Biographical Sketch of Walter MacFEAT (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila- delphia, PA, 1893, pp. 766-7. "WALTER MacFEAT, a well-known and prosperous citizen of Spring City, who served as postmaster there from 1884 to 1889, is the second son of James and Helen G. (Gow) MacFeat, and was born February 9, 1838, in County Perth, Scotland. "His paternal grandfather, Walter MacFeat, was a native and life-long resi- dent of that country. He was a farmer by occupation, and reared a family consisting of four sons and a daughter: John H., William, Walter, James and Catharine. He died about 1841, aged nearly seventy-eight years. "James MacFeat (father) is a native of Scotland, born in 1816, who emigrated to America in 1849, and coming to Chester county, Pennsylvania, settled in East Vincent township, at the present site of Spring City, where he has lived ever since. While yet a young man he learned the trade of shoemaker, and worked at that business for many years after coming to this country. Since 1889 he has lived practically retired. He is a member of the Presby- terian church, and a democrat in politics. He married Helen G. Gow, a daughter of Robert Gow, of Scotland, and was the father of six children, four sons and two daughters: Walter, William, John, Elizabeth and Jane (twins), and David R. Elizabeth married Thomas G. Taylor and Jane married Charles C. David, a merchant of Phoenixville. William died in 1870, at the age of nineteen. "Walter MacFeat was reared partly in Scotland and partly in this country. His early education was received in his native land, and after coming to East Vincent township he also studied in the public schools there. After attaining manhood he engaged in farming in that township, and continued to devote his time to agricultural pursuits until 1881, when he abandoned farming. In that year he was elected commissioner of Chester county, on the Democratic ticket, for a term of three years, and acceptably discharged the duties of that position until 1885. In 1884 he was appointed post- master at Spring City, under Mr. Cleveland's first administration, and held that office for a period of four and a half years. At the same time he was dealing in cattle to some extent, and since leaving the post-office he has been engaged in auctioneering and stock dealing. He is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church at Spring City, in which he served as deacon three years, as elder six years, and has been a trustee for fifteen years. He is also a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, being past master of Spring City Lodge, No. 535, Free and Accepted Masons, and past high priest of Palestine Council, No. 168, and also a member of Jerusalem Com- mandery, No. 15, Knights Templar, of Phoenixville. "Walter MacFeat has been twice married. His first wife was Mary M. Holman, who died in 1872, leaving five children, one son and four daughters: Helen, married L. B. Vanderslice, leader of the military band at Phoenixville; Catharine, who married Rollin Cleverstine, and is now deceased; Agnes L.,; William W., now head bookkeeper for the firm of MacFeat & Chine, Richmond, Virginia; and Mary E., deceased. Some time afterward Mr. MacFeat was again married, wedding Mrs. Anna M. (Hoffman) Ellis, a daughter of Jacob Hoffman, of East Vincent township. She was born in 1833, in East Vincent township, this county."