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 96
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J. Acker Guss received his education in the common schools of Chester county and Ursinus college. He commenced life for
himself as a clerk for D. S. Taylor, of Spring City, before he had completed his collegiate course. He served as assistant postmaster of East Vincent, and in 1871 engaged in the dry goods business at Phoenixville, where he remained one year. He and D. W. Stonfer then purchased J. G. Yeager's store at Spring City, which they run for one year, when Mr. Guss sold out his interest to Mr. Stoufer, and became an agent for Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor & Co., of New York, and introduced their school books throughout the State. In 1877 he left their employ to en- gage in the wholesale paper and stationery business at Royer's Ford, where, in March, 1884, he established the first printing house of that place, and from which he issued, in March, 1885, the Royer's Ford Bulletin, a monthly paper, which was soon changed to a thirty-two column weekly, now known as the Royer's Ford Tribune. In March, 1891, Mr. Guss came to Spring City, where he has resided ever since.
On January 17, 1871, Mr. Guss married Sallie J. Mowrer, and to their union have been born six children : Lauren E., Edwin C., Charles L., George G., Frances Williard and Ralph A.
J. Acker Guss has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for nearly a quarter of a century, and is an active worker in the Spring City Methodist Sunday school, of which he has been chorister for several years. He was formerly a republican but is now a prohibitionist in politics, and at the present time is chairman of the Prohibition county committee. He has been frequently honored by his party with nominations for important county offices. He served for eight years as a delegate to State conven- tions, and in 1888, and again in 1892, was a delegate to the National Prohibition con-
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vention. He is an earnest and successful worker in the cause of prohibition. Mr. Guss is a stockholder and secretary of the Arctic King Refrigerator Company, whose works are in Montgomery county. He is a thoroughgoing business man and is presi- dent of the Spring City Steam Paper and Box Manufacturing Company, which was organized June 15, 1891, and will soon com- mence the manufacture of paper on a large scale.
H ENRY PRIZER, an honored citizen of
East Coventry township, is a leading representative of one of the oldest and most highly respected families in Chester county. He is the youngest and only surviving child of Frederick and Susannah (Brownback) Prizer, and was born June 13, 1802, in East Coventry township, Chester county, Penn- sylvania. He was reared on the farm, re- ceived such education as could be obtained in the country schools of that period, and has always resided in his native township. After attaining manhood he engaged in farming and saw-milling on his own account, and being endowed with energy, industry and good business qualities, soon became prosperous. For many years he did an ex- tensive business, acquiring a moderate for- tune and what he values still more, an hon- orable and untarnished reputation. In 1867 he retired from active business, and has since been living quietly in his beautiful home, surrounded by all those material com- forts which contribute so much to the en- joyment of life. Mr. Prizer was one of the first members of Brownback's Reformed church, in which for many years he was ac- tive and influential, serving as deacon and elder. Later he became a Methodist, and
was instrumental in founding the New Bethel Methodist Episcopal church in 1844. He served for a number of years as class leader, steward and Sunday school superin- tendent, and until the weight of increasing years prevented it, was always an active and prominent worker in behalf of his church and the general interests of Christianity. In politics he was first a democrat, later a re- publican, and is now an ardent prohibition- ist. He served for a time as school director, and in various ways has been useful to the people among whom he has lived.
In his twenty-fourth year, March 30, 1826, Mr. Prizer married Elizabeth Diffendoffer, a daughter of Henry Diffendoffer, of Pugh- town, this county, who is still living. To them was born a family of six children, one son and five daughters: Sarah, married Uriah Brownback, and both are now de- ceased ; Elizabeth, wedded John Prizer (de- ceased) and resides in the city of Philadel- phia; Leah, the wife of Joseph Green, a merchant of Pughtown, whose biography appears in this work ; Harman, who married Mary Wanger and resides in East Coventry township, engaged in farming (see his sketcli on page 310); Susan, who wedded William M. Stauffer, of the foundry firm of Buck- walter & Co., whose works are at Royer's Ford, Montgomery county, though Mr. Stanffer resides in the city of Reading; and Esalindah, living at home with her parents.
The Prizer family is of German descent and was planted in Pennsylvania at a very early day. The paternal grandfather of Henry Prizer was a native of Montgomery county, this State, from which he removed in early manhood to settle in Berks county, and later came to Chester county. Here he spent the latter part of his life, dying at a good old age. He was a farmer by occu-
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
pation, married and reared a family, one of his sons being Frederick Prizer (father), who was born in 1764 near " The Trappe," Montgomery county, and came with his father's family to East Coventry township, this connty, when quite young. He attended the common schools, and later learned the trade of carpenter, which together with farming, constituted his main business in life, though he also owned and operated a sawmill-the mill now in possession of Jos- eph Haldeman. He was a man of great business enterprise and untiring energy, and achieved success in nearly everything he undertook, being apparently at the zenith of his career when called away by death in 1820, in his fifty-sixth year. In politics he was a democrat, and in religion a strict member ofthe Evangelical Lutheran church, in the support of which he was aetive and influential. IIe married Susannah Brown- back and was the father of three children, two sons and a daughte : Hannah, who mar- ried John Diffendoffer and is now deceased ; John, also dead; and Henry, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Prizer is a daughter of Henry Brownback, who is still living, be- ing now of great age. IIe is a descendant of Garrett Brownback, whose history will be found recorded elsewhere in this volume.
w ILLIAM J. KAUFFMAN, editor
and proprietor of the Chester Valley Union at Coatesville, is a representative of one of the oldest settled families of Laneas- ter county, Pennsylvania. The Kauffmans are of remote German origin, and are noted for the thrift and other characteristie vir- tues of that sturdy race. Christian Kauff- man, paternal grandfather of William J., was born in Lancaster county, this State, but
while yet a young man removed to York, Pennsylvania, and later to Baltimore, Mary- land. He was a carpenter by trade, and fol- lowed cabinet making in Baltimore, where he lived until his death, at an advanced age. His grandson, the subject of this sketch, now owns a clock, the elaborate and hand- some ease of which is a specimen of his handiwork. He was a strict member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, married and reared a large family, his youngest son be- ing Joseph C. Kauffman (father), who was born in the city of Baltimore in 1806. After attaining manhood Joseph C. Kauffman be- came a merchant tailor, and carried on a large business in Baltimore for a number of years. He died there in October, 1843, in the house in which he was born, at the early age of thirty-seven years. In politics he was an old-line whig and in religion a strict adherent of the Presbyterian church. His brothers all served in the war of 1812, but he was then too young to enter the ariny. Ile married Margaret J. Rettew, a native of Ilarford county, Maryland, who was reared in the city of Baltimore. She was born in 1808, and died at Coatesville, this county, in 1891. For many years previous to her death she was a devoted member of the Presbyterian church, and was a woman of decided character, greatly respected and re- vered.
William J. Kauffman, son of Joseph C. and Margaret J. (Rettew) Kauffman, was born in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, April 11, 1836. There he lived until twelve years of age, when he removed with his mother to Laneaster city, Pennsylvania. His education was obtained in the public schools of Baltimore and Lancaster, and by the practical training inseparable from earnest work in a newspaper office. At the age of
47
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
fourteen, young Kauffman entered a print- ing office in Lancaster, and began his ac- quaintance with the "art preservative of arts." Here he remained until 1857, when failing health caused him to go to Strasburg, where he afterward worked at the printing business up to 1861. In the following year he came to Coatesville, and on June 6, 1863, issued the first number of the Chester Val- ley Union. It was a small sheet at first, and for a number of years was published as a weekly paper. It was republican in poli- tics, ably edited, and soon acquired popu- larity and influence. Its circulation and jobbing business grew rapidly, and in time the paper was enlarged and changed to a semi-weekly. The Union is now printed on a sheet 26 x 40 inches, and consists of four pages with eight columns to the page. It is the oldest paper in Coatesville, has a large circulation throughout the county, and its plant consists of four modern presses, with abundance of body type and job faces of every desirable size and design. The work turned out here is first-class in every par- ticular, and many jobs are fine specimens of artistic typography.
In 1857 Mr. Kauffman married Mary A. Brooke, a daughter of Samuel Brooke, of Lancaster city. To this union was born a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters: Samuel B., Joseph C., jr., Mary A., Annie J., Margaret L., Harry B. and J. Alexander.
In 1862, when the emergency men were called out, Mr. Kauffman enlisted in one of the Chester county companies, but was not sworn into the United States service. In the same year he was drafted, but upon ex- amination was exempted on account of con- sumption, the doctors having given up all hope of his recovery. But, to use his own
words, he "beat the consumption," and is now a stout, hearty, robust man. In poli- tics he is a stanch republican, and in his paper ably advocates the doctrines of his . party. He is a member of Star of Hope Lodge, No. 199, and of Chosen Friends En- campment, No. 88, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Coatesville, and has served as notary public here for a period of eighteen years. He is also a member of the Presby- terian church and a prominent and success- ful Sunday school worker, having been called to serve as superintendent of Rock Run Presbyterian Sunday school ever since its organization in 1865. Mr. Kauffman is an affable gentleman of pleasing manners, wields a trenchant pen, and has been quite successful in business.
L ORENZO BECK, an honored citizen and resident of West Chester for over a quarter of a century, was born in Thorn- bury, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, Octo- ber 17, 1812, and is a son of Michael and Sarah (Perkins) Beck. His father was a highly respected citizen of Delaware county, a prosperous miller, and a stanch upholder of and believer in the principles of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, of which he was a faithful member until his death, in 1846, at the age of sixty-three years. He married Sarah Perkins, and they had a family of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only one now living, he being the third in order of age. The others were : Adley, John, Deborah, Sarah, Lorenzo, Lydia, William and Levis.
Lerenzo Beek was educated in the public schools of his native county, where he was successfully engaged in business until 1864. He lived for several years in the town of
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
East Goshen, where he carried on the busi- ness of edge tool maker, a trade to which he was apprenticed in his youth in the vil- lage of Wawa. In 1864, at the age of fifty- two years, he removed to West Chester, this county, where he now lives a quiet and retired life, at the advanced age of eighty years, respected and esteemed as one who has helped to build up and add to its mate- rial prosperity. Since 1868 he has been one of the directors of the National bank of Chester county. Mr. Beek, in his political preferences, differs from his father, who was a life long member of the Democratic party, and is a warm supporter of the principles of the Republican party, which publicly recog- nized his services by electing him to the office of county commissioner, in which po- sition he served acceptably for a term of three years. Although his parents were Methodists, yet Mr. Beek has been for many years a member of the Society of Friends, in whose faith and doctrines lie firmly believes.
He has been twice married, his first wife was Phæbe G. Thatcher, and after her death he wedded Mrs. Mary Marshall, nee Kraston. Mr. Beek throughout his long and active life has always conducted his affairs honor- ably and honestly, and upon correct busi- ness principles.
WILMA ILMAR GRIFFITH, a prosperous
farmer now serving as assessor and constable of Uwelilan township, is the see- ond child and eldest son of Charles N. and Martha E. (Phillips) Griffith, and was born in Uwehlan township, Chester county, Penn- sylvania, February 12, 1846. He was reared on his father's farm and received a superior English education in the public schools of
his township. After leaving school he learned the trade of carpenter and followed that occupation some six years, when he aban- doned it to engage in farming. Since 1888 he has managed the home farm, and being energetic and industrious, as well as posses- sing a good degree of business ability, he has been quite successful in agricultural pursuits. In his political affiliations Mr. Griffith has always been a republican, and is now serving as assessor and constable of his township, which positions he has filled since 1889, when he was appointed thereto by the court. He has also been called on frequently to serve on the election board of his district. He is a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Pughtown, and has been president and secretary of its board of trustees for a number years.
On the 10th of February, 1868, Mr. Grif- fith was united in marriage to Rebecca Mitchner, of South Coventry township, this county. To them has been born a family of three children, two sons and a daughter: Martha, Lewis and Charles, all of whom are living at home with their parents. Mrs. Griffith is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal ehureh.
Charles N. Griffith, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in West Vincent township, Chester county, in 1820. He re- moved to Uwchlan township in 1854, and died at his home here in September, 1887, aged sixty-seven years. Ile was a man of unusual energy, and in defiance of adverse circumstances in early life, went to work to make a career for himself, and ultimately became a useful, influential and honored citizen. He had few educational advantages, but by careful reading and close study edneated himself in the ordinary English branches, and later learned surveying and
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
conveyancing. He was what is frequently termed a self-made man, having depended on his own unaided efforts from the start. He became well posted on all general top- ics, especially on history and the bible. By occupation he was a farmer, and first pur- chased forty-two acres of fine land in Uwch- lan township, to which he afterward added a farm of fifty-four acres-where his son Wilmar now lives-and still later purchased an additional tract of timber land. Polit- ically he was a whig until just before the civil war, when he became a republican. He always took an active interest in poli- tical matters and became influential in the local councils of his party. He was elected to the position of justice of the peace in Uwchlan township in 1860, and served in that office continuously for a period of twen- ty-eight years. He was also school director for a long time, and served as county auditor one term. He was frequently a delegate to the county conventions of his party, and was a man who won and held the respect and esteem of all who knew him. In 1866 he was appointed revenue collector for this dis- trict and served for some time. He was frequently called as a juror in the supreme court. In religious faith he was a Baptist, and served for many years as a deacon and secretary of Windsor Baptist church. He married Martha E. Phillips, and to their union was born a family of six children, three sons and three daughters: Cecelia, married Oliver Channell, a cigar dealer in West Chester; Wilmar, whose name heads this sketch ; Emerson, who graduated from the military academy at West Point in 1868, served twenty years in the regular army, first as lieutenant and later being promoted to the rank of captain, but resigned in 1888, and together with his wife, Bessie Irwin,
now resides at West Chester in retirement ; Daniel, who married Emna Trace and now lives at Pottstown, Montgomery county ; Joanna, wedded John Hanson, an employee of the Pottstown Iron Company ; and Mary, formerly a teacher in the public schools of Philadelphia, in which city she still resides.
A DDISON MILLER, proprietor of the Vincent creamery at Sheeder and the Exeter creamery at Exeter Station, is a young business man of remarkable energy and enterprise, and has already attained a good degree of success in life. He is a son of Franklin and Mary (Knaur) Miller, and was born in East Vincent township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, May 30, 1855. He was reared principally on the farm, but re- ceived a superior English education. Upon leaving school he engaged in marketing, and has been more or less connected with that business all his life. In 1889 he re- moved to Sheeder and erected the " Vincent creamery," which he now operates, and the product of which has won such deserved popularity in the markets of Philadelphia, Baltimore, and other cities. Later he built and yet owns the "Exeter creamery," at Exeter Station, which latter is now man- aged by his brother, Franklin K. Miller. The business of these creameries now amounts to three thousand dollars per month, and the output is between four hundred and fifty and five hundred pounds of gilt- edged butter per day. Great care is exer- cised in every detail of manufacture, and the excellence thus secured has created a de- mand for the product of these creameries, which it is almost impossible to supply.
In addition to his creamery business Mr. Miller has been dealing in coal and feed
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
since 1890, and has charge of the railroad station at Sheeder. He is also engaged in farming to some extent, and everything con- sidered, may be written down as a very busy man. In politics he is an ardent democrat, and is so popular with his people that he has been elected and reëlected to the posi- tion of auditor for his township, in which position he has already served for four years.
On January 18, 1888, Mr. Miller was uni- ted in marriage with Anna L. Prizer, a daughter of Harmon and Mary ( Wanger) Prizer, of this county.
The paternal grandfather of Addison Mil- ler was Samuel Miller, who lived at what was known as "The Swamp" hotel prop- erty, where he was engaged in manufactur- ing gunpowder and in various other lines, condueting an extensive business. Later he purchased and moved to " The Buck" hotel, where he engaged in general merchandising and became quite prosperous and successful. He died there at an advanced age. He married, and reared a family of three sons and a daughter: John, Isaac, Franklin and Cordelia. Franklin Miller (father) was born in Chester county about 1817, and lived most of his life in East Vincent township. After attaining manhood he was engaged in the mercantile business at "The Buck" for a period, and then purchased a farm and de- voted his time to agricultural pursuits dur- ing the remainder of his life. He died in 1880, at his home in East Vincent township, aged about sixty-three years. Politically he was a demoerat, and in religion a striet member of the German Reformed church. He married Mary Knaur and was the father of twelve children, eight of whom lived to reach maturity : Samuel, now deceased ; Sarah, also dead ; Emna K., married J. C. Roberts, a member of the firm of Roberts
& Miller, dealers in coal, feed and fertilizers, and a farmer of East Vincent township; Cordelia, Addison, the subject of this sketch ; Franklin K., who married Mary Rinard and is now engaged in managing the creamery owned by his brother Addison; Oliver, wedded Angeline Irwin, and now resides in Plymouth county, Iowa, where he is en- gaged in farming ; and Thomas Clinton, who married Maggie Lonaker and lives at Potts- town, this county. The other four died in infaney.
ILLIAM P. KEELEY, a public spirited and influential citizen, and the senior member of the building and plan- ing mill firm of William P. Keeley & Son, of Phoenixville, is a son of John and Mary (Longaere) Keeley, and was born in Uweh- lan township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, August 13, 1837. His paternal grandfather, Matthias Keeley, was a native of Uwehlan township, where he followed farming until he was well advanced in years, when he re- moved to La Porte, at which place he died in 1843. He was a democrat in politics, and married a Miss King, who died and left four children. After her death he married a Miss Evans, by whom he had seven chil- dren. Ilis son, John Keeley (by his first marriage), was born in 1812, in Uwchlan township, where he followed blacksmithing until 1882, when he retired from all the ae- tive duties of life. Ile is a republican and a member of the Reformed church, and re- sides now in Berks county. He married Mary Longacre, who died at Phoenixville, in April, 1889, when in the seventy-third year of her age. To Mr. and Mrs. Keeley were born five children, two sons and three daughters : William P., Mary A., wife of
.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
Cyrus Moser, a resident of Berks county and a traveling salesman ; Edward, a sales- man in the city of Philadelphia; Stephina, wife of John Widroder, a business man of the Quaker City; and Anna, who died in infancy.
William P. Keeley was reared in his na- tive township, where he received his edu- cation in the common schools. He then learned the trade of carpenter in Philadel- phia, and worked in that city and in differ- ent parts of Chester county until 1871. In that year he became the junior member of the wood-working firm of Keeley, Brown- back & Co., which continued in existence until 1883, when Mr. Keeley withdrew and purchased his present well equipped plan- ing mill plant. He admitted his son Clar- ence into partnership with him, under the firm name of William P. Keeley & Son. They employ a regular force of twenty-five hands and do an extensive and lucrative business. The mill contains all late and nec- essary machinery needed for any kind of work in their line of business. They carry an extensive stock of material, are prepared to fill any order that may be sent them, and enjoy a patronage that extends beyond the boundaries of the county. In addition to furnishing material, the firm take a great many building contracts and have erected some fine residences.
In April, 1861, Mr. Keeley married Anna, daughter of William and Anna Hazlet, of Philadelphia. To Mr. and Mrs. Keeley have been born six children, two of whom are Clarence and William Keeley.
William P. Keeley is a republican in politics and has served liis borough as a coun- cilman for the last three years. He is wor- shipful master of Phoenixville Lodge, No. 75, Free and Accepted Masons ; a past grand
of Fredonia Lodge, No. 145, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Philadelphia; a member of Phoenix Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ; and an elder and trustee of the Pres- byterian church. He has built up a substan- tial trade, and is an enterprising and pro- gressive business man.
JOHN J. DAVIES, foreman of the bridge shop of the Phoenix Iron Company, and a lineal descendant of the old and highly re- spectable Davies family of Scotland and Wales, is a son of Robert Hall and Rebecca (Baylis) Davies, and was born in the city of Philadelphia, this State, on January 15, 1860. He received his elementary education in the public schools of his native city, and in 1871 entered the Birchbeck schools of London, England, where he took a full three years' course. Returning home in 1874, he served an apprenticeship in the shops of the Phoenix Iron Company and then entered the draughting room, where he remained for three years. At the end of that time he was made inspector of bridge and roof work, in which capacity he served for eight years, and was then appointed foreman of the bridge shop, which position he still holds.
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