Biographical Sketch of John C. SAYLOR (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, 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. 392-4. "JOHN C. SAYLOR, a prominent business man, and the proprietor of the widely known Saylor's flouring mill, of Parker Ford, and whose industrial career has been one of remarkable and continued success, is a son of George C. and Catherine (Sholl) Saylor, and was born August 30, 1823, in Wittenberg, Germany. He was reared principally in Montgomery county, being brought there when he was but seven years of age. He received his education in the common schools, and went out into the great business world to do for himself at thirteen years of age, as a driver on the tow- path of the Schuylkill canal. He rose from post to post on the canal, until he was captain of a boat in less than six years from commencing at the bottom round of canal life, and before he was nineteen years of age. He left the field of his youthful labors to learn the trade of miller, and soon entered upon his present successful business career. In 1845 he rented a mill in Berks county, which he operated until 1854. When Mr. Saylor came to East Coventry township, he purchased his present flouring mill near Parker Ford. This mill is first class in every respect, and has been thoroughly equipped with the latest and most improved milling machin- ery. The products of the mill so well recommend themselves that there is an extensive and continually increasing demand for them in Chester and adjoining counties. In addition to his mill property Mr. Saylor owns forty acres of productive land, and hold stock in the National bank of Spring City. He is a republican in politics, and has served his township as treasurer and as a member of its school board. He is a member of Manatawny Lodge, No. 214, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Stichter Lodge, No. 254, Free and Accepted Masons of Pottstown, Montgomery county. "John C. Saylor is of German descent, and the Saylor family is traced back for several centuries in the local history of that part of Germany in which George C. Saylor, the father of John C. Saylor, was born. George C. Saylor came from Germany to Montgomery county, and in 1860 removed to the vicinity of Parker Ford, where he died one year later, in 1861, when in the sixty-sixth year of his age. he was a well-to-do farmer, managing his business with ability and prudence, and securing for himself a comfortable home. He was a democrat until the commencement of the late war, and then became a republican. He was a consistent member of the Lutheran church, and married Catherine Sholl, who died in 1856. Their children are: Adam, formerly steward of the Montgomery County home, and now a resident of Pottstown, that county; John C., and Margaret, wife of George Miller. "Mr. Saylor married Rosanna Geigner, daughter of Joseph Geigner, of Mont- gomery county. Their children are: Catharine M., wife of J. Ellis Orr, superintendent of the Mt. Penn stove works, of Reading, this State; Irvin married Mary C. Forges, and is superintendent of his father's mill; Alfred, who married Jennie Prizer, and is an editor and publisher in Philadelphia; Lewis, married Lizzie Harley, and has been engaged for some time in the printing and publishing business at Pottstown, Montgomery county; Alice, wife of Sylvester Pennypacker, who is a resident of Philadelphia, where he is engaged in the milk business; Emma; John, who married Lizzie Carter, and is a foreman in one of the shops of the Great Baldwin Locomotive works of Philadelphia; Edward, a machinist, now in Europe; Harvey, a pattern maker at the Baldwin Locomotive works; Mary, wife of M. C. Haspel, ship- ping clerk of Devlin's Philadelphia hardware house; and Charles, a mach- inist. "John C. Saylor is an active and influential member of the Lutheran church. In business he has always been distinguished for his clear perception and sound judgment. His almost uniform success attests this, while his trans- actions are always characterized by prudence and good fortune. An indul- gent father, he is nevertheless a thoughtful and considerate parent. He has always counseled his children to tread those paths which lead to use- fulness, honor and happiness, and they, profiting by his advice and exam- ple, have become respected and useful members of society. As a man Mr. Saylor stands high, and as a citizen is full of public spirit, and ever anxious to advance the general welfare of his town and county."