History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 127

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 127

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JACOB L. SHELLY, who is interested in agricultural pursuits in Bucks county, and in the produce business in Philadelphia, was born in Buckingham township, this county. December 24, 1866. His paternal grandfather was Samuel Shelly. His father, Henry S. Shelly, was born December 25, 1837, at Brick Tavern, Steinsburg, Bucks county. For many years he successfully followed farming in the county of his nativity, having a rich tract of land which he placed under a high state of cultivation. In religious faith he was a Mennonite, and served as deacon of the church at Deep Run. He wedded Miss Mary Leatherman, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Bishop) Leatherman.

Jacob L. Shelly, son of Henry S. and Mary Shelly, attended the public schools of New Britain township, Bucks county,

and in his boyhood assisted in the work of the home farm. Following his marriage he engaged in farming for a year in Bed- minster township, and then removed to the Joseph N. Gross farm in New Britain township, where he continued the tilling of the soil for seven years. He took up his abode in 1897 on the J. L. Gross farm, where he has since resided, and in con- nection with its cultivation he is engaged in the produce business in the Philadelphia markets. He does an extensive business in raising hogs, poultry and vegetables, and finds a good sale for these in the city. He has led a busy and useful life, his business cares making heavy demands upon his time and energies, and yet he has found time to foster measures for the public good. He served for six years on the school board in New Britain township, and is inspector at the present time. He is also a mem- ber of the Mennonite church, and in his political views is a stanch Republican. Jacob L. Shelly was married February 9, 1888, in Bedminster township, to Miss Liz- zie Rosenberger, a daughter of Jacob D. and Hannah (Barns) Rosenberger. Her parents had ten children: Daniel. Mary, Isaiah, Lizzie, Emma, Fannie, Maggie, John, Etta and William. Of this number Mrs. Shelly was born October 23, 1862, and by her marriage she has become the mother of six children: Edith R., born October 25, 1888; Howard R., born September 6, 1890, and died November 22, following ; Henry R., born November 1, 1891; Jacob Arthur R., born October 19. 1894: Annetta R., born September 11, 1898; and George R., born March 16, 1904.

LLOYD RIDGE, who carries on gen- eral farming and dairying in Lower Make- field township, belongs to one of the old and honored families of Bucks county. His paternal great-grandparents were resi- dents of this county, and his grandfather, Daniel Ridge, lived and died in Bensalem township, near Trevose. He gave his at- tention to general farming throughout his entire life, and the property which he owned is still in possession of the Ridge family. His wife bore the maiden name of Rachel Staats, and they became the par- ents of eight children : Jonathan ; William W .; Hiram; James; Charles; Elizabeth, wife of Spencer Tomlinson; Emeline, wife of John Comly; and Daniel.

William W. Ridge, son of Daniel and Rachel (Staats) Ridge, was born in Ben- salem township, September 12, 1817, and in early life began farming on his own ac- count, after which he gave his entire at- tention to agricultural pursuits until his life's labors were ended. In 1853 he pur- chased a farm in what is now the Thirty- fifth ward of Philadelphia, and continued to reside thereon until his death, which oc- curred May II, 1903. An unfaultering advo- cate of Republican principles, he was prom-

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IIISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

inent in local political circles and held the office of Alderman a number of years. fe held other minor positions, and further po- htical honors awaited him, for in 1885 he was elected to the state legislature. Ite married Miss Sarah A. Johnson, and they became the parents of children: Lloyd; Emma, the widow of Luther H. Cornell; Annie, deceased, wife of Newton Myers.

Lloyd Ridge, the eldest son of William W. Ridge, was born in Bensalem town- ship, July 10, 1847, and was a student in the public schools of Philadelphia, after which he spent one term in the Millers- ville State Normal school. He was trained to habits of industry upon the home farm, and remained with his father until twenty- six years of age, at which time he took up his abode upon the farm that is now his home. He has made all of the improve- ments here, and it is one of the best equip- ped farm properties of Lower Makefield township, having splendid buildings, the latest improved machinery, highly cultivat- ed fields and good grades of stock. In con- nection with general agricultural pursuits he has conducted a dairy business, and for the past thirty years has made a daily de- livery of his dairy products in Trenton, New Jersey. His success has come as the direct result of diligence, perseverance and sound judgment. Lloyd Ridge was married to Miss Mary Wilson, a daughter of Jesse S. and Martha C. Wilson, and they have a wide and favorable acquaint- ance in Lower Makefield township.

HARVEY S. KULP, senior member of the firm of Kulp Brothers, Perkasie, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, was born at Pleas- ant Valley, Springfield township, Bucks county, July 25, 1862, and is a son of Abra- ham M. and Elmira (Slifer) Kulp.

The emigrant ancestor of the Kulps of Bucks and Montgomery counties was Diel- man Kulp, a native of Germany, who came to America in the ship "Mortonhouse," ar- riving in Philadelphia, August 17, 1729. He settled in Montgomery county on the Skip- pack creek, and is buried in the old Skip- pack Mennonite burying ground. Dielman Kulp, Jr., settled in Bedminster township, Bucks county, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty-two acres in 1754. He died there in October, 1789, his wife Elizabeth dying some years previously. They were the parents of three children- Henry; Elizabeth, who married Henry Rosenberger; and Jacob Kulp.

Jacob, son of Dielman Kulp, was born in Montgomery county, April 16, 1737, and married May 22, 1760, Elizabeth Fretz, born in 1739, daughter of John Fretz, the pioneer ancestor of the Fretz family who had settled in Bedminster in 1738. In 1761 Jacob Kulp purchased of the London Com- pany 21I acres of land in Tinicum town- ship, and lived thereon until 1774, when

he purchased a farm of 162 acres in Hill- town township, near Dublin, and later pur- chased considerable other land in that vi- cinity. He died in Hilltown in May, 1816. 'The children of Jacob and Elizabeth (Fretz) Kulp, were ten in number, viz .: I. Isaac, born March 3, 1762, married Mary Clymer, and left nine children. 2. John, born September 6, 1764, married Barbara Funk, and had one son Jacob, and two daughters. 3. Gertrude, born February 8, 1767, married Jacob Hunsberger of Hatfield, Montgomery county. 4. Jacob, born April 29, 1769, mai- ried Catharine Delp, and removed to Holmes county, Ohio, where he organized a Mennonite church of which he was pastor. He was ordained as a Mennonite minister at Doylestown Mennonite meeting in 1818, and preached there until 1831, when he re- moved with his family to Ohio. 5. Abra- ham Kulp, born April 19, 1771, married Sarah Hunsicker; see forward. 6. Deilman, born July 23, 1773, married Hester Leicy, and lived and died on the old homestead near Dublin, had a son Henry and a daugh- ter Anna, married Samuel Angeny. 7. Hen- ry, born January 28, 1776, married Anila Hunsicker, lived and died on the Hilltown homestead; had children Isaac, Jacob, Jo- seph and Elizabeth. 8. Elizabeth, born De- cember 1, 1778, married Jacob Silvius; lived near Doylestown. 9. Barbara, born May 4, 1781, died June 26, 1783. 10. Cath- arine, born November 14, 1783, married Simon Musselman.

Abraham Kulp, son of Jacob and Eliza- beth (Fretz) Kulp, born in Tinicum town- ship, Bucks county, April 19, 1771, was reared on the old homestead in Hilltown, near Dublin, where his father settled when he was three years of age. He mar- ried in 1796 Sarah Hunsicker, and in the spring of 1805 removed to Bedminster township, where he had purchased a farm of 114 acres near the Deep Run Mennon- ite Meeting of which meeting he soon af- terward became minister. He died in 1848. His children were: I. Elizabeth, born 1797, died 1876, married Samuel Gayman. 2. Abraham, born 1802, died 1876, married Catharine Shoemaker. 3. Anna, born 1804, died 1885, married Martin Overholt. 4. Ja- cob, born March 8, 1806; see forward. 5. David H., born 1816, married (first) Eliza- beth Detwiler, and (second) Elizabeth Al- lebach. 6. Isaac. 7. Henry, died unmar- ried in 1889. 8. Sarah, married Jacob High, and 9. Barbara, born 1818, married Jacob Moyer.

Jacob H. Kulp, son of Rev. Abraham and Sarah (Hunsicker) Kulp, born in Bed- minster, March 8, 1806, married November I, 1827, Mary Moyer, born in Springfiela township, October 15, 1802, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Angeny) Meyer, and granddaughter of William Meyer, a native of Switzerland, who with three brothers and a sister migrated to America about 1742 and settled in Springfield, near Pleasant Valley. Jacob H. Kulp on his

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

marriage settled in Springfield township, where he purchased a farm and lived to a good old age. His children were: Eliza- beth, born June 7, 1830, died December 21, 1864, unmarried; and Abraham M., born May 13, 1838.

Abraham M. Kulp was born and reared at Pleasant Valley, Springfield township, and married there, October 27, 1860, Elmira B. Slifer, daughter of Joseph B. Slifer, and purchased and conducted his father's farm. They were the parents of eight chil- dren, viz .: I. Harvey S., the subject of this sketch. 2. Mary A., born September 12, 1864. 3. Jacob S., born September I, 1866. 4. Willis S., born November 28, 1869, married Minnie Moyer and is the partner of the subject of this sketch. 5. Lizzie S., born November 23, 1871, married Harvey W. Moyer. 6. Ella A., born March 20, 1873, married William M. Geisinger. 7. Abra- ham, born September 30, 1875. 8. Carrie, born November 14, 1878, single.

Harvey S. Kulp was born and reared at Pleasant Valley and graduated from the Pleasant Valley high school. He remained on the farm with his parents until twenty- one years of age, and then entered a gen- eral store where he was a clerk for eight years. In ISg1 he and his brother Willis S. purchased the business at Chalfont, where they conducted a general store under the firm name of Kulp Brothers, for eight years. In 1899 they sold out to John Swart- ley, and, removing to Perkasie, opened their present store, the largest of its kind in Perkasie, and are doing a fine business. Mr. Kulp and family are members of the Mennonite meeting at Souderton. In poli- tics he is a Republican, but has never sought or held other than local office, and was a school director at Chalfont for four years. He married, May 25, 1887, Mary L. Moyer, daughter of John H. and Sarah Moyer, who has borne him five children, as follows: Erma, born April 2, 1888; Ja- cob Harold, born September 17, 1890; Wil- lis M., born April 4, 1892; Walter S., born August 9, 1895; and Laura, born March 21, 1897.

LEIDY FAMILY. The American pro- genitor of the Leidy family of Hilltown was Jacob Leidy, who emigrated from Germany, arriving in Philadelphia in the ship "Adventure," from Rotterdam, Octo- ber 2, 1727. The name has been various- ly spelled Leidich, Leidigh and Leidy. They were among the early German fam- ilies to espouse the Protestant religion, and after years of persecution for conscience sake sought religious freedom in Penns colony on the Delaware. Jacob Leidy set- tled in Franconia township, now. Mont- gomery county, and was the organizer of the Indian Creek Reformed church near Telford, since known locally as "Leidy's Church." His eldest son Jacob and his daughter Magdalene, who married Colonel

Jacob Reed, a prominent officer of militia in the revolution, were both born in Ger- many. He had several other children, most of whom on arriving at manhood settled in other localities, most of them moving westward, assisting in forming new settle- ments, and spreading the gospel of Christ in the new colony.

Carl Ludwig Leidy, the first American born son of the pioneer, Jacob, was born in Franconia township, December 30, 1729, and is the ancestor of the Hilltown ( Bucks county ) branch of the family. He set- tled near the present site of Leidytown, in Hilltown, soon after attaining manhood, and died there February 25, 1785. His wife Ursula was born February 8, 1734, and died April 8, 1786. Their children were Jacob, who married April 17, 1777, Cath- arine Conover; Margaret, who married Adam Buzzard; Eve, who married Conrad Shellenberger ; Hannah, who married Charles Fluke; Mary, who married Philip Mumbower; Charles; Elizabeth; George ; Catharine and Henry. Among his distin- guished descendants was the late Professor Charles Leidy, of the University of Penn- sylvania.

Henry Leidy, youngest son of Carl Lud- wig and Ursula, married April 3, 1781, Anna Barbara Raudenbush. He was born in Hilltown, October 8, 1755, and died Sep- tember 2, 1844. His wife, Anna Barbara, was born September 29, 1762, and died May 23, 1838; both are buried at the old Hill- town Reformed church of which they and the whole family were among the earliest and most prominent members. They were the parents of three sons, George; Henry ; and Samuel. George Leidy, the eldest son, was born in Hilltown, October 16, 1784, and died there October 5, 1831; his wife Mary Wambold, was born December 16, 1791, and died May 22, 1841.

Henry, the second son of Henry and Anna Barbara (Raudenbuslı) Leidy, was born in Hilltown on the old homestead purchased by his grandfather, November 29, 1791. On arriving at manhood he pur- . chased the old homestead of his grand- father and resided there all his life, dy- ing October 28, 1881. Like his ancestors he was a member of the Reformed church, and is buried in the old graveyard of the Hilltown church. He married Sarah Ger- . hart, daughter of Abraham Gerhart, who was born in 1794, and died September II, 1857, and they were the parents of six children, viz .; Jonas (deceased), married Eliza Cressman and left one child; Eliza, born November 27, 1827, died January 30, 1838; Samuel G., see forward; Sophia (de- ceased), married Isaac Heinly ; Elizabeth, married Frederick Fluck; Leah, married William Shull.

SAMUEL G. LEIDY, of Hilltown town- ship, second son of Henry and Sarah (Ger- hart) Leidy, was born in Hilltown town- ship, November 28, 1832, and has always

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

resided there, being one of the prominent and successful farmers of that section. He married November 5. 1859. Sarah Ann Fluck, daughter of Jesse Fluck, of Hill- town.

H. FRANK LEIDY, only son of Samuel G. and Sarah Ann (Fluck) Leidy, was born in Hilltown, October 24, 1862. He was educated at the local schools and reared to the life of a farmer, and has never followed any other vocation. He has always been actively interested in all that pertains to the best interests of the community in which he lives, and has held a number of posi- tions of trust. He is a director and treas- urer of the Unionville and Hatfield Turn- pike Company, and director of the Hill- town Cemetery Association. In politics he is a Democrat, but has never sought or held other than local offices. He married De- cember 19. 1885, Lydia Leidy, daughter of Samuel Leidy, and they are the parents of one child, Sarah Andora, born July 8, 1897.

GEORGE S. CADWALLADER. The Cadwallader family, to which George S. Cadwallader belongs, was founded in America by one of three brothers, natives of Wales, who emigrated thence to the new world, locating in Chester county, Pennsylvania, another in Montgomery county, this state, while the record of the third is lost. All of the Cadwalladers through successive generations have been members of the Society of Friends. One of these brothers, Jacob Cadwallader, was a direct ancestor of George S. Cadwal- lader. His son, Jacob Cadwallader, was born in Montgomery county, and became a resident of Lower Makefield township, Bucks county, where he followed farming and reared his family.

Jacob Cadwallader, son of Jacob Cad- wallader (2) was born in Lower Make- field township in 1804. He was at one time a resident of Upper Makefield township, where he resided for two years, and later spent two years in Buckingham township, In 1841 he removed to Solebury town- ship, purchasing the farm now owned by George S. Cadwallader from the old Beans estate. He was active and successful in business, leaving to his heirs a good prop- erty. On the organization of the Repub- lican party he became one of its most stal- wart members, never failing to cast his ballot for the men and measures of the party. He belonged to the Friends' Meet- ing, and died in that faith in 1886, when about eighty-two years of age. His wife, Mary Leland, was a daughter of Joseph Leland, who piloted Washington across the Delaware when he captured the Hessians on Christmas day at Trenton. Jacob and Mary (Leland) Cadwallader had two chil- dren : Franklin ; and Anna, wife of Howard M. Betts, of Solebury township.

Franklin Cadwallader was born in Upper Makefield township in 1837, and when he was in his fouth year his parents removed to the farm which had formerly been a part of the Beans estate, and where he re- sided until his death, succeeding to the ownership of the property on his father's demise. He always followed farming, and, like his father, sustained an excellent repu- tation as a business man and citizen. Al- though he, too, was a Republican in prin- ciple and voted with the party on national questions, at local elections where no issue was involved he frequently cast an inde- pendent ballot. He married Rachel Slack, and of their six children two survive: Elizabeth, wife of J. Titus Slotter, of Sole- bury township; and George S.

George S. Cadwallader was born on the old family homestead once the property of his grandfather, January 6, 1873. Hav- ing acquired his education in the public schools he worked with his father on the farm until the latter's death in 1897, when he assumed the management of the prop- erty for his mother, who, however, died in May of the following year. He then purchased the farm, and has since con- tinued its cultivation, the result of his la- bors being highly satisfactory as his meth- ods are practical and modern. He is ac- counted one of the progressive young farm- ers of Solebury township. George S. Cad- wallader married Miss Sarah Smith, a daughter of A. Jackson Smith, of Bucking- ham township, and by this marriage there is one son, Frank T., born November 10, 1897. Like the others of the family Mr. Cadwallader is a Republican, his study of the questions of the day leading him to en- dorse the attitude of the party on vital issues.

ADEN H. BRINKER. Among the representatives of that class of men known as practical and progressive agriculturists the name of Aden H. Brinker occupies a prominent place. He has gained success in that occupation by close application and ceaseless activity, and his reliable trans- actions have contributed in a large meas- ure to his prosperity. He was born in Warrington township. Bucks county. Penn- sylvania. May 4. 1848. Aden Brinker, grandfather of Aden H. Brinker, lived and died in Bucks county, and his son John. father of Aden H. Brinker, was a native of the same county, where his whole life was spent. his active career having been devoted to farming. He married Miss Amelia Hibbs, and their children were : Edward. John, Aden H .. mentioned here- inafter : Jacob, who was killed in the army : and Susan, wife of Albert D. Wilgus, of Chalfont. a farmer.

Aden H. Brinker acquired in the com- nio: schools of his neighborhood an edu- cation which prepared him for the active duties of life. In early life he gained a

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

thorough knowledge of farming on the homestead, and he continued this occupa- tion after attaining manhood years, there- by providing his family with all the neces- saries and many of the luxuries of life. He is an active and public spirited citizen, taking an interest in all measures calculated to benefit his township and county. Mr. Brinker was married twice. His first wife, whose maiden name was Anna Younge, bore him one child, Daniel, now engaged as a dry goods merchant in Tampa, Florida. His second wife, whose maiden name was Sallie Worell, daughter of Elisha and Margaret Worell, bore him nine children, namely: Elisha, born August 29, 1874; J. Hunter, born March 21, 1878; Aden G., born April 19, 1880; Oakford, born May 12, 1882; Flora, born May 1, 1884; Lester C., born October 8, 1885; Albert W., born October 25, 1886; Addie L., born May 23, 1891; and Samuel, born October 31, 1894.

EDWIN J. JACOBY. Perseverance, thrift and industry have been the chief characteristics in the career of Edwin J. Jacoby, a prosperous agriculturist, who was born on the old homestead in Doylestown township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, April 6, 1855, a son of John and Sarah (Clymer) Jacoby, and grandson of John and Maria Magdalena (Shifler) Jacoby: John Jacoby (grandfather) was a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, one of the three original counties of the state, which is bounded on the northeast and south- east by the Delaware river, southwest by Philadelphia and Montgomery county, and on the north by Lehigh and Northampton counties. About the year 1824 he pur- chased a farm in Doylestown township, adjoining the farm now owned by his grandson, Edwin J. Jacoby, and conducted extensive operations thereon up to the time of his death, thereby providing a comfort- able home for his family, which consisted of his wife, Maria Magdalena (Shifler) Jacoby, whom he married in 1808, and his children-Elizabeth, who died unmarried ; Susan, who became the wife of Samuel Halderman; Mary, who died unmarried ; Isaac, a farmer in New Britain township, near New Galena; Levi, a farmer of Fount- ainville, New Britain township; Emanuel, a farmer of Doylestown township; Peter, a farmer of Doylestown township; and John.

John Jacoby (father) was born in Doy- lestown township, Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1828. From the completion of his school studies until his death, in August, 1902, he engaged in the quiet but useful calling of agriculture, and his practical and progressive methods brought to him a large degree of prosperity. He was an act- tive member of the Baptist church of New Britain during the greater part of his life, served in the capacity of trustee for a number of years, and at the time of his

demise was a deacon. He married Miss Sarah Clymer, daughter of Henry and Mary Clymer, and their children were: Henry F., a resident of Doylestown township; Edwin J., mentioned hereinafter ; Mary. E. Jennie, Carrie M., the three last named being deceased.

The educational privileges enjoyed by Edwin J. Jacoby during his boyhood days were obtained in the common schools of his native county. He assisted with the manifold duties of the home farm until he was about twenty years of age, and the following three years he resided with his brother Henry F., in New Britain town- ship. In 1877 he purchased from his father the farm upon which he now resides. The farm consists of fifty acres sitttated about two and a half miles from Doylestown, and is one of the finest and most produc- tive in Bucks county, and this, for a period of twenty-seven years, Mr. Jacoby has cul- tivated to a high state of perfection. As a citizen he is active and public-spirited, and the esteem in which he is held by his neighbors is evidenced by the fact that he was elected to the office of school director in 1896, and has been re-elected three stic- cessive terms. He is a member of the Baptist church of New Britain, in which body he holds the office of trustee. He supports the candidates of the Republican party, with whom he has cast vote since attaining majority. Mr. Jacoby was united in marriage to Kate Wagoner, daughter of William and Mary ( Williams) Wagoner. Four children were the isstte of this union: William H., born March 26, 1882, died December 16, 1884; Cora L., born March 25, 1885; John Wesley, born April 23, 1888; and Florence A., born September 1, 1891.

GEORGE G. MILL, a retired agricul- turist of Buckingham township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, having given up ac- tive business pursuits in 1885, was born December 4, 1823, in Durham township, which is at the extreme north point of Bucks county, the last of the original town- ship to be organized, but one of the earl- iest in the upper end to be settled.

Solomon Mill (grandfather) lived and died in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he followed farming as an occupation. He married a Miss Deemer, and their children were: Tranther, who married a Mrs. Dean: John; George, mentioned herein- after; and Solomon. George Mill (father) was born in Durham township, Bucks county, and his entire time and attention, after completing a common school edtica- tion, were given to agricultural pursuits. During the war of 1812 he displayed his patriotism by enlisting as a private, and throughout his term of service he served valiantly and well. He was a member of the German Reformed church. He mar- ried Miss Catherine Good, and eleven chil- dren. two of whom died in infancy, were

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 127

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