Biographical Sketch of Charles D. MASSEY (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsylvania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1893, pp. 698-9. "CHARLES D. MASSEY, a prominent and progressive farmer of Frazer, and a repre- sentative of one of the older families of this Commonwealth, is the youngest son of Jacob and Rebecca (Richardson) Massey, and a native of Tredyffrin town- ship, Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he was born May 9, 1828. He was educated at New London boarding school and Norristown boarding school, under the care of Samuel Aaron, and leaving school, at once engaged in farming, to which occupation he has given all the active years of his life. He resided in Tredyffrin township until April 5, 1882, when he removed to East Goshen, where he owns a farm of seventy-seven acres of valuable land, all improved. In the management of his farm he is practical and progressive, and has met with remarkable success. He is what might well be termed a model farmer, and his broad acres attest what can be accomplished by intelligent culture and improved methods. Among his farm buildings is a very handsome residence, erected by himself in 1882, which is well planned and convenient in all its arrangements. In political faith Mr. Massey is a stanch republican, and was elected and served three years as supervisor of Tredyffrin township. "On January 9, 1851, Mr. Massey was united in marriage with Rebecca A. J. Walker, a daughter of William and Sarah P. Walker, of Tredyffrin township. To this union was born a family of three sons: William W., who died in January, 1862, at the age of ten years; Jacob P., who married Emma M. Mullin, of Phila- delphia, and is a prosperous farmer of East Goshen township, where he is now serving his second term as school director, being treasurer of the board, and has also been a member of the Republican county committee from his township for five years; and Charles M., who died in March, 1855, at the age of six months. "The Masseys are of English extraction, but have been native Pennsylvanians since colonial days. Israel Massey, paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born near White Horse, in Willistown township, but removed to Valley Forge in 1845. He died near Port Kennedy, on the Valley Forge camp ground, in the winter of 1847. He was a blacksmith in early life but later became a farmer, and owned the land on which Washington's headquarters were located during the memorable winter the Continental army lay quartered at Valley Forge. He was a whig in politics, and held a number of local offices. In religion he was a member of the Friends' meeting. He married Rachel Vogdes (see sketch of Dr. Isaac Massey in this volume), and to them was born a family of nine children: Isaac, Jacob, Israel, John, Eli, William, Ann, Aaron, and one that died in infancy. These are all now deceased except John, who resides in West Chester. "The second son, Jacob Massey (father), was born in Willistown township about 1795, and died at his home in Tredyffrin township, in April, 1870, after an active life of three quarters of a century. He was a farmer and market gar- dener, and became prosperous and influential in his community. Politically he was a whig and republican, and in religion adhered strictly to the Quaker faith, in which he had been reared. For many years he was a prominent member of the Willistown meeting of the Society of Friends. In 1812 he married Rebecca Richardson, a daughter of Joseph and Eleanor Richardson, near Port Kennedy, and was the father of six children, three sons and three daughters: Isaac, deceased; Ellen; Rachel, deceased; Jacob; Rebecca, also deceased; and Charles D., the subject of this sketch."