USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. I > Part 25
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Steplien Yerkes, son of the Warminster Herman, born October 20, 1762, and died 1823, spent his life in this township, and married his cousin Alice Watson, granddaughter of John Yerkes, son of the first Herman. She was born November 17. 1787, and died November 17, 1859, on her seventy-second birth- day. Their children, born in Warminster, all became prominent ; Edward, died 1825, major in a Bucks county regiment, War IS12, with Samuel D. Ingham, was a man of wide influence. He married Mary Shelmire, who became the wife of Moore Stevens. John W. Yerkes, born December 22, ISII, died Jan- mary 24, 1884, was a miller and in 1875 was elected Prothonotary of Mont- gomery county, serving two terms. Mary Yerkes daughter of Stephen, born September 27, 1815, and died July 15, 1896, married John McNair, born June 8, 1800, died at Aquia Creek, Virginia, August 12. 1861. At one time he was principal of a famous school for boys in Montgomery county; then read law, was admitted to the bar and subsequently practiced at Norristown. He was elected to Congress in the Montgomery district and served two terms, 1851-55. His son, F. V. McNair, born January 15, 1839, a graduate of the Annapolis Naval Academy, served with great distinction through the Civil War, 1861-65, a portion of the time on Admiral Farragut's flag ship in the Mississippi, became the senior Rear Admiral of the U. S. Navy, and died at Washington, D. C., Ne- vember 28, 1900. He is credited with having prepared the Asiatic fleet for the naval victory Admiral Dewey achieved at Manila Bay, which he turned over to his successor shortly before the Spanish-American war. The remaining child of Stephen Yerkes, the Rev. Stephen Yerkes, born June 27, 1817, died March 28, 1896, was educated at Yale, became a Presbyterian clergyman, removed to Kentucky, where he acquired distinction as Professor of Greek in the Transyl- vania University, and occupied the chair of Hebrew and Oriental languages in the Theological Seminary for forty years. His son, John W. Yerkes, was the Republican candidate for Governor of Kentucky, 1900, and was recently ap- pointed by the President, commissioner of Internal Revenue. Harman Yerkes, son of the third Harman, born July 25, 1767. died February 12, 1857, married, 1790, Margaret. born January 8, 1771, died March 4, 1849, daughter of Capt. Andrew Long, second son of Andrew and Mary Long, born about 1730, and died in Warrington township, November 4, 1812. He served in Colonel Samuel Miles's regiment. Continental Army, and in 1779 was appointed a justice of the Bucks county court, serving several years.
Of the ten children of Harman and Margaret Long Yerkes, William, born July 8. 1792, married Penelope, daughter of Giles MeDowell, a noted school teacher of ye olden time. Their daughter married William H. Force. Andrew L. Yerkes, born Angust 25, 1795. died July 14, 1862, a soldier in the war of ISI2. married Eliza Everhart, ISoo. They had seven children, one of whom, Dr. H. P. Yerkes, lives in Doylestown. Elizabeth Yerkes, born May 26, 1800,
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died May 24, 1875, married John C. Beans, and were the parents of nine chil- dren, mostly living in Warminster township. Their son, J. Johnson, was elected sheriff 1890, and served one term. Clarissa Yerkes, born October 12, 1802, died December 12, 1875, married Samuel Montanye and had six children, Ed- win H. Yerkes, born November 26, 1804, died June 26, 1864, married Catharine Williamson, and died without children. Harman Yerkes, born March 9, 1807, died 1889, married Rebecca Valentine and had cleven children. Stephen Yerkes. youngest son of Harman and Margaret Long, born in Warminster, May 19, 1800, died July 25, 1865, married January 13, 1831, Amy Hart Montanye, daughi- ter of Rev. Thomas B. Montayne, of Southampton. She was born October 23, ISII, died March 22, 1860, and was the mother of Judge Harman Yerkes, Doylestown. Another son of the third, or Warmister settler, Herman Yerkes, was William, born in Warminster, June 29, 1769, and died there 1823. He married January 2. 1795, Letitia Esther, daughter of Captain Andrew Long and sister of Margaret, the wife of his brother Harman. Of their sons, Harman died in Washington, D. C., 1860, aged sixty-five. Joseph Ball Yerkes, born April 29, 1797, and died at Hatboro, was the father of Judge William H. Yerkes, Philadelphia, major of 199th Pennsylvania regiment, Civil war, died October 10, 1885, and of Rev. David J. Yerkes, a distinguished Baptist divine. Andrew Long Yerkes, son of William, died in Cecil county, Maryland, 1889. The daughter of William married John Thornton, and their son is a prominent journalist in Illinois. He learned the printing trade in the office of the Doyles- town ( Pa.) Democrat.
The Yerkes family furnished several soldiers to the Revolution, and on the rolls are found the names of John, Silas, Herman, Elias, George, Anthony. Jonathan and Stephen, of Philadelphia, and Harman, Henry and Edward of Bucks. A son of Stephen married Sarah Purdy, descended from the common ancestor of the family of this name of Bucks and Montgomery counties. In 1790 several of the descendants of Stephen Yerkes, son of the first Herman, and some of the Purdys, removed to Seneca county, New York, and thence to Michigan.
The celebrated John Fitch, to whom justly belongs the honor of inventing the method of propelling boats by steam, spent several years of his life in War- minster, and was his home until he took up his residence in Kentucky. Fitch was born in Connecticut, January John Fitch 21, 1743, inherited a fondness for reading and study from his father, who had a genius for astron- omy, mathematics and natural FITCH'S AUTOGRAPH. history. He learned clock mak- ing after marrying a woman older than himself at twenty-four, whom he deserted, 1760, and came to Trenton. New Jersey, where he established himself as a silversmith. On the breaking out of the Revolution he turned his talents to gunsmithing. The British destroyed his tools and other property, valued at £3.000, when they took possession of Trenton, December, 1776. He afterward made his home in Bucks county, fol- lowing the trade of a silversmith, frequently traveling through the country. He was a patriot and an officer of the first company raised at Trenton ; he held the same rank in the army at Valley Forge, and was afterwards a sutler in the army in the west. At one time he served as armourer or gunsmith. He led an un- settled life. He went to Kentucky in 1780, to survey public lands and located a large tract, but afterward lost the title to it and was captured by the Indians in
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1782, while preparing to make a trip to New Orleans with flour. He visited London in 1793, and died in Nelson county, Kentucky, about 1798. In person Fitch was tall, six feet two inches, straight and spare, with tawny complexion, black hair and piercing eyes. His countenance was pleasing, and his temper quick. He was a man of good morals, and truthful and honorable in all his dealings. He was the father of two children, a son and daughter; the former, Shaler Fitch, died in Trumbull county, Ohio, 1842, and the latter, Lucy, mar- ried Colonel James Kilbourne, Franklin county, Ohio.
When John Fitch was driven from Trenton by the British, 1776, he came into Bucks county, first to the house of John Mitchell, Four Lanes End, now Langhorne, and afterward to Charles Garrison's, Warminster, half a mile west of Davisville. During his sojourn in this township he earned a livelihood by repairing clocks and silversmithing, making his home at Garrison's or in the neighborhood. He was recognized as a man of genius and associated with the most intelligent people. He was on intimate terms with Reverend .Mr. Irwin, pastor at Nesahiminy, who took great interest in his mechanical contrivances and encouraged him. Fitch frequently walked four miles to hear him preach. One of his intimates was Cobe Scout, a man as eccentric as himself, a wheel- wright, gunsmith and silversmith, who was
"Everything by turn, But nothing long."
It was at Scout's shop Fitch suddenly appeared one rainy Saturday afternoon, on his return from his captivity among the Indians. After a glance of recogni- tion they rushed into each others arms in tears, and the next day went together to the Southampton Baptist church, where public thanks were returned for Fitch's safe delivery by the Rev. David Jones, former chaplain in the Continental army. While living at Charles Garrison's, Fitch engraved a map of the "Northwestern part of the United States" in Cobe Scout's shop and printed it on Garrison's cider press.
The first model of a steamboat, that ever floated, was made by Jolin Fitch in Warminster in a log shop where Sutphin McDowell carried on weaving on the farm lately owned by Mitchell Wood, four hundred yards east of the Mont- gomery County line. He said the idea of a steamboat first occurred to him as he and James Ogilbee were walking home from Neshaminy church on a Sunday and were passed by a Mr. Sinton and wife in a riding chair at the intersection of the York and Street roads .? After pondering the matter a few days he made a model and submitted it to his friend Daniel Longstreth, the Rev. Na- thaniel Irwin and others.914. When completed the machinery was of brass, the paddle wheels of wood made by the late N. B. Boileau,10 who lived on the county line road near by, a student at Princeton college, but at home at that time. The late Abraham McDowell, of Warminster, who claimed to have witnessed the
9 In April, 1902, the Bucks County Historical Society erected a granite monument to mark the spot where John Fitch conceived the idea of propelling boats in the water by steam. The monument stands at the southwest corner of the York and Street roads, Warminster township.
9!2 The late Daniel Longstreth, Jr., thinks this was in April, 1785.
10 John L. Longstreth, son of Daniel, Jr., told the author in recent years that, on one occasion, when a boy, walking with his father, they met Nathaniel B. Boileau, then living at Hatboro, who said he made the paddle wheels for Fitch's model.
FITCH'S STEAMBOAT.
trial trip of the model, said it took place on a pond, or dam, below the present Davisville, in Southampton township, and that the party consisted of Fitch, Cobe Scout, Abraham Sutphin, Anthony Scout, John McDowell, William Van- sant and Charles Garrison. A couple of hours were spent in the experiment ; at the end of the time the little boat was declared a success, when the witnesses to the trial returned home. Since that time the application of steam to the pro- pulsion of vessels has revolutionized commerce and naval warfare. In 1786-7 Fitch built a steamboat that made several successful trips on the Delaware, be- tween Philadelphia and , Burlington. This was done with the assistance of a number of public-spirited citizens who subscribed to the enterprise. The "Indenture of Agreement," after being executed was deposited in the archives of the Philadelphia Philosophical Society, where the author saw it recently. It is dated the ninth of February, 1787, and to it are signed the names of the fol- lowing subscribers for stock with the number of shares each one took, although the value of the share is not given: Samuel Vaughan, one share; Richard Wells, one share; Benjamin W. Morris, one share; Rich. Stockton, three shares ; J. Morris. one share; Joseph Budd,, one share; Benjamin Say. two shares : J. H. Hart, one share ; Mags. Mifler, one share; Isaac W. Morris, one share; G. Hill Wells, one share; Thomas Hutchins, one share ; Richard Wells, one share; Richard Stockton, for John Stockton, one share : Israel Israel, one share : William Rubel, one share ; Edward Brooks, Harvey Voight, five shares ; Henry Toland, one share; Tho. Palmer, one sharc.
In the proceedings of the Philosophical Society of the date of September 27, 1785, Tuesday, a "special occasion." at, which Benjamin Franklin and eighteen other members were present, we find the following entry :
"The model, with a drawing and description, of a machine for working a boat against the stream by means of a steam engine, was laid before the society by Mr. John Fitch." This was probably the model that is still there.
Daniel Longstreth writes in his diary, under date of 2 mo., 18, 1845 : "I visited uncle Isaac Longstreth, who told me that Robert Fulton was apprenticed to the person that buih John Fitch's large steamboat, and was then in his twentieth year."
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While there is no dispute as to whom conceived and built a model of and made a successful experimental trip with it, there is a difference of opinion as to the exact spot where the model was first tried, and although it is not important whether the boat was first tried here or there, we give it consideration by ex- amining the question. The witnesses all agree the trial was not made in War- minster, but on the creek known as Southampton run, in the vicinity of the present Davisville. The Longstreth manuscript and the articles written by Daniel Longstreth, the younger, for the Bucks County Intelligencer of February, 12, 1845, agree in saying that "It was first tried in Southampton run a short dis- tance east from Cobe Scout's wheelwright shop were it was built." When the author of "Watson's Annals" made inquiry of Mr. Longstreth for information on the subject, he made the same statement. In a letter John L. Longstreth wrote the author, he claims the initial experiment was made in "Southampton Run about half a mile below Davisville in Joseph Longstreth's meadow. Mr. Longstreth was living in Southampton township as late as 1792. His farm of two hundred and sixty-seven and one-half acres fronted the County Line and the road to Davisville, and subsequently belonged to the Rev. Thomas B. Mon- tanye." On the other side, Abraham MeDowell, a boy of about eight years, claimed that he accompanied the party, and the trial experiment was made in a dam, then on the Watts farm, fed by the Southampton Run, and a few hun- dred yards nearer Davisville. We repeat, it makes no difference where, in that same ereek the first and successful trial was made of Fitch's model of a steam- boat. It was made thereabouts and was a success, and all who furthered its in- terests are equally honored. But for the encouragement Fitch received from the Longstreth family. we doubt if his invention had proved a success.
Mr. Longstreth, Daniel the elder, says the Fitch family came originally from Saxony, crossed the channel into England, and settled in Essex, where it was respectable, if not noble, each branch having a coat of arms. He gives the arms of John Fitch as follows: "A chev between three leopards heads, or, crest a leopard's head embossed or, in his mouth a sword proper hilt or." In a letter written by Mr. Longstreth about this period, 10 mo., II, 1791, he says : "I have paid John Fitch for the surveying instruments and maps, about fio, or f12. 15s." One of these maps is said to have been worked off on Charles Garrison's cider press, in Warminster township, and is in the Pennsylvania Historical Society.
The Longstreth manuscript throws additional light on the personal history of Jolin Fitch. Mr. Longstreth was on intimate terms with the family and whatever he says of this remarkable man may be relied on implicitly. As we have already remarked, Fitch came into Bucks county after the British took possession of Trenton, and made his home in Warminster until he went West. After the British occupied Philadelphia, Fitch buried his gold and silver under a large chestnut tree on Charles Garrison's farm at night. He was watched by a negro, who dug up the treasure and divided it with the son of a respectable farmer. After the British had left, Fitch went to get his money, but was sur- prised to find it had been stolen. The young man's father agreed to refund part of it which Fitch accepted on condition the rogue should leave and never return. While the Continental army lay at Valley Forge, the winter of 1777-78, Fitch assisted to keep it supplied with provisions, receiving his pay in continental money, which he kept until $1.000 were only worth Sioo in specie. After the armies had left this section. Fitch returned to Trenton, gathered up the tools he had left there, brought them over to Cobe Scout's shop at Charles Garrison's
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
where he carried on business until the spring of 1780, when he went West.11 The Longstreth manuscript describes the personal appearance of John Fitch as follows: "Ile had a piercing eye, tall and thin, six feet in his stockings, could outwalk a horse a long or short distance, had a shining face, of tawny complex- ion, very black short hair, walked with a great swing, pitched forward, was a smiling, not a grum man, quick tempered, but soon over, honest in his dealings and free from falsehood." While at Charles Garrison's Fitch joined the Masonic Lodge at Trenton."
"Cobe" Scout, mentioned in connection with Fitch, his friend and intimate companion, was an eccentric character in Warminster, made his home part of the time with Charles Garrison, who lived on the road from Davisville to the Montgomery county line in the first house on the west side. Fitch taught Scout the art of silversmithing to which he added gunmaking. Occasionally a few of his silverspoons, or one of his long rifles, turn up in some old homestead. Three quarters of a century ago the good housewives of Warminster and South- ampton held Scout's silver spoons in higher estimation than any other make, and a few have been handed down from mother to daughter as precious heirlooms. His rifles were equally celebrated, one of which he carried in the Revolution. While the American army lay on the west bank of the Delaware, 1776, and the enemy occupied Trenton, Scout shot a Hessian dead across the river, in punish- ment for some insulting gesture, and John Davis, grandfather of the author, witnessed it. This added greatly to Scout's reputation. He died 1829, at the age of ninety-three, and was buried in the Vansant graveyard, Warminster, and many years after the late Josiah Hart, Doylestown, erected tomb stones at the grave. Scout's Christian name was James, or Jacobus.
The first steamboats on the Delaware after John Fitch's experiment of 1788, carrying passengers between Philadelphia and Trenton, were the Phoenix and Philadelphia. The Phoenix, built at Hoboken, N. J., by John C. Stevens, 1807. made her first trip to Bristol, Sunday, July 30, 1809. She was commanded by Captain Davis, or Davidson, and the engineer, Robert Stevens, son of the builder. She was the first steam vessel to navigate the ocean between New York and Philadelphia. Her speed on the river was eight miles an hour with the tides. After running a few years her machinery gave out, and was taken out of her. She was laid up and finally rotted down on the Kensington flats. Hundreds of people at Bristol went down to witness the first arrival, among them the late William Kinsy. The Philadelphia, familiarly called "Old Sal." also built by Stevens, commenced running between the same points, 1815. She was con- manded by Abisha Jenkins, leaving Trenton at 7 a. m. and Philadelphia on her return trip at 2 p. m. Her speed, with the tides, was ten miles an hour, and ou her arrival at Bristol and Burlington, she fired a small brass cannon mounted on her forward deck. It burst on one occasion, killing one of the hands, and after that, a gun was dispensed with. Burlington and Bristol were the only stopping places, and passengers were received and landed in small boats by signals from the shore. Many people believed there would never be a boat built that could
Bartholomew L. Fussell, nephew of Daniel Longstreth, the elder. and John Fitch. made brass wire from old kettles belonging to Joseph Longstreth, as wire could not be bought during the Revolutionary war. They used it for making buttons. They also made wooden buttons at Joseph Longstreth's. Fussell. in conversation with Daniel Longstreti. the younger, who died. 1846, stated that he turned out, polished and shanked a gross of buttons one morning by f o'clock. This "points a moral and adorns a tale," in evidence of the deprivations our fathers had to endure in the times that "tried men's souls."
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make better time. The Philadelphia was followed in the early thirties by a boat called the "New Philadelphia," which had the same run.
Many efforts have been made to rob Jolin Fitch of the honor of inventing or discovering the art of propelling boats on water by steam, but they have signally failed. Recent investigations show that John Fitch made a successful experiment of propelling a model boat by steam, on Collect Pond, New York city, in 1796. It was called the Perseverance and the experiment was witnessed by Robert Fulton and Robert Livingston. In 1846, John Hutchings, who was present, made an affidavit of the facts attending this experiment. This was six years before Fulton made his experiment on the river Seine, and ten years before he put his boat, the Clermont, on the Hudson. A model of Fitch's. boat was recently found in the New York Historical Society, New York City. It is to the eredit of Robert Fulton that he never claimed the discovery of steam propulsion, but only made use of it for commercial purposes.
There is a private graveyard near Johnsville, on the farni lately owned by Eliza Vansant, deceased, to whose family it had belonged. In it lie the remains. of "the rude forefathers," the early Holland settlers of that section, the Van- sants, Garrisons, Cravens, Sutpliins, McDowells, Vandykes, and others, rela -. tions or immediate friends. The oldest stone marks the grave of Harman Van- sant, who died, 1769, in his S4th year, and Giles Craven, September 8, 1798, in 'his Soth year. A handsome marble slab is erected to the memory of Dr. William Bachelor, a native of Massachusetts, and surgeon in the army of General Gates, who died September 14, 1823, at the age of seventy-five. His wife was a daugh- ter of Silas Hart, Warminster. He lived and died at Hatboro and had a large practice. It is related of him that. on one occasion, when called to visit a man whose leg was badly hurt, he wanted rum to bathe the injured limb and a quart was sent for. After the wound had been dressed. the patient, who was fond of a "drop," was told by the doctor he might take a little internally, whereupon he smiled his blandest smile, remarking: "Doctor, I always did admire your judg- inent."
The famous "Log College" was in Warminster township, on the York road. half a mile below Hartsville, on a fifty acre tract given by James Logan to his cousin, William Tennent. 1728. When Mr. Tennent first went there, Logan sent him provisions from Philadelphia. evidence the congregation provided him a slim living. He occupied the property lately Corne- lius Carrell's, and the col- lege was on the George Ilanna lots.12 In the fire- place of the old Carrell house is the fire crane used by Mr. Tennent, and part of the old wall, two feet thick. runs across the end LOG COLLEGE, 1726. of the kitchen. Three Eng- lish pennies bearing dates from 1710 to 1719, were found on the premises some years ago. Mr. Tennent, who died May 6, 1746. left all his personal property to his wife, Kathren, and at her ·
12 More recently owned by J. W. Gwyn.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
death, the real estate was to be sold, and the proceeds divided among his heirs. On September 5, 1889, the founding of the Log College was celebrated on the farm that formerly belonged to it, under the auspices of the "Presbytery of Philadelphia, North." The presiding officer was the Reverend Thomas Murphy, D. D., and the exercises consisted of sacred music, reading of the Scripture, prayer and addresses, followed by a lunch. Among the speakers was Benjamin Harrison, President of the United States, and Postmaster-Gen- eral Wanamaker. The audience was large.13
The most famous school of the period, next to the Log College, was kept at "Hart's School House," Warminster, on the road from the Street to the Bristol road, half mile from Johnsville. Three buildings stood on, or near, the same site, and took its name from an influential family living near, and active in establishing it. The first house was erected early in the eighteenth century, probably of logs. It was an old building in 1756, for, at a meeting of the patrons, held September 13, it was resolved to build a new school house, as the one "in which James Stirling doath now teach, as it is too small, dark and otherwise insufficient to accommodate the scholars that do at present attend the same, so as to answer the purpose intended (to-wit) the learning of Lating, Greck, etc., as well as English." It was to be 33 by IS feet, one story high, with a good partition through the same, a good fire-place in one end, and a stove in the other, Joseph Hart and Daniel Longstreth being appointed "sole managers." The house was probably built on a new site, as a lot was bought of Longstreth. 'The deed was executed May 2, 1757, and acknowledged before Simon Butler August II, 1758, and the house erected that fall. The conveyance was made to William Folwell, Southampton, John Dungan, Northampton, Anthony Scout, Warminster, and John Vanosdale (Vanartsdalen), Northampton. A third school house was erected there, 1831, at a cost of $320.2S. This was torn down, 1860-61, when three new houses were erected for the public schools, at a cost of $1, 315.65, on the Street road. James Stirling, the first teacher we know of, probably quit teaching in the spring of 1765, when a new contract was made with Thomas D. Handcock for the ensuing year, from June 4, for £63 ($173.33). Elijah Beans and William Maddock, who taught several years in the 1831 school house, were not new teachers. The subscriptions for building the 1757 school house were as follows: Joseph Hart £8, John Dungan £3, Derick Kroesson £3. James Stirling £2, William Ramsey f1, and James Spencer £2. "Ilart's School House" was the centre of a good deal of the mental activity of the township in the eighteenth and part of the nineteenth centuries. In 1793-94, and how long continued we know not, the "Moral Society" met there for debate. Fourteen names are signed to the constitution, including those of Longstreth, Eyre, Rees and Matlack. Spectators were not admitted and each member was obliged to deliver "one sheet of paper, one candle or one penny, for the use of the society." In 1811-13 a new society sprung up in the hands of new men. It likewise met for debate, the questions taking a pretty wide range, and. among the members, we find the well-known names of Hart, Longstreth. Miles, Craven, Ramsey, Prior, Vansant, Crawford, Daniel, Long, Yerkes, Shelmire and Brady. 14
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