USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of genealogy and biography of the state of Pennsylvania with a compendium of history. A record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Volume II > Part 24
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
3. Milton Wilson Thomson, deceased, was a teacher for many years, and afterward a machinist in the Phoenixville Iron Works. He married Emaline Wersler, and they became the parents of six children.
4. Wilmer Worthington Thomson was educated in the public schools and labored for a number of years in the iron works in Phoenix- ville. Circumstances, however, soon led him to the profession in which he found his life work. While yet a workman in the iron works he wrote local correspondence for county papers, and he also published an advertising sheet, "Everybody's Business," having the printing done in Philadelphia and distributing the paper himself in Phoenixville and Pottstown. This paper was discontinued after a year and Mr. Thom- son then began the publication of the "Weekly Legal Tender." at Phoenixville, a local sheet, which was continued for one year. Some- what later he took up correspondence for the West Chester Jeffersonian, and six months afterward (in . August, 1871), became local editor of the paper, a position which he relinquished in the following year, to assist in founding the journal with which he has since been uninterruptedly connected.
The germ of the Daily Local News was the publication by Mr. Thomson of the Daily Institute Newes, during the five days' session of the Teachers' County Institute in the early fall of 1872. This was a small four-page sheet issued each morning, containing the program for
898
COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND GENEALOGY
the day, and several columns of local news, with some advertisements. The little journal, which was distributed free, met with such favor in the eyes of the business community as well as of the teachers, and its discontinuance, when the occasion for its publication had ended. evoked such expressions of regret, that Mr. Thomson was encouraged to essay the introduction of the Daily Local Notes, in association with Mr. William H. Hodgson, its publisher. The first issue, on November 19. 1872, was a diminutive four column folio, with a page size of 1212 by 834 inches. The enterprise was entered upon without solicitation of a subscription or an advertisement and the first two issues were dis- tributed gratuitously. It is not the province of the writer of these pages to present a history of the journal which had so modest a beginning. Suffice it to say that the Daily Local News steadily grew in favor, soon acquiring a large patronage and making repeated enlargements, until it has long been known as one of the most important journals in the state outside the great financial and commercial centers. It has stead- fastly adhered to the principles which actuated its coming into existence -that of being fair and liberal to all parties, sects and creeds. This policy has found appreciation by such generous patronage that the paper was long since obliged to install a plant of metropolitan pat- tern and extent, with perfecting presses, linotype machines and a com- plete stereotyping outfit. It is of interest to note, in this connection, that this was the first inland newspaper office in the United States to call to its service a perfecting press. Through all these years, from its initial number to the present time, Messrs. Hodgson and Thomson have been the sole conductors of the Newes, the former named in the capacity of proprietor and the latter named in that of editor.
.\ facile and forceful writer, Mr. Thomson has not confined his labors to his own newspaper, but has been an industrious contributor
899
OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
to various other journals. For a long time he was local correspondent for the New York Herald, and he was for twenty-two years corre- spondent for the Philadelphia Times, and for eleven years for the Phila- delphia Ledger. For the past several years he has been the local cor- respondent for the Philadelphia Press, and he has been the West Chester representative of the Associated Press and the Philadelphia Evening Telegraph for several years past. He gave evidence of artistic taste in his early youth, and later in life became a pupil of Carl Weber. Painting in oil and water colors is his favorite pursuit in his leisure hours, and his works have long been in demand for presentation, purposes.
Mr. Thomson enlisted in the Civil war May 20, 1861, as a musi- cian, a member of the Phoenix Military Band of Phoenixville, and served throughout the three months' service period. In 1862 he became chief clerk to Capt. John F. Hazleton, A. O. M., Second Brigade, Third Division, Third Army Corps ( later of the Sixth Corps), and for several months was chief clerk to Capt. McKee, C. S., of the same brigade. division and corps. In 1864 he was given the position of roll clerk to Capt. J. C. Mann. A. Q. M., of Post at Winchester, Virginia, and remained in that position until May 24, 1865, when the clerical corps was disbanded at Camp Stoneman, near Washington. Imme- diately following the discharge at Camp Stoneman, he was appointed chief clerk to Major Forsythe, on General Kirkpatrick's staff, then preparing to go to Texas, but sickness interfered and he was released from the obligation.
Mr. Thomson was married to Miss Frances O. Wilson, daughter of Alexander Wilson, of Newark, New Jersey, who was a merchant. at one time a member of the legislature, and at the time of his death was connected with the New York City postoffice. Mrs. Thomson was
900
COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND GENEALOGY
educated in the public and select schools in Newark, and in the Somer- ville. New Jersey. Seminary. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomson were: 1. Nellie G., who became the wife of Charles H. Morgan, of West Chester, and to whom were born two children: 2. Elizabeth Wilson : 3. William Hodgson: 4. Rachel P. Thomson.
JOSEPH SHORTLIDGE, M. A.
Professor Joseph Shortlidge, M. A., founder and principal of Maplewood Institute, is of Scotch-English ancestry. On the paternal side he is a descendant of the Chandlers and Gawthrops, and on the maternal side of the Huttons and Pughs, all prominent families in Delaware and adjacent counties. Through the Chandlers he traces his line to the Norman French of England, and he is related to the Kirk, Stubbs, Trimble, Parrish and other highly respected Pennsyl- vania families. The American branch of the Shortlidge family was planted by James Shortlidge, who came from England about the time of the Revolution and settled in Chester county, Pennsylvania. His son. Swithin Shortlidge, was born in the county named. lived the life of a farmer, and was a member of the Society of Friends. George Shortlidge, son of Swithin, was born in the same place in 1800. He was a prosperous farmer; in religion was a Friend and his political affiliations were with the Democratic party until the founding of the Republican party in 1856. when on account of his anti-slavery senti- ments he allied himself with that body. He married Martha Pugh Hutton, of New Garden township. Chester county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Hyatt and Sarah ( Pugh) Hutton, who was a relative of the distinguished English mathematician. Charles Hutton. Of this union were born four sons and two daughters,-William, who engaged
901
OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
in mercantile pursuits in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania: Joseph, who is further referred to in this sketch: Anna P., who became the wife of William H. Walker, of New Castle county, Delaware; Lydia H., who became the wife of Prof. Augustus C. Norris, deceased, who was prin- cipal of the Woodstown Academy, New Jersey ; Swithin C., who became the principal of Media Academy: and Evan G., who became a physician and settled in Wilmington, Delaware, of which city he was at one time mayor.
Joseph Shortlidge, second child of George and Martha (Hutton) Shortlidge, was born August 1, 1832, on the family homestead in New Garden township, where his father was born in 1800. The old farm, which is now owned by Thomas Jeffries, lies north of and adjoins the Walnut Run school house. Joseph Shortlidge acquired a broad educa- tion, completing courses of study in Jonathan Gause's Greenwood Dell Academy, in Chester county, in the Williams Chemical Laboratory in Philadelphia, and in the Fort Edward (New York) Institute, before entering Yale College. He entered college in 1859, but his eyesight becoming impaired during the latter part of his freshman year from his being obliged to recite his lessons by gas light at six o'clock in the morning, he was forced for a time to give up his studies. Ile made up the requirements of the course, however, and received the degree of Master of Arts. Upon Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania in 1863, he responded to the call of President Lincoln for an additional force of one hundred thousand men for six months' service. He enlisted in a com- pany of which he was elected sergeant, and which, as a part of Major Short's battalion, participated in the defense of the state, and in the subsequent operations of that portion of the army.
Even while obtaining his education, Professor Shortlidge was per- forming useful and creditable work as a teacher. He began as a public
902
COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND GENEALOGY
school teacher at Concordville, Pennsylvania, in 1852, where he still pursued his studies, often walking to West Chester, a distance of eight and one-half miles, to take French lessons. As early as 1856 he began teaching in Greenwood Dell. The following year he was principal of Putnam (New York) .Academy, and he was then for two years prin- cipal of Fairville Institute, in Chester county, Pennsylvania. In 1862 he purchased a tract of land near the Friends' Meeting House in Con- cordville, and built the school known as Maplewood Institute, with which his name has since been inseparably associated. He was principal of this institution until 1880, when he resigned in order to accept the presidency of the Pennsylvania State College, near Bellefonte, Center county. During his administration of State College he made strennous efforts to establish certain changes and reforms necessary for the suc- cess of the college as an educational institution. Failing in this, he resigned and returned to Maplewood Institute, with which his connec- tion has since been unbroken. The value of Maplewood Institute and Professor Shortlidge's great usefulness as a principal and instructor, are attested by the great number of students. from the best families, who have come under his charge during the fifty years of his service, many of whom have risen to eminence in the professions, in commercial life, and in public place. Among them are prominent lawyers, physi- cians and others who have become conspicuous in state and national affairs.
Exacting as are his duties as an instructor, Professor Shortlidge has not failed in his duties as a citizen, and has rendered to the public valuable service in various responsible positions. For a number of years he served as school director. In 1887 he was appointed by Gov- ernor Beaver to fill an unexpired term of a deceased justice of the peace. Darwin Painter, and was afterward elected and re-elected to
903
OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
the same office, which he still holds. He is a Friend in religion, as have been his ancestors for several generations. In politics he is a staunch adherent of the Republican party. Ile is a highly regarded comrade in Bradbury Post. G. . A. R., of Media.
Professor Shortlidge was married. May 24. 1865. to Miss Caroline B. Gause, a highly educated lady, daughter of Jonathan and Eliza ( Bailey) Gause. Jonathan Gause was one of the most prominent educators of his day, and Professor Shortlidge was a student of his in his early school days in Greenwood Dell Academy. Mrs. Shortlidge died May 23. 1874, leaving three children : Marian E., who became the wife of Jared Darlington, of Delaware county, and to whom were born three children-Mary Edna. Charles Joseph and Caroline S .: Charles B .. who was for a time a teacher in the Maplewood Institute, and after- ward became a practicing physician at Elbon, Pennsylvania, married Josephine M. Showers, of St. Marys, Pennsylvania, November 7. 1901 ; and J. Chauncey, a graduate of Harvard, who is professor of Latin. Greek, physics and chemistry in Maplewood Institute.
December 21. 1893. Professor Shortlidge was married to Miss Isabel Gawthrop Shortlidge. She is a lady of fine literary attainments and a forceful platform speaker. During Mr. Mckinley's first presi- V. dential candidacy. she attracted much attention and received much com- mendation for her addresses in his behalf.
. Now in his seventy-second year. Professor Shortlidge maintains a splendid physique, and his mental powers are at their best. He gives close oversight to all pertaining to the Institute. as well as personal instruction in Greek and the higher mathematics. His fiftieth year as a teacher was recently celebrated at the Institute. on June 4. 1902, and was a notable reunion. All okl pupils and friends of the school who could possibly be there, came to renew old acquaintance and do honor
.
904 COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND GENE. ILOGY
to the veteran teacher. The high and picturesque grounds of the Insti- tute and a beautiful day contributed to the fullest enjoyment of the occasion. The arrangements were in charge of a competent committee. who met the heartiest co-operation of the townspeople in caring for the visitors. Carriages were furnished for conveying guests from both the special and regular trains to the scene of the day's festivity. After a reception during the morning hours by Professor and Mrs. Short- lidge, the guests listened to a literary program, consisting of speeches, reminiscent and congratulatory, and the personal tribute of a poem by Professor Leggett. of Concordville. Among the speakers was Dr. King, president . of Fort Edward Institute, New York. AA fine gold watch bearing a suitable inscription was presented to Professor Short- lidge by his old pupils. The day will long be remembered as a pleasur- able social occasion, and as one giving to Maplewood Institute new impetus for usefulness.
REV. DAVID TULLY, D. D.
David Tully. D. D., of Media, Pennsylvania, was born August 29, 1818, in Birgham, Scotland, and is a son of Andrew and Catherine (Dickey) Tully. In 1829 they came to Canada, and settled in Peter- boro county, Ontario, where Andrew Tully engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which he combined thorough knowledge with great practical skill. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, including David. The names of the others are: John, a farmer residing in Canada; Andrew, a graduate of the second class of Lafayette College, who entered the ministry, and died in Portland, Pennsylvania ; William, a farmer in Canada: Margaret, who married Hugh McAfee; George, a farmer of lowa; Mary, who died in 1847; and Robert, who lives as a
905
OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
farmer on the old homestead. The family were devoted Presbyterians. Andrew Tully, the father, died in the ninetieth year of his age, and his wife passed away at seventy, from the effects of a fall.
Dr. Tully was educated in the United States. In 1847 he gradu- ated from Union College, Schenectady, New York, being at the same time an alumnus of Lafayette College, of Pennsylvania. In 1850 he graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary, and the same year was ordained pastor of the Presbyterian church, Princetown, New York. After a successful pastorate of five years he was called to the Presbyterian church of Ballston Spa, New York, where he remained eleven years. Shortly after the breaking out of the Civil war Dr. Tully was elected chaplain of the Seventy-seventh New York Volunteers, by popular vote of the members. His church gave him leave of absence. and he went through the campaign of the Peninsula under Mcclellan. was at the siege of Yorktown, the battle of Williamsburg, and the seven days' battle. In 1866 he was called to the First Presbyterian church of Belvidere, New Jersey, whence he was summoned in 1872, after an extremely fruitful pastorate, to take charge of the First Presbyterian church of Oswego, New York. The fourteen years which he spent there were years of much spiritual growth, and the church was in a most flourishing condition when in 1886, he was induced to become pastor of the Media Presbyterian church, where he has since remained. His pastorate has been marked by much prosperity, both spiritual and material. The church has been beautified and improved, a pipe organ has taken the place of the old parlor organ, and other improvements have been made. Dr. Tully has traveled extensively, has crossed the continent several times, has been in Canada, Mexico, the West Indies, the British Isles, and has traversed the continent of Europe and visited Palestine. Of his powers of observation and of relating what he has
906
COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND GENEALOGY
seen, his interesting lectures on Syria, Constantinople, and the Turks have given abundant proof. In June, 1900, occurred the fiftieth anni- versary of Dr. Tully's ordination to the ministry. This was made the occasion of a celebration by his church in Media, the members of which united with his brethren in the ministry in expressing their affection for Dr. Tully, and their heartfelt appreciation of the faithful service which he has rendered among them. In addition to many letters of congratulation from personal friends, words of loving and grateful remembrance were received from each of the churches of which he had formerly been pastor. Among the reminiscences naturally evoked by the occasion was the memory of the time when in 1848 Dr. Tully labored in Albany, New York, among the seamen and boatmen, for the Bethel Society of that city, and during the cholera epidemic in 1849. lle has since resigned the pulpit and the church elected him pastor emeritus.
Dr. Tully is a life director of the American Bible Society. a life member of the American Board of Foreign Missions, the American Tract Society, and both the Foreign and Home Mission Boards of the Presbyterian church. He has represented his presbytery at the General Assembly eight times, and was a member of the Assembly at the reunion of the Old and New School bodies, and the representative of the church at the first General Assembly of the Canadian church in Toronto in 1870. In 1886 he received from Kings College, Bristol, Tennessee, the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He is chaplain of the G. A. R. Post of Media, is also a member of the Loyal Legion Com- mandery of Pennsylvania, and holds the nominal office of chaplain of the Media Fire Department.
907
OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
COLONEL JOSEPH WILLIAMSON HAWLEY.
Colonel Joseph Williamson Hawley, president of the First National Bank of Media, Pennsylvania. and a veteran of the Civil war, son of Joel and Catherine B. ( Williamson) Hawley, was born in Lionville. Chester county. July 14. 1836. llis early life was passed in the public schools and in the country store owned by his father. Ilis further education was received in the schools of Jonathan Ganse and Dr. Franklin Taylor, and at the West Chester Academy, then under the charge of Professor William F. Wyers, Mr. Hawley spend- ing one year at each of these schools, and in the interim teaching two years in the public schools. At the close of the term with Professor Wyers, the latter named offered him the position of assistant teacher. which was accepted, and he remained in that institution until 1860. when he received the appointment of paying teller in the National Bank of Chester County, and at once entered upon the duties of that position. He was thus engaged in the early part of the Civil war, when President Lincoln called for troops to repel the rebel army which, under General Lee, was advancing into Pennsylvania. Ilis patriotism aroused, he obtained permission from the board of directors to recruit a company of soldiers to aid in the protection of the state. In ten days the required mimber, one hundred men. were enlisted. met at Downingtown. and organized by the election of Joseph W. Hawley as captain. Allen M. Davis as first lieutenant, and Charles W. Roberts as second lieutenant. and immediately afterward took train for Camp Curtin, at Harrisburg. where Captain Hawley and the other officers received their commissions .August 12. 1862, from Governor A. G. Curtin.
Captain Hawley's company was one of the first ten to arrive at Harrisburg, and these were formed into the One Hundred and Twenty-
908
COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND GENEALOGY
fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. The regiment, under com- mand of Captain Hawley, was transported to Washington, where it became a part of the Army of the Potomac, then in motion to meet General Lee's army moving northward. On August 16, Captain Hawley received from Governor Curtin his commission as colonel, and lie led his regiment into the battle of AAntietam on September 17, 1862, being placed in position on the extreme right of the line. By nine o'clock in the morning the regiment was under a heavy fire in what is known as the "Bloody Cornfield." where it lost many killed and wounded. Among the latter was Colonel Hawley, who received a bullet in his neck and was carried off the field to the Miller house, but, as that building was within range of the enemy's heavy guns, the wounded were carried back into the woods and finally conveyed to Hagerstown. After being sufficiently recovered. Colonel Hawley was removed to his home in Lionville. The bullet at this date ( 1903), still remains em- bedded in one of the bones of his neck. Upon recovery. Colonel Hawley rejoined the regiment at Harper's Ferry, and served with it until is was honorably discharged, May 17, 1863.
Returning to his duties with the Bank of Chester County, Colonel Hawley remained but one day, when the governor of the state called for additional troops to repel a second invasion which General Lee was then projecting northward. In one day one thousand troops were raised in Chester county and forwarded to Harrisburg the same night. The Twenty-ninth Emergency Regiment was formed partly from Ches- ter county troops and partly from Delaware county men, and on June 19. 1863. Colonel Hawley was again commissioned colonel. He was assigned to the command of a brigade consisting of his own and two New York regiments, and to him General Couch committed the protec- tion of the bridges of the Pennsylvania Railroad against their threatened
909
OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
destruction. Upon the retreat of Lee from Gettysburg, Colonel Hawley was ordered to follow and harass his rear, and he moved with such celerity that he reached the Potomac the day previous to Lee's crossing. and his troops engaged in a slight skirmish at Clear Spring.
Returning to his home, Colonel llawley resumed his duties in the bank, where he remained until January 1, 1864. On that date the First National Bank of West Chester was organized. and, being offered a more liberal salary, he accepted a similar position in this. On February ist he was invited to assist in the organization of the First National Bank of Media, which was opened March 21. 1864, with Colonel Hawley as cashier, a position which he held until the death of its presi- dent, Thomas J. Haldeman, in 1894, when he was elected to fill the vacancy.
The name of Colonel Hawley appears among the directors of various other institutions which need not be enumerated here. One of his favorite fields of usefulness is the House of Refuge, at Glen Mills, of which he has been a director and one of the most liberal and zealous patrons and friends for many years.
Colonel Hawley was married October 6, 1864, to Miss Anna Miller, daughter of Levis and AAnn ( Mellvain) Miller, of Media. Their daughter and only child. Mary Miller Hawley, born April 14. 1868. was married November 15. 1893, to Justice M. Thompson, of Philadelphia.
JOHN FRANCIS MAAHER.
John Francis Maher, educator, is a native of Ireland, having been born in the county of Waterford. May 5. 1849. His father was Thomas Maher, and his mother Johanna Maher, nce Connolley. The Mahers
910
COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY AND GENEALOGY
of Waterford have been from time immemorial prominent factors in Irish affairs. Thomas Maher took an active part in the politics of his native country in 1847-18448, being a member of what was then called "The Young Ireland party." and his connection with the "Young Ire- landers" was the immediate occasion of his coming to the United States. He arrived in New York on April 3, 1849. The Connolleys were for the most part farmers, some of them being identified with the church. They were as partial to a rural life of quiet and retirement as the Ma- hers were to the stormy doings of the camp or the man-of-war.
A severe cold. contracted at the age of seven, almost completely deprived John Francis Maher of his eyesight. This affliction greatly interfered with his early education ; but at fifteen he entered the Penn- sylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind. Private tutors assisted in his preparation for the University of Pennsylvania, which he entered in 1870. He took the degree of Bachelor of Science with the class of 1874, and three years later was honored by the university with the degree of Master of Science. For several years Mr. Maher was private tutor of the higher mathematics and languages, and later de- cided to study law. He took the full course in the law department of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating Bachelor of Laws in 1891. Since that date he has added to his subjects of teaching the law and kindred branches, being at the present time a well known quiz-master for the students in Philadelphia. In 1894 Mr. Maher was appointed Examiner in Latin of candidates for admission to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Mr. Maher has been described by high authority as "an accomplished teacher and scholar." He was one of the originators of the Freelander Union, a beneficial society for the blind, of which for many years he was the president, and subsequently the treasurer. This society, in proportion to its membership and obligations, is financially
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.