History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 191

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches > Part 191

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Joseph married Mary, daughter of Col. Persifor Frazer, of Thornbury, then Chester, but now Delaware County. They had several children, among them Hon. Persifor Frazer Smith, a member of the bar of Chester County. The latter was educated in Philadelphia, principally in the classical schools of Samuel B. Wylie and Joseph P. Engles, and graduated at the University of Pennsylvania, July 31, 1823. He then read law with William H. Dillingham, Esq., in West Chester, and was admitted to the bar at No- vember term, 1829. He married, July 24, 1833, Thom- asine S., daughter of Dr. George A. Fairlamb, of Downing- town. In May, 1835, he was appointed by Governor Wolf clerk of the Orphans' Court of Chester County, and in 1839, by O. F. Johnson, attorney-general under Governor Porter, prosecuting attorney for Delaware County. Mr. Smith has always maintained a very high position at the bar, and has long been one of its recognized leaders. His opinions on the perplexing questions constantly arising in the practice of the law are eagerly sought for by his professional breth- ren and clients, and are highly esteemed. He was a stanch supporter of the Union cause during the war of the Rebel-

lion, and was a member of the Legislature in the sessions of 1862, '63, and '64, during its progress. He was reporter of the decisions of the Supreme Court from 1865 to 1876.

GEN. GEORGE FAIRLAMB SMITH was born in West Chester, Feb. 28, 1840, and was a son of Persifor Frazer and Thomasine (Fairlamb) Smith. He received his preparatory education at the West Chester Academy, and graduated with honor at Yale College in 1858. He then entered on the study of the law with his father, but before his admis- sion to the bar the war of the Rebellion burst upon the land, and his heart filling with a sense of duty to his country, he threw down his books and was one of the very first in Chester County to enroll himself to stand by and defend the old flag.

He enlisted in 1861 as a private in Capt. B. H. Sweney's company, which subsequently was assigned to letter "G," in the 2d Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, three months' service. It left West Chester April 18th, and was regularly mustered into the United States service at Harrisburg on April 20th. Shortly after the muster Private Smith was de- tailed to the position of quartermaster of the regiment, and in a little while was regularly commissioned, his rank being first lieutenant.

At the expiration of the term of enlistment of the 2d Regiment he returned home and recruited a company for the three years' service, which was assigned to the position of Company B, in the 49th Pennsylvania Volunteers, Col. William H. Irwin commanding. On July 16th he resigned the captaincy of his company for the purpose of accepting the majorship of the 61st Regiment Pennsylvania Volun- teers, his promotion taking effect March 15th of that year.

While serving in this position he received a dangerous wound at the battle of Fair Oaks, and was taken prisoner. He was conveyed to Libby prison, where he was kept one week, and then removed to Salisbury, N. C., where he was retained three months. At this same battle his colonel was killed and lieutenant-colonel wounded, which leaving a va- cancy in the staff, he was duly promoted to the lieutenant- colonelcy of his regiment on June 1, 1862, and on March 21, 1864, was advanced to the colonelcy of the same, Col. Spear having in the mean time been killed at Chancellorsville. In this position he remained, faithfully and bravely doing his duty until Sept. 7, 1864, when he was mustered out by reason of the term of his three years' enlistment expiring. Sept. 29, 1864, he was recommissioned, and upon special order was discharged April 20, 1865.

He was severely wounded May 12th in the battle of the Wilderness, and brought home, where he remained under the care of Dr. Worthington for about four months, and during this time he was admitted to practice at the bar of Chester County, but returned to his command as soon as able to do so, and remained there until he was discharged at the time we have above stated.

He was elected to the office of district attorney in 1872, the duties of which he discharged with credit to himself and county for the term of three years.

In 1874 he was chosen by the Republicans of the Mid- dle District of Chester County to represent them in the State Legislature, in which he was a conspicuous member for a period of two years.

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

In 1875, Governor Hartranft appointed him an aide upon his staff, with the rank of colonel, and upon the appointment of Judge Yerkes to the bench in Philadelphia, the Governer appointed him judge-advocate-general upon his staff, which position he held until the time of his death.

He was also appointed by Governor Hartranft one of the commission to select and locate a site for the Insane Asy- lum for Chester, Bucks, Delaware, and Montgomery Coun- ties, and in which he labered assiduously, giving the matter all the attention at his cemmand.

As a citizen, he was looked up to as active, careful, con- scientious, and trustworthy, and in all public matters he never was found lacking in the performance of any duty that presented itself for him to perform.

As a lawyer, he occupied an enviable position, and as a consequence his practice was large and proportionately re- munerative. He was an able speaker and sound reasoner, and, in a word, was a man in advance of his years.

In politics he was an earnest, untiring, and devoted ad- vocate of the Republican party, and gave his voice and en- ergies to the cause he so conscientiously espoused.

He died Oct. 18, 1877, and was interred with military and Masonic honors in the Oaklands Cemetery, near West Chester.

REV. ROBERT SMITH, D.D., was born in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1723; came with his parents when a child to this country, and settled on the head-waters of the Brandy- wine, in the Brandywine settlement, Chester Co., where he grew up to manhood. He was educated at the celebrated school of Samuel Blair, at Fagg's Manor, and was licensed to preach Dec. 27, 1749. On May 22, 1750, he married Elizabeth Blair, a sister of his preceptor, a lady of high intellectual endowments, and fitted to grace the most ex- alted station in society. March 26, 1751, he was installed pastor of the Pequea Presbyterian Church, in Lancaster County, near the Chester County line, with a portion of his congregation residing in Chester County.

At this place he established a classical and theological institution of a high character, which was resorted to by a large number of young men from Pennsylvania and other provinces, many of whom were afterwards distinguished in the different professions, and occupied positions of great usefulness in the country. The school was prolific in valu- able men.

Here was laid the foundation of the eminence of his two sons, Rev. Samuel Stanhope Smith, D.D., who was the first president of Hampden-Sidney College, in Virginia, and afterwards succeeded Dr. Witherspoon as president of Princeton College, N. J., and Rev. John Blair Smith, D.D., who succeeded his brother as president of Hampden- Sidney College, and was afterwards the first president of Union College, Schenectady.

It is difficult to estimate the advantages to society and the country from the maintenance of such schools as those of Alison, Blair, Finley, Smith, and others. Their influ- ence, established and conducted as they were in the early history of the province, was of great usefulness to the in- habitants, not only of Pennsylvania, but of other provinces. They were sought by young men with ability of a high order, and they there received a classical and scientific edu-

cation which prepared them for high places in the various professions.

After a life of great labor and usefulness, and a pastorate of forty-two years, he died at Rockville, Chester Co., April 15, 1793, at the age of seventy-one years. He was return- ing from Philadelphia, and had tarried at Rockville over Saturday night, and the next morning started to go to his church. As the congregation of Brandywine Manor were assembling, they found him lying by the roadside, with his faithful horse standing beside him. He did not long sur- vive.

Rev. JOSEPH SMITH was born in Nottingham, Chester Co., Pa., in 1736, of English parents. He graduated at Princeton College in 1764, and was licensed by the Presby- tery of New Castle, Aug. 5, 1767. He was installed pastor of the church of Lower Brandywine, in Delaware, April 19, 1769, and of the Second Church, in Wilmington, Oct. 27, 1774. In 1779 he received a call from Cross Creek and Buffalo Churches, in Western Pennsylvania, and in 1780 became their pastor. Here he spent the remainder of his life, twelve years.

His family underwent the usual perils and trials of fron- tier life, and sometimes were compelled to retire te ferts er block-houses to protect themselves from the merciless tom- ahawk.

He was an able coadjutor of Dr. Power and Dr. McMil- lan in the great Western field of ministerial labor. He was a thorough classical scholar of well-disciplined mind, and eminently successful in all his undertakings.

He opened a school at Upper Buffalo, in Washington Ce., Pa., for the theological education of young men. He had a small building in the corner of his garden called "the students' room." In this, and the "log cabin" of Dr. McMillan, were educated some men who became dis- tinguished for their influence and usefulness in society and in the church of which they were members. This school was subsequently transferred and organized near Canons- burg, and out of it was raised Jefferson College.

Much praise is due to these men, who opened these fruit- ful sources of instruction for our infant country at so early a period of its settlement.

Joseph Smith died April 19, 1792, at the age of fifty- six years.

JOSEPH SMITH, of Oxford township, died in 1760. The name of his wife was Isabel, and his children were Robert, John, Mary, wife of Robert Fulton (and mother of the inventor), Elizabeth, wife of James Cresswell, Isabel, Esther, Martha, Joseph, and Abram.

Robert Smith, son of the above, was a resident of Lower Oxford, and for many years a justice of the peace and of the Common Pleas. He died about the year 1812, leaving a number of children. In his will he ordered that no spirits of any kind should be made use of at his wake or funeral.

SPACKMAN, ISAAC, a worsted-comber, resided at a small village called Hankerten, near Malmsbury, in Wilt- shire, England, where he died about the year 1746, leaving a widow, Esther, and seven children in straitened circum- stances. In 1750, William Beale, who had settled in Whiteland, Chester Co., a brother of the widow, visited

RESIDENCE OF R. B. SMEDLEY, WILLISTOWN.

RESIDENCE OF THOMAS F. SCATTERGOOD, WEST BRADFORD.

"PLEASANTVILLE." RESIDENCE OF CHARLES T. STARR, FLORIST, CARNATION PINK AND TUBEROSE GROWER, AVONDALE.

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BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.

England, and brought four of the children-Thomas, Mary, Elizabeth, and Isaac-back with him. They were bound out to service for a length of time to pay for their passage. Their brother George also came over some years later, and resided in Wilmington. The children of Isaac and Esther Spackman were as follows: Thomas, b. Dec. 18, 1728, d. 10, 24, 1810 ; Mary, b. Dec. 26, 1733, d. 5, 27, 1813, m. James Kenny ; Elizabeth, b. Sept. 21, 1735, d. 8, 25, 1796, m. Joseph Hawley, of West Bradford; Hester, b. July 19, 1738, remained in England ; Isaac, b. Nov. 21, 1739, d. 4, 15, 1823 ; George, b. Jan. 20, 1741, d. 9, 4, 1798; Susanna, b. Oct. 17, 1743, remained in England.

Thomas Spackman married Jane Wollerton, and settled in East Bradford in 1761. He built a mill in that year on Valley Creek, now belonging to Alfred Grubb, and left children,-George, Isaac, Hester, Thomas, Sarah, Daniel, Rachel, Elizabeth, and Mary. The son, Thomas, married Deborah Cope, 3, 19, 1795, and was the father of George Spackman, of West Chester, now deceased, and others.

Isaac Spackman married, 4, 21, 1768, Susanna Clayton, of West Bradford, and settled in East Caln. His children were George, Ann, James, Isaac. Mary, m. to William Davis ; Susanna, m. to John Michener; Thomas, and Edith. Of these, Thomas was the father of Isaac Spackman, secre- tary of the Chester County Mutual Fire Insurance Company.

Those of the family who came from England, with the exception of Thomas, became Friends after their arrival in this country.

SPEAKMAN, THOMAS, of Reading, in Berkshire, England, with the approbation of Friends and consent of his mother, Elizabeth, came to Pennsylvania in 1712, and settled then or shortly after in Londongrove township. He married, in 1714, Ann -, and afterwards became a minister among Friends. He died 5, 15, 1732, leaving children,-Hugh, Thomas, Ebenezer, Micajah, Joshua, and Ann, married to Nicholas Newlin, of Concord. Ebenezer Speakman married Mary Hayes, and was the father of George, Joshua, Jacob, Lydia, m. to Richard Ladley; Mary, m. to Joseph Baker ; and Margaret, m. to Job Hayes. He died 3, 25, 1809, in his eighty-fifth year, and his widow 9, 20, 1810, in her eighty-third year.

Micajah Speakman settled in Concord, and married, 4, 22, 1752, Mary Griffith, from Wales. 'She died 11, 28, 1774, and he married, 5, 23, 1781, Phebe Yarnall, a widow and a minister, who paid a lengthy religious visit to Eng- land, 1796-1800. Micajah Speakman, Jr., was the father of Stephen, Phebe Ann, m. to Isaac W. Van Leer; Wil- liam A., Rebecca S., Sarah A., m. to J. Miller McKim.

STARR, JOHN, whose father is said to have served in the Parliamentary army as a captain of infantry, and after- wards removed to Ireland, resided at Oldcastle, in the county of Meath. By Mary, his wife, he had children,- John, b. 7th mo., 1674 ; James, b. 10, 28, 1676 ; George, b. 2, 16, 1679 ; Mary, b. 7, 15, 1682; Elizabeth, b. 9, 12, 1684; Susannah, b. 9, 23, 1686 ; Jeremiah, b. 8, 17, 1690 ; Moses, b. 8, 27, 1692 ; Isaac, b. 9, 23, 1697.

Of these, James, with Rachel, his wife, came to Penn- sylvania in 1712, and settled in New Garden, afterwards removing to the site of Phoenixville. Jeremiah married,

11, 10, 1716, Rebecca Jackson, b. 3, 25, 1697, daughter of Isaac and Ann, and towards the close of the year 1717 came to Chester County and settled in Londongrove, a little northwest of Avondale.

Moses Starr married, 6, 2, 1715, at Oldcastle Meeting, Deborah King, daughter of Merrick King, of that place. They came over with Jeremiah and his wife, and after a time removed to Maiden Creek, Berks Co., of which county he was the first, and for a time the only, representative in Assembly.

Isaac Starr, the youngest brother, also came over, and married, 12, 20, 1723, Margaret, daughter of Thomas Lightfoot, by whom he had several children. Of Jere- miah's six children, Moses married Sarah, daughter of Michael and Hannah (Maris) Harlan, 3d mo. 19, 1760, and had four children, of whom Jeremiah was born 9th mo. 16, 1762. He married Anne, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Whitson, of Sadsbury township. He died 3d mo. 12, 1816, and she 5th mo. 4, 1818. Of their six children, Jeremiah, born 7th mo. 5, 1798, married Mary, daughter of Eli and Sarah (Scarlett) Thompson, 10th mo. 11, 1827. She was born 5th mo. 15, 1810. He died 4th mo. 17, 1876. Of their seven children, Charles Thomp- son, the youngest, was born 8th mo. 23, 1846, and married Emma F., daughter of William L. Chandler, of New Garden township, 9th mo. 9, 1874. Their three children are Wil- liam C., Lilian, aud Chester Thompson. Jeremiah Starr, the emigrant, settled in Londongrove township, his son Moses in New Garden, about 1760, on a tract of two hun- dred and eleven acres, on which his son Jeremiah lived, also Jeremiah, son of the last, and on part of which (forty-eight acres) Charles T. Starr resides. His house was built by his father in 1823. The mother of Charles T. was a grand- daughter of John Scarlett, who married Mary, daughter of Joseph and Mary Dixon. John was the son of Nathaniel Scarlett, who married Hannah Dutton. Nathaniel was a son of Humphrey Scarlett. Charles Starr is the proprietor of the " Pleasantville Green-houses," in New Garden town- ship, two miles from Avondale, on the Philadelphia and Baltimore Central Railroad. He is one of the most suc- cessful florists in the State, and especially noted as a tube- rose-grower. He makes a specialty of carnation pinks, which, with his other innumerable varieties, he ships by mail to all parts of the country. His plants and bulbs, put up in small packages, are usually transported through the mails. From small beginnings he has extended his green-houses and establishment to large proportions, and docs annually an extensive business.

STAUFFER, FRANK H., a resident of Berwyn, and prominently connected with its improvements, was born in Philadelphia, Oct. 3, 1832. His father, Mr. Jacob Stauffer, who died at Lancaster, Pa., March 22, 1880, was a scientist, who was widely known on this continent, and to some ex- tent in Europe, for his discoveries and attainments. As early as 1850, Rev. Dr. Morris stated that " he knew of no other savant, except Mr. Sturn, of Nuremberg, who could write, set up, illustrate, and print his own works." Frank H. is a graduate of " The University of Daily Journalism," and is a contributor to some of the leading papers and magazines of the country. A volume of his poems, enti-

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

tled "Toward Sunset," and issued by Lippincott & Co., in 1879, was received with considerable favor.

STEELE .- Ninian Steele, with his wife and children, came from the north of Ireland, and settled in New London township, Chester Co. He died in December, 1745, leav- ing a widow, Mary, and six children,-Robert, Martha, Samuel, Susannah, Ninian, and William.

Samuel Steele, his son, resided at what was then and is yet known as Thunder Hill, in New London township. He died in May, 1760, leaving eleven children,-Robert, Rutlı, Jane, Samuel, Francis, Joseph, James, William, Ninian, Ann, and Elizabeth. Of these, Ruth Steele was born in 1719, and married Samuel Futhey in Jannary, 1750 (see Futhey family); Jane Steele married George Campbell. He died in March, 1812, leaving eight children, some of whom emigrated to North Carolina. James Steele married Isabella Read, of New London. They resided in West Fallowfield township. He died in 1807, and his wife in 1814. Their descendants removed to Western Virginia. Elizabeth Steele and others of the family settled in North- umberland (now Union County) at an early day.

William Steele, son of Samuel, settled on a farm two miles east of the village of New London, which remained in the family three generations. He was born in 1731, married Elizabeth Magee, Jan. 21, 1756, and died Sept. 5, 1797. His wife died July 5, 1779. Their only child, John Steele, was born in 1760, married Ann Montgomery, April 11, 1781, and died April 29, 1841. Their children were William, Ann, Elizabeth, John, Hannah, Susanna, and Maria.

William Steele, the eldest of these children, was born in 1783, married Mary Kimble, June 18, 1809, and died July 12, 1869. Their children were John K., George, Maria, Milton, Jackson, Clement, Eliza, John, and Samuel. John K. Steele, the eldest of these, married Ann Wilkin- son, March 2, 1837. They have had five children.

The descendants of Ninian Steele, the emigrant, are very numerous, and are scattered over the whole country. A branch, about the period of the Revolution, went to North Carolina, and settled in the neighborhood of Char- lotte, where their descendants now reside.

GEN. JAMES STEELE .- William Steele settled in Lancaster County in 1750. His wife was a Kerr. Their children were Archibald, John, William, and James. The fourth son, James, was several times a member of the Legis- lature, and during the war of 1812 he held the responsible position of inspector-general of the Pennsylvania State troops. His zeal as an officer and integrity as a man made him universally beloved by all who knew him. He resided at Steeleville, in West Fallowfield township, Chester Co., and gave name to the village. Here his son, Franklin Steele, was born May 12, 1814. Gen. Steele died in 1844. In 1837, Franklin Steele visited the Falls of St. Anthony, and from that period he was closely identified with the his- tory and interests of the Upper Mississippi. In April, 1843, he married Annie E. Barney, a granddaughter of the distinguished Commodore Barney of Revolutionary fame, and a daughter of Hon. W. C. Barney, of Baltimore. For many years they resided at Fort Snelling, and after- wards at Minneapolis. He became one of the leading citi-

zens of that section of the country, and on the occasion of the election of Gen. Shields to the United States Senate, Mr. Steele came within one vote of receiving the nomina- tion in caucus. He amassed a large fortune, and was ever liberal to all enterprises deserving of encouragement. He was considered the wealthiest man in Minnesota. At one time he owned the Fort Snelling reservation and the entire site where the city of Minneapolis was built. He died Sept. 10, 1880. His brother, Dr. John Steele, and three sisters reside in Minneapolis. One of his sisters was the wife of Gen. H. H. Sibley, at one time Governor of Min- nesota. She is now deceased.

STRICKLAND, NIMROD, was born in Vincent township June 28, 1807, and died in West Chester, May 15, 1880.

In early manhood he identified himself with the Demo- cratic party, and by his fealty and persistent labors to the principles it espoused he early earned for himself a reputa- tion as a successful politician throughout the State, which he continued to enjoy up to the time of his death. Aside from his political career, his usefulness in the more private walks of life was long and well demonstrated, and only ceased with his physical inability to perform the duties to which he was selected.

The first office he held was that of clerk to the county commissioners. During the campaign between Wolf and Barnard for the office of Governor, he actively espoused the cause of the former, and after Wolf was elected Gov- ernor he recognized his services by appointing him first recorder of deeds and then register of wills of Chester County, each of which he held three years. Aug. 31, 1837, he married Margaret Mccullough. He then for some years was a clerk in the Treasury Department, when Governor Wolf was First Comptroller of the Treasury of the United States. He held the office of associate judge for several years, and was also for a term one of the canal commis- sioners of the State. In 1854-55 he served as warden of the Eastern Penitentiary, but the duties were distasteful to him and he resigned. He also at different times held the offices of justice of the peace, bank appraiser, jury commis- sioner and prison inspector. During President Buchanan's administration he held a position in the custom-house in Philadelphia. He was for some years editor of the Amer- ican Republican, and was afterwards co-editor of the Penn- sylvanian with Dr. Morwitz.

Some years before his death, he had an operation per- formed on his eyes for cataract, which did not prove suc- cessful, and they gradually grew worse until the sight was totally destroyed, thus adding to his afflictions one irrepar- . able and severe.

He was a member of the Baptist Church for forty-six years, and also a member of the Odd-Fellows. This organ- . ization was kind to him, and during his last illness rendered that brotherly assistance for which they were organized and are so widely noted.

His counsel was sought by many of all political parties, . and in public recognition. of his intellect and good judg- ment he stood high in the estimation of all who enjoyed his acquaintance. He was genial and kind in his manner, ever having a pleasant word of good advice and cheer for all who came about him.

Among the earliest settlers of Germantown was Andreaa Soupli, who was evidently a man of influence, being chosen sheriff of that corpo- ration in 1691. On the Rev- olutionary muater-rolls of Phil- adelphia County are John, Isaac, Jacob, Andrew, Jona- than, Nathan, and David Sup- lee. Peter Suplee, of Schuyl- kill township, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and died of camp fever in the ser- vice a few months before his son Peter was born. The latter married Hannah Eastburn, to whom were born nine children, of whom the following are living: Silas ; Peter; C. E .; Margaret, married to Joseph Rapp; and Eliza, married to W. R. Kennedy. C. E. Sup- lee, the second son and child, was born July 30, 1804. He passed his boyhood on the farın, and was educated in the com- mon schools. When eighteen years old he was apprenticed to the blackamith trade, and after thoroughly mastering it carried on this business for seven years, part of the time in Montgomery and part in Delaware County. He then

C. E. SUPLEE.

6.6 Jullie

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 191

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