Biographical Sketch of Joaquin B. MATLACK (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsylvania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1893, pp. 736-7. "JOAQUIN B. MATLACK, one of the leading young business men of Chester county, and a member of the great platinum refining and melting firm of J. Bishop & Co., of Sugartown, was born in Willistown township, Chester county, Pennsyl- vania, November 19, 1868, and is a son of Wilson M. and Angelina (Bishop) Matlack. He was reared in his native township, received a good education and at an early age commenced life for himself in the business world. He was variously employed in connection with the platinum manufacturing business of the firm of J. Bishop & Co. until the death of J. Bishop, his maternal grand- father, when he succeeded him in the business, the firm name remaining un- changed. "On May 20, 1891, Mr. Matlack was united in marriage with Kate Dutton, daughter of Henry H. Dutton, of East Goshen township. "J. B. Matlack is of English descent. His great-grandfather, Joel Matlack, was, in all probability, a native of East Goshen township. He served as a soldier of the war of 1812, being stationed at Camp Marcus Hook. He married, and his son, John K. Matlack, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in West Goshen township, March 2, 1814. He was a farmer by occupation and removed to West Chester two years before his death, which occurred in 1892. He married Hannah Miles, and reared a family of four sons and three daughters. One of their sons, Wilson M. Matlack (father), was born December 16, 1840. He received his education in the public and in private schools. When the late war commenced he enlisted on June 9, 1961, in Co. A, 1st Pennsylvania reserves, and served in the army of the Potomac until June 13, 1864, when he was honorably discharged from the service. He participated in some of the hardest battles of the war. In 1873 he enlisted in the National guard of Pennsylvania and served five years in that organization. He is a republican in politics, has been a member of the Republican county committee frequently, and has served several terms as justice of the peace in Willistown township. He married Angelina Bishop, and they have six children, three sons and three daughters. Mrs. Angelina Matlack is one of four daughters born to Joaquin and Susannah (O'Neil) Bishop. "Joaquin Bishop (maternal grandfather) was the founder of the platinum working industry in the United States, and through his business became extensively known to scientific people and the leading colleges throughout this country, Canada and some parts of Europe. He was of English descent and was born in 1806, in Portugal, where his father was then director of the royal fabrics. The French war drove his father from Portugal, and he settled at Philadelphia, where the son learned the trade of brass finisher. After learning his trade Joaquin Bishop worked as an instrument maker at the university of Pennsylvania, from 1832 to 1839. In the last named year he commenced to work in platinum, and in 1845 drew the first premium at the exhibition of the Franklin institute for platinum work done in this country. In 1858 he removed his business to Radnor, Delaware county, which he left in 1865 to come to the site of the present platinum works of J. Bishop & Co., which he established in that year. In 1876 he was the only exhibitor of platinum work at the centennial inter- national exhibition, and received the first premium for manufactured platinum vessels and apparatus, and in 1881 associated Edwin T. Cox in partnership with him, under the firm name of J. Bishop & Co. He acquired his education largely by reading and self study, built up a large and flourishing industry, and his long life of activity and usefulness was closed on August 4, 1886, when his spirit took its flight from earth. "Joaquin B. Matlack is a republican in politics, but his business interests as a member of the firm of J. Bishop & Co. are such as to leave him little time to give to the consideration of political affairs. The platinum plant of the firm is at Sugartown, in Willistown township, six miles from West Chester, and three miles from Malvern station on the Pennsylvania railroad. The main build- ing or factory proper is a four-story frame structure, thirty by thirty-five feet in dimensions, around which is situated at convenient distances all the other necessary buildings for carrying on the large and important manufacturing business of the firm. They are refiners and melters of platinum, and manufac- ture assaying apparatus, retorts, dishes, capsules, stills, wire, foil, cones, tubes, bottles, and all kinds of experimental instruments. All their work is hammered into shape and ranks with any European work made. They employ six men, and Mr. Matlack finds ready sale and a large demand for the superior products of his works in this country from Maine to Oregon and from the great lakes to the gulf."