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 44
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Kiefer in turn married Catharine Beaver, a sister of George Beaver. These were the maternal grandparents of the subject of this sketch. An anecdote is related of this couple which illustrates the rugged inde- pendence of our forefathers. Soon after marriage, while Abraham with his bride was sitting in front of an old-fashioned fire place, on which a large log was blazing, pensively and gloomily thinking of their future prospects, as both were poor, Cath- arine suddenly flashed out with an idea which dispersed all his sadness. She said, " Why, Abraham, I would not give you for ten thousand dollars." To this Abraham responded, " Well, Catharine, I would not give you for ten thousand dollars." With this joint capital of twenty thousand dol- lars, as he himself often jokingly said, he earned three large farms in Franklin county, where he spent his long and honorable life, and where with his devoted wife Catharine, he reared a large family, the descendants of whom are scattered over the country, occupying posts of honor in the pulpit, in the State, and in several branches of pri- vate enterprise.
Frank A. Burr, of the Philadelphia Press, in his "Life and Achievements of James A. Beaver," late governor of this State, and also a descendant of this intermar- riage between the Beavers and the Kief- ers, corroborates what has just been said of this large and influential family :
"Tradition says of George Beaver, thie elder, that he was a man of fine physique, marvelous endurance, strong mind, and un- tiring industry. He devoted himself with characteristic energy to agricultural pur- suits, determined to make a comfortable home for the small family which he had brought with him.
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
"In the Indian wars he took a part, and when the Revolution came, his eldest sou, George, fired with patriotic fervor, was among the first to shoulder his musket for the independence of the colonies. He en- listed in Captain Church's company of famn- ous Mad Anthony Wayne's regiment, and bore himself with conspicuous valor through that long and doubtful conflict. In the camp and in the field he displayed the spirit of fortitude and courage which made the American soldier the admiration of the world, and at last crowned the American arms with the glory of victory and the nobler fruits of peace and independence.
"At the close of hostilities, George Beaver, named after his sire, moved to Franklin county, where he married Catlı- arine Kiefer, the sister of an army com- rade. Comrade Kiefer took his sweet re- venge hy carrying off a sister of George Beaver. Thus the Beavers and the Kiefers united in a common stock the best strains of German blood. The Kiefers were hardy pioneer of great physical development and remarkable mental forec. They were val- vable citizens of the community, and took an honorable part in the progress of their country."
L. T. BREMERMAN, A. M., M. D., a
well educated and remarkably suc- cessful physician of Downingtown, who is a surgeon to the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany, is a son of Frederick William and Malinda (Trout) Bremerman, and was born in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, October 25, 1849. Ilis paternal grandfather, Ilar- mon Bremerman, was born and reared in Breman, Germany, where he learned the trade of cooper. He came in 1812 to Bal-
timore, where he followed coopering for many years. He was a democrat in politics, and a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and was twice married. He has five children : Frederick William, Amelia (Trout), Anthony, Anna and John. Fred- erick William Bremerman (father) was born in Baltimore, Maryland, May 26, 1814, and received his education in the German institute of that city, then under the aus- pices of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Ile was educated for the ministry, which he never entered, and afterwards united with the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a cooper by trade, and in 1850 settled at Fred- erick City, Maryland, where he remained until 1860, when he removed to Harper's Ferry. From the last named place he went, in 1862, to Washington city, from which, in 1884, he removed on account of failing health to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he died No- Ve .. her 20, 1890, when in the seventy-sev- enth year of his age. He was extensively engaged in business during his active years of life, and at one time owned a farm, store, and two coopering establishments, and em- ployed from seventy to eighty men. In 1834 he married Malinda Trout, and their children were : Joseph, who died in infancy ; John L., a Confederate soldier of the late war, and now a resident of Indianapolis ; Jacob H., of Philadelphia; Annie E. Peck; William F., who was thrown from a horse and killed; Charles E .; Charlotte A., wife of Rev. John E. Darby, pastor of the Meth- odist Protestant church of Table Rock, Nebraska ; Thomas HI., manager of a whole- sale and retail grocery in Washington city ; Dr. L. T .; James H., a lawyer of Kansas City, Missouri ; Otis ( dead); Elisha, de- ceased; and Malinda, who died in infancy. Mrs. Malinda Bremerman, who was born
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
January 6, 1816, at Frederick City, Mary- land, is now residing with her son, John L., at Indianapolis, Indiana, and has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for over sixty years. She is a daughter of Jacob Trout, a farmer and democrat, who was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and married and reared a family of nine children : John, Joseph, William, Re- becca, Malinda (Bremerman), Dorcas, wife of George Kerfoot, a near relative of the celebrated Bishop Kerfoot; Airy Mix and Sevilla Snyder.
L. T. Bremerman received his elementary education in the public schools of Frederick county, Maryland, completed his academic studies in the grammar schools of Washing- ton city, and took his collegiate and pro- fessional courses at Columbian university, Washington, District of Columbia, fron which he was graduated in the collegiate class of 1871, with the degree of A. B., and from medical department in 1874, with the degree of M. D. During the last named year he received the degree of A. M. from his Alma Mater. After graduation he ac- cepted a position in the surgeon general's office, where he remained until 1876, when he resigned in order to commence practice in Washington city, which he left in Jan- nary, 1878, to settle at Downingtown, where he has continued in the active practice of his profession up to the present time.
On October 3, 1872, Dr. Bremerman was united in marriage with Helen K., daughter of George Rhinehart, of Washington city, and to their union have been born two chil- dren : Clarence L., who was graduated from Philadelphia Commercial college in the class of 1892, and is in business in the "Quaker City"; and Lewis W., who is attending the public schools of Washington, and has en-
tered the classical course of the high school of that city.
In politics Dr. Bremerman is an ardent democrat, who works zealously in local, State and national campaigns. He served one term as a councilman, and four contin- nons terms as burgess of Downingtown, and in 1888 was honored by his party with the nomination for State senator, but was defeated in the district, which was strongly republican. He is a member of Phi Kappa Psi Society of Columbian university, Wash- ington, District of Columbia; and Hiram Lodge, No. 10, Free and Accepted Masons, of Washington city. Dr. Bremerman is medical examiner for the Equitable Insur- ance Company and the Northwestern Ma- sonic Insurance Association. He has been a surgeon to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for three years, and is a member of the National . Association of Railroad Surgeons. He is well read and successful as a physician, active and influential in political affairs, and is popular and useful as a citizen and a man.
C APT. J. T. CARPENTER, who served
during the civil war and was afterward prothonotary of Chester county, is now a real estate dealer and conveyancer at Down- ingtown, and was for many years a prom- inent carriage manufacturer of this county. He is the eldest son of George W. and Mary (Townsley) Carpenter, and was born in Honeybrook township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, November 6, 1835. This branch of the Carpenter family is of Ger- inan extraction, and has long been settled in Lancaster county. There Henry Carpenter (grandfather) was born about 1787, and there he lived until his death in 1868, in his
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
eighty-second year. He was a carpenter by trade and also engaged in farming to some extent ; was a whig in politics, and a men- ber of the Mennonite church. He married Elizabeth Carpenter, by whom he had nine children, five sons and four daughters. She died in 1829, and lies buried beside her hus- band at Weaverland Mennonite church. George W. Carpenter (father) was born in Lancaster county in 1810, and lived there until 1850, when he removed to Delaware township, in Juniata county, and in 1866 came to Chester county. He died near Coatesville, this county, in 1882, in the seventy-second year of his age. He was a shoemaker by trade and also a veterinary surgeon, and followed these combined oc- cupations all his life. In politics he was first a whig and later became a republican, while in religion he was a member of the Baptist church. He enlisted in Co. I, 53d Pennsylvania infantry, in August, 1861, and served nearly a year, being discharged at Alexandria, Virginia. In 1833 he married Mary Townsley, and to them was born a family of nine children : J. T., the subject of this sketch ; George W., who served as a corporal in Co. I, 53d Pennsylvania infantry for two years during the civil war, partici- pating in all the battles of the peninsular campaign, and now lives at Sterling, Kansas ; Barton J., a blacksmith, now residing in Harrisburg ; Elizabeth Carr; Edwin, a shoe- maker of Chester county ; Thomas Benton, a blacksmith residing at East Downingtown ; Mary Daller, living at Thorndale ; James S., a blacksmith of Coatesville, this county ; and Anna, who married John Y. Woodward, and resides at Coatesville.
Capt. J. T. Carpenter received his educa- tian in the common schools of Lancaster and Jnniata counties. After leaving school
he engaged in teaching for nearly three years, and then concluded to learn the car- penter trade, at which he worked until 1860. Early in 1861 he enlisted in Co. I, 53d Pennsylvania infantry, in which he served one year, taking part in nearly all the bat- tles of Mcclellan's peninsular campaign, and being discharged at David's Island, New York, on account of sickness. After regaining his health, on June 30, 1863, he re-enlisted, and was made captain of Co. K, 34th Pennsylvania infantry, and served with that rank until August 10, 1863, when the regiment was discharged at Reading, Penn- sylvania. In 1867 he located at Downing- town, where he has resided ever since. Ou coming here he embarked with George T. Jones in the carriage and undertaking business, which they successfully conducted until 1872, when the firm name was changed to Downing Brothers & Carpenter, which firm erected a large factory and engaged extensively in building fine carriages, until 1875, when the firm dissolved, Mr. Carpen- ter continuing in the undertaking and furn- iture business until 1883, when he disposed of his interests and retired from the busi- ness. In 1884 he was elected to the office of prothonotary of Chester county for a term of three years, and discharged the duties of that position with faithfulness and ability. In that contest he was elected by a majority of four thousand, nearly two hun- dred more than the head of the ticket. After the expiration of his term of office, in 1887, he engaged in the real estate and conveyancing business, and has continued in that line ever since, meeting with good success and handling a great deal of valua- ble property. During his connection with the undertaking business he invented and patented a device for preserving dead bodies
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
by means of ice and cold air, which has been extensively used. His inventive genius has also been exercised in other directions, and he has secured several additional pat- ents on inventions perfected by himself.
He was married in 1870 to Eliza J. Laerd, a native of this county, and to them has been born a family of five children, two sons and three daughters: Charles D., Harris S., Laura B., Mary and Florence. They are all now living at home with their parents.
In politics Captain Carpenter is an ardent republican, and in addition to serving as prothonotary of Chester county, has occu- pied the position of burgess and justice of the peace in Downingtown, and is now serving as a school director in that borough. He is a member of Hancock Post, No. 255, Grand Army of the Republic, in which he has been adjutant. He is also a member of Brandywine Lodge, No. 388, and General Marion Encampment, No. 91, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in the former of which he is a past grand, and has served for two years as district deputy for Chester county. In Masonic circles he is also prom- inent, being a member of Williamson Lodge, No. 309, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is past master and now treasurer ; Howell Chapter, No. 202, Royal Arch Ma- sons; and St. Alban's Commandery, No. 47, Knights Templar, of Philadelphia.
C APT. JOHN DENITHORNE, of Bat-
tery C, Pennsylvania National Guards, and founder of the well known bridge build- ing firm of John Denithorne & Sons, of Phoenixville, is a son of John and Ann ( Bartel) Denithorne, and was born Novem- ber 22, 1834, in Cornwall, England. His
parents were both natives of Cornwall, but came to the United States in 1847, and set- tled first in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. After a three year's residence they removed to Shannonville, Montgomery county, where they remained only a short time, and then came to Phoenixville. Here they continued to reside until called away by death-the father in 1877, aged seventy-five, and the mother May 30, 1880, in her seventy-second year. They were both members of the Episcopal church, and lived active, useful lives. Mr. Denithorne was a republican in politics and a stone mason by trade. He followed general contracting, was a man of sound judgment and upright character, and was very successful in business.
Capt. John Denithorne was reared at Cornwall until his thirteenth year, when he came to the United States with his parents, and when seventeen removed with them to Phoenixville. He received a good practical education in the public schools, and after- ward served an apprenticeship as a machin- ist and boiler maker with William DeAven at Minersville, Schuylkill county. After learning his trade he returned to Phœnix- ville and entered the employ of the Phoenix Iron Company, taking charge of one of their shops, where he remained for the ex- tended period of eighteen years. In 1877 he formed a partnership with two of his brothers, Richard and James, under the firm name of Denithorne Brothers, and engaged in the business of boiler making and iron bridge building. That firm continued the business until 1883, when Captain Denithorne pur- chased the interests of his brothers, and ad- mitting his sons, William and John B., into partnership, organized the present firm of John Denithorne & Sons. They now have a large and lucrative trade, their establish-
Capt. John Ornithoine.
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
ment being one of the most extensive in- dustrial concerns of Phoenixville. They manufacture roadway bridges, roof trusses, stand pipes, railway bridges and iron roofing, and make specialties of bridge contracting and iron roofing. Their shops are fitted up with the best improved machinery for the business, are large and commodious, and the industry is one of the most successful of its kind in this country. Contracts are taken and work executed in all parts of the United States, and the establishment furnishes regular employment to from thirty to fifty men the year round.
In July, 1852, Captain Denithorne was married to Caroline Francis, a daughter of Richard and Ann Francis, of Schuylkill county, this State. To them was born a family of seven children, two sons and five daughters : William, now in business with his father ; John B., also a member of the firm of John Denithorne & Sons; Annie, married John A. Wood, of Phoenixville ; Mary B., wife of John Evans, now residing in the city of Philadelphia; Emma T., wedded Thomas Wood, of Phoenixville; Kate G., married George Nailor, also of this place ; and Carrie, living at home with her parents.
In 1863 Captain Denithorne assisted in the organization of an emergency company here, and was elected captain, but the com- pany was never sworn into service. In June, 1871, he was instrumental in organ- izing battery C of the Pennsylvania Na- tional Guards, and was commissioned captain by Governor Geary, which rank he has held ever since. This battery served during the l'ittsburg riots of 1877, and again at Home- stead during the labor trouble of 1892. In political sentiment Captain Denithorne is a republican, and served as burgess of Phoenix-
ville in 1884. He is a member of the Epis- copal church, and is prominent in the secret society circles of Chester county, being a member of Phoenix Lodge, No. 75, Free and Accepted Masons; Phoenix Chapter, No. 198, Royal Arch Masons; and Jerusalem Commandery, No. 15, Knights Templar. He also holds membership in Stafford Castle, No. 67, Knights of the Golden Eagle. He is affable in manner, a good conversational- ist, keen and shrewd in business, and pos- sessing that untiring energy always asso- ciated with conspicuous success in life.
EVI OBERHOLTZER, M. D., a grad -
uate of the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, and who is one of the leading druggists of Phoenixville, is a son of Elias and Catherine (Acker) Ober- holtzer, and was born in Uwehlan town- ship, Chester county, Pennsylvania, October 27, 1832. The Oberholtzer family traces its ancestral history back to Switzerland in 1732, when an Oberholtzer left that moun- tain-walled republic of continental Europe and settled in what is now the United States. In lineal descent from him was John Oberholtzer, the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Ile was a native of Bucks county, and in early life removed to the central part of this county, where he married a Miss Coffinan, a mem- ber of the old Coffinan family of Chester valley, and was engaged in school teaching for several years. He afterwards removed, in 1812, to Juniata county, where he followed farming until his death. He reared a family, and of his children, one was Elias Ober- holtzer (father), who never left his native county of Chester. Ile was a farmer and a miller of what is now West Pikeland town-
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
ship, in which he died December 17, 1875, when in the sixty-sixth year of his age. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, took an active part in religious af- fairs, and had served as superintendent of the Sunday school of his church for many years. He was a useful citizen and an in- fluential business man, and at the time of his death was serving as president of the Farmers' and Mechanics' National bank of Phoenixville. Mr. Oberholtzer was a re- publican in politics, and married Catherine Acker, who was born in Upper Uwchlan township in 1809, and is a member of the Lutheran church. She is a daughter of Peter Acker, who was a well-to-do farmer of his day. To Mr. and Mrs. Oberholtzer were born ten children, of whom four sons and four daughters are living.
Dr. Levi Oberholtzer was reared princi- pally on his father's West Pikeland town- ship farm, received his education at Free- land's seminary, and then read medicine with Dr. Hiram Corson of Plymouth, Mont- gomery county. He entered the medical department of the University of Pennsyl- vania, Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in the class of 1854. Soon after graduation, in 1855, he came to Phoenix- ville, where he embarked in the drug busi- ness. In 1856 he erected a powder mill on a small stream which empties into French creek, about three miles above Phoenixville. Here he carried on the manufacture of gun powder for blasting purposes until 1864. About this time it became difficult to ship large quantities of powder, either by rail or boat, and he was compelled to abandon the enterprise.
During the time he was engaged in man- ufacturing powder he continued to conduct his drug business, and when he relinquished
the former he gave his whole attention to the latter.
In 1866 he went to Philadelphia, and was engaged in the wholesale drug trade until 1879, when he returned to Phoenixville, where, together with his sons, he has con- tinned in the drug business ever since.
On October 28, 1856, Dr. Oberholtzer married Angeline, daughter of John Van- derslice, of Phoenixville. They have six children, four sons and two daughters: John V., Kate P., wife of Egbert N. Penny- packer; Charles H., F. Elizabeth, William B., and George K.
In politics Dr. Oberholtzer is a democrat. He served for three terms as mayor of Phœ- nixville, and in 1883 was nominated for State senator by his party, and, although the district was overwhelmingly republican, yet he made a race that was highly credita- ble to him. He is the oldest druggist at Phoenixville, and in addition to his drug business he devotes considerable time to fruit culture. He has made a specialty of the peach and plum at his home north, and of the orange in his groves at Esmeralda, Lake county, Florida.
Dr. Oberholtzer is a past master of Phoenix Lodge, No. 75, Free and Accepted Masons, and enjoys the enviable reputation of being a pleasant gentleman, a useful citizen, and an honorable business man.
H IRAM ROBERTS, a retired farmer and stockman, now living at Malvern, this county, is a son of Isaac and Alice (Comfort) Roberts, and was born August 28, 1816, in Whitemarsh township, Mont- gomery county, Pennsylvania. The Rob- erts family is of Welsh descent, and among the oldest in Pennsylvania. Joseph Roh-
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
erts, paternal grandfather of Hiram, was born in Montgomery county, and passed his entire life there, engaged in farming. His son, Isaac Roberts (father), was also a native of Whitemarsh township, that county, and died there in 1851, aged seventy-six years. He also was a farmer, and passed his life principally in the cultivation of the soil and stock raising. In political senti- ment he was a whig, and in religious faith a Friend, or Quaker. By his marriage to Alice Comfort he had a family of nine chil- dren, six sons and three daughters, only four of whom now survive.
Hiram Roberts was educated at West- town boarding school, in Montgomery county, and his business in life has been mainly farming, stock raising and dairying, all of which he pursued successfully in Montgomery county until 1885, when he retired from business and came to reside with his nephew, Josiah A. Roberts, at Mal- vern, this county. He never married.
Josiah A. Roberts, with whom his uncle, the principal subject of this sketch, now re- sides, is the eldest son of Jacob and Phœbe ( Williams) Roberts, and was born in White- marsh township, Montgomery county, March 16, 1837. He was educated in the West- town boarding school, and afterward em- barked in the nursery business on his father's farm, which he conducted until 1869, when he came to his present location in this county, and purchased a farmn of twenty acres of choice land, all of which is now within the corporate limits of Mal- vern borough. Here he continued the nur- sery business, and now has a large and pros- perous trade. He is a stockholder in the National bank of Malvern, and ranks with her most enterprising citizens. In his politi- cal affiliations Josiah Roberts is an ardent
republican, and has served as councilman in Malvern for two terms-ever since the or- ganization of its borough government.
Jacob Roberts, father of Josiah, and brother of Iliram, was born June 16, 1810, in Montgomery county, this State, where he took up the vocation of a farmer and was engaged in the cultivation of the soil until 1841, when he removed to Chester county and settled in Willistown township, where he still resides. In 1837 he married Phœbe Williams, a daughter of Jesse Williams, of North Carolina. To Mr. and Mrs. Roberts was born a family of five children, all of whom attained maturity, and four of whom are still living: Josiah, Joseph, Hannah, Sarah, and Alice, who is deceased. The mother of these children, Mrs. Phæbe Rob- erts, is a member and minister of the Society of Friends, and is a woman endowed with many rare gifts and excellent traits of char- acter.
R OBERT J. HENDERSON, the pres- ent efficient postmaster of Phoenixville, and who, by ability, honesty and industry, has earned the reputation of being one of the representative business men of his county, is a son of James and Mary (Ortlip) Henderson, and was born at Phoenixville, Chester county, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1860. He received his education in the public schools of his town. Leaving school he worked one year on the farm for Jacob Detwiler, in East Pikeland township, and on August 15, 1877, accepted a position in the shipping department of the Phoenix Iron works, where he was steadily engaged until February 5, 1890, when he resigned to assume charge of the Phoenixville post- office, of which he had been appointed post- master on December 18, 1889, by President
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