Milford chronicle., 1909-06-25
Business Men of Frederick From
1910 to the Present Time
John WEST

One of the most noted business men o' /
Frederica for many years was John NeS'.
Mr. West was born near Camden, kent
County. Delaware, March 10Th, 1911, ana
was the son of John and Rachel Nes''
His father diving when he was young ne
was early left to shape his own destiny
Refore he was twentv-one years OF age be
came IN Frederica and soon after COM
mepced the backsmithing and foundry
business, in which he succeeded well '''
a while. when he met with the misloT-
time of having his plant destroyed ny
fire However, by dint Of courage ana
energy. he rebuilt his establishment anu
bepan anew, this time, seemingly more
determined than before. and in a snort
time his business increased, so that ne
commanded almost the entire trade ol
the Peninsula. He manufactured Wag-
ons Dlows cnltivators and nearly every
kind of farm implement then IN use
His make of wagons and piows were
iustlv considered superior to the average
utensil then on the market, and hlled the
oame niche in the role OF Delaware laIh-
ing that the Studebaker wagon and the
oliver chilled pow does at the present
time.
The work was done by skilled mechan-
ics. under his own supervision, and noth-
ing was allowed to go out unless FULLY up
70 the standard. By this means he ouilt
and sustained a reputation that rendered
t,a business lucrative and profitable. In
his shops was made by hand every artlc
rsal in the business from the smallest 20
4ba greatest. Felloes for wagon wheels
we're all worked by hand, by his men,
for the bent felloe was then unKno"'
bnhs we're turned and mortced am
smokes we're shaped and fashioned an h
f handles were steamed and bent under hll :
direction. Every band, hoop and oo1l
was wrought by hand at his forge, amp
averv casting he used was moulded IN hit /
foundry For this purpose he gave eml
plovment to large number OF men, "
Guiding blacksmiths, wEeeI'"rIghtsl
mnulders and others.
In his early manhood Mr. West mar
.ied Harriet Clarke. by whom there wtft
i've children, Sarah Z. married John
Barrett Townsend of Frederica, kache.
married Henry jefferson Of smyrna,
Annie married William d. Hazel OF
SMYRNA, Harriet c., married solomon
Townsend of Wilmington. His only son
John died in infancy.
After the death of his first wife, Mr.
Vest married Rachel A Townsend Of
Philadelphia, lady OF amiable DISPOSE
ion and stirling qualities. By this union
here we're three children, all daughters
ella. the elder, marie Dr.. Thomas v.
lahal Of Frederica. They have only one
IN, Thomas Cahall young man possess
Iof fine legal mind. He is rising at
,rnev and a member of firm OF Cahall
Mairer attornies at-law l2IS Chestnut
treet, Philadelphia. Clara, second
aughter, married c. J. Smithers of
.ederica. The Youngest daughter, Flor
ce T.. died in childhood OF his de-
,ndants now living in Frederica are
$. Thomas V. Cahall and two grand
n ldren, Mrs Lester L. Carlisle and Mr..
n V est Townsend, cashier of the
st n .tional Bank
After a period of nearly twenty years
successful operation, his health failing,
sold his manufacturing estab ishment,
Tomlinson & Reynolds and in 1851 fe-
ed to his farm near by In this occu-
ion he evinced the same sound judge
ut and executive ability, he had be-
e shown in his former pursuits. He
,ted new and commodoUs buildings
otherwise so improved it that in a
wears he had one OF the finest farms
ween Frederica and the State Capitol
also purchased the adjoining farm,
the property of william E. Davis,
and also very much improved it.
1857 Mr. West built the large and
utiiuI residence on Market Street,
the home of P. T. Carlisle, and re-
from the farm to enjoy in his de-
ng years the fruits of his early toll.
Sg naturally of a reticent disposition
kch was added the inconvenience
barred hearing, rendered Mr.. West
what exclusive IN his latter lie.
we'd of the full enjoyment Of con-
lion, by his affiiction, and having
lerable literary talent he devoted
of his time to reading. Dir. West
quiet and unobtrusive man, very
and benevolent to the poor, indul-
nt to his family, and true to his friends.
measured men not by the standard Of
rty qualification but by the intrinsic
it hey possessed. His death occurred
uqry 30th, 1877.
JOHN EMERSON.