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 62
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
was being organized. He owned a large farm, and was a member of the Seventh- Day Baptist church. He married and had nine children : Henry, Rebecca Pinkerton, Isaac, Elizabeth Hoffman, George, Susan, John R., Catharine Barber, and one other. Of these children all are dead except Re- becca and Elizabeth. Henry Stiteler (father), the eldest son, was born August 25, 1807, and died March 25, 1886, aged seventy- nine years and seven months. He was a carpenter by trade, but soon abandoned carpentering and removed to West Vincent township, where he purchased a farm of two hundred and thirteen acres of land, upon which he resided until his death. He was a republican in politics. He was a member and trustee in Vincent Baptist church, where he had served continuously in the office of deacon for half a century. Mr. Stiteler was a man of clear perception, solid judgment and unswerving integrity. He was alike prominent and useful in his community, where he was active in relig- jous affairs, and wielded considerable influ- ence. He was highly respected and es- teemed by his neighbors, who often sought him for advice and assistance. In his long years of useful life Henry Stiteler was al- ways prompt in the discharge of duty, and never wearied in his efforts for the good of his fellow men and the prosperity of his community and township. His life was straightforward and earnest, and is a worthy example for imitation by those who desire to live right and win that success which is real and lasting. He married Penina Ben- ner, who was born April 9, 1810, and passed away June 5, 1887. They had ten children, six sons and four daughters: George, whose sketch appears in this volume; Anna, wife of Jesse Orr ; John, who died young ; Ben-
ner, died in childhood : Mary. wife of Wil- liam Mock; Sallie, who married Jacob. Dewees; William HI., (see his sketch) ; Lizzie; I. Newton, subject of this sketch : and A. F. M., whose biography appears elsewhere in this volume.
I. Newton Stiteler was reared on the farm. received a good English education, and then learned the trade of carpenter, at which he worked in various parts of Chester county from 1875 to 1887, when he engaged in farming for his father. After twelve years spent in the management and cultivation of the home farm, he purchased his present farm of ninety-five acres of improved land in Pikeland township. This farm is well watered, contains no untillable land, and has become very productive under the intelli- gent and snecessful management of Mr. Stiteler, who, in addition to grain and stoek raising, has established a first class dairy. He also operates a custom flouring mill, which is on his farm. During the summer seasons the beauty and healthfulness of Mr. Stiteler's pleasant place so recommend it that his house is always crowded from June to September with guests from Philadelphia. At the present time he is doing a consider- able amount of contracting on carpenter work in addition to the management of the various lines of business in which he is en- gaged. He is a republican in politics, and a consistent and active member of Vincent Baptist church, in which he succeeded his father, at the death of the latter, as a dea- con, and has been superintendent of the Sunday school since 1882. He is prompt. accurate and reliable, and has shown him- self to be an intelligent man of good busi- ness ability and energy.
On October 1, 1874, Mr. Stiteler was united in marriage with Kate Latshaw,
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
daughter of Jacob and Ann Latshaw, of Pikeland township, this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Stiteler have been born two chil- dren : J. Harry, who is attending the West ('hester State Normal school ; and Charles I., a student of the Chester Springs prepara- tory school.
N EWTON EVANS, who for several years was cashier of the Farmers' and Mechanics' National bank of Phoenixville, and is now a director of the National bank at Royer's Ford, and treasurer of the Pho- nix Storm Insurance Company, is also a leading farmer and well-known surveyor of this county. He is the oldest of the two sons of Ezra and Eliza (King) Evans, and was born March 2, 1823, in Uwchlan town- ship, now Upper Uwchlan township, Ches- ter county, Pennsylvania, on the farm where he now resides. The name Evans is fre- quently met with in this county, and is borne by several families in no wise related to the subject of this sketch, who is de- seended from Lewis Evans (great-grand- father), a native of Carnarvonshire, Wales, who came to America accompanied by his wife, Sarah, and their six children : Daniel, John, Barbara, Jeremiah, Sarah and Abel, the latter of whom was born at sea during the voyage. He settled in Vincent (now West Vincent) township, near what is known as the "Tilt Mills," where he followed his trade of shoemaker until his death, May 19, 1762, when in the forty-sixth year of his age. His remains were interred at Charles- town Presbyterian church, where his wid- ow, who survived him until March 11, 1805, was also laid to rest by his side. After the father's death the family removed to Uweh- lan township, now Upper Uwchlan, where they purchased and settled on sixty-twoand
a half acres of land, whereon, in 1766, they erected a house which was enlarged in 1801, and is still standing. It is said to have been the headquarters of Gen. Anthony Wayne while his forces were encamped on the farm. The farm was increased from time to time by the purchase of other land until they owned three hundred and fifty acres, comprising two fine farms, nearly all of which is now owned by the subject of this sketch. Daniel Evans (grandfather) was born in Cærnarvonshire, Wales, Sep- tember 27, 1743, came with his father to America, and, after attaining manhood, married Esther Benner, who was born in 1759. He died October 1, 1820, and his widow passed away August 10, 1840. Their children were: Lewis, who married Sarah Evans; Isaac: Elizabeth, became the wife of Joshua Evans; Sarah, married Samuel Neiler; Ezra, father of Newton; Mary, wedded Robert McClure; Jesse, Daniel, Abel, married Ann Wilson ; and Henry T., the latter of whom married Elizabeth Thatcher. They are all now deceased. In polities Daniel Evans was a democrat of the old school, and in his religious faith a strict Baptist. Ezra Evans (father) was born in 1788, on the homestead now owned by his son Newton, where he was reared and edu- cated, and where he continued to live until 1850, when he removed to Schuylkill town- ship. Five years later he returned to Uwch- lan, now Upper Uwchlan, township, where he continued to follow the vocation of a farmer until his death in 1874. He also was a democrat in politics, and a member of the Baptist church. In 1822 he married Eliza King, a daughter of Conrad King, of Uwchlan, now Upper Uwchlan, township, and to their union was born a family of two sons: Newton, whose name heads this
521
OF CHESTER COUNTY.
sketch, and J. Benner, who is a prosperous farmer of Upper Uwehlan township.
Newton Evans was principally reared on the old homestead, where he now lives, and received his early training in the common schools. He finished his education in a boarding school at West Chester, and soon afterward engaged in farming on the home place, where he has ever since resided. The old homestead passed into his posses- sion in 1874, and in its management he has been very successful. He has also been en- gagedi in surveying more or less all his life. For three years Mr. Evans was cashier of the Farmers' and Mechanics' National bank of Phoenixville, and is now a director of the National bank of Royer's Ford, Montgom- ery county. Ile is also a director and the treasurer of the Phoenix Storm Insurance Company, of Phoenixville, this county. In polities he followed the traditions of his family, and has been a life-long democrat. In 1855 he was the candidate of his party for the office of county treasurer, and so great was his personal popularity that he came within seventy-nine votes of being elected, although the opposition was then as now largely in the majority. Mr. Evans is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and for a number of years was trustee of St. Paul's church of that denom- ination at Lionville.
On February 11, 1847, Mr. Evans was married to Hannah Acker, a daughter of Peter Acker, a prosperous farmer residing in Uwehlan township. To Mr. and Mrs. Evans was born a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters : Mary, married William H. Stiteler, a farmer of West Pike- land township; Ezra; Isaac, wedded Mary Ellen Smedley and resides in West Vincent on a farm adjoining his father, engaged in !
managing the farm whereon he resides; Acker, at home, unmarried : William ; George, married Ada J. Moore, now a ticket agent of the Baltimore Central railroad at Angora station : and Carrie. Mrs. Hannah Evans was born in 1824, and is still living, hale and hearty. Newton Evans has held several township offices, among them being inspector and school director of Uwchlan : and judge, inspector, assistant assessor. school director, and township auditor ser- eral terms in Upper Uwehlan township. Hle was also a director of the Coventry Mu- tual Live Stock Insurance association, of Chester county several years, during part of which time he was president of the associa- ciation, and was a member of the first board of directors of the Farmers' and Mechanics' National bank of Phoenixville.
EORGE THOMAS, a member of one of the oldest families of the county. and a leading farmer and horticulturist of West Whiteland township, is a son of Dr. George and Anna Mary (Townsend) Thomas, and was born on August 5, 1845, in the honse built one hundred and twenty years ago on the homestead farm by his great- great-grandfather, George Thomas, in West Whiteland township. Chester county. Penn- sylvania. He received his elementary and academic education at Westtown Boarding school, and then entered the Philadelphia Polytechnic institute. on the corner of Mar- ket and Penn streets, that city, where he took a full scientific course. Leaving school he settled on the farm where he now ro- sides. He has given his time principally to agricultural and horticultural pur-nits, and has made a specialty of hothouse fruits, in- eluding the very finest varieties of grapes.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
He is a republican in politics, and a mnem- ber of the Society of Friends.
On October 17, 1883, George Thomas was united in marriage with Elizabeth Eicholtz Baugh, daughter of David and Georgiana Baugh, of Philadelphia. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have three children : Grace A., Georgiana B. and Elizabeth E.
The honored and honorable Thomas fanı- ily, of which George Thomas is a member, traces its American history back through seven generations to its transatlantic founder, Richard ap Thomas, a gentleman and land- owner, of Whitford Garne, Wales. He purchased a princely tract of land of Penn, and died soon after landing at Philadelphia. His only son, Dr. Richard Thomas, married Grace Atherton, and their son, Richard, married Phæbe Ashbridge, and was the father of George Thomas, who married Sarah Roberts. The eldest son of George Thomas was John R. Thomas, who married Elizabeth Downing, and left one son, Dr. George Thomas, father of the subject of this sketch.
One of the most distinguished members of this old family was Col. Richard Thomas, who was a son of Richard and Phæbe Thomas, and was born October 30, 1744. The colonial records of Pennsylvania from 1774 to 1783 are full of accounts of his ae- tive civil and military services. He was a member of different county associations and Provincial conventions held in the cause of independence, commanded militia troops at home and in the field under Washington. and was ever prominent and ever active as the patriot and the soldier. He served four years in the assembly, two in the State sen- ate, and was a member of the fourth, fifth and sixth congresses of the United States.
On October 20, 1774, he married Thoma-
zine Downing. He died January 19, 1832, aged eighty-eight years, and left "a repu- tation as a citizen of the Republic which he aided to establish, of which every Chester county man may well be proud."
A fuller and more extended history of the Thomas family will be found in the sketch of J. Preston Thomas, which appears in this volume.
H ARRY R. WILSON, a prominent young farmer residing near New Cen- treville, is the only surviving son of Edward S. and Sarah A. (Ritter) Wilson, and was born October 18, 1851, in Tredyffrin town- ship, Chester county, Pennsylvania. The Wilsons have resided in Chester county for several generations. Edward S. Wilson (father) was a son of David and Eliza (Siter) Wilson, and was born near Strafford, Dela- ware county, this State, April 5, 1818. When quite young he came with his fath- er's family to Chester county, where he passed most of his life, dying in Tredyffrin township June 18, 1888, at the advanced age of seventy years. IIe was a farmer by occupation, and was engaged in the culti- vation of the soil during all his active life, except two years-1850 and 1851-when he was in the leather business in the city of Philadelphia. Politically he was a whig and republican, and served as school director and auditor of his township for a number of years. In religion he was a Presbyte- rian, being a prominent member and treas- urer of the Great Valley church of that denomination for many years. In 1845 he married Sarah A. Ritter, a daughter of William Ritter, of Tredyffrin township, and was the father of three children, two sons and a daughter: William R .. born June 13, 1846, who went to Wyoming
529
OF CHESTER COUNTY.
in the spring of 1869, where he was en- gaged for a short time in quartz crushing, hut died there in November of the same year; Harry R., the subject of this sketch ; and Mollie L., who was born December 14, 1858. For additional facts concerning the Wilsons, see biography of Winfield Scott Wilson, unele of the subject of this sketch, which appears elsewhere in this volume.
William Ritter, maternal grandfather, was born in the city of Philadelphia, but removed to Tredyffrin township, this county, in 1839, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, on which he resi- ded until his death, May 29, 1866, when in the seventy-fourth year of his age. He was a bricklayer in his earlier years, but confined himself to farming after coming to this county. In polities he was a whig and re- publican, and was a member of the Great Valley Presbyterian church. He married Dorothea Allberger, and had seven children : Sarah A., born August 2, 1817; Mary, now the widow of Jacob S. Wonderly, residing in Philadelphia; Henry B., a retired mer- chant of Philadelphia; Harriet, living in the same city : William, died in 1864 ; Emily, married John W. Davis, of Philadelphia, and they now reside in Alabama ; and Cath- arine, who became the wife of Samuel Piper, and now lives in the city of Saera- mento, California.
Harry R. Wilson was principally reared on his father's farm in Tredyffrin township, and received his education in the Tremont seminary, at Norristown, Montgomery county. After leaving school he engaged in farming, and has made that the chief business of his life, being very successful from the first in his agricultural pursuits. Ile follows the political and religious tra- ditions of his ancesters, and is a stanch re-
publiean in polities, and a prominent mem- ber of the Great Valley Presbyterian church. in which he is now serving as eller and treasurer, and is also a member of its board of trustees. Since January, 1891, he has been a director of the Malvern National bank.
On October 5, 1882, Mr. Wilson was mar- ried to Belle Esler, a daughter of John and Anna Esler. of Malvern, this county. Their union has been erowned by the birth of five children, three sons and two daughters: William R., born February 26, 1884, and died July 1, 1891; John E., born December 12, 1886; Edward S., born August 9, 1888; Marion D., born June 17, 1890; and Aliee, born November 25, 1891.
JACOB ROBERTS, a self-made man
and a resident of Willistown township. who has been successful in farming and other agricultural pursuits, is a son of Isaac and Alice (Comfort) Roberts, and was born in Whitemarsh township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, June 16, 1810. He received a good practical English education in the subscription schools of his neighbor- hood, and then assisted his father on the home farm until he married, when he eu- gaged in farming for himself. In 1844 he came to Willistown township, where he purchased ninety-six acres, to which he has added by additional purchases until he now has a fine and well cultivated farm of one hundred and thirty-three acres of choice land. He borrowed the money to pay for his first purchase, but by hard work and strict economy he cleared himself of debt. and to-day is one of the most substantial and prosperous farmers of his neighbor- hood. In connection with farming and
530
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
stock raising Mr. Roberts runs a dairy and has met with his usual success in that line of business. He is a republican in polit- ical affairs, and has held several township offices since coming to Chester county. He is a member of the Society of Friends, and enjoys the respect and good will of his neighbors.
On March 16, 1837, Mr. Roberts married Phebe Williams, a daughter of Jesse and Hannah Williams. of Plymouth, and a na- tive of Whitemarsh township, Montgomery county. They had five children, two sons and three daughters: Josiah A., nursery- man at Malvern; Joseph, who is engaged in farming with his father; Hannah W .; Aliee, deceased, and Sarah W. Jesse Wil- liams, father of Mrs. Roberts, was a native of North Carolina, and an approved minis- ter of the Society of Friends. He died aged thirty-four years, after which his widow, Hannah Williams, opened a board- ing school for girls, which was attended by many, and on which a blessing rested.
Robert Roberts, the paternal great-grand- father of Jacob Roberts, was of Welsh de- scent, and followed farming in Montgomery county, where he resided until his death. Ilis son, Joseph Roberts (grandfather), was a native and a farmer of Montgomery county, and married and reared a family of nine children, seven sons and two daughters : Jonathan, Isaac, Hugh, George, Charles, Septimus, Joseph, Sarah Walker, and Mer- cey. Isaac Roberts (father) was born in 1775, in Montgomery township, Montgom- ery county, and afterward removed to White- marsh township, that county, in which he died August 13, 1851, aged nearly seventy- six years. Ile was a republican in political opinion, and a Friend in religious belief. He married Alice Comfort, who was a
daughter of Ezra and Alice Comfort, and passed away February 22, 1841, when in the sixty-second year of her age. They were the parents of nine children, six sons and three daughters: Mercey, Elizabeth, Han- nah, Ezra, Charles, Joseph, Jacob, Isaac, jr., and Hiram.
JONATHAN H. KEIM, an enterpris- ing and prosperous farmer of Smedley, who has also been engaged in other lines of business to some extent, is the youngest son of Samuel and Eliza ( Hamilton) Keim, and was born February 23, 1840, in Warwick township, Chester county, Pennsylvania. The Keim family is of German descent, and was transplanted to the new world and set- tled in this State many years ago. George Keim, paternal great-grandfather of Jona- than H. Keim, passed his life in Warwick township, this county, engaged in agricul- tural pursuits, and died here. His son, Jacob Keim (grandfather), was born in this township March 3, 1776, on the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch. Ile was a farmer by vocation, and, receiving the farm from a man by the name of Shuister, who had brought his mother from Germany, spent his entire life here, erecting the barn still in use about 1796, and otherwise im- proving the property. In political faith he was an old-line whig, and in religious belief and church membership a German Baptist. He married Hannah Switzer, by whom he had a family of four sons and two daugh- ters : David, a carpenter and farmer, who is still living, at the age of ninety years, near Knauertown, this county ; Jonathan, a nur- seryman near Pottstown ; George, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work ; Ilettie, married Joseph Wells; and Keziah, who became the wife of David Wells, of
531
OF CHESTER COUNTY.
North Coventry township, and is still living, being now in her eighty-third year, while her husband is in the ninety-first year of his age. Samuel Keim (father) was born in Warwick township, this county, August 26, 1805, where he grew up, was educated, and spent nearly all of his long and useful life. He owned and operated the farm now in possession of his son, Jonathan H., and died here March 12, 1888, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. It was he who discovered the iron ore in Warwick town- ship, and was instrumental in developing the mines now known as the "Brooks ore mines." As contractor he built many of the most important roads in the township, and was a man who always stood well in the community, being greatly esteemed for his probity and honesty. He was always a stout and active man, and a great pedestrian, pre- ferring to walk wherever he went. In re- ligious faith he was a German Baptist, and a member of that church for many years. In 1827 he united in marriage with Eliza Hamilton, who was born January 31, 1807, and died at her home here September 14, 1864. Their family consisted of seven chil- dren, five sons and two daughters: Josiah, a carpenter and contractor, who married Asenith Knauer, and now resides at Potts- town, Montgomery county; Hannah, who became the wife of Isaac Halderman, a farmer und miller by occupation ; Cyrus 11., who learned the carpenter trade, married Leah Miller, and about 1858 removed to Carroll county. Illinois, where be engaged in the nursery business and farming, in which he has been remarkably successful; Daniel I .. married Alice Brown, and is now a prosperous merchant of Pottstown ; Jona- than II., whose name heads this sketch : and Keziah, who married James N. Bran- !
nan, onee a successful puddler in the rolling mill at Pottstown, but now engaged in ag- riculture in North Coventry township, this county.
Jonathan HI. Keim grew to manhood on the old homestead where he now resides, and received a good practical education in the public schools of the neighborhood and at Mount Carroll seminary, Illinois. Upon finishing his studies he engaged in teaching, and taught one term in Carroll county, Illi- nois, and nine terms in his native township, after which he took charge of the old homestead, and has ever since given his principal attention to agricultural pursuits. In addition to his farm operations, which are all conducted on modern methods, Mr. Keim has of late years been handling large quantities of commercial fertilizers, and also served as a director and agent of the Phoenix Mutual Fire Insurance Company for a number of years, In polities he is a republican, has served three terms as school director, and is a member of the German Baptist church.
On February 17, 1865, Mr. Keim united in marriage with Maggie Crossley, a daugh- ter of Samuel Crossley, of Warwick town- ship, and to them was born a family of eight children, five sons and three daugh- ters: William P., who married Ella Kulp, a daughter of David Kulp, of North Cov- entry township, and now resides in the city of Reading : Sylvania, is a seamstress, liv- ing at home : Lewis M., now a pupil in the Huntingdon Normal school; Hervey C., at home ; and Lena and Leonard, twins, born August 26, 1878. Mary V. and Harvey died young.
Samuel Crossley. Mrs. Keim's father, was born in Roxborough township, Philadelphia county. September 30, 1808, and is a son of
532
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
Edward and Margaret .(Knouse) Crossley. He was educated in the common schools and afterward learned the cooper's trade, at which he worked until his twenty-first year, when he began stage driving on the Read- ing turnpike, between Reading and Phila- delphia. He followed that occupation for seven years, after which he spent three years as proprietor of a hotel at Unionville, Berks county, and then purchased a farm near the falls of French creek, this county, where he was engaged in agricultural pur- suits for a period of forty years. He then, in 1879, removed to Phonixville, where he resided for two years, after which he was a citizen of Harmonyville for six years, and since 1887 has resided with his son-in-law, J. H. Keim, at Smedley. In polities he is a republican, and served as school director of his township for six years. He married Mary Ann Hesser, a daughter of Abram Hesser, and was the father of a family of thirteen children, of whom Mrs. Keim was the fourth.
W ILLIAM H. FRITZ, a prominent young business man of Berwyn, who has already won high standing in the social, religious and business eireles of that section, is the eldest son of Henry and Mary E. (Lobb) Fritz, and was born December 21, 1864, at what was then known as Reese- ville, but is now Berwyn, Chester county, Pennsylvania. There he grew to manhood, receiving a superior education in the public and private schools of his native village, and completing his studies by a course taken in an educational institution in the city of Philadelphia. Soon after leaving school, in 1886, he purchased an established hardware and lumber business in Berwyn, and has devoted his time and attention to
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