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 35
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Andrew J. Williams.
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native of this county, born near Fogg's Manor in 1809, and reared and educated at that place. After attaining manhood he married Esther Way, and became a prosper- ous farmer of West Caln township, this county, where he lived until his death in 1849, at the early age of forty years. Like his father he was a democrat and a men- ber of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Wil- liams was born near Cochransville, this county, was a member of the Presbyterian church, and died in 1843.
Andrew J. Williams was left an orphan when only three years old, and was reared on a farm in West Caln township until he had attained his eighteenth year. He at- tended the public schools in boyhood, and later took a course of instruction in the academy at New Bloomfield, Perry county, finishing by two terms at the Coatesville academy. After leaving school he engaged in teaching for nearly three years, and in 1863 entered the employ of the Hibernia Iron Works in West Caln township as a elerk, where he remained until 1872. In that year he came to Parkesburg as super- intendent of the iron works here, and since 1882 has occupied the position of general manager of the Parkesburg Fron Company in which he is a stockholder and director. This extensive industrial concern was es- tablished in 1873, and in 1882 was in- corporated and the present organization effected. The product consists principally of tube skelp, which is iron used for boiler tubes, and the output is about ten thousand tous every year. The mills are fitted up with improved appliances, railroad switches pass through the yards, incandescent lights are used, telephonie connection is had, and an average foree of two hundred and fifty workmen are employed. The product of
these works is known as of a superior or- der, and is much sought after by consumers all over the country. Mr. Williams is also a stockholder in the Parkesburg Water Company and the Coatesville Opera House Company, and is treasurer of the Parkes- burg Building and Loan association.
In January, 1879, Mr. Williams was mar- ried to Sarah L. Wilson, a daughter of Ol- iver P. Wilson, of Sadsbury township, this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been born one son and two daughters: El- len B., Augusta H., and Horace A.
Politically Mr. Williams is an ardent re- publiean, always giving his party a loyal and active support, and has served as a member of the borough council. He is a member of Coatesville Lodge, No. 564, Free and Accepted Masons; and of the Parkesburg Beneficial association, of which latter he is now vice president. In 1863 he enlisted at Coatesville in an independent cavalry company, called the Continental troop, and was sworn into the service of the United States, but never assigned to any regiment. They served for two or three months as a body guard for Gen. Baldy Smith. Mr. Williams is treasurer of the Episcopal church of Parkesburg.
R EV. JOSEPH S. EVANS, an honored minister and respected citizen of West Chester, and who has served continuously for thirty-two years as the pastor of the Goshen Baptist church of West Goshen township, is a son of Thomas and Phoebe (Spragg) Evans, and was born in Mount Holly, New Jersey, September 15, 1831. The Evans family of Chester county, of whom the subject of this sketch is a mem- ber, is of Welsh descent, and was founded
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by Lot Evans, who came from Wales and settled in Uwchland township, where he fol- lowed farming until his final summons to rest from earthily labor came to him. His son, Jesse Evans (grandfather), was born and reared in Uwchland township, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death. He married and reared a family of children. One of his sons, Thomas Evans (father), was born in 1786, and learned the trade of blacksmith, which he followed for some years. Being a man of far more than ordinary intelligence, he soon became active and prominent in his community. He was a whig in politics, and served for several years as deputy sheriff of Chester county. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and died March 31, 1838, when in the fifty-second year of his age. He married a Miss Graves, who died at an early age, and he then wedded Phæbe Spragg, a daughter of Jesse Spragg, who was a native of New Jersey, and at the time of his death a resi- dent of West Chester, where his widow lived to be over one hundred years of age. Mrs. Phæbe (Spragg) Evans was born September 28, 1797, and died July. 16, 1886, aged eighty-nine years. By his second marriage Thomas Evans had seven children, four sons and three daughters : Martha, wife of Adam Webber, of West Chester ; Catharine, widow of Chambers Heck, of West Chester; Cha- rity, widow of James Pope, of Burlington, New Jersey, and now a resident of the city of Philadelphia ; Rev. Joseph S. Evans, and Lewis Y. Evans, now residing in Chester county, Pennsylvania.
Joseph S. Evans received his education at Lewisburg (now Bucknell) university, which he was compelled by impaired health to leave some time before his class was graduated. Leaving. college he returned
to the farm, where he remained until he was twenty-four years of age, and then having regained his health to some extent, he en- gaged in teaching, which he followed for ten years, the last six of which he was prin- cipal of one of the West Chester schools. During the latter years of his teaching he studied for the ministry. He was licensed to preach on November 17, 1860, and ou November 14, 1861, was ordained to the ministry, in which he has continued to serve Goshen Baptist church up to the present time, excepting about one year that he spent in the Union army during the last war, as a chaplain and teacher. In 1866 Mr. Evans opened a first class drug store at No. 9 North Church street, which he has operated successfully ever since. He keeps a choice stock of fresh and pure drugs, has courteous clerks, and makes a specialty of filling prescriptions.
On February 9, 1859, Mr. Evans married Ruth Anna Peirce, daughter of Richard- son Peirce, of Westtown, this county, and to their union have been born six children, one son and five daughters : Sallie, (dead) ; Mary, Willie Anna, now dead; Sarah, Ruth, de- ceased ; and Joseph S., attending Haverford college, Pennsylvania, from which time-hon- ored institution of learning he will be gradu- ated in the class of 1895.
Rev. Joseph S. Evans is a republican in politics, but no aspirant for office and never takes any part in party contests, although a close observer of political matters, upon which he keeps well informed. He enlisted . in the United States service in 1862 as chap- lain of the 124th Pennsylvania infantry, and served for nearly one year. He has acted for twenty years as chaplain of Gen. George A. McCall Post, No. 31, Grand Army of the Republice, of West Chester, and has served
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since 1890 as chaplain of the Pennsylvania Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion.
The Goshen Baptist church is situated in West Goshen township, at the junction of the old Philadelphia and Strasburg roads, and some two miles from West Chester. The first church building was ereeted in 1809, for the use of all denominations, until the Baptists should be strong enough to organize a church, which they did January 20, 1827. Its pastors have been Revs. Simeon Sigfried, Robert Compton, A. G. Compton, Charles E. Moore, Enos Barker, Thomas Griffith, Henry Essiek, Josiah Phil- lips, George W. Mitchell, F. Jasinky, John Reece, J. W. Warwick, and Joseph S. Evans since November 14, 1861.
When Rev. Evans became pastor of Goshen church it was not in a very flourish- ing condition, but under his labors it has increased from thirty-five members in 1861 to over two hundred at this time. The old church building having been damaged by fire in February, 1874, Rev. Evans then ad- voeated the erection of a new church, and was so successful in his efforts that he se- cured $3,200, with which the present hand- some stone church was erected on the site of the old one. He moved with so much expedition in the undertaking that the new church was dedicated on November 25, 1874, having been erected in less than six months. Rev. Evans is a sound logician, a clear thinker, and an interesting and enter- taining speaker. He is a hard student, and bus given to his church the best years of his life and a thoroughly conscientious and faithful ministry. Joseph S. Evans is a zealous and untiring worker in the vine- yard of his Divine Master, where his labors have been crowned with abundant suecess.
C OL. FRANCIS C. HOOTON, a popu-
lar republiean leader of Pennsylvania, and who commanded the 175th Pennsyl- vania infantry during the Peninsula ean- paign, is an ex-district attorney of Chester county, and is one of the oldest members of the West Chester bar. He is the son of Mott and Eliza (Carpenter) Hooton, and was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, October 31, 1836. The Hootons are of English Quaker stock, of Yorkshire, England, and settled in New Jersey at an early day in the history of that State, while the Carpenters trace their lineage to Glou- cestershire, from which country the founder of the Chester county branch of the family came to America. Colonel Hooton's great- grandfather, Capt. John Hooton, was com- missioned as a captain in the King's Ameri- ean dragoons, and served in the English cavalry during the revolutionary war. At the close of that great struggle between the Thirteen Colonies and the "Mother Coun- try," Captain Hooton was transferred with the English forces that were sent to Nova Scotia, where he soon retired as a cavalry officer on half-pay. He was a native of New Jersey, and married and reared a family. His son, Andrew Hooton (paternal grand- father), was born in Nova Scotia, and in early life came to Morrestown, New Jersey. He went from thence to Philadelphia, where he was a conveyancer and real estate agent for many years. He served as alderman nt Philadelphia, and removed about 1840 to Iowa, where he served as a member of the first Constitutional convention of that State. Ilis son, Mott Hooton, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1813, in the city of Philadelphia, where he died in 1838, and where his remains were interred in the cem- Petery of St. Andrew's church. He. was a
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hardware merchant, and married Anna Eliza Carpenter, by whom he had two chil- dren : Colonel Francis and Captain Mott, the latter enlisted as first sergeant in April, 1861, and at the close of the war entered the reg- ular army, in which he is now serving as captain of Co. F, 22d U. S. infantry, at Fort Keogh, Montana. Mrs. Hooton, after her husband's death, married Maris Rhoads, a farmer of Delaware county, and had two children by her second marriage : Sallie, and Anna who married Morton Chase, and died in 1888, leaving two children. Mrs. Rhoads died March 8, 1892, at seventy-eight years of age. She was a daughter of John Carpen- ter and a granddaughter of Capt. Thomas Carpenter, who commanded Co. A, 6th regi- ment Pennsylvania Militia, and entered the Continental army, where he commanded a company with distinction at Long Island and Monmouth. He was a native of Ches- ter county, and his remains were interred in Friends burying ground at Marshalltown. His son, John Carpenter (maternal grand- father), was born in Chester county, and removed to Philadelphia, where he engaged in business.
Francis C. Hooton received his education in the Friends' Select school of Philadelphia, Bolmar's institute for young men of West Chester, and Fairmount seminary of Norris- town. He read law with Hon. John Hick- man, Judge W. B. Waddell, and was admitted to the bar on October 30, 1857. He has practiced his profession successfully at West Chester ever since, except when serving in defense of his country's liberties during the last great civil war. He was appointed by President Lincoln as a draft commis- sioner and conducted the first draft ordered for the county of Chester in 1862, and in the autumn of that year was elected as
lieutenant-colonel of the 175th Pennsylvania infantry, which served bravely in North Carolina, and in the Peninsula and Mary- land campaigns of 1862 and 1863. The colonel of the regiment resigned early in July, and Lieutenant-Colonel Hooton was promoted to colonel, and led his regiment in several severe engagements. The regiment was mustered out of the Federal service in August, 1863, and Colonel Hooton returned to the active practice of his chosen profes- sion.
On June 29, 1870, Colonel Hooton mar- ried Anna, daughter of the late John R. Penrose, of Philadelphia, and they have one child, a daughter, named Mary Penrose.
In politics Colonel Hooton is a pro- nonneed and leading republican, who ener- getically advocates the cardinal principles of his party. He was elected district at- torney of Chester county in 1867, and ren- dered good satisfaction as a public official during his term of service. He was the republican presidential elector of his district in 1868, served as chairman of the repub- lican county committee for 1876, 1877 and 1878, and was chairman of the republican State central committee in 1879. His rec- ord of service for his party is one to which his friends can point with justifiable pride. He is a member of the West Chester Lodge, No. 322, Free and Accepted Masons, and is its present representative to the grand lodge of the State. He is also a member of Mc- Call Post, No. 31, Grand Army of the Re- public; P. H. R. A. Chapter, No. 198, Military Order of the Loyal Legion; and the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revolution, which numbers only four hun- dred and forty in membership. While Col- onel Hooton's revolutionary progenitors on the paternal side were loyalists to the cause
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of Great Britain, his maternal ancestors were among the stoutest hearts and bravest whigs who drew their swords first in the cause of colonial rights and afterwards for American independence. Col. Francis C. Hooton is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church of West Chester. He is intelligent and well read in his profession, active and energetic, and has made good use of his time and opportunities. In 1869 he prepared a small work, entitled "The General and Special Pennsylvania Road Laws," which was published at West Chester. It met with such approval that, in 1872, he wrote a second and larger work upon roads, entitled "The Supervisor's Guide," which was pub- lished by Kay & Brother, of Philadelphia, and is regarded throughout the State as a standard authority upon the subjects of which it treats; also " Hooton's Justice and Legal Guide," published by Rees, Welsh & Co. Colonel Hooton manages his cases with taet and judgment, and has made a good record in the field of his chosen pro- fession.
C
APT. HENRY EVANS CHRIST-
MAN, one of the substantial and pro- gressive farmers of Chester county, and a man who stands high as a citizen, is the youngest son of Col. Jacob and Margaret ( Evans) Christman, and was born in East Vincent township, Chester county, Penn- sylvania, April 8, 1822. He was reared on the farm, and received his education in the public schools and at the Trappe academy in Montgomery county, then conducted by the Rev. Mr. Rodenbaugh. After leaving school he engaged in farming for his father, and managed his estate until 1873, when he purchased the farm and began business on
his own account. He now owns and oper- ates a splendid farm containing two hundred and seventy-six acres of as fine land as can be found in this seetion, all well improved except about fifty acres, on which stands a dense growth of valuable timber. The farm is carefully cultivated, yields excellent crops, and is supplied with handsome, commodions, and elegant farm buildings, and all the necessary improved farm machinery. Ilis present residence was erected in 1880, and his farm is a part of the Callowhill Manor property of one thousand acres on French creek, which was conveyed by the proprie- tary under Peun, April 16, 1686, to Robert Thompson; and this tract of two hundred and seventy-six acres was purchased at judicial sale, in the settlement of the Hazel Thomas estate, by Henry Christman, the paternal grandfather of Henry E. Christ- man, the deed being dated February 26, 1819.
On June 13, 1877, Mr. Christman united in marriage with Martha Christman, a daughter of John Christman, of this county. In politics he is an ardent democrat, has been a school director, and was elected as jnstiee of the peace, but did not serve. He is a regular attendant and liberal supporter of the Evangelical Lutheran church.
The family to which Mr. Christman be- longs is of German origin, tracing its ancestry back to the Fatherland, from whence came Daniel Christman in the good ship Alexander, William Clymer, master, " from Rotterdam, last from Cowes," us the vessel's report shows. He landed in Amer- ica September 5, 1730, and settled in Wor- vester township, then part of Philadelphia county, but now comprised in the county of Montgomery. He afterward removed to Frederick township, Montgomery county,
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where he died. He was a farmer by occu- pation, a member of the Lutheran church, and his remains lie entombed at Leedy's burying-ground in Frederick township. His children were: Anna E., married Jo- hannes Grobb in December, 1749, and lived in East Coventry township, this county; Felix, born in 1733, and removed to Vin- cent township; Elizabeth, born in 1734; Jacob, born in 1737, and died February 27, 1804; George, born in 1739, was a farmer, and lived in Frederick township, Mont- gomery county ; and Henry (grandfather ), who was born in Frederick township, that county, in 1744. At an early age the latter came with his father's family to Vincent township, this county, where he continued to reside until his death, September 16, 1823, at the age of seventy-nine. In early life he learned the saddler's trade, and followed that occupation nearly all his life. He was a stanch democrat, and a firm adherent of the Lutheran church, and being a man of enthusiasm and great activity, he became prominent in both political and religious circles. By his industry and good business management he accumulated con- siderable wealth. He married Susan Keely, by whom he had a family of ten children : Susan, born February 25, 1750, married Henry Christman, and died September 19, 1823; Elizabeth, born May 29, 1768; Cath- arine, born July 19, 1770; Susan, born October 24, 1773; Magdalena, born April 28, 1776; Henry, born March 14, 1779; Margaret, born February 6, 1782; Mary W., born January 7, 1785; Jacob, born May 5, 1788; and George, born May 9, 1793. Jacob Christman, father of Henry E., was born in Vincent township, and died there March 2, 1871. He spent his life principally in agricultural pursuits, and
took rank with the most advanced farmers of his day. In politics he was a democrat, and served as school director and filled other local offices at different times. He was a member of the State militia for many years, serving for a time as colonel of his regiment. On January 30, 1809, he married Margaret Evans, a daughter of farmer John Evans, of this county, who was of Welsh extraction. To them was born a family of five children, three sons and two daughters : Susan, born July 8, 1810; Elizabeth, born October 23, 1812, and died June 21, 1853; Samuel (deceased ), born February 16, 1814 ; Jacob, born July 16, 1815; and Henry E., the subject of this sketch. Some of the Christman families have dropped the "t" from the name, but their German ancestors all inserted it as indicating their belief in Christ and their church connections.
Henry E. Christman often heard his parents tell the story of his grandmother Christman's experience during the revolu- tionary war. In the autumn of 1777, after the battle of Brandywine and the massacre at Paoli, while the colonial troops were re- treating over the Warwick hills, she on one occasion used her oven all day baking bread for the hungry soldiers. Her children be- came impatient and cried, but they had to wait until the patriots were served.
N ATHANIEL F. DOTTERER, a pros- perous farmer residing near Pottstown, who for some years has been serving as justice of the peace in North Coventry township, and is a valuable and highly es- teemed citizen of Chester county, is the eldest son of Michael and Caroline ( Fegley) Dotterer, and was born in Frederick town- ship, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania,
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April 6, 1839. He was reared on his father's farm, where he early became accus- tomed to hard work, and learned those habits of industry, frugality and honesty that lie at the base of all honorable snecess in life. His education was received in the common schools of his neighborhood, and after leaving school he learned the trade of millwright, and followed that occupation , about three years, when he for five years following worked at the carpenter trade during the summer seasons and teaching public school during the winter-teaching two terms in Frederick township, Mont- gomery county, and three terms in Chester county. In 1862 he entered the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Con- pany as a carpenter, and in 1865 was pro- moted to the position of assistant to the superintendent of their shops at Pottstown. Later he was given charge of the railway trains and engines, and the machine shop at Pottstown, on the maiu line division of that road, and also at the same time served as shipping clerk, having charge of the roadway materials which were principally all distributed from Pottstown by trains for the main line and all branches operated by the company until 1878, at which time the work shops, train department and material yards were vacated at Pottstown, moved to Reading, taken in charge of and operated by the Transportation department. Dur- ing 1883 and 1884 he had charge of the laying of tracks on the Shamokin, Sunbury & Lewisburg railroad-a line of thirty-two miles in length, and running from Shamo- kin to West Milton; also the building of new side-tracks at Williamsport and at New- berry-improvements made to facilitate and improve the anthracite coal trade westward, and which are operated by the Philadelphia
& Reading Railroad Company. He was af- terward employed for some time as super- visor of the Port Richmond wharves of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Com- pany, at Philadelphia, but resigned during the labor troubles of 1887, and in 1887 pur- chased a farm of one hundred and seven- teen acres of valuable land in North Cov- entry township, since which time he has devoted his attention entirely to agricul- tural pursuits, and has been very successful.
On April 25th, 1860, Mr. Dotterer was united in marriage with Caroline L. Rudy. a daughter of Jacob Rudy, then residing in Frederick township, Montgomery county, this State, though a native of Switzerland. To Mr. and Mrs. Dotterer has been born a family of five children, one son and four daughters: Alice, Florence, Edgar, Laura and Emma. The latter two are twins. The second daughter, Florence, died Octo- ber 15, 1865, aged 7 weeks, and the other children are all living at home with their parents on the farm.
Politically Squire Dotterer has always been a republican, but is inclined toward independence in polities. He has served one term as school director of his township. and in the autumn of 1889 was elected to the responsible position of justice of the peace, the duties of which office he is now discharging with ability and a jus- tice that gives general satisfaction. Squire Dotterer is a member of Stichter Lodge, No. 254, Free and Accepted Masons, at Pottstown, of which he is past master.
Squire Dotterer's paternal grandfather was Conrad Dotterer, a native of Mont- gomery county, this State, where he lived all his life, and died in 1827, at the age of fifty-eight years. lle was a millwright by trade, and also engaged to some extent iu
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agriculture. Politically he was a democrat, and in religious faith an adherent of the Ger- man Reformed church. He was married to Catharine Younkin, by whom he had six children. Michael Dotterer (father) was born in Frederick township, Montgomery county, this State, June 18, 1811, and was a resident of that township until 1858, when he came to Chester county and settled in East Coventry township. Later he re- moved to North Coventry township, where he now resides with his son, the subject of this sketch. He has always been engaged in the cultivation of the soil, is a democrat in his political belief, and following the re- ligious traditions of his ancestors is a be- liever in the faith of the the German Re- formed church. In 1837 he married Caro- line Fegley, of New Hanover township, Montgomery county. She died January 25, 1887, in her seventieth year. To them was born a family of six sons and daughters, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest. The others are: Sophia, who mar- ried Moses M. Grubb; Catharine, who wedded Joshua Frederick; Benjamin, de- ceased; Milton, and Caroline, who married Joseph Engall.
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