History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 134

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 134

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HORACE T. SMITH. One of the representatives of a numerous and noted family is Horace T. Smith, of Upper Makefield township. The branch of the family to which Mr. Smith belongs is traced through the following genera- tions:

Robert Smith (1) came from England early in the eighteenth century. Tradi- tion says that his father, who sailed for Pennsylvania accompanied by his wife and children, died on the passage and was buried at sea. His widow, with the children. proceeded to their destination, and there is reason to believe that Makefield was their adopted home. The mother married again. The name of Timothy Smith, a brother of Robert, re- peatedly appears on the records of the Friends' Meeting from 1710 to 1768. He was one of a special committee appointed to build Makefield meeting house in 1752. and was six times sheriff of Bucks county. His residence was on land orig- inally owned by Joseph Milnor, in Make- field, between Dolington and Wrights- town. Robert Smith, soon after his mar- riage. moved to a farm in Buckinghama. on the southeastern line, adjoining the Windy Bush farm of William Smith, where he lived during the remainder of his life. In 1738 he built a stone addi- tion to his log house, ruins of which were still standing a few years ago, this house being used as a dwelling by the sixth generation of the family. He was a highly esteemed member of Bucking- ham Friends' meeting. The first meeting was held October 6. 1720, and he was soon after appointed one of the over-

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

seers. He married, in 1719, Phoebe Canby, and their children were: Thomas, mentioned at length hereinafter; Tim- othy; Robert; John: Joseph; Joseph (sec- ond) ; Benjamin; Samuel and Jonathan. Robert Smith died June 26, 1745, and his widow subsequently married Hugh Ely.

Thomas Smith (2), son of Robert (I) and Phoebe (Canby) Smith, was born June 13, 1720, and was the first of the family to own the Smith homestead in Upper Makefield, although his having lived there is uncertain. He married Elizabeth Kinsey, and the following chil- dren were born them: Robert; Phoebe; Edmund, mentioned at length hereinafter; Thomas; Elizabeth; Sarah; Eleanor; John: Martha, and David.

Edmund Smith (3), son of Thomas (2) and Elizabeth (Kinsey) Smith, was born in 1745, and about 1780 tore down the old log house and built the brick house which is still standing. He was thrice married, his first wife being Sarah Daw- son, and his second Deborah Fell. By the latter he was the father of the fol- lowing children: Saul; Edmund; Benja- min: Joshua, mentioned at length herein- after; Jesse: and Deborah. After the death of his second wife he married Mary, widow of James Briggs.

Joshua Smith (4), son of Edmund (3) and Deborah (Fell) Smith, was born in 1782, and married Rachael Briggs, by whom he had three children: Deborah: Thomas Storey, mentioned at length hereinafter; and Elizabeth. After the death of his wife he married Susanna Smith, and two children were born to them: Kinsey and Martha. Mr. Smith died on the homestead, February 3. 1853.

Thomas Storey Smith (5), son of Josh- ua (4) and Rachael (Briggs) Smith, was born September 20, 1815, on the home- stead, and at the time of his marriage the portion of the estate which forms the present farm of his son, Horace T. Smith, was allotted to him. On this land he erected the present buildings and spent his life. In politics he was a Whig, and later a Republican. He married Han- nah Fell, and four children were born to them, two of whom survive: Horace T., mentioned at length hereinafter: and Albert, who is a resident of San Fran- cisco, California. The death of Mr. Smith occurred where his son Horace T. now resides, March 31. 1870.

Horace T. Smith (6), son of Thomas Storey (5) and Hannah (Fell) Smith, was born December 19, 1853, on the homestead, and received his education in the common schools. Although but six- teen years old at the time of his father's death. the responsibility of the manage- ment of the farm devolved chiefly upon him, and soon after his twenty-first year he had full control of the estate. Soon afterward he purchased the farm, his mother making her home with him dur- ing the remainder of her life. For nine

years he was a member of the school board. Like his father, he is a Republi- can in politics. In matters of religion he adheres to the traditions of his ancestors, and is a member of the Friends' Meeting. Mr. Smith married in 1877, Rebecca, daughter of John S. and Martha (Hill- born) Eastburn, of Upper Makefield town- ship, and they are the parents of the follow- ing children: Story Wilfred; Lester 1 .; Clarence H .; Howard E., who is a student at Purdue College, Lafayette, Indiana; and Emma H .. who attends the George School. · The three elder sons reside at home.

It is worthy of note that two of the grandsors of Robert Smith, the emigrant ancestor, namely, Robert and Joseph Smith, brothers, made the first plow ever con- structed with an iron mouldboard, a patent for the plow being granted to Robert Smith. The mechanical genius exhibited by Joseph Smith in the construction of an article so important to agriculturists led to a personal acquaintance with Thomas Jef- ferson and a number of other distinguished men of the day. Joseph Smith, in addition to his genius as an inventor, was the first person in Bucks county to succeed in using anthracite coal for fuel.

JOHN CASPER BACHOFER, a prosperous business man of Hulmeville, whose success proves conclusively what can be accomplished by strict attention to business and. by a steadfast determin- ation to advance, is a native of Wurtem- berg, Germany, born June 27, 1850, a son of John Casper and Elizabeth (Meomy) Bachofer. His educational advantages were obtained in the schools of his native land, and these he im- proved in such a manner as to be well qualified to enter upon the duties and thor- responsibilities of life. After oughly mastering the details of the trade of wood turner he worked at it for six years, and then, attracted by the possibilities offered to young men in the business world of America, he crossed the Atlantic in 1870, settling in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, where he contin- ued working at his trade for eight years. He then engaged in the grocery busi- ness, which he conducted during the re- mainder of his thirty years residence in Philadelphia, and the large measure of success he achieved was the direct re- sult of his own ambition and effort. In 1900 he located in Hulmeville, where he is held in high esteem by all who know him, and he has been honored by elec- tion to the borough council, in which he is now serving. During his residence in Philadelphia. Mr. Bachofer was a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has twice revisited his native land to visit his parents and friends.

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Oc- tober 16, 1873, Mr. Bachofer was united

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

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in marriage to Laura Elizabeth Reetz, of that city, daughter of Ferdinand and Amelia (Fudeka) Reetz, the former named, in connection with his son, hav- ing been very successful in the manu- facture of haircloth, this being a very unique process in this section of the country. Seven children were the issue of this union: Ewald Ferdinand, born August, 1874, died December, 1875. Law- rence George, born August, 1876, died September, 1878. John Casper, born August 15, 1880, is employed as a letter carrier in the city of Philadelphia. Louis Henry, born June, 1882, died December, 1895. William Frederick, born Sep- tember 23, 1885, now employed in the cotton mill in Hulmeville. Laura Eliza- beth, born December 9, 1888. Ferdinand Henry, born March 23. 1893. These chil- dren received their education in the public schools of Philadelphia and Hulmeville.

J. HARRIS CARTER. One of the progressive citizens of Upper Makefield · township is J. Harris Carter. He comes of Scotch-Irish ancestry, his great- grandfather having emigrated from England. . William Carter, the son of this emigrant ancestor, was born in Bucks county, and for many years lived on what was later known as the Harvey Southwaite farm, in Falls township. His wife was Rachael Headley.

James Carter, son of William and Rachael (Headley) Carter, was born March 15. 1800, in Middletown, Bucks county, and in early life was a farmer, but later moved to Hulmeville and en- gaged in business as a butcher. After his retirement he moved to Oxford, where he lived for ten years, and then went to reside with his daughter, Mrs. Hellings, in Taylorsville, where he passed the remainder of his life. He was a life- long Democrat, and in religion was a member of the Adventists, to which com- munion his mother had belonged, his father having been an orthodox Friend, and his brother David a preacher of the Society. He married Rebecca, born July 2, 1810. in Middletown, daughter of Jon- athan Hibbs, and they were the parents of nine children, of whom the following survive: James, who lives in North Da- kota; Rachael, who married Wilson Ash- more Kimball. of Trenton, New Jersey; Susan, who is the wife of Lafayette Homer. also of Trenton, New Jersey; Lurania, who married Edwin Hellings, of Mercer county, New Jersey; Clara, who is the wife of George Brooks, of War- ren, Ohio; and J. Harris, mentioned at length hereinafter. Mr. Carter died No- vember 23. 1863. at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Hellings, and Mrs. Car- ter. who is wonderfully well preserved at the extraordinary age of ninety-five.

resides with her daughter, Mrs. Brooks, in Warren, Ohio.

J. Harris Carter, son of James and Rebecca (Hibbs) Carter, was born March 15, 1848, in Fallsington, Falls township, and received his education in the common schools. At the age of four- teen he apprenticed himself to learn the business of a butcher with his brother James at Dolington. He was then en- ployed by his brother-in-law, Edwin Hellings, in Taylorsville, working during the summer months and attending school during the winter. For thirteen years he was employed by Mr. Hellings, and in 1875 engaged in business for himself at Dolington. At the end of twenty-nine he is one of the substantial and highly esteemed men of this section. He is a Democrat in politics, but has never been an office-seeker. Mr. Carter married, Feb- ruary 18, 1874. Rosa A., daughter of George W. Slack, of Dolington, and three children were born to them, of whom the sole survivor is Florence, now the wife of Frederick Sernberger, of Hopewell, New Jersey, and the mother of one child, Harris C.

ISAAC M. LANDIS, a representative of the quiet but useful calling of agricul- ture, conducting his extensive operations on a ninety-two acre farm in New Britain township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, it being one of the best cultivated and most productive in that section, is a native of that county, born in Springfield township, November 13. 1844. His parents were Jacob S. and Barbara ( Moyer) Landis. Jacob S. Landis (father) was born in Springfield township, in 1817. He was reared on a farm, educated in the com- mon schools of that day, and up to the time of his marriage assisted his father in the work of the old homestead. He then purchased a farm and also erected a mill. and both these enterprises he conducted suc- cessfully until he was sixty-five years of age, when he disposed of his property and took up his place of residence in Hilltown township, where he resided until his retire- ment from active pursuits. He was a mem- ber of the Mennonite church, and a Re- publican in politics. By his marriage to Barbara Moyer, a daughter of Peter Moyer. the following named children were born: Henry, Isaac M .; Helena, who died at the age of ten years; Abraham, and two who died in infancy. Mr. Landis died at the home of his son. Isaac M. Landis, in 1901. He survived his wife twenty years, her death having occurred in the year 1881.

Isaac M. Landis was reared under the parental roof, and was educated in the pub- lic schools of the neighborhood. one of his teachers having been William G. Moyer, a well known instructor. He left the home of his parents upon attaining his majority, and from that time until his marriage in

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

1871 he earned a livelihood by working out among the farmers. The five years follow- ing his marriage he resided in Plumstead township, and in 1877 purchased the old Martin Myers homestead of ninety-two acres, which he cultivated to a high state of perfection and which yields him goodly harvests in return for his labor. He makes a specialty of dairying, and the quality of his products may be inferred from the fact that he has sold to one man for the past twenty years, a very creditable record in- deed. He is a member of the Mennonite church, and his political support is given to the Republican party. In 1871 Mr. Lan- dis was united in marriage to Elizabeth Overholt, born in Bedminster township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of John and Annie (Drissel) Overholt. Their children are : Milton, a native of Montgom- ery county, married Susan Kreble, and one child has been born to them, Lizzie; Susan, wife of Samuel Histand, of Doylestown, and mother of six children; Samuel, Isaac, Abram, Lizzie, Daniel and Rebecca; Sallie, wife of Allen Ruth, and mother of four children, Isaac, John, Mary Ann and Ir- win; Hannah; Samuel; Annie; Harvey; Salome, who died at the age of six months, in 1879; Eugene, who died at the age of nine months, in 1889.

JENKS G. WATSON, of Carversville, was born June 3, 1838, in Buckingham township, his parents being Samuel G. and Sarah H. (Thomas) Watson. The father was born in Buckingham township, and was a son of William-and Betsey (Gillingham ) Watson. Samuel G. Watson was reared on the old home farm, and after his mar- riage began the cultivation of rented land. Early in the '40s, however, he purchased a farm of seventy-three acres in solebury township, about two miles east of Carvers- ville, and, after making two or three re- movals, at a later date he finally purchased town property in Mechanicsville, where he lived retired in the enjoyment -of a well earned rest up to the time of his death, which occurred in his eightieth year. His early political allegiance was given to the Whig party, and after its dissolution he be- came a stanch Republican. He was never an office seeker, yet he served as assessor of his township for a number of years, and was a member of the election board, his capability and his loyalty leading to his selection for its offices. By his marriage to Sarah H. Thomas he had five children, of whom three are living: Margaret G., the wife of Thomas Cadwallader, of Me- chanicsville; Anna G., the wife of John A. Ellis, of Buckingham township; and Jenks G. Watson.

Reared upon the home farm in Bucking- ham township, Jenks G. Watson acquired a thorough familiarity with the best methods of advancing agricultural interests, and in his youth gained a good common- school education. On starting out in life

on his own account, he rented land for two years, and then purchased property from his father-in-law, land upon which he carried on agricultural pursuits until the spring of 1903, being one of the in- dustrious, progressive and successful agri- culturists of his locality. Having acquired a handsome competence, he then retired to his present town residence in Carversville. His political views accord with Republican principles, and, though he has never been an aspirant for office, he has always kept well informed on the issues of the day. In 1861 Mr. Watson married Miss Caro- line Shaw, a daughter of Eleazer C. and Grace R. (Green) Shaw, of Plumstead township. They have four children: Alice A., the wife of C. Allen Knight, of Sole- bury township and they have three chil- dren-Marian, Helen and Florence; Eliza- beth C., the wife of Edward Woodman who operates her father's farm and they have three children-J. Watson, Margaret W. and Allen; Helen M., at home; and W. Harry, a merchant of Carversville, who married Sarah Bizzy, daughter of James Bizzy, and has one child, Jenks Watson.

WILLIAM EARLEY DORON, who is well known and highly esteemed among the best citizens of the borough of Bristol, where his birth occurred May 22, 1852, is a son of Thomas Ellwood and Elizabeth (Hellings) Doron, whose family consisted of ten children, William E. being the only survivor, and grandson of John and Cath- arine (Lamb) Doron, of Hatborough, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, the for- mer named, also his father. having been extensive land owners in that town and prominent in local affairs. The grandfather of Mrs. Elizabeth (Hellings) Doron was a well known sea captain.

The private schools of Bristol and the Philadelphia Polytechnic College afforded William E. Doron the means of obtaining an excellent English education which well equipped him for an active career. He is now the largest real estate owner in Bris- tol, and is also actively interested in the Bristol Water Works and in many of the varied interests of the town. He is the sole owner of the ferry connecting the towns of Burlington and Bristol, the grant for which is one of the oldest in the country, dated June 10, 1697. The ferry has been in the possession of the Doron family for half a century and is the oldest ferry on the Delaware river. March 6, 1876, Mr. Doron married Louise Conkling. daughter of Ezra and Agnes (Burd) Conkling, of Philadel- phia, and granddaughter of Hiram and Lydia (Quick) Conkling, of Orange county, New York. Mr. Conkling was a prominent citizen, widely known and highly esteemed, and a contractor by occupation. He was an uncle of the late Roscoe Conkling, for many years United States senator. Two children were the issue of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Doron : Louise A., born

Im &. DOWN.

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

June 27, 1879, a graduate of St. Mary's Academy, Burlington, New Jersey; and Ellwood Lee, born July 13, 1881, who was drowned in the Delaware river at the age of eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Doron are members of the Episcopal church of Bristol.

WILLIAM HENRY IVINS. The Ivins family, of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, worth- ily represented in the present generation by William Henry Ivins, was founded in this country by Isaac Ivins, who came from England about 1700 and located in Mansfield, Burlington county, New Jersey, where he established a country store, and there resided until his death, July 19, 1768. By his marriage to Sarah Johnson ten chil- dren were born. Aaron Ivins, one of the aforementioned children, married Ann Cheshire, and among their children was a son Aaron, who married Ann Cook (nee Ivins), and they reared a family of chil- dren, among whom was Aaron, who mar- ried Hannah Eastburn, and they were the parents of William Henry Ivins. Aaron Ivins (father) was a member of the legis- lature of Pennsylvania in 1837, when the first free school bill in that state became a law. He was an ardent supporter of the measure, which met with great opposition before its passage, but with the assistance of such men as Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, Judge Sharswood and other prominent members of this legislature it was carried through, and time has abundantly shown the importance of this action in the great improvement of general intelligence. Aaron Ivins was a teacher and surveyor in early life, but during his later years he devoted his attention to farming, insurance and the settlement of estates.

William H. Ivins, son of Aaron and Han- nah (Eastburn) Ivins, was born in Penn's Manor, Pennsylvania, March II, 1840. He attended the public schools of . Philadel- phia, graduating from the Central High School of that city. In 1857 he entered Am- herst College, and after a year in that in- stitution became a student of Union Col- lege, Schenectady, New York, remaining there until the summer of 1859. Having a natural aptitude for the vocation of teach- ing, he engaged in that line of work and continued in the same until January, 186.1. when he was appointed to a clerkship in the War Department at Washington, D. C., where he remained for nearly four years. At the expiration of this period of time he returned to Philadelphia, and for four years thereafter was employed in the wholesale wood and willow ware store of White & Peachin as bookkeeper. In 1870 Mr. Ivins, with one of his brothers engaged in the furniture business on North Second street. Philadelphia, where they remained until 1890, a period of twenty years, when they disposed of the business. William H. Ivins then entered the employ of Strawbridge & Clothier, where he remained until 1900,

since which time he has not engaged in active business pursuits. Mr. Ivins was a resident of Camden, New Jersey, for seven- teen years prior to his coming to Langhorne, in 1903, and for more than half a century resided outside of his native county. He is a citizen of undoubted integrity, and in all the walks of life has acquitted himself with honor and fidelity. He is president of the school board of Langhorne, and is interested and zealous in all educational matters. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a charter member of Apollo Lodge, No. 386, and also of Palestine Chapter, No. 240, Royal Arch Masons. He is a charter member of Crusaders Castle, No. 5, Knights of the Golden Eagle, of Philadelphia, and a mem- ber of Chosen Friends Lodge, No. 29, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, o. Camden, New Jersey, where he filled the elective of- fices. He is an adherent of the Friends' faith, and a stanch supporter of the Re- publican party. He is a director in the Langhorne Library.

Mr. Ivins was twice married. His first marriage was in May, 1883, to Catharine Gartley Abbey, who died the same month. His second marriage was on October 21, 1887, to Wilhelmina Buckman Linton, of Newtown, Pennsylvania, daughter of Penquite and Ellen (Buckman) Linton, and granddaughter of Major Thomas and Martha Buckman. One son was the issue of this union, Aaron Henry, born Decem- ber 17, 1890. He attended the Friends' school in Camden, New Jersey, until the removal of his parents to Langhorne, when he continued his studies in the public schools of that borough, and is now a stu- dent in the celebrated George School, an institution which stands high in educa- tional circles, and which was endowed by John M. George, of Philadelphia.

WILLIAM HILLBORN, deceased, who for many years bore an active and promi- nent part in the agricultural interests of Byberry township (now Philadelphia), was an honored representative of a family which has been identified with the great common- wealth of Pennsylvania from early days. He was born August 4, 1823, a son of John (who was a prosperous fariner and miller) and Mary (Smith) Hillborn, and grandson of Amos and Ruth (Simpson) Hillborn.

William Hillborn passed his boyhood days on the home farm, attended the Friends' school, where he acquired a good English education, and subsequently en- gaged in farming, which occupation he fol- lowed throughout the active years of his life. Owing to the practical experience he gained while assisting his father his operations were attended with a large de- gree of success. He was an honorable, up- right man, of sterling integrity, a true friend and pleasant neighbor, and was re-

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spected and beloved by all with whom he came in contact, either in business or so- cial life. He was a stanch Republican in politics, but never sought or held public office, preferring the routine life of a farmer to that of the political arena.

On June 6, 1850, Mr. Hillborn was mar- ried to Isabella Webster, born December 27, 1830, a daughter of Jesse Gilbert and, Sarah ( Williams) Webster, and three chil- dren were born to them: John, born July 13, 1851, was educated in the Friends school, and died April 12, 1896; William, born January 15, 1855, was educated in the Friends' school, married Miriam Croasdale, who died, and two children were born to them, namely, Edith and Marion; Sarah Emma, born August 29, 1860, was educated in the Friends' school, and March 4, 1880, became the wife of Herman B. Griffith, of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania ; their children are: Isabella Hillborn, born April 25, 1881, and William Herman, born De- cember 29, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Hillborn were brought up in the Friends' faith and never departed therefrom. His death oc- curred September 10, 1880. His widow is still living, residing in her beautiful home in Hulmeville, surrounded by a large cir- cle of friends who are drawn to her by her kindly smile and her many acts of benevolence and words of cheer, peace, the cardinal virtue of her lifelong religious faith, being exemplified in her daily walk and conversation.

The immigrant ancestor of the Webster family, of which Mrs. Hillborn is a repre- sentative, was John Gilbert Webster, who came from England in 1682 to escape persecution visited upon him and his co- religionists and to make their home in a land where they might worship God after the dictates of their own conscience. The line of descent is traced through David Webster, who married Elizabeth Gilbert, to Jesse Gilbert, who married Sarah Will- iams, the two latter named being the pa- rents of Mrs. Hillborn. Jesse Gilbert Web- ster was born and reared in Montgomery county, settled in Bucks county in 1825. engaged in farming, and during his later years was an auctioneer. He served in the capacity of justice of the peace for fif- teen years, was a school director for a sim- ilar period, and county commissioner one term. He was strongly opposed to slavery, and aided materially in the operation of the "underground railroad," which was the means of escape of many a fugitive slave. His wife, Sarali (Williams) Webster, was a daughter of Terrell Williams, of Frank- ford, Philadelphia county, a descendant of an English ancestry, and she was brought up in the Society of Friends. They were the parents of six children : Isabella, Tacy, Pemberton, Hugh B., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Elizabeth Emma, and Milton.

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 134

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