3417-3419 Hamilton St. in 1989
The
History of the Building
The
northern edge of this property was part of the northern boundary of the
Bingham-Baring estate.
On January 6, 1859, Robert Steen bought the NE corner of Hamilton St. and 35th, 211 feet along Hamilton, 92 feet on 35th. He built three twins which were owned by his estate until 1919.
“three-story
Italianate double, stuccoed, with central shallow
pitched gable. Blind center windows. Nineteenth century porch intact”
(Inventory of
Buildings in Powelton from the application submitted to the National Register of Historic
Places, 1985)
Previous Residents
of 3419 Hamilton Street
1860:
William Allen 25 Bookkeeper;
personal property: $1000
Elizabeth Allen 23
Robert Allen 9 months
Mad. Baker 27 Servant;
born in Germany
James Dennis 18 Servant;
born in Ireland
The family returned to
live here after 1900.
1861 Directory: Allen William W.,
bookkeeper
As of the fall of 1860.
1860, Dec. 27, Philadelphia Inquirer, “Business Cards:
– Dr. Skillern has removed to Hamilton street,
between Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth streets, Mantua.”
Dr.
Samuel R. Skillern and his wife, Elizabeth
Penn-Gaskill Skillern, had a son, Peter Penn-Gaskill Skiller, who was born April 28, 1856. They had also lost
two children at very young ages.
“ELIZABETH
PENN-GASKELL, born 19 December 1825, eldest child of Peter Penn-Gaskell, Jr.
and his wife Louisa Adelaide Heath, married 26 July 1855, Samuel Ruff Skillern, born 16 March 1834, at Huntsville, Alabama. According
to the present Dr. Penn-Gaskell Skillern, Samuel R. Skillern was ‘a nephew of the famous international beauty
and wit, Madame Claude Le Verte, of Mobile.’
“Samuel
Skillern had graduated from the Medical School of the
University of Pennsylvania, receiving his M. D. in 1854, the year before his
marriage. Apparently the young couple lived in the
South for a time: they were in Columbia, South Carolina, and their first child
was born. During the Civil War, however, he served as surgeon with the rank of
major and was in charge of Satterlee General Hospital, near what is now
Forty-fourth and Baltimore Avenue.” (Roach, Hanna Roach, "The Penn-Gaskell
Family; Addenda to the Family Penn.." Pennsylvania
Genealogical Magazine, Vol. XXV, No.
2, 1967: pp 113-114.)
During
most of the Civil War, Dr. Skillern was Assistant
Surgeon at the Summit House Hospital, a 522 bed
hospital on Darby Rd. in West Philadelphia. At Summit, he operated on soldiers
wounded at Gettysburg. In 1864, all of the white
patients at Summit were transferred to Satterlee Hospital to make room for
wounded black soldiers. He may have been transferred to Satterlee late in the
War. (His obituary in 1921 states that he “built the Satterlee Hospital for
wounded soldiers at Darby, Pa.” This
information was probably provided by his son. I have not found anything to
confirm it.)
1864 IRS: Samuel R. Skillern, 35th and Hamilton.
1865 Directory (compiled Fall,
1864): Samuel R. Skillern, M.D., 35th and
Hamilton. St
1866, Nov. 23: Elizabeth
Penn-Gaskill Skillern, wife of Dr. Samuel R. Skillern died Nov. 23, 1866 at Pulaski, Tenn. Services were
held at St. Andrews Church. (Inquirer)
1867 Directory: Samuel R. Skillern, M.D., 3419 Hamilton St. (listed as “Skillerman”)
Martha P. Skillern,
widow of Isaac
1969, Dec. 14: Auction Sale. “Superior
Walnut Furniture, Chickering 7-Octave Piano, Brussels and Other Carpets,
Mattresses, etc…. 3419 Hamilton street, Mantua, the
entire su-perior parlor, dining-room, and chamber
furniture, rosewood, 7-octave pianoforte made by Chickering, fine mattresses,
Brussels and other carpets, china and glassware,
&c., &c.” (Inquirer)
1870 Directory (Fall, 1869):
Samuel R. Skillern, physician
1870, July: Samuel R. Skillern
purchased 3407 Baring St. His family was listed at
that address in the 1870 Census. However, in September 1871, the deed was
transferred again and they moved to 3519 Hamilton St. In 1880, they lived at 3416 Baring St. Later, they lived at 3509 Baring St.
1870:
Edward F. Gay 66 Civil
engineer; born in N.Y.; no real estate (renter), personal: $25,000
Ageline Gay 60 Born in N.Y.
Ageline Gay [sic.] 8
Hannah McNeil 50 Domestic
servant; born in
Anna Jones 23 Domestic servant; born in
Angelina (Bishop) Gay was Edward
Gay’s second wife. His first wife, Clarissa (Bishop) Gay, died in the 1850s. Angelina
and Clarissa were apparently the daughters of Phebe Bishop. They all lived
together in West Philadelphia in 1850. The 1866 Directory of Philadelphia lists
Edward as “vice pres. Phila. & Erie RR.
The younger Angelina was
Angelina Malin, Edward Gay’s granddaughter and
Angelina Gay’s grand neice. She was the daughter of
George Malin, Jr. (1836-1880) and Elizabeth B. (Gay) Malin.
1871 Directory (Fall, 1870): Edward F, Gay president at 236
Walnut St.
The 1873 directory lists him at 3418 Baring St.
Their older daughter, Cornelia
Francis Gay, was married to Jason F. Keen. In 1870, they lived at 3324 Spring Garden St.
1873 Directory: Maria Caldwell,
widow
Frank S. Caldwell, salesman
1876 Directory: Maria Caldwell,
widow of William
Frank S. Caldwell, salesman
Alphonso Mason of Caldwell & Mason
(Charles H. Caldwell, 3818 Spruce, & Alphonso Mason), railroad supplier at
41 S. 2nd St.
1877 Directory: Alphonso of Mason
Caldwell & Mason
1878 Directory: Maria Caldwell,
widow of William [no listing for Frank S.]
1880:
Wilson Welsh 41 Flour
manufacturer; born in
Sarah Welsh 41 Parents born in England
Helen Welsh 15
Walter W. Welsh 11
Bertha M. Welsh 10
Grace Bently 26 Boarder; at school; born in
Lizze Imhoff 49 Servant
In 1860, Wilson lived with his
parents, James and Ellen, in Ward 23, Precinct 7,
(Frankford), Philadelphia. Walter was listed as a flour dealer. The 1870 census
(2nd enumeration) listed them at
1890-‘91 Blue Book: Mrs. Eliza A. Kimber
In 1892, she was a “visitor” at the
General Convention of the New Jerusalem [Swedenborg] in
1895 Directory: Eliza A. Kimber, widow of Caleb
1895: “Albert W. Dilks,
architect, 1001 Chestnut Street, has made plans for alteration and addition to
3419 Hamilton Street, West Philadelphia. Quite an amount of interior work will
be done consisting of sanitary plumbing, hot-air and best modern conveniences.”
A building permit for the work was issued to John W. Leamy
of 532 S. 42nd St. (Phila. Builders’ Guide, June 26 and July 10)
1896 "Position wanted, young friend to teach children at
their homes or to read aloud, after 10 am address "M" 3419 Hamilton (The Friend, a Religious and Literary Journal,
April 7, 1986 p. 296.)
1897, May 5: “For Rent – Partly Furnished House
for summer months; must be seen to be appreciated. 3419 Hamilton street.” (Inquirer)
1898, Jan. 28: Death of Elizabeth A. Kimber, 80
years old, of 3419 Hamilton St. She died in New York. Burial was at West Laurel
Hill Cemetery.
1898-’99 Blue Book: Katharine Kimber
1898, Mar. 20: “Young Man, who has had charge
of a merchant tailor store for three years, would like a position. 3419
Hamilton street.” (Inquirer)
1900: Not enumerated
in this census. It was probably empty.
1902, Dec. 7: Death of Annie E. Allen, wife of William W. Allen
of 3419 Hamilton St. Funeral from her late residence.
They were listed in the 1900 census
living next door at 3417 Hamilton St.
1905, Oct. 8: “Mrs. M. M. Ward has closed her
summer home at Devon and returned home to her city residence at 3419 Hamilton
street.” (Inquirer)
1906 Blue Book: William W. Allen
In 1880, he lived at 3602 Hamilton St.
1908: Miss Amelia W. Robinson, member of the DAR
1910:
M. Louisa
Hill 48
Insurance agent; widow; born in
William W.
Allen 69 Boarder; insurance agent; widower
Virginia Hill 23 Daughter; school teacher; single
Horace Hill, Jr. 21 University
teacher
Joseph B. Hill 18 No occupation
Elizabeth Owens 25 Servant;
black
Maria Louisa Hill was the widow of
Horace G. Hill. In 1900, they lived at 3416 Baring St.
In 1920, she and Joseph lived at 409 N. 36th
St. In 1920, Horace Hill, Jr. was married and living at 3509 Baring St. In 1930, they lived at 308 N. 37th St.
Virginia Hill married Julian
Alexander in 1914. They lived at 3417 Race St. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s report of the
wedding is reproduced on the page for 409 N. 36th
St.
“ALLEN, William Williams:
Insurance agent: born in Philadelphia. He served through the Civil War with a
distinguished record, and afterward engaged in the fire insurance business in
1910: Joseph Bennett Hill. ..
(Haverford College Bulletin I Vol. VIII
Fourth Month, 1910)
1919, July 29: Death of William W. Allen of 3419 Hamilton St.
“Obituary - Col. Wm. W.
Allen – Former Common Councilman and Insurance Man is Dead
“Colonel
William W. Allen, former Common Councilman from the Twenty-fourth ward and
prominent in insurance circles of this city, died Tuesday night in the
Presbyterian Hospital after a short illness. He was a member of one of
Philadelphia’s oldest families and was born near Second and Lombard streets
eighty-five years ago. Colonel Allen lived in the Fifth ward for many years,
living there when that neighborhood was populated by the oldest and most
prominent families in Philadelphia. He later moved to 3419 Hamilton street,
where he lived until his death.
“Colonel
Allen was active in politics for many years and was elected to the Common
Council from the Twenty-fourth ward in 1894 on the Reform ticket.
“In
1865 he entered the insurance business, which he conducted at 327 Walnut
street, under the name of William W. Allen & Son.
“The
colonel was also interested in Presbyterian church matters. He was a member of
the North Broad Street and the Northminster
churches. He was also a member of the board of trustees of Presbyterian
Hospital.
“He
served in the Civil War. After the war he re-enlisted and served as captain
until he resigned in 1876. Colonel Allen was prominent in the Masons, having
been a past master of the Union Lodge of Masons, No. 121. He was also an
officer in many other clubs and lodges. For years Colonel Allen commanded the
Veteran Corps of the First Regiment. He was a member of the Mended Post, No. 1,
C. A. R. He was one of the veteran members of the Union League.” (Inquirer,
July 31, 1919)
1920:
Herbert C. Hapgood 43 Reporter for a mercantile agency; born
in Philadelphia, father born in Maine, mother in Mass.; renting
Frances G. Hapgood 43
William R. Hapgood 20 Clerk for an oil company
-2nd household
Alfred A. Schmitt 29 Clerk
for an express company; born in Cincinnati, Ohio, father born in Germany,
mother in Cincinnati
Nell D. Schmitt 27 Born
in Kentucky
Martha Schmitt 5 Born
in Kentucky
Sarah Hiner 46 Mother-in-law; widowed; Born in
Kentucky, father born in Kentucky, mother in Ohio [the census gives her name as
Schmitt as well.]
In 1910, the Hapgoods
were lodgers at 742 N. 41st St.
1921, September: Deed transferred from Obdyke
W. Austin (Surv Trustee of Will of Robert Steen) to
John P. & Bessie C. Bethel.
1922, Dec. 30: Death of Frances G. Hapgood, née Anderson, 46 years old, wife of H. C. Hapgood of 205 N. 36th St. Formerly of 3419 Hamilton St.
She was a member of the Northminster Presbyterian Church, 35th and Baring.
1930:
John P. Bethel 50 Physician
with own medical practice; father born in N.J.; owner, house valued at $9,000
Bessie C. Bethel 44 Born
in Va.
Bennett Bethel 90 Father;
widowed; born in N.J., father born in England
Emma Cook 55 Servant, lady’s maid; black; born in Va.
Essie Johnson 35 Servant, cook; black; born in Va.
In Jan. 1920, John was a lodger
living at 3513 Hamilton St. He married Bessie H.
Crawford in Philadelphia in 1920.
1931, Jan. 22: Death of John P. Bethel, 52 years old; burial at
Trinity Reformed Cemetery, Collegeville, Montgomery, Pa.
His father, Bennett N. Bethel died
April25, 1931. He was living at 2217 S Broad St.
1940:
Dr. William A.
Shannon 38 Doctor in private practice; renting for
$42 per month; 5 years of college
Alice B. Shannon 35 Wife; born in Iowa; one year of high school
Lydia Shannon 4
In 1930, they lived at 1552 Mayland St.
1956: William H. Nash was an electrical
contractor. (Inquirer, May 7)
1968 Directory: Gray, F., 3rd floor
Nash, M. D. Mrs.
2009: Purchase by John Schlesinger and Anna Weesner
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