USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > Biographical and historical cyclopedia of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, comprising a historical sketch of the county > Part 63
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Charles T. Warrall was reared at Kennett Square, Chester county, and was accustomed to assist in his father's store from his earliest years. ยท His education was obtained princi- pally in the old Martin academy, at Kennett Square. In 1890, when the family removed to Wayne, he and his brother, Nathan S., be- came partners in their father's grocery store here, the firm name being T. T. Warrall & Sons. After the death of the elder Warrall, Charles T. and his brother continued the busi- ness, and they have the finest grocery store in Wayne and a large trade. They are masters of the business, and know how to make trade and to hold it. In religion Charles T. War- rall is a member of the Society of Friends, and is a highly respected and very popular young man.
W. W. JOHNSON, A. B., M. D., a skilled and successful physician and surgeon of Chester, and who had charge dur- ing the last year of the late civil war of the field hospital in front of Petersburg, is a son of Robert and Mary D. ( Talley) Johnson, and was born in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, February 22, 1837. His paternal grandfather was brought by an elder brother, shortly after the death of their father in Ireland, to Bethel township, Delaware county, where he eventu-
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OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
ally owned two splendid farms. He was a Methodist and a republican, and died in 1850, at seventy-seven years of age. He was mar- ried three times, and by his first wife had nine children, five sons and four daughters : David, Thomas, William, Robert, Anna Hanby, Mar- garet Hance, Mary Gilbert, and Harriet Tal- ley. Margaret Hance was the wife of Rev. Samuel Hance, one of the oldest Methodist ministers in the county, being familiarly known as Father Hance. Robert Johnson (father) followed farming on the homestead, where he died in 1876, aged seventy-four years. He was an active Methodist, and a strong repub- lican, and married Mary D. Talley. They reared a family of four sons and four daugh- ters : David, Dr. W. W., Robert S., Andrew, Elizabeth Foulk, Emma, Amanda Hance, and Ella.
Dr. W. W. Johnson was reared on the farm, and received his elementary and academical education in the common schools of Bethel township, and Conference seminary, Char- lotteville, Schoharie county, New York. Leav- ing the seminary after a three years' conrse, he taught in the public schools for two years, and then entered Troy university, from which he was graduated with the degree of A. B. Immediately after graduation he commenced the study of medicine, and in a short time entered the medical department of the uni- versity of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in the class of 1864. Leaving the university, he was commissioned as an assis- tant surgeon in the Federal service, and re- ported to the City Point general hospital, where he remained two months. He was then sent to the front to take charge of the field hospital, which position he held until the sur- render of Petersburg, when he was placed in charge of the dispensary at that place. Toward the latter part of June, 1865, he was mustered out of the Union service, and came to Chester, where he has been engaged in successful practice ever since.
Dr. Johnson has been for several years a
member of the Keystone State building asso- ciations. He does a general practice in the city and its neighboring boroughs, although he is a specialist in surgery. His extensive surgical experience during the late war in the hospitals of the army of the Potomac specially qualifies him to treat all manner of wounds and physical injuries.
W. McDOWELL, an enterprising citi- zen, and a dealer in second-hand cloth- ing and a broker in general merchandising, was born at Hartsville, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, April 12, 1856, and is a son of Winchester and Catherine ( Hull ) McDowell, both natives of this State. Robert McDowell ( grandfather) was of Scotch descent, and a native and well-to-do farmer of Montgomery county. He was a strict Presbyterian and a highly respected citizen. He was twice mar- ried. His first wife was Sarah Fields, by whom he had two children: Lucian and Joseph. For his second wife he wedded Eliza Cathe- rine Johnson ( grandmother), and their chil- dren were: Twining, Winchester, Elizabeth and John. Winchester McDowell was born and reared at Hartsville, Montgomery county, where he received a good practical business education. He followed farming until his death, which occurred when he was only thirty years of age. He was a republican in political opinion, and a Methodist in religious faith and church membership. Mr. McDowell married Catherine Hull, and to their union were born three children, two sons and one daughter : Deborah ( deceased ), W., and John, who died in childhood.
W. McDowell came to Delaware county at an early age, and received his education in the common schools. Leaving school he learned the trade of riveter in the Roach ship- yards at Chester, which he followed at that place and Philadelphia up to 1881. In that year he went to Stanton, Delaware, and was engaged in the grocery business for three
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
years. He then returned to Chester and was employed in an iron works, which he left four years later to engage in his present line of the clothing business, in the property which he still owns, at the corner of Second and lvy streets. His business increased so rapidly that, in 1893, he purchased a lot at the cor- ner of Second and Pennell streets, where he erected a handsome building in which he re- sides and has a large and fine store room, well fitted up to suit his business. He has a large and constantly increasing patronage. Mr. McDowell is a member of the South Ches- ter Baptist church, with whose prosperity he is closely identified and in which he has served acceptably for several years as a deacon. He is a republican in politics and an active mem- ber of Washington Camp, No. 43, and Wash- ington Commandery, Patriotic Order Sons of America.
On January 20, 1874, Mr. McDowell was united in Marriage with Rachel Everly. They have two sons: William E. and Charles L., and an adopted daughter, Lizzie.
JOSEPH ADAMS WORTH, a member of the contracting and building firm of Worth Brothers, Glen Olden, this connty, and a most enterprising and successful citizen, is a son of William and Jane ( Dilks) Worth, and a native of Gloucester township, Camden county, New Jersey, where he was born Decem- ber 14, 1854. The American progenitor of the Worth family came over from England at an early day and settled in New Jersey, where members of the family have won local dis- tinction in various lines of endeavor, and at times been quite prominent. For several gen -. erations the Worths have been somewhat numerous in Camden county, and there Wil- liam Worth, sr., the paternal grandfather of Joseph A. Worth, was born and passed his entire life. He was a man of common school education, and a farmer by occupation, in which he became very successful. Politically
he was an old school democrat, and by his marriage had a family of six children, four sons and two daughters : Lottie Dilks ; Lydia Adams ; John, who was a merchant of Chew's Landing, Camden county, New Jersey, but is now deceased ; Zara, a button manufacturer of Philadelphia, who accumulated a fortune and retired some time previous to his death ; Joseph, for many years in the coal business in Philadelphia, also dead, and William, father of the subject of this sketch. William Worth was educated in the public schools of Glou- cester township, and after attaining manhood formed a partnership with his brother, Zara, and engaged for a time in the manufacture of buttons in Philadelphia. Later he embarked in the hotel business, which he followed suc- cessfully for a number of years, and then pur- chased a large farm in Gloucester township, Camden county, New Jersey, and devoted the remainder of his life to agricultural pursuits. He also was a democrat in politics, and held a number of local offices. In religious faith he was a Methodist, and married Jane Dilks. To that union was born a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters : Eliza, deceased ; Mary McTague; Anna Eliza Sib- bitt; George, who married Anna Baker, and is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, now located at Springfield, Chester county ; William F., who married Maime Knoch, and resides at Glen Olden, where he is engaged with his brother in the building and contracting business ; Joseph A., whose name heads this sketch.
Joseph Adams Worth was reared princi- pally on his father's farm in Camden county, New Jersey, and educated in the public schools of Gloucester township. On leaving school he became an apprentice to the blacksmith trade, which occupation he followed for the space of twelve years, mostly in Camden county, New Jersey. He afterward removed to Glen Olden, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, where, in connection with his brother, Wil- liam F. Worth, he embarked in the business
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OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
of a contractor and builder in the spring of 1890, and has ever since been successfully en- gaged in this enterprise. The firm of Worth Brothers is doing a large and lucrative busi- ness, and their work may be seen in many of the important towns of this part of the country. Among the larger contracts executed by them may be mentioned those for the erection of the Darby National bank building at Darby, this county ; the large brick addition to the high school building of Vineland, New Jersey, and other important structures recently completed. They are taking contracts for the highest grade of work, and by always using the best material, and employing none but competent workmen, render entire satisfaction to their patrons, and they are winning an enviable reputation as reli- able builders. They employ about twenty men in their various operations, and have been suc- cessful in a marked degree. Both members of the firm are stockholders in the Home Benefit society of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and both rank with the most enterprising, es- teemed, and successful business men of this section.
Joseph A. Worth was united in marriage to Lucy Stewart. To Mr. and Mrs. Worth has been born a family of five children, two sons and three daughters : Phebe E., Eva Frances, Anna S., Clinton, and Melvin, all living at home with their parents in their handsome residence at Glen Olden. Politically Mr. Worth is an ardent prohibitionist, and in re- ligion an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
SAMUEL BOYD MCCULLOUGH,
the popular superintendent of the Defoyer Manufacturing Company, who has won a wide reputation as one of the most skillful manu- facturers of textile fabrics in the United States, is the second son of Hugh and Mary ( Burns) Mccullough, and a native of Philadelphia, in which city he was born August 27, 1857. The family is of Scotch-Irish lineage, and in
the Emerald Isle the father of S. B. McCul- lough was born and reared. After securing a common school education he learned the weaver's trade and became a loom boss, at which occupation he worked for a time in his native land. While yet a young man, he bid farewell to Ireland, and sailed for America, believing that this country afforded better op- portunities for him than could then be found in the old world. He landed at Philadelphia, and followed his business all his active life, desisting only when the increasing infirmities of age admonished him that it was time to rest. His death occurred in 1865. He mar- ried Mary Burns. By this marriage he had two sons : James F. and Samuel Boyd.
Samuel Boyd Mccullough grew to manhood in Philadelphia, and obtained a superior En- glish education in the public schools of that city. He then entered the calico works of the Defoyer company, and learned the busi- ness of cotton manufacturer. He made a specialty of the manufacture of all kinds of shirting, but learned the business thoroughly, completely mastering every detail in the differ- ent branches, so that for a number of years he has been known as one of the most skillful makers of textile fabrics in the country. He has been connected with the Defoyer company for twelve years, and by successive promotions has steadily risen from the place of an appren- tice to his present position of superintendent of one of the largest calico mills in the United States, whose product comes into competition in the open market with that of the best man- ufacturers of this and other countries, and has always been found of superior quality and equal to the best productions of its kind in the known world. The success and reputation of these mills in recent years is largely due to the superior ability and acquired skill of Mr. Mccullough, who is the present superinten- dent.
On May 15, 1881, Samuel Boyd Mccullough was united by marriage to Rosanna McCloskey, of the city of Philadelphia. Mr. Mccullough
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and his wife are members of the Catholic church. Politically Mr. Mccullough is a democrat, though he takes little interest in politics, preferring to devote his attention ex- clusively to the business in which he has be- come so proficient and successful.
C LAYTON R. SLAWTER, one of the leading contractors and builders of the city of Chester, and among the most popular and useful citizens of Delaware county, is a son of Lewis and Phebe Ann (Derickson) Slawter, and was born at Village Green, this county, December 5, 1857. The Slawters trace their trans-atlantic origin to Germany, but have been residents of this country since colonial times, and are among the oldest fam- ilies of Pennsylvania. Jacob Slawter, pater- nal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native and prosperous farmer of Dela- ware county, where he spent all his life en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, and died in the city of Chester at an advanced age. He mar- ried and reared a family of children, one of his sons being Lewis Slawter (father), who was born on the old homestead in this county. Here he grew to manhood and received such education as was afforded by the common schools of the neighborhood. After leaving school he learned the carpenter trade, and afterward engaged in contracting and build- ing, which he followed in his native county until 1880, when he removed to Wilmington, Delaware, in which city he has ever since re- sided. In politics he is a democrat, though never taking any prominent part in political affairs. He married Phebe Ann Derickson, a native of the city of Wilmington.
Clayton R. Slawter was reared principally in the city of Chester, where his father resided for many years, and received a good practical education in the public schools here. When his school days were ended he learned the car- penter trade with his father, and worked at that occupation until 1885, when he began
contracting and building on his own account. This business he has ever since conducted successfully at Chester, and during this time has erected a large number of houses, some of them large and important structures. He early acquired a reputation as a skilled work- man, and his business has constantly increased until it is now among the largest of its kind in the county of Delaware. He gives his per- sonal attention to the execution of every con- tract, and employs only the best workmen and uses only the best material, believing impli- citly in the old and time honored maxim that "Honesty is the best policy," in business as in other relations of life.
In 1880 Mr. Slawter was united by marriage to Isabella Stinson, youngest daughter of Robert Stinson, of the city of Chester. To Mr. and Mrs. Slawter have been born three children, two sons and a daughter: Florence, Howard and Lewis. In politics Mr. Slawter adheres to the traditions of his family, and is a stanch and uncompromising democrat. He takes an active interest in political affairs, and is regarded as among the best informed and most reliable local leaders of his party. He is a member of Chester Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and also of Chester Lodge, Knights of Pythias.
M ATTIFEW HENDERSON, a worthy representative of an old Irish family, who has passed an active life in agricultural pursuits and is the senior member of the gro- cery and provision firm of M. Henderson & Son, of Norwood, this county, is a son of Matthew Henderson, an Irish immigrant who came to the United States in 1818, and located in Ridley township, Delaware county, Penn- sylvania, where he lived until his death, at the age of sixty-three years. The elder Mat- thew Henderson (father) was a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, and after coming to Delaware county engaged in farming and spent his entire life in agricultural pursuits. He
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OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
was industrious and an excellent manager, and became quite prosperous. He owned three fine farms aggregating two hundred and thir- ty four acres of as good land as could be found in Ridley township. Part of his land is now the site of the village of Norwood, and Ridley Park occupies another portion. Much of it is still owned by his heirs, and has become very valuable property. In politics Mr. Hen- derson was a whig and a republican, and in religious faith a Presbyterian. He married Sarah Irvin, and by that union had a family of six children, four sons and two daughters : Mary Erskine, Robert, David, Matthew, the subject of this sketch ; Sarah. and Irvin.
Matthew Henderson, the third son, was born in 1828, in Ridley township, where he grew to manhood and received a good prac- tical education in the subscription and public schools. Leaving school he engaged in farm- ing with his father. and has devoted nearly all his life to that occupation, believing with Washington and other illustrious men, that agriculture is the noblest pursuit of man. He resides on the old Henderson homestead near Norwood, in the house where he was born, and furnishes a fine example of that love for one's birth-place which is somewhat rare in the busy, bustling life of modern Americans, but which is one of the leading characteristics of old world populations. For many years Mr. Henderson also followed market garden- ing, regularly attending the Second street market, where he disposed of large quantities of dairy products, fruits and vegetables. In 1888 he formed a partnership with his son, Charles W., under the style of M. Henderson & Son, and the new firm engaged in the gro- cery and provision business at Norwood. Their store is in a large and handsome brick building, owned by Mr. Henderson, which also furnishes a residence for Charles W. Henderson, who is largely engaged in man- aging the business. The elder Henderson re- sides in one of the finest country residences in this section, and still devotes some atten-
tion to dairying and market gardening, own- ing also twenty acres of meadow land adjoin- ing his truck grounds.
In 1868, Matthew Henderson was united in marriage with Annie E. Horne. To Mr. and Mrs. Henderson was born a family of eight children, three sons and five daughters : Jen- nette, Lillian. Charles Walter, of the firm of M. Henderson & Son ; Eva, Bertha, Blanche, deceased at the age of twelve years ; Victor, and Sherman, the two latter of whom died in early childhood.
Politically, Matthew Henderson is a stanch republican, and for many years has been an exemplary member of Prospect Hill Baptist church, in which he is serving as deacon and trustee. He has taken an active interest in every good work of his denomination and largely assisted in the erection of Ridley Park Baptist church. He is a member of the Pa- triotic Order Sons of America.
W ILLIAM JJ. LEARY, proprietor of the bottling works at the corner of Sec- ond and Howell streets, in the city of Chester, is the youngest son of William and Margaret ( Mines) Leary, and was born January 27, 1861, at Dupont's powder mills, Brandywine, Delaware county, Pennsylvania. The Learys are of Irish ancestry, and originally came from the city of Dublin, where the family has long been prominent. Little attention was paid, it seems, to family records, and it is now im- possible to trace the ancestral history of the family. William Leary (father) was one of five children, the others being Isaac, John, now a real estate agent in the city of Dublin, Ireland ; Fannie, and one who died in infancy. William Leary was a powder manufacturer by trade. and during the civil war was em- ployed by the Federal government in making powder at Dupont's powder works in Dela- ware county. While thus engaged he was suddenly killed in an explosion. He had been previously connected with the regular military
.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
service of the United States. In religion he was a member of the Episcopal church, and had married Margaret Mines. By that union he had a family of five children : Isaac, now manager of Lord & Carter's woolen mills at Manayunk, Pennsylvania; John, the present proprietor of the Boldt hotel at Lamokin, this State; Mary ; William J. (1), deceased, and William J. (2), the subject of this sketch. The father was killed at the early age of thirty- two years, and the mother is still living.
William J. Leary was reared principally in the city of Philadelphia, and obtained his ed- ucation in the Twenty-first ward public school of that city. Leaving the school room when only fifteen years of age, he secured employ- ment in a woolen mill, and later became a clerk in a bath-house conducted by his brother, where he remained for a period of seven years. He afterward entered the employ of the Eureka Steel Casting Company at Chester, Delaware county, and in 1888 began the bot- tling business on his own account at Nos. 333 and 335 Broomall street, this city. There he remained in successful business for the space of two years. In 1891 he purchased the place lie now occupies, at No. 1125 West Second street, on the corner of Howell street, where he is engaged in conducting a general bottling business, putting up all kinds of carbonated waters and malt liquors. Mr. Leary has proved himself very energetic and enterpris- ing, and now has one of the largest establish- ments of its kind to be found in the city of Chester. He employs six men and four wag- ons, and his trade extends to all parts of the city and adjoining country towns.
Politically Mr. Leary is an independent democrat, voting with that party on State and National issues, but liberal in local politics. In religious faith he is a Catholic, and a mem- ber of Division No. 4, Ancient Order of Hibernians, and the Catholic Literary society. lle is also a member of the Catholic Histori- cal society of Philadelphia, and has contrib- uted liberally to that institution.
On October 27, 1885, William J. Leary was united in marriage to Anna C. Price. To Mr. and Mrs. Leary has been born a family of four children, one son and three daughters : Flor- ence, Estella, Mary L., and William, all liv- ing at home with their parents, in their beau- tiful residence in the city of Chester.
W. WARREN WEBB, proprietorand editor of the South Chester News, is a son of George and Isabella M. (Cornog) Webb, and a native of Spring City, Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he was born February 3, 1868. George Webb (father) was born at Rockdale, this county. He now resides in South Chester, where he is manager of the Thurlow Medicine Company, and to his executive ability and splendid business energy is largely due the fine business of this well known corporation. For twenty years he has been a resident of this borough and the city of Chester, and is well known among the people of both places. In religion he is an Episcopa- lian, and a republican in politics. During the civil war he served as a soldier in a Pennsyl- vania infantry company, and was seriously wounded. He married Isabella M. Cornog, of Montgomery county. Mrs. Webb was born at Norristown.
W. Warren Webb was reared principally in the east, where he early secured the rudiments of a sound English education and afterward studied in the State normal school at West Chester, this State. From his earliest years he was infatuated with the printing business, and at the age of thirteen was the owner of an amateur printing outfit, with which he did considerable work and familiarized himself with the different processes connected with the "art preservative of art." One year later, when only fourteen years of age, he began the publication of the South Chester News, as a six-column weekly paper, which he has con- ducted ever since. It is now in its eleventh volume, and has been enlarged to eight col-
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OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
umns to the page. In politics it is an able exponent of republican principles, and in local and general news is perhaps equal to any published in this section. In addition to its political and news matter the paper de- votes much space to general information, and is regarded as one of the best family journals of Delaware county. It has a larger circula- tion than any other paper in its special field, and this fact is duly appreciated by advertis- ers. In addition to publishing the News, Mr. Webb does all kinds of general job printing, and being still an enthusiast in regard to the printing business, he devotes great care to see- ing that every job which leaves the office is printed in an artistic and workmanlike manner, and gives perfect satisfaction to his patrons.
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