History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 126

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 126

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Edwin W. Martindell was educated in the public schools of his native township and the State Normal School, graduating from the latter Institution in 1890. In 1880 he began teaching in the schools of Rockhill, Wrightstown and Southampton, and im- mediately after his graduation came to Middletown, where he has remained up to the present time (1905), actively engaged as a teacher and organizer. In 1890 Mr. Martindell suggested that a Central High School be , established at Hulmeville, the school building at that place to be enlarged to meet the requirements at a slight expense to the district. It was with considerable difficulty that he succeeded in gaining public sentiment in favor of such plans, as it was maintained that there were insuffi- cient pupils to warrant such an undertaking. By personal visits to the houses of the boys and girls who had gone through the lower schools, Principal Martindell, with his un- tiring energy and enthusiasm, soon in- creased the enrollment of pupils until it was necessary to enlarge the building and secure additional teachers. The success of this pioneer experiment at Hulmeville opened the eyes of the people of the county so that they could see what an advantage a township Central High School would be to the children. The school . directors of Middletown soon provided free conveyance to the pupils, who were sufficiently ad- vanced in their studies to attend, and who lived at a distance from the school. The first class to graduate was in 1892, the graduates numbering nearly sixty, many of whom continued their studies in various states and graduated from schools of bus- iness, law, art. medicine, thereafter engag- ing in the various professions. Not only was Middletown township, under the lead- ership of Mr. Martindell, the first in the county to convey pupils to the Central High School that they might have the ad- vantages of higher education, but it was also the first township to issue a printed catalogue containing the course of study, rules and regulations of the school, to-

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

gether with the names of the school board, teachers and alumni. The course of study outlined by Mr. Martindell has been re- vised and extended a number of times by him. The Hulmeville High School Cir- culating Library of Middletown District was started with a fund donated by Prin- cipal Martindell, and by a special act of legislature the public schools in which he labors are under the concurrent jurisdic- tion of Hulmeville borough and Middle- town township. In connection with his school work he has been allied with the University of Pennsylvania, and is still doing university work.

In 1898 Mr. Martindell was appointed a member of the committee on teacher's permanent certificates, receiving this ap- pointment from Nathan C. Schaeffer, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. "The Bucks County Teacher's Institute Journal," published monthly from 1891 to 1894, was a publication in the interests of the public schools of Bucks county, and Mr. Mar- tindell served in the capacity of treasurer of the publishing committee. He has taken an active part in the local history work of the county, and is a member of the Bucks County Historical Society. In politics he is a staunch advocate of the principles of the Republican party. In 1891 he was elected auditor of Hulmeville borough, re- elected to the same office in 1903, in which he is now serving, and in 1900 was elected a member of the council of the borough. Principal Martindell's personality has won for him many friends both in and out of the lines of pedagogy.

December 31, 1896, Mr. Martindell mar- ried Ida Elizabeth Brown, of Middletown, daughter of Andrew Jackson and Char- lotte Mildred (Vandergrift) Brown, grand- daughter of Israel and Sarah ( Hellings) Brown, and great-granddaughter of John Brown. Israel Brown (grandfather) was commissioned in 1842 by Governor David R. Porter major of the Second Battalion .of the Forty-second Regiment of the mil- itia of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the First Brigade of the Second Division, for the counties of Bucks and Montgomery.

JONAS GOTWALS, of Plumstead, Pennsylvania, is the son of Daniel and Sarah (Fretz) Gotwals, and was born July 25, 1850, at Dublin, Pennsylvania. The an- cestors of the Gotwals family came from Switzerland several generations ago. His mother's family were of German descent. His grandfather was a shoemaker and also carried on farming. He lived in Montgom- ery county until his marriage, when he re- moved to Plumstead township, where he carried on his trade. He was supervisor of his township for nearly twenty years. He and his wife had five children : Mary. Daniel. Esther, Catherine and Sarah. Their son Daniel at nineteen years of age began school teaching, continuing for four years, when he married. In 1845 he engaged in

mercantile business, and was so engaged until 1884, when he gave it over to his -on Jonas. In 1880 he bought the letters patent for the perfection spring bed. and made a great success of it. He was a director in the Doylestown National Bank for more than a quarter of century. He married Sarah Fretz, February 29, 1844, by whom he had nine children, including . Franklin, Jonas and William. Daniel Gotwals, the father, died in 1895.

Jonas Gotwals was educated in the Ex- celsior Normal School at Carversville, and upon reaching manhood engaged in mer- cantile business with his father at Garden- ville. In 1888 the father retired and Jonas has continued the business, also the business at Danboro from 1875 to 1880. In 1892 lie established the creamery business at Garden- ville, and four years later built and estab- lished what is known as Curry Hill Cream- ery. operating both until 1901. He mar- ried Miss Martha, daughter of Samuel Lowder, in 1871. They have three chil- dren : Florence, Daniel and Samuel. Politi- cally Mr. Gotwals is a Republican.

JOHN B. MOLLOY, an enterprising and successful farmer of Buckingham, was born in Northampton township, Bucks county, April 29, 1854, a son of Nicholas E. and Fannie J. (Stradling) Molloy. Nicholas E. Molloy was born on the ocean when his parents were on the way to Amer- ica from Ireland, in 1817. At the age 01 six years he was taken charge of by David Shipps, of Northapmton township, and was reared in his family. Soon after arriving at manhood he purchased a farm in North- hampton, near Richboro, on which he re- sided for a number of years, and then sold it and removed to Wrightstown, where ne resided for two years, and then removed to the old Lacey farm, in Buckingham, on the Wrightstown line, the birthplace of Gen- eral John Lacey, living in the house erect- ed by the Lacey family about 1706, now torn down. He purchased this farm in 1878, but had previously purchased and removed upon an adjoining farm, now occupied by his son Harry F. Molloy, where he died in August, 1880, aged sixty-three years. Mr. Molloy was an industrious and successful man and was highly respected in the com- munity. For over thirty years he ran a commission wagon to Philadelphia, carry- ing his own and his neighbor's country produce to the Philadelphia market. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge and encampment. Nicholas and Fannie J. (Stradling) Molloy were the parents of three children: Harry F., the present re- corder of deeds of Bucks county, and a popular merchant at Pineville; Anna, wife of W. Harry Rockafellow, of Buckingham; and John B. Molloy.

John B. Molloy was reared on the farm and attended the public schools. At the age of nineteen years he apprenticed him- self to Aaron Kratz, at Plumsteadville, to

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

learn the wheelwright trade. After serv- ing his apprenticeship of three years lie purposed going to Philadelphia to follow the trade, but, his parents objecting, he settled down on the farm. In 1879 he re- moved to the Lacey farm which his father had purchased a year previous, and where he has since resided, purchasing the farin of his father's estate in the winter of 1880. Mr. Molloy has in his possession the deed given to William Lacey by William Penn 11 1703, and it is in a fine state of pres- ervation. Mr. Molloy is a member of Northern Star Lodge, No. 54, I. O. O. F., at Richboro, and Penns Park Council, No. 793, Jr. O. U. A. M. He was married in November, 1880, to Ella Twining, daughter of Elias and Nellie ( DeCoursey ) Twining, of Wrightstown, both of whom are still living. To this marriage has been born four children: Bertha Twining, residing at home; Edwin Worthington, assistant auditor for the Virginia Railroad Com- pany, at Philadelphia; Frances Stradling and Eleanor DeCoursey, residing at home.

NEWTON MYERS. Among the many extensive and productive farms in Doyles- town township, the seat of justice of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, is the one owned and cultivated by Newton Myers, formerly the property of his father. The township of Doylestown is situated within a mile of the geographical center of the county, and the land formerly belonged to the Free Society of Traders. Christian Myers, grandfather of Newton Myers, was a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He lived all his life and followed agricultural pursuits in Plum- stead township, which is a region of val- ley, plain and winding creeks. He was a member of the old Mennonite church, an upright and conscientious citizen, who en- joyed the confidence and respect of those with whom he was brought in contact. He was the father of three children: Sarah, who became the wife of Francis Fretz, and after his death was married to Stout Sto- ver; Hannah, whose first husband was Paxon Hough, and her second husband Orange M. Owens; and Jacob, mentioned hereinafter.

Jacob Myers, father of Newton Myers, was born in Plumstead township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, August 1, 1830. Af- ter completing a common school education he gave his entire attention to agricul- tural pursuits, which line of work he fol- lowed throughout his lifetime. In 1875 he purchased the farm in Doylestown township upon which Newton Myers now resides, and by dint of hard and unremit- ting labor succeeded in gaining a comfor- table livelihood and a competency for his declining years. Ile was a member and deacon of the Baptist church of New Brit- ain, to the support of which he contrib- uted liberally. He was a Republican in

politics, and held the office of school .di- rector in Plumstead and Doylestown town- ships. By his marriage to Susan Overholt the following named children were born : Newton, mentioned hereinafter; Ella, who became the wife of Frank Riale, and after his death of Otto Remhold; Laura, wife of John Vantoon; Lizzie, wife of Harvey Magargal; Harry, a real estate and insur- ance agent of Mckeesport, married Mamie L. Maynes, and they are the parents of two children-Clarence and Howard Newton; and Dora, wife of John Naegele. Jacob Myers ( father) died May 25, 1890.

Newton Myers was born in Plumstead township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, March 28, 1857. He is indebted to the common schools of Bucks county for his educational advantages, which prepared him for a life of activity. He remained on the home farm with his father, and af- ter the death of the latter purchased the same, and has since given his entire atten- tion to farming and dairy business, running a milk route to Doylestown for a period of seven years. He has been very suc- cessful in this enterprise, and is now class- classed among the representative farmers of that section of the county. He holds mem- bership in the New Britain Baptist church, in which he holds the office of deacon. Mr. Myers was united in marriage to Mar- garet P. Mathews, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Mathews. Their children are : Elizabeth M., born July 27, 1886, a student of the West Chester State Normal School ; and Carl, born May 13, 1891, resides at home.

JOHN J. STOVER. The Stover fam- ily was founded in this country by an emi- grant from Rhenish Germany, who settled near Skippack, Montgomery county, Penn- sylvania. His son, Jacob Stover, joined the revolutionary army when quite young, driv- ing a four-horse team belonging to his fath- er, with stores for General Sullivan, and. remained until the close of the war. Af- ter his marriage he settled on the farm in Plumstead township, Bucks county, and re- mained thereon until his death. He was twice married. His second wife, Cather- ine, bore him among other children a son Henry S.

Henry S. Stover was born October 17, 1786, and died in 1873. He was a miller, and built the grist and saw-mill at Point Pleasant, later the property of Ralph Stov- er. In 1831 he purchased a property with mill site at Erwinna, from Thomas G. Ken- nedy, which property was formerly owned by William Erwin, Esq. The following year he moved with his family upon the prop- erty and erected extensive flour and saw mills upon the same. He married Barbara Stout, daughter of Isaac Stout, of Will- iams township, Northampton county, and their children were: Salome, Ann, Eliza, Catherine, Emelline, Jacob, Isaac, Henry

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and Jordan H. The mother of these chil- dren died in 1862, aged seventy-three years.

Jacob Stover, eldest son of Henry S. and Barbara (Stout) Stover, was born at Point Pleasant, October 19, 1817. At an early age he was taken into his father's busi- ness, remaining with him until he was thirty-three years of age, when he with his brother Isaac, rented the saw-mill of their father, and engaged extensively in sup- plying hardwood lumber for the California trade. In 1860 he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, but four years later again went into the lumber business with his brother, continuing in the same until 1879. In 1886 he purchased from his broth- ers, Henry and Jordan H., "The Stover Flour Mills," and up to the time of his death conducted an extensive business in the manufacturing of flour and feed. Mr. Stover was an enterprising man, was rec- ognized as one of the leading men of the community, and served up to the time of his death, for a period of twenty years, in the capacity of president of the Alexan- dria Delaware Bridge Company, in which he was a large stockholder. In June, 1854, Mr. Stover married Mary E. Capner, daughter of Hugh and Matilda Capner, of Flemington, New Jersey. Their children are as follows: Matilda C .; Carrie C .; Hugh C., who is now practicing law in California; and John J., who succeeded his father in the operation of the mill known as the Stover Flour Mill until Jan- uary I, 1902, when he leased the same to C. C. Bryan & Son, and from then to the present time (1905) has lived retired. Ja- cob Stover (father) died at his home in Erwinna, October 30, 1897. His widow sur- vived him several years, passing away Feb- ruary 26, 1904.

HENRY H. SNYDER, one of the prom- inent and successful farmers of Hilltown township, was born December 10, 1842, 011 the farm upon which he still resides and which has been the property of his direct ancestors for over a century, having been purchased by Jacob Schneider, June 6, 1796. The Snyder family . (originally spelled "Schneider") were among the earliest set- tlers in Hilltown and the "Manor of Per- kasie," which included a part of Hilltown township and the Rockhills. The pioneer ancestor of this branch of the family was Michael Schneider, probably a native of Germany, and certainly of German par- entage, who with sons Jacob, Michael, Con- rad, and Christian; and daughters: Han- nah, wife of Frederick Shull; Catharine, wife of Jacob High, and Rebecca Snyder, settled in Hilltown township, prior to the

Revolution. Both he and his two eldest sons became extensive landowners there prior to 1779. Michael Snyder died in Hill- town in 1806 and devised his plantation, purchased in 1777 of the Penns, to his son Conrad, the great-grandfather of the sub-

ject of this sketch. Michael Jr. died in 1822, and also devised his farm to his brother Conrad.

Jacob Schneider, the grandfather of Henry H. Snyder, was the son of Conrad and Catharine Schneider, and was born in Hilltown about the year 1770. He married Elizabeth Yost, and in 1796 purchased 112 acres near the source of the west branch of the Neshaminy, one-half mile west of Leidytown, where he resided until his death in 1822. He was a saddler by trade, and followed that business in connection with the conduct of his farm. The chil- dren of Jacob and Elizabeth (Yost) Schneider, were: George; Michael, who married (first) Mary Rosenberger and (second) Elizabeth Rosenberger; Enos; Elias; Christian; Catharine, married John L. Shellenberger; Hannah, died unmar- ried; Lydia, married Jacob Savacool ; Ame- lia, married Levi Sellers; and Elizabeth, who married Charles Eckhardt. The fam- ily were members of the Lutheran church, and were among the founders of St. Peter's Lutheran church of Hilltown.

George Snyder, eldest son of Jacob and Elizabeth, was born on the old Hilltown homestead, and at his father's death in 1822 became its owner. He erected a mill thereon, now conducted by his grandson, Isaiah S. Snyder, which he operated for a number of years. In 1850 he conveyed the lower half of the homestead with the mill to his son Francis, and in 1872 conveyed the remainder to his youngest son Henry H., the subject of this sketch. He later purchased the Peter L. Snyder farm ad- joining, and lived thereon until his death, January 10, 1884. He was a member and trustee of St. Peter's Lutheran church of Hilltown, and was one of the prominent business men of Hilltown, and interested in the local enterprises of that section. In politics he was a Democrat, and took an active part in the councils of his party. He was a director of the poor for Bucks county for the term 1868-1871, and like- wise filled many local offices. He was mar- ried four times. He married (first) July 4, 1824, Mary Wittig, born March 1, 1803, died November 16, 1837, who bore him five children-Francis, who died in Hill- town several years ago, leaving a large family ; Jacob B., for many years a promi- nent merchant at Plumsteadville, Bucks county ; Ephraim; Sarah Ann; and Mary Ann. He married (second) Lydia Hart- zell, born July 3, 1807, died January 18, 1858; their only child was Henry H., the subject of this sketch. His third wife was Elizabeth Martin, born March 5, 18II, died September 1, 1873. Mr. Snyder married a fourth time, February 12, 1876, Caroline Woodring, who was born April 14, 1814. No children were born to the last two marriages.

HENRY H. SNYDER, born December 10, 1842, was the only son of George by his second marriage, with Lydia Hartzell,

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

who was a descendant of an old and prom- inent family of Rockhill and Hilltown. He was reared on the old homestead and as- sumed control of it on arriving at man- hood, becoming the owner in 1872. His life has been one of industry and business ac- tivity. He has followed the commission business for many years with success, mar- keting his own and his neighbor's produce in Philadelphia, and is one of the active and progressive men of his section, and has taken especial pride in giving his chil- dren the benefit of a good education. He married November 30. 1865, Amanda R. Reiff, daughter of Abraham and Sarah (Reiff) Reiff, of Hilltown, and they have been the parents of three children, Elmer R., Sallie E., and Anna Mary.

Elmer R. Snyder, born August 21, 1866, graduated from the University of Pennsyl- vania, in 1889, and practiced medicine in Philadelphia for nine years. He died March 16, 1898, after undergoing a surgical opera- tion in the University hospital.

Sallie E. Snyder, born November 19, 1867, married June 12, 1894, Rev. Charles C. Snyder, (son of Simon and Lydia Sny- der) pastor of the Lutheran church at Dub- lin, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where they reside.

Anna Mary Snyder, born November 3, 1870, married November 21, 1893, Rev. William O. Fegely, pastor of the Lutheran church at the Trappe, Montgomery coun- ty, where he has officiated for seven years. Rev. William O. and Anna Mary (Sny- der) Fegely are the parents of four chil- dren : Byron Snyder, Grace Amanda, Alma M. and Florence E.

Henry H. Snyder is an elder and deacon of St. Peter's Lutheran church, and has been a trustee of the church for twenty years. He still conducts his farm, and carries on the business of a commission merchant.

EZRA MICHENER, of Solebury town- ship, for many years one of, the prom- inent farmers and stock breeders of central Bucks, is a representative of one of the old . families of Bucks county. He was born in Buckingham township. near his present residence. October 4, 1839. and is a son of Dr. Isaiah and Esther (Good) Michener. and a lineal descendant of John and Mary Michener, who brought a certificate from Friends in England to Philadelphia Monthly Meeting about 1687. William Michener. third child of John and Mary, born 10 mo. 14. 1696. married at Abington Meeting, (where his parents had located in 1715.) 4 mo., 1720, Mary Kuster (or Kester, as the name came to be spelled later ), a grand- daughter of Paulus Kuster, who came from the Upper Rhine to Germantown in 1687. In 1723 William Michener settled in Plum- stead township, where he became a large landowner and a prominent citizen. After the death of his first wife, who was the

mother of his ten children, he married a widow. Ann Schofield, who survived him. Ile died in 1782. His eighth child, Mes- chach, born 4 mo., 22, 1737, died I mo., 9, 1826, was the ancestor of the subject of this sketch. He married, II mo., 24. 1761, Mary Trego, of Wrightstown, and lived and died in Bucks county ; he was an exten- sive landholder in Plumstead and Buck- ingham townships.

Meschach and Mary (Trego) Michener were the parents of eleven children, of whom Thomas, the grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch, was the eighth, being born I mo. 21. 1778. He was a shoemaker by trade, and followed that occupation dur- ing the active years of life. About 1825 he removed from Buckingham to Horsham, Montgomery county, where he died at the age of nearly ninety years. His wife was Sarah Bradshaw, daughter of James Brad- shaw, of Warrington, Bucks county, and they were the parents of ten children, of whom Isaiah was the fifth.

Isaiah Michener was born in Bucking- ham township, Bucks county, January 25, 1812. He was reared in Buckingham, and removed with his parents to Horsham, but returned to Buckingham in 1830, and re- sided for several years with his uncle, Isaiah Michener, on the farm, which be- came his at the death of his uncle and was his residence for many years. Soon after his return to Buckingham he took up the study of veterinary surgery, and began to practice that profession in 1836, and be- came very eminent in the profession, fol- lowing it for sixty-three years. He was one of the founders and the sponsor of the U. S. Veterinary Medical Association. He was a man of great force of character, and enjoyed the esteem and respect of the com- munity. He was devoted to his profes- sion, and did much to advance and increase its usefulness; a man of indomitable in- dustry, he acquired a competence, but kept up the practice of his profession until his death in 1899, at the age of eighty-seven years. He married Esther Good, daughter of John and Sarah ( Smith) Good, of Plum- stead. Dr. Isaiah Michener was active in all that pertained to the best interests of the community in which he lived, and filled many positions of trust. He was for twen- ty-one years president of the Doylestown Agricultural and Mechanics' Institute, and was a familiar figure at its annual county fair. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and politically a Republican. He married a second time, late in life. Rebecca Scott, whose maiden name was Bradshaw. Dr. Isaiah and Esther (Good) Michener. were the parents of ten children, cight of whom lived to maturity, viz: Ezra, see for- ward; Sarah B., wife of Charles S. Pax- son, of Solebury; Dr. J. Curtis, a prom- inent veterinarian of Colmar. Montgomery county, Pennsylvania; Mary Ellen, widow of Dr. Asher M. Fell, of Doylestown ; Hor- ace, of Doylestown; Clarissa, wife of J.

Ezza Machener

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

Willis Neeld, of Richboro, Bucks county ; Charles, deceased, who was a prominent veterinarian in New York; and Anson B., of Solebury.

Ezra Michener was the eldest son, and was reared on the farm in Bucking- ham, and acquired his education at the public schools and at the first State Nor- mal School at Millersville, Pennsylvania, and at the Excelsior Normal Institute at Carversville. On January 21, 1864, he mar- ried Margaretta Smith, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Twining) Smith, of Bucking- ham, and in the following spring located on the farm in Solebury, where he has ever since resided, purchasing it of his father ten years later. He has been for many years a breeder of thoroughbred Guernsey cattle, has bred many famous cows, and always has a fine herd on his farm, in which he takes great pride. He was one of the or- ganizers and is now a member of the execu- tive committee of the American Guernsey Cattle Club. This club was organized at the Astor House, New York city, February 7, 1877, by Dr. Charles R. King, S. W. Comly and Ezra Michener, of Pennsyl- vania ; Silas Betts and Mason C. Weld. of New Jersey; James P. Swain, of New York, Charles M. Beach and Edward Nor- ton, of Connecticut; and E. F. Bowditch and James M. Codman, of Massachusetts. Of these only the last mentioned and Mr. Michener are now living. Mr. Michener is also a member of the Guernsey Breeders' Association. In politics he is a Republi- can; he has been a member of the school board of Solebury township for thirty years, and is now a member of the board of county auditors. He is the postmaster of Michener postoffice, established at Cottage- ville in 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Michener have been the parents of six children : Thomas, a farmer in Buckingham; M. Alice, resid- ing at home: Edwin J., deceased; Lois W., a conductor on the Willow Grove Trolley line; Isaiah, who conducts the farm; and Edith B., residing at home.

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 126

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