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 69
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
581
OF CHESTER COUNTY.
A LEXANDER P. TUTTON, ex-col- lector of the port of Philadelphia, and chairman of the well known Downingtown Manufacturing Company, was born in Ches- ter county, Pennsylvania, in 1823. He re- ceived his education in subscription and private schools and New London academy, and engaged in teaching in Berks county, which he followed for some time, the last five years of which he was principal of a boarding school. He was then elected principal of Morgantown academy, and after a short term of very successful work he was compelled to resign on account of ill-health and look for a more healthy calling. This he found in the lumber business in Schuyl- kill county, where he remained for five years. At the end of that time his health had so far improved that he went to Read- ing, in Berks county, and was engaged in teaching for two years as principal of a grammar school, which position he resigned in July, 1862, to become assessor of United States revenue for the Eighth district of Pennsylvania. He served until October 1. 1866. when he was removed by President Jolinson, not for inefficiency, but for politi- cal reasons, as his management of his office had been very efficient and satisfactory to the public. After his removal he was en- gaged for some time in building railroad and other bridges, and in 1869 was ap- pointed by President Grant as supervisor of internal revenue for western Pennsylvania, with headquarters at Pittsburg, but was soon transferred to the eastern district of Pennsylvania, with headquarters at Phila- delphia. On September 1, 1872, the rev- onne districts of the United States were reduced in number from twenty-five to ten, and Mr. Tutton was one of the ten super- visors who were retained. He was placed
in charge of the internal revenue district comprised of the States of Pennsylvania. New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, and the District of Columbia. He remained in charge of this important district from Sep- tember 1, 1872. to June 1. 1876. During that time Mr. Tutton was tendered the commissionership of Indian affairs by Pres- ident Grant and the then secretary of the interior, C. Delano, which he declined, pre- ferring the position he then held. Subse- quently he was offered his choice between the commissionership of internal revenue and the position of collector of the port of Philadelphia, and chose the latter, and on June 1, 1876, was appointed collector of the port of Philadelphia by President Grant. The duties of the office when Mr. Tutton took charge were more numerous and diffi- enlt than they have ever since been. on account of the vast quantity of centennial exhibit matter coming from all quarters of the globe. Much of this material was new, and the law and regulations thereunder were unknown to the custom officials, and consequently Mr. Tutton had no precedents or decisions for his guidance, and in order to rule correctly it eost him much close study and hard labor. His term of office expired in July, 1880, when he was sue- ceeded by ex-Governor John F. Hartranft, and retired with a good record for integ- rity, efficiency and industry.
After a rest of a few months Mr. Tutton became a partner, in the spring of 1881, with his son-in-law. Guyon Miller, in the manufacture of paper mill machinery, under the firm name of Guyon Miller & Co. In a short time the business was incorporated as the Downingtown Manufacturing Company (limited), of which Mr. Tutton is chair- man, and Mr. Miller secretary and treas-
582
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
urer. This company manufactures all kinds of paper mill machinery, and of such su- perior quality that they receive orders from all parts of the United States and Canada. They have built engines and special ma- chinery for nearly all of the largest paper manufactories in the country, and are now building two of their patent engines for the paper manufacturers' exhibit in the Colum- bian exhibition at Chicago in 1893. Their extensive plant is situated on Washington avenne, and they employ a regular force of about fifty hands.
On November 8, 1854, Mr. Tutton mar- ried E. J. Mitchel, of Chester county, Penn- sylvania, and they have two children.
Alexander P. Tutton is a republican in politics, and a member of and ruling elder in the Presbyterian church, and has resided at Downingtown since 1870. His record as a public official and his life as a private citizen are without blot or stain, and he is recognized as a progressive business man and a Christian gentleman.
T. FRANKLIN JONES, a well known and industrious citizen of Tredyffrin township, is a son of Jonathan and Agnes (Happersett) Jones, and was born in the old jail building at West Chester, Chester county, Pennsylvania. January 5, 1827, while his father was serving as sheriff of this county. He received his education in the common and select schools of Chester county, and since leaving school has been engaged in farming. He is a republican in politics, and now resides in Tredyffrin township, Chester county, Pennsylvania.
T. Franklin Jones is of Welsh descent, and his paternal grandfather, John Jones, was a native of the northwestern part of
Chester county, where he died, January 14, 1816, at fifty-three years of age. He was a prominent contractor on the construction of the old Lancaster turnpike, and afterward followed farming and merchandising at Churchtown. He married Mary Darlington, by whom he had one child, Jonathan, and after her death, in 1789, he wedded Eliza- beth Graham, who died January 13, 1814, and whose remains were interred at St. Mary's church. By his second marriage John Jones had eleven children : Mary, born February 22, 1791; Hannah, born October 16, 1793; George W., born Feb- ruary 11, 1796; John D., born June 25, 1797; Thomas, born January 12, 1800; Michael, born February 27, 1802; Caleb, born January 29, 1804; David and Levi (twins), born February 7, 1807 ; Margaretta, born September 16, 1809; and Elizabeth, born November 24, 1813. Jonathan Jones (father), who was the only child by the first marriage, became quite prominent in Chester county. He was born near Churchtowu, Jannary 17, 1785, and died near Valley Forge, in Tredyffrin township, November 17, 1867, when well advanced in the eighty- third year of his age. He resided sneees- sively in Willistown, East Whiteland, and Tredyffrin townships. He always followed farming, and in 1832 purchased the "Green Tree " hotel, which he conducted for a num- ber of years. Mr. Jones was a whig and republican in politics, and served as sheriff of Chester county from 1825 to 1828, dur- ing which time he occupied the residence part of the old jail. He was a member and vestryman of the Protestant Episcopal church, and married Agnes Happersett, who was a danghter of Jacob Happersett, and who died January 5, 1859, aged eighty-two years. They reared a family of five chil-
583
OF CHESTER COUNTY.
dren : Mary, born May 14, 1810; Jacob H., who was born February 16, 1812, and died February 18, 1858, was in the hotel business in Philadelphia, and married Mary Wilson, by whom he had six children, of whom five are living - Agnes H., Eliza S., Jacob II., Mary E., and T. Franklin, whose name ap- pears at the head of this sketch.
JOSEPH R. WALKER, a very highly respected citizen of Tredyffrin town- ship, is a son of Joseph and Priscilla ( Rob- inson ) Walker, and was born in Tredyffrin township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, April 30, 1826. The American branch of the Walker family is over two centuries in age, and was founded by Lewis Walker, a native of Meionethshire, Wales, which he left in 1686 to come to Philadelphia, where he remained but one year. He then re- moved to Radnor township, Delaware county, but soon came to Tredyffrin town- ship, where he resided on his home tract of three hundred and eighty acres (bought direct from Penn ) until his death, on De- rember 20, 1728, at an advanced age. On February 22, 1693, he married Mary Mor- ris, who came over to America on the same ship with him, and who died in 1748, aged eighty years. They were Friends, and had five children. One son removed to Virginia, and another was Isaac Walker ( great-great- grandfather), who died February 23, 1755. He was a farmer and Friend, and on Sep- tember 11, 1730, married Sarah Jarmain, who died August 25, 1743. Their son, Joseph Walker ( great-grandfather), was born July 25, 1731, on the old homestead. where he died November 2, 1802. He was a farmer, a Friend, and wedded Sarah Thomas, by whom he had thirteen children :
Zilla, Isaac, Priscilla, Thomas. Joseph, Sarah, Mary, Naomi, Lewis, Joseph (2), Enoch, William, and Jesse. Isaac Walker (grandfather), the eldest son, was born August 21, 1754, and died on the homestead in 1823. He was a farmer, a Friend, and an old-line whig. He married Mary Pugh, a daughter of Hananiah and Mary Pugh, and after her death wedded Sarah Conord, by whom he had one child, Dr. Isaac R., who died at West Chester. By his first marriage he had ten children : Sarah, born December 16, 1775; Ann, April 10, 1778: Joseph, August 24, 1780: Hananiah, Feb- ruary 2, 1782; Asahel, September 25, 1783 : Mary, June 22, 1785; Priscilla, June 5. 1788; Zilla, April 28, 1790; Jane, May 10. 1792; and Rachel, March 3, 1794. Joseph Walker (father), the eldest son, always re- sided upon the old homestead, where he died September 1, 1858, aged seventy-eight years. He was a Friend or Quaker, like his father before him, and on May 15, 1812. wedded Priscilla Robinson, who was a daughter of Thomas Robinson, of Charles- town, this county, and who died in 1822. Joseph and Priscilla Walker had eight children : Lewis, born June 6, 1813, and died in infancy ; Isaac, born July 16, 1814, and died August 9, 1839; Thomas R., born August 11, 1816, and died in 1875 : Moses, born December 9. 1817, and died in Feb- ruary, 1869; Mary, born April 13, 1820 : Sarah R., born August 12, 1821, and died July 31, 1849; Hananiah, born September 22, 1823, and died April 16. 1872; and Joseph R., born April 30, 1826.
.Joseph R. Walker was reared on the old farm of Lewis Walker, the founder of the family, where he has always resided. He received his education in the schools of his neighborhood and at Elijah F. Pennypack-
584
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
er's boarding school, and has always been engaged in farming. He owns one hun- dred and thirty acres of land. He is a Friend in religion and a republican in poli- ties, and is now serving Valley church as an elder and overseer, while he has served his township as a supervisor.
On June 11, 1863, Mr. Walker married Ellen L. Wells, daughter of Charles Wells. They have two children : Charles W., born December 27, 1867, who is engaged in the lumber business at Downingtown: and Joseph J., born November 4, 1871, who was graduated in the civil engineering course of Swarthmore college in May, 1891, and is now in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He graduated from Friends' Central school of Philadelphia in 1887, and afterward from Pierce's Business college of Philadelphia.
WILLIAM BALDWIN, M. D., whose
botanical zeal and knowledge have rarely been excelled in America, was a son of Rev. Thomas and Elizabeth (Garretson) Baldwin, and was born in Newlin township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1878. He obtained a good English eduea- tion, was a physician by profession and served as surgeon in the United States navy in Georgia from 1812 to 1875. Dr. Baldwin had a taste for the study of plants and pushed his researches into Florida and among the southern Indians. After a trip to South America, he was appointed surgeon and botanist of Major Long's exploring expedi- tion up the Missouri river, but his strength was not sufficient for the task, and he died at Franklin, on the Missouri river, Septem- ber 1, 1819.
ISAIAH FETTERS, jr., postmaster at
Matthews, where he is also engaged in the mercantile business, is a deseendant of an old Pennsylvania family, some of whose members have been prominent in the mili- tary and educational history of this county. He is the eldest son of George and Mary (Moses) Fetters, and a native of West Vin- cent township, Chester county, Pennsyl- vania, where he was born August 25, 1851. His boyhood was passed on his father's farm near the German Reformed and Lutheran church in that township, and his education was obtained principally in the public schools there. After leaving school he was employed in farming for a time, and at the age of thirty-seven embarked in general merchandising at Matthews, where he has been successfully engaged in business ever since. He carries a full line of dry goods, groceries, and everything pertaining to a first-class general store, and sells at correct priees. From the first he has always taken great care to please his patrons, and by en- terprise and good management has built up a fine trade and become prosperous. In political faith he is a democrat, and in 1888 was appointed postmaster at Matthews, in which capacity he has ever since served with great acceptability. He is a member of St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran church, in which he is serving as a deacon, and as a eiti- zen is prominent and influential. Mr. Fet- ters never married.
The Fetters family is of Swiss-German origin, and settled in Pennsylvania at an early day. John Fetters, paternal grand- father of Isaiah, was born and reared in this county, where he passed his life as a farmer, and died at a good old age. He married and was the father of a family of eight chil- dren, among whom was George Fetters
585
OF CHESTER COUNTY.
(father), who was born in West Pikeland township in 1817, and died at his home near the German Reformed and Lutheran church, in West Vincent township, on January 9, 1876, aged fifty-eight years. He was a farmer by vocation, and owned a tine farm in West Vincent township. Politieally he was a staneb democrat, and for a number of years took an active part in local politics. In religion he was a Lutheran and for many years a prominent member of St. Matthew's Lutheran church, which he served as deacon and trustee. He was also superintendent of the Sunday school at that place for a long time. In 1849 he married Mary Moses, a daughter of Adam Moses, of West Vincent township, and by this union had a family of three children, two sons and a daughter: Isaiah, whose name heads this sketch ; Harry M., who was born and reared on the home farm in West Vincent, received his education in the common sehools, married Emma Swinehart, and is now a prosperous farmer of his native township : and Minerva I., who became the wife of Joseph Ander- son, now deceased, and lives in Upper Uwch- lan township. For additional facts con- cerning the history of the Fetters family, see sketch of Capt. Abraham Fetters on page 567 of this work.
IDA VIRGINIA REEL, M. D., a grad- nate of the Women's Medical college of Pennsylvania, and a physician in active and successful practice at Coatesville, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. April 24. 1857, and is a daughter of Jacob S. and Sarah A. (Caruthers) Reel. The Reels are of German descent and the American branch of the family was founded by two Reel brothers, who came to Pennsylvania some
time during the last century, and settled respectively in Philadelphia and at Reading. A lineal descendant of the Philadelphia brother was Michael Reel, the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Michael Reel was a native of the " Quaker City," where he followed cabinet making until his death. His son. Jacob S. Reel (father), was reared and received his educa- tion in his native city of Philadelphia, where he resided until 1863. In that year he re- moved to Cheltenham, Montgomery county, this State, where he died in April, 1883, when in the seventy-third year of his age. Ile was a manufacturer, and was in business in Philadelphia for over.a quarter of a cen- tury. Jacob S. Reel was a republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and married Sarah .1. Caruthers, of Philadelphia, who was of English descent, and who died July 12, 1881. aged sixty-four years.
Ida Virginia Reel was principally reared at Cheltenham, Montgomery county, received her education in the public schools of Chel- tenham and the graded schools of Phila- delphia, and then taught one term. But not liking teaching, she resolved upon a professional life, and in 1878 entered the Women's Medical college of Pennsylvania. in Philadelphia, from which institution she was graduated in the class of 1882. Imme- diately after graduation she went to Boston. Massachusetts, where she entered the New England hospital for women and children. and spent a year in the careful and practical study of diseases and the best and most she- cessful methods of their treatment.
Leaving Boston she returned to Pennsyl- vania, where she became assistant patholo- gist under Dr. Robert II. Chase, in the State hospital for the Insane at Norristown. In
586
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
connection with Dr. Chase she really helped to organize the pathological department of the hospital, in which she labored faithfully and successfully for six years. At the end of that time she came to Coatesville, where she soon built up an excellent practice, which she has constantly enlarged ever since.
Dr. Reel is one of the progressive and successful physicians of the county. She keeps abreast of the medical thought and advancement of the age. She is a member of the Chester County and the Pennsylvania State Medieal societies, and studies closely the difficult and complicated eases that are reported in the leading medical journals of the country. She is a member of the Pro- testant Episcopal church, a pleasant, cour- teous and accomplished woman, and stands in the front rank of her profession in south- eastern Pennsylvania.
JAMES FITZPATRICK, commonly known as Captain Fitz, the daring rob- ber chief of Chester county, was of Irish lineage. He was a blacksmith by trade, and led an honest life until the Revolutionary war. He then enlisted in a militia company from which he soon deserted and returned home. He was apprehended and secured inununity from punishment by returning to the Continental army, from which he again deserted. Returning home a second time he was again captured, but succeeded in escaping, and then commenced his wonder- ful carcer of robbing and plundering the whigs of Chester county. Fitzpatrick aided the British in their march through the county, and during their occupation of Phil- adelphia captured several whigs and a large number of horses, which he took to the "Quaker City." After the British left Phil-
adelphia Fitzpatrick resolved to carry on the war on his own account, and made Chester county the field of his depredations. He had various hiding places, among which were Hand's Pass and the high hill near Marshall's Station. Assisted by one Mor- decai Dougherty, whom he styled his lieu- tenant, he became the terror of the whigs. By a series of the most daring robberies and hair-breadth escapes he became noted throughout the State and Nation. ITis law- less career ended on August 22, 1778, when he attempted to rob William McAffee or MeFee, of Delaware county, who by strategy and the assistance of Rachel Walker, grasped him in an unguarded moment and succeeded in binding him. After trial he was execu- ted at West Chester on the 15th of Septen- ber, 1778, and the county was relieved from his terrorism, as Dougherty fled and all oth- ers who had aided him remained quiet. James Fitzpatrick had red hair and a florid complexion, and was an uncommonly fine looking man, being very strong, athletic and swift of foot. "He possessed abilities which, had he pursued an honorable career, might have won for him a distinguished name in the annals of his country."
EVI WAGONER, an industrious farmer and a lineal descendant of the old and highly respectable Wagoner family of East Pikeland township, is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Sheeleigh) Wagoner, and was born in East Pikeland township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, September 1, 1852. Levi Wagoner was reared in his native township, attended the common schools. in which he received a good English education, and then made choice of farming as a life pursuit. He has given his time
587
OF CHESTER COUNTY.
and attention mainly to grain and stock raising, and has met with good success in his chosen occupation. He is a democrat in politics, like his father and grandfather before him, and always gives his party an earnest and active support on county and State issnes as well as on questions of Na- tional policy. He now resides in Charles- town township.
The Wagoner family of Chester county, of which the subject of this sketch is a member, is of German descent, and traces its American ancestry back three genera- tions to Christian Wagoner, a resident of East Pikeland township. He was a son of Sebastian Wagoner, and in all probability a grandson of the original immigrant ances- tor of the family. Christian Wagoner fol- lowed his trade of stone mason, in connec- tion with farming, until his days of life were numbered. He passed from time to eternity in 1853, when in the seventy-ninth year of his age. He owned a farm of one hundred and twenty-seven acres, comprising three improvements. He was a democrat in politieal belief, and for many years before his death had been a striet member of East Vincent Reformed church. Mr. Wagoner was twice married, and by his first wife had one child, a son, named Jacob. His second wife, whose maiden name was Bar- bara Shutt, bore him two children, a son and a daughter: Joseph and Mary Brown. Joseph Wagoner (father) was born in East Pikeland township, May 4, 1815, and is a blacksmith by trade. He never worked at blacksmithing to any extent, and has given the active years of his life to farming. In 1880 he removed to his present farm in Charlestown township. This farm contains ninety acres of land, and is well watered and very productive. He is a democrat in
politics and a member of East Vincent Re- formed church, in which he has held the office of deacon for two terms. Mr. Wag- oner married Sarah Sheeleigh, who is a daughter of Jesse and Mary ( Orner) Sheel- eigh, of East. Pikeland township. Joseph and Sarah Wagoner have three children. two sons and a daughter : Levi, whose name appears at the head of this sketch ; John, and Barbara Anna, wife of B. Frank Row- land, who is engaged in farming.
T THOMAS U. WALKER, a substantial
farmer of Tredyffrin township, and a lineal deseendent of one of the early settled families of the county, is a son of Willian and Sarah ( Pennypacker) Walker, and was born in Tredyffrin township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, November 6, 1817. The Walker family of Chester county isof Welsh descent, and was founded by Lewis Walker, who came from Wales in 1686 or 1687 and settled in Radnor township, in what is now Delaware county. He soon came into the great Chester valley and discovered Rehoboth spring, in Tredyffrin township, where he took up a thousand acre tract of land, and received his deed for the same in 1707. from a Mr. Powell, who was Penn's agent at that time. He was a Friend, and some additional history of him will be found in the sketch of Joseph R. Walker. His grandson, Thomas Walker, was the grandfather of Thomas U. Walker, and followed farming and lime burn- ing. He was a whig and a Friend, and married Mary, a granddaughter of Rev. William Curry, by whom he had ten chil- dren : Richard, William, Joseph, Isaac. Sarah, Ann, Mary. Zilla, Jane and Hannah. William Walker (father) was born in 1795. in Tredyffrin township, this county, where
588
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
he died March 10, 1873. He was a farmer and a whig, and married Sarah Pennypacker, who was a daughter of Matthias Penny- packer, and who died January 17, 1878, aged eighty-one years. William and Sarah Walker were the parents of three sons and seven daughters: Mary, Margaret, Ann, Emma, Sallie, Rebecca, Sadie, Thomas U., Matthias P. and William N.
Thomas U. Walker grew to manhood on the home farmi, received his education in the subscription schools of his neighbor- hood and at Joseph C. Strode's excellent boarding school, and then engaged in farm- ing, which he has followed ever since. In 1841 he purchased and removed to his present farm, which is well improved and contains one hundred and thirty-three aeres of good grain and grass land. Mr. Walker is a re- publiean in politics, and has served his town- ship as auditor and school director for over a quarter of a century. He is an intelligent and industrious farmer, who has witnessed during his busy and useful life a wonderful progress in agriculture and a great develop- ment of his township.
On January 26, 1841, Mr. Walker mar- ried Ellen Massey, daughter of Jacob Mas- sey, of Tredyffrin township. They have four children: Colkett, married Mary E. Jones, and is a farmer; Clara, wife of Na- than Rambo, of Bridgeport, this State; Harry, who married Ada Stewart and re- sides in Ohio, where he is engaged in rail- road contracting ; and Ellie, married Comly Williams and lives near the King of Prusia.
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.