Biographical Sketch of John Vanderslice (1881); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Diana Quinones [audianaq@msn.com] Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* Futhey and Cope, History of Chester County, 1881. pp.725-782. BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL (F). VANDERSLICE, JOHN, a retired merchant, was born two and a half miles from Phoenixville, Pa., May 27, 1801. His father, also named John, was a prominent and prosperous farmer in Pikeland township, of which he was an early settler, and where his son, the subject of this notice, passed his youth and received his education. In 1826, after his marriage, for four years he worked on his father’s farm upon shares. Two years subsequently he was engaged in butchering, after which he purchased a farm of eighty acres, for three thousand dollars, near Kimberton. During the ensuing seven years he cut some twelve hundred dollars’ worth of wood upon this land, and disposed of most of the tract for nine thousand four hundred dollars, reserving about one acre, upon which he erected a house, which was his home but a short time, for nine months later he sold it for fifteen hundred dollars. He then purchased a seventy-five-acre farm in Phoenixville. In January, 1840, he established his home upon this land,— a piece of real estate which eventually realized him a fortune, inasmuch as one-half of Phoenixville has been built upon the lots sold by him since 1840. He erected upon these lots one hundred and twenty houses, thereby greatly advancing the growth and prosperity of the place. He now owns twenty-six houses, also built by himself, and which he leases to tenants. In the year 1841, Mr. Vanderslice, in partnership with Mr. Samuel Cornett, embarked in the coal and lumber business, connected with which for many years was a dry-goods and grocery store. These undertakings were financially successful. In 1855 he took his son, Addison S., into partnership, having previously purchased Mr. Cornett’s interest; the coal and lumber business was thus continued until Jan. 11, 1879, when Mr. Vanderslice retired from the firm, leaving his son to continue the business, and which he is still conducting. Mr. Vanderslice is a firm Republican, and did much, by liberal contributions and otherwise, to assist the Union cause during the war of the Rebellion. In 1822 he became a member of the Masonic fraternity, an order in which he has always been an active worker, and in which he has attained high rank, having taken the 32d degree; he served as treasurer of Phoenix Lodge, No. 75, for thirty-three years, and has held the same office in the chapter since the year 1861. He was married in 1825 to Elizabeth Custer, a native of Evansburg, Montgomery Co., Pa., where she was born in the year 1805. Of the nine children born of this union seven are now living, viz.: Lavina C., wife of J.B. Morgan, cashier of the First National Bank of Phoenixville; Engelbert F., formerly engaged in merchandising and farming, but now employing two teams in hauling; Addison S., merchant; Angie C., wife of Dr. Levi Oberholtzer; Nehemiah C., studied medicine but not now practicing; John A., a farmer; and Eliza, wife of Horace Lloyd, teller in the First National Bank of Phoenixville. All of his children are residing in Phoenixville or its immediate vicinity, the farm of his son John being in Montgomery County, about two miles distant. Mrs. Vanderslice was baptized Oct. 9, 1834, since which date she has been an earnest and faithful member of the Baptist Church of Phoenixville. Mr. Vanderslice has held many positions of honor and trust in the community in which he has so long resided, having been several times elected a member of the town council, serving for three years as a director of the First National Bank of West Chester, as a member of the school board of Phoenixville for several years, beside holding other offices of prominence, in all of which his sterling qualities and marked ability have been conspicuously displayed. He was one of the originators of the Phoenixville Bank. He sold the ground upon which the water-works are located, and was influential in promoting that enterprise. He was also the owner of the ground on which the Masonic Hall was subsequently erected, in the construction of which he was greatly interested. In 1865 he was one of the corporators of the Morris Cemetery, and one of the three persons who sold the land (21 acres) which constitutes this beautiful burial-place. He has also frequently acted as executor, administrator, and guardian, performing these trusts with scrupulous fidelity. In 1855 he purchased an extensive tract of land in the West, comprising 1800 acres, which he subsequently sold, realizing a handsome profit. Although but one of many large business transactions in which he has been engaged, this one bears witness to his skill and judgment. At the time of his marriage he possessed scarcely a dollar, but now, as the result of his foresight, energy, and enterprise, he ranks among the wealthier citizens of the county. He is in many respects a remarkable man. Considering his age— eighty years— his mental faculties are remarkably active and vigorous, while his physical appearance indicates a man of much younger age. His countenance is pleasant and agreeable, his manners courteous and affable, indicating that benevolence which has been one of his characteristics. Since Oct. 9, 1834, he has been a consistent member of the Baptist Church of Phoenixville. Mr. Vanderslice has been an extensive traveler. He has had several strokes of paralysis, the first occurring about eleven years since; the second attack came near having a fatal termination, but after doctoring for three years with some of the best physicians of New York and Philadelphia without apparent benefit, he began to travel for his health. On May 15, 1851, he left Philadelphia in the steamer "City of Glasgow" for Liverpool, England.(55*) He had a fine passage of eighteen days’ duration; after spending four days in Liverpool, he started for London, stopping at all the prominent intermediate towns; he remained in the great metropolis ten days, visiting the World’s Fair, then went to Paris, from thence he traveled over nearly all Continental Europe, visiting its cities, watering-places, and other points of attraction. This trip was but the beginning of his journeyings. He spent one winter in Cuba, was in London and Paris five times, at Rome three times, in Egypt twice, and at Jerusalem; he visited San Francisco and South America; he has also been in every State of the Union and in four of the Territories. His last trip was one "around the world"; he went across the continent to San Francisco,— it being his second visit to that place,— crossed the Pacific Ocean to Yokohama, in Japan, proceeded thence to Hong-Kong, Singapore, Bombay, and Calcutta; crossed the Indian Ocean to Aden, traversed the Red Sea to its head, passing through the Suez Canal, visiting Cairo, Alexandria, Brindisi, Naples, Pompeii, Vesuvius, Rome, the Mont Cenis tunnel, Geneva, Paris, London, and Liverpool, whose port he left April 29, 1875, arriving home the 11th of May following. Mrs. Vanderslice is still living, at the advanced age of seventy-five years, and in the full possession of her faculties. This worthy couple have a pleasant home in Phoenixville, where, surrounded by their children, they are enjoying that ease and comfort which their lives of care, industry, and frugality have so well entitled them to enjoy. NOTE: John Vanderslice died 2/14/1882. His wife, Elizabeth Custer, daughter of Nicholas Custer and Christiana Stahl/Stall was born 2/14/1805 and died 4/13/1887. They are both buried in Morris Cemetery, Phoenixville.