Biographical Sketch of Oscar Freemont PASSMORE (1904); 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/ *********************************************************************** "Historical Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Chester and Delaware Counties, Pennsylvania", Vol. 2, edited by Gil- bert Cope and Henry Graham Ashmead, Lewis Publishing Company, New York, 1904, pp. 369-70. "OSCAR F. PASSMORE. The progenitors of Oscar F. Passmore, were originally from the parish of Husk, in Berkshire, England, and settled in Chester county early in the eighteenth century, becoming active participants in the adjustment of affairs relating to the Society of Friends, and the early history of Chester county. Samuel W. Passmore, the father of Oscar F., was born in New London township, Chester county, in 1826, receiving his education in the common schools of the county, and later holding minor local offices in the township and county. He was a Republican, and held a birthright in the Society of Friends, as one of his progenitors, Augustine Passmore, had held a century before him. He married Emmeline S. Stubbs, the daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Stubbs, of York county, Pennsylvania, and they were the parents of ten children, namely: G. Birdsell, who mar- ried Elizabeth Preston, of Cecil county, Maryland, issue, one child; Mary, married to Newlin Mendenhall, issue, two children; Dora, unmarried; Phebe, married to Dr. William Taylor, issue, four children; Isaac, married to Annie Darlington, issue, three children; Samuel, married to Mary Armstrong; Benjamin, married to Margaret Trimble; Melvina, died unmarried; Sarah, married Frank Walter, and Oscar F., the subject of this sketch. The de- cease of Mr. Samuel W. Passmore occurred in 1900. "Oscar F. Passmore was born in 1857, in East Nottingham township, Chester county, and was educated in the public schools of the township and at the West Chester State Normal School. After leaving the Normal School he taught school for two years and then removed, in 1880, to his present home in London Grove township, where he is largely engaged in the cultivation of carnations, one of the noted industries of Chester county. He has ad- hered to the political principles of his father by his affiliation with the Republican party, and has, like his ancestors, a birthright in the Society of Friends. "Mr. Passmore married, September 20, 1883, Mary S. Pusey, a daughter of Jesse and Hannah Pusey, of London Grove township, who was born in 1860, and is a descendant of that eminent Quaker and early immigrant settler in Pennsylvania, Caleb Pusey, whose superior qualifications, and indomitable spirit and energy made him a leader in all the affairs, civil, religious and executive, which related to the first settlement and growth of a new country and a new home. It was from Caleb Pusey, who emigrated to this country in 1682 that Smith, the early historian of Pennsylvania, obtained much of the material which is found in his work. Two sons have been born to Oscar F. and Mary S. (Pusey) Passmore: Norris J., who was born in 1884, and is unmarried, and Howard S., born in 1888, and who is deceased." NOTE: (JMM) Mary S. Pusey did descend from Caleb Pusey but her Caleb Pusey ancestor was not 'the' Caleb Pusey described above. That Caleb Pusey has often been assumed (but not proven) to be the uncle of her Caleb Pusey ancestor.