Biographical Sketch of John G. SMEDLEY (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. 410-1. "JOHN G. SMEDLEY, a prosperous farmer of Willistown township, is a son of Hunter and Ann (Johnson) Smedley, and a native of East Goshen township, Chester county, where he was born July 22, 1834. He was educated princi- pally at the Unionville boarding school, taught by Prof. Milton Durnall, and after leaving school engaged in farming. This has been his occupation through life, and by industry and good management he has accumulated con- siderable property. He has always resided in Willistown township, and now owns a valuable farm here, consisting of one hundred and fifty acres of choice land, seventy-five acres of which are improved and in a good state of cultivation. Upon it are all necessary farm buildings, including a substantial dwelling, which was erected by his great-grandfather, George Smedley, in 1766. In his political affiliations he is a republican, and while never taking an active part in politics, is always ready to do what he can for the success of his party. "On December 22, 1875, Mr. Smedley was united in marriage to Mary C. Green, a daughter of Hiram and Julia A. Green, of Edgemont township, Delaware county, this State. Their union has been blessed by the birth of two chil- dren, both sons: J. Harvey, born January 20, 1878, and Restore B., whose natal day was July 7, 1881. "The Smedley family traces its American ancestry back to George Smedley, a Quaker, who emigrated from Derbyshire, England, about 1683, and settled at Darby, this State. It has become quite numerous in Pennsylvania, and has furnished the Commonwealth with some of her best and most enterprising citizens. Among these may be named William F. Smedley, the artist, whose pencil has been employed in illustrating various periodicals and other publications; James Smedley, for years a leading hatter in Philadelphia; William Smedley, long connected with the Provident Life and Trust Company; and Samuel L. Smedley, who served as chief engineer of Philadelphia, and spent considerable time in collecting the family history. "George Smedley (paternal great-grandfather) was a farmer by occupation, and also owned and operated a fulling mill on Ridley creek. He lived most of his life and died on the farm now occupied by his grandson, the subject of this sketch, in the southern part of Willistown township, which farm is part of a large tract purchased by the earlier Smedleys from the original Penn survey. He was a man of great energy and good business judgment, and became wealthy, owning three valuable farms, besides his fulling mill, at the time of his death. He was a member of the Friend's meeting, and married Patience Mercer, by whom he had three sons, Thomas, Jesse, and John; and three daughters, Priscilla, who became the wife of George Green; Sarah, who became the wife of George Matlack; and Ann, who became the wife of Jonathan Matlack. "Jesse Smedley (grandfather) was born on the old homestead - as were his brothers - and after attaining manhood devoted his time almost exclusively to agricultural pursuits, clearing up land and making himself a comfortable home. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and very strict in his observance of their rules. He died at his home in this township in 1862, aged eighty-six years. His wife was Mary Matlack, and they were the parents of eleven children: George, Clinton, Mifflin, Francis, Salem, Hunter, Sydnie (married Garrett Edwards), Mary A. (wedded Abraham Coburn), Bartholomew, Sarah (became the wife of Baldwin Howard), and Hannah, who married John Garrett. They are all now deceased. "Hunter Smedley (father) was born on the old homestead December 18, 1794, and died here October 2, 1871, aged nearly seventy-five years. In religion he was a Quaker, as all his ancestors had been, and he spent his long, active and useful life principally in the cultivation of the soil. Polit- ically he was a whig and republican. On June 17, 1819, he married Ann Johnson, a daughter of John Johnson, and to them was born a family of six children, three sons and three daughters: Thomas H. (deceased), Bartholomew, Hannah G., Mary (also dead), John G. (whose name heads this sketch), and Phoebe A., now deceased."