Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/331

 COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIKS firsi daily newspaper in DanvUtc, the Public L ed g er. This branch o f his business steadily expanded. Mr. Brown was also a dentist and had a la ^ e practice in that profession, which he carried on in connection with his book store. In 1837 he married Sarah A ., daugh­ ter o f John (icarhart. F ou r children were bom to them: Benton B.. Melissa I), (widow o f O . II. O strander). Jolm G. and W ill (i. T hese children arc all living at this writing. M r. .and Mrs. Brown were devotcl members o f St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church. WiiJ-iAXt Bit)i>i.K fo r many years was a prominent merchant and manufacturer of Danville, and was a man of more than ordi­ n ary intelligence. He w as bom at Whilehall. in what is now Montour cotmty, A pril l8, 1 8 1 2 . His |«rents. Gcrshom and M ary ( Je n ­ nings) Biddle, had a family o f six sons and fo u r daughters, William being ibc younge.st. T h ey were ch.Trtcr mcmlicrs of the old Pterry Presbyterian Church. organizc<l in 1798. G cr­ shom Biddle was a prominent man o f Derry township, o f Scotch-Irish descent. H is an­ cestors were among the early pioneers of Pennsylvania, settling on a tract of land near Fish in gereek. M ary (Jennings) Biddle, wife o f Gershom, was a tlaughlcr o f Hugh Je n ­ nings, who served in the Revolulionaiy w ar; h e was of English descent; his ance.stors set­ tled in New Jersey near Morristown. William Biddle, at the age o f thirteen, came to Dan­ ville and was employed as clerk by John Moore, merchant; subsequently he became a partner and a few years later engaged with him and others in the foundry bttsiness. A fter many changes among the partners. Vijli.am Biddle became the owner of the Eagle Works on F e rry street, which for a number o f years was one of the leading industries o f Dan­ ville and gave employment to over a hundrc«l men. M r. Biddle always took an active in­ terest in the w elfare o f those in his employ, and by his kindness and generosity gained their confidence and respect. H e was nurricci twice, his first w ife bcin^ M aty Jan e Moore, daughter of John and Kbzalicth (Donaldson) >foore She died Dec. 12. 1854. the mother o f seven sons and two daughters. T w o sons sur'ivc her. Edward Moore Biddle and W al­ ter Sterling Biddle. H is second wife. .imc .Mward Moore (sister o f his former w ife ), he married Dec. 6. tSfio. T he fruit o f this union was three children, Grace Hunter, H a riy Otis and Horace Moore. William Biddle w as identified with Danville fur sixty years and died Feb. 3, 1885.

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T h o m a s C h .w, e a n t was descended on the paternal side from Robert Chalfant, a mem­ ber of the Society o f Friends, who emigrated with William Penn from Stoke P c ^ s, E n g ­ land. and settled on a patent o f ktnd at Doc Run, Chester Co., Pa. On the maternal side his ancestor is Jolm Pcdcn, a Scotch-Irish Covenanter who emigrated lo I’cnnsylvania in 1732 and was one of the first to found a Covenanter church in ndladelphia. on Spruce street, above Third. Thomas Chalfant was bom in I*hiUidelphia in the year 18 19 and was brought up in that city. H e learned the carIKHtcr'ft and patternmaker's trades and worked thereat for some years. In 1847 he rentoved to Georgia and was there engaged in Ihe erection of sugar mills, cotton m ilk and structures o f a similar cluiraelcr. Subse­ quently he returned to the North and located at D.mvillc. I’a,. where he entered into part­ nership wilh his brothcr-iu-law, Dr. Isaac Hughes, in the drug business. On Oct. 1, 1853. I«e was commissioned postiiiaster at Danville. H e held that position until Ju ly 15. l8t»i, when he assumed charge of the Danville iHtelligcncer, which lie conducted from that time until the lime o f his death. On Oct. 8, 1866. Mr. Chalfant was elected a mcmlicr of the State Legislature, a s representative from the counties o f Columbia and Montour. He was reclecle<l in 1867- During his incum­ bency o f that office he wa.s an active and highly es(ccmc<l memlicr of the General Assembly and w as birgcly instnimental in the passage of the bill apjiomting commissioners to select a site for and erect the State Hos­ pital fo r the Insane. T he selection o f Dan­ ville as (he site for the hospital was due in part to his efforts. In 1883 Mr. Chalfant was appointed one of the tnistccs of the State liuspiial for the Insane at Danville, a position which he held fo r many years. In 1870 he was again chosen to represent Columbia and Montour counties as State representative. In 1872 he was chosen Stale senator, represent­ ing the counties o f Columbia and Montour, Lycoming and Sullivan, and scrveanviUe D aily Sun. In i88t Mr. Chalfant was elected president of the Pennsylvania State Editorial .Association. On Dec. j, 1885. he was again api>oiii(e<l jioslmasler and served