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 80
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of his superiors or the respect of the local agents of the country. .
It is no post merely of honor to be the executive officer of such a great concern as the American Fire Insurance Company, transacting business all over the United States and outside of this country, and Mr. Montgomery is a busy man. . But he has always had a capacity for work and a strong mastery of details. The reports of Mr. Montgomery as general agent of the Na- tional board are a part of the literature of fire underwriting. Above the mere report of detail work, they take a wide view from an exalted plane, and present what is possi- ble in the profession of fire underwriting. In the practical discontinuance of the effect- ive operations of the National board, at the annual meeting, in April, 1877, Mr. Mont- gomery presented his resignation as general agent, which was not at that time accepted. Ilis resignation was received in February, 1878, and took effect on May 1st of that year. He shortly afterward accepted a po- sition with the old North America, and in 1879 returned to Philadelphia, and was in November, 1880, elected treasurer of that company, but in the same month he was elected to the vice-presidency of the Amer- ican Fire Insurance Company, which he ac- cepted and entered on its duties early in December following. On the retirement of President Maris, on account of age and in- firmities, Mr. Montgomery succeeded to the position of president, April 25, 1882, which position he now holds. He married in Oc- tober, 1860, Anna, daughter of Samuel George Morton, M. D., the distinguished ethnologist, and president of the academy of Natural sciences.
President Montgomery is an experienced, thorough and practical insurance man, who
Henry S. Diehl.
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
grew up with the insurance business and is thoroughly conversant with all its ins and outs, has studied it and knows it well. This is how the Underwriter described him not long ago : "It is something to be the exec- utive officer of a corporation bearing the name 'American.' The competitions in fire underwriting have become international, and the corporation that enters the lists as distinctively 'American' in its name, aspira- tions and in its traditions, appeals to patri- otie sentiment and awakens a pride and cor- dial interest in its success on the part of every true son of Columbia. The worthy president of the 'American' of Philadelphia is a true representative of the very best type of Americans, and in sentiment is in har- mony with the true American spirit. He is the candle in the candlestick -a true American at the head of a strong American ยท corporation. The career of Mr. Montgom- ery is one worthy of emulation on the part of younger underwriters. He has achieved success by honest work, not by mere smart- ness, as this term is generally used. His life is pure, his methods clean, and in the management of his company there are dis- played the abilities of an experienced un- derwriter, the courtesies of a gentleman, and the principles of a Christian. The American Fire Insurance Company occupies its own building on Walnut street, Philadelphia, and is one of the few American companies which has secured a European connection, and is a worthy representative in England of the solveney and honorable incthods of American fire underwriting."
Mr. Montgomery is a member of both the Pennsylvania and New York Historical so- cieties, and having strong genealogical tastes, he has produced genealogieal histories of the Montgomery and White families, beside
contributing special articles to historical literature. He is accounting warden of Christ church, Philadelphia, and senior warden of the church of the Holy Trinity, West Chester, and is also a manager of the old Philadelphia Saving Fund society. Three of the managers of this society, by the way, are in the board of directors of the American Fire Insurance Company.
H' ENRY J. DIEHL, a native of Read- ing and a resident of Spring City, is one of the largest and most successful brick manufacturers of eastern Pennsylvania. Hc was born June 21, 1850, at Reading, in Berks county, this State, and is a son of Henry S. and Elizabeth (Kline) Diehl, both natives of l'ennsylvania. His father, Henry S. Diehl, was a son of Henry Diehl, of Berks county, and in early life went to Reading where he died August 3, 1883, at sixty-four years of age. Ile was born in Exodus township, Berks county, and followed his trade of carpenter for nearly half a century. Ile was a democrat, and a member of the Reformed church, and married Elizabeth Kline, who was born in 1824, and died Oc- tober 6, 1887. To them was born a family of thirteen children : William, now dead : Henry J. ; John (deceased) ; Elizabeth ; Sal- lie (dead) ; James K., engaged in the brick business at Spring City ; Mary, of Reading; Daniel (deccased) ; Katje. now dead ; Albert, of Reading; Rosa, who resides in the same place; Adam, likewise a resident of Read- ing, and Amanda.
Henry J. Diehl made good use of the op- portunities which presented themselves to him in early life and learned the trade of brick maker with his uncle, Simon Kline. of Reading. He commenced as a day laborer
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
at the briekworks, and in three years had worked up to foreman of the yard. This position he resigned after holding it a few months, to learn the trade of hardwood moulder, at which he worked for fourteen years at Reading. At the end of that time, in the early part of 1879, he came to Spring City, where he was engaged as a workman in the stove foundry of Shantz & Keeley un- til it burned down on July 5, 1885. For the next two years he worked in different stove foundries at Spring City and Royer's Ford, Montgomery county, and then per- ceiving a good opportunity for brick manu- facturing at Spring City, he leased the brick yard of Henry Francis, which he has opera- ted ever since. Being a practical brick- maker, he had no experience to acquire by faulty work or bad management, and moved along smoothly and rapidly. His brick were first-class, orders increased daily and he soon found himself unable to supply the de- mand of his patrons. This led him in the spring of 1888 to purchase fourteen acres of choice clay land and open a large yard of his own. He now operates both yards, has forty-two men on his pay roll, and turns out over two million fine hand made brick per year. In addition to his brick business he does some contracting and building, and is a stockholder and director of the Spring City Ice Company and the Spring City Build- ing and Loan association. Mr. Diehl is a member of Lodge No. 553, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; and Spring City Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the First Reformed church, hasalways been a pronounced democrat, and served one term as a member of the borough council. Henry J. Diehl in boyhood en- joyed poor educational advantages and only received a limited but practical common
school education, which he has largely sup- plemented since by reading, observation and self study. In the great school of experi- ence he learned the cardinal principles of that remarkable success which has crowned his business career.
On December 6, 1871, Mr. Diehl wedded Sarah, daughter of Isaac Faber of Reading. To their union have been born seven chil- dren : George W., Aunie, Sadie, Mary, Harry, Bertha and Tilley, the latter now de- ceased.
HON. JOSHUA HARTSHORNE, now
deceased, who served in the State as- sembly in 1839, and afterward became a wealthy iron master, was a native of Cecil county, Maryland, where he was born June 17, 1808. His parents were Jonathan and Mary (Gillispie) Hartshorne, the former of English and the latter of Scotch-Irish de- scent. The founders of the Hartshorne fam- ily in America came over from England and settled in Cecil county, Maryland. about the beginning of the eighteenth century. They secured a large grant of land, engaged in agricultural pursuits and took an active part in the affairs of the colony and in the war of the revolution. John Hartshorne, uncle to the subject of this sketch, entered the colonial service as a member of the 3d regi- ment of the Maryland line, and served through the entire contest, being discharged as colonel of his regiment at the close of the war, November, 1783. The sword which Colonel Hartshorne used during that strug- gle is still in possession of the family, and is cherished as a priceless heirloom.
Joshua Hartshorne was the third son and fourth child of his parents, and had the mis- fortune to lose his father while yet a child. He received his education under the in-
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struction of the learned Rev. Dr. Magraw, of West Nottingham academy in Cecil county, Maryland, and subsequently re- moved with his brother James to Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in merchandising. He located first at Chat- ham, but shortly afterward removed to Cochranville, where he remained until 1846. In 1839 he was elected on the Democratic tieket as a member of the lower house of the Pennsylvania legislature, although the opposition was largely in the majority in the county, and served one term with distin- guished ability. In 1844, at the election sue- ceeding the exciting presidential campaign between Polk and Clay, he was chosen a men- ber of the State board of railroad and eanal commissioners by the democrats, and served as such for three years, being president of the board. On retiring from the office, in 1848, he removed to Baltimore, Maryland, and engaged in the iron business, which he suc- cessfully conducted in that city until 1870, though he removed his family to West Ches- ter, this county, in 1865. He owned a fine farm at Cochranville, and continued to be a resident of this county until his death, August 9, 1884, when in the eighty-first year of his age.
On November 4, 1846, Mr. Hartshorne married Martha Rogers, youngest daughter of Isaae Rogers, an ironmaster of Harford county, Maryland. To Mr. and Mrs. Harts- horne was born a family of five children, two sons and three daughters : Walter Rog- ers, the youngest, is now a resident of Fair- field, Connecticut. One of the daughters. Caroline, married Hollingsworth Whyte, of the city of Baltimore ; and another, Mary Rogers Hartshorne, is now living with her mother in West Chester. The others are: Mrs. McGraw and Allen Stanley Hartshorne.
Hon Joshua Hartshorne was a Presbyterian in religious faith, and a prominent member of the Masonie fraternity nearly all his life.
Isaac Rogers, father of Mrs. Martha Harts- horne, was a native of Chester county, born April 9, 1797, and reared and educated here. His father, William Rogers, was a son of Joseph Rogers, who came over from Eng- land with Lord Vincent. William was a member of the Society of Friends, and set- tled in Chester county. His son, Isaac Rog- ers, father of Mrs. Hartshorne, was reared in this county, from which he afterward re- moved to Maryland, where he engaged in the manufacture of iron, and finally became a wealthy ironmaster of that State. On the grandmother's side the family was of old revolutionary stock. Mrs. Martha (Rog- ers) Hartshorne was born and educated in Chester county. She is a member of the Presbyterian church, and now resides in her elegant home at West Chester.
E LWOOD W. FISHER, the largest landholder and a prominent and intlu- ential citizen of Charlestown township, and who was a foreman for two years on the construction of the Centennial buildings at Philadelphia, is a son of Abraham and Anna ( MeDowell) Fisher, and was born in Upper Dublin township, Montgomery county, Penn- sylvania, August 3, 1851. His paternal grandfather, William Fisher, was a native of Wales, who came to America and, dur- ing the latter part of the of the eighteenth eentury, settled in Bucks county, this State, where he purchased and tilled a farm. He was an old-line whig, and a member of Ab- ington meeting of the Society of Friends, He married and reared a family of five chil- dren : Daniel, William, Gen. John, Abra-
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
ham and Ann Divine. Abraham Fisher (father), was born in Bucks county, July 29, 1804, and died April 15, 1889. He fol- lowed farming during the early part of his life in Bucks and Montgomery counties, and then came to Tredyffrin township, this county, where he purchased two farms- one of one hundred and the other of ten acres of land. He was an active republican in politics, and a prominent member of the Society of Friends. In 1835 he married Anna McDowell, and to their union were born four sons and five daughters : Mary E. Sperry (dead), Malachi (deceased), Rebecca Nice, Susanna (dead), Daniel, Sallie Haupt, Amanda, Elwood W. and William. Mrs. Fisher was a daughter of William and Mar- garet McDowell, and died March 19, 1884, when in the seventy-fifth year of her age.
Elwood W. Fisher was reared on the home farm, received his education in the common and select schools of his neighbor- hood, and then learned with H. C. Cook, of Philadelphia, the trade of carpenter, which he followed for five years in the Quaker City, where he was foreman for twenty-six months on the construction of the Center- nial buildings. Returning from Philadel- phia to Tredyffrin township, he was engaged in farming, and in butchering and attending the city market until 1886, when he re- moved to Charlestown township, where he resided on a farm adjoining the one he now owns until 1890. In that year he purchased his present home farm of one hundred and sixty-three acres of choice and well im- proved land. He also owns an adjoining farm of one hundred and eighteen acres of fertile and productive land. In his barn Mr. Fisher has an engine and machinery with which he grinds all his feed, saws wood, does his threshing, and cuts fodder
and steams feed for all the cattle on both farms. Beside farming he operates a large dairy, and owns a first-class creamery at Williams' Corner. He is a republican in politics, has been serving for some time as a school director, and always takes an active part in political matters. He is also a trus- tee of the Presbyterian church, of which he and his wife are members. During the late war in 1861, when only nine years of age, he served as drummer for Co. I, 51st Penn- sylvania infantry, while it was being drilled on his father's farm.
On October 19, 1882, at Webster City, Iowa, Mr. Fisher wedded Mary Funk, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth ( Davis) Funk. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have three children, one son and two daughters: Har- vey, Sallie and Amanda.
THOMAS S. COX, a well-to-do farmer of Malvern, now practically retired from active business, and a gentleman who ranks with the best and most highly respected citi- zens of the county, is the eldest son of Thomas and Mary (Smedley) Cox, and was born Sep- tember 3, 1821, near Warren Tavern, in East Whiteland township, Chester county, Penn- sylvania. The family is of English descent, and its earliest representative in America is supposed to have been John Cox, who set- tled in Bucks county, this State, about 1708. Richard Cox, supposed to have been a son of the original emigrant, was the great- great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and on March 26, 1712, married Margaret Potts, of Abington monthly meet- ing. Their children were Anna, Sarah, Richard, Jonathan, Joseph and Benjamin (twins), and John. In 1728 they removed near the Schuylkill river, and Richard died
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
in Vincent township about 1760. His son, Benjamin Cox (great-grandfather), was born February 18, 1723, and he and his wife, Margaret, were the parents of ten children : Richard, Margaret, Jonathan, William, Jos- eph, Hannah, Mary, Sarah, Benjamin and John. William Cox (grandfather) was born in Bucks county, this State, December 21, 1751. On June 15, 1780, at Goshen meet- ing, he married Lydia Garrett, a daughter of Thomas and Hannah Garrett, of Willis- town, Chester county, where he soon after- ward settled. Ilis children were : Hannah, Benjamin, John, Abner, Thomas, Elizabeth, Levi, Jonathan, Lydia Garrett and William, In early life he learned the trade of shoe- maker, and followed that occupation for many years, but became a farmer in later life. He was an active and influential mem- her of the Society of Friends, which he served as elder for many years at Willis- town. Politically he was an old-line whig, and was called on to fill many of the local offices of his township. Ile died at his home in Willistown township at an ad- vanced age.
Thomas Cox (father) was born in Willis- town township, this county, July 25, 1790, and removed to East Whiteland township in 1820, but in 1826 returned to his native township, and died near Sugartown, October 13, 1867, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. He secured a good education and after leaving school learned the trade of tailor, which occupation he followed for a number of years, doing an extensive and profitable business, especially while in East Whiteland township, where he had a number of men in his employ. In later life he purchased a farm and devoted his last years to agricul- tural pursuits, toward which he had always felt inclined. On September 11. 1817, he
married Mary Smedley, and by this union had a family of eight children : Lydia, born July 10, 1818, and died in infancy ; Susan, born Jannary 1, 1820, also dead ; Thomas S., whose name heads this sketeh; William, born August 1, 1823; Mary, born April 7, 1826, now deceased ; Bennett, born April 8, 1828; Abbie, born April 5, 1830; and Lydia II., born May 7, 1832.
Thomas S. Cox was reared principally in Willistown township, and received a good practical edneation in the common schools. After attaining manhood he engaged in farming, and has devoted about all his life to agricultural pursuits in Willistown town- ship, where he owns a fine farm containing one hundred and seventy acres of choice land, all well improved and supplied with the necessary farm buildings, among which is a handsome and commodious residence. In religion he is a strict member of the Willistown meeting of the Society of Friends, and in political faith an ardent republican. He has frequently been elected to official positions in this township, having served for nine years as school director and as super- visor for some time.
In 1843 Mr. Cox was wedded to Mary Williams, a daughter of Jesse and Sarah Williams, of Willistown township, and to them was born a family of five children, three sons and two daughters: Jesse W., now a manufacturer and lumber dealer in South Dakota : Sarah, married Elias Jones, a prosperous farmer of Willistown township, this county ; Wilmer B., who married Sallie Roberts, and is now engaged in operating his father's farm; Edwin T., who wedded Anna Hall, resides near Sugartown, where he is engaged in partnership with Joaquin Matlaek, in the mannfacture of platinum, under the firm name of J. Bishop & Co.,
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
Mr. Bishop, formerly senior partner in the firm, being now deceased; and Lydia J., now the wife of Edwin Gilbert, a well known farmer and miller, residing near West Grove, this county.
C
HARLES J. ROBERTS, M. D., a
descendant of the old pioneer Roberts family of eastern Pennsylvania, and a phy- sician of ten years successful practice, is a son of William and Susanna M. (Havard) Roberts, and was born in Tredyffrin town- ship, Chester county, Pennsylvania, July 14, 1857. He was reared on the farm, received his education in the common schools and Philadelphia high school, and after being engaged for a short time in farming and contracting, resolved upon making medicine his life vocation. He read with Dr. Charles N. Frederick, and then entered the medical department of the university of Pennsyl- vania, from which he was graduated March 15, 1882. After graduation he formed a partnership with Dr. Jacob Rickabaugh, of Tredyffrin township, and they practiced to- gether for four years. IIe then purchased property at Valley Store, in East Whiteland township, one mile north of Malvern, and has been engaged there ever since in the successful practice of his profession.
Dr. Roberts traces his ancestry on the paternal side to John Roberts, who came from Wales at an early day and settled near Quakertown, in Richland township, Bucks county, where his son, William Roberts, was born and reared. William Roberts came to Schuylkill township, this county, where he settled on Pickering creek and operated a fulling mill. He owned a farm of two hun- dred acres, which he tilled until his death, which occurred about the year 1844, when he was in the seventy-fifth year of his age.
Ile was a whig and a Friend, and married Rebecca Pennington, by whom he had six children : Sarah, Maria, Rebecca, Martha, Joseph and John. Joseph Roberts, the grandfather of Dr. Roberts, was born in 1786, and at twenty-one years of age came to Schuylkill township, where he died on his farm in 1857. He was a whig in poli- tics, and a Friend in religious belief. Ile married Mary Walker, and their children were : Sarah, William (dead), Lewis, Stephen, Isaac (dead), Rebecca, Anna (dead), and Mary. The eldest son, William Roberts (father), was born January 3, 1812, and died October 21, 1889. He received his educa- tion at Professor Faulk's boarding school, in Montgomery county, and learned civil engineering, but gave most of his time to the management and cultivation of his farni of one hundred and twelve acres of land, in Tredyffrin township, on which his widow and some of his children still reside. He was a republican, had served as supervisor and school director of his township, and married, on February 16, 1841, Susanna Havard, who is a danghter of Benjamin Havard, who was born in 1781, and whose father, David Havard, was a son of John and Sarah (Evans) Havard, who came from Wales to Tredyffrin township, where they pur- chased a tract of one thousand acres of land from Penn's agent. To William and Su- sanna M. Roberts were born nine children : Benjamin, who enlisted June 6, 1861, in Co. K, 4th Pennsylvania reserves, and after the war was engaged in farming until his death ; Isaac W., who served in an emer- gency regiment in 1863, and is now dead ; Anna Daniel, who has two children - Alan and Burton ; Mary E., widow of Isaac Walker, who has one child -Benjamin H., now postmaster, and manager of his moth-
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
er's store, at New Centreville; David II., married Margaret Rodney, and has one child -Norman ; William M., married Kate Errett, and lives near Pittsburg, this State, where he is a contractor on the Pennsylvania railroad; Anna N., now dead : George W., a dealer in builder's supplies at Norristown, Montgomery county; Dr. Charles J. ; Clar- ence B .; and Sue R., who married Elliott J. Thomas, of Philadelphia.
On June 23, 1886, Dr. Roberts was united in marriage with Mary, daughter of Dr. Jacob Rickabaugh. To their union have been born two children : Jacob Alan, born June 17, 1887, and died July 16, 1890 : and Charles W., born June 29, 1891.
In polities Dr. Charles J. Roberts is a stanch republican, and has been serving for some time as president of the school board of his township. He enjoys a good prac- tice, and aside from his professional duties gives some attention to dealing in coal and wood. He is a member of Washington Camp, No. 548, Patriotic Order Sons of America ; De Vault Lodge, No. 486, Order of Tonti; and Thompson Lodge, No. 340, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is a past master.
A. M. F. STITELER is a son of Henry and Penninah (Benner) Stiteler, and was born in West Vincent township, Ches- ter county, Pennsylvania, April 9, 1853. He was reared on the farm, received his education in the public schools of his native township and at a private school in the city of Reading. After teaching one term in the public schools of Lower Heidelberg township, Berks county, he returned to Chester county, where he taught one term in Upper Uwehlan, and for four years in
West Vincent township. He then retired from the profession of teaching, and engaged in farming in his native township from 1875 to 1882. In the latter year he sought for a wider field of active employment than was afforded him by agricultural pursuits, and engaged in the lumber, coal and feed busi- ness at Byers' station on the Pickering Val- ley railroad. He went into the general mer- cantile business one year later. Ile now has two establishments, connected by tele- phone. The establishment at the old stand is used for the storage of grain, flour, coal, feed, seeds, salt, fertilizers and hardware, and has attached to it large coal and lumber yards : while the new store near the railroad station is heavily stocked with dry goods, fancy and staple groceries, notions, clothing and everything to be found in a first-class general mercantile establishment. His trade is extensive and he is always on the alert, that his business does not diminish. Mr. Stiteler is a stanch republican, has taken considerable interest in politics, and was commissioned as postmaster of Uwehland in May, 1889. He is a member and deacon of Windsor Baptist church, of whose Sunday school he has been superintendent for fif- teen years. Ile is also a member of Mt. Pickering Lodge, No. 446, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; and Washington Camp, No. 298, Patriotic Order Sons of America.
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