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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company; Elwood Roberts, Editor.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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WILLIAM WEST, a retired farmer of King-of-Prussia, Upper Merion township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, belongs to a family who were among the early settlers of Pennsylvania. Thomas, his great-great-great-grandfather, came from England in 1713, and located in Delaware county. He was a farmer, and in his religious views a member of the Society of Friends. By diligence and the exercise of good judgment, he became the possessor of a considerable landed estate.

Among the children of Thomas West, the immigrant, was Thomas, Jr., born on the homestead, and reared as a farmer. He married Susanna Powell, of the same county. They had a number of children, among them being a third Thomas, great-grandfather of William West. The third Thomas West married Sarah, daughter of Job Yarnall, of Delaware county. One of the children of Thomas and Sarah West was another Thomas (grandfather). He was a native of Delaware county, also, born on the homestead, and was a farmer. He married Elizabeth Maris. One of their children was Caleb West, father of William. He was born in Springfield township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, in 1801. He learned the tanning trade with Joseph Rhoads, of Springfield township, Delaware county, and followed that occupation for some years, but was a farmer later in life. He removed to Radnor township, also in Delaware county, in 1842, and in 1852 to Tredyffrin township, Chester county, and died there. In politics he was a Whig. He was a man who was interested in county affairs and might have held office, but preferred to attend strictly to his business. Like all the family, he was a member of the Society of Friends. He married Sarah, daughter of Enos Williamson, a farmer of Newtown township, in Delaware county, who is also deceased. Their children were T. Ellwood, Sarah E., and William is the oldest.

William West was born in Middletown township, Delaware county, Second-mo. 14, 1830. He was educated in the public schools of Delaware county, and in Treemount Seminary at Norristown, conducted at that time by Rev. Samuel Aaron. On leaving school he was apprenticed to his uncle, Thomas H. West, to learn the trade of tanner and currier, which was for several generations a sort of inheritance in the West family. He remained there for several years until he had acquired a knowledge of the business, and then remained two years longer. He then returned to the home place, where he farmed until 1857, when he removed to Upper Merion township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and farmed the Roberts farm for sixteen years. In 1873 he purchased the Rebecca Elliott home at King-of-Prussia. He has an elegant home, in which he is surrounded by all the comforts of life. He attended the Philadelphia market forty-nine years.

William West married, January 21, 1858, Rebecca K., daughter of Charles Thomas, of an old family of Friends of Tredyffrin township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, of Welsh descent. The couple have three children, as follows: Ruth A., married David Wilson, son of Winfield S. Wilson, of Tredyffrin township, and resides in Bridgeport, where he is a member of town council; they have five children-William West, Emma J., Winfield S., Rebecca T., and Elizabeth W. 2. Sarah W., married Charles Evans, a son of Morris J. Evans, deceased, of Philadelphia; their children are William West, Athalia W., and Charles Morris. 3. Elizabeth W., married William V., son of Edwin Conrad, and they have one child, William West.

William West is a man of business, being frequently called upon to act in the settlement of estates and other positions of trust requiring good judgment in the performance of their duties. He is a member of the board of directors of the Wayne Trust Company, of Delaware county and of that of the Berwyn (Chester county) National Bank. In politics he is a Republican. He has often been solicited to become a candidate for office, but has uniformly declined such honors, preferring to attend strictly to business interests of one kind or another. He is, like his forefathers, an active member of the Society of Friends, and a man who enjoys the respect and confidence of the community.

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This family biography is one of more than 1,000 biographies included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

View additional Montgomery County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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