Source: "Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Delaware County, Penn-
sylvania," Winfield Scott Garner and Samuel T. Wiley, Gresham Publishing 
Co., New York City, NY, 1894, pp. 167-168.

"AMOS WICKERSHAM HOUSE, a retired farmer and manufacturer of Chadds' Ford, 
and one of the best known and most highly esteemed citizens of Delaware 
county, is the eldest son of William S. and Phebe (Wickersham) House, and 
was born December 4, 1818, in what was then Pennsbury, but is now Pocopsin 
township, Chester county, Pennsylvania.  His great-grandfather, James House 
was born April 17, 1717, and died in July, 1756.  He was the father of six 
children: Amos, Hannah, Catharine, Elizabeth, Sophia, and Martha. The son, 
Amos House (grandfather), was born April 19, 1742, and after attaining 
manhood became a chainmaker, and carried on that business for many years 
in Pennsbury township, Chester county, where he died April 6, 1821, at 
he age of seventy-eight years.  He formerly resided in the old stone 
house, near Chadds' Ford, was a federalist in politics, and, like his 
ancentors, a strict member of the Society of Friends.  He was married 
three times, his last wife being Mary Swayne, by whom he had one son, 
William S., father of the subject of this sketch.

William S. House was born in Pennsbury township, Chester county, May 2, 1793, 
and after receiving a good common school education engaged in farming and 
market gardening.  For two years he was engaged in the tannery business, 
but followed agricultural pursuits the remainder of his life, and died in 
1873, aged eighty years.  Politically he was a whig, and in religion a 
member of the Society of Friends.  He married Phebe Wickersham, a native of 
Newlin township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Caleb 
Wickersham, a descendant of one of the oldest families of Pennsylvania.  
By that union he had a family of nine children, two sons and seven daugh-
ters: Amos Wickersham, whose name heads this sketch; Rachel, who married 
Henry Walter, Mary, never married; Martha D., who wedded Charles J. Allen; 
Eliza, became the wife of David Evans, and is now deceased; Sarah T., 
unmarried; Margaretta, died in childhood; Susanna, unmarried; and Benjamin 
S., now a resident of West Chester.  Phebe W. House died in 1866, in the 
sixty-seventh year of her age.  She was a most estimable woman, and a life-
long member of the Society of Friends.

Amos Wickersham House was educated in the common schools of his native 
township, the Friends' Westtown Boarding school, and an academy at Wilming-
ton, Delaware.  Soon after leaving school he engaged in farming in Lancaster 
county, this State, where he remained for seven years, and then returning to 
Chester county, settled in East Goshen township, where he resided from 1852 
to 1867.  In the spring of the latter year he purchased a large farm of two 
hundred and thirty acres, near Chadds' Ford, Delaware county, upon which he 
resided until 1876.  In that year, upon the marriage of his son, William H. 
House, who was then managing the farm, the property was sold to Gotlieb 
Schiest, and Mr. House removed to the village of Chadds' Ford, where he now 
resides.  While a resident of Chester county he was extensively engaged in 
stock-raising and marketing, and became very successful.  Indeed he has 
always met with remarkable success in all his undertakings, which fact is 
due alike to the fine business ability he possessed and the care and 
industry with which he pushed his various enterprises.  Since selling his 
farm Mr. House has retired from business affairs, and is now enjoying the 
fruits of an active life, devoted mainly to agricultural pursuits.  At one 
time he was largely interested in the dairy business, and during the 
Centennial exposition was treasurer of the company making the dairy display, 
and had charge of that display to a great extent, during which time he 
handled one hundred and seventy-four thousand dollars, without giving bond 
or security, and without the loss of a cent.  In connection with Lewis P. 
Harvey, he was also proprietor of the National Kaolin works at Brandywine, 
this county, for a number of years.  He has also done considerable convey-
ancing, settled a large number of estates, and acted as assignee in many 
instances.  A man of incorruptible integrity, he has always enjoyed the 
highest esteem of his neighbors and associates, and the full confidence of 
all who knew him.

Politically Mr. House was a whig until the organization of the Republican 
party, when he at once attached himself to that standard, and has frequently 
taken a very active part in local politics.  In religion he adheres to the 
faith of his ancestors and is a member of the Orthodox Society of Friends.

On November 4, 1847, Mr. House married Mrs. Lydia J. Sharpless, nee Garrett, 
a daughter of Jesse Sharpless, of East Goshen, Chester county, Pennsyvlania.  
By that union he had a family of six children: Philena, died in childhood; 
William H., married Anna Sheep; Anna S., married Charles J. Painter; 
Jesse S.; Charles A., and Phoebe S., all now deceased.  Mr. House is still 
hale and hearty, although in the seventy-sixth year of his age, and so full 
of energy as to still regret that he retired from active business so early.  
His career has been remarkably successful, and both in his methods and 
results deserves the earnest study of young men who have to make their own 
way in the world, and at the same time desire to preserve the integrity of 
their character and remain that noblest work of God - an honest man."