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 61
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and three years later went to Morris county, New Jersey, and engaged with George II. Brown, of New York, president of the Port Gram Iron Company, to remodel their blast furnace and superintend the running of it for nearly two years. From New Jersey he went to Albany, the capital of the Empire State. Here he engaged with the Albany City Iron Company to superintend the remodeling of one furnace to run on Bessemer iron and one on foundry iron and mill, and ran the two blast furnaces for nearly two years. At the end of that time he engaged with the Merion Iron Com- pany, at Conshohocken, Montgomery county, I'ennsylvania, to superintend the remodel- ing of one furnace and the running of the two for nearly two years-J. B. Moorhead, president, of Philadelphia. Next removed to Norristown, November 1, 1886, and en- gaged with Isaac Mellose, of Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania, to superintend the remodeling of the Norristown furnace to run on Bessemer iron, and superintend the running for six months; and then, on the first of October, 1887, engaged with Charles Richardson, of Philadelphia, to su- perintend the remodeling of the Edge Hill furnace in Montgomery county, Pennsyl- vania, and to instruct his two sons to run the furnace, for nearly two years, and on March 1, 1889, he returned to his native place, Phoenixville, where he has been living a retired life ever since.
In political opinion Davis Keeley is a republican. regularly attends the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a member of Pha .- nix Lodge, No. 212, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having been initiated April 7,1847.
On January 12, 1843; Davis Keeley mar- ried Barbara Landis, who was a daughter
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
of Peter Landis, and died June 16, 1889, at the age of sixty-eight years. To their union were born two children, one son and a daughter : Jerome, a prominent iron com- mission merchant of Philadelphia; and Sophia E., now the wife of Richard Griffith, a prosperous farmer of this county.
His grandfather, Jacob Keeley, sr., was born in Montgomery county in 1738, and died in East Vincent township in 1810, at seventy-two years of age. He followed farming for many years and afterward kept hotel at Sheeder's paper mill, on French creek, in East Vincent township. He was a Presbyterian, married, and was the father of five children. His son, Jacob Keeley (father), was born in Montgomery county in 1772, and died in this county in 1828, aged sixty years. He learned harness mak- ing, at which he worked until his death. He married Sophia Shuler, a daughter of William Shuler, a Presbyterian and dem- ocrat, who was born in Montgomery county about 1762, and removed to Chester county, settling on French creek, in East Vincent township. He owned a large flouring mill and linseed oil mill, and in his community was a prominent man and an influential citizen.
W ILLIAM RALSTON, a prosperous farmer and mill owner of Matthews, this county, who is now practically retired from active business, is the fourth son of Robert and Catharine (Christman) Ralston, and a native of West Vincent township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he was born August 20, 1820. The Ralstons came originally from the north of Ireland, the family being planted on the American con- tinent by John Ratston, a native of north Ireland, who was in the battle of Boyne
Water, under King William, July 1, 1690, and emigrated to America in August, 1728, settling in Pikeland (now West Pikeland ) township, Chester county, Pennsylvania. With him came his son, Robert Ralston, who was born in Ireland, October 3, 1722. The latter became prominent in this county and served several years as a member of the State legislature, dying at his home in Pike- land township, February 19, 1814. His son, Hon. John Ralston (grandfather), was born in Vincent (now West Vincent) township, this county, November 4, 1744. When the war of the Revolution burst on the col- onies he took an active part in defense of American rights, serving in the Continen- tal army, first as captain and later as colonel of a regiment. When General Washington removed his headquarters from Yellow Springs to Reading he sent for Captain Ralston, who was then at home on a fur- lough putting in his crops, and requested him to pilot the command part of the way. The captain consented and escorted Wash- ington as far as the falls of French creek, where another pilot was procured and Cap- tain Ralston returned home. During the war his house was burned by the British scouts, and he was three times compelled to secrete himself in a barn to avoid being captured by the enemy. Ile was a farmer by occupation, and a democrat in politics. After the revolutionary struggle ended he was appointed justice of the peace, and for forty-one years discharged the complicated duties of that office in an able, intelligent and successful manner. He became a mem- ber of the county court in November, 1784, and occupied that position continuously until the constitution of 1790 went into effect, and on August 26, 1791, was again commissioned a justice of the peace by
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
Governor Mifflin. April 7,1802, he was ap- pointed by Governor Mckean an associate judge of the courts of this county, the du- ties of which office he performed with sin- gular fidelity during the last twenty-three years of his life. He died at his home, on the property now occupied by John Ralston in West Vincent township, September 1, 1825, in the eighty-first year of his age, and his remains were entombed at St. Peter's church in Chester valley. He married Catharine Miller, and had five sons and two daughters: Robert, father; William, mar- ried Mary Heffelfinger in 1805, and died in 1825; John, James; Mary, married John Bingaman, and, after his decease, wedded Henry Rimby ; Catharine, became the wife of Samson Davis; and George. Robert Ralston (father) was born on the old Ralston homestead, in West Vincent township, this county, April 19, 1778, where he grew to maturity and received an ordinary English education. After attaining his majority he engaged in farming, which continued to be his principal occupation through life, though he was also engaged in distilling for a time, and in various other enterprises. Politieally he was a democrat and took an active in- terest in the success of his party. He mar- ried Catharine Christman, a daughter of George Christman, of Pikeland, and to them was born a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters: George, de- ceased ; John, also dead : Robert; William, whose name heads this sketch ; Elizabeth, deceased ; Mariah, married Henry Buck- walter; Sophia, now dead; and Catharine, who became the wife of Isaac Evans.
William Ralston grew to manhood in West Vincent township, this county, re- eceiving a good English education in the public schools of his vicinity, and has spent
all his life here, engaged principally in agri- cultural pursuits. He owns a large farm containing two hundred and fifty acres, two hundred of which are well improved, the balance being valuable woodland. His farm buildings are substantial and commodious, and he is a fine type of the independent American farmer. In political sentiment Mr. Ralston has always been a democrat, believing firmly in equal rights and exact justice to all, and special privileges to none.
On January 16, 1857, the subject of this sketch was united in marriags with Sarah Mosteller, a daughter of Henry Mosteller, a prosperous farmer of West Vincent town- ship, this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Ralston was born a family of three children, two sons and a daughter: H. F. Ralston, who married Ella Paul, a daughter of Jacob Paul, of West Vincent township, and now resides with his father and operates the home farm : Annie, who became the wife of Clifford Emery, a farmer of this township; and William E., living at home with his parents and running a feed and saw mill owned by his father. Mrs. Sarah Ralston was born January 18, 1826, grew to womanhood and was educated in her native township, and is a member of the Lutheran church.
JONATHAN LEARY, one of the most prosperous and comfortably sitnated farmers of North Coventry township, is a son of George and Sarah ( Murphy) Leary, and was born in Warwick township, Ches- ter county, Pennsylvania, January 16, 1844. The Leary family is of English deseent, and George Leary, the father of Jonathan Leary. was born April 23, 1808, and died May 19, 1862, aged fifty-four years. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and passed the
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
larger part of his life in Warwick town- ship, where he was engaged in farming and huckstering. He was successful in his vari- ous business ventures. He was a strong democrat in politics, and married Sarah Murphy, who was a daughter of Edward Murphy, of Warwick township, and who died May 21, 1879, at sixty-eight years of age. George and Sarah Leary had six children, two sons and four daughters: Maria, wife of Liborn Amole, a farmer of Warwick township; Elizabeth, who married John Graham, and is now dead; Faithful, who became the wife of Jacob Schlipf, a resident of Pottstown, Montgomery county ; Jonathan ; Sarah, married Porter Fries, of South Coventry township; and Addison, who went to Iowa and there married a Miss Savage, and still continues to reside in that State.
Jonathan Leary grew to manhood on the farm, received his education in the early common schools of Pennsylvania, and then engaged in farming, which he has followed successfully ever since.
On September 30, 1866, Mr. Leary mar- ried Maria Dampman, of St Mary's, War- wick township, and to their union have been born nine children, four sons and five daughters : Anna, now dead ; William Har- ris, who married Zena Bevens, and is a fore- man in the great Baldwin Locomotive works of Philadelphia ; Emma and Charles, now dead; Franklin, Mabel, Ada, Alice, and Raymond.
In politics Mr. Leary supports the Re- publican party and believes that the practice of its cardinal principles would bring wealth and prosperity to the country. He gives the most of his time to farming and stock raising, and owns one of the finest farms in North Coventry township. His farm con-
tains one hundred and three acres-all of which is easy tillable and highly productive. He is an excellent farmer, a reliable citizen, and a man who is respected in his com- munity.
W ILLAM H. EACHUS, a native and life long resident of the "Great Val- ley" of Chester county, and the accommo- dating proprietor of the Malvern livery stables for the last twelve years, is a son of James and Sarah ( Hutchinson) Eachus, and was born in East Whiteland township,Ches- ter county, Pennsylvania, June 2, 1838. The name of Eachus appears in the records of the county as early as 1715. Abner Eachus, the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a cattle dealer of Willistown township, and wedded Mary Barber, by whom he had twelve children. Their son, James Eachus (father), was born in 1797 in Willistown township, and died in East Whiteland, February 26, 1866, at sixty-nine years of age. He was a lime burner by occupation, and a Jacksonian democrat in political opinion. He married Sarah Hutchinson, who was a daughter of Thomas Hutchinson, of Scotch descent, and died September 13, 1880, aged eighty years. They reared a family of six children, four sons and two daughters: Abner, Mary, Thomas, Sarah Jane, William H., and Stephen, who served four years as a Union soldier in the late civil war.
William H. Eachus was reared in his na- tive township and carefully trained to habits of industry, economy and honesty. He re- ceived his education in the common schools, and, after attaining his majority, purchased a grain threshing machine, which he ran successfully for eighteen years. At the end
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
of that time, in 1880, he removed to Mal- vern, where he purchased his present livery stable. He keeps a good stock of saddle and driving horses and buggies and car- riages, and has built up a first class and very remunerative patronage.
On January 8, 1868, Mr. Eachus was united in marriage with Mary Garrett, a daughter of John S. Garrett, of East Goshen township, and their union has been blessed with three children, one son and two daughters: Sara, John and Margaret.
In politics Mr. Eachus is a republican, and believes in the principles of the party of Lincoln, Grant and Harrison. Since coming to Malvern he has served as street commissioner of that place, but has never been cager or anxious for any political of- fice within the gift of his fellow citizens. His livery business and other enterprises in which he is interested take the most of his time. He is a member of the Baptist church of Malvern, and ranks as one of the reliable and active citizens of his town.
H ARVEY S. GARRETT, a prominent
farmer and paper manufacturer, is a worthy representative of one of the old English Quaker families of this county. He is the third son of William and Eliza (Sharpless) Garrett, and a native of Willis- town township, Chester county, Pennsyl- vania, where he was born June 16, 1834, in the house where he now resides. Here he grew to manhood, receiving his primary education in the public schools and later attending the Westtown boarding school and Professor Olslop's academy at Wilming- ton, Delaware. Upon finishing his studies and returning home he took charge of a farin containing sixty-five acres, and a little
later, in 1863, also assumed the manage- ment of the paper mill formerly owned by his father, which he has successfully con- ducted ever since. The mill is located on Ridley creek, in Willistown township, and is devoted entirely to the manufacture of tissue manilla paper. Its weekly output is between two and three tons of fine tissue manilla paper, and its product finds a ready sale and is used in wrapping fruit, butter, and other articles, in all parts of the country. The mill building is fifty by one hundred feet in dimensious, and furnishes employ- ment to five skilled workmen the year round. Politically Mr. Garrett is a stanch republican, and in religion adheres to the faith held by his ancestors for many gener- ations, being a prominent member of the Society of Friends.
On May 5, 1860, Mr. Garrett was united by marriage to Mary Worrell, a daughter of Elisha and Mary Worrell, of Upper Providence township, Delaware county. To this union was born a family of four chil- dren, two sons and two daughters: Edwin, who married Belle Hoopes, and is now a successful paper manufacturer of Delaware county ; Philena, dicd July 15, 1882; Jos- eph Il., living at home and employed in the paper mill here; and Phæbe, also living with her parents on the farm near Cheyney.
The Garrett family is of English descent, and its founders in America were among the carly Quaker settlers of Pennsylvania. Isaac Garrett, paternal grandfather of Har- vey S., was a farmer residing on Ridley creek, in Willistown township, this county, where he died in 1837, aged eighty-two years. He was a member of the Ilieksite branch of the Society of Friends, and had a family of three sons and a daughter: Isaac, Amos, William, and Mary, all now
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deceased. William Garrett (father) was born in this county in 1800, and died here in 1854, from the effects of being accident- ally hit by a lever while prying up a large rock near his paper mill. He owned and operated a farm here, and for many years was engaged in manufacturing edged tools on the present site of the paper mill. After tools began to be made so extensively by machinery, and the price became too low for hand-made tools, Mr. Garrett converted his tool works into a paper mill, which he ran successfully until his accidental death. He was a whig and republican in politics, and in religion a strict member of the Society of Friends. In 1826 he married Eliza Sharpless, a daughter of Jesse Sharpless, of East Goshen township, Chester county, and was the father of five sons, all of whom grew to maturity and are now active and useful citizens of this State. They are: Edward T., who married Alice Priest, and is now a paper manufacturer of Darby town- ship, Delaware county; Casper S., also a paper manufacturer, who married Elizabeth Williamson, and now resides in West Phil- adelphia ; Harvey S., the subject of this sketch ; William H., a liveryman at Swath- more, Delaware county ; and Sylvester, who, while residing at the last named place, is engaged in Philadelphia, in the sale of pa- per at that point. For additional facts con- cerning the early history of the Garrett family, see sketch of Jesse H. Garrett, on another page.
ISAAC L. DUTTON, one of the repre- sentative farmers of West Goshen town- ship, was born at Middletown, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, March 22, 1838. His occupation has always been that of farming,
which he continued to follow in West Brandywine township until 1867, when he removed to West Goshen, where he has since resided on the Wihnington and West Chester turnpike.
Isaac L. Dutton is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Thatcher) Dutton. Joseph Dutton was born August 4, 1810, in Delaware county .. He was reared and educated in Delaware county, and moved to Westtown township, this county, where he continued to reside several years, subsequently remov- ing to East Goshen township, where he held several local offices, and was a member of the Society of Friends or Quakers. Later he removed to West Chester, where he died on November 9, 1888. His wife, Sarah Thatcher, was a daughter of William Thatcher, a native of Delaware county. He died in Aston township, Delaware county, August 8, 1812. Mrs. Sarah (Thatcher) Dutton is still living. To the marriage of Joseph and Sarah (Thatcher) Dutton were born eleven children : William, Isaac L., Henry S., Beulah T., Rebecca, Edward, Lydia, Ann, Sallie, Richard, aud Emma (dead).
Isaac L. Dutton was married to Caroline Hickman, daughter of Thomas and Ruth H. (Rodabaugh) Hickman, of Delaware county, and had seven children: Joseph Hickman Dutton, born December 12, 1863, is now engaged in farming in Elk township ; Howard, born August 25, 1866, was a prom- ising young man, attended the Normal school at West Chester, after which he was graduated from the Pierce Business college, Philadelphia, in the class of 1884, and at the age of eighteen he accepted a position as clerk of a meat-packing establishment at Philadelphia, afterward he took the position of auditor with John Wannamaker, which
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
he held until 1886, when he went to Chi- cago and became foreman in the store of C. M. Lemmington & Co., having under his supervision many clerks, and died in Chicago of typhoid fever, June 29, 1890: Arthur Pratt, living at home, was born February 7, 1870; Harry Sharpless, born September 22, 1872; Carrie Anita, born August 12, 1875 ; Isaac Lowell, born June 9, 1878; and Bertha May, born January 24, 1881.
Thomas Dutton (great-grandfather) mar- ried Hannah Routh, and had a family of children, among whom was Richard Dut- ton (grandfather), who married Margaret Larkin. Richard Dutton was a whig and republican in polities.
ISAAC PASCHAL, a representative farmer of Easttown township, and who served as a soldier in the army of the James and the department of the Sonth, is a son of Abraham and Anna (Lincoln) Paschal, and was born on the present site of Media, in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, May 30, 1836. Ile received his education in the common schools of Delaware county, and was engaged in farming until September, 1861, when he enlisted in Co. C, 97th Penn- sylvania infantry, and served along the coast line of Virginia, and North and South Carolina, where his regiment was engaged in siege service around several of the south- ern seaboard cities. Ilis health became im- paired by exposure and fatigue, and he was discharged for disability at Hilton Head, South Carolina, in October, 1863. Return- ing home he followed farming in Delaware county until 1888, when he purchased and removed to his present farm of one hundred and fifty-one and a quarter acres of land in Easttown township, near Berwyn. His fine 31
farm is well improved and carefully culti- vated. It is all cleared and under tillage except twelve acres of woodland. He has always been a republican in politics, and is one of the members of the present school board of his township. Mr. Paschal is a good example of a self-made man, having acquired what he possesses by: industry, economy and honesty. He is well respected by his neighbors, who esteem him for his many good qualities. Mr. Paschal married Amelia Acker, daughter of Conrad and Leah Acker.
Isaac Paschal is a lineal descendant of Rev. Blaise Paschal, who was a prominent preacher of the Society of Friends. Abra- ham Paschal (father) served as a soldier in the American army during the war of 1812. Ile was a blacksmith by trade, and in connection with blacksmithing gave considerable attention to farming. He re- sided for many years near Media, in Dela- ware county, where he died in 1868, at eighty years of age. He was a Jacksonian demoerat, and a consistent member of the Society of Friends. He married Anna Lincoln, and to their union were born eleven children, six sons and five daughters : Benjamin, Jesse, Abraham, jr., Isaac, John (dead), Elizabeth, Malin, Mary, Martha, Sarah, and Anna. Mrs. Paschal, who died in 1863, aged seventy-seven years, was a daughter of Jacob Lincoln, who was a lin- eal descendant of the Lincoln family from which was descended Abraham Lincoln, the " Martyr President."
JONATHAN P. YERKES, one of the
leading farmers and successful business men of Easttown township, is a son of John and Elizabeth (Stump) Yerkes, and was
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born on the farm adjoining the one upon which he now resides, in Easttown town- ship, Chester county, Pennsylvania, January 16, 1833. His paternal grandfather, John Yerkes, was a native of Wales, and came with his parents to Montgomery county. He owned a farm of two hundred and fifty acres of land, was a member of the Society of Friends, and reared a family of eight children : William, John, Andrew, Harman, George, Rachel Jones, Nancy Righter, and Emmeline. John Yerkes (father) was born in Montgomery county, this State, in 1785, and in 1818 came to Chester county, where he first settled in Charlestown township. He soon afterward removed to Easttown township, where he rented a farm on which he resided until his death, May 16, 1847, at sixty-two years of age. He was a repub- lican, and a Friend. He married for his first wife Emmeline Coffman, who died and left four children : William, Emmeline, Charles, and Sarah II. After her death Mr. Yerkes married Elizabeth Stump, who died June 16, 1864, when in the seventy- eighth year of her age. By his second marriage he had eight children, four sons and four daughters: Mary, Job, Morris, John, Elizabeth Supplee, Hannah Colbert, Jonathan P., and Martha E.
Jonathan P. Yerkes received his educa- tion in the common schools of his native township and in Professor Koaken's aca- demic school at Norristown, this State, and assisted his father in farming until the death of the latter in 1847, when he and his brother John assumed the management of the home farm, which they conducted suc- cessfully for several years. Jonathan P. was next engaged in buying and butchering cattle for the Philadelphia market for some time, and then purchased his present farm
of one hundred and thirty-five acres of good farming and grazing land, located near Leopard, close to the main line of the Penn- sylvania railroad. At the present time he is extensively engaged in farming, market gardening and cattle dealing. He does a large business in the Philadelphia markets, where he is known as a reliable and active business man. In politics Mr. Yerkes is a republican. He has always been interested in educational affairs and is now serving his twenty-fourth year as a school director of Easttown township.
On February 5, 1863, Mr. Yerkes mar- ried Matilda Barr, daughter of Charles and Mary A. Barr, of Delaware county. To Mr. and Mrs. Yerkes have been born five chil- dren, two sons and three daughters: Lizzie A., who died at eighteen years of age: Charles Rush, who died in infancy ; John, deceased ; Edna, who died young; and Martha E., at home with her parents.
NEWTON STITELER, a man of en- ergy and thorough business experience, and the proprietor in Pikeland township of one of the popular summer resorts of Ches- ter county, is a son of Henry and Penina (Benner) Stiteler, and was born in West Vincent township, Chester county, Penn- sylvania, April 11, 1850. The immigrant ancestor of the Stiteler family of Pennsyl- vania was a native of Germany, and came to what is now Upper Uwchlan township at some time during the latter part of the last century. His son, George Siteler (grand- father), was born and reared in Upper Uwchlan, where he was a successful farmer and where he died at an advanced age. He was a democrat in the early days of Jeffer- son's first administration, when his party
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