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 88
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On August 24, 1882, Professor Smith was united in marriage with Anna Koons, who
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ยท
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
was a daughter of Jacob and Catharine Koons, of Port Royal, this State, and died February 13, 1890, leaving three children : Bessie, Earl and Myra.
In educational matters John H. Smith has identified himself with the popular progress of the age, and while not ostentatious or laboring for show, yet his work at Chester Springs is of such a high character as to stamp him as an earnest and successful edu- cator.
M ILLARD F. HAMILL, cashier of the Parkesburg National bank, at Parkes- burg, and a rising young business man of reputation and ability, is a son of Robert and Eliza ( Baldwin ) Hamill, and was born in Highland township, Chester county, Penn- sylvania, September 26, 1850. The Hlamills are of Scotch-Irish ancestry, this branch being planted in America by Robert Hamill, great-grandfather, a native of north Ireland, who left the Emerald Isle about 1750, to seek a home in the United States. Soon after landing in this country he settled in whatis now Highland township, this county. He was a farmer by occupation, and died at his home in that township about 1803, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. His grandson, Robert Hamill (father), was born on the farm in Highland township during the initial year of this century, and died in 1876, after a busy life of seventy-five years. He spent all his active life in agricultural pursuits and became quite prosperous, own- ing a considerable quantity of land in High- land township. He was for many years a prominent member of Fagg's Manor Pres- byterian church, a republican in politics, and served a number of ternis as justice of the peace. He had a fair knowledge of the law and a fine sense of justice, and his de-
cisions were seldom, if ever, reversed. He was a man of sound judgment, whose ad- vice was frequently sought by neighbors and friends. He married Eliza Baldwin, by whom he had eight children. She was a native of Highland township, of German descent, and belonged to one of the old families of this county. She died in 1885, aged seventy-one years, greatly esteemed by all her neighbors.
Millard F. Hamill was reared principally on his father's farm, receiving his education at the academy in Cochranville and the old Parkesburg academy. Leaving school and the farm at the age of nineteen, he engaged in clerking and was thus employed in differ- ent mercantile establishments until 1872, when he accepted a position as clerk in the private banking house of Parke, Smith & Co., at Parkesburg. In 1883 he became cashier of this institution (it having in the meantime been made a National bank), and has occupied that responsible position ever since. He is a man of fine business quali- fications, an accurate accountant, and stands among the foremost young business men of this section, having already won the entire confidence of his associates and met with a flattering degree of success in life.
- In October, 1878, Mr. Hamill was united in marriage to Eva Walton, a daughter of Joseph Walton, of Cochranville, this county. To their union has been born a family of two children, one son and a daughter : Mabel E. and A. Carroll.
In his political affiliations Mr. Hamill is republican, but has never taken an active part in politics. He is a member of the Upper Octoraro Presbyterian church, and of Keystone Lodge, No. 569, Free and Ac- vepted Masons, of Parkesburg. In addi- tion to his other duties he is now serving as
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
treasurer of the Parkesburg Water Com- pany, and is also treasurer of the borough of Parkesburg.
CAPT. ALEXANDER H. INGRAM,
who has had an extended army expe- rience and is now a highly respected and useful citizen of Oxford, is the sixth child and second son of Richard and Anna (Irwin) Ingram, and was born in County Donegal, province of Ulster, Ireland, November 1, 1841. Richard Ingram (father) was a native of the same county, but leaving the Emer- ald Isle in 1856, he emigrated to America and settled at Oxford, Chester county, Penn- sylvania, where he died in April, 1887, at the advanced age of seventy-six years. He was a farmer all his life, a republican in politics, and in religion a strict member of the Presbyterian church. In 1828 he mar- ried Anna Irwin, also a native of Ireland, by whom he had two sons and five daugh- ters, all born in Ireland: Ellen, deceased ; Elizabeth, married Richard Scott, and now resides in the city of Philadelphia ; Thomas, a resident of Parkersburg, West Virgina, and employed as an engineer on the Ohio River railroad; Jane, married Thomas Set- tle, a dyer by ocenpation, living at Frank- ford, Philadelphia county ; Mary, married Charles Adams, a gardener residing in the city of Philadelphia; Alexander H., the subject of this sketch; and Margaret, de- ceased. Four of these children -Elizabeth, Alexander HI., Thomas and Jane -preceded their parents to this country, and Mary came in 1856.
Capt. Alexander II. Ingram was reared principally in Ireland and received his edu- cation in the schoois of that country. After coming to this county he worked on a farm
for six months, and then went to Philadel- phia, where he secured a position in the office of C. Gillou, and remained some eighteen months. He afterward worked for a time on a farm in Sussex county, Delaware, and then returned to Philadelphia, where he re- mained only a short time before coming to Oxford, this county. There he learned the painting trade with William M. Smith, and followed that occupation continuously until 1857, when he enlisted in the United States army, and the following year took in the Mor- mon war. He served during the entire civil war, being a member at that time of Co. D, 3d United States infantry, and participated in the battle of Ft. Craig, New Mexico, and in the siege of Port Hudson, and also the siege and capture of Mobile. Near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he was captured by the Confederates, and spent ten months in the military prisons of Cohoba, Alabama, and Andersonville, Savannah and Millen, Geor- gia. While a prisoner of war he escaped three times, but was as often recaptured. After the civil war closed he accompanied General Merritt's command into western Texas, marching from Shrevesport, Louis- iana, to San Antonio, Texas, as one of the army of observation, watching the move- ments of Maximilian, who was endeavor- ing to found a Mexican empire.
After the close of his army service Cap- tain Ingram returned to Oxford, this county, and once more engaged in the painting busi- ness, working one year for William M. Smith, and then setting up for himself. Ile conducted this business until 1880, owning a neat paint and wall-paper store, and then moved to his farm one mile and a half from Oxford. He has had charge of painting for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company since 1880.
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BIOGRAPHIY AND HISTORY
In politics Captain Ingram is a republican, and in religious faith a Presbyterian, being a member of the First Presbyterian church of Oxford. He is also a member of Oxford Lodge, No. 353, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is past master and chairman of its board of trustees; Oxford Chapter, No. 223, Royal Arch Masons, of which he is past high priest and treasurer; and of Thompson Post, No. 132, Grand Army of the Republic, being now (1893) its post com- mander. On December 6, 1866, Captain Ingram was united in marriage with Anna Clark, who was a daughter of James Clark, of Lower Oxford township, and a native of this county.
JOSEPH M. FRONEFIELD, a pros-
perous farmer and stock dealer residing near Sugartown, this county, who has spent many years in the milling business and is now connected with the Phoenixville Fire Insurance company as collecting agent and appraiser, is the second son of George D. and Rebecca M. (Sharpley) Fronefield, and was born March 6, 1831, in Lower Provi- dence township, Montgomery county, Penn- sylvania. The family is of German descent, its first representative in America being Henry Fronefield (great-grandfather), who was a native of Frauenfeld, a town of Switz- erland, capital of the canton of Thingau, which was settled in the tenth century. He emigrated to this country in early colonial times and settled in Skippack township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. The name was originally spelled Frauenfekt, from the town of Frauenfeld, but was changed to the present spelling many years ago. Henry Fronefield was a farmer by occupation and purchased land in Skippack
township about 1775, where he passed the remainder of his life and died. His remains lie entombed in the cemetery connected with St. James Episcopal church in Lower Provi- dence, Montgomery county. Among his sons was John Fronefield (grandfather), who was born in Skippack township, that county, and spent most of his life there. Iu 1847 he removed to Schuylkill township, Chester county, where he died in February, 1853, in the eighty-third year of his age. In early life he learned the trade of gunsmith and combined that with farming as a life ocen- pation. Many specimens of his handiwork in fire arms are yet in existence. He was a member of the Episcopal church, served as vestryman and trustee for many years, and was always active in behalf of church interests and religious enterprises of all kinds. Politically he was a Jacksonian demo- crat, and ardent in his support of democratic principles. He married Edith Wolmer, a sister of David Wolmer, first cashier of the Montgomery County National bank, and to them was born a family of four children : Jacob, a blacksmith ; Jesse, who became a carpenter; George, father of Joseph M .; and Joseph, also a carpenter, all of whom are now deceased. George Fronefield (father) was a native of Lower Providence township, Montgomery county, where he was born in 1805. In early manhood he learned the trade of carpenter and worked at that business in connection with farming for a number of years. In 1845 he removed to near Phoenixville, Chester county. In 1857 he located in Lower Providence town- ship, Montgomery county, where he re- mained until 1863, when he removed to Schuylkill township, this county. Here he was engaged in farming up to 1866, when he went to Hickorytown, Montgomery
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
county, and conducted the Hickorytown ho- tel for a period of three years. In 1869 he removed to Norristown, where he became warden of the State prison and retained that place until his election by the board of directors as steward of the Montgomery county almshouse. In the latter position he remained for eight years. He died at Nor- ristown in 1884, in the eightieth year of his age. Politically he was a stanel demo- erat with radical views, and was for many years active and influential in the local conn- eils of his party. He was near death's door when the election of 1884 occurred, and thinking to please him his son, Joseph M., at once informed him of Cleveland's election. He replied, " It is little difference who is elected-the people will not let the govern- ment go far astray." Like his father, he was an Episcopaliau, and at the time of his death was serving as a member of the vestry and trustee of his church. In 1827 he mar- ried Rebecca M. Sharpley, a daughter of Joseph Sharpley, of Montgomery county, To them was born a family of ten children, tive sons and five daughters : David W., now a resident of Lower Providence township, Montgomery county ; Joseph M., the sub- jeet of this sketch ; John, deceased ; George, also dead ; Jesse, a miller of Reading, but residing at Norristown; Eliza, now dead; Hannah, who died in 1850; Samantha, who married George Kerper ; Rebceca, deceased ; and Clara M., now the widow of Frank Conrad.
Joseph M. Fronefield was reared partly in Montgoniery and partly in Chestercounty, and obtained his education in the publie schools. In 1849 he left home and learned the milling business at Birdsborough, Berks county. He was employed one year in the mills at Perkiomen near Collegeville, Mont-
gomery county, and for a like period at Beaver's mill near Howellville, Chester county, after which he took charge of the mill at Valley Forge for Mr. Beaver, who had rented it from the owners, He re- mained for a year and a half in Mr. Beaver's employ, and at the end of that time, in 1853, purchased the contents of the mill and operated it on his own account until the spring of 1859, when he disposed of the property and removed to Snyder's mills, two miles west of Phoenixville, which he man- aged for a period of eight years. He then removed to the Davis mill, two miles south of Phoenixville, and after operating it for four years, purchased the mill near Howell- ville and conducted a general milling busi- ness there for three years. In 1874 he sold the mill to Harrison Reannard, county commissioner, and removed to Phenixville, where he engaged in the cattle trade for five or six years. In 1879 he purchased the farm on which he now resides in Willistown township, and has since been engaged in farming and stock dealing. The property consists of one hundred and twenty-eight acres of fine land, splendidly improved and supplied with all necessary farm buildings, including a handsome residence and com- modious barns and stables.
In political faith Mr. Fronefield follows the traditions of his ancestors, and has al- ways been a stanch demoerat. He was elected and served two terms as justice of the peace in East Pikeland township, this county, and also served as school director in that township during the civil war. In 1885 he became a director in the Fire Insurance company of Phonixville, and held that po- sition continuously until 1890. Ile is now serving as collecting agent and appraiser for that organization. In religion he is a
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
Baptist, and all his family are members of that church.
Ou December 31, 1857, Joseph M. Frone- field was married to Eliza A. Rogers, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Rogers, of Willistown township, this county. By this marriage he had a family of four children, all of whom are still living. The eldest is Dr. Harvey Fronefield, now in successful practice at Media, Delaware county. He graduated from the high school at Phoenix- ville, afterward attended Professor Locke's select school at Norristown, and later took a course in chemistry at the Ann Arbor university of Michigan. For the next three years he was engaged in teaching, and then entered the medical department of the uni- versity of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in the class of 1883. Ile married Fannie N. Pyle, a daughter of William II. and Anna T. Pyle, of West Chester, and now resides at Media. The second son, Joseph M., named for his father, was also educated at the Phoenixville High school, graduating in 1878, after which he learned the drug business with S. K. Hammond at West Chester, and in 1882 graduated from the "Philadelphia college of Pharmacy."
He married Lizzie M. Pugh, daughter of Edward H. and Elizabeth P. Pugh, of Rad- nor, Delaware county, and now resides at Wayne, Delaware county, where he owns and conducts a large drug store. The third son, W. Roger, married Philena M. Lewis, and lives at Media, where he is engaged in the practice of law. He was educated at the Phoenixville High school and West Chester Normal school, and in 1885 was graduated from the law department of the Pennsyl- vania university, and immediately located at Media, Delaware county, for the practice of his profession. The fourth and youngest
child is a daughter named Lelia M., who is now attending the State Normal school at West Chester.
The mother of these children, Mrs. Eliza A. Fronefield, died April 28, 1892, aged fifty-nine years. She was educated at Pro- fessor Price's private school in West Ches- ter and Jonathan Gause's institute near Marshallton. She taught for a number of years in Willistown, Schuylkill and Goshen townships. Her remains rest in Oakland cemetery, near West Chester.
The maternal grandfather of Joseph M. Fronefield, Joseph Sharpley, was a resident of New England, but eame to Lower Me- rion township, Montgomery county, in 1820, and lived there until his death in 1850, when he had attained the advanced age of sixty-five years. He was a paper manufac- turer all his life, a Jacksonian democrat in politics, and a Universalist in religious be- lief. His first wife was Elizabeth Mellan, by whom he had four children : Isaac, Wil- liam, Samnel and Rebecca. After the death of Mrs. Sharpley, he married Ann Haley, and to this second marriage was also born four children : Deborah, John, Daniel and Joseph. Mrs. Ann Sharpley died in 1853, and the remains of both rest quietly in the cemetery of the Bryn Mawr Baptist church.
JONATHAN GAUSE, who adorned and elevated the profession of teaching, in which he was successfully engaged for fifty- eight years, was the third son of William and Mary Gause, and was born'October 23, 1786, in East Marlborough township, Ches- ter county, Pennsylvania. In boyhood he was accidentally crippled, and being thus disabled for active work, he sought to pre- pare himself for teaching. He received his
Hen.
Q. Smith Talbot.
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
education principally under the celebrated Enoch Lewis, and in 1807 entered upon his remarkable career of teaching. He was principal of some of the leading academies and boarding schools of the county, and im- pressed a lasting influence for good upon hundreds of the most intelligent young men and women of Chester county. He married Eliza A. Bailey, daughter of Dr. Abraham Bailey, of West Bradford township, and died April 9, 1873, aged eighty-seven years. He was a born educator, and "this county never had a teacher whose love and sym- pathy for his scholars was so great and perfect."
ON. D. SMITH TALBOT, a promi- nent lawyer of West Chester, and a member of the house of representatives of Pennsylvania, is one whose integrity, tal- ents and public services have made him emi- nent in civil affairs. He is the eldest son of Caleb, P. and Elizabeth (Buchanan) Tal- bot, and was born in Honeybrook township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1841. He was reared on the farm, received his education in the public schools. Morgan- town, Waynesburg and Parkesburg acad- emies, and then engaged in teaching, which he followed successfylly for eight years in the public schools. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. C, 42d Pennsylvania infan- try, and served as a private until he was honorably discharged from the Federal ser- vice at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Return- ing from the army, he read law in West C'hes- ter, and was admitted to the bar of Chester county April 16, 1870. He was afterward admitted to the bar of Delaware. Mifflin, Schuylkill and Philadelphia counties, and has practiced successfully ever since at West Chester and in adjoining counties.
On May 25, 1876, Mr. Talbot was united in marriage with Rebecca Wills, of West Chester, a daughter of Dr. Andrew Wills. Mr. Talbot is a stanch republican in poli- ties and a member of the Holy Trinity Prot- estant Episcopal church of West Chester. He was also superintendent of the Sabbath school for ten years. He is a member of General MeCall Post, No. 31, Grand Army of the Republic; Pocahontas Lodge, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows: Kenawa Lodge, Junior Order of United American Mechanics; and Washington Camp, Patri- otie Order Sons of America.
The active political career of Mr. Talbot commenced in 1885, when he was elected senatorial delegate to the State convention to nominate a State treasurer. In 1887 he was elected borough solicitor for the bor- ough of West Chester, and was elected as a member of the house of representatives of Pennsylvania in 1888. Ilis services in the house were so satisfactory to his party and his constituents that in 1890 he was re- elected, and while serving his second term was nominated as State senator to fill out the unexpired term of Senator A. D. Har- lan, who resigned in 1891, but he was de- feated by a small majority, on account of the general indifference of the party, be- cause the election was but a formal matter, the incumbent being called upon to per- form no publie duties, as the senate would not be in session until another election would take place. In 1892 he received his fourth nomination at the hands of the Re- publican party in Chester county for mem- ber of the house of representatives of Penn- sylvania, to which honorable body he was elected at the November election. His legis- lative record shows his disinterested course of publie action in behalf of his constitu-
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
ents, irrespective of party. His successive and consecutive elections are evidence of his strength with his party, and his continued popularity with the people. Mr. Talbot took an active part in legislation from his en- trance in the halls of the legislature, and was placed upon some of the most important committees in the house. In the sessions of 1891 and 1893 he was made chairman of the committee on elections. In the latter session a number of contested claims for seats were made, which Mr. Talbot con- ducted with great ability and fairness. One who knows him well, says: "His party has always received active and effective service at his hands, in every campaign, both upon the stump and by the pen, since he attained his majority."
. The first mention of the Talbot family in Chester county was in 1718, when Jolin Talbot purchased land in Middletown town- ship, where he died three years later. His son, Benjamin Talbot, married Elizabeth Ball in 1734, and their grandson, Benjamin Perry Talbot (grandfather), was a native of Chester county, and died in Honeybrook township. Benjamin P. Talbot was a farmer and an Episcopalian, and served as justice of the peace for many years. He married and reared a family of six children : Wil- liam ; Ruth Ann, wife of Jacob Bruner; Mary, who married Robert Rattem; Caleb P., father of Hon. D. Smith Talbot; Ann, who married George Bailey, and after his death wedded William Rogers; and Eliza, who married John Hughes. Caleb P. Tal- bot (father) was born November 19, 1791, and died on his farm in Honeybrook towul- ship, September 19, 1870, when well ad- vanced in the seventy-ninth year of his age. He was a whig and republican in politics, had held several township offices, and al-
ways took an active part in political affairs. Mr. Talbot was one of the founders of St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal church, Honey- brook township, in which he served as ves- tryman for half a century. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and was twice married. For his first wife. he married Eliza Jones, who died and left four children : John J., Reese H., of Baxter Springs, Kan- sas; Sergeant Benjamin P., who served in the 2d Minnesota infantry and was killed at Missionary Ridge, November 23, 1863; and Elizabeth, wife of Jesse H. Layton. For his second wife Caleb P. Talbot mar- ried Elizabeth Buchanan, who is a daughter of John Buchanan. By the last marriage he had eight children: Hon. D. Smith ; Corporal James B. of the 175th Pennsyl- vania infantry, who died with fever at New Berne, North Carolina, in 1863; Jacob B., of Warwick township, who served in the 97th Pennsylvania infantry from 1861 to 1865; C. Morgan, who lives on the old homestead ; C. Wesley, a lawyer; Franklin L., engaged in farming and teaching; Jo- seph, now in the mercantile business; War- ren, a lawyer of Philadelphia; and Dr. Ashton B., a practicing physician of the Quaker City.
WINFIELD SCOTT WILSON, pres-
ident of the Philadelphia, German- town & Norristown Railroad Company, is a fine example of the successful business men who have done so much toward placing Chester county in the proud position she occupies in the old Commonwealth. He is the youngest son of David and Eliza (Siter) Wilson, and a native of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, where he was born October 3, 1825. His paternal great-grandfather,
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
John Wilson, was a farmer who passed nearly or quite all his life in this county, where died at an advanced age. Among his children was David Wilson (grandfather), who was born in Tredyffrin township -in the eastern part of Chester valley-and lived there all his life, principally engaged in agriculture. In that pursuit he was very successful, and at the time of his death owned two hundred acres of very valuable land. He died in his native township dur- ing the summer of 1828, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Ilis wife was Sarah Davis, by whom he had a family of six children, two sons and four daughters : Elizabeth, Anna, Mary, Sarah, who married Joseph Caskey; John and David-all now deceased.
David Wilson (father) was also a native of Tredyffrin township, where he was born March 23, 1791. In 1817 he removed to Delaware county, where he resided until 1829, when he returned to his native place, and died in the old mansion now ocenpied by his son, the subject of this sketch. in March, 1873, aged eighty-two years. He was an extensive farmer, and for many years a prominent live stock dealer of this seetion. Among his possessions were two tine farms, one of a hundred and one acres, now owned and occupied by Winfield S. Wilson, and the other containing one hun- dred and twenty-six acres, situated in Tredy- ffrin township, on which the widow of John M. Wilson now resides. He was also a stock- holder and director in the National bank of Norristown, and a director of the Chester Valley railroad, being eminently successful in business. In early life he was a whig. but after the organization of the Republican party he joined its ranks. though he never took an active part in political contests. In
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