History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 153

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162

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A sword was presented to each of them by Congress, with a brevet of captain. Lieut. Gibbons was afterwards promoted to the rank of major, continued in the service till the end of the war, and returned to private life deeply marked by honorable scars. He removed to Virginia, and was appointed by President Washington, United States col- lector of the port of Richmond. He was a warm Feder- alist, and when Jefferson was elected to the Presidency he was urged to remove Gibbons from the office, under the pretext that he had entertained at his house the friends of Aaron Burr during his trial. On being strongly pressed, Mr. Jefferson jocularly but peremptorily replied, " Remove the major ! I would sooner divide my last hoe-cake with him !" (Randall's " Life of Jefferson," vol. iii. p. 218.) The major died unmarried. There seems to be no record of the date of his death. John Hannum Gibbons, the eldest son of the second Joseph, dropped the final letter of his family name, and died in 1795, leaving one son, John Heysham Gibbon, who married Catharine Lardner, of Holmesburg, Pa. He was for many years assayer of the United States Mint in North Carolina, and died in Balti- more in 1869, leaving ten children. Gen. John Gibbon, United States army, who commanded a division during the war of the Rebellion, and was wounded at Gettysburg while in command of Hancock's corps, is one of his sons.

JAMES GIBBONS, eldest son of Thomas and Mary Gib- bons, was horn about the year 1776. He received a good ordinary English education at John Forsythe's school at Birmingham Meeting-house, and paid some attention to the Latin language under the tuition of his uncle, James Gib- bons. About the year 1799 he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Jacob Ehrenzeller, of West Chester, and attended a course of lectures at the University of Penn- sylvania. He practiced medicine about two years in West Chester and vicinity, as a successor of Dr. Ehrenzeller, having purchased the residence of Dr. Ehrenzeller, in West Chester, in 1803, when that physician retired to luis farm in West Goshen. His failing health induced him to retire from practice. Io 1805 he sold his residence to his brother- in-law, Dr. Moses Peirce, and after a lingering illness died Jan. 13, 1808. Dr. Gibbons, in the year 1802, married Sarah, daughter of Caleb and Hannah Peirce, and a grand- niece of Humphry Marshall. He left one child, a daughter, Hannah, who became the wife of Hon. John Edwards, and was considered one of the best-educated women of her day.

William Gibbons, a brother of Dr. James Gibbons, mar- ried, Dec. 27, 1827, Sarah Ann Brinton, daughter of Caleb Hill and Hannah (Bowen) Brinton. She afterwards be- came the wife of Marshall B. Hickman, and died Aug. 18, 1872. William died Oct. 18, 1832, aged fifty-four years. He was remarkably even-tempered, a good neighbor, and kind to the poor, of whom it is said one hundred came to take a last look at their friend when he died.

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

GILPIN, JOSEPH, of Dorchester, in the county of Ox- ford, weaver, son of Thomas Gilpin, of Warborough, in the same county, tallow-chandler, and Joan, his wife, was married, 12, 20, 1691, to Hannah, daughter of - and Alice Glover, of the county of Southampton. They came to Pennsylvania in 1695, and settled on a tract of land in Birmingham township, in Chester (now Delaware) County, which had been given to his wife by an uncle as a marriage present. Their first dwelling was a cave on the side of a hill, such as was frequently used by the early settlers until better structures could be provided. Its exact site can yet be pointed out on the farm late the property of John D. Gilpin, about one mile south of Dilworthstown. Some years thereafter he erected a frame dwelling-house on the site of the present residence of Elias Baker, a short distance west of the cave-dwelling, to which he removed, and where he resided during the remainder of his life. He died in the year 1739, at the age of seventy-five years, leaving to sur- vive him fifteen children and forty-five grandchildren.

The names and births of his children were as follows : 1. Hannah, b. 12, 15, 1692; m. William Seal. 2. Sam- uel, b. 4, 7, 1794; m. Jane Parker. 3. Rachel, b. 12, 12, 1695; in. Joshua Peirce. 4. Ruth, b. 6, 28, 1697; m. Joseph Mendenhall. 5. Lydia, b. 11, 11, 1698; m. Wil- liam Dean. 6. Thomas, b. 5, 23, 1700 ; m. Rebecca Men- denhall. 7. Ann, b. 5, 11, 1702; m. Joseph Miller. 8. Joseph, b. 1, 21, 1703; m. Mary Caldwell. 9. Sarah, b. 4,2, 1706; m. Peter Cook. 10. George, b. 2, 16, 1708; m. Ruth Caldwell. 11. Isaac, b. 1, 23, 1709; m. Mary Painter. 12. Moses, b. 1, 8, 1711; m. Ann Buffington. 13. Alice, b. 10, 7, 1714; m. Richard Eavenson. 14. Mary, b. 11, 16, 1716; m. Philip Taylor. 15. Esther, b. 1, 9, 1718; m. Samuel Painter.

The ancestry of this family can be traced in a direct line to Richard De Guylpio, who in the year 1206, during the reign of King John, became the owner of the manor of Kentmere, which was bestowed upon him by the baron of Kendal for deeds of prowess, and, as the name indicates, are of Norman extraction.

Thomas Gilpin (the son of Samuel) was born in the year 1728, on the property where his grandfather had set- tled. Soon after arriving at age he became the owner of property on the Brandywine, near to Wilmington, where he erected and established extensive mills. In 1752 he visited England for the purpose of obtaining information in re- gard to its trade with the colonies, which might be useful to him in his future business relations.

In 1764 he married a daughter of Joshua Fisher, then a wealthy and leading Quaker merchant in Philadelphia, which led to his settlement in that city, and his engaging in business. He possessed a decided taste for scientific pursuits, and devoted much of his leisure to its cultivation. He was one of the original members of the American Philosophical Society, and was very active in investigations which might be useful to his fellow-men. The information which he acquired he freely imparted by correspondence, in papers contributed to the Philosophical Society, and articles published in the journals of the day.

While thus devoting the quiet tenor of his life to his business pursuits, and to acquiring and imparting useful

information, and (in accordance with his Quaker principles) taking no part in the struggle which was going on between the colonies and the mother-country, he was, on Sept. 2, 1777, arrested at his place of business in Philadelphia, and placed in confinement, and subsequently, as already observed, exiled to Virginia, where he died March 2, 1778, just six months after his arrest. His constitution was not robust, and the hardships he suffered probably hastened his death.

He was a man of very superior mind, and possessed a character which should have shielded him from the unjust treatment which he received in his last days. His high sense of justice is showo in the fact that the evening before his death, a rough draft of his will being brought to him, in which it was said that " he, with a number of others, had been unjustly banished," he desirod the expres- sion to be erased, as it would seem to cast a reflection on the persons who had caused it. He had three brothers, all of whom favored the Revolutionary cause, and two of whom were officers in the American army.

lle left two sons, Joshua and Thomas Gilpin, both of whom rose to wealth and distinction. The sons of Joshua were Henry D. Gilpin, Esq., of Philadelphia, a prominent member of the bar; Thomas W. Gilpin, who was many years consul at Belfast; Richard A. Gilpin, formerly of Westtown township, Chester Co .; and Governor William Gilpin, of Colorado, who served in the army of the United States during the Florida and Mexican wars.

The farm in Birmingham where the emigrant ancestor settled remained in the Gilpin family until within a few years. That part of it on which the cave-dwelling was situated is now owned by Alban Harvey, and that part whereon he erected the frame dwelling by Elias Baker. In the year 1754 a brick building was erected adjoining this frame one, which was occupied by Gen. Howe as his head- quarters while the British army remained in the neighbor- hood, after the battle of Brandywine, in September, 1777. It then belonged to George Gilpin. This brick building is still standing, and forms part of the present residence of Elias Baker. The old frame erected by the emigrant was removed about the year 1835, and the present stone addi- tion built on its site. In tearing down the frame building, it was discovered that the outer walls had been filled, in its erection, with adobes, or sun-dried bricks.

GOODWIN .- At Chester Monthly Meeting, 12, 28, 1708, " Thomas Gooding Produceth a Good Certificate for himself and family from Rudholt perticular meeting, hee being Ingaidged to y" Ship could not stay untill the monthly meeting." IIe is said to have come from the parish of Llandewi-Brefi, in Cardiganshire, and his family consisted of his wife, Elizabeth, and children,-Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah, and Thomas, with whom he settled in Edgmont towoship, on land since of Everett Passmore. ITis eldest son, John, remained in Wales, and resided at Esgairgoch, a village about eight miles from Llanidloes, in Montgomeryshire ; was a minister among Friends, and he and his wife were well esteemed, having built a meeting-house and purchased the ground at their cost. John Goodwin died in 1763, aged about eighty-two years.

Thomas Goodwin, the father, died about -, and his wife 9, 10, 1739, aged eighty-seven.

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BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.

Of their children, Elizabeth married Peter Thomas in 1711, Mary married Thomas James in 1712, and Sarah married John Worrall in 1714. Mary and Sarah, as well as their brothers, were ministers, and in that capacity paid visits to Great Britain, and the latter died in Ireland while in that service.

Thomas Goodwin, Jr., born in Wales, 1694, was married 9, 12, 1729, at Newtown Meeting, to Ann, daughter of Richard Jones, of Goshen, and in 1749 settled on 230 acres of land in what is now East Goshen, west of the Gen- eral Greenc tavern. He was a minister, and paid religious visits to New England, 1755, the "lower counties" and Maryland in 1758-59, and, beside other journeys to the neighboring provinces, he went, in 1763, to Great Britain, whence he returned the next year. In 1768 he visited Friends in Ireland, and after his return was concerned in visiting such as held slaves, to dissuade them from the practice. He died 4, 16, 1775, and was buried on the 19th at Goshen.

The children of Thomas and Ann were John, m. to Naomi Potter, 1759; Thomas, m. to Mary Hall, 1759; Richard, m. at Middletown Meeting, 12, 8, 1757, to Lydia, daughter of Abraham Potter, of Sussex County ; Jane, m. to Thomas Massey; Isaac, unmarried; Elizabeth, died young ; Sarah, m. to Jesse Williams.

Thomas and Mary had children,-Elizabeth, Ezra, John, Susanna, George, Gideon, Jane, and Sarah. This family removed to Virginia in 1770, but returned to Chester County in 1777.

Richard Goodwin, born 8, 18, 1735, succeeded his father at the homestead. Lydia, his wife, was born 9, 18, 1738, and died 1, 22, 1810. Their children were Elisha, who m. Lucy Williams; Isaac, Enoch, and Mary, unmarried ; Naomi, m. to Francis Mechem ; Lydia, m. to Enos Wil- liamson ; Sarah, unmarried; and Thomas, b. 5, 21, 1778, who m. 1, 4, 1838, Phebe Miller, daughter of George and Mary Miller, of Upper Providence, Delaware Co. He died 7, 28, 1840, leaving an only child, Mary M., now the wife of Samuel R. Downing, and in whose possession the Goshen homestead remains. A view of the old homestead is given elsewhere, in connection with a picture of their present residence.

GRIFFEN, JOHN .- The Griffen family, who were all members of the religious Society of Friends, had lived for five generations in the same house, one of the oldest in America, in the township of Mamaroneck, Westchester Co., N. Y., where John, son of John Griffen, was born in 1812. In less than a year after his birth his father died. As the property left was small, his mother became a school- teacher, and in that capacity educated him until his four- teenth year, when he commenced attending a Friends' boarding-school at Nine Partners, Dutchess Co., N. Y.

After finishing his education he entered the mercantile establishment of an uncle in the city of New York, and re- mained with him until his majority. He then engaged in business with another uncle. Afterwards he was book- keeper. In 1843 he came to Pennsylvania, and was em- ployed as book-keeper in the iron-works and nail-factory of R. C. Nichols & Co., of Norristown. Here he developed his talent for engineering and mechanical pursuits, which

subsequently made him so celebrated as an engineer, in- ventor, and iron-master. He erected the iron-works of Moore & Hooven, of the same place, and while so engaged he conceived and successfully applied a novel method of using the waste heat from the heating- and puddling-fur- naces for generating the steam necessary to run the engines. In this way the entire steam-power necessary was produced without the use of any other fuel, all of which was lost under the old system. By this invention a mill could be run as cheaply as by water, while it is a decidedly better motor. While this idea had been before broached as a pos- sibility, to him must fairly be ascribed the merit of being the first to successfully apply it. He was commissioned in 1847 to construct the works of Reeves, Abbott & Co., at Safe Harbor ; his duties were mainly of an executive char- acter, and served to display his pre-eminent abilities. After the completion of the works he continued in their employ as superintendent until 1856, during which time he intro- duced the governor for controlling the speed of the steam- engines used in rolling irou,-a great desideratum, but theretofore considered to be impracticable ; and also ma- chinery to run the carriage transporting the rails to the saws, instead of using hand-labor. His well-known inven- tion for making wrought-iron cannon was also made here. Experiments were made to test the strength of these guns by the government; one of six hundred and twenty pounds (regulation weight nine hundred and eighty-eight pounds) was tried, which only burst after five hundred and sixty- eight discharges. The charges were gradually increased, the last three trials being with seven pounds of powder and thirteen balls, while the proof-charge for a bronze gun of the same calibre, but of nine hundred and eighty-eight pounds weight, is two pounds of powder, one wad, and one ball. Many hundreds of these guns, made by the Phoenix Iron Company aud known as the " Griffen Gun," were used during the Rebellion.

He went to Phoenixville from Safe Harbor in 1856, to take charge of the iron-works there, and remained until 1862. His next invention was for rolling the large wrought- iron beams used in buildings on the small rollers then in use, for which he obtained a patent in 1857, and which is now in successful operation. Thousands of tons of these beams are now made annually. For years he rolled the largest beams rolled in the world. He assigned all rights to this process, except that of employing it in any other mill with which he might be connected, to the Phoenix Iron Company.

In 1862 he engaged to erect the Buffalo Union Iron- Works for a firm engaged in the general iron manufacture and in making iron beams. These works, though built in 1862, are now among the best in America.

In 1867 he accepted the position of civil and mechanical engineer with the Phoenix Iron Company, and eighteen months later he was again placed in charge of the works at Phoenixville as general superintendent. In 1873 and 1874 he erected the new and large works for the company which are now in partial operation. They are equal to any in the world, though there are in Europe some larger. They cover nearly seven acres, and are exclusively used for the finishing of iron. They are the first mills in the world in

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA:

which compound high- and low-pressure vertical engines were introduced as the motive-power for roll-trains. The general plan of the mill-building and machinery was his own arrangement.

He was married in 1837 to Esther, daughter of Reuben Liggett, of New York, by whom he had five children, of whom only one survives. His first wife died in 1849; two years later he married her sister, by whom he had five children, four of whom are living. His eldest son, Robert, was a graduate of the Naval School, and was in the United States navy. He lost his life by yellow fever while in the service of his country.

Mr. Griffen was elected burgess of Phoenixville in 1857. Subsequently he became a member of the school board. On his acceptance of the latter office he found the facili-

decade of the last century, came from Philadelphia (where he was a mill burr-maker) to East Whiteland township. Here he purchased a thousand acres of land, cleared off the timber, put up many buildings, two grist-mills, a saw-mill, and made other valuable improvements. He married Cath- arine Miller, born at Millbaugh, in Lebanon County, where her father owned one of the oldest mills in the State, and once used as a fort for protecting the settlers from Indians. Catharine (Miller) Gunkle's paternal grandmother was a Miss Pechin, a Huguenot, who fled from France to escape persecutions, and married Martin Miller, an emigrant from Germany. Michael Gunkle left four sons,-John, Michael, William, and Daniel. His real estate was divided into three shares, Michael getting his proportion in other prop- erty. The Gunkle family is of German extraction, and

Daniel Sunkl

ties offered for education very inefficient ; he went to work to remedy the defects, and in a short time was largely in- strumental in the erection of the present fine school-houses. He designed and superintended their erection, and had the schools properly graded. He was unanimously re-elected as a school director, being the first person in the borough to receive that honor. He is one of the directors of the Phoenix Iron Company (of which he is general superin- tendent), and is also a member of the firm of Clarke, Reeves & Co., the celebrated bridge-builders. He is a good draughtsman, and has designed many of the finest residences in and about Phoenixville.

Mr. Griffen is a noble type of our free institutions, and illustrates the grand example of a poor boy rising by his genius and industry to distinction.

GUNKLE, MICHAEL, about the beginning of the last

Michael had two brothers, who settled in Ohio, from one of whom is descended ex-Congressman L. B. Gunkle, of Dayton, in that State. Michael Gunkle was a man of wonderful energy, an indomitable will, manifested great public spirit, and was highly esteemed.

DANIEL GUNKLE was married, Oct. 29, 1822, to Sarah Kugler, born July 15, 1803. She was the daughter of John and Harriet Kugler, of Lower Merion, Montgomery Co., granddaughter of Paul Kugler, and great-grand- daughter of a German emigrant who settled in Eastern Pennsylvania in the early part of the last century. To Daniel and Sarah (Kugler) Gunkle were born nine chil- dren,-George W., Dr. William H. (dec'd), Harriet C. (died young), Eliza C. (m. John Dunwoody), Michael M., Har- riet A. (m. Dr. Frank Rieser, of Berks County), John F., Victoria J. (m. Dr. John G. Thomas, of Delaware County),

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BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.

and Sarah S. Of the sons, George W. m. Louisa Watson, Dr. William H. m. Mary R. Ellmaker, and John F. m. A. Lizzie Davis.

Daniel Gunkle died Dec. 3, 1879, and his surviving widow resides on the homestead with her unmarried son, Michael M. Mr. Gunkle was well educated, having at- tended, besides the common schools, the famous school of Rev. Mr. Grier, at Brandywine Manor. He was a mem- ber of the East Whiteland Presbyterian Church. Though a miller by trade, he made farming his general avocation. He was interested in all public improvements, and was uni- versally respected in the community.

GARDNER, FRANCIS (1), came from Coleraine, Ire- land, in 1733, and settled at West Nantmeal, now Honey- brook township. He was a man of strong mind, sound sense, and determined will. His wife was a Wallace. They left five children,-Joseph, Andrew, John, Eleanor, and Francis, whose education was the best the country then afforded.

(1) Joseph Gardner was born in 1752. He was very fond of study, read medicine, and was one of the first grad- uates of the University of Pennsylvania. He was very popular as a physician and much esteemed as a man, and his field of practice extended from Honeybrook to Oxford. He was not only physician, but referee in family jars and neighborhood disputes. He married Isabella, daughter of Robert Cochran and Janet (Boyd) Cochran. In the Rev- olution he was an active man among the patriots of the county, and raised two companies of troops for the service, which were sent into the field. He was a member of As- sembly in the years 1776, 1777, and 1778, and was chosen a councilor in 1779. He was also a member of the Con- tinental Congress in 1784 and 1785. He resided in West Caln township, from whence he removed in 1792 to Elk- ton, Md., at the solicitation of an old friend, who was giv- ing up a large medical practice at that place. He died in 1794, at the age of forty-two years, and his wife in the same year, at the age of forty. They were buried at the church at Head of Christina, Del. (2) Andrew Gardner was a man of fine appearance, great energy of character, and an iron constitution. In the Revolution he joined Mor- gan's riflemen and became one of the captains of that cele- brated corps, and served throughout the war, retiring at its close with no possessions but his horse and equipments. He then settled near Pittsburgh, where he reared a large family. His descendants are numerous and scattered over the West. (3) John Gardner was a man of fine form and agreeable manners. He commanded a company of scouts in the Rev- olution, and was very daring, and many acts of bravery and feats of horsemanship were related of him by his contem- poraries long after the close of the war. He had two desperate encounters with the Doanes, one at the Warren tavern, and one at the Eagle, and he would frequently take his company long rides at night to break up meetings of Tories and outlaws. After the war, such was his popularity that he was unanimously elected sheriff of Chester County. At the expiration of his term of office he removed with his family to the South, and we have no further account of them. (4) Eleanor Gardner married Nathaniel Porter and removed to Washington County in its early settlement. Their descendants are now among its leading men. (5) Francis

Gardner was too young in Revolutionary days to engage in that contest. He married Violet Irwin and settled at Mc- Keesport, Pa., where many of his descendants still reside.

Dr. Joseph Gardner left three children,-Francis, Jane, and Robert Cochran. (1) Francis Gardner was born in 1774. He was a very precocions lad, a student from his childhood, and was a good Latin and Greek scholar at a very early age. He studied medicine, and graduated at the University of Pennsylvania. While his father remained in the county, he assisted him in his extensive practice, and afterwards continued on his own account. He was a mem- ber of a troop of horse that went to Western Pennsylvania to quell the Whisky Insurrection in 1794, when he was twenty years of age. He was subsequently a member of the Legislature two years. He was agreeable in his man- ners, was well read in literature, and one of the finest con- versationalists of the day. He was very popular with all classes of people, and his advice was much sought after in their difficulties. His home was in Sadsbury (now Valley) township, where he died Jan. 20, 1815, aged forty-one years, and was buried at St. John's churchyard, near Com- passville. (2) Jane Gardner, born in 1770, married John G. Parke, and died Oct. 14, 1832, leaving six sons, whose names are given in the account of the Parke family. She was a woman of pleasant manners and great decision of char- acter. (3) Robert C. Gardner, born in 1781, became a sea- faring man early in life. He was a captain in the merchant service, and made several voyages to Canton. He was at St. Domingo at the time of the massacre, escaped in an open boat, and was taken up by an American vessel lying outside. He subsequently returned to Pennsylvania in failing health and went to Bedford Springs, and died at Shippensburg on his return in 1808, and was buried there.

Dr. Francis Gardner left five children,-two sons and three daughters. The sons were Joseph and Thomas H. Joseph became a physician, and is now deceased. Thomas H. re- sides in Oxford, and is now (1881) eighty-three years of age.

GRIFFITH, BENONI, settled in Willistown, where he purchased 100 acres of land in 1716. He married Catha- rine, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Owen, and died about 1760. His widow was living in 1785. Their chil- dren were Elizabeth, b. 7, 6, 1720, m. 10, 10, 1742, to Uriah White; Nathan, b. 7, 21, 1722, probably died young, and another Nathan, b. 3, 2, 1724; Hannah ; Sarah, m. 4, 26, 1746, to Rees Morgan ; John, m. 5, 20, 1762, to Jane Yarnall; Ezekiel ; Rachel, m. 5, 11, 1757, to Joseph Randall.

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 153

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Number of Pages: 1162

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162