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 78
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(father), who was born here October 8, 1808. After attaining manhood he sneceeded his father in the management of the oll home- stead, and in turn spent his life here, in the cultivation of the ancestral acres, dying July 30, 1882, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. He owned one hundred and fifty acres of land, and the farm on which John II. resides is a part of the old homestead tract. Politically Job Darlington was a whig and republican, and in religion a strict member of the Society of Friends, In 1849 he married Lydia Huey, a daughter of John IIney, and by this mion had a family of two children, both sons: John H., subject of this sketch, and A. Martin, now residing near Knoxville, Tennessee. John Hney (maternal grandfather) was a native of Chester county, but removed to the State of Delaware, where he died in 1848. He was a teacher in his younger days, and a farmer in later life, and by his marriage with Phebey Martin, had a family of six children, of whom Mrs. Darlington was the eldest.
John H. Darlington was reared on the old homestead previously mentioned, and re- ceived his primary instruction in the com mon schools. He afterward attended Pro- fessor Weyer's military school at West Ches- ter, and still later took a course of training in the academy conducted by Prof. Hunter Worrall in the same borough. Following the example of his ancestors, and his own inclinations, he has devoted his life princi- pally to agricultural pursuits, and with the exception of a couple of years spent in West Goshen township, has always resided on the old farm where he was born, in East Brad- ford township, which property passed into his possession in 1882. He has been very successful in his farm operations and is in very comfortable circunstances. Being a
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
man of sound judgment and careful busi- ness habits, he has been called on to serve as executor of a number of estates, and has always given entire satisfaction in his per- formance of these duties. In politics he is an ardent republican, but while loyally sup- porting bis party at all times, has never en- tertained any politieal ambition for himself nor allowed the use of his name for any office. On November 3, 1880, Mr. Darling- ton was united in marriage with Sarah II. Marshall, a daughter of William P. Marshall, of West Chester.
F RED HERON, general superintendent of the Phoenix Iron works, to whom belongs the distinction of having made the first steel beams ever rolled in this country, is a son of James and Elizabeth (Furness) IIeron. He was born June 26, 1856, at Bradford, Yorkshire, England, and is of Scotch-English descent. His father is a na- tive of Scotland who emigrated to England when a young man, where he married and was for many years engaged in the dry goods business, but is now living a retired life at Bradford, in Yorkshire. He is a rep- resentative of a very old Seotch family, has long been a prominent member of the Pres- byterian church of Bradford, and is now in the seventy-fifth year of his age. His wife, Elizabeth Furness, mother of Fred Heron, was a native of Yorkshire, England, and died in 1889, at the advanced age of seventy- two years.
Fred Heron was reared in his native town of Bradford, and received his early eduea- tion in the private and select schools of that place. He finished his education at Edin- burgh, where he passed his examinations, and then became an apprentice to the business
of mechanical engineering at Bradford. After completing his apprenticeship he en- gaged in business for himself at Leeds, Eng- land, as an engineer and contractor, and re- mained there for a period of four years. At the end of that time, yielding to an inclina- tion which had become too strong to be re- sisted, he left his engineering business and went on the theatrical stage, where he met with considerable success, and where he re- mained for a year and a half. In Septem- ber, 1880, he came to the United States and spent some time traveling in different parts of this country, but finally settled in Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, where he became con- neeted with the Bessimer steel works in that city, which were afterward purchased by Andrew Carnegie. There Mr. Heron made the first structural steel and the first steel beams ever rolled in the United States. He was connected with these works for five years, when the management was changed and he came to Phoenixville, in November, 1886, and erected the steel works for the Phoenix Iron Company. In November, 1891, he was appointed general superinten- dent of the Phoenix Iron works, which posi- tion he still holds. The iron interest is one of the most important industries of Phoenix- ville, the first establishment of this kind dating back to 1790, and among the exten- sive rolling mills and furnaces, employing thousands of people, none is larger or more important than the plant over which Mr. IIeron exercises superintendence.
In February, 1882, Mr. Heron was united in marriage to Carrie Hahn, of the city of Pittsburg. To Mr. and Mrs. Heron have been born two children, both daughters: Eugene and Madge. In polities Mr. Herou is independent, and in manner very affable and engaging. The family reside in one of
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
the most pleasant and tasteful homes in Phoenixville, surrounded by everything cal- culated to make life enjoyable.
R EV. A. L. WILSON, who for the past four years has officiated as the popular pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Downingtown, and is an earnest and success- ful minister and cultured and intelligent Christian gentleman, is the second and oldest surviving son of James M. and Maria (Len- hart) Wilson,and was born December 5, 1839, in Porter township, Jefferson county, Penn- sylvania. Ilis early years were spent on his father's farm. At the age of fifteen he was by death deprived of his father and mother. Poor, homeless and friendless, he started ont to make his way in the world. He was educated principally at Glade Run academy, Dayton, Armstrong county, this State, teach- ing school occasionally to replenish his de- pleted pocket book. On August 18, 1862. he enlisted in the service of his country as a member of Co. K, 155th Pennsylvania in- fantry, and in one capacity or another served until June 29, 1865, when he was discharged at Washington, District of Columbia. Dur- ing his army service he took part in the battles of Antietam and Fredericksburg. and afterward had a severe attack of typhoid fever, which unfitted him for active duty in the field, and he then became a member of the brass band connected with the military organization. He was playing with that band at the head of a military procession on the streets of Washington city on the eventful night of President Lincoln's assas- sination. He also did a large amount of evangelistie work among the soldiers during his enlistment, and in this way acquired that conversational style of speaking which has
contributed so largely to his success in the ministry. Politically he has always been a republican.
In 1866 Mr. Wilson was admitted to the Philadelphia conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, and became an itinerant preacher of that denomination, having served during part of the preceding year as junior preacher on the Perkiomen circuit, Montgomery county. His first appointment as a member of the conference was to the Pottstown cirenit, in Chester county, where he remained one year. In 1867 he was sent to Haddington, Philadelphia, and preached there two years, after which he served she- cessively at Bryn Mawr three years; Cro- zierville, Delaware county, two years; Springfield, Chester county, three years : St. James' church, in the city of Philadel- phia, three years: Bryn Mawr again three years : Coatesville, Chester county, three years; and Summerfield church in Phila- delphia, three years. From the latter church he came to Downingtown, this county, in March, 1889, and is now serving his fourth year as pastor of this church. He is an earnest and able preacher, has spent most of his pastoral life in Chester county, and is widely known as a successful revivalist. Since coming to Downingtown he has ste- ceeded in erecting a handsome new stone church, of modern design and elegant ap- pointments, and while at Coatesville he was instrumental in having a fine church built at that place, and also in securing the cree- tion of a church at Bethesda, Delaware county. The present Methodist Episcopal church at Downingtown was begun in 1889, and dedi- cated on May 25, 1890. The present men- bership of this church numbers one hun- dred and eighty. While at Coatesville Rev. Mr. Wilson held a very successful revival
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
meeting, resulting in the conversion of over two hundred persons, and also held another remarkable revival meeting at Springfield, this county, at which more than one hun- dred were converted and joined the church, and at other churches which he served re- vivals of interest have occurred.
On January 29, 1868, Rev. Mr. Wilson was united in holy matrimony to Isabella Michener, youngest daughter of Dr. Nathan Michener, then the oldest practicing phy- sician in Chester county. To Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson was born one child, a daughter, whom they named Naomi, and who is now the wife of Parke Bicking, a well known paper manufacturer of Downingtown.
The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was Thomas M. Wilson, a native of Venango county, this State, where he was a farmer for many years, but in later lite removed to Armstrong county. There he purchased a farm and settled near She- locta, where he resided until his death at an advanced age. He was an active and influ- ential member of the Presbyterian church, in which he served as elder for a number of years, and in polities was a stanch democrat. He married Mary Mitchell, and was the father of six children, three sons and three daughters: Thomas, who became a Baptist minister and died at Punxsutawney, Penn- sylvania, October 31, 1856; Mary, married Joseph Marshall, and died in 1882; James M., father of Rev. A. L. : Robert (the young- est, who died in 1892), and two who died in infancy. James M. Wilson (father) was born near Franklin, Venango county, this State, in 1804, and resided there for a number of years, but removed with his father to Arm- strong county, and lived with him until the death of the latter. James. M. Wilson was a farmer by occupation, and a stanch dem-
ocrat in politics. He was elected justice of the peace in Porter township, Jefferson county, and served continuously for fourteen years, and resigned the office on leaving the county. Ile also served as county commis- sioner of that county about 1846. In relig- ious faith he was a Presbyterian, taking an active part in church ,matters, and serving as a ruling elder for many years. He was also an active Sunday school worker, and a strong temperance advocate. In 1836 he married Maria Lenhart, a daughter of Adam Lenhart, of Westmoreland county, and to their union was born a family of eight chil- dren, three of whom were sons: Thomas M., who became a Presbyterian minister and at the time of his death, February 22, 1874, was serving as pastor of the First Presby- terian church of Rochelle, Illinois; Rev. A. L., the subject of this sketch; Mary E., married Robert Whittaker, and died in 1887 ; Sarah, wedded James Hays; Hanna J., be- eame the wife of LeRoy Wells, and died in 1876; Margaret, deceased November 28, 1853, at the age of five years; Viola, died in infaney ; and James K., who is still living at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
: Adam Lenhart (maternal grandfather) was a native of Westmoreland county, and lived at Pine Creek, where he was a distiller by occupation. Ile was a democrat politically, married and was the father of one son and five daughters: Harmon, Susan, who mar- ried a Mr. Ilennigan ; Margaret, wedded John Neville, and after his death a Mr. Koons; Sarah, became the wife of William Bernard; Hannah, married Lewis Young; and Maria, who wedded James M. Wilson, and became the mother of Rev. A. L. Wil- son, the subject of this sketch.
Dr. Nathan Michener, father of Mrs. Isabella Wilson, was a prominent physician
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
of Coventryville, this county, practicing his profession for sixty-five years. He studied medicine and graduated from the Philadel- phia Medical college under Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Dr. Michener was an original thinker, and his experiments and in- vestigations added much to medical science. Ile was a contributor to various medical journals in this country, and was one of the most prominent physicians of eastern Penn- sylvania. He was also an astronomer of considerable note, and prepared the manu- script for an almanac published at Phila- delphia, beside being a thorough classical scholar, at home in belles lettres, and master of the French, German, Greek and Latin languages. As a publie speaker and debater he ranked high, and was, in short, a gentle- man of versatile talent and many rare accom- plishments. He married Sophia Christman, a daughter of George Christman, and a de- seendant of an old family of sturdy German stock, who were among the first settlers in Chester county. By this union he had a family of ten children, four sons and six daughters : Sarah Holdzkom, George, James B., Mary Stubblebine, Phobe Livezey, Re- becea Griffith, Nathan, John, Clara Morrow, and Isabella, the wife of Rev. A. L. Wilson, whose name heads this sketch. Dr. Michener was a whig and republican in polities, and served as o justice of the peace for twenty- eight years. He voted for every president from Washington's second administration to Abraham Lincoln in 1860.
F RANKLIN JONES, who resided near New Centreville, was a representative of an old and prominent Pennsylvania fam- ily, and enjoyed the reputation of being the
best farmer in the Chester valley. He was related to Col. John Moore, of revolutionary fame, and was the youngest child and only son of Hon. John M. and Mary ( Heller) Jones, and a native of Upper Dublin town- ship, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he was born July 10, 1836. The family to which Mr. Jones belonged is of original Welsh descent, and was planted in America by Malichi Jones (great-great- grandfather), as early as 1714. In that year he came from Wales and settled at Abing- ton, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He was a Presbyterian minister, and founded the Abington ( Montgomery county) church of that faith in 1714. During the first fif- teen years of its existence he served as its pastor, and on August 15, 1719, he trans- ferred a half acre of land to the church. Ile was a man of remarkable energy and great decision of character, and his life was active and useful. His death occurred Jan- nary 28, 1729.
George Jones (grandfather) was born in Montgomery county, and lived in that county all his life, dying June 14. 1796, at an ad- vanced age. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, married Elizabeth Stevens (who was born June 14, 1797, and died January 23. 1847), and had two sons: George, who died in Montgomery county, and John M., father of the subject of this sketch. John M. Jones (father) was born in Montgomery county, June 14, 1796, where he grew to maturity and received the best training afforded by the schools of that day -finishing his school- days by a course under Josiah Hoopes at the West Chester academy- which heafterward improved by wide reading and continued study. He started in life as an accountant in the counting room of a large importing | firm in Philadelphia, where he remained
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
one year. He then engaged in teaching, and followed that occupation near Fort Washington and at Lower Merion academy until 1844, when he purchased and removed to a farm in Abington township, Montgom- ery county, where he engaged in agricul- tural pursuits until 1854, when he was elected to the position of register of wills for that county for a term of three years. In 1833 he was elected a member of the Pennsylvania legislature, and re-elected the following year, serving two terms while Simon Cameron and Thaddeus Stevens were members of that body. In 1857 he was ap- pointed by Judge Cadwallader as clerk of the United States court in the city of Phil- adelphia, and served acceptably in that po- sition until 1859, when he returned to Mont- gomery county, and in 1862 removed to Tredyffrin township, Chester county, where he purchased a fine farm containing one hundred and twenty-eight acres of the best land in this valley-the farm which his son, Franklin Jones, resided upon during most of his life. Here he lived until re- moved from the scenes of his earthly activ- ity by death, June 12, 1872, when in the seventy-sixth year of his age. He was elected school director of his township in 1870, and served continuously as such until his death. He was a stanch democrat all his life, and noted for his strong will-power, strict veracity, and unswerving integrity. It was frequently remarked that "his word was law," and it was always as good as his bond. In religion he was a member of the German Reformed church all his life, and served as deacon for many years. Mr. Jones was twice married. His first wife was Mary Heller, a daughter of Daniel IIeller, of Montgomery county, whom he married February 24, 1825, and by whom he had
four children : Margaret, Hannah, Eliza- beth, who married Peter Hartman, and re- sides in Philadelphia; and Franklin, the principal subject of this sketch. Mrs. Jones died December 30, 1838, aged thirty-three years ; and on May 21, 1840, John M. Jones wedded Hannah M. Stadleman, nee Trasel, and by this second marriage had two chil- dren : Mary, deceased, and Samuel, who is now employed as a clerk at Norristown.
Franklin Jones was reared principally in Montgomery county, and received his edu- cation in the common schools there and at the Elwood academy. After quitting school he learned the trade of cabinet maker with Samuel Nice, of Germantown, and fol- lowed that occupation until 1861. In the following year he came to Chester county and engaged in farming, which was his principal business during the remainder of his life, and in which he was remarkably successful. Inheriting his father's energy and aptitude for management, he applied his ability to the cultivation of the soil, and by introducing improved methods and carefully attending to all the details of his farm oper- ations, won a place in the front rank of Chester county farmers and became an au- thority on agricultural matters in this entire section.
In politics Mr. Jones followed the tradi- tions of his family and was always an ardent democrat. though taking little part in prac- tical politics. Ile was elected some years ago as school director, and served six or seven terms in that position. He had in his possession a number of papers and docu- ments of historic interest, including official commissions, which once belonged to his relative, Col. John Moore, who won de- served fame during the revolutionary war. Franklin Jones died January 20, 1893, aged
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
fifty-seven years, and greatly respected for his many excellent qualities of heart and mind.
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WASHINGTON FRIDAY, an auditor of Chester county, and one of the lead- ing citizens of Schuylkill township, who served for three years in the army of the Potomac, from the Peninsula to Spottsyl- vania courthouse, is a son of Christian and Mary (Snyder) Friday, and was born in East Pikeland township, Chester county, Penn- sylvania, February 27, 1843. His paternal grandfather, Christian Friday, was of Ger- man descent, and owned a farm of one hun- dred acres of land in West Vincent township, where he followed distilling and iron ore mining during the early part of his life. He died at the age of eighty-two years. He was a democrat, and a Lutheran, and had a family of six children, two sons and four daughters: John, Christian, Sarah Snyder, Anna Bush, Catharine Bush and Mary Wunder. Christian Friday (father) was born in West Vincent township, where he died September 17, 1868, at the age of sev- enty-two years. Heowned three good farms in West Vincent and East Pikeland town- ships, aggregating two hundred and four- teen acres of land. He carried on farming extensively, was a democrat in politics, and lived a quiet and industrious life. He was a Entheran, and married Mary Snyder, a daughter of Casper Snyder, of Chester county. She is now deceased, having at- tained the age of seventy-nine years. Chris- tian and Mary Friday were the parents of ten children, four sons and six daughters: John, Elizabeth Fry, Susanna Naylor, Auna Wagoner, Christian, Catherine Walters, Casper, Mary Walters, Washington, and Rosanna Moses.
Washington Friday received his educa- tion in the common schools of West Vincent and East Pikeland townships, and at Pugh- town Boarding school, and at sixteen years of age became a clerk for Samuel Kramer. of Phoenixville, with whom he remained un- til June 6, 1861, when he enlisted in C'o. G. 30th Pennsylvania infantry ( 1st reserves), for three years. He served until June 13, 1864, when he was honorably discharged at Philadelphia. He participated in the bat- tles of Drainsville, Tunstall Station, Me- chanicsville. Beaver Dam creek, Gaines Mill, Savage Station, Malvern Hill, Grove- ton, second Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Get- tysburg, Williamsport, Bristow Station, New Hope church, the Wilderness, Parker's Store, Spottsylvania courthouse, Po River. Guinea Station, North Ann river, Pototop- ony creek and Bethesda church. At South Mountain Mr. Friday and another soldier of his company, J. T. Hunter, in a charge, found themselves in advance of the regiment, and Mr. Friday, whose gun was empty, was confronted by three Confederates, whom he made prisoners and sent them to the rear. Hunter being wounded in a few moments afterward, he carried him back to the regi- ment. Returning from the army Mr. Fri- day was engaged in mercantile pursuits at Wilson's Corners and Phoenixville until 1870. He then purchased a store at Spring- field, Chester county, where he remained until 1873, when he sold out and went to Philadelphia to engage in the fancy grocery and market business. In a short time he disposed of his business in the Quaker City and purchased the property upon which he now resides, adjoining Phoenix- ville. He is now extensively and success- fully engaged in the trucking business,
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
and in raising and selling fruit trees and nursery stock.
On November 19, 1864, Mr. Friday mar- ried Martha, daughter of George Moses, of Kimberton, and to their union have been born eight children, six of whom are living, three sons and three daughters: G. E. Lee, a law student with Judge Willis Bland, of Reading, this State ; Mary, Reynolds, War- ren, Mabel, now engaged in teaching; and May Friday.
In politics Washington Friday is a dem- ocrat. He is a member of Phoenix Lodge, No. 75, Free and Accepted Masons, and has been honored with several offices by the people of his township. In 1880 he was eleeted as school director, which office he still holds, being his own successor. One year later he was elected justice of the peace, to which office he was reelected in 1885, and again in 1890. He served as postmaster of Springfield under Grant's ad- ministration, and in 1890 was elected as an auditor of Chester county, which position he is filling in a very creditable manner.
JOHN S. MULLIN, a prominent citi- zen of West Chester and for many years a leading business man of this county, who has lately retired and is now enjoying the comforts and Inxuries which so fittingly wait on an active and successful business career, is a son of John M. and Sarah (Guthrie) Mullin, and was born in East Brandywine township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, Oc- tober 9, 1830. The Mullin family is of Scotch-Irish origin, but has been settled in this country since the revolutionary period. The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was a native of Ireland, but crossed the seas in early manhood to serve
in the struggle for independence then being waged against the mother country by the American colonies. After the war ended he located in Delaware county, Pennsyl- vania, becoming one of the early settlers of that section, and continued to live there un- til his death at an advanced age. Among his children was John M. Mullin (father), who was born in Delaware county during the initial year of this century. He received a good practical education in the schools of that day, and for some years engaged in teaching. While yet a young man he re- moved to Chester county, where he became one of the best known and most prosperous farmers of East Brandywine township, and where he resided until his death in 1852, after a busy life covering two years more than the first half of the nineteenth century. He was a member for many years of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics a democrat of the old school. On Novem- ber 10, 1829, he was appointed a justice of the peace for the eleventh district by Gov. John A. Shulze, and held this office contin- uously to the time of his death. He married Sarah Guthrie, a daughter of William Guth- rie, of Chester county, by whom he had a family of four children. She was also of Scotch-Irish deseent, and a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She died in 1880 at the advanced age of seventy- eight years.
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