Years in parentheses are years of service as a Director of The Bank of Delaware County and/or The Delaware County National Bank

Hon. Joseph Engle (1814-24, 1848-49, 1853-54), son of Frederick A. and Abigail (Vernon) Engle, was born in Nether Providence, January 10, 1770. By occupation he was a farmer, and for many years a leading figure in the political history of the county. In 1806, he was elected County Commissioner, a position he again filled from 1822-24. May 24, 1809, he was commissioned Prothonotary, Recorder and Clerk of the Courts, to which office he was again commissioned January 14, 1812, and for the third time December 20, 1814.

During the war of 1812, he was active in outfitting the volunteers from this county, pledging his personal credit for arms that the State furnished through the military organization in this section. In 1824, he was one of the committee of five designated by Delaware county to receive the Marquis de Lafayette. He was a member of the Legislature in 1826, 1827, and in 1828 was appointed by Governor Schultz Associate Judge to the place made vacant by the resignation of Major William Anderson.

Governor Porter, January 26, 1842, recommissioned Joseph Engle a judge. His nomination to the bench had been made by the Governor a year before, but as the judge had been presented at the December Court, 1840, for occasioning a disturbance at the polls at the heated Presidential election of that year, the Senate did not act on Engle's nomination. At the February Court, the whole prosecution failed. William Eves, Isaac Lloyd and James McLaren memorialized the Senate in opposition to the confirmation of Engle, but without effect at the session of 1841-2. The Judge, after the presentment failed, exercised the judicial functions. He served on the bench for nearly twenty years. In 1851, when the office became elective, his age forbade him being a candidate before the people. Engle street, Chester, is named in his honor.

[Obituary]