USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsylvania : comprising a historical sketch of the county, by Samuel T. Wiley, together with more than five hundred biographical sketches of the prominent men and leading citizens of the county > Part 32
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the riots of 1877, at Pittsburg, was in this during 1876 and 1877, or until the State militia was reorganized.
J. HOWARD RICHARD, a well known business man, and president of the Schuylkill Valley Stove Company, of Spring City, is a son of Anthony and Elizabeth (Ammon) Richard, and was born in the city of Reading, Berks county, Penn- sylvania, July 30, 1850. Anthony Richard was born near Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1807, and died at Pottstown, Montgomery county, this State, August 28, 1870, when in the sixty-third year of his age. He was a man of good business ability, and served for many years as superintendent of the ship- ping department of the Reading railroad at Pottstown. He was a republican in politics, and a Baptist in religious belief and church membership. He married Elizabeth Ammon, a native of Berks county, Penn- sylvania, who died November 19, 1878, aged sixty-eight years. They had a family of three children: Henry A., of Pottstown, who is a real estate superintendent for the Reading Railroad Company ; Howard; and John, who died in infancy.
J. Howard Richard was reared princi- pally in Montgomery county, received a common school and academic education, and after leaving Pottstown academy en- tered the service of the Reading Railroad Company as a fireman. After serving for a necessary length of time as fireman he was promoted to locomotive engineer, and con- tinned in that capacity until 1875, when he resigned to engage in the bakery business at Collegeville, Montgomery county, which he followed successfully up to 1888. In that year he went to Pottstown, but not finding
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sufficient indneements at that place to enter into any kind of business there he came to Spring City, in the the spring of 1889, and was instrumental in organizing the present Schuylkill Valley Stove Company, of which he was treasurer and superin- tendent up to January, 1892, when he was elected president.
On May 24, 1873, Mr. Richard was united in marriage with Sallie M., daughter of James and Sarah Dunlop, of Linfield, Mont- gomery county.
J. Howard Richard is a republican in polities, and has served as a member of the borough council. IIe has been prominent in the Masonic fraternity for some years, and is a member of Warren Lodge, No. 310, Free and Accepted Masons, of Trappe, Montgomery county; Pottstown Chapter, No. 271, Royal Arch Masons; and Hutchin- son Commandery, No. 32, Knights Templar. Besides his business affairs at Spring City, he is interested in financial matters at Royer's Ford, of whose Industrial Savings bank he has served as a trustee ever since it was organized.
The Schuylkill Valley Stove and Manu- facturing Company (limited), was organized in the spring of 1889, with J. Howard Richard, as treasurer and superintendent; Henry Eppehimer, president; and Mont- gomery Frick as secretary, who, together with John W. Gephart, E. W. Poley, William F. Stephen and L. L. Esenhower, constitute the present board of directors, and with C. C. Armpriester, treasurer, are the chief stockholders of the company. The company's plant was built and operated for a short time under the auspices of the Knights of Labor, and was bought of the Knights of Labor in the spring of 1889, by the Schuylkill Valley Stove and Manu-
facturing Company (limited). It is situated in the southern part of the borough, on the Schuylkill canal and Schuylkill Valley rail- road. The plant consists of the following brick buildings: a large four story ware- house, 60x90 feet; an engine and boiler house, 36x36 feet ; a cleaning room, 24x45 feet ; a two story cupola house, 24x36 feet ; and a molding room, 80x160 feet. It is one of the finest equipped plants of its kind in the country, and furnishes regular employment to a force of eighty-five skilled workmen. Its annual output is valued at one hundred thousand dollars, and the company's stoves find a ready market, being sold in nearly every State of the Union. In building up this enterprise to its present prosperous condition Mr. Richard has been very active. He has given to it that care and attention which are necessary to suc- eess, while his management has been both skillful and judicious.
JOHN SLEICHTER, one of the prosper-
ous and progressive young farmers of North Coventry township, is the eldest son and seeond child of Isaac and Mary ( Kullp) Sleichter, and was born June 17, 1859, in East Coventry township, Chester county, Pennsylvania. The family is of German descent, the first of the name to come to America, so far as we have any account, being Michael Sleichter, paternal great- grandfather, who left his native home in the Fatherland at an early day to seek his for- tune in the newer west. He came to the United States and settled in East Vincent township, this county, where he lived until his death. Ile was a farmer by vocation, and reared a large family, among whom was Abram Sleichter (grandfather). The
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latter was reared on the farm, and after at- taining manhood married Sarah Hause, and to them was born a family of six children, two sons and four daughters: Isaac, father of the subject of this sketch; Abram, a laborer who lives in East Vincent township; Kate, deceased; Mary, also dead; Hettie, who married William Lukens, now deceased ; and Dessie, who is now the widow of Ben- jamin Boyer. Abram Sleichter was a farmer all his life and died in East Vincent town- ship. His wife is also dead. Their son, Isaac (father), was born in East Vincent township in 1839, of which he is still a resi- dent. He grew up on the farm, receiving his education in the common schools, and has followed agricultural pursuits all his life. In politics he is a republican and has served his township as school director. He takes an active and intelligent interest in all public questions and keeps well posted on the progress of current events. In re- ligious faith he is a Mennonite, and always ready to do his part in the support of his church and its different religious and char- itable interests. He married Mary Kullp, a daughter of John Kullp, of East Vincent. By this marriage he had a family of five children, two sons and three daughters: Sarah, married Harry Steyer, a successful farmer of East Vincent township, and has two children - Webster and Mary ; John, the subject of this sketch; Webster, who wedded Lily Finkbiner, a daughter of David Finkbiner, of Spring City (whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume), and has two sons- Walter and Grant; and Lizzie and Annie, both of whom are living at home with their parents.
John Sleichter was reared on his father's farm in East Coventry township, and re- ceived a good English education in the ex-
cellent public schools of his neighborhood. He was not one of that numerous class of farmer's sons who desert the farm for un- derpaid employment in the town or city, as soon as they can get away ; but on the con- trary became early impressed with the dig- nity and independence of farm life, and determined to devote his attention to the cultivation of the soil and kindred pursuits. In April, 1886, he purchased the farm on which he now resides, located on the Schuyl- kill road in North Coventry township. It consists of seventy-three acres of valuable land, finely improved and supplied with all necessary farm buildings. The soil is rich and productive, and the place is kept in a high state of cultivation. In connection with his other operations he carries on a small dairying business, owning ten fine cows. He is active, energetic and enter- prising, and finds little cause to help swell the popular wail that " farming does n't pay." In 1883 Mr. Sleichter was united in marriage with Kate Prizer, a daughter of Harman Prizer, of East Coventry township. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Sleichter has been blessed by the birth of one child, a daughter, named Mary, who was born Feb- ruary 10, 1884. In politics Mr. Sleichter is an ardent republican, giving his party a hearty support on all leading questions, while in religious faith he is a strict mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church at Pottstown.
RI EV. JACOB B. SOULE, the present popular, earnest and efficient pastor of Parker Ford Baptist church, who has a wide reputation as a pulpit orator, is what may rightly be termed a model minister, and an affable, cultivated and agreeable gentleman. He was born September 18,
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1825, in Buffalo township, Perry county, Pennsylvania, and is the eldest son of John and Nancy (Lackey) Soule. The family is of German origin, but American by a resi- dence of several generations. Jacob Soule, paternal grandfather, was born in Loraine, Germany, but came early to the United States, and settled, in all probability, within the bounds of Chester county, where he remained but a short time and then removed to Perry county. He was a farmer by occupation, and purchasing land in Perry county, lived there until his death at an advanced age. In early life he was a Catholic in religion, but afterward left that church and embraced the Protestant faith. His son, John Soule (father), was born on the homestead in Buffalo township, Perry county, September 11, 1804, and was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools of his neighborhood. After leaving school he learned the carpenter's trade, and for a number of years devoted his time and attention to that vocation. IIe afterward purebased a farm, and gave his later years to agricultural pursuits. In politics he was a democrat until the organization of the republican party, when he identified him- self with the latter, and always took an active and patriotic interest in political affairs. Ile was reared in the Protestant faith and became a member of the Church of God, in which he was prominent, active and useful for many years. He died at his home in Carroll township, near Bloomfield. Perry county, in 1878, at the age of seventy- one years, having passed his whole life in that county. In 1824 he married Nancy Lackey, a danghter of Henry Lackey, a native of the Emerald Isle, who came to America and settled in Perry county, Pent- sylvania, at an early day, where he lived
until his death. By this marriage Mr. Soule had a family of four children, three sons and a daughter, all of whom lived to reach maturity and become useful and in- fluential members of society. The eldest was Rev. Jacob B., the subject of this sketch. The second was a son named Henry L., who acquired a fine classical and theological education, and is now a minister of the Church of God, actively engaged in his chosen work in South Dakota. He is a distinguished scholar and fine linguist. The third son, John Wesley, resides in Perry county, this State, and is a teacher of high standing. He also owns a fine farm there, to the management of which he devotes part of his time. The only daughter, named for her mother, Nancy, received a good education, and after reaching woman- hood became the wife of John Carberry, of Huntingdon county, this State.
Rev. Jacob B. Soule was reared in Perry county, where he received an academic education. In later life he took up the Chantanqua course of study, graduating in theology under Rev. Dr. Townsend, the eminent theologian and one of the Chantau- qua professors, on March 1, 1888. He had completed his Greek studies under Rev. Alfred A. Wright, February 28 of the same year. For a number of years he had been engaged in teaching, having been superintendent of the model department of a normal school in Perry county. He also taught musie in connection with his other duties. In 1854 he was ordained to the ministry in the Church of God, and began preaching, his first charge being at Shippens- burg, this State. From there he went to Wooster, Ohio, and next to Decatur, Illinois. He subsequently served his church sue- cessively at Chambersburg, Carlisle and
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Lancaster city. He then joined the Baptist church, and served the following churches : Colerain, Lancaster county ; Atglen, Chester county, and in the city of Little York, York county, Pennsylvania. On June 15, 1888, he came to Parker Ford, where he has been successfully engaged in doing the work of his divine Master ever since. In connection with his ministerial labors he publishes a small monthly paper called The Quiver, devoted to the religious and church interests of his people. He has always been earnest and successful in his work, possessing more than the ordinary degree of energy and will power, and many admirable traits of character which qualify him for his duties and contribute to his influence and success. In politics he is a prohibitionist, and a prominent member of the Good Templars and Knights of Honor. He is a member of the Union League, and was elected chaplain, which office he holds to this day.
Rev. Jacob B. Soule has been twice married. His first wife was Mary Stam- baugh, a daughter of Daniel Stambaugh, the first sheriff of Perry county. To that union was born a family of three children : Frances Amanda, who died in infancy ; Willian Alexander, also deceased at an early age; Jane Mary, living at home with her father. After the death of his first wife, Rev. Mr. Soule wedded Mrs. Rebecca Smetlz, nee Hoffman. He has no children by this marriage.
JOSIAH HOOPES, senior member of the great nursery firm of Hoopes, Brother & Thomas, of West Chester, who in addition to his great reputation as a suc- cessful business man, is known throughout
the United States and Europe as a botanist of considerable repute, is the eldest son of Pierce and Sarah (Andrews) Hoopes, and was born in the city of West Chester, Penn- sylvania, on the 9th of November, 1832. The Hoopes are descended from English Quaker stock, the first of the name to come to America being Joshua Hoopes, who left his native town in Yorkshire, England, about 1683, and settled in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, with his wife Isabel and three children-Daniel, Margaret and Christian. Daniel married Jane Worrilow, and had a large family of twenty-one children. Three of his sons came to the immediate vicinity of West Chester, and from them have de- scended the very numerous and highly re- spected family of Hoopes now found in Chester county. Thomas Hoopes, the pa- ternal great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born on the old Hoopes homestead in the edge of West Chester, and was the son of Nathan and Margaret Hoopes. Here his son, Abner Hoopes (grandfather), was born, lived and died. Here, too, in 1801, was born Pierce Hoopes (father), who received the best education afforded by the common schools of that day and afterward attended for a time that an- cient and popular Quaker institution of learning, the Westtown academy. Until that time the occupation of this branch of the family had been universally that of till- ers of the soil, but after finishing his educa- tion Pierce Hoopes engaged in the mercan- tile business in West Chester, and success- fully conducted a general store in that place from 1830 to 1835. In the latter year he removed to the city of Philadelphia, where he embarked in the lumber trade and be- came quite prosperous. He continued to reside and do business in Philadelphia until
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1850, when a desire possessed him to return to the old homestead in Chester county, part of which he then purchased. Here he lived for a number of years, surrounded by all the comforts of life and enjoying that happy and peaceful contentment which comes to crown a life well spent. He was a quiet, unassuming man, possessing many good qualities and universally esteemed for his personal worth and kindly disposition. Ilis death occurred August 20, 1888, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. In 1831 he married Sarah Andrews, a daughter of James Andrews, of Wilmington, Delaware, whose ancestors came to America with William Penn and settled in the old village of Darby, near Philadelphia. To them was born a family of two sons, the elder being the subject of this sketch, and the younger, Abner Hoopes, now a member of the well- known and popular nursery firm of Hoopes, Brother & Thomas, of West Chester.
Josiah Hoopes was reared principally in Philadelphia, where his father was engaged in business, and received a superior English and classical education in the high schools of that city. His chief delight was in the study of botany, and he early became an enthusiast on that subject. Following his inclinations, in 1853 he built a small green- house, which he filled with specimens of the flora of the world, laboriously gathered from all parts of the continent. To this collection he continued to add, as opportun- ity and circumstances permitted, until it finally developed into the present large and prosperous nursery business, which occupies at least five hundred acres of the best land in the vicinity of West Chester, devoted to the production of every variety of flower or fruit that will succeed in this climate. This vast product is presented to the general pub-
lic by a large corps of trained salesmen who travel through all parts of the United States. In their line the firm of Hoopes, Brother & Thomas is among the largest dealers in this country.
Liberally educated himself, Mr. Hoopes has always manifested a lively interest in the great question of popular education, and for a number of years served as trustee of the West Chester State Normal school. He is an active member of the board of trade in this city, and being a man of sound judgment and keen business insight, his services are in almost universal demand among advisory committees and others connected with the management of the various public and private institutions of the place. He takes a special delight, however, in the scientific development of his chosen work, and never wearies in his experiments and researches along the line of botanical or scientific investiga- tion. He has written much ou horticulture, botany and kindred subjects, being for many years a regular contributor to the horticul- tural department of the New York Tribune and other publications. He has traveled extensively in Europe, visiting nearly all the famons flower gardens, parterres and botan- ical collections of the old world, and making himself familiar with the flora of all lands. In 1868 he published his valuable " Book of Evergreens," a practical treatise on the conifera, or cone-bearing plants of the world, which has since been recognized as author- ity on this class of trees in America.
PROF. CARLOS B. COCHRAN, a graduate of the Michigan State univer- sity at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and now at the head of the scientific department of the
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Pennsylvania State Normal school at West Chester, Pennsylvania, is the eldest son of Isaac Cook and Julia Augusta (Bingham) Cochran, and was born July 1, 1854, at Albion, Michigan. His paternal grand- father, Isaac Cochran, was a native of Scot- land, born and reared on the historic high- lands of that ancient country, who in middle life emigrated to America and settled among the green mountains of Vermont, where he passed the remainder of his days. His son, Isaac C. Cochran (father), was born in Ver- mont in 1822, but removed to Michigan while yet a boy. He entered Albion col- lege, at Albion, that State, and after gradua- tion became a teacher in the college, and was thus employed for some years. Later he entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died at Utica, Mich- igan, in 1868, aged forty-six years. In 1853 he united in marriage with Julia Augusta Bingham, a daughter of Nathaniel D. Bing- ham, who was a native of New York. By this marriage he had a family of four chil- dren, two sons and two daughters: Carlos B., the subject of this sketch; Flora Grace, now deceased; Alice and Alfred.
Prof. Carlos B. Cochran was educated at the Ann Arbor university, Ann Arbor, Mich- igan, finishing the classical course and being graduated from that institution in the sum- mer of 1877. He took a post-graduate course in the sciences and then matriculated in the medical department of the university. His medical studies were continued until within one year of graduation, when, in 1879, he was prevailed on to abandon them and accept a position as professor of natural science in the scientific department of the Pennsylvania State Normal school at West Chester. At the same time he is connected with the Pennsylvania State board of ag-
riculture as inspector of food, being as- sociated in the latter with Dr. Henry Leffman, of the city of Philadelphia. Their function is to make analysis of meats, butter, and other food products, for the Pennsylvania State board of ag- riculture. In addition to his other du- ties Professor Cochran is frequently called upon for work in his line as a chemist. He has been a close student, has an excellent mental equipment for his work, and ranks high among his scientific associates.
On July 16, 1885, Professor Cochran was united in marriage to Sarah Marshall, a daughter of Abraham Marshall, of Chester county, Pennsylvania, and their union has been blessed by the birth of one child, a daughter, named Flora Grace. In politics Professor Cochran is a stanch republican, but his professional duties are such as to preclude any active participation in prac- tical politics.
J OSEPH H. BENJAMIN, a member of
the fire brick manufacturing firm of Rogers, Benjamin & Co., of Spring City, and whose services were freely given for the de- fense of his State when Governor Curtin called for emergency men in 1863, was born October 4, 1841, in East Vincent township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Daniel A. and Rebecca ( Wanamaker ) Benjamin, natives respectively of the city of Philadelphia and Lehigh county. Mr. Ben- jamin was reared in his native township, received his education in the common schools and then learned the trade of painter, which he followed with fair success for three years. He then became manager of the Moorhead clay works, at Spring Mills, Pennsylvania,
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where his services were of such a desirable character that he held his position for eighteen consecutive years. At the end of that time, in 1884, Mr. Benjamin resigned and came to Spring City, which has been his home ever since. His object in coming to the latter named place was to engage in the fire-brick business. He and Allen Rogers formed a partnership, and after ex- amining various works and sites, purchased the brick plant of Custer & Van Leer, which they fitted up and thoroughly equipped for the manufacture of fire-brick and stove linings. Two years later the firm name changed from Rogers & Benjamin to Rogers, Benjamin & Co. Their plant is situated on First avenue, and lies along the tracks of the Reading railroad. From time to time since coming in possession of their works, as their increased trade demanded or they perceived some new method worthy of trial, they have enlarged their plant and placed improved machinery within their buildings until they now have one of the best equipped plants of its kind in the State. Their main building is a solid brick structure, two stories high, with a basement, and is 50 feet in width by 120 feet in length. Almost ad- joining it is a three-story briek fire-proof building, 40x50 feet in dimensions, and at various other places on the plant are situa- ted all other buildings necessary to the manufacture of their products. They en- ploy from twelve to fifteen men. The repul- tation of their fire-brick and stove linings and the demand for the same extends over a considerable area of country. Their clay is of first-class quality, their productions are manufactured with the utmost care by ex- perienced and skilled workmen, and their trade has been rapidly increasing from year to year. Mr. Benjamin is a member and
trustee of the Spring City Methodist Epis- copal church, and has held membership for several years in Marble Hall Lodge, No. 351, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In polities he is a prohibitionist, who believes in aggressive political action as the surest means to wipe out the curse of intemperance in this country.
In February, 1868, Mr. Benjamin was united in marriage with Hester A. Steltz, daughter of Henry Steltz, a farmer of Mont- gomery county.
The Benjamin family of which Joseph H. Benjamin is a member, is of Jewish descent. His grandfather, Alexander Benjamin, came to Philadelphia, where his son, Daniel A. Benjamin (father), was born, in 1801. Daniel A. Benjamin was reared principally in East Vincent township, Chester county, and learned the trade of blacksmith, which he followed for several years. He was a democrat and a member of the Reformed church, and died at Spring City in 1882, aged eighty-one years. He married Rebecca Wanamaker, a daughter of Casper Wana- maker, a farmer of Lynn township, Lehigh county. To Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin were born seven children : Elizabeth and Susan, who are both dead; John, of Spring City, who served in Co. B, 175th Pennsylvania infantry, during the late war; Mary A., de- ceased; Joseph H., the subject of this sketch ; Franklin, a resident of Philadelphia, and in the employ of a leading railway company ; and Rachel, who is now dead.
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