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 93
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FRANK B. LUDWICK, a resident of Downingtown and the proprietor of the Dorlan paper mill, is one of the self- made and thoroughgoing young business men of the county. He is a son of Samuel and Mary (Benner) Ludwick, and was born in East Caln township, Chester county, Penn- sylvania, October 16, 1861. He received his education at Downingtown academy, then under charge of the celebrated Prof. Dun- leavy Long, and at twenty-one years com- meneed life for himself as a cattle dealer, which business he followed until 1889. In that year he purchased the paper mill of S. B. Dorlan, at Dorlan station, four miles north of Downingtown on the East Brandy- wine & Waynesburg railroad, and success- fully manufactured a good article of hanging paper until 1892, when he enlarged and re- modeled his mill and equipped it with bind- er's board machinery. Although just com-
mencing in the manufacture of binder's board, yet the article that he is producing has met with the unqualified approval of experienced binders. His orders are in- creasing from day to day, and his patronage promises to be large and remunerative. Mr. Ludwick is a democrat in politics. He is a thoroughgoing business man, who care- fully studies the details of any enterprise in which he embarks, and allows nothing how- ever small, connected with its operation or management, to escape his attention. Suc- cess has attended him in his various enter- prises and his present field of labor prom- ises to be one of prosperity in the future.
The Ludwick family has been resident of Montgomery county for over a century, and Michael Ludwick, the grandfather of Frank B. Ludwick, was a life-long resident of Pottstown, that county, where he followed his trade of blacksmith. He was a member of the Episcopal church, and had five chil- dren : Charles S., Samuel, Harlan, Mary Dowlin and Sallie Vance. Samuel Ludwick (father) was born in 1818, and after follow- ing the occupation of drover for some years, came to Dorlan station, in East Caln town- ship, where he still continues to reside. He follows droving and farming to some extent yet. He is a republican and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Samuel Ludwick married Mary Benner, and to their union were born two sons and seven daughters: John, a farmer of Uwchlan township, who married Rebecca Gilbert ; Ann, wife of John Rogers, a merchant of Downingtown; Emma, widow of George Lewis, a farmer of West Brandywine town- ship, who died in 1888: Hannah, married Llewellyn Baldwin, and they are both dead ; Clara Rigg, Thomazine, Allawilda, Frank B. and Laura. Mrs. Mary Ludwick is a
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daughter of Jonathan and Jennet (IIimes) Benner, who had three children: Hannah Evans, who died in 1886; Anna Chrisman, and Mrs. Mary Ludwick. Jonathan Benner was a son of Jacob and Anna (Hughes) Ben- ner, who were residents of Nantmeal town- ship. Jacob Benner was married three times and had twenty-one children. His first wife, Anna Hughes, died and left seven children, among whom were Jonathan, David, Jacob, Mary and Ann. After her death he married Ellen Smith, and to them were born four children : Philip, Nathan, Levi and Daniel. His second wife died and he wedded Mary McClain, and by his third marriage had ten children : John, Ezekiel, Jehu, Ella, Jane, Margaret, Anna, Ellen, Elihu and one other.
DAVID DETWILER, a leading and useful member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and an energetic and intelli- gent citizen of Tredyffrin township, is a son of Henry and Catharine (Latshaw) Det- wiler, and was born in Tredyffrin township, in the great Chester valley of Chester county, Pennsylvania, August 22, 1846. He was reared on the farm, received a good busi- ness education, and then engaged in farm- ing, which has been his occupation up to the present time. From 1872 to 1882 he dealt largely in stock. He now owns two good farms, his home farm of one hundred and twenty-eight acres of land and an adjoining farm of ninety-six aeres. A republican in politics, he has served his township as su- pervisor for two years, auditor for six years, and as school director for twelve years. He united some years ago with Salem Metho- dist Episcopal church, in which he has been a steward and trustee, and is an exhorter
and superintendent of the Sunday school. IIe has been active and useful in all the political, civil and religious affairs of his community.
On February 22, 1871, Mr. Detwiler mar- ried Anna May Wersler, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Beaver) Wersler, of Tredy- ffrin township. To Mr. and Mrs. Detwiler have been born eight children : George A., Elsie M., Franklin L., Walter D., Lizzie L., Hattie M., Mary L. and Sallie E., the three elder being now members of church.
David Detwiler is a grandson of Jacob Detwiler, a native of Germany, who came in 1765 or 1770 to near Howellville, where he purchased a large tract of land, which is still known as the "Detwiler Property." He was a farmer, a whig and abolitionist, and died in 1840, at eighty-seven years of age. He was an enthusiastic member and a useful trustee of the Mennonite church. His wife died in 1862, aged ninety years. They had four children, all of whom are dead : Jacob, Sallie Kolb, Henry, and Mary Wismor. Henry Detwiler (father) was born in 1793, near Howellville, where he resided un- til his marriage, after which he removed to Yellow Springs, in East Pikeland township, but soon returned to Howellville. He left the latter place a second time (1832) and settled in the western part of Tredyffrin township, where he died August 1, 1874, aged eighty years. Ile was an extensive farmer, owning and managing three farms in the last named township. He was a re- publican, and had served as school director and held several other township offices. He was a member, trustee and sacramental steward of the Mennonite church, and a true Christian. Mr. Detwiler married Catharine Latshaw, who was born in 1800, and died in 1879, aged seventy-nine years. She was a
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
true Christian all her life. Their children were: Jacob, a farmer of Pughtown ; Cath- arine Instand, now dead ; Isaac, a farmer of Charlestown township; John, who owns two farms in Virginia and two in Chester county ; Elizabeth Funk, of East Vincent township; Mary Funk ; Henry, dead; Sarah Jacobs; Abraham, a farmer of East Pike- land township; Anna, dead : Susan Jacobs ; and David, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Catharine Detwiler was a daughter of Jacob Latshaw (maternal grandfather), who was born in Germany, and came to East Vincent township, this county, where he resided until his death.
CAPT. GEORGE C. M. EICHOLTZ,
examiner in the United States apprais- er's office at Philadelphia, is a veteran of the eivil war and a man of naturally fine mind, whose powers have been carefully trained and cultivated. He is the youngest son of Henry and Elizabeth (Armstrong) Eicholtz, and was born in the city of Lancaster, Penn- sylvania, January 3, 1835. The family is of German origin, its first representative in America, being John J. Eicholtz-formerly spelled Eichholtz-a native of Germany, who emigrated to the United States about 1737, and located in Lancaster, Lancaster county, this State, where he died at an advanced age. His son, Leonard Eicholtz (grandfather), was born in Lancaster city, where he lived all his life, and died in 1818, at the age of six- ty-six years. He was a leading hotel keeper in Lancaster for many years and a promi- nent member and vestryman of the Inth- eran church of the Holy Trinity in that city. He married Catharine Meyer, of the city of Baltimore, by whom he had a fam- ily of eight children, who lived to maturity :
Henry, Jacob, Charles, Leonard, George, John, Catharine and Elizabeth. Jacob Eicholtz became a noted artist, and pic- tures from his brush were recently exhibited in the art galleries of Philadelphia. Henry Eicholtz (father) was also a native of Lan- caster city, born July 26, 1785. He died at Downingtown, Chestercounty, April 1, 1871, at the age of eighty-six years. In politics he was a democrat, and in religion a strict member of the Lutheran church, which he served for many years in the capacity of vestryman. On May 1, 1823, he married Elizabeth Armstrong, and to them was born a family of seven children : Georgeana. Elizabeth C., Leonard H., Mary P., James A., who enlisted in August, 1862, and served nine months as captain of Co. F, 124th Pennsylvania infantry, after which he en- listed for three months, and died April 28, 1888: Capt. George C. M., the subject of this sketch, and Cecelia.
Capt. George C. M. Eicholtz received his education at private schools and the acad- emy of Prof. William H. Wires, at New London, this county. After leaving school he went to Philadelphia and obtained a sit- uation with Conrad & Roberts, importers of hardware, where he remained nearly four years, becoming familiar with every detail of the business. Leaving Philadelphia he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as agent at Downing- town, and occupied that position until the breaking out of the civil war. August 19. 1861, he enlisted in Co. B, 53d Pennsylvania infantry, as a private, but was promoted to first lieutenant before leaving Harrisburg. Some time later he was commissioned cap- tain, and served as such until his discharge in September, 1863, on account of injuries received in the service. He participated in
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
the siege of Yorktown during MeClellan's peninsular campaign, and the battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, second Bull Run, Antietam and Fredericksburg, beside a nuni- ber of skirmishes. At the battle of Fair Oaks, March 31, 1862, he was wounded in the hand, and in the wild struggle at Fredericks- burg, December 13th of the same year, was so severely injured in the right ankle as to be unfit for further duty, and was conse- quently discharged. He then returned to Chester county, and in the fall of 1863 was nominated and elected to the position of register of wills for the county of Chester for a period of three years. After the ex- piration of his term of office he returned to Downingtown and embarked in general merchandizing, which business he success- fully conducted until 1876, when he was ap- pointed to a position in the United States appraiser's office at Philadelphia, in which he is now serving as examiner.
Captain Eicholtz is an ardent republican in polities, and a member of Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock Post, No. 255, Grand Army of the Republic, having been its first com- mander. In the various walks of life Cap- tain- Eicholtz has maintained a high char- aeter for honesty, integrity and uprightness, and his superior ability is everywhere con- ceded. He is affable and courteous in man- ner, and popular wherever known.
r AVIS KNAUER, of Saint Peters, this county, enjoys the distinction of being the largest granite paving block producer in the State of Pennsylvania, beside having large businesss comiections in other lines of trade. This gentleman, who is the embod- iment of energy and business enterprise, and has won a wide reputation, not only in
his own State but in other parts of America, is the only surviving son of David and Cath- arine (Keim) Knauer. He was born Janu- ary 25, 1826, at Knauertown, Warwick town- ship, Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he was reared and received such education as could be obtained in the public schools. He inherited an aptitude for business, and when sixteen years of age he built a small shop and made a carriage complete, for the use of which he was paid three dollars by a young neighbor who had just got married and wanted the finest carriage in the coun- try in which to make his bridal trip. At eighteen he embarked in the lumber trade, purchasing land at Knaurtown on which he erected a saw mill and large stone house, and has been more or less connected with the lumber business all his life. In 1841 he invented the common cider mill, which grinds apples between cylinders, and which is now in use all over the globe. For a num- ber of years he made from five to six thous- and barrels of cider annually, and still has a fine eider mill which runs by water power. In 1868 he built the present forge at St. Peter's falls, and in 1872 erected the forge at Douglasville at a cost of more than thir- teen thousand dollars. In the same year he purchased seventeen hundred acres of tim- ber land of the Warwick estate, paying therefor the sum of thirty thousand dollars. In 1888 he engaged in quarrying granite bloeks for use in paving the streets of large towns and cities, and now owns eight hun- dred acres of granite quarry land. Like his other enterprises this business has proved successful under his management, and lie now employs one hundred and fifty quarry- men. He now owns and operates what is perhaps the largest granite quarry in the State of Pennsylvania, having an annual out-
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OF CHIESTER COUNTY.
put of one million paving blocks worth sixty dollars per thousand. During the last year he has paid out more than sixty thous- and dollars for making paving blocks, burn- charcoal and purchasing supplies. Hle owns some three thousand acres of land, seven- teen hundred of which lie in the vicinity of Douglasville, Berks county ; four hundred aeres at Hopewell, Chester county ; one hun- dred and fifty in St. Mary's, this county ; five hundred in Coventry township; four hundred near the falls of French creek, this county ; five hundred acres of iron ore land in West Virginia, and five hundred acres of timber land in the State of Washington. These lands are among the most valuable in the United States, and taken with Mr. Knauer's numerous manufacturing enter- prises, extending their ramifications into various parts of Chester and adjoining coun- ties, form an imposing monument to the ability, enterprise and remarkable success which distinguishes this brilliant man of affairs. In his political affiliations Mr. Knaner is a stanch republican, though too much engrossed in business to take an active part in the politics of the State.
In his domestic relations Mr. Knauer has been as happy as he has been successful in business life. On December 17, 1857, he married Sarah Amanda Roberts, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Roberts, of War- wick township, this county. To their union was born a family of twelve children, only eight of whom-two sons and six dangh- ters-are now living: Ida, married Jacob Brown, a prosperous farmer of West Nant- meal township; Anna, living at home with her parents; Mary, now the wife of Horace Latshaw, a farmer residing near Spring City, in East Vincent township ; David, who wed- ded Essie Halderman, and is now engaged
in the coal business at St. Peter's ; Maurice, living with his parents, and employed in the management of a large saw mill; Bertha, Bessie and Ella, residing with their parents.
The Knauers are of direct German de- scent, the paternal great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, Jacob Knaur, having been born in the Fatherland, which he left to seek a new home in the western world during our colonial period. After reach- ing America he came to Chester county and settled in Warwick township, where he became a large land owner, securing five hundred acres from the original Penn grant. He was a hotel keeper, and also built and operated the first mill at what is now known as Knauertown. This mill was erected be- tween 1780 and 1790, but has since been remodeled and enlarged, and is now owned by John Loch. Jacob Knaur was the father of two sons, Jacob and John, the former of whom inherited the hotel and property known as "Pig's Eye," and the latter the mill and the lands connected with it. John Knaur (grandfather) was a native of Chester county, born in Warwick township about 1720, and lived all his life in this county, dying in 1800, at the age of four score years. He followed the occupation of miller for many years, and was also engaged in farm- ing to some extent. Ile was very success- ful in business and became well known and prominent in this community, and it was he who founded the little hamlet of Knauer- town, which was so named in his honor. In politics he was an old line whig, and for many years a strict member of the German Reformed church. He married and reared a family of eight children : Stuffe, John, Daniel, David, Tobias, Jonathan, Elizabeth and Barbara, all of whom are now deceased. David Knauer (father) was born in Warwick
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township, this county, December 12, 1778. There he grew to manhood, receiving a good education in the public schools, and in that township he resided all his life. After leaving school he learned the trade of mason and followed that occupation many years, but passed the latter part of his life in ag- ricultural pursuits. He died at his home in Warwick township July 28, 1848, in the seventieth year of his age. He married Catharine Keim, a daughter of George Keim, of Warwick village, and to their union was born a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters: Betsie, Jesse, Thomas, Daniel, Nancy, Catharine, Martha, Davis and Esther A. All this family are now dead except the eldest daughter, Betsie, and Da- vis, the subject of this sketch. The mother, Mrs. Catharine Knauer, died November 14, 1856, aged seventy years, five months and four days.
JOHN REES, a paper manufacturer of
Aldham, who is also engaged in the coal, feed and flour business there, is an- other of that large class of energetic and successful business men to which the county is indebted for much of its prominence and and progress. He is the eldest son of Jon- athan and Susan (Young) Rees, and was born March 6, 1849, in Charlestown town- ship, Chester county, Pennsylvania. His education was received in the public schools of his native township and at a private school in Phoenixville. Soon after leaving school he engaged in the lumber and coal business at Phoenixville, which he success- fully conducted for a number of years, and in 1876 embarked in the manufacture of paper at Aldham, his product being princi- pally what is known to the trade as "bind-
er's board." In 1885 he added to this busi- ness that of coal, feed, flour and fertilizers, in which he has been successful and now has a good trade. In politics Mr. Rees is one of the stalwart republicans, and has served as school director of his township for more than a dozen years, being secretary of the board for ten years of that time. He is a prominent member of the Presbyterian church at Charlestown, and has served his church in the capacity of elder for a num- ber of years. He has also been a director of the Phoenix Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany several years.
On January 20, 1876, Mr. Rees was mar- ried to Mary Emily Powell, a danghter of the late Moses Powell, of West Pikeland township, who was for many years a mer- chant of this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Rees have been born six children, only three of whom are now living: John Garfield, boru July 31, 1883; Sidney Powell, born February 12, 1886; and Mary Emma, born August 19, 1887. The deceased were Ferdie, Sue Auna, and Ellen May.
The Rees family is of Welsh descent and has long been resident in Pennsylvania. James Rees, a son of Samuel Rees, of Pike- land township, was the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and was born in Chester county about 1777. He died on the old homestead in Charlestown township in 1825, aged about forty-eight years. He was a farmer by vocation, and married Sarah Davis, by whom he had a family of three sons : Samuel, died in childhood; Samuel Davis, also died young; and Jonathan. Jonathan Rees (father) was born July 14, 1819, on the old Rees homestead in Charles- town township, where he has lived all his life, except about twenty years spent at Phoenixville, during five of which he was
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
engaged in the coal and lumber business. In his earlier years he was a school teacher, and later devoted his attention for a time to agricultural pursuits. In 1875 he assisted in organizing the Phoenixville Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and upon the comple- tion of its organization was elected seere- tary of the company, a position he occupied till his resignation, February 1, 1893, dis- charging its duties with marked ability and in various ways contributing to the great success which has attended that enterprise. HIe now owns the old homestead on which he resides, beside being the proprietor of a paper mill, which has been in successful operation since 1845, a coal yard on the home farm, and other enterprises. In the management of all these concerns he has met with success, and for a number of years has been in independent circumstances. In 1856 he voted for John C. Fremont, and was a republican in politics until about 1880, when he became a prohibitionist, having al- ways been a strong temperance advocate. Hle has held nearly all the offices in his township, and has always been public spir- ited and active in every movement calcula- ted to benefit or build up his community or county. In religion he is a member and firm adherent of the Presbyterian church, and liberal in his support of the various in- terests of that denomination. He married Susan Young, who was born November 2, 1827, and is a daughter of John and Anna Maria ( Harman) Young, late of Charles- town township. Anna Maria Harman was a daughter of John and Catharine Harman, who came to this country from Wurtemburg, Germany, with the Rapp colony, about the year 1805, and settled for a short time only at Economy, near Pittsburg. By this union Mr. Rees had a family of thirteen children,
six sons and seven daughters : John, whose name heads this sketch; James, married Martha Snyder, and died in September, 1891; Kate, died in August, 1877, aged twenty-four; Sallie D., married Hilborn D. Rennard, a prosperous farmer of Tredyffrin township; Annie M., living at home; Em- ma, died in 1877, at the early age of nine- teen ; Frank, now engaged in the coal and feed business at Oak Station, Montgomery county; David, deceased in 1883, aged twenty-three years ; Lizzie, married Charles Walley, of Nantmeal village, and died in 1889, leaving a young daughter, Sarah E. Walley, in the care of her grandparents; Sue, formerly a clerk in the Farmers' and Mechanics' bank at Phoenixville, but now residing in California ; Agnes Wells, an ex- pert typewriter in the office of the Ladies' Home Journal in Philadelphia; Grace L., a teacher in an adjoining township; and Harman D., at home with his parents.
The subject of this sketch has at various times been overrun with orders for the pro- ductions of his "board" paper mill, and has lately added steam power to increase his facilities for filling orders and to facilitate drying the product.
W. H. BURNS, whose record as a progressive business man is one of achievement and remarkable success, is a son of Peter and Ellen J. (Dyson) Burns, and was born at Berwyn, in Easttown town- ship, Chester county, Pennsylvania, Novem- ber 5, 1857. He attended the common schools of Easttown and Tredyffrin town- ships, and after receiving a good English education he learned the trade of a carpen- ter with William H. Webster. In 1878, at the end of his three years' apprenticeship,
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
he commenced life for himself, and in a short time engaged in contraeting, which he has followed ever since. His ability and industry soon carried him forward from the building of dwelling houses to the erecting of publie buildings, and within the last eleven years his career of success has been as steady as it has been remarkable. He has erected sixteen stations on the Pennsylvania rail- road, beside building the fine Berwyn bank structure, the public school buildings of Ber- wyn, and the Berwyn Presbyterian church, and many elegant and tasteful residences in different parts of the county. Mr. Burns owns and operates the Berwyn planing mill, in which he prepares most of his building lumber, and in his business, including his contract help and mill force, he employs forty-five men, whose weekly wages aggre- gate six hundred dollars. He has built up a contract business in his line of work sec- ond to none in the county and equalled by few in the State. W. H. Burus is of that class of self-made men who have a relish for hard and persistent labor, and possess a genius for overcoming obstacles and making eircum- stances the obedient servants of their will. He has won success by system, energy and the ability to read the future effects of present causes in the business world. He is a republican in politics, and a member and trustee of the Presbyterian church.
On July 20, 1881, Mr. Burns married Ximena M., daughter of Enoeh S. and Mary J. Wells, of Berwyn, Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Burns have been born six ehil- dren, five sons and one daughter: Austin M., Lotta M., Willie D., Carroll H., Roy W. and Louis W.
The Burns family is of Scotch descent, and Isaac Burns, the paternal great-grand-
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