Biographical Sketch of Amos MICHENER (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. 324-5. "AMOS MICHENER, secretary of the Parkesburg Iron company, is a prosperous bus- iness man, an expert accountant, and a useful and influential citizen of Ches- ter county. He is a son of William and Hannah (Cain) Michener, and was born August 5, 1819, in Penn township, Chester county, Pennsylvania. The Micheners are descended from English Quaker stock, the present generation tracing their American ancestry back to John and Sarah Michener, who came over about the time of William Penn, and settled in Philadelphia, where the public records bear the name as early as 1686. In 1715 they removed with their family to Abington. Their son, William, married Margery Kester, and settled at Plumstead, Bucks county. They had ten children, among whom was a son named John, who married Mary Hayworth and reared a family of nine children, two of whom - Mahlon and Arnold - removed to and settled in Chester county. Other members of the family came afterward, and their descendants have become very numerous, and are now scattered through nearly every State in the Union. Joseph Michener (grand- father) was born November 19, 1757, married Anna, daughter of Ralph and Anna Dunn, by whom he had five children, and after her death wedded Rebecca Good, to whom were born four children. He settled in Chester county about the time of the revolution, and owned an extensive farm in London Grove township, ad- joining the West Grove meeting property. He was a stanch whig in politics, and a member of the Society of Friends. He died August 10, 1853, lacking only four years of being a centenarian. William Michener (father) was born and reared on the old homestead in West Grove township, and was a farmer all his life. He settled in Penn township, and became quite prosperous, residing there until his death in 1833, at the early age of forty-five years. In pol- itics he was a democrat, and in religious faith a Friend, or Quaker. He married Hannah Cain, a native of New London township, this county. She died December 23, 1858, at the advanced age of seventy-five years. "Amos Michener was reared on the farm on which he was born, in Penn township, this county, and received a good English education in the common schools and at the New London academy. After leaving school he engaged in teaching for a time, and later became a book-keeper, being continuously employed in his native county, except three years, during which he was in the employ of an iron firm in Huntingdon county. At the end of that time he returned to this county, and for ten years was book-keeper at the Thorndale Iron works. In 1873 he came to Parkesburg, as book-keeper for the Parkesburg Iron Company, and since the present organization was effected, in 1882, he has been secretary of the company, and is one of the stockholders in the concern. He is an accur- ate accountant, and has made a fine reputation as a successful business man. "On March 23, 1848, Mr. Michener was married to Elizabeth Townsend, a daughter of William Townsend, of Penn township, this county. To them was born a family of three children, one son and two daughters: William C., Mary A., and Caroline D. "All the family are strict members of the Presbyterian church, and active in support of the various interests of their denomination. In politics Mr. Michener is an ardent republican, and has twice been called to fill the office of burgess in Parkesburg. He has also served as member of the borough council, and, in short, has been connected with the local government in some official capacity ever since coming to Parkesburg. Mr. Michener is also serving as secretary of the Parkesburg Building and Loan association, and is treasurer of the Parkesburg Iron Works Beneficial association. He is a pleasant, affable gentleman, and, by his energy, industry and ability, has won a large measure of success in life, and secured the esteem of all who know him."