Bio: Theodore Kirk STUBBS, (1893); Chester County, Pennsylvania 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/ *********************************************************************** From the 'Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Comprising a Historical Sketch of the County', by Samuel T. Wiley, revised and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, published by the Gresham Publishing Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1893, pp. 351-353: "Hon. Theodore K. Stubbs was a member of the State legislature from 1881 to 1886, and is now a prominent attorney of Oxford, who by energetic and zealous work has attained more than the ordinary degree of success. He is the eldest son of Daniel and Rachel A. (Kirk) Stubbs, and was born June 10, 1847, in East Nottingham, Chester county, Pennsylvania. Isaac Stubbs (grandfather) was a native of Lancaster county, and died there in 1832, at the advanced age of seventy-five years. He was a farmer by occupation and married Hannah Brown, by whom he had a family of nine children. One of his sons was Daniel Stubbs (father) who was born in Lancaster county, July 17, 1812, but in early manhood removed to East Nottingham, Chester county. He died at Nottingham, April 29, 1869, in the fifty-seventh year of his age, and greatly esteemed by all who knew him. He passed his life principally in mercantile pursuits. While yet a lad he clerked for a time in a store at Wilmington, Delaware, and later formed a partnership with his brother Amer Stubbs, and engaged in general merchandising at Peach Bottom, Lancaster county, which business he conducted for some time, and then joined another brother, Joseph Stubbs, in the purchase of a farm, store and paper mill at Nottingham. Another farm and grist mill were purchased from his brother-in-law, Roger Kirk. Later he sold his interest in the lower farm to his brother, and removed to the upper farm and flour mills at Hilamans, where he erected a store building and several fine brick houses. He was one of the first directors of the Baltimore Central railroad, and after its completion removed to Nottingham, where he resided until his death. He was also a director of the Oxford National bank, and Oxford Fire Insurance company. In political sentiment he was a republican, and in religion a faithful adherent of the Society of Friends. On October 3, 1844, he married Rachel A. Kirk, and to them was born a family of five children, three sons and two daughters: Hon. Theodore Kirk; the subject of this sketch; Isaac F., born December 29, 1848, died February 27, 1879; Phoebe M., born July 1, 1850, and died January 22, 1876; Dr. Daniel A., born June 29, 1852, educated at Swarthmore college, graduated with the degree of M. D. from Jefferson Medical college, and is now a prominent physician of Oxford, this county; and Ida E., who received a classical education at the Swarthmore college. "The maternal great-grandfather of Hon. Theodore Kirk Stubbs was Capt. Roger Kirk, who served with distinction in the revolutionary war, and after the close of that struggle was elected and served as a member of the State assembly at Philadelphia, representing Chester county in that honorable body. He was re- elected at the close of his first term, serving in several consecutive sessions, and becoming prominent and influential in the halls of legislation. He secured among other enactments the passage of a bill to locate and grade the old State road, known as the Christianna or 'Christeen' road. His son, Josiah Kirk (maternal grandfather), was born in Chester county, August 17, 1784 and died September 8, 1821, at the early age of thirty-seven years. He was a man of great activity and fine business qualifications, and was successively engaged in the management of flouring mills, paper mills and a cotton factory. He married Phoebe Passmore, by whom he had a family of four children, three sons and a daughter, Rachel A., who became the mother of Hon. Theodore K. Stubbs. "Hon. Theodore Kirk Stubbs received a liberal education in the Oxford academy, Wyer's military school, and the university of Michigan. He read law at West Chester, with Judge J. Smith Futhey, and was admitted to the bar in 1875. He immediately opened a law office at Oxford, where he now enjoys a large and remunerative practice. He has been an earnest student of his profession, mastering Blackstone, Kent, Tucker, and other authorities, and has great skill in presenting his cases in court and to a jury. He never appeals to passion or depends upon excitement for success, but relies on his ability to convince the minds of a jury by clear and logical reasoning, and a lucid presentation of the facts. That he is not mistaken in his estimate of the best way to approach a jury is abundantly proven by his almost uniform success in this branch of practice. "In 1881 Mr. Stubbs was elected by the Republican party as a member of the State assembly, and so ably and acceptably did he discharge the duties of that exalted position that he was twice re-elected, serving continuously from 1881 to 1886. He is one of the first men from Chester county to break what is known as 'the third term rule' and secure an election to the State legislature three times in succession. Only two members have ever been accorded this honor. This fact proclaims his popularity among his fellow citizens of Chester county far more eloquently than any words could do. In the house of representatives he was active and zealous on behalf of his constituents, and early came to be recognized as one of the most indefatigable workers in that body. In recognition of his industry and ability he was placed on nearly all the important committees - serving on a greater number than any other man in the house. Among these were the committees on appropriations, judiciary, labor, industry, corporations, apportionment, and a number of others. He had charge of the temperance education bill in the house, introduced the normal school bill, and was an active supporter of the anti-oleomargerine bill, and that for the equalization of taxation. He also introduced and championed several other general bills, and a number of local bills in the interests of his county and constituents. "In the local councils of his party Hon. Theodore K. Stubbs is active and influential. No man is better posted on the political history of this country, and none keeps in closer touch with the political movements of the day. His characteristic energy marks the service done his party as fully as it enters into every other department of his activity."