History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 123

Author: Davis, W. W. H. (William Watts Hart), 1820-1910; Ely, Warren S. (Warren Smedley), b. 1855; Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1040

USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III > Part 123

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ADDISON C. COPE, of Perkasie, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, was born in Hill- town township, Bucks county, June 14, 1871, and is a son of Tobias G. and Hannah Cope, and is a descendant both in paternal and maternal lines from early German set- tlers in Bucks county, who, fleeing from religious persecution in the fatherland, found homes in the then wilderness of upper Bucks county, where they and their worthy descendants have contributed much to the material wealth and development of our beloved county. "Joost Coope" (other- wise Yost or Joseph Cope), the paternal ancestor of the family in Hilltown, emi- grated to Pennsylvania in the good ship "Adventurer." arriving in Philadelphia on October 2, 1727, and, after taking the oath of allegiance to the British crown, estab- lished a home in Penn's colony, just over the western borders of Bucks county, in what is now Montgomery county, removing later to Hilltown, where his sons Abraham and Adam purchased land in 1759.

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

Adam Cope, second son of Yost and Dor- othea Cope, became a large landholder and prominent citizen of Hilltown, owning at the time of his death over thirce hundred and fifty acres of land in that township. He married Margaret, daughter of Henry Hartzel, one of the earliest and most prom- inent German settlers in Rockhill, near the present site of Perkasie. Adam Cope died in 1800, and his wife Margaret sur- vived him a few years. They were the pa- rents of five sons, viz. : Jacob, Abraham, Henry, John and Paul.

John Cope, third son and seventh child of Adam and Margaret (Hartzell) Cope, was born in Hilltown township on the old homestead purchased by his father in 1759, a part of which he inherited, and lived there all his life. He married Susanna Sa- vacool, daugliter of William and Eliza- beth (Miller) Savacool, of Hilltown, and granddaughter of Jacob Sabelcool, born in Germany in 1713, who came to America in 1731 in the ship "Brittannica," and in 1742 settled near Sellersville. His son William settled in Hilltown in 1772 on a farm pur- chased for him by his father, and still oc- cupied by the family near South Perkasie. John Cope died in 1862, and his widow in 1873. They were the parents of six chil- dren, of whom William S., the grandfather of Addison C. Cope, was the eldest.

William S. Cope was born in Hilltown township and resided there and in the ad- joining township of Rockhill all his life, dying in the latter township February 7, 1899, at an advanced age. He married Leanna Gerhart, and they were the parents of seven children: Tobias G .; Eliza, wife of William Harr; Monroe G .; Henry G .; Amanda; Jane; and Leanna.

Tobias G. Cope was born in Rockhill township in 1845, and acquired his educa- tion at the common schools of that locality. He was a farmer and followed that vo- cation during life, first in Rockhill town- ship, and later in Hilltown. He was an active and successful business man and ac- quired a competence. He married Hannah Cope, daughter of Benjamin and Eliza- beth Cope, of Hilltown, who was also a descendant of Adam and Margaret (Hart- zell ) Cope. She inherited from her father a fine farm in Hilltown in 1865, she being his only child. Tobias G. Cope died in Hilltown in 1884. He was the father of four children; Ella, who died young; Will- iam Henry, Addison C., and Emma.

ADDISON C. COPE was reared on his father's farm, and acquired his education at the Pennville school. He remained on the farm until the age of eighteen years, and then entered the harness making establish- ment of H. B. Lapp, at Fricks, and learned the trade of harness making, which he fol- lowed until 1896, when he removed to Perkasie. In 1901 he erected his present handsome residence at the corner of Fifth and Chestnut streets. He is a member of

Trinity Lutheran church, and has served as deacon of that church for the past three years. In politics he is a Republican. He married March 18, 1896, Mary Alice Bean, daughter of David B. and Mary G. ( Mo- yer) Bean, and they are the parents of one child, Willian Washington, born February 22, 1897.

The paternal ancestors. of Mrs. Cope have been residents of Rockhill township for many generations. On the maternal side she is a descendant of Rev. Peter Meyer, who was born in Switzerland in the year 1723, and came to Pennsylvania in 1741 with his widowed mother and three brothers, William, Jacob and Henry: In 1752 he purchased a farm in Pleasant Val- ley, Springfield township. William Meyer, son of Rev. Peter, was born in Springfield township, June 17, 1764, and died there February 18, 1843. He married Mary Overholt, and their youngest son, Abraham O. Moyer, was born in Springfield on the old homestead purchased by his grandfather in 1752, and which is still in possession of his descendants, on June 6, 1798, and died there September 15, 1871. He married in 1832, Mary Geisinger, of Upper Milford, Lehigh county, and had four children; Will- iam G. Moyer, of Chalfont; Fannie G., who married Nathaniel Bechtel, of Berks county ; Mary, the mother of Mrs. Cope, who was born February 15, 1838, and mar- ried David B. Bean, September 30, 1865; and Abraham G. Moyer, residing on the old homestead in Springfield.

GARRET B. GIRTON. One of the oldest and most respected citizens of Newtown, is Garret B. Girton, who for over sixty years has followed a success- ful career as carpenter and builder in Newtown. He was born at Greensburg, near Scudders Falls, on the New Jersey side of the Delaware, February 20, 1831, and is a son of James and Mary (Mar- tindell) Girton, the ancestors of the former having been residents of New Jersey for several generations, while those of the latter had been residents of Bucks county from the date of the founding of Penn's colony on the Dela- ware. Her paternal ancestor, John Mar- tindell, was born in England, 8 mo. 24, 1676, and was an early settler in Bucks county. He married Mary Bridgman, daughter of Walter and Blanch (Con- stable) Bridgman, "both of Neshaminah in the County of Bucks." who were mar- ried at the house of Stephen Sands, 6 mo. 26, 1686.

John and Mary (Bridgman) Martin- dell, were the parents of six children of whom John, born 6 mo. 22, 1719, married 2 mo. 9. 1746, Mary Strickland, and had twelve children. Jonathan, the ninth, born 7 mo. 19, 1763. married Rachel Mor- gan and had ten children of whom Mary,

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

the sixth, married James Girton. James and Mary (Martindell) Girton were the parents of twelve children: James, of Palmyra, New Jersey; William A., of Bristol township, Bucks county; Mary Elizabeth, widow of Wilson McClanen, living in Newtown; Hutchinson J., of. Newtown: Samuel, deccased; Sophia, wife of Edward Reeder, of Newtown; Rebecca, single; Francenia, wife of Win- field Ellis, of Newtown; and Garret B., the subject of this sketch.

The subject of this sketch was reared in Bucks county, having lived with his uncle, Isaac Martindell, in' Newtown township, from the age of nine years to the age of sixteen. He worked on the farm for his uncle and enjoyed very lim- ited advantages in the way of an educa- tion, attending school from two to three months during the year. At the age of sixteen he apprenticed himself to Mi- chael Furman, of Newtown, to learn the carpenter trade, his term of apprentice- ship expiring at the age of twenty-one, and he was to receive one month's schooling per year. On attaining his ma- jority he brought his father to Newtown and lived with him, working as a jour- neyman carpenter for about four years. He then established himself in business as a carpenter and builder, and has suc- cessfully pursued that vocation to the present time. His old preceptor was a competitor for the business of the neigh- borhood for a time, but for over thirty years prior to 1895 there was scarcely a building erected in Newtown or vicinity that he did not build or superintend its building. He employed a large force of hands, but gave his personal attention to the work, of which he always did his . share and is still an expert with the tools of his handicraft. He made a close study of the more improved methods of the craft and has always kept abreast of the times. He taught his craft to a large number, having among his apprentices A. Britton, G. Tomlinson, H. Enright, L. Moore, H. Clark, Ed Carter, I. Ben- net, W. Ellis, S. Creely, E. Brennen, C. Tomlinson, J. Degroot, D. J. McClanen. H. E. Girton, M. R. Girton, W. C. Eyre, Leo Wharton, Ed Short, Justus Slack and Isaac Pownall.

Mr. Girton has been a member of the Presbyterian church of Newtown for upwards of twenty-five years, and is a member of its board of trustees. In pol- itics he is a Prohibitionist, and has been for many years an earnest worker for the cause of temperance. He is a mem- ber of Siloam Lodge, No. 265. I. O. O. F., of Newtown, of which he is a past grand. He married, in January, 1854. Maria Smith, daughter of John Smith, of Penns Park, and (second) Emma C. Saunders. of Brooklyn, New York. His children are: Susan, wife of Robert Krusen: Car- oline. wife of George Worrell; Ida, wife of John Short, of Solebury; Wilhelmina,

wife of George Kemler, of Brooklyn; Harry E., Maurice, and Albert E., of Newtown; Clara, wife of John E. Mas- · ten; and Anna R. Girton. He has twen- ty-seven grandchildren: Harry, Hugh, Garret and Alma Krusen; Anna, Amelia, Mary, Caroline, George, William, John and Albert Worrell; Harry, Edward, Sara, Marion, George, Alice, Nellie, Frederick and John Short, and Mabel, Horace, Helen. Marion, Clarence and Garret B. J. Girton. Mr. Girton also has one great-grandchild, Ethel Short. Mr. Girton, though in his seventy-fifth year, is one of the active business men , of Newtown.

OLIVER J. RICE. Among the enter- prising and successful young business men of Buckingham is Oliver J. Rice, proprietor of the "Lower Mill." at Mechanics' Valley. Mr. Rice was born in Buckingham town- ship, and is of English and Irish descent, being a son of Charles and Elizabeth ( Wat- son) Rice. His paternal ancestor. Edward Rice, was a native of Killeman parish, county Tyrone, Ireland, and brought a certi- ficate of character from the rector and church Wardens of that parish with him to America. dated June 12. 1736. He married Elizabeth Wilson, 6 mo. 10, 1742, and settled in Buckingham township, where he purchased 153 acres of land comprising the present farms of Edward Swartz and Gilbert Percy, near Bridge Valley on the old York Road. He died there in 1761, leaving seven sons and one daughter, viz; James; John; Edward; George; Mary, who married John Kinsey ; Joseph and Thomas. His widow married Mathew Beans, and the younger children were reared in Buckingham, on the old Beans homestead, near the Solebury line on the Mechanicsville road.

George Rice, fourth child of Edward and Elizabeth (Wilson) Rice, born in Bucking- ham about 1750, was the great-grandfather- of the subject of this sketch. On arriving at manhood he married Elinor, born Sep- tember 12, 1749, daughter of Robert Skelton, of Buckingham, September 21, 1771, and set- tled on a tract of 164 acres of land in Plum- stead. owned by his father-in-law. He was a wheelwright by trade, and after several years on the farm returned to his trade. His children were: Robert, Ann. Susanna, George, Sarah, Mary, Moses, and Elias. George Rice was a soldier in the revolution, being a member of Captain William McCalla's company.

Robert Rice, eldest son of George and Elinor (Skelton) Rice, was born in Plum- stead township about 1774. He learned the wheelwright trade with his father, and followed it for many years in Plumstead, Solebury and adjacent parts of New Jersey. He married a Miss Burke. and had three children : Joseph; a daughter who married and removed to New York early in life; and Charles. The wife of Robert Rice

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

died when her youngest child was a babe. He died about 1850.

Charles Rice, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Plumstead town- ship, February 5, 1800. Left an orphan at a tender age, he was adopted at the age of five years by a Chester county family, and spent his boyhood on a farm in that county, receiving a common school education. At the age of sixteen years he returned to Plumstead and apprenticed himself to the carpenter trade with a Mr. Meyers. He followed the trade of a carpenter for about twenty years in Plumstead, Buckingham and Solebury. In 1828 he purchased a property near Church's school house in Buckingham, and the remainder of his life was spent in that neighborhood, the last forty years of his life being devoted princi- pally to agricultural pursuits. He died in 1884, in his eighty-fifth year. Charles Rice was twice married, his first wife being Ann Wismer, who died about 1859. Her chil- dren were: Susan, who married William Mitchell; Margery, who married Levi Mundy; Elizabeth, who married John Magee; Jacob, now living in Kansas; and James, who married Kate Flack.

Charles Rice married (second) Elizabeth Watson, daughter of Joseph and Rebecca Watson, of Buckingham, granddaughter of John and Euphemia (Ingham) Watson, great-granddaughter of Joseph and Mary (Hampton) Watson, great-great-grand- daughter of Dr. Joseph Watson, great-great- great-granddaughter of Dr. John and Ann (Beale) Watson, and great-great-great- great-granddaughter of Thomas Watson, who married Elinor Pearson, in Cumber- land, England, 4 mo. 14, 1696, and removed to America and settled in Buckingham in 1704. He was a justice of the courts of Bucks county, and a member of assembly. This family was one of the most prominent and influential in Bucks county, and has had many distinguished representatives. The late Judge Richard Watson was a son of the first named John Watson by a second marriage with Martha Duncan in 1817.

The children of Charles and Elizabeth (Watson) Rice were; Watson, a coal dealer in Philadelphia; and Oliver J., the subject of this sketch. Charles Rice was one of the founders of the Christian church at Carversville, of which he was a deacon and one of its most active members for many years. In politics he was a Republi- can, but never sought or held office.

The subject of this sketch was born and reared on a little farm near Mechanics' Valley, and received his education in the public schools. After his father's death he managed the farm and made a home for his mother, who still resides with him. In 1893 he purchased the mill property, where he still resides. In politics he is a Republi- can, and has always taken an active interest in the success of his party. He is serving his fifth year as assessor of Buckingham township. He is a member of the Doyles- town Lodge, No. 245, F. and A. M. ; Doyles-

town Chapter, No. 270, R. A. M .; of Aquetong Lodge, No. 193, I. O. O. F .; Doylestown Encampment, No. 35, I. O. O. F .; and of Doylestown Council, No. 1117, Royal Arcanum, being one of the most active and earnest members of all these organizations.

Mr. Rice married, October 4. 1905, Abbie Kelly, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Evan F. Jamison.

ELISHA CABE PRAUL, of Hulmes- ville borough, Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania, is a descendant of English ances- tors who were among the early settlers of the county in which he was born. They were farmers by occupation, own- ing large tracts of land. They were also men of influence, and prominent in local affairs. John Praul, paternal grand- father of Elisha C. Praul, was born July 14, 1728. His high character and ability are evidenced by the confidence reposed in him by His Excellency Ben- jamin Franklin, who appointed him a justice of the court of common pleas for Bucks county, the certificate of his ap- pintment bearing the signature of the high officer before named, and the seal of the commonwealth, and reciting the "giving and granting unto him the said John Praul full power and authority to execute and perform all the several acts and things which any justice of the said court, by the constitution and laws of this commonwealth, lawfully can, may or ought to do, both in and out of the said court," etc. John Praul married Catharine Vansant, born March 28, 1731. They were the parents of John, born All- gust 10, 1768, who married Mary Van- sant, born November 3, 1774. Of this marriage was born a son John, January I, 1803. who married Ruth White Cabe, born July 3, 1813.

Elisha Cabe Praul, son of the last named John and Ruth White (Cabe) Praul, was born in Middletown town- ship, August 30, 1848. His boyhood days were passed on the home farm, which he aided in cultivating from the time he became of suitable age. He began his education in the common schools of Middletown township, and pursued ad- vanced branches of study in the Beverly Institue and Mount Holly (New Jersey) Institute. On arriving at man's estate he continued in the occupation to which he had been brought up, that of farm- ing, continuing his labors industriously and with much success until 1890, when he retired from labor to enjoy well earned ease. He did not, however, re- lapse into inactivity, but continued to bear a full share in the duties and re- sponsibilities of a public-spirited citizen. For fourteen years he rendered useful and disinterested service as a member of the borough council. In 1903 he was elected treasurer of the borough and

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

was re-elected in the following year. He is a Presbyterian in religion, and a Republican in politics. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, affiliated with Bristol Lodge No. 25, A. Y. F. and A. M. He is also a member of Neshaminy Lodge, No. 422, I. O. O. F., and of the encampment in the same order, and of the Improved Order of Red Men. His personal qualities are those which mark the upright citizen- and well-disposed neighbor and friend. Mr. Praul married on March 19, 1874, Miss Ella Finne- more, a native of the same township with himself. They make their home in a splendid old mansion which was erected in 1788, and which stands as a witness to the stirring scenes of the past, in which their ancestors bore an honorable and eminently useful part.

MICHAEL A. VAN HART, for forty-one years proprietor of the Logan House at New Hope, was born Decem- ber 15, 1823, in the family home which stood on the boundary line between Upper and Lower Makefield townships. The family is of Holland lineage, his grandfather being a native of Holland and the progenitor of this name in America. Coming to the new world he settled in Falls township prior to the revolutionary war. He acquired a tract of land near Morrisville, which for many years was known as Van Hart's Island. His son, Jacob Van Hart, was a labor- ing man and spent his entire life, so far as is known, in Upper and Lower Make- field townships and in Newtown. He was twice married. He wedded (sec- ond) Mary Richardson, a daughter of Daniel Richardson, a pioneer settler who resided near Dolington. In their fam- ily were twelve children, of whom three are living: Michael A .; Abner, a resi- dent of New Hope, Pennsylvania; and Mrs. Louise Fredericks, a widow living in Plumstead township.

Michael A. Van Hart attended the common schools in his early boyhood days, but when a youth of ten years be- gan earning his livelihood, living with a farmer by the name of John K. Trego. near Pineville. He worked for his board and clothing for Mr. Trego until in his six- teenth year, when he apprenticed himself to the tailor's trade in Lower Bucking- ham township. There he gave his serv- ices in return for instruction in the trade and for his board and clothing during the period of five years. On the expira- tion of that period he located in Center- ville. Buckingham township. where he conducted a tailoring establishment on his own account, continuing there for six or seven years. He afterward re- moved to Pineville, where he opened a tailoring establishment. being thus con- nected with this business until the spring

of 1863, when he came to New Hope. Here he rented his present hotel build- ing, and in 1874 purchased the property, so that he has now been proprietor of the Logan Hotel for forty-one years, making it a popular hostelry. In con- nection with the hotel Mr. Van Hart owns and operates a farm of one hun- dred and twenty-five acres, pleasantly and conveniently situated about a mile from New Hope, and his farmning opera- tions aid materially to his annual income. He is a member of Amwell Lodge, No. 12, A. F. and A. M., of Lambertville, New Jersey, and is one of the highly esteemed citizens of his community. Although he has passed the age of four-score years, he is still an active factor in business life, and in spirit and interest seems yet in his prime. In 1848 Mr. Van Hart was married to Miss Mary A. Worthington, a daughter of Francis and Sarah Conard Worthington, of Centerville. They be- came the parents of five children, of whom three are living: Francis W., who is cashier of the Amwell National Bank at Lambertsville: New Jersey; Katherine, the wife of Edwin Taggar, of Philadel- phia; and Minnie, the wife of C. J. Roth- ermel, of Minnesota.

JOSEPH ROBBINS, SR. The family to which Joseph Robbins, Sr., belongs, is of English lineage and was founded in America by John Robbins, his grand- father, who emigrated from England during the colonial epoch in the history of this country, settling in Freehold township, Monmouth county, New Jer- sey, where he secured a tract of land and followed farming until his death. He married a Miss Ivins, who was a native of New Jersey. Isaac I. Robbins, their only child, was born in New Jersey and removed to Bucks county, Pennsylvania, about 1800, being then a young man. He settled at Penns Manor, near the Dela- ware river. upon a farm which he cul- tivated and improved, making a valu- abie property. His attention was de- voted exclusively to agricultural inter- ests, and he continued in the work of the farm up to the time of his demise. He married Miss Jane Thompson, and they became the parents of six children: John. deceased, born June 20, 1809, died October 9. 1899, aged ninety-one years : Hec- tor C., born August II. 1812, died aged eigh- ty-two years: Isaac I., born May 5, 1815, died aged eighty-one years; James T. born March 5. 1817. died aged seventy- eight years; Ann, born September 13. 1818. died at the age of eleven years; and Joseph.

Joseph Robbins, the youngest child of Isaac and Jane (Thompson) Robbins, was born at Penns Manor, May 2, 1821, and at the usual age began his educa- tion as a student in the common schools.

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

He afterward spent two terms in the Wilmington Friends school, and thus was well fitted by good mental training to meet the practical and responsible du- ties of life. On attaining his majority he began farming for himself in Penns Manor, near the old homestead. All five brothers of the family settled in that lo- cality and had adjoining farms, save that there was one little intervening tract of land. Mr. Robbins continued to reside upon his farm and gave it his en- tire attention until 1902, when he re- tired from active business life and is now living in Morrisville in the enjoyment of a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. Straightforward in his business dealings and practical in his methods, he secured a desirable com- petence. Politically a Republican, Mr. Robbins held the office of school direc- tor of Falls township for nine years, but has never been an aspirant for political honors, although he has ever kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day and has firm faith in the princi- ples of his party.

Mr. Robbins married May 28. 1851, Miss Sarah A. Parsons, born January 5, 1826, a daughter of Isaac and Lydia (An- derson) Parsons, of Falls township. They have five children: Jane. wife of William Y. Warner; Mary, wife of Ed- ward S. Kirkbride: Isaac P., a resident farmer of Penns Manor; Elwood P., of Newark, New Jersey; and Joseph, at home.

ABRAHAM D. NASH, a representa- tive of that class of men known as inde- pendent farmers, whose lives and ca- reers pass on evenly and uneventfully, but whose occupation is of the upmost importance to the welfare of man, is a native of Plumstead township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, the date of his birth being July 18, 1834. Abraham Nash, father of Abraham D. Nash, was a na- tive of Plumstead township, born May 2, 1799. In early life he served an appren- ticeship at the trade of carpenter, which he followed with success for a number of years, being an expert and careful mechanic, but later turned his attention to farming. continuing along this line up to the time of his decease. He was honorable and trustworthy in business affairs, and won an enviable reputation among his neighbors and associates. He was one of the old Mennonites of the county, holding membership for many years in the Deep Run Church. Mr. Nash was twice married. His first wife, Barbara (Detweiler) Nash, bore him five children: William, deceased; John, de- ceased: Mary, who died in . early life; Abraham D., mentioned hereinafter; and Joseph. a physician of Philadelphia. His second wife, whose maiden name was Barbara Myers, bore him three children:

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 123

Author: Davis, W. W. H. (William Watts Hart), 1820-1910; Ely, Warren S. (Warren Smedley), b. 1855; Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921 Publication date: 1905 Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1040

Author: Davis, W. W. H. (William Watts Hart), 1820-1910; Ely, Warren S. (Warren Smedley), b. 1855; Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1040