Biographical Sketch of Owen Lewis WOODWARD (1904); 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/ *********************************************************************** "Historical Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Chester and Delaware Counties, Pennsylvania", Vol. 2, edited by Gil- bert Cope and Henry Graham Ashmead, Lewis Publishing Company, New York, 1904, pp. 353-4. "OWEN LEWIS WOODWARD. The Woodward family of Chester county, Pennsylvania, represented in the present generation by H. Bell Woodward, who, since the death of her father, Owen Lewis Woodward, which occurred January 21, 1894, has successfully managed his large estate which is located in West Vincent township, trace their ancestry to Richard Woodward, son of Robert Woodward, of Rockland Manor, New Castle county, Delaware, and Birmingham, Chester county, Pennsylvania, who married, in 1705, Mary Nayle, the only heir of Henry Nayle of Thornbury, and they were the parents of seven children - Henry, John, Richard, Thomas, Deborah, Mary and Alice Woodward. "Thomas Woodward, fourth son of Richard and Mary Woodward, was born in East Bradford township, Chester county, November 7, 1722 or 1723. By deeds of conveyance he became the owner of one hundred acres of land in the neigh- borhood of his birth place, resided on Street road, and was engaged in bookbinding, also in surveying and conveyancing. He was the owner of a large number of negro slaves, whom he liberated after listening to an address of John Woolman, a noted Quaker preacher and an anti-slavery ad- herent. Mr. Woodward was a member of Concord Monthly Meeting, and obtained his certificate of removal to New Garden Monthly Meeting, dated April 5, 1749, which was about the time he settled in East Marlborough and became a member of Londongrove Particular Meeting. On October 26, 1745, he married Elizabeth Jacobs, widow of John Jacobs, and daughter of Roger and Eliza- beth (Richards) Kirk, the ceremony being performed at East Nottingham Meeting. Elizabeth Woodward was born February 15, 1721; her father, Roger Kirk, a native of Lurgan, North Ireland, was among the pioneers of Not- tingham, and located in East Nottingham as early as 1712, where he pur- chased large tracts of land. About 1714, Mr. Kirk married Elizabeth Richards, of Aston township, and granddaughter of Joseph and Jane Richards, who came from England and settled in Chichester township, now Delaware county. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Woodward were - Rebecca, Eliza- beth, Samuel, Thomas, Deborah, Timothy and Susanna Woodward. The father of these children died June 15, 1785; the mother passed away January 25, 1812. "Thomas Woodward, second son of Thomas and Elizabeth Woodward, was born in East Marlborough, March 17, 1753, acquired a common school education, and his entire life time was spent on the old homestead where he conducted general farming operations. Mr. Woodward married, October 15, 1777, at Londongrove, Mary Pusey, who was born March 12, 1756, and died August 16, 1838, a daughter of Ellis and Susanna Pusey, of West Fallowfield. Their children were - Deborah, Susanna, Elizabeth, Ellis, Thomas, Mary, Joshua, Ann and Lydia Woodward. The death of Mr. Woodward occurred on the old homestead, June 2, 1837. "Joshua Woodward, third son of Thomas and Mary Woodward, was born February 9, 1792, was reared on his father's farm, and during the early years of his life attended the district school. On April 1, 1829, he removed to West Vincent township and purchased of Henry Kurtz a farm containing one hundred and thirty-four acres, to which he later added six acres, this being the same property on which the widow and daughter of Owen L. Woodward now reside. At Londongrove, October 17, 1821, Mr. Woodward married Rebecca Nutt, daughter of John and Mary Nutt, and her death occurred December 17, 1822. His second wife was Rebecca Lewis, who was born September 17, 1797, and died December 19, 1833, a daughter of Isaac and Sarah Lewis. His third wife was Ellen Todd, who died September 20, 1853. Three children were the issue of these marriages - Mary, born December 8, 1822, became the wife of Caleb Wood, January 9, 1855; Owen Lewis, mentioned at length hereinafter; Sarah Ann, born October 26, 1831, became the wife of Nathan G. Buckwalter, son of Christopher and Mary Buckwalter, December 30, 1858. Joshua, father of these children, died December 30, 1852. "Owen Lewis Woodward, only son of Joshua and Rebecca Woodward was born Aug- ust 12, 1829, received a common school education, and after laying aside his school books he chose the occupation of a farmer. His operations were conducted on an extensive scale, and the general appearance of his broad acres and commodious outbuildings indicated the careful supervision of a practical and experienced man. He possessed a large degree of sound judg- ment and ability, and therefore was chosen as one of the directors in the Farmers' and Mechanics' National Bank of Phoenixville and for ten years also filled a similar position in the Iron Bank of the same borough. His political affiliations were with the Republican party, and he served eight years on the executive county committee. "On October 2, 1855, Mr. Woodward married Sarah Ralston, who was born Feb- ruary 13, 1831, a daughter of George and Hannah Ralston, and granddaughter of John Ralston. One child was the issue of this union - H. Bell, born July 14, 1856. The family hold membership in St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal church of West Vincent township. Miss Woodward was educated at Oakland Seminary under the principalship of Dr. Ralston, and since the death from heart trouble of her father has managed the property, which is now the estate of Owen L. Woodward, and ministered to the wants and wishes of her mother, who has been in ill health since the death of her husband. They employ a man to work the farm, and in addition to other improvements made in recent years they have erected a new dwelling house for the farm hand and his family. The remains of Mr. Woodward were interred in St. Andrews Protestant Episcopal cemetery in West Vincent township."