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 46
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1848, at the age of eighty-one years. The latter was a farmer, and also built and for many years operated a tannery in that township. He was a member of the Great Valley Baptist church, and a democrat in politics. His wife was Susanna Houseman, by whom he had a family of ten children, six sons and four daughters. Among the sons was Charles Beaver (father), who was born January 1, 1806, in the house where the subject of this sketch now resides, which had been built by George Beaver (grand- father). Here Charles passed his entire life engaged in agricultural pursuits, dying November 6, 1881, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. His farm operations were con- ducted on an extensive seale and he became quite prosperous. He was a democrat until 1861, when he voted for Abraham Lincoln, and ever afterward adhered to the Repub- lican party. In religious faith he was a Baptist, and was a prominent member and deacon of the Great Valley church of that denomination for many years. He was married twice, first wedding Catharine Spare, in 1855, by whom he had one son, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Beaver died April 14, 1872, aged fifty-two years. In 1875 Mr. Beaver married for his second wife Sarah A. Miller, of Harrisburg, who survives her husband and now resides in her native city.
George II. Beaver was reared on the old homestead in Tredyffrin township, and oh- tained his early education in the public schools of the neighborhood. Later he took a course of training in the Tremont seminary at Norristown, under Dr. John W. Loch, and afterward attended Bryant & Stratton's Business college in Philadelphia. Leaving school he returned to the home farm, which he had inherited, and has since
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been almost exclusively engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. The farm contains one hun- dred and fifteen acres of valuable land, eighty-five of which are improved and in an excellent state of cultivation. Politi- cally Mr. Beaver is a republican, and while not taking any active part in politics, yet al- ways gives his party a loyal support.
In 1881 Mr. Beaver was married to Ida E. Smith, a daughter of Jesse and Julia A. Smith, of Centreville, Chester county, this State. To Mr. and Mrs. Beaver has been born a family of five children, three sons and two daughters: Anna M., born Novenf- ber 18, 1881; Eva G., born April 1, 1884; Charles R., born July 2, 1887; H. Norman, born December 16, 1889 ; and Devault, born July 26, 1892.
SAMUEL WHITSON, a member of the
grain and lumber firm of Hastings & Whitson, at Atglen, and a prosperous far- mer of that town, who has served as com- missioner of Chester county, and held im- portant positions in his borough, is a son of Thomas and Martha (Hobson) Whitson, and was born January 29, 1838, in Bart township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He was reared on his father's farm in that county, and educated in the common schools of his neighborhood. After leaving school he settled down to farming, and that has been his principal occupation ever since. He now owns a valuable farm, situated in- side the borough limits of Atglen. In the spring of 1892 he formed a partnership with William S. Hastings, under the firm name of Hastings & Whitson, and engaged in the grain, lumber and coal business at Atglen. The firm already has a large trade, and being gentlemen of established charac-
ter, command the entire confidence of the community.
In politics Mr. Whitson is a stanch re- publican, and while never a bitter partisan, at all times gives his party a loyal support on all leading political questions. In 1884 he was nominated by his party and elected as county commissioner, in which office he served one term with an ability which re- flected credit on himself and was entirely satisfactory to the people. In addition to this he has been a member of the borough council most of the time since his residence here, and has become familiar with the public business of this part of the county. In religion he is a strict member of the Society of Friends, and liberal in his sup- port of its various interests. Mr. Whitson has never married, and is a pleasant, affable gentleman, widely known and universally esteemed.
The Whitson family is of Celtic origin, coming from Ireland to Pennsylvania at a very early day. Thomas Whitson, grand- father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Chester county, and spent most of his life in the neighborhood of Atglen. He was a farmer by occupation, a Quaker in religion, and in politics an old line whig. He married Hannah Starr, and was the father of eight children, among whom was Thomas Whitson (father). The latter was born in Chester county, near Atglen, where he was reared and educated, but he removed to Lancaster county soon after marriage, and resided in that county until 1861. In that year he returned to Chester county, and died in West Fallowfield township, this county, in November, 1864, at the advanced age of sixty-nine years. All his active years were devoted to agricultural pursuits, in which he was very successful. He was a
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
Friend, or Quaker, in religion, and in 1827 married Martha Hobson, by whom he had a family of children. She was a daughter of Francis and Ann Hobson, and like her husband was a member of the Society of Friends. She was a native of New Garden township, this county, and passed from earth June 18, 1887, in the eighty-seventh year of her age, after an active, useful, and honored life, spent principally in the service of those she loved, and in doing good to all around her.
E DWARD KERR, M. D., a progres- sive and successful young physician of Downingtown and a member of the Chester County Medical society, is a son of George and Margaret (Pollock ) Kerr, and was born November 16, 1867, in East Bradford town- ship, Chester county, Pennsylvania. Here- ceived his education in the Downingtown public schools and took a preparatory course for the study of medicine at the West Chester State Normal school. lIe then (1887) entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in the class of 1890. Ini- mediately after gradnation he returned to Downingtown, where he succeeded to the practice of Dr. Clifton Donlin, which he not only held but has largely increased until he is now one of the leading physicians of the central part of the county.
On October 13, 1891, Dr. Kerr was united in marriage with Anna Worrall, daughter of Wesley Worrall, of Downingtown.
Dr. Edward Kerr is a republican in polit- ical opinion. He is devoted to his profes- sion, in which he is rapidly attaining to a prominent position.
DAVID ABRAHAM, a well known
and prosperous farmer residing near New Centreville, is a gentleman of wide experience, great information and fine con- versational powers. He is the elder of the two surviving sons of Daniel and Eliza (Philips) Abraham, and was born August 29, 1814, at Willistown, Chester county, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the public schools of Delaware county, and at Haddinton college, in the county of Phila- delphia, and after leaving school engaged in farming, which has been his principal busi- ness in life. Since 1839 he has been a con- tinuous resident of his native county, and owns a fine farm of one hundred and sev- enteen acres of choice land in Tredyffrin township, which is all highly improved and in first-class condition. Politically he is a republican, giving his party a loyal support on all general questions, and keeping well posted on passing events.
The Abraham family is of English- Welsh descent, and was founded in this country hy James Abraham, whose mother was Sarah Abraham, who emigrated to America in 1700 with her three sons and two daughters, and settled in Montgomery county, Penn- sylvania. Here he passed the remainder of his life and died at a good old age. He was a farmer, and his wife was Margaret Davis. Two sons, James and Isaac, and three daughters were born to them. The son, Isaac Abraham (great-grandfather), was born in Upper Merion township, Montgom- ery county, and lived there all his life. He also was a farmer by occupation, and mar- ried into a Quaker family, his wife being Dinah Howard, by whom he had two chil- dren. One of these was a son named Isaac Abraham (grandfather), who was born on the old homestead in Montgomery county,
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY -
and resided there for a time, but later sold out and removed to Delaware county, set- tling near the present site of Wayne, where he died about 1813, aged nearly fifty-eight years. His remains sleep in the cemetery adjoining the Great Valley Baptist church, of which he was a prominent member, deacon and ordained elder for many years. In politics he was a federalist, and he mar- ried Jane Carnogg, to whom was born a family of four children, three sons and one daughter. Daniel Abraham, son of Isaac and Jane Abraham, and father of the sub- ject of this sketch, was born January 11, 1781, on the spot where the village of Wayne now stands. At the age of sixteen he re- moved to Willistown township, this county, where he lived until 1817, when he went to Radnor township, Delaware county, and re- sided there until 1835. In that year he re- moved to Philadelphia county, but returned to Delaware county in a couple of years, and in 1839 came to Tredyffrin township, this county, where he died November 30, 1861, aged eighty years. His life was prin- cipally devoted to agriculture, in which he was very successful, owning three fine farms at the time of his death, one containing one hundred and thirty acres, and another consisting of two hundred acres, all well improved. He was a man of more than ordinary ability and judgment, and in 1812 was appointed justice of the peace by the governor of Pennsylvania, Simon Snyder, and held that office until his removal to Delaware county in 1817. He was again appointed to the same office by Governor John Andrew Shultz, and held the position until he changed his residence in 1835. In politics he was a federalist until Jackson's election to the presidency, when he became a whig and ever after adhered to that party.
He was a Baptist in religious belief, and was for many years a prominent member and a deacon of the Great Valley church of that denomination. His service as deacon extended from 1832 to his death, in 1861. In 1807 he married Eliza Philips, a daugh- ter of Jonathan Philips, and to them was born a family of eleven children, five sons and six daughters, all of whom are now de- ceased except Daniel and the subject of this sketch.
SOLO OLOMON KEPNER, who for a quar- ter of a century was a prominent woolen manufacturer in Chester, Lancaster and Mifflin counties, and is one of the most suc- cessful inventors in this part of Pennsyl- vania, was born October 19, 1814, in Lim- erick township, Montgomery county, this State. He is a son of Samuel and Rebecca (Yost) Kepner, and was reared and educated in his native county. Soon after leaving school he became an apprentice to the wool manufacturing business, and feeling the force of the sentiment, afterward embodied in Longfellow's psalnı, that life is real and earnest, he gave himself up to a thorough preparation for its practical duties. He be- gan at the bottom and steadily worked up- ward through the various processes then in vogue, making himself familiar with every detail connected with the manufacture of woolen goods of all descriptions. He was naturally gifted with a good degree of mechanical ingenuity and inventive genius, and it was not long until he began to make improvements in the cumbersome machinery then in use, and perfect processes which were defective or unnecessarily slow in their operation. His factory in this county was located on Pigeon creek. He was afterward engaged for a number of years in the man-
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
ufacture of woolen goods in Lancaster and Mifflin counties, but in 1855 relinquished the manufacturing business, and since that time has devoted his time more to perfect- ing some of his inventions, and managing the sale of his patent rights. He has se- cured more than a score of patents on dif- ferent inventions in various lines. During the last thirty-three years he has resided at Kenilworth, this county. In politics he is a republican, and in religion an adherent of the German Baptist church.
On April 7, 1835, Mr. Kepner was united in marriage to Eliza Ellis, a daughter of James Ellis, of Ireland, who came to Amer- ica and located in East Coventry township, where he married Maria Strickland, daugh- ter of George Strickland. To Mr. and Mrs. Kepner was born a family of five children, two sons and three daughters: Maria, mar- ried George W. Reagan (who was killed during a storm, in 1881), by whom she had a family of six children-Ellis, Frank, Al- bertis, Arthur, Ethel, and Howard (de- ceased)-who now live with their mother in Chicago. The second child and eldest son was John Price, who married Augusta Massey, of Washington city, and had two children-M. Blanche and La Clare. He enlisted at the age of twenty-one in Co. I, 6th Pennsylvania cavalry, and served through the entire war. Later he entered the office of the surgeon general at Wash- ington, and became chief clerk of that de- partment, where he remained until his death in 1881. The third child was Anuie, who first married James Kime, by whom she had three children-Ella, Alfred and George-and after his death wedded Harry Radcliffe, an employee of the Cofrode & Saylor Bridge works, residing in North Coventry township. Rebecca, the fourth
child, married William E. Harley, a elerk in the war department at Washington, and has one child, a daughter named Bessie E. The youngest son, Ellis W., is now acting as private secretary to the first comptroller of the treasury at Washington.
The Kepners are descended from German stock, but have been residents of Pennsyl- vania since early times. The paternal grandfather of Solomon Kepner married a Miss Brant, daughter of Adam Brant, a native of Germany, who came to America previous to the revolutionary war and settled between Pottstown and Crooked Ilill, in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He was a well-known clock maker in his day, and many of his clocks may yet be found in the country round about Pottstown. Samuel Kepuer (father) learned the trade of clock maker with his grandfather Brant, serving an apprenticeship of seven years. Ile fol- lowed the business for a number of years, relinquishing it about 1810 to engage in the cultivation of the soil. He was engaged in farming for the remainder of his life, except a term of service in the American army during the war of 1812. He died in 1848, at the advanced age of sixty-two years. In politics he was first a democrat and later a whig, while in religious belief he was a German Baptist. He married Rebecca Yost, a daughter of Henry Yost, and reared a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters : Ilenry, deceased, who was eu- gaged at an early day in hauling goods from Philadelphia to Pittsburg; John, Gabriel, Amos, Solomon, the subject of this sketch ; Sarah; Isaac, now located in the city of Philadelphia, where he is engaged in the grocery business; Mary and Ellen. Of these children only Solomon and Isaae now survive.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
JOSEPH H. JOHNSON, a real estate
dealer and justice of the peace at Down- ingtown, who has served as county surveyor of Chester county, and occupied a number of other positions of responsibility and trust, is the youngest son of John and Eliz- abeth K. (Meredith) Johnson, and was born April 4, 1848, in Wallace township, Chester county, Pennsylvania. The Johnsons are of Welsh descent, the family being founded in America by William Johnson (great- grandfather), who came from Wales about 1760, and settled in Chester county, on the farm in East Brandywine township now owned by G. R. North. There he lived until his death, which occurred in 1811. He was buried in the old church yard at Brandywine Manor. Among his sons was John Johnson (grandfather), who was born in East Brandywine township in 1766, where he lived all his life, dying June 30, 1836. His remains also lie entombed at Brandywine Manor cemetery. He was a prominent farmer, who adhered to the Whig party in politics, and in religion was a strict Presbyterian. In 1792 he married Dorathy Kennedy, and reared a family of two sons and five daughters: Robert, John, Mary, who married James McGuyon; Nancy, who became the wife of Henry Lewis; Jane, wedded David Baum; Elizabeth, married James Arters; and Margaret, died at the age of twelve years. John Johnson ( father) was born on the old homestead, in Wallace township, this county, April 17th, 1808, where he spent his entire life, and where he died June 18, 1884. He owned one hundred and twenty-five acres of land, and became prosperous. Politically he was a republican, but took little part in politics, and in religion he leaned toward the Friends, and his wife was a member of that religious body. On
November 10, 1831, he married Elizabeth K. Meredith, a native of Chester county, and to them was born a family of six chil- dren, five sons and a daughter, viz. : Robert, a prosperous farmer of Loag's Corner, West Nantmeal township, who marrried Mary A. Harlan ; John, who married Harriet Lukins, and now owns and lives on the old home- stead in Wallace township; Isaiah, who wedded Phobe S. Roberts, and is engaged in farming in Oakland county, Michigan ; Hannah, married Baldwin Hughs, a farmer of East Brandywine township, this county ; William H., who enlisted in Co. A, 124th Pennsylvania infantry, at West Chester, August 4, 1862, and took part as a raw re- cruit in the terrible struggle at Antietam, and died from typhoid fever brought on by exposure, October 18, a little over two months after his enlistment; and Joseph H., the subject of this sketch.
Joseph H. Johnson was reared on the home farm in Wallace township, and at- tended the common schools of his neighbor- hood, laying the foundation of the fine prac- tical education he afterward acquired. He subsequently took a course of training in the academy at Fallston, Harford county, Maryland, in which institution he taught Mathematics one year, then returning to Chester county in 1866, he engaged in teach- ing in the public schools of the county, where he taught successfully for a period of some seven years.
December 28, 1869, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Laura A. Harlan, youngest daughter of William A. and Sarah Harlan, of Livonia county, Michigan. They have three children living, one daughter, Marion S., and two sons, G. Curtiss and Wilmer C.
In the winter of 1873, he purchased the
Joseph H. Johnson.
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
Matthew Stanley farm, now owned by Hon. Matthew Stanley Quay, in West Brandy- wine township, to which he removed in the following spring, and for three years he prosecuted the business of farming success- fully. His neighbors in West Brandywine township were not slow in discovering Mr. Johnson's business qualifications, and at the end of the first year's residence with them they elected him to the office of justice of the peace, which office he filled acceptably until his removal from the township, which took place in the spring of 1877, at which time he sold his farm, making a neat little sum on the transaction, and removed to Downingtown, where he has since resided.
The summer of 1877 was spent by Mr. Johnson traveling in the west, taking his wife with him for a visit to her people, and coming home in the fall. Shortly after his return a vacancy occurred in the grammar department of the Downingtown public school, and upon the solicitation of the di- rectors he accepted the position and again taught until the following spring, when he engaged in the manufacture of paint, oper- ating what became known as the Excelsior Paint Works, successfully, for some five years. Shortly after Mr. Johnson's removal to Downingtown, he was elected borough surveyor, to which position he was annually re-elected thereafter for fourteen consecutive years. In 1884 he was elected county surveyor, which office he served for the term of three years. In 1882 he was elected justice of the peace for the borough of Downingtown, which position he has held ever since, and is now serving his fourth term in that important position - one term in the township of West Brandy- wine and three in the borough of Downing- town. Mr. Johnson soon found that the
duties of his office were absorbing so much of his time that he considered it advisable to give up the paint business, which he did, and for the last ten years he has devoted his time exclusively to the duties of his office, and to surveying, conveyancing, real estate and insurance; he has also settled a number of important estates, and prosecuted successfully quite a number of pension claims. His business abilities are demon- strated by the fact that his business has been successful and constantly increasing, until latterly he has been compelled to call to his aid the constant service of a stenogra- pher. He has been closely identified with the business interests of his town ever since his residence therein, ever active and aggressive in vigorously pushing to a suc- cessful completion that of which his con- science approved.
He was largely instrumental in organiz- ing the present Building and Loan associa- tiou, which has done a great deal for the advancement of Downingtown, having served as its secretary ever since its organ- ization. He is first vice president of the board of trade of the town, and a chair- man of one of its important committees.
He has been an important factor in int- proving Downingtown real estate, having built a number of houses, some of which he has sold to customers on easy terms, and in one of which he now resides, on the main street of the town adjacent to his office. He is treasurer of the Downing- town Improvement Company ; this is a cor- poration recently chartered, and is already engaged in the erection of a building, which, when completed, will be the finest building in town; judging from the character of the live men that are at the head of this con- cern, and the start they are already making.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
this corporation will bring in a new era for Downingtown.
Politically Mr. Johnson is a stanch re- publican, and an earnest worker for the success of his party and the promulgation of its principles; he is a local leader of recognized ability, and is now serving his fifth term as a member of the republican county committee, and has been honored by his party in being called upon to preside at their deliberations in county conventions.
In religion he is a Baptist, and one of the trustees of the Downingtown Baptist church. He was very active as a member of the building committee in the erection of the new church edifice, and he, in connection with his wife, did some very effective work as members of the finance committee, in the paying off of the debt of the church. He also takes a great interest in Sunday school work, teaching regularly every Sun- day two large adult Bible classes, one at his own church in the forenoon, and one at a mission school, held in the afternoon, at the brandywine Baptist church.
He is a member of the Alert Fire Com- pany, No. 1, of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, and is ever active in the promulgation of such measures as are for the best interests · of the company, and it was he who origi- nated the idea and prepared the petition that led to the borough purchasing the splen- did equipment that the company now enjoys.
He is also a past grand of Brandywine Lodge, No. 388, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is now serving the order as chaplain.
To sum up the case in one brief terse sen- tence, the subject of this sketch is one of Downingtown's successful, live, wide awake, busy men, who believes in the motto "That it is better to wear ont than to rust out."
G1 EORGE SMITH, Jr., a wealthy farmer of North Coventry township, this county, who amassed his fortune by real estate transactions, is a representative of one of the most prominent families in this part of the State. He is the third son of George L. and Margaret ( Bright ) Smith, and was born on Christmas day, 1831, in Cumru township, Berks county, Pennsyl- vania. There he was reared and attended the public schools during his early youth, but not taking very kindly to "book learn- ing" he concluded to try what the great college of practical business life would do toward the education of an active, energetic and wide-awake young man. Accordingly, at the early age of eighteen years, he en- gaged in the grain and milling business on his own account, but a little later aban- doned that to learn the trade of millwright, and followed milling until 1865. In that year he engaged in farming in his native county of Berks. After his father's death he was occupied for some time in settling up the estate, and was also engaged to some extent in the real estate business, with which he has been more or less connected ever since. He now owns property in seven different wards of Reading, and a fine farm of twenty-three acres in North Coventry township, this county, which he purchased in 1886, and to which he removed in 1889. There he has resided ever since in a very handsome and comfortable home. Beside his investments in the city of Reading he owns property in Berks county, and is also interested in various lines of street railway.
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