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 67
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105
distant points, especially from the Southern States, the West Indies and South America. The energetic principal was regarded as the Napoleon of teachers, and educated many thousand of boys and young men, numbers of whom afterward distinguished them- selves in different walks of lite. Ile was noted for the strict discipline he maintained, and the semi-military exactness which char- aeterized all his methods. He continued to conduct the establishment until 1859, when some business concerns required his presence in France, and the seminary was closed to allow him to visit his native land. On his returu he attempted to re-open his school, but his shattered health, which had been sensibly declining for some time, prevented the accomplishment of his purpose, and he died February 27, 1861, aged sixty-four years. Before he settled in West Chester he had married Adelaide Williams, and by that union had a family of ten children, two of whom died in infaney. Those who at- tained maturity were: Charles H., a resi- dent of Topeka, Kansas, who has been elected and served one term as a member of the legislature of that State; Antoinette, E. M. C., S. P., Antoine, Henry C., now connected with the World's fair manage- ment in Chicago; Sophie Picot, married Jacob Heffelfinger, now deceased ; and Luey, who became the wife of Rufus T. Chaney, now connected with the navy department at Washington.
H ON. WILLIAM MOORE, of Moore Hall, who was a prominent character of Chester county for over half a century, was a son of John Moore, and was born in Philadelphia, May 6, 1699. He was gradu- ated from Oxford university, England, and built Moore Hall, in Charlestown township,
Capt. Abraham Setters.
567
OF CHESTER COUNTY.
this county, where he died May 30, 1783. He was a member of the legislature from 1733 to 1740, and served as a justice of the peace and judge of the county court from 1741 to 1776. He was opposed to the peace policy of the Quakers, supported the pro- prietaries against the people, and upheld the canse of the crown against that of the colonies. He was a bitter antagonist of Isaac Wayne, the father of Gen. Anthony Wayne, but to- day their remains rest in the same grave- yard.
CAPT. ABRAHAM FETTERS, who
served with distinction during the civil war, is perhaps best known by his connec- tion with the educational work of this county. He was born September 17, 1828, in Uwchlan township, and is the older of two surviving sons of Samuel and Mary (Acker) Fetters. At the age of four years he became a member of the family of his maternal grandfather, John Acker, in East Whiteland township, where he remained until his sixteenth year, when he returned to his father's house in Uwchlan township. His early education was received in the Valley creek common school in East White- land, and later he attended Prof. Benjamin Price's Prospect Hill academy in East Brad- ford township. He early gave indications of possessing an active mind and studious disposition, showing a special fondness for mathematical and historical studies. His first earnings were devoted to the purchase of books, the study of which still further enlarged his mental horizon and increased his ambition to secure an education and thus prepare himself for usefulness and snecess in life. In 1846, when only eighteen years of age, he began his career as a teacher, at Hopewell school in Charlestown township.
and won immediate success by displaying that ability to maintain discipline and the aptitude for teaching which soon became his distinguished characteristic. His first ste- cess was followed by others equally marked. among which was three terms at Hopewell, Charlestown township; nine at the White school in Uwchlan township ; three at Frank- lin Hall, in West Pikeland; and three at school No. 1, in Biriningham. He then ac- cepted a position in the West Chester acad- emy, under Professor Wyers, where for two years he had charge of the primary depart- ment of that institution. Mr. Fetters has always been an enthusiast on the subject of education, and has given the best part of his life, covering a period of forty years, to this . noble work. Perhaps no teacher in the county has exerted a wider or more health- ful influence over the rising generation. In 1868 he opened a school at his residence in Upper Uwchlan township, which became widely known as " Edgefield institute," and which he successfully conducted until 1886. He has taught forty terms in all, and not less than eighteen hundred pupils have come under his care, many of whom have already distinguished themselves in the various walks of life and reflected honor on their instructor. One instance is that of a gen- tleman who became a popular and widely know journalist of Cincinnati, Ohio, and who unhesitatingly attributed his ambition and success to the training and inspiration received from Mr. Fetters while teaching in U'wchlan township. And although he has prospered in worldly affairs, and has many reasons to be satisfied with life, it is doubt- less true that nothing affords this conscien- tions and faithful teacher more satisfaction than to hear of the success and watch the growing prosperity of the men and women
568
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
who were his pupils in early life. To Mr. Fetters also belongs the proud distinction of introducing the public school library into Chester county, and it is believed he was the first to use vocal music as a school ex- ercise. The first library was established at White school, Uwchlan township, in 1856, and it is unnecessary to say how popular and important this feature has now become.
In 1861, when the secession of the south- ern States precipitated the "irrepressible conflict " between freedom and slavery, the edueator became a citizen-soldier, and in the antumn of 1862 Mr. Fetters served in the field as captain of Co. G, 12th Pennsylvania militia, and in 1863 as first sergeant of Co. A, 43d regiment of the same force. He proved to be a good soldier when necessity required such service, and has ever since worthily borne the title by which he was commissioned in the early days of the civil war.
While the glad chimes were ringing on Christmas day, 1866, Mr. Fetters was united in holy matrimony with Rebecca K. Brown- back, youngest danghter of John and Han- nah Brownback, of Upper Uwchlan town- ship. This union was blessed by the birth of two children, both sons. The eldest. John B., died in 1885, aged eighteen years. The other, Horace Aeker Fetters, was born in 1871, received a liberal education at Ur- sinus college, from which institution he was graduated in June, 1892, and is now living at home with his parents.
In the spring of 1866 Captain Fetters set- tled on the farm where he now resides, near Uwchland postoffice, and has ever since been connected more or less with agricultural pursuits, in addition to bis educational work. His farm is well improved and his building's are handsome and commodions,
presenting a pleasing appearance of neat- ness, thrift and elegance. He and Mrs. Fet- ters now own about five hundred and fifty acres of choice land in this county, and are in entirely independent circumstances. Po- litically Captain Fetters is a stanch demo- crat, and has always taken an active part in local politics. He served as a jury com- missioner for three years, and has been fre- quently solicited to become a candidate for county commissioner and other offices, but has as frequently declined to permit the use of his name. Many times he has been called on to serve as executor and adminis- trator in the settlement of estates, and is now trustee and guardian in a number of cases, but so high is his personal integrity and character that in none of these matters has he ever been requested to give a bond or security. Captain Fetters is a member of St. Matthews Reformed church, in which he has served as trustee for a quarter of a century. He is also a director of Ursinus college, and one of the trustees of the Phil- adelphia classes of the Reformed church of the United States. From his earliest years the Captain has evinced special interest in history and biography, and is the author of a "History of the Reformed churches of Chester county." He has also contributed many valuable papers to the local press, on various subjects of interest. He is a men- berand the present master of Upper Uwchlan Grange, No. 53, Patrons of Husbandry, and is also a director of the National bank of Phoenixville, and hokls a like relation to the Dime Savings bank of West Chester.
Taken all in all, the career of Capt. Abra- ham Fetters has been exceptionally happy and successful. Perhaps the greatest secret of this success-if secret there be-lies in the fact that he has been strictly temperate
569
OF CHESTER COUNTY.
in all things and at all times. Beside hav- ing married a very superior woman, he in- herited a vigorous constitution, and never permitted excesses of any kind to sap its vitality, but devoted his strength and talents to the reasonable requirements made by the honest duties of a pure, useful and indus- trious life. In this respect, as in others, his career furnishes an example worthy of the emulation of every high minded and aspir- ing young man.
The family of which Captain Fetters is a memberisofGerman descent,and was planted in Pennsylvania in Colonial days. George Fetters, paternal grandfather of the Captain, was a native of the city of Philadelphia, born about 1760. His parents died when he was quite young, and he lived with relatives in Germantown until the revolutionary war, when he enlisted in the Continental army and served with credit as a private soldier. After the war closed, in 1784, he married Margaret Smith, a daughter of John and Sarah Smith, and to them was born a family of twelve children, eight of whom married and reared families: Mary, married James Pennypacker: Margaret, wedded Peter Hartman ; Susan, became the wife of Mat- thias Pennypacker; Sarah. married Henry Hartzel; John, married Mary Sloyer: Ab- raham, who served as a soldier in the war of 1812. married Elizabeth Acker, daughter of John and Catharine Acker, and became one of the most successful farmers of his day, being also the father of Capt. Levi Fetters, who served during the civil war as captain of Co. C, 175th Pennsylvania in- fantry ; Samnel, father of Cupt. Abraham Fetters; and George, who married Cath- arine Laubaugh. The sons were all six feet in height, and fine specimens of physical manhood. The father, George Fetters, sr ..
died ou Christmas day, 1836, and his widow in February, 1847. Both died on their farm in Pikeland township, this county, and both lie buried at Pikeland Reformed eburch. Samuel Fetters (father) was born in Charles- town township, this county, about 1798, and died at his farin in Uwchlan township in 1857. He was a farmer by occupation, and married Mary Acker, a daughter of John and Catharine Acker, and sister to his brother Abraham's wife. To this union was born a family of six children : John, Abra- ham (subject of the foregoing sketch). Isaac, Mary, Elizabeth and Samuel.
H ARRY BENNER SCHOFIELD, who
for a number of years was engaged in the'dry goods business in the cities of Phil- adelphia and New York, and since 1867 has been a prosperous general merchant at Paoli, this county, is the eldest of the six sons of George and Elizabeth ( Benner) Schofield, and was born in Schuylkill town- ship, Chester county. Pennsylvania. Jann- ary 20, 1831. He grew to manhood in this county and received a superior English edu- cation in the public schools and Prof. An- thony Bolmar's select school at West Ches- ter. In 1843 he began life on his own ac- count as clerk in a country store near where he now resides and does business. He was successively employed as clerk at several places in this county, following that occu- pation until his eighteenth year, when he went to Philadelphia, and, one after another, held several prominent positions in the business houses of that city. In 1861 he formed a partnership with friends, and un- der the firm name of Hemsley. Schofield & C'o .. embarked in the dry goods business at No. 104 Chestnut street, Philadelphia. This
570
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
-
enterprise prospered under his careful man- agement and became a flourishing business. After being successfully conducted for about four years, the firm was dissolved and Mr. Schofield removed to the city of New York, and organized the dry goods firm of Leon- ard, Schofield & Co., which began business at No. 44 White street, that city, in 1866. After one year spent in that metropolis Mr. Schofield retired from the firm, and became agent for a large auction house in that city, with which he remained for a number of years. In 1867 he came to Paoli, Chester county, purchased property of H. G. Malin, and embarked in the general merchandise business at this place, in which he has ever since continued with constantly increasing success. He owns a fine large building, his store room being twenty-eight by forty- eight feet in dimensions, with an annex of twenty by thirty-three feet, and well filled at all times by a choice stock of superior general merchandise. His trade has grown with each passing year, and he now does a big business.
On June 13, 1859, Mr. Schofield was mar- ried to Helen Sartain, a daughter of the distinguished artist and steel engraver, John Sartain, of the city of Philadelphia. Mr. Sartain, whose name is now familiar in art circles all over the world, was born in Lon- don, England, in 1808, and educated there and in other art centers of Europe. In July, 1830, he came to America as a por- trait painter, and settled in Philadelphia, where he has ever since resided. It was he who introduced mezzotint engraving into this country, and he became one of the fin- est engravers on steel that has ever lived. standing at the head of his profession for many years, and producing some work which has never yet been surpassed. By
his marriage to Miss Sartain Mr. Schofield had a family of five children, four sons and a daughter: Frank S., who married Mar- garet Hartman, and is now engaged as a salesman and bookkeeper in his father's store; Emily, who died in infancy; Percy S., who learned the trade of carpenter, stud- ied architecture, and is now employed as a designer and builder in the city of Phila- delphia; Louis S., who studied engraving under his grandfather's instructions, and is now employed by the United States govern- ment in the bureau of engraving and print- ing at Washington, being appointed under Cleveland's first administration; and Irwin S., still living at home and attending school.
Politically Mr. Schofield is an ardent democrat, and has always taken an active part in local polities, though never enter- taining political ambition for himself nor allowing the use of his name for any office. He was a member of the National Demo- cratie convention at Cincinnati in 1856, that nominated James Buchanan for the presi- dency, and has several times represented his county in the State conventions of his party. Ile once received the democratic nomination for sheriff of Chester county, and although running ahead of his ticket was defeated at the polls, on account of the large republican majority in the county. He is a member of Franklin Lodge, No. 134, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Phila- delphia Chapter, No. 169, Royal Arch Ma- sons.
The Schofields are of English extraction. but have been natives of Chester county for four or five generations. George Schofield, paternal great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in England, but came to the United States while comparatively a young man, and settled at Diamond Rock,
571
OF CHESTER COUNTY.
this county. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, and reared a family in this county, among whom was William S. Schofield (grandfather), who was born in Schuylkill township, Chester county, where he grew up and was educated. During the revolution- ary war he was an ardent patriot, and served in the Continental army as a first lieuten- ant, under the command of Gen. Anthony Wayne. He was at the massacre of Paoli, and died in Chester valley. In early life he learned the trade of tailor, and that was his principal occupation. He married Eliza- beth Lane, a daughter of Edward Lane, a wealthy landowner in the Chester valley, and was the father of seven children : Wil- liam, Samuel, Lane, Edward, Hannah, Sally and George. George Schofield (father) was born in Chester valley in 1803, and died at his home in the city of Philadelphia, in 1855, aged fifty-two years. He was a manufac- turer of boots and shoes, and politically a Jacksonian democrat. In 1839 he had charge of the construction, under David R. Porter, of a section of the Pennsylvania railroad, consisting of fourteen miles. He also served at the same time as a member of the corps of civil engineers, in charge of Gen. Edward Evans and others, engaged in relaying the railroad from Columbia to Philadelphia. He was a temperate man, and universally esteemed for his honesty and personal integrity. He married Eliza Ben- ner, a daughter of Matthias Benner, a brick- maker, of Philadelphia, and by this union had a family of six children, all sons : Harry Benner, whose name heads this sketch; Edward, who was killed at West Chester by a boiler explosion at the Electric Light works; Samnel T., deceased in infancy ; Andrew B. and Lane (twins) ; and Samuel T. (2.) Andrew B. is now in the depart-
ment of engraving and printing, at Wash- ington, Lane is a contractor and builder in the city of Philadelphia, while Sammel T. is employed in the bureau of engraving and printing at Washington, and has the repu- tation of being the fastest printer in the de- partment.
H
THEODORE BEAUMONT, a success-
ful contractor and business man of De- von, is a descendant of Peregrine White, the first English child born in New England. He is a son of Eber and Margaret ( White ) Beaumont, and was born in Newtown town- ship, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, De- cember 3, 1848. He was reared on the farm, received his education in the common schools, and was then engaged in farming with his father until 1889, when he formed a co-partnership with his brother Rush, in road building, quarrying and crushing stone for roads and building purposes. They own a valuable tract of land at Devon, in Easttown township, on the Pennsylvania railroad, a part of which has been surveyed in lots in a neighborhood which is being rapidly taken by Philadelphians, who build fine summer residences. Mr. Beaumont has an extensive stone crushing plant at Valley Creek, near Downingtown, where he employs fifty men, and crushes a large amount of stone which is used for railroad ballast. He employs first class machinery, turns out an excellent article of crushed stone, and keeps his plant running to its full capacity in order to fill the orders which he is constantly re- ceiving. Mr. Beaumont is a republican iu politics, and a member of the Baptist church. He is energetic, active and prompt as a business man. and well respected as nl citizen. In his present enterprise he has met with good success.
572
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
On May 20, 1870, Mr. Beaumont married Mary E. Supplee, daughter of Zimmerman Supplee, of Easttown township. To their union have been born two children : Mar- garet and Rhinewalt.
The Beaumont family is of French Hu- guenot origin, and some of its members set- tled at au early day in the southern part of Chester county, in what is now Delaware county, where Thomas Beaumont, the pater- nal grandfather of Theodore Beaumont, was born and reared, near the Brandywine battle ground. He was at school on the day when the battle of Brandywine was fought, aud the Americans took possession of the school house, which they converted into a hospital for a part of their wounded that were removed from the fight at Chad's Ford. Thomas Beaumont was a farmer, and married Ruth Patterson. They had eight children : Eber, dead ; Thomas, of near Milltown ; Mifflin, who died in Maryland; Jabez, who died some years ago; Emmor, now dead; Eliza, who died young; Hannah and Estber, who are now both dead. Eber Beaumont (father) was born September 9, 1809, in Delaware county, where he remained until 1850, when he removed to Easttown township, where he died December 18, 1878. In that town- ship he purchased fifteen acres of land on the old Lancaster pike. On this land was one of those old famous hostelries or inns of that day. This inn was known as the "Stage Tavern," and Mr. Beaumont kept it as an inn but a short time until the railroads took the traffic and travel from the pikes. He added to his fifteen acres by successive purchases until he had a farm of one hundred and twenty acres of laud. He was a repub- lican in politics, and in religious belief rather inclined to the faith of the Friends or Qua- kers. He married Margaret White, and to
their union were born five children. Three died in infancy, leaving Theodore, the sub- ject of this sketch, and Rush, now living on a part of the home farm. Rush mar- ried Martha A. Gamble, and has five chil- dren : Laura, Eber, Howard, Robert and Edith. Mrs. Margaret Beaument (mother) is a daughter of Samuel White, a native of Chester county and a soldier of the war of 1812, who was a descendant of Peregrine White, the first English child born in New England.
F RANK H. STAUFFER, the well- known journalist and literatus of Ber- wyn, who is also an active, enterprising and successful business man, is the eldest son of Col. Jacob and Sarah (Birch ) Stauffer, and was born in the city of Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, October 3, 1832. He was liberally educated, and after leaving the school room entered the printing office and graduated in that great modern university, the practical school of daily journalism. Long before attaining his majority he began writing for the press, and when only sixteen years of age wrote a poem entitled "To the Stars," which was so meritorious that for a time it was attributed to George D. Prentice. About the time he reached his twentieth birthday he established the Mount Joy (Pennsylvania ) Herald, which is now in its fortieth year of successful publication, and afterward held editorial positions on the Lancaster Inland Daily, the Philadelphia Sunday Mercury, Woonsocket Patriot, Philadelphia Saturday Night, and Philadelphia Erening Call. Some years ago he engaged in what might be called literary journalism, becoming a contributor to many of the leading magazines and other periodicals of this country. Among others, he is now writing sketches, poems, stories,
573
OF CHESTER COUNTY.
and short articles of various kinds for St. Nicholas, Harper's Bazar, Harper's Young People, Youth's Companion, Our Little Ones, Christian-at-work, Epoch, Life, Detroit Free Press, Golden Days, Ladies' Home Journal, The Interior, Wide Awake, Our Little Men and Women, and Kate Fields' Washington. Mr. Stanffer has a well defined streak of humorin his composition, and nota few of the clear cut squibs that sparkle in the columns of Har- per's Bazar, Life, Tid Bits and the Detroit Free Press are from his pen. His wittieisms have a distinguishing pungeney of their own, and are readily recognized by those acquainted with his style. Among his longer stories and novelettes that have appeared in print we may mention "Dorlan the Scont," " Fan- chett the Fawn," " Nameless Man," " Mis- sionary Madge," and "Sacrificing her For- tune." He has also published two volumes. One of these was a volume of poems, in 1876, from the press of J. B. Lippencott & Co., Philadelphia, entitled " Toward Sunset, and Other Poems. Mere Amber Beads at Random Strung." It was received with great favor. The other was published in 1882, and is a compilation called " The Queer, the Quaint and the Quizzical."
In political faith Mr. Stanffer has been a life long republican, having east his first vote for John C. Fremont in 1856, although he lived only seven miles from the residence of James Buchanan, the democratic candidate. He served as assistant assessor of internal revenue for Lancaster county during Presi- dent Lincoln's administration, and in April, 1892, took ont his commission as a justice of the peace for Easttown township, Chester county, having been previously elected to that office three times and as often refused to receive the commission. He is also en- gaged to some extent in the real estate
and insurance business. Mr. Stauffer was one of the organizers of the Berwyn Buil- ding and Loan association, incorporated November 9, 1877, and was elected its first president, in which position he is still serv- ing. He is a prominent member and elder of the Presbyterian church at Berwyn, and superintendent of its Sunday school; and is also well known and popular in secret orders, being a member of William B. Schneider Lodge, No. 419, Free and Accepted Masons, of Philadelphia, and a member and past grand in good standing of Mount Joy Lodge, No. 297, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Mount Joy, Lancaster county.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.