Edgmont Township.
To Washington's administration, by which, when it began, he had been offered the post of district attorney, he considered himself bound by the closest ties, and he even departed from his general policy and went so far as not only to contribute to the newspapers of the day, but, in 1792, even to stump the State. On these occasions the vigor and clearness of his voice was remarkable, and without apparent effort, in the open air, every word was audible at an extraordinary distance. In 1792, on the death of the elder Judge Hopkinson, he had a new proof of the President's confidence in the commission then sent him as district judge. On the bench, however, he continued but a short time, the restraint being uncongenial to his taste, and the income insufficient for his extravagant habits.
Upon his return to the bar he enjoyed a lucrative practice, and became concerned as leading counsel in the trials of the Western insurgents. He purchased property adjoining Laurel Hill Cemetery, and built the Strawberry Mansion, now within the limits of Fairmount Park, and made it his residence.
After the coming in of Mr. Jefferson's administration Mr. Lewis took no part in politics, continuing, however, in the unabated practice of his profession until 1819, when, on the 15th of August, after several weeks' illness, he died, retaining to the last the professional ability and professional devotion which had marked his long career.
The house in Edgmont where William Lewis was born, now owned by William Pennell Smedley, is still standing, the farm having been inherited by his brother, Samuel Lewis, who sold it to William Smedley, of Middletown, in the year 1822.
William Smedley, born Eighth month 9, 1765, died Fourth month 10, 1839, married, Twelfth month 5, 1793, Deborah Lightfoot. He provided a farm for each of his four sons. George and William remained in Middletown, the latter on part of the farm purchased by their ancestor, George Smedley, of William Penn in 1684, while Samuel Lightfoot and Jacob settled in Edgmont.
Jacob Smedley, born Twelfth month 31, 1801, married, Eleventh month 13, 1826, Jane Yarnall, daughter of Isaac and Mary Yarnall, of Edgmont. Their children were Isaac Y., born 1827, died 1853; Abram P., born 1829, now a dentist in Media; Nathan, born 1831, died 1884; Hannah P., born 1836; William Alfred, born 1838, died 1852; and Bennett L., born 1839, a druggist in Philadelphia. Jacob was a surveyor and conveyancer, and, with Enoch Lewis, made surveys of a railroad from Chester to West Chester, along Chester Creek, in 1835. He was surveyor of Media, where he now resides, and held the position of clerk of the county commissioners for twenty-one years.
Samuel L. Smedley, born Fourth month 9,1798, was prominent as a teacher and mathematician, and, besides his inherited occupation of farming, carried on surveying and conveyancing. He taught several years at Thornbury, and subsequently at High Bank, on a portion of his farm. He married, Fifth month 4, 1826, Hannah, daughter of Joseph and Mary Pennell, of Middletown, and died Tenth month 19, 1834. He left three sons, - Joseph P., born Fifth month 24, 1827, farmer and miller, who died Tenth month 3, 1872, in Uwchlan, Chester Co., leaving one daughter, Hannah, born 1870. He married Emma Winner, Third month 11, 1867. William P., born Ninth month 4, 1829, married, Fourth month 5, 1860, Jane Garrett. His children are Samuel L., born 1861; Alfred, born 1866, died 1884; Elizabeth, born 1869; Jane H., born 1872, died 1872; and Mary Ella, born 1875.
Samuel L. Smedley, youngest son of Samuel L. and Hannah, was born Twelfth month 29, 1832, and was less than two years of age at the time of his father's death. From that time his mother managed the farm, and carried it on successfully until her sons reached maturity. He early evinced an aptitude for study, and was carefully educated at a select school until his thirteenth year, when he entered the Friends' Boarding-school at Westtown. Here he made rapid progress and at the end of eighteen months stood at the head of the senior class. He was then sent to school in Germantown to perfect himself in the classics, but close application so injured his health that he was