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 42
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Civil Engineers, the American Society of Mining Engineers, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He is a thirty- second degree Mason, a Knight Templar, and a member of the Philadelphia Consistory.
In politics, Mr. Bonzano is a republican, but he takes no decided part in political affairs, as his time is given to the duties of his profession and the needs of his business interests. His native talent, strong indi- viduality, and untiring industry are the means by which he has won his way into the front rank of civil engineering, while the large and substanstial bridges which he has ereeted in the United States and Canada are but so many enduring and conspicuous monuments of his skill and success.
R EV. WILLIAM R. STOCKTON, D.
D., who for the third of a century has been the popular pastor of St. Peter's Epis- copal church at Phoenixville, and is an author of considerable repute, was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Oc- tober 31, 1820. He grew to manhood in his native city, receiving a superior educa- tion in the best private schools of Philadel- phia, and after leaving school was engaged for a time in the real estate business and conveyaneing. His theological training was received at the divinity school at Philadel- phia. On November 5, 1857, the standing committee of the dioeesc admitted him as a candidate for Holy Orders. He was or- dained to the office of deacon by Bishop Samuel Bowman, December 19, 1858. at St. Philip's church, Philadelphia, and to the priesthood by Bishop Alonzo Potter and Bishop Samuel Bowman, on Sunday, De- eember 18, 1859, at the church of St. Matthias, Philadelphia. On August 9, 1858.
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he was unanimously elected to the rector- ship of St. Peter's Episcopal church at Phoenixville, and St. James' church at Evansburg, Montgomery county. IIe was unanimously re-elected after his ordination, and continued to serve both congregations regularly for four years, when he resigned his charge in Montgomery county. During all the intervening years he has continued in the acceptable discharge of his duties as pastor of the church in Phoenixville, and has also temporarily taken charge of other churches until they could be supplied by regular pastors, having been elected by the several vestries. In this way he has preached on Sunday afternoons for periods ranging from two to four years, in St. Mary's church, at Warwick; St. Andrew's church at West Vincent; St. John's church at Pickering bridge; and St. Peter's church in Great Valley, all of this county.
At the beginning of the great civil war, Rev. Dr. Stockton was appointed chaplain of the 61st regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers by Governor Curtin, and obtaining a three months' leave of absence from his church, he accepted the appointment and went to the front. During the battle of the Seven Pines or Fair Oaks, he was captured by the Confederate forces, while attending to the wounded, and held in confinement at Libby prison in Richmond, and at Salisbury, North Carolina. He was released, however, in time to return to Pennsylvania at the ex- piration of his leave of absence, and re- snmed the duties of a pastorate which has suffered no interruption since. Dr. Stockton has been successful in his work as a pastor, the church building has several times been greatly improved during his rectorship, and additions to the membership have been made by confirmation regularly every year.
Preliminary steps have been taken to build a new church and several thousand dollars have been subscribed for that purpose. He is the author of several books that have had a wide circulation in the libraries of the Sunday schools connected with the Episcopal church in all parts of America. Among these children of his pen may be mentioned : Child's book on the Creed, Fragments for the Young, and Christmas Tokens.
Rev. Dr. Stockton married Emma T. Gross, of the city of Philadelphia, in March, 1843, and, Providence permitting, will cele- brate his golden wedding in March, 1893. He is the father of thirteen children, eleven of whom are still living, four sons and seven daughters. One of Rev. Dr. Stockton's sons, the eldest, Charles H., was appointed a cadet to the United States Naval academy, then at Newport, Rhode Island. He gradu- ated at the close of the civil war, and is still an officer in the United States navy, with the rank of commander. At present he is one of the professors of the United States war college at Newport, Rhode Island. He married Miss Neelie Carter, daughter of Rev. A. B. Carter, D. D., of New York, and after her death wedded Miss Pauline King, daughter of Mr. Peter King, a prom- inent merchant of that city. Another son, Lewis Stockton, is a prominent attorney at law of Buffalo, New York. He was mar- ried to Miss Eloise Gilbert, a daughter of Mr. Colgate Gilbert, a wealthy manufacturer of that city. Four of the daughters are married. Two of the sons remain single : one, William B., resides in Helena, Montana, and the other, David Reeves Stockton, is at home engaged in the large iron works of the place.
Rev. William R. Stockton is a republican
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in politics, and his degree of doctor of divin- ity was conferred on him October 19, 1889. . He is a son of Charles and Eliza M. ( Whar- ton) Stockton, and traces his ancestry back to Richard Stockton, the founder of the Stockton family of New Jersey. Richard was a son of John Stockton, of Keddington, in the parish of Malpas, Chestershire, Eng- land, and came to America prior to 1660. The English Stoektons are an ancient and honorable family and were privileged to use a family coat of arms, still used by the family. Among the early members of the family who distinguished themselves in America was Hon. Richard Stockton, the first man from New Jersey to sign the Declaration of Independence.
Charles Stockton, father of Dr. William R. Stockton, was born at Burlington, New Jersey, in 1801, but removed to Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, while yet a young man, and was engaged in the clothing business in that city for many years. He became very prosperous, and finally retired from business possessed of a handsome competency. Ile died at his home in Phiadelphia, December 22, 1883, at the remarkable age of ninety- two years. In politics the elder Stockton was a whig and republican, and in religion a strict member of the Presbyterian church. April 30, 1818, he was united in marriage to Eliza M. Wharton, a native of Philadel- phia, who died at her home in that city, March 12, 1837. To this union was born a family of eight children, of whom Dr. Stockton is the eldest living.
H ENRY S. HALLMAN, a stockholder and director of the Spring City Bloom Works Company, is a son of Henry and Anna (Setzler) Hallman, and was born near
Mingo Shute, in Upper Providence town- ship, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, November 13, 1844. Ile obtained his edu- cation in the common schools of his native township, and Washington Hall school of Trappe, Montgomery county, which he at- tended for three terms. Leaving school, he learned the trade of miller, and after fol- lowing milling for two years, entered the employ of the Reading Railroad Company, with whom he remained until 1862, when he left his engine to enlist in the naval service of the United States After two years' service as an engineer in the North Atlantic squadron, and participating in the battles of Plymouth, Roanoke, and Fort Fisher, and two other engagements, he was honorably discharged from the navy, and resumed his former line of work as a loco- motive engineer, which he followed contin- uously until 1866. He then purchased a half interest in the stove tile works of Finkbiner & Beerbrower, and organized the firm of Finkbiner & Hallman, which con- tinued in existence for twelve years. At the end of that time Mr. Hallman and his partner disposed of their works and business to Scholknob & Co. He was then variously engaged until 1883, when he became a member of the firm of Francis & Co., which established in that year the present Spring City Bloom Works. The firm continued until 1890, when it was reorganized as a stock company, under the name of the Spring City Bloom Works Company, whose officers are : Samuel Egolf, president ; Henry Francis, treasurer; W. W. Emery, secretary. Its present board of directors are: Willis Rogers, Milton Latshaw, and Mr. Hallman, who has served continuously as a director since the organization of the company. The plant is situated in the southeastern part of
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the 'borough, and its main buildings are : the bloomery, 40 x 80 feet, with an L 40 x 40 feet, and a coal house 30 x 50 feet. The works are fully equipped with modern ap- pliances, and run by a twenty-eight horse- power engine. The company employ thirty- six men during the busy season of the year, and manufacture charcoal blooms of a su- perior quality, for boiler plates and other machine shop work, which are in steady demand in this and several other States.
In December, 1871, Mr. Hallman married Gertrude Beerbrower, daughter of Reuben Beerbrower, of East Pikeland township.
Henry S. Hallman is inclined to be rather an independent in politics. He has served as a councilman of his borough, and is a member of a lodge of Free and Accepted Masons.
Mr. Hallman comes of an old German family. His father, Henry Hallman, was born about 1810, in Upper Providence township, Montgomery county, where he died in 1877. He was a farmer and a dem- ocrat, and had been a member of the Evan- gelical Lutheran church for many years before his death. His wife, Hannah Hall- man, was a daughter of William Setzler, who served in the American army during the war of 1812. They reared a family of seven children, of whom all grew to matur- ity, and four are now living: Abram, Henry S., Mary, and Elwood. Abram is station agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany at Norristown, Montgomery county ; Mary, married the late Franklin Beerbrower, and now resides in Philadelphia; and El- wood is a lawyer in active practice at Royer's Ford, Montgomery county. Henry Hallman was a son of Abram Hallman (grandfather), whose father, Abram Hallman, sr., came from Germany to Montgomery county at an
early day in its history. Abram Hallman was a carpenter by trade, but followed farming principally. He always voted the democratic ticket, and was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, in whose faith he was reared. He married Sarah Prizer, and had but one child, Henry, the father of the subject of this sketch.
Henry S. Hallman is an active and thor- oughgoing business man, who by industry and good management has achieved success.
H ENRY BEAN, deceased, who served for a number of years as justice of the peace in Schuylkill township, was a man of rare business ability, and one who left his mark on the industrial development of his section. He was the fourth child and eldest son of Nicholas and Mary Ann (Vanderslice) Bean, and was born August 4, 1833, at Pawl- ing, Schuylkill township, Chester county, Pennsylvania. There he grew manhood, re- ceiving a superior English education at the Trappe school and in the boarding school at Norristown. Soon after leaving school he be- caine associated with his father in the lum- ber and coal trade at Pawling, and was, more or less, interested in that business all his life, owning and operating a large saw mill for many years. About 1860 he em- barked with his brothor, Capt. B. F. Bean, under the firm name of H. & B. F. Bean, in the sand crushing business at Pawling, where he continued that business until 1881, in connection with his brother, Capt. Benjamin F. Bean. In 1881 the co-part- nership of II. & B. F. Bean was dissolved, Henry Bean moving to Valley Forge, where, under the firm-title of the Bean Fire Sand Company, he started a similar enterprise. His business proved successful, the demand
Henty Bean.
Mary Jane Bean.
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for his product constantly increasing. The business was conducted under the above name until 1888, when a joint stock com- pany was organized under the style of Bean Fire Sand Company, limited, to run five years. Henry Bean was a man of great energy of character, and had a wonderful capacity for managing the details of busi- ness. He seemed capable of creating suc- cess in every enterprise he touched, and was apparently at the zenith of a successful career when called away by death, Septem- ber 5, 1890, at the age of fifty-seven years. His remains lie entombed in the Morris cemetery at Phoenixville. In politics Mr. Bean was an ardent and enthusiastic repub- lican, and was honored by his fellow citi- zens of Schuylkill township with election to the office of justice of the peace, in which he served with distinction for three full terms, and was holding the position at the time of his death.
Henry Bean was twice married. His first wife was Andora Umsted, by whom he had one son, Alfred Umsted, who married Sarah Reed, and now resides in the city of Pitts- burg, where he is engaged in the real estate business. Some years after the death of his first wife, on December 27, 1860, Mr. Bean was united in marriage to Mary Jane Tyson, a daughter of Robert and Jane M. Tyson, members of the Society of Friends, of Lower Providence township, Montgomery county, this State. To them was born a family of seven children, all of whom died in infancy except the third son, Nicholas, who married May R. Rowan, and resided in Schuylkill township, where he was engaged in the sand business with his father until his death, September 8, 1890, at the age of twenty- seven years. His widow is now living at Philadelphia. The other six children of
Henry and Mary Jane Bean were Franklin, Jesse, Robert, John, Mary Jane and Andora. For ancestral history of Henry Bean, see the sketch of Capt. Benjamin Franklin Bean, which appears elsewhere in this volume.
After the death of her husband, in 1890, Mrs. Mary J. Bean took his place in the management of the stone crushing business at Valley Forge, and has proved herself a shining example of that latent business ability possessed by a large class of Ameri- can women, who only need some sudden emergency to call into action a power and force of character that might else have never been suspected. She is of German and Welsh descent, and was reared and ed- ucated in Montgomery county, where her family is among the oldest and most res- pected, and has furnished the Common- wealth with a number of active, useful and influential citizens.
H ON. THEODORE K. STUBBS was a member of the State legislature from 1881 to 1886, and is now a prominent nt- torney of Oxford, who by energetic and zealous work has attained more than the ordinary degree of success. He is the eld- est son of Daniel and Rachel A. (Kirk) Stubbs, and was born June 10, 1847, in East Nottingham, Chester county, Pennsyl- vania. Isaac Stubbs (grandfather) was a native of Lancaster county, and died there in 1832, at the advanced age of seventy- five years. He was a farmer by occupation, and married Hannah Brown, by whom he had a family of nine children. One of his sons was Daniel Stubbs (father) who was born in Lancaster county, July 17, 1812, but in early manhood removed to East Nottingham,
22
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Chester county. He died at Notting- ham, April 29, 1869, in the fifty-seventh year of his age, and greatly esteemed by all who knew him. He passed his life princi- pally in mercantile pursuits. While yet a lad he clerked for a time in a store at Wil- mington, Delaware, and later formed a partnership with his brother, Amer Stubbs, and engaged in general merchandising at Peach Bottom, Lancaster county, which business he conducted for some time, and theu joined another brother, Joseph Stubbs, in the purchase of a farm, store and paper mill at Nottingham. Another farm and grist mill were purchased from his brother- in-law, Roger Kirk. Later he sold his in- terest in the lower farm to his brother, and removed to the upper farm and flour mills, at Ililamans, where he erected a store build- ing and several fine brick houses. He was one of the first directors of the Baltimore Central railroad, and after its completion removed to Nottingham, where he resided until his death. He was also a director of the Oxford National bank, and Oxford Fire Insurance company. In political sentiment he was a republican, and in religion a faith- ful adherent of the Society of Friends. On October 3, 1844, he married Rachel A. Kirk, and to them was born a family of five chil- dren, three sons and two daughters: Hon. Theodore Kirk, the subject of this sketch ; Isaac F., born December 29, 1848, died Feb- ruary 27, 1879; Phœbe M., born July 1, 1850, and died January 22, 1876; Dr. Dan- iel A., born June 29, 1852, educated at Swarthmore college, graduated with the degree of M. D. from Jefferson Medical col- lege, and is now a prominent physician of Oxford, this county; and Ida E., who re- ceived a classical education at the Swarth- more college.
The maternal great-grandfather of Hon. Theodore Kirk Stubbs was Capt. Roger Kirk, who served with distinction in the revolutionary war, and after the close of that struggle was elected and served as a member of the State assembly at Philadel- phia, representing Chester county in that honorable body. He was re-elected at the close of his first term, serving in several consecutive sessions, and becoming promi- nent and influential in the halls of legis- lation. He secured among other enact- ments the passage of a bill to locate and grade the old State road, known as the Christianna or "Christeen" road. His son, Josiah Kirk (maternal grandfather), was born in Chester county, August 17, 1784, and died September 8, 1821, at the early age of thirty-seven years. He was a man of great activity and fine business qualifi- cations, and was successively engaged in the management of flouring mills, paper mills and a cotton factory. He married Phœbe Passmore, by whom he had a family of four children, three sons and a danghter, Rachel A., who became the mother of Hon. Theo- dore K. Stubbs.
Honorable Theodore Kirk Stubbs re- ceived a liberal education in the Oxford academy, Wyer's military school, and the university of Michigan. He read law at West Chester, with Judge J. Smith Futhey, and was admitted to the bar in 1875. He immediately opened a law office at Oxford, where he now enjoys a large and remuner- ative practice. He has been an earnest stu- dent of his profession, mastering Black- stone, Kent, Tucker, and other authorities, and has great skill in presenting his cases in court and to a jury. He never appeals to passion or depends upou excitement for success, but relies on his ability to convince
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
the minds of a jury by clear and logical reasoning, and a lucid presentation of the facts. That he is not mistaken in his esti- mate of the best way to approach a jury is abundantly proven by his almost uniform success in this branch of practice.
In 1881 Mr. Stubbs was elected by the Republican party as a member of the State assembly, and so ably and acceptably did he discharge the duties of that exalted position that he was twice re-elected, serving contin- uously from 1881 to 1886. Ile is one of the first men from Chester county to break what is known as "the third term rule " and secure an election to the State legislature three times in succession. Only two mem- bers have ever been accorded this honor. This fact proclaims his popularity among his fellow citizens of Chester county far more eloquently than any words could do. In the house of representatives he was ac- tive and zealous on behalf of his eonstitu- ents, and early came to be recognized as one of the most indefatigable workers in that body. In recognition of his industry and ability he was placed on nearly all the important committees - serving ou a greater number than any other man in the house. Among these were the committees on appro- priations, judiciary, labor, industry, corpor- ations, apportionment, and a number of others. He had charge of the temperance education bill in the house, introduced the normal school bill, and was an active snp- porter of the anti-oleomargerine bill, and that for the equalization of taxation. Ile also introduced and championed several other general bills, and a number of local bills in the interests of his county and con- stituents.
No man is better posted on the political history of this country, and none keeps in closer touch with the political movements of the day. His characteristic energy marks the service done his party as fully as it en- ters into every other department of his ac- tivity.
REV. JOHN FLINT, a prominent local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church, and general superintendent of the works owned by Grander Stove Company, at Royer's Ford, of which corporation he is also a member, is of English nativity, hav- ing been born in the town of Derby, Derby- shire, England, on August 27, 1848. His parents were John and Emma (Jones) Flint, natives of the same place. His mother died when he was only two years old, and in 1862 young Flint accompanied his father to America. The latter was a rope maker by trade, and worked at that occupation for a time in the city of Philadelphia, but finally returned to England. John remained in this country when his father recrossed the Atlantic, and for a time was employed in Elizabeth City, New Jersey. Later he made his way to Philadelphia, where he became acquainted with a number of young men about to enlist in the Federal army, to take part in the civil war then opening. He de- termined to become one of the number, and was greatly disappointed when upon the regular examination he was rejected, be- cause of his frail physical organization. Being left alone after his friends had all entered the army, he decided upon a sca- faring life. He accordingly engaged in the merchant marine service of the country, where in different capacities he spent some
In the local councils of his party Hon. Theodore K. Stubbs is active and influential. | time. Leaving the water after the war had
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closed, he located in Philadelphia, and at the age of eighteen started in to learn the trade of stove molder. That occupation he followed continuously in the city of Phila- delphia until 1875, when he removed to Spring City, this county, where he worked at his trade as a journeyman for a period of nearly five years. In connection with others he then organized the firm of Grander, Springer & Co., and commenced the manu- facture of stoves in Royer's Ford. Mr. Sprin- ger withdrew in a short time, and the firm then became Grander, Rogers & Co., which existed and did business until 1889, when Mr. Rogers sold out his interest, and a stock company was organized under the name of Grander Stove Company, most of the stock being held by the original members of the firm. When the business was first started it was conducted under many disadvantages, and considerable difficulty was encountered in getting it upon a paying basis. During this time for nearly six years Mr. Flint worked on the floor with the other men, but for the last five years he has been gen- eral superintendent of the works. Their factory is located at Royer's Ford, opposite Spring City, and is a fine brick structure. It is conceded to be one of the best arranged factories in the valley, and is amply supplied with every convenience for turning out a superior product. The company gives regu- lar employment to nearly one hundred men, and its business now ranks among the most important industries in this part of Chester county.
While Rev. Mr. Flint has been an indus- trious and successful business man, he is still more widely known as an earnest and elo- quent local preacher of the Methodist Epis- copal church. His title has been well earned, and his career contains many unusual inci-
dents. While unconverted and associating on the high seas with men whose conduct and conversation was not exactly calculated to lead the mind toward things sacred, he was constantly visited by a "still small voice," which on divers occasions, and un- der diverse circumstances, kept saying to him, "You ought to preach the gospel." Finally, after quitting the sea and locating in Philadelphia, he was converted and joined the Front Street Methodist Episcopal church. . There his ability and devout life commended him to the church authorities, and he was urged to become an exhorter. He declined, however, but at the same time felt a strong desire to comply, and at once set about the study of theology and began preparing him- self as best he could for the work he deemed it his duty to do-though he let no one know of his intentions. After coming to Spring City he persistently applied himself to theology, working during the day and studying at night. In 1885 he passed an examination (standing highest in his class of fourteen), and was ordained a deacon in the Philadelphia conference, by Bishop Cyrus D. Foss. He was again examined in 1889, by Bishop Merrill, and at that time ordained an elder of the Methodist Episcopal church. Since his ordination he has been continually in the service of his Divine Master, having served various charges throughout Chester county. He now has charge of the church at Evensburg, Mont- gomery county, where he preaches twice every Sunday. He also has charge of the bible class in the Sabbath school. Rev. Mr. Flint has always been a great reader and an earnest student, and has accumulated a fine library, containing many rare and valn- able works. In the lines of theology and history it is probably the most complete to
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