Janis' Genealogy Site

Seth Pancoast James

Summary

Born: 28 July 1844
Died: 1 November 1916
Father: Daniel James
Mother: Eliza Worrall
Spouse: Sarah Jane Lewis

Biography

Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Delaware County, Pennsylvania by Winfield Scott Garner (1894), pg 331

S. Pancoast James, who is prominently connected with the milk trade of South Chester, and well known to the people of this section, is a son of Daniel and Eliza P. (Worrall) James, and a native of Springfield township, this county, where he was born July 28, 1844. The James family is of Welsh descent, and this branch was founded in America by Evan James, paternal great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, who came from Wales while yet a young man, and settled in West Nantmeal township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, at an early day. He was a farmer by occupation, and married Rachel Evans, also a native of Wales, by whom he had a family of seven children: William, Abner, Jesse, Evan, Hannah, Sarah, and Mary.

William James (grandfather) was born and reared in West Nantmeal, Chester county, where a great portion of his life was spent as a farmer. He was a whig in politics, took an active part in public affairs, and wedded Jane Dunwoody, a daughter of James and Grace Dunwoody, and a descendant of one of the oldest families of Pennsylvania. By that union he had eight children: James, Myrach, Daniel, Benjamin F., Evan, Abigail, who married Rudolph Huzzard, and Rachel, who became the wife of Albert Way. Daniel, the third son and father of S. Pancoast, was born in the old James homestead in Chester county, December 6, 1810, and after attaining manhood learned the trade of millwright, at which he worked for a number of year, taking contracts for putting in the machinery of many large mills. He afterward purchased the Thorndale flour mill and saw mill at Glen Mills, this county, which he successfully conducted until his retirement from business in 1866. He died at Glen Mills on February 17, 1888, at the advanced age of 87 years. Politically he was a republican, and served as county commissioner during the trying times of the civil war. A man of sound judgement and good business ability, he accumulated considerable property and won the respect and esteem of all who knew him. While not a member of any church, he regularly attended the Presbyterian church, and was liberal in his contributions toward the support of its interests. On March 1, 1837, he married Eliza P. Worrall, a daughter of John Worrall, a leading farmer and orthodox Friend of Springfield township, and to them was born a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters: Annie E., who married James Phipps, of West Chester, this State; Jane, also a resident of West Chester; William, deceased at the age of 50; S. Pancoast, whose name introduces this sketch; Mary, now the wife of George P. Dutton, a prosperous miller of Chester township, this county; George, now a resident of San Jose, California; Ella, married Wilmer Cheyney, of Thornbury township, this county; and John, also residing in Thornbury township. Mrs. James died in 1876, aged sixty-four years.

S. Pancoast James was reared in this county and received his education in the public schools of Upper Providence township and the high school at Media. After leaving school he learned the millwright trade with his father, but only followed that occupation a short time. He went to Bloomington, Illinois, in the spring of 1866, where he remained one year, and then returned to Delaware county and embarked in the coal and lumber business at Glen Mills, this county, in partnership with his father. That enterprise he successfully conducted for a period of sixteen years. Retiring from that business in 1882, he purchased a farm in Chester township, and for four years was engaged in agricultural pursuits thereon. In 1886 he removed to Village Green, where he was engaged in farming for three years, and from there went to Boothwyn, in Upper Chichester township, remaining four years at the latter place. In 1893 he removed to South Chester, where he is now extensively engaged in the diary and milk business.

On Christmas eve 1878, Mr. James was united in marriage with Sallie J. Lewis, a daughter of George Lewis, a prominent miller of Haverford township, this county. To them has been born one child, a daughter, named Grace Lewis.

In his political affiliations Mr. James is an aredent Republican, having taken an active part in local politics for a number of years, and held a number of township offices. In 1863 he enlisted in Co. C, 29th Pennsylvania infantry, under Capt. John M. Broomall, and served for three months. ...

Known errors or inconsistencies:

It was actually the father and grandfather of Evans James who imigrated from Wales. Most likely Evan was born after they arrived in PA.

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