Biographical Sketch of Wilmar W. WEST (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. 271-2. "WILMAR W. WEST, one of the prominent farmers and esteemed citizens of Sheeder, and a brother of Hon. Joseph G. West, is a son of David and Elizabeth (Green) West, and was born June 8, 1832, in East Pikeland town- ship, Chester county, Pennsylvania. His paternal grandfather, David West, was a native of Chester county, and lived and died within her borders. He was a blacksmith by trade, and married and had an only son, David West (father), who was born in Goshen township, this county, January 1, 1803, where he received the limited education afforded by the schools of that early day. Upon reaching his majority he engaged in farming, and some years later sold his farm of thirty acres and removed from there to East Pikeland township, and from there to East Vincent, on April 1, 1851. He continued to reside in East Vincent township until 1867, when he once more removed and settled at Kemblesville, Franklin township, where he died January 1, 1870, aged sixty-seven years. His life was principally devoted to agricultural pursuits, and he owned a farm of one hundred and forty- three acres in East Pikeland township, and another of a hundred and forty- two acres in East Vincent. He was a democrat in early life, but changed to the opposition during the Harrison campaign of 1840, and adhered firmly to the republican party from its formation. For a number of years he served as justice of the peace in East Pikeland township, and was a man of strong will and good judgment, holding the respect of all who knew him. In religion he was a Quaker, and for many years an active and influential member of the Society of Friends. He married Elizabeth Green, a daughter of John Green, of Vincent township, and was the father of six children, five sons and a daughter: Anna, now the widow of Levi Pennypacker; Thomas G., who married Edith Green (now deceased) was a farmer and justice of the peace in this county, and married Elizabeth J. Maris, who survives him and now resides in Philadelphia, where her husband was for some time a clerk in the office of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and where he died January 22, 1886, aged fifty-seven years; William, deceased in early life; Wilmar W., the subject of this sketch; and Dr. Joseph G., who married Ella Haynes (now deceased), and lives in Franklin township, this county, practically retired from active business. "Dr. Joseph G. West was born May 2, 1834, educated at Pughtown, Oakdale seminary, and Strobe's school, then managed by Professor Levis; taught school in Lebanon county one winter, and afterward read medicine with Dr. Maurice Fussell, of Chester Springs. Later he entered the medical department of the university of Pennsylvania, and was graduated from that institution with the degree M. D., in the class of 1860. He located at Kemblesville, this county, in the fall of that year, where he was success- fully engaged in practice and also conducted a drug store until 1889, when he retired and was succeeded by his son, Dr. Frederick West. Dr. Joseph G. West served as postmaster at Kemblesville for a number of years, and in 1890 was elected by the republicans of Chester county as a member of the house of representatives of Pennsylvania, running one hundred and four votes ahead of his ticket, and receiving a total vote of ten thousand four hundred and sixty-four. He is now (1892) a candidate for re-election. "Wilmar W. West was reared principally in East Pikeland township, and came to East Vincent with his father's family when about nineteen years of age, and has resided here ever since. His education was obtained in the public schools of his neighborhood, and after leaving school he settled down to farming, and has been exclusively engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which he has been successful. He is a man of marked intelligence, and in his political affiliations has always been republican, though never taking an active part in politics. "On September 5, 1885 (sic), Mr. West united in marriage with Elizabeth Green, a daughter of John Green, of Chester county, this State. To them was born a family of four children: John G., who married Flora Pennypacker and resides on the old homestead; William G., wedded Anna Barker and now lives at Sylmar, Cecil county, Maryland; David, now a clerk in the office of the Western Publishing Company, at Chicago, Illinois; and Ada, who married Chester Smith, a prosperous farmer of East Vincent township, this county. Mrs. Elizabeth West died June 21, 1862, at the early age of twenty-seven years, and on May 18, 1864, Mr. West wedded Joanna Rowland, a daughter of Joseph Rowland, of East Vincent township. By this second marriage he had three children, two sons and a daughter: Charles O., de- ceased; Jennie B., also dead; and Elton G., now a machinist and pipe repairer in the city of Philadelphia. "J. Pierce West had three children by his marriage with Elizabeth J. Maris, one son and two daughters: Levi G., who married Catherine H. Burrell, and now resides in the city of Philadelphia, where he is engaged in the flour and feed business; Anna, married William C. Passmore, a well- to-do farmer of London Britain township, this county; and Emma F., who has acquired considerable skill and reputation as a teacher of the deaf, and is now traveling in Europe, studying the methods in use among such teach- ers on the continent."