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 85
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
The Brower family is of German extrac- tion, and the first of the name to come to this country was Abraham Brower, from whom was descended John B. Brower, the paternal grandfather of J. L. Brower, of Phoenixville. John B. Brower was born in Berks county in 1805, and died in 1881, at seventy-six years of age. He was a whig and a Lutheran, and married Elizabeth Scho- field, who died. in 1841, and was born in 1812. They were the parents of four chil- dren : Calvin. Daniel, Mary and Abram K., who died in 1867. He married in 1849, Lucetta Hevzey, and by this union had two children- Lewis and Charles. Of the sons. Daniel, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born at Hamburg, Berks county, in 1833. He was an iron worker for sev- eral years, and then became a clerk in a mercantile store, which he left to accept a position with the Adams Express Company
at Phoenixville. He left the service of that company in 1880 to engage in the book and stationery business, in which he continued until 1891, when he disposed of the business to his son, John L., who has conducted it successfully ever since. Daniel Brower is a republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Rebecca, daughter of Phillip Miller, and to theirunion were born eight children : Frank, now dead; Mary, wife of Elwood P. Force; Harry, connected with the United States Express Company in Harrisburg ; John L .: William, now dead; Ida M., wife of Edwin P. Lowery; Ilannah; and Della, wife of William Ellis.
WILLIAM M. RENNARD, a well- known farmer of Tredyffrin township, residing near Chester Valley postoffice, where he has lived since 1876, is the eldest son of Henry and Prudence ( Miller) Renard. He was born at Valley Forge, Schuylkill town- ship, this county, on September 23, 1834, and lived for a time in Willistown township, and later resided in Charlestown township. On October 16, 1863, he enlisted in Co. K, 175th Pennsylvania infantry, at Philadel- phia, and served in the army until August, 1864, when he was honorably discharged in the same city. lle participated in a nun- ber of skirmishes and minor engagements in southern North Carolina and elsewhere. In 1876 Mr. Renard removed to Tredyffrin township, where he owns a fine farm of ninety aeres of valuable land, eighty acres of which are improved and the other ten covered by timber. In political faith he has always been a republican, and gives his party a loyal support on all leading ques- tions, though taking little part in the excit-
716
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
ing contests that so frequently convulse the body politic. On the 6th of March, 1878, he was united in marriage to Sallie Little, a daughter of Major Little, of Charlestown township.
The Rennards are of German extraction, and rank among the old families of this see- tion. Jacob Rennard (paternal grandfather) was a native of Schuylkill township, this county, where he spent a long and active life. He owned one hundred acres of fine land, and was a successful farmer. Politic- ally he was an old-line whig, as his ances- tors had been, and he married Mary Walters, by whom he had a family of eight children : Joseph, Jacob, Adam, Mary, who married Joseph Gamble; Rachel, wedded Jonathan Major; Susan, who became the wife of Matthew Ross; Rebecca, who married Rich- ard Joyce; and Henry. They are all now deceased except Rachel and Jacob. Henry Rennard (father) was born in Schuylkill township in 1805, where he grew to man- hood and was educated. He was proprietor of the Valley Forge hotel for three years, and then removed to Tredyffrin township, and later to Willistown township. In the latter he resided for a number of years, but returned to Tredyffrin township about 1858, and died there in 1882, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. He was essentially a farmer, though he engaged in other enter- prises occasionally, and was an ardent whig in politics. IIe served as school director for a number of years, and also for a time as township auditor, beside occupying other local offices. He was a prominent member of the Great Valley Presbyterian church, and married Prudence Miller, a daughter of James Miller, of West Vincent township. They were the parents of eleven children, six sons and five daughters : Mary, William
M., Henry C., deceased ; J. Harrison, served in the army for nine months in 1862, taking part in the battle of Antietam, and is now a resident of West Chester, where he is serv- ing as county commissioner, being also school director of Tredyffrin township one term ; Hilborn D., a farmer of that township; Winfield S., employed in the office of the Philadelphia Street Railway Company, Phil- adelphia, Pennsylvania; Lewis, a clerk in the office of the Wabash Railroad Company at Chicago, Illinois; Amanda, the widow of Joseph Roberts, lives at West Chester, this county ; Emma J .; Tamzine A., and Ther- esa, who wedded David Morgan, and resides at Ardmore, Montgomery county, this State.
Henry C. Rennard (brother), enlisted in the army at West Chester in November, 1861, and after participating in a number of engagements in Virginia and Florida, was severely wounded in the left thigh at Ber- muda Hundred. He was a member of the 97th regiment, commanded by Colonel Guss.
N ATHAN WILSON, one of the sub- stantial business men, and a leading merchant and the postmaster of Downing- town, served as a Union soldier before Pe- tersburg and was in the terrific charge on Ft. Fisher. He is a son of Ezra H. and Han- nah M. (Bailey) Wilson, and was born in Brandywine township, Chester county, Penn- sylvania, November 10, 1844. He attended the common schools and then served an ap- prenticeship of three years to the trade of miller. During his apprenticeship, Septem- ber 2,1864, he enlisted in Co. D, 203d Penn- sylvania infantry and served until the close of the war, when he was honorably dis- charged from the Federal service at New- port, Rhode Island, on August 15, 1865. He
717
OF CHESTER COUNTY.
participated in several fights in front of Pe- tersburg, took part in the battles of New Market, Bermuda Hundred and Franklin, and was in the terrific and successful assault on Ft. Fisher, where he was wounded but did not retire out of the storming column. Returning home from the army he spent three years as miller at the Thomas mill, in West Whiteland township, and then operated a mill in West Bradford township until 1873, when he came to Downingtown to engage in his present general mercantile business. His store, located on Bradford and Viaduct avenues, is well stocked with dry goods, faney and staple groceries, notions, hard- ware and everything ornamental or useful in his line of business, for which there is any demand by his many patrons, He se- lects his goods with care, has an excellent trade, and has won the confidence of his customers by his honesty and honorable busi- ness methods. Beside merchandising. Mr. Wilson is interested in other fields of labor and usefulness. Ile has dealt to some ex- tent in real estate, and has given consider- able attention to farming. He owns eight houses and lots on Bradford avenne and Church street, in Downingtown; ten acres of meadow land, adjoining the borough ; and three valuable farms, aggregating two hun- dred and three acres-two of which are in West Bradford township, and the other in West Brandywine. He is a republican in polities, has been honored by his party with various offices of trust and responsibility. and served six years as treasurer of the bor- ough. Ile was elected to conneil four times, serving in all six years, and was appointed postmaster of Downingtown by President Benjamin Harrison, May 12. 1890. Ilis ca- reer in lite has been one of success over all , difficulty and discouragements that have
come in his way, and his present prosperity and enviable standing in the community where he resides are the result of energy, self- reliance, hard work and sterling integrity. Ile is a member of the Order of Tonti; Fire company, No. 1, of Downingtown ; Yemassee Tribe, No. 134, Improved Order of Red Men ; and General Hancock Post, No. 255, Grand Army of the Republic.
On September 4, 1873, Mr. Wilson mar- ried Elizabeth G. Mercer, and their union bas been blessed with three children : Cid- ney Mabel, a graduate of the Downingtown Iligh school, and now taking the elemen- tary course in the West Chester State Nor- mal school; L. Cora, attending the Down- ingtown High school; and Lizzie D. Mrs. Elizabeth G. Wilson was born April 1, 1852, and received her education at Millersville State Normal school. She is a grand- danghter of William Mercer, a farmer and Friend of East Bradford township, who mar- ried Cidney Wollerton, and whose children were : George, Kersey, Manoah, Angelina Morgan Fairlamb, Susanna Shaw, Eliza Ann Darlington, Malinda and Jane.
Fairlamb Mercer (father of Mrs. Wilson), was the owner of three farms in West Brad- ford, a farmer and republican, but relin- quished farming a few years previous to his death and made his home with his daughter, Elizabeth G. Wilson. He died at Down- ingtown, October 9, 1884, aged seventy-three years. He married Drucilla Wollerton, and their children were : Sallie B. Young, who received her education at Jonathan Gause's academy, and is now serving as school di- reetor, having served as such for nine years, and taught school for eleven years; Cidney W. Hiddleson, who taught five years : Ma- linda Pennock, William, John, Mifflin, and Elizabeth G. Wilson. Cidney W. Hiddle-
718
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
son and Malinda Pennock received their education at Downingtown academy.
Nathan Wilson is a member of the Wil- son family of Chester county which has de- scended from David Wilson (grandfather), who was a native of Willistown township, and went west some years before his death. He was a farmer and a whig and married Ann Hoopes, by whom he had four chil- dren : John, David, Ezra H. and Ann Otty. Ezra H. Wilson (father) was born in Willis- town township in 1810, and died January 2, 1888, aged seventy-seven years. He was a shoemaker and farmer and resided for many years before his death near Guthrieville. He was a republican and Friend, held va- rious offices of his township, and married Hannah M. Bailey, who died November 21, 1869, when in the sixty-fifth year of her age. Their children were: Lydia Thomp- son, Curtis, Lavina Friece, Elizabeth Miller, Emma, John, Anna M., Nathan Taylor and Hoopes. Mrs. Hannah M. Wilson was a danghter of John Bailey (maternal grand- father), who was a native of England, and came about 1800 to Parkersville, this county. He married Lydia Way, and their children were: Hannah, Elizabeth, Jabez, and two others, a son and a daughter, whose names are unknown. The daughter, Elizabeth, and her mother, were killed by lightning. The remainder of the family moved west and were never heard from afterward.
R EV. ROBERT MAYNE PATTER- SON, D. D., LL. D., whose voice and influence have been for love and justice, and whose life labor has been for the good of men and the glory of his Divine Master, is the highly esteemed pastor of Great Val- ley Presbyterian church, and the able editor
of the Presbyterian Journal, which is read with interest throughout the United States. He was born in Philadelphia, and his par- ents were John and Margaret (Mayne) Pat- terson, who were natives of near Belfast, Ireland, and came to this country early in the present century.
Robert Mayne Patterson received his edu- cation in the Philadelphia Central High school, from which he was graduated with the first honors of his class. Leaving school he became an official reporter in the United States senate, and during the five years that he held that position he read law. At the termination of his services as a senatorial reporter, he entered Princeton Theological seminary, from which famous institution he was graduated with high standing. After gradnation he was called to the Great Val- ley Presbyterian church of this county, and was ordained and installed as its pastor on August 25, 1859, by the Presbytery of Phila- delphia. He served the church with ef- ficiency and success until 1867, when he was called to the South Presbyterian church of Philadelphia, where his pastorate of twelve years was in every way marked by great success, and daring that time over five hun- dred new communicants were added to the church. In 1880 he became editor of the Presbyterian Journal and resigned the charge of South church; but afterward was earn- estly asked by the members of his old church of Great Valley to return and live among them. He accepted their call, and has served continuously as the pastor of Great Valley church ever since, in connec- tion with his editorial work. On May 8, 1890, under his pastoral supervision and in connection with the one hundred and sev- enty-fifth anniversary of the organization of the church, the present beautiful church .
719
OF CHESTER COUNTY.
structure was dedicated, and the exercises of the occasion were participated in by Gov- ernor Beaver, and many other prominent men from a distance.
On May 9, 1867, Dr. Patterson married Rebecea T. Malin, a daughter of Joseph and Amy Malin, of East Whiteland town- ship, and a descendant of Randal Malin, who came over in the " Welcome" with Willian Penn, and was one of the first En- glish settlers in the Quaker colony. Mrs. Patterson is an amiable and intelligent woman, highly respected and beloved for her good works. In 1875 she accompanied Dr. Patterson in a European tour, and presides with grace and dignity over their home of generous hospitality at Clairmont, a mile north of Malvern. Their circle of friends is very wide in this country and abroad.
Dr. Patterson has held some of the most responsible and prominent positions in his denomination. In 1872 he was one of the four speakers at the great ter-centenary cele- bration in Philadelphia, and three years later was appointed by the Presbyterian general assembly as a delegate to the conference in London, which formed the Pan-Presbyter- ian alliance. In 1880 lie was a member and the official editor of the council of that al- liance which met in Philadelphia, and gave a paper on "Church Extension in Large Cities." In 1884 he was a member of the council at Belfast, Ireland, and read a paper on " Worship." He has served in ten gen- eral assemblies of his church, in each of which he took a prominent part. In 1879 Dr. Patterson was appointed, on account of his ability, one of the committee of seven which prepared and carried through the great measure for the reconstruction of the synods of the church; in 1887, a member .of the committee of conference with the 42
Southern church, on reunion; and in the sanie year was appointed and still remains a member of the committee on church unity and federation. Three years ago (1890) he was moderator of the synod of Pennsylvania. Since 1870 he has been a member of the Presbyterian board of publication and Sab- bath school work; and was also for many years a member of the board of education, and of the Historical society, from which, however, he resigned.
Dr. Patterson is a widely known ecclesi- astical lawyer, and his opinions are sought for from all parts of the land. He has been a voluminous writer, and his weekly edi- torials are copious. He has also been a writer for the Reviews. Among the many tracts and books which he has written are : Paradise, Visions of Heaven, Elijah, the Fa- vored Man; Isaiah and the Higher Critics ; History of Presbyterianism in Philadelphia ; Total Abstinence, and Counsels to Young Converts. He is a tireless worker. On ae- count of his ability and successful work, Princeton college conferred on him the de- gree of D. D., and Lafayette college the degree of LL. D. Robert Mayne Patterson is an able and convincing speaker, and has labored with uniform power and accept- ance in the cause of Presbyterianism and Christianity.
HON. WILLIAM EVANS, an ex-mem- ber of the house of representatives of Pennsylvania, a leading and influential citi- zen of Willistown township, and president of the Farmer's Market Company of Phil- adelphia, is a son of Joshua and Anna M. (Tucker) Evans, and was born January 31. 1831, on the farm on which he now resides, in Willistown township, Chester county,
-
720
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
Pennsylvania. The founder of the Evans family, of which the subject of this sketch is a member, was William Evans, sr., who was born in Wales, in 1681. He and his wife, Eleanor, emigrated in 1711 from Wales to the province of Penn, where they settled in Tredyffrin township, on a tract of five hun- dred acres which Mr. Evans had received by a deed of transfer from William Penn in 1711. William Evans, senior, was a mem- ber of the old St. David's Protestant Epis- copal church, and died in 1734. He left his family in charge of his brother Richard, with a strong injunction that his children be reared in the faith of the Protestant Epis- copal church. His youngest son, Joshua Evans, married and settled on a part of the homestead tract, where he resided for sev- eral years. He afterward built the Paoli hotel, which his son Joshua, who was elected to congress, inherited, and also purchased a farm in Willistown township, where he died in 1817, when in the eighty-fifth year of his age. He reared a family of five children, the eldest of whom, William Ev- ans, inherited the Willistown property, and died in 1843, at seventy-two years of age. William Evans (grandfather) married, and of his children, one was Joshua Evans (father), who was born in 1801. He settled in Willistown township, where he was a farmer and where he died March 26, 1867, aged sixty-six years. He married Anna M. Tucker, a daughter of Thomas Tucker, and died April 23, 1857, when in the forty-sixth year of her age. They had three children : Hon. William, Margaretta and Joshua.
William Evans was reared on the farm where he now resides, received his educa- tion in the public schools and Gause's acad- emy, and has been engaged in farming until the present time. He is a democrat in poli-
ties, was a member and secretary of the township school board for twelve years, served as township auditor six years, was one of the founders and is a director in the Mutual Security Fire Insurance Company of Chester county, and in 1886 was elected as one of the four members of the legisla- ture from Chester county. He served cred- itably in the session of 1887-88, and was a member of committees on accounts, com- parison of bills and ways and means.
On February 14, 1867, Mr. Evans married Lydia Thomas, daughter of Isaac Thomas, of Delaware county. They have three chil- dren, one son and two daughters: William, now engaged in agricultural pursuits, was educated at the State college and Pierce's Business college, Philadelphia; Anna, edu- cated at West Chester Friends' school and Darlington's seminary ; and Aida T., now at Swathmore college.
In his various business enterprises Mr. Evans has been successful. He is one of the founders and at present vice-president of Malvern National bank, and was an active member and president of the late Farmer's Market Company of Philadelphia. He stands high as a man and a citizen, and his popularity in the county was attested in his election, in 1886, to the legislature, when he led the democratic ticket by nearly two thousand votes.
DAVID FINKBINER, an energetic, enterprising and successful business man, who has been engaged in a number of enterprises at Spring City, is the eldest and only surviving son of Jesse Finkbiner, who was also a well-known merchant and busi- ness man of that place for many years. David Finkbiner was born December 16,
721
OF CHESTER COUNTY.
1836, at Spring City, where he lived until about four years of age, when upon the death of his mother, whose maiden name was Hannah Rambo, he became a member of the family of his uncle, Casper S. Francis, in East Vincent township, with whom he remained until his seventeenth year. Here- ceived his early education in the publie schools and afterward took a course at the Trappe boarding school in Montgomery county. Leaving school at the age of sev- enteen he began learning the milling busi- ness, which he followed for about eight years, and then returning to Spring City he formed a partnership with Christian Wag- oner and embarked in general merchandis- ing. One year afterward Mr. Finkbiner traded his interest in the store for a fire brick works, located in the same town, which he successfully operated for a period of twelve years-part of that time in con- nection with partners. IIe was elected to the position of justice of the peace in 1877, and acceptably filled that office for ten years, retiring in 1887. In the spring of 1883 he became a member of the firm of Floyd, Wells & Co., and engaged in the manufacture of stoves at Royer's Ford, Montgomery county, and is a stockhokler in the Royer's Ford National bank. In politics Mr. Finkbiner is a stanch repub- lican, and in addition to his service as jus- tice of the peace has been a member of the school board several terms, and councilman of Spring City two terms. He is a mem- ber of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and takes an active part in supporting the various interests of his denomination. In Masonie circles he is also a prominent fig- ure, being a member of Spring City Lodge, No. 553, Free and Accepted Masons ; Phe- nix Chapter, No. 198, Royal Arch Masons :
and Palestine Council, No. 8, Royal and Select Masters.
On June 15, 1859, Mr. Finkbiner was married to Margaret S. Brownback, who was born March 17, 1840, and is a daughter of Edward Brownback, of East Coventry township. To Mr. and Mrs. Finkbiner was born a family of twelve children, five sons and seven daughters : Ida Kate, born Marel 14, 1860, married Maximilian Keiser, who is postmaster and station agent for the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad at Riverside, Connecticut ; Rosa W., born Jau- uary 10, 1862, died July 5, 1863; Jesse E. B., born September 11, 1863, died Angust 4, 1864; U. S. Grant, born September 22, 1865, married Mary Ann Sleighter, and is now cashier of the National bank at Royer's Ford; Lily Cora, born November 3, 1867, became the wife of Webster Sleighter, a prosperous farmer of East Vincent town- ship; David Walton, born June 22, 1869, died December 15, 1874; Clara V., born March 31. 1871, died February 4, 1873; Oliver B., born March 27, 1873, and now living at home with his parents; Minnie Elsie, born March 19, 1875, died October 13, 1876: Sadie Elma, born March 31, 1877, and now living at home; Edith Lanra, born September 25, 1878, who died April 27, 1880 ; and Edwin Earl, born March 15, 1882, who is also at home with his parents.
Jesse Finkbiner, father of the subject of this sketch, was born October 25, 1811, in East Vincent township, this county, and died at Spring City May 25, 1887, in his seventy-sixth year. He. was a merchant and farmer, owning a fine farm adjoining the borough of Spring City, and consider- able real estate inside the borough limits. In early life he engaged in the mercantile . business at that place, his special lines being
722
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
dry goods and groceries, which he success- fully conducted for a number of years. Po- litically he was a whig and republican, held a number of offices in the borough of Spring City, and for many years was active in sup- port of his party. He had a good common school education, became influential in the community, and for a number of years was a leading member of the Evangelical Luth- eran church of Spring City. In 1835 he married Hannah Rambo, a daughter of Eli Rambo, of Montgomery county, who died in 1843, leaving four children : Mary Ann, who married D. S. Taylor and is now de- ceased; David, whose name heads this sketch; Margaret, who became the wife of Levi Shengil, a grocer and provision dealer in Philadelphia; aud Andora, who died in childhood.
W ILLIAM W. DAVIS, a prosperous
and prominent farmer, residing in Tredyffrin, who has served as justice of the peace for many years, and ranks among the most respected citizens of Chester county, is the eldest son and only surviving child of John M. and Anna M. (Walley) Davis, and is a native of Tredyffrin township, this county, where he was born November 19, 1828. The Davis family trace their transatlantic ori- gin to Wales, and their American ancestry back to Llewellyn Davis (or David, as the name was then spelled), who was born in Wales but emigrated to America while yet a young man, and in 1705 purchased two hundred and five acres of land in Easttown, Chester county, and on October 16, 1708, bought an additional tract of three hundred acres of Lewis Walker, in Valleyton (now Tredyffrin) township, where he finally set- tled. On November 14, 1709, he married Bridget Jones, by whom he had four chil-
dren : Elizabeth, Isaac, Sarah and Llewel- lyn. He died in Tredyffrin township, and his widow afterward married James David. Isaac Davis ( great-grandfather ) married Elizabeth Bartholomew, May 30, 1738, and buying the interests of the other heirs, set- tled on the old homestead, where he died in 1778. He was a justice of the peace and an active and useful citizen. His children were: Benjamin, Mary (married John Mor- gan), Thomas, John, Sarah (married Daniel Wilson), Elizabeth (wedded Maj. Ezekiel Howell), and Joseph, a physician. His widow survived him one year, dying in July, 1779, and the estate was divided between their sons Benjamin, Thomas and John. John Davis (grandfather) was born in Tredyffrin township, where he grew to manhood and married Ann Morton, a daughter of John Morton, a signer of the Declaration of In- dependence. To them was born a family of seven children: Isaac, John Morton, Mary, Charles Justis, Ann, Benjamin and Albert. He entered the Continental army in 1776, as captain of a company he had raised, and on October 21, 1780, was com- missioned a captain in the regular Penn- sylvania line, serving as such until the close of hostilities, January, 1782, after which he became a member of the Society of the Cin- cinnati. During the war he participated in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Pa- oli, Stony Point and Yorktown, and served with General Wayne in South Carolina and Georgia. In April, 1800, he was appointed brigadier-general of the first brigade of Ches- ter and Delaware county militia, and on March 31, 1803, was commissioned associate justice of Chester county, a position he filled until disabled by the increasing infirmities of age. He died at his home in this county in 1827.
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.