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 48
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two years. He devoted his life to agricul- tural pursuits, and became noted as a suc- cessful, progressive and scientific farmer. He was a whig and republican in politics, and took a lively interest in all public ques- tions. He wedded Amelia Kirk, a danghter of Elisha Kirk, of Cecil county, Maryland, by whom he had a family of six children, two sons and four daughters: Slater B., to whom this sketch is devoted ; Ann N., who married George H. Kirk (now deceased), and resides in the city of Philadelphia; Mary B., who married Jacob T. Whitson, a farmer of Lancaster county; Rachel H., now the wife of William M. Hayes, a mem- ber of the West Chester bar; Hannah M., who married Elwood Smedley, a farmer of Lancaster county; and George H., who served during the civil war in the 21st Pennsylvania cavalry, and who was unfor- tunately frozen to death in the mountains of Montana, during the extreme cold weather of January, 1887.
Mr. Russell received an academic educa- tion, having attended the Millersville Normal school, London Grove boarding school, and other superior institutions of learning in Chester and Lancaster counties. After leaving school, at the age of twenty-one, he began teaching and passed three years in educational work in Lancaster and Chester counties. In May, 1861, he received an ap- pointment as corresponding clerk in the war department at Washington and immediately entered upon the discharge of his duties as such. There he remained until May, 1867, when he resigned and returned to Lancas- ter county, this State, where he was engaged in farming until the spring of 1870. In March, 1865, he was appointed by Secretary Stanton captain commissary of volunteers, but deeming the war nearly at an end he
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did not accept. In the spring of 1870 he located at Oxford, this county, and remained there for a period of five years, after which he transferred his residence to West Ches- ter and embarked in the insurance and real estate business. In 1882 he was elected to the position of justice of the peace for the borough of West Chester, which office he has held acceptably ever since.
On October 23, 1861, Mr. Russell united in marriage with Amelia K. Levis, a daugh- ter of Norris Levis, of Cecil county, Mary- land, and to them have been born four daughters: Anne L., Mary C., Florence E. and Harriet. Mr. Russell is a stanch re- publican. He is also a member of high degree of both the Masonic and Odd Fel- lows' orders, and is a firm believer in the efficacy of these and kindred orders to pro- mote the happiness and well being of man- kind. By virtue of his descent from Capt. Roger Kirk, of the 4th battalion of Asso- ciators, of the county of Chester, who was his maternal great-grandfather, he is a member of the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revolution.
GEORGE R. SPRATT, M. D., a grad-
uate of the university of Pennsylva- nia, now in leading practice at Coatesville, and ranking among the most prominent physicians of Chester county, is a son of Rev. Dr. George M. and Abagail (Reed) Spratt, and was born December 19, 1839, in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania. Ile is the third in line of descent to become prominent and attain distinction. George S. Spratt, M. D., paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Win- chester, England, July 8, 1787, and at the
age of twenty-four, January 11, 1811, mar- ried Elizabeth Main, and three days later set sail for the East Indies as a medical missionary. Providence, however, guided him to Quebec, Canada, where he labored for some time as pastor in an independent church. Coming to Philadelphia, he be- came convinced of the truth of the doc- trines held by the Baptist church, and not only received scriptural baptism but was again ordained, the brethren of that day being unwilling to recognize the orthodoxy of an alien administration of either baptism or the official act of consecration to the functions of the gospel ministry. His first pastorate in his new connection was of the then recently formed church in Bridgeton, New Jersey, but his subsequent labors were given to the churches of Shamokin, Penn- sylvania, and vicinity. The church at Covington, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, was formed through his labors, while Alle- gheny and Mead Corners churches, in north- western Pennsylvania, shared in his pas- toral efforts. The last church he served as pastor was the Great Valley church, in Chester county, Pennsylvania. After clos- ing his labors here, the growing infirmities of age precluded any regular charge, but he occasionally supplied the Valley Forge church until his sudden death, January 28, 1863, after an active and useful life, extend- ing over three quarters of a century, fifty- three years of which were devoted to an able and acceptable ministry. " A sinner saved by grace," is the record on his tomb- stone, ordered to be placed there as a memorial in his last will and testament.
George M. Spratt, D. D. ( father), was born in Quebec, Canada, April 7, 1813, con- verted when only seven years of age, and joined the Baptist church. He began his
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
theological studies at Hamilton, New York, in 1830, having walked all the way from his home in Pennsylvania, and was after- ward ordained as a missionary in central Pennsylvania. During his missionary labors he organized three churches, built three meeting houses, and baptized many converts. He subsequently became pastor of the church of Towanda, this State, where he remained four years. He was also pastor for a time at Elmira and Fairport, New York. In 1869 he received the degree of doctor of divinity from the university at Lewisburg, to the establishment and growth of which institution he had contributed a large measure of efficient service. In 1851 he was made corresponding secretary and financial agent for the Pennsylvania Bap- tist Educational society, and which position he still retains. He is an earnest and in- structive preacher, and has labored long and well in the upbuilding of the interests of his denomination throughout eastern Penn- sylvania and western New York. He mar- ried Abagail Reed, a daughter of Jacob Reed, of Pennsylvania, and to their union was born a family of four children. Their daughter, Harriet E. Spratt, was for several years previous to her death principal of the University Female institute at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. O. W. Spratt, the third child, is prominently connected with the American Baptist Publishing society. Rev. Dr. Spratt now resides in the city of Philadelphia.
George R. Spratt, M. D., was reared prin- cipally at Lewisburg, this State, and received a liberal education at the Bucknell univer- sity, from which he was graduated in 1860, with the degree of A. M. He soon after entered the office of Dr. Thomas H. Wil- son, of Lewisburg, and began the study of medicine. Later he matriculated in the
medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, where he pursued the full medical course, and from which he was graduated in the spring of 1864, with the degree of M. D. He immediately enlisted as second assistant surgeon in the 49th Pennsylvania infantry, and served until the close of the civil war, being mustered out as surgeon. Soon afterward he located at Corry, Erie county, this State, where he opened an office and was engaged in prac- tice two years, after which he removed to Clymer, Chautauqua county, New York, and was in successful practice at that place for a period of six years. In 1873 Dr. Spratt returned to Pennsylvania, and located at Coatesville, where he has ever since re- sided, devoting his time and attention strictly to the duties connected with his profession. His practice has steadily en- larged until it is perhaps second to none in this part of the county.
On the day before Christmas, 1866, Doc- tor Spratt was united in marriage to Mary E. Hulbert, a daughter of Kaleb Hulbert, of Westfield, Chautauqua county, New York. To Dr. and Mrs. Spratt were born one daughter, Harriet E., the deceased wife of Prof. Lincoln Hulley Bucknell, and one son, George Alexander, who is now reading medicine with his father.
In politics Dr. Spratt is a stanch republi- can, and has served for a period of eight years as a member of the school board of Coatesville, during five of which he has been president of the board. Like his father and grandfather, he is a member of the Baptist church, and active in support of the various religious and charitable in- terests of his denomination. He is pleasant and affable in manners, and esteemed alike for personal worth and professional skill.
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APT. EDWARD L. GILLIGAN, a
veteran of the civil war who was awarded a special medal of honor by the United States congress, and who for eighteen years has been an efficient, careful and suc- cessful railroad conductor, is the eldest of the two living sons of Charles and Sarah (Grim- shaw ) Gilligan, and was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 18, 1843. Charles Gilligan was a native of Wales, who left the place of his birth in 1824, to find a new home in the United States. He first located at Lynn, Massa- chusetts, but in a short time removed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he be- came agent for Benner & Dowling, proprie- tors of a leading omnibus line in that city, which position he occupied for a number of years. He was a war democrat, and pos- sessing the courage of his convictions, he enlisted April 20, 1861, in Co. A, 23d Penn- sylvania infantry, and served three months, participating in the engagement at Falling Water, Virginia, and a number of skirm- ishes. At the expiration of his term of service he was honorably discharged in the city of Philadelphia, but the exposure and hardships undergone in the camp and ou the march had broken his never robust con- stitution, and he died at his home in Phila- delphia on January 5, 1865, at the early age of forty-seven years, from the effects of discase contraeted in the army. In 1841 he married Sarah Grimshaw, a native of Philadelphia, and to them was born a family of four children, three sons and a daughter : Edward, deceased; Edward L., the subject of this sketch; Ella, who married Albert Morozzi, and now resides in the city of Philadelphia; and George W., who also lives in Philadelphia, where he is employed as a salesman in the shoe department of
John Wannamaker's mammoth store. Mrs. Sarah Gilligan was born in 1819, and is still living, being a member of the family of her daughter, Mrs. Ella Morozzi, in Philadel- phia, and remarkably active for a woman of her age.
Capt. Edward L. Gilligan was reared in Philadelphia, and received his education principally in the Ringgold Grammar school of that city. In 1861, soon after the boom of Sumter's guns had electrified the North, while strong men were everywhere pressing forward to offer themselves for their coun- try's defense, young Gilligan, then only eighteen years of age, enrolled his name in Co. E, 88th Pennsylvania infantry, and marched away to aid the eanse each loyal heart held dear. After faithfully perform- ing a soldier's duties for two years and a half, he re-enlisted as a veteran in the same company and served until July 18, 1865, when he was honorably discharged in the city of Philadelphia. He held successively all the offices in his company, from eighth corporal to captain, being the senior captain in his regiment. Captain Gilligan actively participated in all the battles fought by the army of the Potomac up to March 31, 1865, at which time he was wounded in the bril- liant engagement at Stony creek. This in- jury prevented his taking an active part in army movements for some time, but near the end of June, 1865, he again joined his regiment, of which he had command at the grand military review in Washington eity, although still walking on crutches.
During the battle of Gettysburg, Penn- sylvania, where grim-visaged war erushed life from more than fifty thousand brave men at a stroke, and while victory seemed yet uncertain -inclined.now to perch on the standards of the Confederacy, and again
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to abide with the stars and stripes-Captain Gilligan, begrimed by smoke and fighting with an intensity inspired by the fierce struggle whose billows rose and fell around him, joined in a desperate charge on the 23d North Carolina infantry, and succeeded in capturing the colors of that brave band of Confederate soldiers. For this act of con- spicuous heroism the congress of the United States presented him with a medal of honor, bearing this inscription: "The Congress : To Capt. Edward L. Gilligan, Co. E, 88th regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers. For distinguished bravery at the battle of Get- tysburg, July 1, 1863."
After the close of the civil war Captain Gilligan returned to Philadelphia, and was employed as a street car conductor for nearly five years, after which he served as clerk of the Stockton hotel at Cape May for two seasons. He then became a brakeman on the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore railroad, and after running one year was promoted to be baggage master. In that capacity he served three years, and was then made conductor. The latter position he still holds, being now employed on the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore branch of the Pennsylvania railroad.
On April 11, 1876, Captain Gilligan was united in marriage to Cora E. Orr, a daugh- ter of James Orr, of Port Deposit, Cecil county, Maryland. To them have been born three children, all daughters: Jennie E., Sarah G. and Lucretia G.
Captain Gilligan is republican in his political affiliations, and served as census enumerator in Philadelphia in 1870. He is a member of Thompson Post, No. 132, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is past commander and now adjutant. IIe is also a member of Philadelphia Lodge, No.
13, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is probably the oldest Odd Fellow of his years to be found in the United States, as he was admitted to the order before he was of age, under a special dispensation of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. For many years he has been a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, and is now serving as trustee and steward of his church, being also treasurer of the board of trustees. He is an active and successful Sunday school worker, and commands the respect and es- teem of a wide circle of friends. He is pleasant in manner, a good conversationalist, and a most agreeable gentleman. He is a member of the Oxford board of trade; Feb- ruary, 1891, was elected to the borough council for a term of three years; and is also a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics.
G1 EORGE W. WALTON, a veteran Union soldier of the late war, and an industrious and comfortably situated farmer of East Nottingham township, is a son of Thomas and Phebe ( Hoskins), and was born in Upper Oxford township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, March 27, 1844. His paternal grandfather, Thomas Walton, was a native of Montgomery county, this State, and in early life removed to Upper Oxford town- ship, where he was engaged in farming and stockraising until his death. He was an old- line whig, but being an unassuming man never took an active part in political affairs, although he was always interested in his party's success. He was a member of the Hicksite branch of the Society of Friends. He was twice married and had five children, two sons and three daughters. One of his sons was Thomas Walton, the father of the
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subject of this sketch. Thomas Walton was born in 1814, in East Fallowfield town- ship, and spent over thirty years in Upper Oxford township. Ile then removed to West Chester, where he resided until his death in 1879. He was a farmer by ocen- pation, a whig and republican in politics, and a Friend or Quaker in religious belief and church membership. He was a friend of popular education and served for thirteen years as a school director in Upper Oxford township. IIe also held other local offices in that township, and made a good record as a public official. Mr. Walton was patri- otic, and when the late war commenced warmly advocated the cause of the Union, in whose defence he enlisted as a soldier iu 1863 for three months. He served as a private in a Pennsylvania infantry company and was honorably discharged from the Fed- eral service. He married Phebe Hoskins, who was a daughter of Joseph Hoskins, of Upper Oxford township, and is now deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Waltou had eleven children : seven sons and four daughters: Anna E., who died at twenty-one years of age; Joseph, George W., Thomas J., Hannah M. Johnson, John, (deceased); Charles H., Malinda, who died in early life; Brinton; and a son and daughter who died in infancy.
George W. Walton was reared on the farm, and received his education in the com- mon schools of Upper Oxford township and Coatesville academy, then under charge of Professor Griffin.
Leaving school he enlisted on September 21, 1861, in Co. C, 97th Pennsylvania in- fantry, and served until September 20, 1864, when he was honorably discharged from the Federal service at near Petersburg, Virginia. He was at the siege of Ft. Sumter, and in the southern department of the Atlantic
until 1864, when his regiment was ordered north, and he served in the armies of the James and the Potomac. He was in the dreadful charges at Cold Harbor and the mine explosion in front of Petersburg, and was one of the three hundred men who made the celebrated and desperate attempt to capture the Confederate battery on Green Plains between Petersburg and Richmond.
Returning home from the army Mr. Wal- ton engaged in farming, which he has suc- cessfully followed ever since. His farm of seventy aeres of good tillable land lies one- half mile west of Oxford. He is a republi- can in politics, and devotes the most of his time and attention to farming and other agricultural pursuits. He has two sons, William A, and Howard T. Walton.
JOHN H. DAVIS, senior member of the firm of Davis & Mowrey, at Spring City, and a gentleman who has served for several years in the common council of that borough, is a son of William D. and Sarah (Cook) Davis, and was born at Parker Ford, Chester county, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1853. He was reared principally in East Coventry township, and secured a good education in the public schools of his neigh- borhood. After quitting the school room he served au apprenticeship at the carpenter trade, and followed that occupation for a number of years. About 1889 he aban- doned his trade and embarked in the coal and feed business at Spring City, under the firm name of Davis & Mowrey, his part- ner being Joseph I. Mowrey, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this work. The firm has been quite prosperous, and has built up an extensive and lucrative trade. Its business includes coal, wood, flour, feed.
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lime and sand, and any article in these va- rious lines can always be obtained at the lowest prices, from this well-known firm. They own and operate a chopping mill in connection with their feed department, and their business has more than doubled dnr- ing the last two years. The firm is on the highway to unusual prosperity, and well de- serves its success.
Mr. Davis was wedded to Lydia Mowrey, a daughter of Samuel and Leah Mowrey, of Spring City, and to this union has been born five children : Blanche, Laura, (de- ceased); Bertha, Arthur (also dead); and Walter. Mr. Davis is a member and stew- ard of the Methodist Episcopal church, at Spring City, and in politics a stanch repub- lican. He was elected a member of the borough council in 1887, and ably dis- charged the duties of that position for a period of three years.
The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, John Davis, was born in Montgomery county, and during the latter part of his life lived in Limerick township, Montgomery county. He married, and was the father of seven children, four sons and three daughters : David, Elizabeth, Su- san, William D., Nathan, Michael, Kate. Elizabeth married John Rapor; Susan mar- ried John Loag; and Kate wedded Joseph Essick.
The second son, William Davis (father), was born at Limerick, Montgomery county, December 21, 1817, where he grew up and received a fair education in the com- mon schools. After attaining manhood he learned the carpenter's trade, and for several years followed it exclusively. Later he removed to Schuylkill county, engaged in the lumber business for ten years, where he was quite successful, then moved back to |
Chester county and engaged in farming to some extent, and became quite prosperous. In his political belief he was a stanch re- publican, and held the office of school di- rector in his township for a number of years. He was a member of the German Reformed church, in which he served as trustee for a long time. In 1842 he married Sarah Cook, a daughter of Samuel Cook, of Ches- ter county, and to their union was born eight children, six sons and two daughters : Allen S., Kate (married Irwin Brownback), Benjamin and Thomas (twins), Emma (wedded Edgar Leopold), John H. (subject of this sketch), Edwin W., and George E. The father, William D. Davis, died at his home, in East Coventry township, on March 13, 1890, at the advanced age of seventy- two years. His wife survives him, being now in the seventy-fourth year of her age.
GEORGE WALTERS, who was hon- ored in life for his many excellent traits and sincerely mourned at his death, was a prominent member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and an excellent architect, whose fame as a railway engineer was achieved when he built the great Interna- tional bridge across the Niagara river. He was a son of William and Catharine (Em- ory) Walters, and was born in East Pike- land township, Chester county, Pennsyl- vania, March 22, 1810. He received a good practical English education and left the pa- ternal acres to learn the trade of coach maker which he followed for a few years. In 1838 he disposed of his small coachmak- ing establishment and came to Phoenixville, as affording a wider and far more advanced field for all manufacturing industries with which his trade was connected than was to
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Scorge alles.
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
be found in the smaller towns in the north- ern part of the county. While several de- sirable openings in these towns were invit- ing offers to him as favorable for establish- ing a prosperous business, yet he carefully measured his powers, and after judiciously weighing all chanees, boldly launched out into the more extended field at Phoenixville with its many possibilities of future pro- gress. He was practical as well as anıbi- tious, and sought not to risk his partly un- tried powers by assuming the chief direc- torship of some new or promising enter- prise, but preferred rather to accept a sub- ordinate place in a substantial business, and slowly attain to a responsible and advanced position. In carrying out this view he en- tered the employ of the Phoenixville Iron Company as a pattern maker. His capacity for business and an aptitude for draughting and architectural work secured him succes- sive promotions until at the time of his death, in 1885, he was chief draughtsman of the great iron works which had grown up from a very moderate commencement. For nearly fifty years he thought, and planned, and wrought in the Phoenix Iron works, and each success achieved was but the stepping stone toward a greater sue- cess attempted. His natural genius was supplemented by an energy that enabled him to make the best use of all opportuni- ties that came in his way, and thus he was enabled to accomplish satisfactory results where others had utterly failed. As a draughtsman and architect his work was noted for symmetry of design and the grace- ful form and disposition of all details. With characteristic genius he often went aside from the beaten tract to originate new models, but they always possessed beauty and were noted for durability and service.
His hand and mind was ever engaged upon a wide range of subjects, and while not neglecting the fashioning and proportion- ing of the smaller wares of the works, he also planned and wrought out the designs of large structures and immense bridges. Ile was the architect and also the engineer in charge of the building of the International bridge over the Niagara river, besides draughting the plans of several other impor- tant bridges and numerous large iron build- ings. He was a republican in politics, and served one term as burgess of Phoenixville. He was known far and wide for his activity and usefulness in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he had been an influential and honored member for many years.
December 27, 1832, Mr. Walters married Rebecca Gougler, who died May 26, 1878, aged sixty-eight years, and left one child, a son, named Noah. On November 9, 1880, he wedded Mary G. Boyer, who was born December 21, 1828, and is a granddaughter of Benjamin Boyer, of Schuylkill township. His son, John Boyer, the father of Mrs. Walters, was a farmer, a whig, and a mem- ber of Valley Forge Baptist church, and died in Maryland in 1870, aged seventy-six years. He married Mary Rapp, who was a daughter of Barnett and Ester Rapp, and passed away in 1871, aged seventy-nine years. John and Mary Boyer were the parents of seven children : Elizabeth (dead), Samuel, Sarah, Naomi (dead ), Mary, now Mrs. Wal- ters ; Benjamin, and John. Mrs. Walters, who is an amiable woman, has a fine home and has shown good ability in the manage- ment of the estate left her by her husband.
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