History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 140

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 140

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WILSON S. BERGEY, a well known and prosperous merchant of Line Lexing- ton, where he is also the incumbent of the office of justice of the peace, was born in Hilltown township, Bucks county, Penn- sylvania, May II, 1872. He traces his an- cestry to Henry Bergey, who married Liz- zie Castle, by whom he had seven children. Isaac Bergey, the eldest child, married Liz- zie Garges, and ten children were the is- sue of this union. Jonas G. Bergey, the sixth child, was born in Montgomery coun- ty, Pennsylvania, in 1839. At the age of twenty-four years he was engaged in the trade of blacksmith, and by his industry was enabled to provide a comfortable home and give his children excellent educational advantages. He was a Republican in poli- tics. In 1862 he married Elizabeth Swort- ley, daughter of John G. and Sarah ( Shoe- maker) Swortley, and five children were born to them, namely: Sally, Reinhart, Wilson S., Mary, and Silas, deceased. The family are members of the Mennonite church.

Wilson S. Bergey, son of Jonas G. and Elizabeth Bergey, attended the schools of Hilltown township, Bucks county: Spring City, Chester county; and Royersford, Montgomery county, this course of instruc- tion making him capable of earning a liveli- hood. His first experience in business life was gained as clerk in a general store, and in September, 1893, after serving in this capacity six years, fie purchased the store at Line Lexington from J. C. Swort- ley, of which he is now the proprietor. His establishment is well equipped with a general line of dry goods and groceries, and he has won and retained an extensive and lucrative trade by his strict application

to business and his courteous regard for the wishes and wants of his numerous patrons. He was appointed postmaster un- der the administration of the late President McKinley, holding the office three years, when he was succeeded by his wife. He served as school director ten years, and in 1901 was elected to his present office of justice of the peace. These positions of trust and responsibility denote the esteeni in which he is held in the community. He supports the principles and votes for the candidates of the Republican party.

In 1893 Mr. Bergey married Orphia Crouthamel, of Line Lexington, only daugh- ter of Hilary and Mary E. (Eikhart) Crouthamel. Their children are: Clifford and Olive. The ancestors of the Croutha- mel family came to America from Ger- many at an early period. Andrew Croutha- mel, grandfather of Hilary Crouthamel, was the son of one of the emigrant broth- ers, and his son Joseph, father of Hilary, married Lydia Hunsberger, who bore him four sons and seven daughters, of whom Hilary was the youngest son and fourth child. He served an apprenticeship of two years at the trade of tailor, and at the time of his marriage (1863) to Mary E. Eikhart, daughter of John Eikhart, of Hill- town township, purchased the establish- ment where he had been employed. For a period of five years one of his brothers was interested in the business, but since his retirement he has had exclusive control. He was the father of four children: Will- iam A., Adam A., Elmer and Orphia.

FRANK W. VAN HART traces his de- scent from an ancestor who emigrated from Holland and settled in Falls township prior to the revolution. Jacob Van Hart, son of this ancestor, was a farmer and shoe- maker, and married Mary, daughter of Daniel Richardson, who lived near Doling- ton, and was one of the pioneers of the county. They were the parents of fifteen children. Michael A. Van Hart, son of Jacob and Mary (Richardson) Van Hart, mentioned above, was born December 15, 1823, in Makefield township, and in his tenth year went to work on a farm, re- maining there until he reached the age of sixteen. He then served an apprenticeship of five years at the tailor's trade, for his board and clothes, after which he worked for himself in various parts of Bucks coun- ty. In 1863 he settled in New Hope, and became the successful proprietor of the Logan House. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, and in politics is a Republican. He married Mary, daughter of Francis and Sarah (Conrad) Worth- ington, of Centreville, and they were the parents of three children: Frank W., men- tioned at length hereinafter; Kate, and Minnie.

Frank W. Van Hart, son of Michael A. and Mary (Worthington) Van Hart, was

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

born December 27, 1854, in Pineville, Buckingham township, and obtained his education in the New Hope public schools. His first position of consequence was in the motive power department of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad in Lambertville, where he served in the capacity of clerk. This was in 1873, when he was not yet nineteen years old. He remained in this position about two years and a half, and in 1876 became clerk in the Lambertville Savings Bank. In July, 1877, the bank was re-or- ganized as the Amwell National Bank. Mr. Van Hart continued to serve in the capacity of clerk until January, 1880, when he was made assistant cashier, in consequence of the frequent illness of the cashier, Mr. William V. Cooley. In January, 1892, Mr. Cooley retired, and Mr. Van Hart became cashier, a position which he holds at the present time. He is treasurer of the Cen- tennial Building and Loan Company of Lambertville, as well as of the Lambert- ville Water Company and the Lambertville Gas Light Company. He has served one term as city treasurer of Lambertville. He is a member of Alexisauken Council, No. 1109, Royal Arcanum. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Van Hart married, De- cember 27, 1882, Mary, daughter of Daniel Gallagher, of Lambertville, and they have one child: Eugene Clifton, who was born April 25, 1884, was educated at the Lam- bertville public schools, and is now clerk in the Amwell National Bank.

HENRY W. SATTERTHWAITE, a native son of Bucks county, was born May 23. 1853, and the farm upon which he now resides in Falls township was also the birthplace of his father, Giles Satterthwaite, who was reared there and then took charge of the farm, continuing its operation until 1861, when he was succeeded in the man- agement by his son, Henry, while he re- tired to private life. His wife bore the maiden name of Susan Buzby, and was a native of Moorestown, New Jersey. They had four children, of whom one died in in- fancy, the others being Henry W., Mar- garetta W. and Susan B., deceased.

Henry W. Satterthwaite, reared to the occupation of farming, began agricultural pursuits on his own account in 1876, and has since continued in that occupation. He had acquired his education in private and boarding schools, and received practical training in the farm work under the direc- tion of his father. He has since been watch- ful of every opportunity pointing to success, and he now annually harvests good crops as the direct reward of his unfaltering labor, well directed by sound judgment. In poli- tics a Republican, he ever keeps well in- formed on the questions and issues of the day, and is thus able to support his position by intelligent argument. For sixteen years he has held the office of school director. Mr. Satterthwaite married Lucy Sharpless,

a daughter of Charles Sharpless, of Ches- ter county, Pennsylvania, and to them were born six children, of whom one died in infancy. The surviving children are : Fred- erick G., born August 27, 1879; Walter S., born September 30, 1880, and is employed in the passenger department of the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company ; John B., born March 3, 1882, and is with Hanscom Broth- ers, wholesale grocers at Philadelphia; Lewis P., born January 8, 1885; and Mary S., born September 28, 1889.

JOHN KRUPP HEDRICK, M. D. Among the active practicing physicians of Bucks county must be numbered Dr. John Krupp Hedrick, of Quakertown. He is a grandson of Henry and Elizabeth (Heist- and) Hedrick, who were residents of Bucks county more than sixty years ago. David Hedrick, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Heistand) Hedrick, mentioned above, was born in 1842, near Chalfont, New Britain township. He attended the schools of the district, and in early life engaged in farm- ing, but abandoned it in order to enter into business as a butcher. He married Sarah Krupp, and their children were: I. Benjamin K., born January 1, 1869, is a florist at Perkasie, married Ida, daughter of Jacob Heckler, of Hatfield township, Montgomery county, and has two chil- dren, Mabel and Walter. 2. Elizabeth K., born November 16, 1867, married May 17, 1889, D. M. Landis, M. D., son of George and Barbara (Moyer) Landis, of Bloom- ing Glen; they have three children: Joseph- ine, Grace and Florence. 3. John Krupp, mentioned at length hereinafter. 4. Sallie, born February 8, 1878, married, May 12, 1897, George Zeigler, son of Jacob Moyer, lives in Quakertown, and has two children, Lillie and Arthur.

John Krupp Hedrick, son of David and Sarah (Krupp) Hedrick, was born January 24, 1870, 011 a farm near Chalfont, New Britain township. Until his fourteenth year he attended the district schools, and then went to Norristown in order to attend the high school. At the age of eighteen he re- turned home, and for the next five years shared his father's labors and responsibili- ties. He was advised by his brother-in-law, Dr. Landis, to take up the study of medi- cine, and in the autumn of 1893 entered Hahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating in 1898 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. For six months there- after he took charge of the practice of Dr. Landis, who was then in Europe, and in the spring of 1899 began practice for him- self in Quakertown, where he was the only representative of the homoeopathic school. Notwithstanding indications of the unpop- ularity of that school with the good people of Quakertown, Dr. Hedrick was success- ful, and has built up a large practice. In politics he is a steadfast Republican, al- though taking little interest in merely party

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

affairs. In religious belief he adheres to the New Mennonites, and is a member of the Bethany Mennonite church, of which he has been trustee since 1902. He is prom- inent in the young people's society, of which he is chairman. Dr. Hedrick mar- ried, in 1898, Anna Rice, daughter of Jo- seph and Barbara ( Rice) Hunsberger, the former a farmer of Dublin, Bucks county.

JONAS S. HARLEY. In business life success depends so entirely upon individual merit that when one has attained a posi- tion of prominence, as has Jonas S. Har- ley, of Quakertown, a manufacturer of saddlery, etc., also president of the Quaker- town Trust Company, it is an unmistakable evidence of ability, natural and acquired. His business career has been one of marked enterprise, wherein his reliable methods have contributed in a large measure to his prosperity. He was born in Harleysville, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, August 2, 1857.

John Harley, grandfather of Jonas S. Harley, was born July 28, 1792. He was united in marriage December 31, 1814, to Catherine Kline, who was born September 17, 1793, and his death occurred June 27, 1872. Jacob K. Harley, father of Jonas S. Harley, was born in Frederick township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania Decem- ber 23, 1825. In early life he served an apprenticeship at the trade of harness maker, becoming an expert mechanic. This line of work he followed successfully, con- ducting a business of his own at Harleys- ville until 1897, the year of his retirement from active pursuits. He served in the capacity of director of the East Greenville National Bank, and president of the Turn- pike Company, the turnpike road extending from Harleysville to Lederachsville. He was prominently identified with local affairs, and was keenly alive to everything which concerned in any way the well being of the township and county. He was a member of the executive committee of the Dunkard church, and politically a Republican. He married Sarah Stover, daughter of Jacob Stover, of Kulpsville, and they were the parents of nine children : James, Elmira, Jonas S., Katheryn, Jennie, Jacob, Martha, Charlotte, and Lizzie, who died at the age of nine years. Jacob K. Harley (father) died April 3, 1903, in the seventy-eighth year of his age. He survived his wife several years, her death occurring in No- vember, 1896.

The educational advantages enjoyed by Jonas S. Harley were obtained in the pub- lic schools adjacent to his home, and at Bruner's Academy, North Wales. In 1875 he engaged in the manufacture of saddlery at Kulpsville, remaining there until Febru- ary 7, 1878, when he moved to Quaker- town and established a business on a small scale. His trade increased so rapidly both in volume and importance that he was com-

pelled to greatly enlarge his facilities, and at the present time (1905) his plant con- sists of a large factory four stories in height, the dimensions of the main building being two hundred and forty by sixty feet, and an annex eighty by sixty-five feet. It gives constant employment to one hundred and seventy-five men, all skilled mechanics, and the product is of the best quality and workmanship, which insures a ready sale. His extensive sales rooms are in New York city. The able manner in which he man- ages his affairs denotes that he possesses business talent of a high order, and at the same time the interest he maintains in all matters calculated to promote the welfare of the people proves his loyal devotion to the town in which he makes his home. He is a director of the Quakertown National Bank, and was one of the organizers of the Quakertown Trust Company, was appointed its first president, and is still serving in that capacity. He takes an active and prominent part in politics, and was chosen as a dele- gate to the Republican National Conven- tion in 1904. He is a warden of the Protestant Episcopal church, and a mem- ber of the Bucks County Historical So- ciety. On September 16, 1886, Mr. Harley was married to Helen Sargent Baylies, of Baltimore, Maryland. Their children are: Frederick L., who is engaged in business with his father; and Irene, wife of J. Howard Ozias, and they are the parents of one child, Helen.

HIEL GILBERT, who for many years was identified with industrial in- terests in Holicong, and is now engaged in farming in Buckingham township, was born in this township, May 4, 1849, his parents being Maris and Lydia Ann (Large) Gilbert. The father, also born and reared in Buckingham township, learned the wheelwright's and carriage- builder's trades, and for many years carried on business on his own account along those lines in Centerville. He afterward removed to Philadelphia, where he continued in the same business for nineteen years, after which he re- turned to Buckingham township and pur- chased the farm belonging to his father- in-law, Matthew Large. He then began the cultivation of his fields, but after three years found that he knew little about farming, and, selling the property, he purchased a residence in Holicong, where he again engaged in carriage building. He remained there for ten years, after which he returned to Phil- adelphia, where he resided up to the time of his death. To Maris and Lydia Ann (Large) Gilbert were born three chil- dren, of whom two are living: Hiel and Ella, the latter the widow of Thomas Maynes, of Philadelphia.

Hiel Gilbert, spending his youth in his parents' home, pursued his education in

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

the grammar school at the corner of Eighth and Thompson streets, in Phil- adelphia. In his early manhood he ac- cepted a position with C. W. Walton & Company, manufacturers of hats and caps in Philadelphia. He rose through successive and well merited promotions from the position of general utility boy to a place of marked trust and responsi- bility, but failing health caused him to resign, and he then returned to Bucks county and entered his father's carriage shop in Holicong. The business was there carried on extensively, and even- tually Mr. Gilbert succeeded his father in the ownership and conduct of this indus- trial enterprise, with which he was as- sociated for seventeen years, meeting with very gratifying success. He then disposed of his factory and purchased a commission business which he conducted for twelve years, and in the spring of 1898 he purchased his present farm in Buck- ingham township, upon which he has since resided. He votes with the Re- publican party, and is a well known cit- izen of his native township, having the favorable regard of those with whom he has been associated.

Mr. Gilbert was married, February 2, 1876, to Miss Elizabeth Lear, a daughter of Robert and Ann (McVaugh) Lear, of Bridge Point. Her father is well known as the operator of a saw mill and a man- ufacturer of rakes at Bridge Point. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert have no children of their own, but have reared three, and two of them. Charles and Hiel, are now stu- dents in Cornell University. Clara, who was legally adopted, is now the wife of Ralph Oppie, a chemist of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

WILLIAM D. KRATZ, a farmer of Hilltown township, was born in Rock- hill township, Bucks county, November 27, 1859. His paternal grandfather, Will- iam Kratz, was a resident farmer of this county, and in connection with gen- eral agricultural pursuits engaged in the commission business, attending the Phil- adelphia market. He wedded Mary Ros- enberger. a daughter of Henry and Han- nah (Detweiler) Rosenberger. Their son, Henry R. Kratz, was born in Hill- town township in February, 1827, and he too made farming his life work, always following that pursuit in support of his family. He married Sarah Delp. a daughter of George Delp, and they had four children: Mary, who married Daniel Bright, of Bethlehem, of Pennsylvania; William D .: Clayton, who died in Ohio; and Kate, who is the wife of Levi Fluck, of Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, and has one child. Following the death of Mrs. Sarah Kratz, Henry R. Kratz married Lavinia Fluck, and they had three chil- dren, namely: Harry, who married Car- rie Smith; Ella, deceased; and Martha,

wife of James Romey. The father died in February, 1902, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. He was a member of the Brethren church.

William D. Kratz is indebted to the public school system of his native county for the educational privileges he enjoyed. He was reared by Joseph Wim- mer, with whom he remained until he attained his majority, and later began farming on his own account and has al- ways followed that pursuit, meeting with fair success in his business ventures. He has followed the religious teachings of his ancestors, and is a member of the Brethren church. Mr. Kratz was married January 2, 1882, to Miss Susan Rosen- berger, who was born May 16, 1866, a daughter of Jacob D. and Eliza (Swart- ley) Rosenberger. Mr. and Mrs. Kratz became the parents of nine children: Lu- cretia, who was born in 1882, and is now deceased; Jacob R., born August 29, 1884; Lavinia R., born November 1, 1886; Henry C. R., November 28, 1888; Arte- mus R., December 16, 1890; Elizabeth R., February 5, 1893: Mary Ann, No- vember 17, 1894: Franklin R., October 25, 1896; and Catharine R., October 19, 1903.

CHARLES WILDMAN, who is now (1905) leading a retired life at his com- fortable home in Langhorne, Middletown township, surrounded with peace and plenty, and realizing to the full that there is no reward so satisfactory as the consciousness of a life well spent, was born in Fallsington, Falls township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, December 29, 1839. He is a lineal de- scendant of Martin and Ann Wildman, who in 1693. accompanied by their six children, emigrated to America, locating in Middle- town township, Pennsylvania. . Among their children was a son Joseph, who mar- ried -: John, son of Joseph Wildman, was united in marriage to Mary Tomlinson. and among their children was a son John, who married Mary Knight, and they were the parents of a son Charles, who married Susanna Shoemaker Albertson. daughter of Benjamin and Ann (Knight) Albertson, the latter named being the daughter of Benja- min and Susannah ( Shoemaker) Albertson. Charles and Susanna S. ( Albertson) Wild- man were the parents of seven children, as follows: Chalkley Albertson, John Knight, Mary Ann, Benjamin Albertson, Charles, whose name appears at the head of this sketch: Ellwood, and Jane, who died in infancy.

Charles Wildman obtained his. early edu- cation in the public schools of Bensalem, and this was supplemented by a course at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College. He gained his first practical experience in the general store of William T. Hop- kins. Burlington, New Jersey. as clerk. remaining for a period of five years. He then entered into the whole-

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

sale dry goods and wooden and willow ware business in the city of Philadel- phia, which he conducted up to 1878, in which year he and his brother opened a general store at Edgewood, Bucks county, which they conducted successfully for six- teen years and then disposed of it at an advantageous price. In 1894 Mr. Wildman moved to the borough of Langhorne, where he is now enjoying the fruits of his earlier activities, and the respect of his fellow citi- zens. For six years he served the borough as councilman, one year of which he was president of the council, and at the present time (1905) is serving in the capacity of borough auditor. During his residence in Edgewood, Mr. Wildman served as post- master of that village for sixteen years, being first appointed by President Ruther- ford B. Hayes. Mr. Wildman adheres to the tenets of the Friends' religion, and is a stanch adherent of the principles of Repub- licanism. On June 18, 1863, Mr. Wildman enlisted as private for three months in Company B, Thirty-second Regiment, Penn- sylvania Militia, later was promoted cor- poral, and received his discharge at Phila- delphia, August 1, 1863. The company was under the command of Captain Charles S. Jones, and the regiment under Colonel Smith.

Mr. Wildman was twice married. His first marriage, in 1871, was to Elizabeth Wellington Hawkins, of Philadelphia, by whom he had one child, Elizabeth Hawkins, born in 1872, who died in infancy. Mrs. Wildman died in 1872. His second mar- riage, in 1879, was to Caroline Yerkes, daughter of Adolphus and Harriet (Rem- sen) Yerkes, the former named having been a son of Jacob and Mary (Banes) Yerkes, and the latter a daughter of Jacob and Eliza- beth (Severns) Remsen.

WILLIAM R. STAVELEY, M. D., who in the years of an active practice was re- garded as one of the most prominent and skilled physicians and surgeons of Bucks county, was born in Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, his parents being William and Margaret (Sheed) Staveley. The deed which William Staveley had his possession at the time of his death indicates the early connection of the family with colonial interests of America. This deed for seven hundred acres of land about 1682 was granted by "Charles. abso- lute lord and proprietor of the province of Maryland and Lord Baron of Baltimore." and a part of the original tract is still in possession of the Staveley family. Repre- sentatives of the name through successive generations continued residents of Mary- land.

William Staveley, father of Dr. Staveley, was born in Shrewsbury parish, Kent coun- ty, Maryland. He remained in the state of his nativity until fifteen years of age, when he went to Philadelphia and there

learned the printer's trade as an apprentice under Thomas J. Stiles, publisher of the "True American." He afterward entered the service of John H. Cunningham, and, becoming the purchaser of Mr. Cunning- ham's interest in 1823, conducted a small printing business at Third and Dock streets until his property was purchased by Stephen Girard. His next location was on Pear street, near St. Paul's church, and there his business was gradually developed and enlarged. In October, 1823, he began the publication of the "Philadelphia Re-

corder," after called the "Episcopal Record," and successively the "Episcopal Register and Church." His connection with this religious journal brought him into contact with many of the most prominent clergy and laymen of the Episcopal church, and his business relations proved frequently the foundation of life- long friendships. He was a believer in the Episcopal faith and long held membership with that denomination. Soon after he began the publication of the "Philadelphia Recorder" he also published and circulated throughout the United States a cheap edi- tion of the Book of Common Prayer, and, following the liberation of the Spanish- American colonies, he enjoyed an extensive and remunerative printing trade in the Spanish language for the Mexican and Col- ombian governments. Admitting James McCalla to a partnership, the firm style of Staveley & McCalla was assumed, and the house became one of the most prominent of the country in connection with religious publications, and the printing of convention journals, reports, tracts, etc. His connec- tion with the publishing business continued until 1854, although some years prior to this time he had become a resident of Bucks county. In 1838 he had purchased a coun- try home in Solebury township, and there continued to reside up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 22d of March, 1877. He had throughout the entire period of his residence in Bucks county exerted a strong and beneficial influence for its de- velopment along moral lines. He was most active and earnest in his effort in behalf of the church, and for fifteen years served as vestryman and Sunday-school superin- tendent at Old Swedes church. He was also deeply interested in the Church of the Ascension, and assisted materially in re- lieving it from financial embarrassment. He was instrumental in organizing the parish at Doylestown and Centerville, and gave to the latter its parsonage. rie acted as superintendent of the Bucks County Bible Society for many years, and his influence in behalf of moral advancement was far- reaching and beneficial. He recognized, too, the obligations and duties of citizenship in connection with political interests, and espoused with equal earnestness the politi- cal principles which he deemed most bene- ficial to county, state and national govern- ment. In early life he was a Jacksonian Democrat and a most ardent admirer of

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 140

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