Evan R. Smith was a life long resi- dent of Philadelphia, where he was born and reared, and in addition to other business was largely engaged in farming during his more active years. He was a federalist in politics, and a strict member of the Society of Friends. He married and reared a family of two sons and two daughters : George, Joseph B., Sarah and Phæbe. Joseph B. Smith (father) was born in Philadelphia in 1807, and grew to manhood in his native city, receiving a good common school education, and afterward learned the trade of shoemaker. He worked at his trade for a few years and then engaged in farming and market gardening on a farm situated within the city limits of Philadelphia, which property is still owned by his heirs. His death occurred April 19, 1890, when he was well advanced in the eighty-third year of his age. Politically he was a whig and re- publican, and in religious faith and church membership a Baptist. He was also a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
and was twice married. By his first wife, Anna Dumphry, he had three sons and one daughter: George, William, Evan R. and Josephine, who died in infancy. Mrs. Anna Smith died August 27, 1841, and Mr. Smith afterward married and had three children, Josephine, Lizzie and Frank A.
Evan Russell Smith, the youngest son of Joseph B. and Anna (Dumphry) Smith, was reared in his native city of Philadelphia and educated in her superior public schools. Leav- ing school at the age of twenty, he farmed for three years for his father, and then engaged in the retail milk business in Philadelphia. He continued that enterprise successfully for a period of fourteen years, and afterward em- barked in agricultural pursuits, purchasing a fine farm near Cherry station, where he re- mained for eight years. He then rented a large farm near Camp Ground, this county, and in 1889 purchased a small farm here, where he is now living a retired life, having accumulated a competency of this world's goods and being desirous of passing his re- maining years in quiet comfort. In political sentiment Mr. Smith is a democrat.
Evan R. Smith was united by marriage to Anna Davis, a daughter of William Davis, a prominent tobacconist of the city of Philadel- phia. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith was born a family of four children, three sons and a daugh- ter : William D., George, Evan, jr., and Lydia, who died at the age of eleven months. The sons are all living at home with their parents.
H ON. GEORGE E. HEYBURN, a leading farmer and dairyman of Chadds' Ford, this county, who now represents his dis- trict in the State Legislature of Pennsylvania, is the youngest son of George and Rachel D. ( Benton) Heyburn, and a native of Chadds' Ford, this county, where he was born Febru- ary 22, 1846. The Heyburns are of Scotch ex- traction, but for several generations have re- sided in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, where
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OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
George Heyburn, paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, passed nearly all his life, though he died at Wilmington, Delaware. He was a whig in politics, and a member of the Hicksite Society of Friends. He married Rachel Burgess.
George Heyburn (father) was born on the old homestead near Chadds' Ford, this county. He received a good common school educa- tion, and afterward engaged in farming on the place now occupied by his son, Hon. George E. Heyburn, where he owned one hundred and seventy-five acres of excellent land. Pol- itically he was an adherent of the old whig party, and in religion a member of the Hicksite branch of the Society of Friends. He was twice married, his first wife being Rachel D. Brinton, a daughter of Edward Brinton, a farmer of Birmingham township, Chester county, this State. By that union he had a family of eleven children : Edith Matson ; Letitia Slack, now deceased ; Phœbe Gamble, also dead ; Eliza C. Gilpin ; Anna Maria Dut- ton ; Lizzie Dutton, deceased ; Emma Clayton : Sarah A, deceased : John B .; William, who enlisted in the 124th Pennsylvania infantry in 1861, took part in the battles of Antie- tam, Chancellorsville, and other sanguin- ary conflicts, was stricken with fever in Vir- ginia, and only lived ten hours after reaching his home here, and Hon. George E.
George E. Heyburn grew to manhood in this county. and received his early education in the public schools of Birmingham township. Later he spent two years in Maplewood insti- tute, under Prof. Joseph Shortlidge, and finally completed his education under the instruction of Prof. Jonathan K. Taylor, at Chester Val- ley academy, Coatesville, Pennsylvania, from which institution he was graduated. He after- ward learned the carpenter trade, and worked at that occupation for some time. Later he returned to the home farm, and for a num- ber of years conducted it for his father. Upon his father's death he succeeded to the entire charge of the farm, and has ever since made 274.
a specialty of dairying and market gardening, having regularly attended the markets of Philadelphia for the past twenty years. He has become very prosperous and successful, and is widely and universally esteemed.
In his political faith and opinions Mr. Hey- burn has been a life-long republican, and at times has taken a very active part in the inter- est of his party. He has served as a school director in Birmingham township for twelve years in succession, and for the last ten years has been treasurer of the board. He was the projector and first president of the School Directors' association of Delaware county, which office he held for three years, beginning in 1889. In November, 1892, Mr. Heyburn was elected to represent his district in the State assembly of Pennsylvania, and took an important part in the proceedings of that honorable body at the ensuing session. He espoused and warmly supported a number of bills calculated to advance the public welfare, and as ardently opposed certain measures which he considered detrimental to the peo- ple's interests, though they were advocated by many members of the assembly. He was a warm friend and champion of the elevated roads in Philadelphia, and was instrumental in defeating a number of special bills which were brought up and attempted to be passed on the eve of adjournment, which attempt he opposed in one of the most logical and elo- quent speeches of the session.
During nearly all his life Mr. Heyburn has been a member of the Baptist church, and has taken a prominent part in church affairs. He has served as deacon in the Brandywine Baptist church for years, and for fifteen years has been superintendent of the Sabbath school. He is also a member of the Knights of Honor, the Legion of the Red Cross, and of the Im- proved Order of Red Men.
On November 11, 1869, Hon. George E. Heyburn was united in marriage to Sarah A. Smith. To Mr. and Mrs. Heyburn was born a family of five children, four sons and a dangh-
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ter : Clara S., a teacher in the public schools of this county; Frank D., who is a student at Princeton college, a member of the class of 1894 ; Allen, Haldeman and Wallace N., the three last named living at home with their parents in their handsome country residence at Chadds' Ford.
To Mr. Heyburn belongs the credit of hav- ing induced the State Farmers' institute to hold its session in this county, and in various ways he has always evinced great public spirit, and rendered his people much efficient service. He is a good public speaker, able and aggressive in debate, and deservedly ranks with the leading citizens of eastern Pennsyl- vania.
JOHN LEARY, who, since 1882, has been successfully engaged in business in South Chester, was born July 4, 1858, at the old Leary homestead, in Paoli, Chester county, Pennsylvania, and his parents were William and Margaret (Shay) Leary. William Leary (father) was a native of Kilkenny, Ireland, who came to the United States with his parents while yet a boy, and was reared and educated at Dupont, Pennsylvania. He worked for a time at Dupont, but early in the war he en- listed in the 4th Delaware infantry, and faith- fully discharged the duties of a soldier until after the surrender of General Lee and the downfall of the Confederacy, when he was dis- charged from the army and returned to Penn- sylvania. He participated in a number of the fiercest battles of the war, but escaped unin- jured. After his discharge from the govern- ment service he accepted a position in a pow- der mill, and had only worked three weeks when a disastrous explosion occurred at the mill and he was instantly killed, when in the thirty-seventh year of his age. He married Margaret Shay. To them was born a family of five children : Isaac, John, the subject of this sketch; Mary, married Frank Signs, of Manayunk, this State; William, and Harry.
Mrs. Leary now resides with her son, William, and is a member of the Catholic church, of which her husband was also a member at the time of his death.
John Leary was reared principally in his native county of Chester, and obtained a good education in the public schools near his home. After attaining manhood he worked at many different trades in a number of places, but in 1882 he came to South Chester and engaged in business, where he has ever since remained and been very successful. He now owns some valuable property in this borough, and ranks with our most useful and substantial citizens.
Mr. Leary was wedded to Cecelia Tobin, a daughter of John Tobin, formerly of this city, but now residing in Australia. To Mr. and Mrs. Leary has been born a family of four children : Fred B., Wiltia, deceased; John and Lusetta. In religion Mr. Leary is a mem- ber of the Catholic church.
F RANK A. BRADLEY, proprietor of the Globe Brass works, of South Chester, and one of her enterprising and highly es- teemed citizens, is a native of Manchester, England, and was born May 24, 1850. His father, James Bradley, was born January 1, 1829, at Manchester, where he lived until April, 1865, when he came to the United States and settled on the Brandywine in Dela- ware county, Pennsylvania. There he resided until 1869, when he removed to South Chester. He is a shoemaker by trade, and married Nancy Harrison, of Manchester, England, by which union he had a family of four children : Joseph, now employed asa traveling salesman by a Philadelphia firm ; Robert, chief engineer of the Pittsburg Traction Company : Frank A., the subject of this sketch; and Lizzie, who married John Dix, a resident of South Ches- ter. Mrs. Bradley died at Manchester, Eng- land. In politics James Bradley is a repub- lican, and has served as assessor in South Chester for a period of fourteen years, and
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several terms as school director. He is a member and past grand of both lodge and en- campment in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a firm believer in the doctrines of the Episcopal church.
Frank A. Bradley' was reared partly in Manchester, England, and partly in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, receiving a good prac- tical education in the common schools. At an early age he commenced learning the trade of brass founder, and after finishing his ap- prenticeship he entered the employ of John Roach, the well known ship-builder, and re- mained with him for thirteen years, receiving from his hands a first class recommendation for skill and ability, which is preserved by Mr. Bradley as a choice memento of that dis- tinguished man. In 1887 Mr. Bradley organ- ized the Globe Brass works, of which he is proprietor, and began the business of manu- facturing light and heavy brass and bronze castings at No. 111 Jeffrey street, South Ches- ter. Beginning in a very modest way, this business rapidly increased, and for some time Mr. Bradley has been doing about six thou- sand dollars worth of work per year.
Frank A. Bradley has been twice married. His first wife was Margaret K. Royden, who died December 12, 1882, leaving one daugh- ter, Lizzie B. On July 7, 1891, he wedded Mary J. Johnson, a daughter of John Johnson, of Wilmington, Delaware. Politically Mr. Bradley is a republican, and has held a num- ber of local offices. He is a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, Improved Order of Red Men, and of a benefit association.
GEORGE ROSS, an energetic and pros-
perous business man and the leading member of the grocery firm of Ross Brothers, of Chester city, is a son of John and Margaret ( Stewart) Ross, and was born in County Ar- magh, province of Ulster, Ireland, December 29, 1865. He received his education in the excellent National schools of Ireland, and was
engaged in various kinds of employment until 1884, when he came to Chester. Having served four years in a grocery in Ireland, he concluded upon arriving at Chester to embark in the grocery business. In 1885 he opened his present grocery house at 253, 255, 257 West Third street, and by careful attention to the wants of his patrons continued to build up such a large trade that in 1889 he was com- pelled to increase his stock and branch out in several lines of the grocery business that he had not operated before. In order to meet the wants of his increased trade and provide for the fullest accommodation of his patrons, he enlarged his quarters and associated in partnership his brothers, Robert and James, under the firm name of Ross Brothers. The business now requires the undivided attention of all three of the brothers. Their house is well fitted up and well arranged for the large stock of staple and fancy groceries and pro- visions which they keep constantly on hand. Their assortment of goods is one of the finest as well as one of the largest in the city, while their weekly sales average nearly one thousand dollars. Mr. Ross has been fortunate in selecting as his line of business that one for which he is particularly qualified and in which his efforts have met with an unusual measure of deserved success. He and his brothers are all republicans in politics and members of the Second Presbyterian church, and hold poli- cies in two of the oldest and most reliable life insurance companies of New York city. In church as well as business matters Mr. Ross has ever been active and one time served for two years as Superintendent of the Sunday school, of which he is a regular attendant.
John Ross ( father) was born and reared in Ireland, where he received a good business education and where he followed farming up to 1884. In that year he came to Chester, where he has been employed in the Roach ship-yards ever since. He is a republican politically, and since coming to Chester has been a member of the Second Presbyterian
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
church of that city. He married Margaret Stewart, and they have three children : Rob- ert, George, and James.
Robert Ross, the eldest son of John and Margaret (Stewart) Ross, was born in Ireland. He came to this country in 1884, and since 1889, has been a member of the grocery firm of Ross Brothers. He is a republican and a Presbyterian, and a member of the Independ- ent Order of Mechanics. He has been a local minister for several years, and married Anna Wilson. They have one child, a daughter. named Mary.
James Ross, the youngest son of John and Margaret ( Stewart) Ross, was born in Ireland, and came with his parents to this country in 1884. Five years later he became a member of the present firm of Ross Brothers. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and the Knights of Malta.
C HARLES T. WARRALL, a member of a grocery firm at Wayne, this county, and one of the most enterprising and success- ful young business men of Delaware county, is a son of Thomas T. and Rebecca G. (Gar- rett) Warrall, and was born on the 17th of July, 1868, at Kennett Square, Chester county, Pennsylvania. His paternal grandfather, Sharpless Warrall, was a general merchant of Chester county nearly all his life, where he died. He married and had a family of chil- dren, one of whom was Thomas T. Warrall (father). The latter was born in Delaware county, but removed to Chester county with his parents when quite young, and was reared and educated there. After attaining manhood he engaged in merchandising, and for many years conducted a general mercantile estab- lishment at Kennett Square. Eight years ago he removed to Cecil county, Maryland, where he was successfully engaged in the mercantile business until 1890, when he came to the vil- lage of Wayne, Delaware county, this State, and continued in the same line until his death
here in 1892, at which time he was in the fifty- sixth year of his age. As a business man he was very successful, and accumulated consid- erable property. Politically he was a stanch republican, and was postmaster at Kennett Square for a time. He wedded Rebecca G. Garrett, a daughter of Nathan Garrett, of Chester county, this State, by whom he had a family of children. Mrs. Warrall is a native of Chester county, a member of the Society of Friends, and now resides at Wayne, this county. Her father, Nathan Garrett, was a native and prominent farmer of Chester county, and the family is among the oldest and best known in that part of Pennsylvania.
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