Biographical Sketch of Joel B. PUSEY (1904); 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: "Historical Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Chester and Delaware Counties, Pennsylvania", Vol. 2, edited by Gilbert Cope and Henry Graham Ashmead, published by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1904, pp. 385-6. "JOEL B. PUSEY, an influential and respected citizen of Avondale borough, Chester county, Pennsylvania, who in addition to the operation of an exten- sive and flourishing dairy, is a potent factor in several important enter- prises which have for their object the building up and advancement of the community in which he resides, was born on the old homestead in London Grove township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, May 1, 1833, a son of Joshua B. and Maria Pusey. "The progenitor of the American branch of the Pusey family was William Pusey, a native of England, who came to America accompanied by his son Caleb Pusey in 1682; they settled in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and their first occupation was milling, which they later abandoned in order to devote their entire attention to agricultural pursuits. The old homestead was purchased by William Pusey in 1714, and the residence thereon was erected by Caleb Pusey in 1728. The majority of the mills in Chester county were doubtless erected by members of this family. (NOTE: JMM - There are many disputable statements in this last paragraph!) "Joshua B. Pusey, father of Joel B. Pusey, was born in East Marlborough town- ship, Chester county, May 18, 1806, a son of Joseph and Sarah Ann (Bailey) Pusey. In early life Joshua B. Pusey learned the trade of miller in the mill owned and operated by his father, which was located in the vicinity of Parkesburg, but later he inherited the old homestead in London Grove township, and the remainder of his days were spent in its cultivation and improvement. On December 30, 1830, Mr. Pusey married Maria Spencer, born in Franklin town- ship, Chester county, in 1806, a daughter of Asa and Hannah (Good) Spencer. Their children were: Lewis, born December, 10, 1831, died May 5, 1891; Joel B., born May 1, 1833; Emily, born July 23, 1835; Sarah Ann, born December 1, 1838, died December 23, 1861; Isaac, born October 25, 1841; Louisa, born July 16, 1844, died September 7, 1852; Edith H., born March 15, 1848; and William J., born September 6, 1851. Mr. Pusey was an active member of the Society of Friends, and served as its overseer and elder at the London Grove Meetings. He died at his residence in Chester county, October 4, 1870; his widow died June 23, 1883. "Joel B. Pusey, second son of Joshua B. and Maria Pusey, was educated in the schools at Westtown and the school near Jennersville, Chester county, which was under the efficient supervision of Thomas Harvey. For a number of years after the completion of his studies he assisted his father with the labor on the home farm, and in 1861 began farming on rented property and continued until 1868, when he removed to Avondale, engaged in the lumber business, and also coal yard, first in Avondale. During the period that elapsed between 1868 and 1878, by industry and frugality, he was enabled to accumulate suffi- cient money to purchase his present farm in the same borough which consists of two hundred and twelve acres and is known as the Ellicott farm. He has since sold fifty-eight acres. Here he conducts an extensive dairy of well selected stock and the proceeds from this branch of industry, being of a superior quality, are readily disposed of at a goodly profit. For twenty- three consecutive years Mr. Pusey served as president of the Building Loan Association of Avondale, being one of the founders of same, and for a number of years was a director of the West Grove Bank. Mr. Pusey is a Republican in politics, and has always given his party an active and loyal support. In 1894 he was elected county treasurer, was a director of the poor for three terms and served as president of the school board for thirty-three years, which position he still occupies. "Mr. Pusey was united in marriage, in 1858, to Matilda Wilkinson, daughter of Carver and Rachel (Mackey) Wilkinson, the former named having been a prosper- ous farmer of Franklin township, Chester county. Their children were: Louisa, unmarried, resides at home; James Carver, married Susan Conn and they are the parents of one child, J. Carver Pusey; Mary H., wife of William B. Seal; Edward, deceased; Charles, who is also unmarried and resides at home; and Maria, unmarried at home. Mr. Pusey is a member of the Orthodox Friends. Mrs. Pusey died May 13, 1900."