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 33
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Joseph H. Benjamin served in 1863 in Co. C,33d regiment of Pennsylvania militia, which was called out by Governor Curtin to protect Pennsylvania from Lee's invading legions. Mr. Benjamin is one of Spring City's well-known business men and reliable citizens.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
OSHUA RINEHART, one of the older, substantial and prosperous farm- ers of East Coventry township, is a repre- sentative of that sturdy German element which has always been prominent in the material development and growth of the old Keystone State. He was born March 6, 1813, in the township where he now resides, and has given nearly all his long and active life to agricultural pursuits. During his boyhood he attended the early public schools, where he acquired a good practical education, and afterward became an ap- prentice and learned the useful trade of carpenter. For a period of four years he followed that occupation in the city of Philadelphia, and then returned to this county, where he has engaged in it more or less ever since, except when attending to the requirements of his agricultural work on the farm where he resides. He has met with good success in his combined employ- ments, and is now in condition to take life easy and comfortable. In politics he is a republican, and has been elected and served as school director of his township for three years.
On April 15, 1841, Mr. Rinehart married Amelia S. Dare, a daughter of David and Mary Dare, of Cumberland county, New Jersey, and to them was born a family of four children, two sons and a like number of daughters. The eldest son, Howard, married Annie Wauger, by whom he has five children. He is now engaged in farm- ing, and resides on the Schuylkill road in East Coventry township. Cornelia, the eldest daughter, married J. Irwin White, who is engaged in the insurance business at Millersville, in Lancaster county. The youngest daughter, Francina, is still at home, while Edgar, the youngest son,
married Lavinia Sowders, and is engaged in farming in East Coventry township. He has a family of three children. Mrs. Amelia S. Rinehart died March 23, 1891, in the cighty-third year of her age.
Joshua Rinehart is one of the eight sons born to Abram and Catharine (Brower) Rinehart, who had also three daughters. Abram Rinehart's paternal grandfather, Ulrich Rinehart, was a native of Germany, who left the Fatherland in early life (1733) to seek his fortunes in the newer world, then, as now, attracting the attention of enterprising men in all parts of Europe, who were desirous of improving their cir- cumstances and bettering their condition in life. After landing in America Ulrich Rinehart spent some time in considering the advantages offered by different sections, and finally settled in East Coventry town- ship, Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he continued to reside until his death. His son, John Rinehart (grandfather), was a hard working, industrious man, and cleared out and cultivated a large farm, beside owning and operating one of the earliest mills in his neighborhood. His son Abram (father) was born on the home farm in East Coventry township, where he was reared and educated, and where he spent his entire life. He was an extensive and prosperous farmer, and also engaged to some extent in the business of distilling. In politics he was an old line whig, and in religion a member and local preacher of the German Baptist church. In 1792 he mar- ried Catharine Brower, a daughter of Henry Brower, of East Coventry, and of their eleven children only two now survive. Abram Rinehart died in 1842, aged seventy- two years, and his wife in 1849, when in the seventy-seventh year of her age.
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
LIVER WELLS is the youngest son and sixth child of James and Margaret (Umstead) Wells, and was born September 28, 1827, in that part of Coventry which is now North Coventry township, Chester county, Pennsylvania. The family is de- scended from English Quaker stock, and was planted in America by John Wells, paternal great-grandfather of Oliver, who was born near Bath, England, but in early life bid a long farewell to his native shores and sought to make himself a "local habitation and a name" in the new world. He was naturally attracted to Pennsylvania and settled in the eastern part of the State, where he lived and died, and where his descendants have become numerous. One of his sons, Joseph Wells (grandfather), was born in Robinson township, Berks county, this State. He was a farmer by occupation and became pros- perous and influential in his community. In religion he was a strict member of the Society of Orthodox Friends, and maintained a high reputation for honesty, integrity and general uprightness of character. He mar- ried Margaret Wells, and reared a family of ten children, all of whom attained maturity and lived honorable, useful lives. Only one of the family now survives, David Wells, who resides in North Coventry township, near Price's meeting honse. He was a car- penter for many years, but devoted the latter part of his life to agricultural pursuits, and is now almost ninety years of age.
James Wells ( father) was born ou the old homestead in Robinson township, Berks county, Pennsylvania, in March, 1790. There he grew to manhood and received a care- ful religious training and such education as was furnished by the schools of that day. He was a young man of great energy and wonderful industry, and an ability far
above the average. After leaving school he learned the trade of carpenter, and followed that occupation most of his life. In 1825 he removed from Berks to Chester county, and settled in North Coventry township, where he continued to live until his death, June 14, 1853. By birthright he was a member of the Society of Friends, but in 1846 he joined the German Baptist Brethren church, of which he remained a faithful ad- herent the remainder of his life. He was married twice-first to Margaret Umstead, a daughter of Samuel Umstead, a prosper- ous farmer of Union township, Berks county. By this union he had a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters : Sam- uel, deceased; Umstead, also dead; Chris- tiana, married George Keim, a farmer of North Coventry township; Herman, now deceased, who was for many years paymas- ter on the Philadelphia & Reading railroad; Hannah, married John A. Pennypacker, of Phoenixville; Oliver, whose name introduces this sketch; Elmira, died May 26, 1892, at the age of sixty-one years; Margaret, now the wife of Joseph Cox, of Philadelphia; and Elizabeth, who wedded John Cox, of the same city. The mother of these children, Mrs. Margaret Wells, died March 27, 1847, and Mr. Wells afterward, February, 1850, married Sarah Rinewalt, now also deceased.
Oliver Wells was reared principally in North Coventry township, this county, and received a good practical education in the comnon schools of his neighborhood. After attaining his majority he engaged in busi- ness for himself as a lumber merchant, and having the native energy and ability which constitutes the best working capital of life, he has met with good success, and is now in comfortable cireninstances. If he is re- markable for any one thing, it is probably
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
the modesty with which he regards his own achievements and his reticence in speaking, or rather in never speaking, of theni.
On December 26, 1854, Mr. Wells was united in marriage with Katherine Mintzer, a daughter of Henry Mintzer, of Pottstown, Montgomery county, this State. To them was born a family of eight children : Jose- phine, married James K. Huey, an employee of Pottstown Iron Company, residing in North Coventry township; Sophie, the wife of Rev. William Rader, a Congregationalist minister, now located at Biddeford, Maine; Harry M., James Edgar, Herman and Olivia, all four of whom died of diphtheria within one week, in March, 1872; Horace O., who has just graduated (1892) from Phillips academy, at Andover, Massachusetts, and will at once enter Williams college at Wil- liamstown, that State, where he proposes to take a full course; and Cheyney T., resid- ing at home with his parents and attending school. Mrs. Wells is an earnest, capable woman, and is now in the fifty-eighth year of her age, having been born in North Coventry township, Chester county, in Feb- ruary, 1835.
W ILMER W. MacELREE is a son of James and Mariah (Buffington) Mac- Elree, and was born at West Chester, Chester county, Pennsylvania, December 17, 1859. His paternal grandfather, George MacElree, was a native of Ireland, and died on board the vessel on which he had embarked for America. His son, James MacElree (father), was born in 1825, in Ireland, where he received an excellent education. He is a good scholar and a fine linguist. In 1847 he came to Pennsylvania, and settled in Lancaster county, where he taught school
for several years, and worked some little at the carpenter trade, which he had learned in his native country before coming to America. In 1852 he came to West Chester, where he has resided ever since. He married Mariah Buffington, a member of the old and well known Buffington family, of Chester county, and to their union have been born two children: Wilmer W., and Dr. George A., who was graduated from the university of Pennsylvania, and is now engaged in the successful practice of his profession in Kansas.
Wilmer W. MacElree grew to manhood in his native city, received his education in the public schools, and took special courses in languages under the tutorship of Prof. J. Hunter Worrall. He read law with John J. Pinkerton, was admitted the bar in 1880, and since then has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession at West Chester.
On January 18, 1884, Mr. MacElree was united in marriage with Ella Eyre, a daughter of David Eyre, of West Chester. To their union have been born three chil- dren, two sons and one daughther: Mary E., Willmer H., who died March 19, 1892, and J. Paul.
Wilmer W. MacElree is a republican in politics upon the leading political issues of the day, but in State and local affairs is in- clined to be rather independent in his sup- port of men and measures. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, of West Chester Lodge, No. 42, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Westminster Presbyterian church, of West Chester. Wilmer W. Mac- Elree has always realized the importance of the Sunday school as a potent factor in the growth of the church and the advancement of Christianity and civilization. He has
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
labored arduously and successfully in es- tablishing Sunday schools in different parts of the county, where they had never existed or had gone down for want of necessary support. He has done consider- able lecturing on literary subjects through- out the county and in Philadelphia, and has interested himself in all efforts to promote or extend the beneficent influences of the religion of the Nazarene, which " the fishermen of Galilee brought to the throne of the Cæsars."
W ILMAR W. WEST, one of the prominent farmers and esteemed eiti- zens of Sheeder, and a brother of Hon. Joseph G. West, is a son of David and Elizabeth (Green) West, and was born June 8, 1832, in East Pikeland township, Chester county, Pennsylvania. His pater- nal grandfather, David West, was a native of Chester county, and lived and died within her borders. He was a blacksmith by trade, and married and had an only son, David West (father), who was born in Goshen township, this county, January 1, 1803, where he was reared, and received the limited education afforded by the schools of that early day. Upon reaching his majority he engaged in farming, and some years later sold his farm of thirty aeres and removed to East Pikeland township, and from there to East Vincent, on April 1, 1851. He continued to reside in East Vineent township until 1867, when he onee more removed and settled at Kemblesville, Franklin township, where he died January 1, 1870, aged sixty-seven years. His life was principally devoted to agricultural pur- suits, and he owned a farm of one hundred and forty-three aeres in East Pikeland town-
ship, and another of a hundred and forty- two acres in East Vineent. He was a democrat in early life, but changed to the opposition during the Harrison campaign of 1840, and adhered firmly to the republi- ean party from its formation. For a number of years he served as justice of the peace in East Pikeland township, and was a man of strong will and good judgment, holding the respect of all who knew him. In religion he was a Quaker, and for many years an active and influential member of the Society of Friends. He married Eliza- beth Green, a daughter of John Green, of Vincent township, and was the father of six children, five sons and a daughter: Anna, now the widow of Levi Pennypacker ; Thomas G., who married Edith Green (now deceased), and lives in Wisconsin ; J. Pierce, (deceased) was a farmer and justice of the peace in this county, and married Elizabeth J. Maris, who survives him and now resides in Philadelphia, where her husband was for some time a clerk in the office of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and where he died January 22, 1886, aged fifty-seven years; William, deceased in early life; Wilmar W., the subject of this sketch; and Dr. Joseph G., who married Ella Haynes (now deceased), and lives in Franklin township, this county, practically retired from aetive business. Dr. Joseph G. West was born May 2, 1834, educated at Pughtown, Oakdale seminary, and Strobe's school, then managed by Professor Levis; taught school in Lebanon county one winter, and afteward read medieine with Dr. Maurice Fussell, of Chester Springs. Later he entered the medical department of the university of Penn- sylvania, and was graduated from that institution with the degree M. D., in the
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class of 1860. He located at Kemblesville, this county, in the fall of that year, where he was successfully engaged in practice and also conducted a drug store until 1889, when he retired and was succeeded by his son, Dr. Frederick West. Dr. Joseph G. West served as postmaster at Kemblesville for a number of years, and in 1890 was elected by the republicans of Chester county as a member of the house of repre- sentatives of Pennsylvania, running one hundred and four votes ahead of his ticket, and receiving a total vote of ten thousand four hundred and sixty-four. He is now (1892) a candidate for re-election.
Wilmar W. West was reared principally in East Pikeland township, and came to East Vincent with his father's family when about nineteen years of age, and has resided here ever since. His education was obtained in the public schools of his neighborhood, and after leaving school he settled down to farming, and has been exclusively engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which he has been successful. He is a man of marked intelligence, and in his political affiliations has always been republican, though never taking an active part in politics.
On September 5, 1885, Mr. West united in marriage with Elizabeth Green, a daugh- ter of John Green, of Chester county, this State. To them was born a family of four children : John G., who married Flora Pennypacker and resides on the old home- stead; William G., wedded Anna Barker and now lives at Sylmar, Cecil county, Maryland; David, now a clerk in the office of the Western Publishing Company, at Chicago, Illinois; and Ada, who married Chester Smith, a prosperous farmer of East Vincent township, this county. Mrs. Eliza- beth West died June 21, 1862, at the early
age of twenty-seven years, and on May 18, 1864, Mr. West wedded Joanna Rowland, a daughter of Joseph Rowland, of East Vincent township. By this second mar- riage he had three children, two sons and a daughter: Charles O., deceased; Jen- nie B., also dead; and Elton G., now a machinist and pipe repairer in the city of Philadelphia.
J. Pierce West had three children by his marriage with Elizabeth J. Maris, one son and two daughters: Levi G., who married Caroline H. Burrell, and now resides in the city of Philadelphia, where he is engaged in the flour and feed business; Anna, mar- ried William C. Passmore, a well-to-do farmer of London Britain township, this county ; and Emma F., who has acquired considerable skill and reputation as a teacher of the deaf, and is now traveling in Europe, studying the methods in use among such teachers on the continent.
GEORGE KEIM, one of the oldest and best known farmers in the vicinity of Kenilworth, is the fifth child and third son of Jacob and Hannah ( Swetzer) Keim, and saw the light first, June 29, 1814, in Nantmeal township, Chester county, Pennsylvania. He was reared on the farm, where he he- came familiar with "hard work aud plenty of it," and received his education in the common schools of the neighborhood. After leaving school he learned the carpenter trade and has worked at that business a great deal, though engaged in farming to some extent, and also in boating and burn- ing lime. When a young man he run a boat on the Schuylkill canal for some nine years, and afterward operated a lime-kiln in this county for nearly a quarter of a cen-
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
tury, manufacturing building lime and sup- plying Pottstown with his product for many years before there was a railroad in this section. In his political opinions he is a republican, and has served as school director for two terms in North Coventry township. He is a striet adherent of the religious de- nomination known as the Brethren or Dunkards, and takes an active part in sup- porting its various interests.
On January 14, 1841, Mr. Keim was mar- ried to Christina Wells, a daughter of James Wells, a prosperous farmer of North Cov- entry township, and the fruit of their union was a family of five children: James W., formerly a merchant at Kenilworth, but now deceased; Elizabeth, also deceased; Her- man, likewise dead; Mary, married Wiley Ragan, a grocer at Pottstown, Montgomery county, where they reside; and Martha, now the wife of James A. Healy, a member of the coal and lumber firm of J. A. Healy & Bro., of Pottstown. The mother, Mrs. Christina Keim, is a native of North Cov- entry township, this county, and was born December 13, 1817. She is consequently now in her seventy-fifth year, and remark- ably active for a woman of her age.
The paternal grandfather of the present George Keim was also named George. He was a native of Chester county, where he lived all his life, and died in East Nantmeal township about 1822, at an advanced age. By occupation he was a farmer and stock raiser, and married Catharine Shingle, by whom he had a family of eight children, three sons and five daughters. One of his sons, Jacob Keim (father), was born about 1777, in Chester county, and lived in Nant- meal township, where he died about 1822, at the early age of forty-five years. Ile was also devoted to agricultural pursuits,
was an old-line whig in polities, and served as tax collector of East Nantineal township. In religious faith and church membership he was a Dunkard or German Baptist, as was his wife, Hannah Swetzer. They had a family of six children, four sons and two daughters : David, who resides in Warwick township, and is now in his eighty-ninth year; Samnel, who lived on the old home- stead in Warwick township, but is now de- ceased ; Esther, also deceased ; Kessiah, who married David Wells, a farmer of North Coventry township; George, the principal subject of this sketeh; and Jonathan, who now resides in Montgomery county.
James Wells, the father of Mrs. Keim, was a native of Berks county, this State, born March 25, 1790, in Robinson township. He learned the trade of carpenter when a young man, and in later life removed to Chester county and became a farmer. He died at his home in this county June 25, 1853, aged sixty-three years. Politically he was a whig, and in religion a Dunkard, or German Baptist. He married Margaret Umstead, by whom he had a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters : Sam- uel, Umstead and Herman, deceased ; Oliver, Christiana, and Hannah, living; Elmira, deceased ; Margaret and Elizabeth, living.
JACOB HIGH, an excellent farmer and
deservedly popular citizen of this county, residing near Vincent, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, December 31, 1827, and is the second son of Henry and Anna (East) High. He was reared on the farm, inured to hard work, and has spent a long and rather active life in agricultural pur- suits, in which he has been remarkably sue- cessful. He now owns two fine farms in
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East Vincent township, one containing sev- enty-two acres and the other eighty-two. Each is well improved and valuable. His education was obtained in the common schools of his neighborhood, and he has al- ways manifested considerable interest in public questions and kept himself well posted on passing events. Though never taking an active part in politics he is a stanch republican, and being a man of deep religious convictions, has long been a strict member of the German Reformed church, which he has served for many years in the capacity of elder.
In 1857 Mr. High was wedded to Hannah Keyser, a daughter of Isaac Keyser, of Vin- cent, and by that union had two children. The eldest, Anna E., married John W. Culp, who now resides with Mr. High. The younger child was a son named William H., who is now deceased. Mrs. High died in 1862, at the early age of thirty years, and on Christmas eve, 1865, Mr. High married Elizabeth Tyson, a daughter of Mathias Tyson, of East Vincent township. To them was born two daughters: Mary F., now the wife of Winfield S. Wismer, a prosperous farmer of East Coventry township; and Lilia B., living at home with her parents. Mrs. High's father, Mathias Tyson, was born in 1809, in Worcester township, Montgom- ery county, this State, where he lived until 1840, when he removed to Chester county, settling in East Vincent township, where he died in 1874, aged sixty-seven. He belonged to the yeomanry of the land and spent his life principally in the cultivation of the soil. In politics he was a whig and republican, and by religious conviction and church mem- bership a Dunkard or German Baptist. He married Kezia Ranck, of Lancaster county, in 1838, and had a family of four
children : Anna, deceased; Elizabeth, now Mrs. High; Susan, who married David G. Burgey ; and Emaline, now deceased.
The Highs are of German descent, but have been native Pennsylvanians for many generations. Jacob High, paternal grand- father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Cumberland county, this State, where he lived all his life and where he died at an advanced age. He was a farmer and stock raiser, and in politics identified him- self with what is known as the old-line whigs. He married Magdalene Gable, by whom he had a family of two children, and after her death married again, and had a family of four or five children. Henry High ( father) was born in East Vincent township, this county, about 1798, and died at his home in North Coventry township in November, 1858, aged sixty years. He was a farmer by occupation, a whig and repub- lican politically, and a member of the Men- nonite church. In 1825 he married Anna East, a daughter of Samuel East, of Berks county, and to them was born a family of nine children, three sons and six daughters : Samuel, Jacob and Heury, the latter now deceased; Mary, Sarah and Leah, also dead ; Elizabeth, the wife of Adam Mench, of Upper Providence, Montgomery county ; Kate, now the wife of John Mench, of Potts- town, Montgomery county, and Anna, un- married.
The High family is an old one in Penn- sylvania, and has given the Commonwealth a number of useful, industrious and honor- able citizens.
ILLIAM E. REIFF, secretary and treasurer of the Keystone Agricul- tural works of Pottstown, who is also in- terested in various other enterprises in this
OF CHESTER COUNTY.
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State and elsewhere, is the second child and only son of Rudolph and Magdalena ( East ) Reiff, and was born March 3, 1836, near Pottstown, in North Coventry township, Chester county, Pennsylvania. He was reared principally on the farm and received his early education in the common schools of his neighborhood, completing his studies in Freeland seminary, nt what is now called Collegeville, Montgomery county. At the elose of the civil war he embarked in the lumbering business on his own account in North Carolina, as a member of the firm of Landis, Whitman & Co. He remained there only one year, and then returned to his old home in Pennsylvania and opened a grocery store at Pottstown Landing, which he suc- cessfully conducted for more than twelve years, building up a large and Incrative trade and becoming quite prosperous. In 1881 he became secretary and treasurer of the Keystone Agricultural works at Pottstown, a position which he has continued to fill with ability and distinction ever since. Ile is a stockholder in the business, and to his energy, enterprise and executive talents is due in a large measure the growing success of this manufacturing concern. Mr. Reiff is also a stockholder and director in the Pottstown National Iron bank, and a ment- ber of the Pottstown Land and Improve- ment Company, in which he is likewise a director. In addition to his other business enterprises he is interested in the Montgom- ery Lead and Zinc Mining Company, of Joplin, Jasper county, Missouri, the business of which is owned principally by Pennsyl- vania capitalists.
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