Biographical Sketch of Capt. William APPLE (1881); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Candace Roth . Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* From THE HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, by Futhey and Cope (1881); pg. 464 "APPLE, Capt. William, was born in Philadelphia, Dec. 17, 1796. He spent his early life there, serving a full apprenticeship to the trade of copper- and tin- smithing, and working at his trade. In 1824 he came to West Chester and established himself in the same business, upon the spot where he ended his busy and useful life in March, 1872, aged over seventy-five years. In March, 1834, he united with the Presbyterian Church of the borough, of which he continued an active member until his death. Blessed with a wife who might almost seem to be the original of the portrait drawn by the wise man in Proverbs xxxi. 10-31, and whose deeds of charity are yet fragrant in our memories, he was eminently successful in all his undertakings in life., Wise in his investments, he accumulated a competency, which he always used for the welfare of the commuinity. His tastes led him to cultivate and foster the organizations for military, fire, and police service, which he deemed essential to the interests of the borough. He often served as a director or trustee of the various monetary interests of the community. Capt. Apple was singularly liberal in his aid to the struggling, whether in direct charity or in the loan of means of credit. Very independent in his views, and outspoken in the expression of them, he was always the model gentleman, and his upright form and elastic step were indicative of the untarnished conscience, the unblemished integrity, and the cheerful loving spirit which dwelt in him. His wife died about sixteen months before his own decease."