History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 159

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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Los Hemphill

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BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.

fied with important New York City measures, the State Survey Bill, reform in pilotage laws, free canal advocacy, speedy completion of unfinished insane asylums, etc., and was the author of the 'free canal resolutions,' the 'Hayes' Finance Bill,' and other notable measures."

JOHN HAYES, of Oxford, died in August, 1766, per- haps a son of Henry, of Marlborough. His widow, Mar- garet, died about 1783. Their children were David, John, Mary (m. James Dickey), Elizabeth (m. Walter Hood), Hannah, (m. William Bailey), Ann (m. William Starrett), Margaret (m. Robert Buntin). Hayesville takes its name from this family.

DR. NATHAN HAYES, son of Job and Sarah Hayes, was born in the township of West Marlborough, Chester Co., Feb. 5, 1787. He received a good common education in the vicinity of his birthplace, and at a later period acquired some knowledge of the Latin language. He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. T. Griffith, a practitioner in the village of Unionville ; but Dr. Griffith removing from the county before the preliminary studies of his pupil were completed, those studies were subsequently prosecuted under the direction of Wm. Baldwin, M.D., then of Wilmington, Del., and since known as the sagacious and indefatigable explorer of the botanical treasures of the Southern States. In the spring of 1808, Mr. Hayes received the degree of Doctor of Medicine in the University of Pennsylvania. The subject of his inaugural thesis was the " Modus Oper- andi of Medicines," and at the public examination on its merits the professor who had charge of it undertook to be severely critical : he made an abrupt and rather harsh at- tack upon some of the views advanced by the young candi- date, and as Mr. Hayes was remarkably quiet, unpretend- ing, and withal somewhat rustic in his manner, the pro- fessor evidently expected to abash and utterly disconcert the awkward-looking country student, who had thus ventured to entertain ideas not sanctioned by the school. But young Hayes was not the person to quail before mere human au- thority, nor to accept the dogmas of any school unques- tioned. Much to the surprise of the professor, as well as to the amusement of the numerous audience, he calmly un- dertook to " argufy the topic" with his critical teacher ; and. he maintained his positions with so much tact and resolution that it was deemed expedient, after an edifying trial of skill, to let the discussion drop, and permit the intractable candi- date to carry his opinions, as well as his diploma, with him to Chester County. The fact was, Dr. Hayes, with a sin- gularly cool, deliberate, unsophisticated, and rather unpol- ished manner, possessed an intellect of rare strength and shrewdness, with a fearless independence of character. He was always ready to discuss any topic, whether of profes- sional or general interest, and never hesitated to make known and vindicate his own views, either in public or in private.

On receiving the honors of the university, Dr. Hayes commenced the practice of medicine in the township of Edgmont, Delaware Co. At the end of about a year, how- ever, he removed to the neighborhood of Unionville, where he settled, built himself a handsome residence, and continued the practice of his profession during the remainder of his life. In the year 1812 he married Sarah, daughter of John - Lungren, of Chester Creek, Delaware Co., by whom he had

four children, among them Ferdinand E. Hayes, Esq., now deceased.

Dr. Hayes was constitutionally somewhat predisposed to pulmonary consumption, to which formidable disease he fell a victim in the month of July, 1819. Thus was cut off, in the flower of his age, one of the most sagacious and promising members of the medical profession which the county of Chester has produced. One who knew him well closed an obituary notice of him with these appropriate words : "Men of genius, tread lightly on his ashes, for he was your kinsman."

HEMPHILL, JOSEPH, son of Joseph and Ann (Wills) Hemphill, was born in the township of Thornbury, Chester Co., Pa., Jan. 7, 1770. The county was subsequently di- vided, by which event the larger portion of the township, including the birthplace of Mr. Hemphill, was taken into what is now the county of Delaware.

Alexander Hemphill, the grandfather of our subject, came from the county Derry, Ireland; when his son Joseph was about eight years of age, and settled in Chester County, aforesaid, where that son became the industrious proprietor of a valuable farm and the father of eight children.

Our Joseph (the grandson of Alexander), in 1788, was placed in a grammar-school then recently established at West Chester (the new seat of justice in the county), to be prepared to enter the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated in the university in 1791, and the theme of his speech at commencement, indicative of his humane disposi- tion, was the impolicy and unnatural severity of imprison- ment for debt. Soon after graduating he began the study of law under the direction of the late Thomas Ross, Esq., one of the fathers of the West Chester bar. In August, 1793, he was admitted to practice in the courts of Chester County. His obliging disposition and remarkably bland manners speedily secured to him many friends, and he suc- ceeded, in the commencement of his practice, far beyond his own expectations.

About this period his father died intestate. Joseph had then accumulated little or nothing in the way of fortune, but, believing he could gain a respectable living by his pro- fession, he declined the acceptance of any part of the estate, and gave releases to his brothers and sisters.

Early in his career he became a zealous advocate of in- ternal improvements, and at a public meeting made a speech, in which he took an enlarged view of the subject, anticipating the rise of a great country in the West, and the appearance of populous cities on the borders of the lakes. Many who were then incredulous listeners to his glowing descriptions lived to see them extensively realized. In 1797, Mr. Hemphill was elected a member of Assembly, and was continued for three years. In his first session he succeeded in obtaining the passage of a law for the erection of a poor-house in Chester County, which was the first one authorized by law in any of the counties. He was an active member, and aided in promoting the final compromise of the Wyoming controversy. In 1800 he was elected to the Seventh Congress of the United States, from the dis- trict composed of the counties of Chester and Delaware. His appearance in the councils of the nation was in the first session of Jefferson's administration. Mr. Hemphill

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

was opposed to the repeal of the judiciary law which had been passed near the close of Adams' administration ; and he made a speech against the measure, which was much admired for its argumentative power and persuasive elo- quence. It was considered as highly promising for the first essay of a young member. It was, however, his only effort of the kind during that Congress; and as lie was not returned to that body until some years afterwards, his intimate friends, in allusion to a well-known instance of a member of the British Parliament, used jocularly to call him " Single-Speech Hemphill." At a subsequent period, and while a representative from Philadelphia, he made a number of able and instructive speeches. Before the ex- piration of the term of the Seventh Congress Mr. Hemp- hill removed to Philadelphia, where he continued to reside during the remainder of his life. In 1805 he was elected to the State Legislature, where he was instrumental in ef- fecting several important and valuable modifications of our judicial system. In - September, 1806, he married Mar- garet, daughter of the Hon. Robert Coleman, of Lancaster, Pa. In those days, and until 1811, when his other en- gagements permitted, Mr. Hemphill practiced law in the counties of Chester and Delaware. He was engaged in nearly all the important cases, and was remarkably success- ful. He had the art, in an eminent degree, of making his cause plain and simple, reducing complicated questions to the level of a common understanding. He was particularly distinguished for a bland, persuasive style and candid, win- ning manner, by which an advocate most surely reaches the hearts and gains the confidence of a jury. Those were times of high party excitement, but Mr. Hemphill never experienced any cessation of private esteem from political opponents. Though a decided Federalist, many of his best personal friends belonged to the Democratic party, and in business, applications were as frequently made to him from one side as the other. By an act of March 30, 1811, a new court, styled the District Court for the City and County of Philadelphia, was established for six years, to be com- posed of a president and two assistant judges. Simon Snyder, as decided a Democratic Governor as was ever elected in the State, commissioned Mr. Hemphill president of the court. At the expiration of the six years (a most laborious term) the court was continued, and Judge Hemp- hill was recommissioned as president. He served in that station nearly eight years, and soon after his resignation (induced by delicate health and weak eyes) he was elected a representative in the Sixteenth Congress. During the first session of this, his second term in Congress, he was appointed chairman of the Committee on the Slave-Trade. At this session, also, the exciting discussion on the attempt to restrict slavery in Missouri took place, in which Judge Hemphill took a distinguished part. The advocates of re- striction were much gratified with it, and the suavity of his manner was such that the opponents of the measure could take no offense at his course.

While in Congress Judge Hemphill, in conjunction with the Hon. Charles Fenton Mercer, of Virginia, labored zeal- ously for the suppression of the African slave-trade; and they united in a report on the enormities of the traffic, which was eulogized in the Edinburgh Review and the

British House of Commons; also, and more especially, in a letter from Mr. Wilberforce, a member of Parliament, ad- dressed to William Lowndes, an amiable and patriotic states- man of South Carolina. In February, 1823, Gen. Mercer introduced a resolution denouncing the slave-trade as piracy, which passed the House by a vote of 131 to 9.

The lahors of Judge Hemphill in behalf of every meas- ure calculated to promote the prosperity and exalt the char- acter of the republic were as gratifying to his constituents as they were honorable to himself. He was ever ready to aid in the good work of improving the condition of our country, whether by fostering human freedom, encouraging the national industry, making roads and canals, improving . our rivers, or protecting our harbors by the construction of breakwaters. Every enterprise calculated to enhance our welfare found in him a ready advocate and a steadfast friend. He also cordially favored the enactments for re- lieving the wants of the war-worn veterans of the Revolu- tion.

In politics Joseph Hemphill was mild, but without dis- guise or concealment. Elected mainly by the old Federal party, he nevertheless voted during his second period in Congress, with but few exceptions, with the majority of the representatives from Pennsylvania. In a speech in his place in 1825 he remarked, "During the six years I have been here I have never given a vote to embarrass the administration." In 1827 he made a voyage to the Old World, visiting, in his tour, the most interesting countries of Europe. After his return, the interest felt in the national industry induced him to engage in the manufac- ture of porcelain, but the enterprise was unsuccessful. In the latter years of his life Mr. Hemphill's health became very infirm, and he died May 29, 1842, iu the seventy- third year of his age. His remains repose in the cemetery at Laurel Hill, Philadelphia.

WILLIAM HEMPHILL, born Dec. 6, 1776, son of Joseph and Ann, married Ann, daughter of Col. Joseph McClel- lan, born Aug. 15, 1787, by whom he had four children,- James A., Joseph, Elizabeth (b. Jan. 26, 1810, m. to Dr. Wilmer Worthington), and Keziah (m. to Judge Bell).

JOSEPH HEMPHILL, second son of William and Ann (McClellan) Hemphill, was born in West Chester, Dec. 7, 1807. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, the Hemphills having come to this country from the town of Newtown Limavady, county Londonderry, Ireland.

Among his teachers in his youth were Jonathan Gause and Joshua Hoopes, of West Chester, and James W. Rob- bins, of Lenox, Mass. He read law with his brother-in- law, Hon. Thomas S. Bell, and was admitted to the bar Aug. 3, 1829. He held the office of deputy attorney-gen- eral for Chester County during the entire administration of Governor David R. Porter, from January, 1839, to Jan- uary, 1845, when he declined a reappointment. He was married Nov. 22, 1841, to Catharine Elizabeth Dallett, daughter of Elijah and Judith Dallett, of Philadelphia.

From the time of his admission to the bar to his death, Feb. 11, 1870, he was engaged in the practice of the law. Belonging to a family that was attached to the legal pro- fession, Mr. Hemphill worthily maintained the forensic distinction they had acquired. His career as a lawyer,

BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.

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which extended through a period of forty years, was charac- terized by a remarkable degree of fairness towards an op- ponent in the trial of a cause, a quiet yet resolute bearing, close attention to the details of the case in hand, and the most watchful care over the interests of his clients. His interrogation of witnesses was wholly free from a hectoring and overbearing manner, while he was adroit and perse- vering in his efforts to elicit the truth and to expose pre- varicating hesitancy. In addressing a jury his manner was at once subdued and forcible, and the precision with which his statement of facts was made, and the logical mode in which his arguments to the court were presented, excited the admiration of his fellow-members of the bar. It was said of him that he never entered upon the trial of a cause without the most careful preparation, and when the cases

and to Congress, and once for president judge of the judi- cial district composed of Chester and Delaware Counties. At different times he was a director in the banks of West Chester, where his duties were discharged with ability.

After the cares of business he delighted in conversa- tion with his family and friends, and his house was the home of a generous hospitality. Few men in the com- munity in which he lived had more attached friends, and none were more worthy of them.

His life was one of unsullied honor, of incorruptible integrity, of unselfishness, and of perseverance in what he deemed to be right, and he had a freedom from arrogance of bearing, a uniform gentleness of manner and equality of temper in all the varied scenes of life, which endeared him to all who knew him.

DR. FREDERICK WILLIAM HECKEL, SR.

in which he was concerned were called for trial, he was never found to be a laggard from want of previous atten- tion, but was ever ready to proceed with becoming prompti- tude. Wholly free from rant or vociferation, when deeply interested in an important case his manner of delivery was forcible, and his language was marked by purity and gram- matical accuracy.

He was not only a sound and well-read lawyer, but an excellent belles-lettres scholar. He took a deep interest in public events, and his mind was stored with contemporaneous history, both local and general. In politics he acted with the Democratic party, and for forty years had taken a lead- ing part in its counsels, speaking at public meetings and supporting its nominations. But his patriotism rose above party, and he hesitated not to rebuke it when it was in con- flict with his sense of duty. He enjoyed every mark of confidence from his party friends, having been nominated on several occasions for representative to the Legislature

He left six children to survive him,-1. Joseph ; 2. Ella, married John Dallett ; 3. Elijah Dallett ; 4. Ann, married Albin Garrett; 5. Catharine Dallett, married John S. Wilson ; and 6. William. His son, Joseph Hemphill, is a member of the bar of Chester County, and was a mem- ber of the Constitutional Convention of Pennsylvania of 1872-73.

HECKEL, SR., DR. FREDERICK WILLIAM, was born at Saarbruck, on a branch of the Rhine, in Germany, and on the line between Bavaria and Lothringia, in January, 1800. He left his native land contrary to the wishes of friends, and, being a liberalist in opinion, came to America, in 1823, to seek a new home under a free and better gov- ernment. After traveling extensively over this country he finally settled, in 1825, in East Vincent township, in this county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, comprising the present homestead farm of his son, Dr. F. W. Heckel. He had studied medicine in the best

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

schools of Germany, and immediately began the practice of his profession in his new home. He married, May 17, 1825, Margaret, daughter of John Barnard Bowers, of Fort Washington, N. Y. Her father was an educated German, who left his Fatherland on account of political pro- scription, settled in New York, and was a friend of John Jacob Astor, then rising into wealth and prominence. Their children were Louisa Rosanna, m. Dr. Charles Zeller ; Dr. Frederick William; Mary Matilda, deceased ; Chas. Augustus, who became a noted physician, and died in 1877 ; Dr. Edward Bowers; and Emma Augusta, deceased. Dr. Heckel practiced medicine from 1825 to his death, June 30, 1861, with the exception of a few years, when ill health prevented. He was one of the most active practitioners and prominent men in northern Chester County. He was

whose genial nature not only aided and cheered his life, but gained her troops of warm friends.

DR. FREDERICK WILLIAM HECKEL, JR. (one of the most successful practitioners of medicine in Chester County), of East Vincent township, was born Feb. 24, 1829, on the Heckel homestead, part of which is now owned by him. He received a thorough academic education, in which he was greatly assisted at home by his father, Dr. F. W. Heckel, Sr. He began studying medicine in his seven- teenth year, reading with his father and Dr. Charles Fronefield, late of Philadelphia ; attended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, in which he was graduated April 7, 1849, the youngest of his class; and received bis diploma from the fathers of medicine in America. He spent one year in partnership with his father, and then, in

Meckel

identified with the Democratic party, which often honored him with nominations, but which the large majority of the opposite party rendered futile. A finished German and French scholar, he was also erudite in varied learning and the classics,-in short, one of the best-read men in the county. In all branches of medicine and surgery he was proficient. He came to the county a stranger, but his ability, suavity of manner, and learning soon brought him a large and lu- crative practice. A Lutheran in religious conviction, he was a Christian in the broadest sense, and free from secta- rian bias. For many years an invalid, he was prevented from taking the lead in public affairs in this part of the State, for which his executive ability and learning so nota- bly fitted him. His wife, Margaret (Bowers), survived him eight years, and died in 1869. She was a lady of re- markable and varied accomplishments, a loving helpmate,

his native township, began practice by himself. There he remained, in a constantly increasing practice, until 1858, when he removed to his farm near Phoenixville, which he had shortly before purchased. After the death of his father, in 1861, he removed to his present residence, where he has since resided, engaged in the practice of a profes- sion he adorns by his learning and skill. In September, 1862, he was commissioned as assistant surgeon in the 5th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and in December following was pro- moted to be surgeon, and ordered to take charge of the medical department of the 165th Pennsylvania Infantry, with which he served until it was mustered out, acting part of the time as brigade surgeon. He was married July 4, 1852, to Henrietta H., daughter of Isaac and Mary (Hoffman) Chrisman, of Schuylkill township. She died Nov. 26, 1876, and he was the second time married, Feb.

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13, 1878, to Emmeline, daughter of Michael and Rebecca (Brooke) Towers, by whom he has one son, Frederick T. He has taken an active part in politics, and was the Demo- cratic candidate for State senator in 1880, and received the largest vote of any one upon his State or county ticket. His voice was frequently heard upon the stump in the Presi- dential canvass of 1880, and his speeches added largely to his reputation as a man of ability. As a member of Spring City Lodge, No. 553, took the symbolical degrees of Ma- sonry in 1874, and is also a member of the Lutheran Church. The doctor is a gentleman of broad and liberal views, and is highly esteemed in the community. He has an elegant home, with pleasant surroundings, where he and his accom- plished wife are noted for their hospitality.

HENDERSON, JOHN, of New London, married Mar- garet, daughter of Susanna Mckean and aunt of Governor Mckean. He was from the north of Ireland, as were the most of the settlers in that township. Edward Henderson, of New London, who died in 1732, mentions in his will his brothers John and David. John and Margaret Hen- derson had children,-Andrew, the eldest son ; Edward, John, Elizabeth, married a Hall ; and Margaret, married to a Crawford. John removed to Kentucky, where a town- ship was named for him.

Andrew married Elizabeth Finney, daughter of William, and sister of Judge Walter Finney, and died in New Loo- don in 1762. Their children were John, William, Thomas, Andrew, and Elizabeth, who married William Carlisle. William and Andrew were officers in the Revolution, and the first a member of Assembly. They settled in Hunting- don County, where Andrew was for a long time prothono- tary. Thomas was drafted and served in the Revolution. His mother during the Valley Forge encampment took her stock of blankets and stockings there and gave them to the soldiers. She died in 1816, aged eighty-eight years. Thomas married Jane Evans, daughter of Col. Evan Evans, of London Britain. . He was for a long time a magistrate and a highly-esteemed citizen ; died Feb. 8, 1823, aged about sixty-six years. He left six daughters,-Margaret E. and others,-who sold the farm about twenty years ago, which had been in the family since the first settlement, and removed to Wilmington, Del.

HIBBERD, JOSIAH, resided in Darby, and Nov. 9, 1698, married Ann Bonsall. This marriage was not ac- complished according to Friends' rules, because the bride's father would not give his consent, and at that time it was thought that the meeting could not in any case allow a marriage without parents were consenting.

The children of Josiah and Ann, with the years of their births, were as follows : John, 1699; Joseph, 1700; Jo- siah, 1701; Abraham, 1703; Mary, 1705; Benjamin, 1707; Elizabeth, 1708; Sarah, 1710; Isaac, 1712 or 1713; Ann, 1715; Jacob, 1718.

John settled in Willistown, having a certificate of mem- bership from Darby to Goshen Meeting, dated 9th mo. 6, 1728, and the following year was married, at Newtown Meeting, to Deborah, daughter of Lewis and Mary Lewis, of Newtown. She died in 1744, and on the 30th of 11th mo., 1745 or '46, he was married to a second wife, Mary, daughter of Benjamin Mendenhall. She died in 1760,

and he in 1766. By his first wife his children were Abraham, Ann, Phineas, John, and Samuel ; by the second, Deborah, Lydia, Mary, Jacob, Martha, Amos, and Abra- ham. The first Abraham "passed meeting" with Mary Hoopes, but the marriage was prevented by his death in the 11th month, 1758, and his name was given to a son born a few weeks after.

Benjamin Hibberd obtained a certificate from Darby to Goshen in 1732, and settled in Willistown (where his brother John had preceded him four or five years), and in the same year married Phebe Sharpless, by whom he had children,-Josiah, Jane, Hannah, Joseph, Benjamin, Caleb, and Phebe.

Benjamin Hibberd (son of Benjamin) was the father of Amos, whose son Enos is the present owner of the home- stead.

Josiah Hibberd's son John lived on and owned the land now occupied by William Evans and Franklin Leonard. He left two sons, Samuel (who was a scythe- and, sickle- maker) and Phineas, who owned the farm where Franklin Leonard lives. He had no children, and left his farm to Abner Barrett. Samuel was the father of Nanny Evans (mother of Hibberd Evans). All these farms, and that where Caleb Hibberd lived (grandfather to Walter Hih- bard), were purchased by Josiah Hibberd before he left England. The indenture was made April 5, 1682, which is some months before William Penn landed at Chester.

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 159

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