History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 141

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 141

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

Andrew Jackson, always retaining a large portrait of him in his room. He afterward became a Whig, and subsequently a most unfaltering and inflexible advocate of Re- publican principles. Political preferment, however, had no attraction for him. He was likewise a contributor to the agricul- tural development of the county, and after he took possession of the family estate in Solebury township he was deeply interested in everything pertaining to progress along farm lines, and quick to introduce any im- provement that he believed would come to be of practical benefit in agricultural circles. He was the first man in Bucks county to use a mowing machine. For a number of years he was the president of the Bucks County Agricultural Society, and at the time of his death he was president of the Brownsville Horse Company, the United Horse Company. the Farmers and Me- chanies' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Bucks county and a director of the Lahaska & New Hope and Buckingham & Doylestown Turnpike Companies, and de- clined to act as president of the last named because of advanced age. On the 27th of August, 1822, William Staveley was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Sheed, a daughter of George Sheed, of the old dis- trict of Southwark, Philadelphia, and on the 27th of August, 1872, they celebrated their golden wedding. They were the pa- rents of eight children, of whom five are yet living : Mina, the wife of William Biles, of Solebury township; William R .; Mar- garet, the widow of E. Mitchell; Cornell ; and Belle, the wife of James W. Jones, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Dr. William R. Staveley was provided with excellent educational privileges. He attended the school in West Chester, Penn- sylvania, and pursued his collegiate course in the Princeton University, of which he is a graduate of the class of 1852, Having decided upon the practice of medicine as a life work, he then matriculated in the Jef- ferson Medical College of Philadelphia, completing the full course by graduation in the spring of 1855. Locating in Solebury township, he entered upon the practice of medicine, for which his thorough prepara- tion and continued private study well fitted him, making him one of the most capable practitioners that has ever represented the medical fraternity in Bucks county. He called his home "Bleak House," because of the fact that he built it upon an open field. However, he planted trees, and to-day has one of the best groves in the township, the trees having attained to magnificent size. In 1856 Dr. Staveley was married to Miss Julia C. Kelley, of Frankfort, Maine, and to this marriage have been born four chil- dren : Caroline, at home; Albert; Margaret ; and Sarah. The son, Dr. Albert Staveley, is a noted surgeon of Washington, D. C. Completing his collegiate course at Prince- ton he afterward attended the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was grad- uated in the medical department.

Dr. Staveley is a Democrat in his political allegiance, and fraternally is connected with Amwell Lodge, No. 12, F. and A. M., of Lambertsville. Having retired from active practice some years ago, he gives his super- vision to cultivating and beautifying his fine estate covering one hundred and twen- ty-nine acres, and to-day has one of the most attractive homes of Solebury town- ship.

WILLIAM PHILLIPS WRIGHT. Among those prominently and actively identified with the commercial, political and social interests of the borough of Bristol, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, may be mentioned William P. Wright, a man of wide and varied attainments, up- right, sterling character, and business ability of a high order, whose active ca- reer has been one of marked enterprise, wherein his reliable methods have achieved for him large financial returns. He was born in the borough in which he now resides, September 27, 1847, a son of John and Rebecca (Bloomsburg) Wright, who were the parents of six children, as follows: John Wesley, James, William Phillips, Anthony, de- ceased: Charles, deceased; and Frank, deceased.

The educational advantages enjoyed by William P. Wright were obtained in the public schools of Bristol; Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport; the Pennsyl- vania State Normal School at Millers- ville; and Crittenden Commercial Col- lege. After graduation he was em- ployed in Philadelphia for a few years in the wholesale business. When, in 1871, his father bought the store adjoining the town hall on Radcliffe street, of Pierce. Scott & Pierce, William P. Wright and his brother James, joined him in the general store business at this old stand and there he remained until 1881, in which year he purchased the hardware store and business of the Kin- sey estate, situated on Mill street, Nos. 119-121, conducting the same success- fully to the present time (1904). Mr. John Wright had for many years been in the general merchandise business in Bristol and built the building in 1857 in which store his son John Wesley has since that time done business Mr. William P. Wright is a thoroughgoing man of business, prompt and reliable in the execution of orders, and well de- serves the large patronage accorded him. The esteem in which he is held in the community is evidenced by the fact that he has served the borough as burgess for one term, and as recorder of deeds of Bucks county for three years. He is a Protestant in religion, a Republican in politics, and an honored member of Bris- tol Lodge, No. 25, Ancient York Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias, Knights of Friendship, Broth-

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

erhood of the Union, and American Hose, Hook and Ladder Company, No. 2, of Bristol.

On June 26, 1872, Mr. Wright married Levina (Doble) Lyndall, of Bristol, daughter of James and Eliza (Emmons) Lyndall. The members of the Lyndall family were prominent citizens and suc- cessful business men of this section of the state. The following named chil- dren were the issue of this marriage: George Cannel, born June 12, 1873; John Mattison, born January 4, 1875, who is now assisting his father in the manage- ment of his business; Arthur, born May 27, 1877, is also engaged likewise; Jessie Wells, born December II, 1879, now liv- ing at home with her parents; and Hor- ace, born December 21, 1881, a graduate in electrical engineering from the Drexel Institute and now employed in the electrical department of the Cramp Ship Building Company of Philadelphia. All these children were educated in the public schools of Bristol. The family are prominent in the social life of the community.

MICHAEL G. HANEY. of Tinicum township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, belongs to an old and honored family of the county, its members in general being industrious and lawabiding people. His grandfather, Michael Haney, lived and died in Tinicum township, and there fol- lowed farm life all his days. He was eminently successful, and before his death gave each of his sons a home. He was a member of the Roman Catholic church. He married a Miss Shaffer, by whom these children were born: I. An- thony; 2. Joseph; 3. Samuel ; 4. John; 5. Michael ; 6. Susan, wife of Nicholas Buck; 7. Lena.

Anthony, the father of Michael. was born in 1805, in Tinicum township, where he followed farming and milling all his days. He died in 1882. He was a mem- ber of the Roman Catholic church. He married Miss Mariah Geary, and they had ten children to bless their home: I. Isabella, died in childhood; 2. Ellen, deceased ; 3. Anthony, died young ; 4. Eliza- beth, wife of Jonas Yost; 5. Thomas, de- ceased; 6. William, deceased ; 7. Hiram, a wholesale notion merchant of Philadelphia ; 8. Milchael G. ; 9. Sallie, wife of John Mills ; IO. Annie, wife of Isaac Seifert.

Michael was born in Tinicum town- ship, March 2. 1842, and educated in the public schools. When quite young he learned the blacksmith trade with Jonas Yost, and in 1864 bought him out at Ottsville. He successfully carried on the business at the glowing forge until 1899, since which date he has turned his atten- tion to farming. He is a member of the Lower Tinicum church (Lutheran), and politically he is a staunch Democrat. He has served as school director for six

years. In 1892 he was appointed mer- cantile appraiser by the county commis- sioner. In 1869 he married Mary Ellen, only daughter of Jacob Swarts. By their union eight children were born, three of whom died in infancy. The liv- ing are: Oscar, a clerk at Ottsville; 2. Minnie, wife of David Trauger ; 3. Maggie, deceased, wife of Thomas Kramer; 4. Alica, at home; 5. Ruth, at home.

ALFRED MILNER WILDMAN. The progenitor of the American branch of the Wildman family was Martin Wild- man, who in 1693, accompanied by his wife and six children, came to Bucks county from Yorkshire, England, and settled in Middletown township. They were members of the Society of Friends, and brought a certificate of membership with them from the Monthly meeting of Settle, Yorkshire, England. Joseph Wild- man, third son of Martin and Ann Wild- man, born January 23, 1683, in England, married and among his children was a son John, who was born in Middletown, July 8, 1732, and was united in marriage to Mary Tomlinson. John Wildman, son of John and Mary (Tomlinson) Wildman, was born in Middletown, March 28, 1771, married Mary Knight, and among their children was a son Charles, who was the proprietor of a country store at Fallsington, who mar- ried Susannah Shoemaker Albertson, daughter of Benjamin and Ann (Knight) Albertson, and they reared a family of seven children, as follows: Chalkley Al- bertson, John Knight, Mary Ann, Ben- jamin Albertson, Charles, Ellwood, and Jane, who died in infancy. Chalkley Al- bertson, the eldest child, was a mer- chant in Philadelphia, in which city he resided up to the time of his death. He married Emeline Reed Tatum, and among their children was Alfred Milner, whose name appears at the head of this sketch, who was born in Philadelphia, January 12, 1862.

The public schools of Philadelphia af- forded Alfred M. Wildman the means of obtaining a practical education which prepared him for an active career. He then entered the employ of James M. Vance & Co., of Philadelphia, hardware merchants, with whom he remained nine years. He then located in Langhorne, and shortly afterward established a hard- ware business on his own account, which he has successfully conducted up to the present time. Although his time is so fully occupied with the varied duties of this enterprise, Mr. Wildman takes an active interest in the management of affairs in the borough in which he re- sides, and is now serving as secretary and treasurer of the Langhorne Elec- tric Light and Power Company, and sec- retary of the Mutual Beneficial Associa-

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

tion of Bucks County. He has been ac- tive and efficient in the interests of the Re- publican party, the principles of which he firmly advocates. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with Newtown Lodge, No. 427. Mr Wildman was united in marriage Novem- ber 19, 1890, to Josephine Schenck, of St. Louis, Missouri, daughter of Peter Voorhees and Anna (McCune) Schenck, the former named having been a gradu- ate of Princeton College, and for many years a physician of celebrity and great skill in the city of St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Wildman, who are highly esteemed by a wide circle of friends, are the pa- rents of four children: Marshall, born January 18, 1895; Ruth Anna, born Sep- tember 21, 1897; Josephine, born April 12, 1899; and Florence Marshall, born December 18, 1901.

HOWARD M. GRIFFEE, M. D. For more than a quarter of a century Dr. Howard M. Griffee, of Taylorsville, has been one of the active practicing physi- cians of Bucks county. Dr. Griffee is a representative of a very ancient family which traces its descent from the last king who reigned in Wales before that country became a part of the English dominion. Peter Griffee, son of John and Mary (Norton) Griffee, was born February 24, 1817, in Gloucester county, New Jersey, and as a young man was apprenticed to a book-binder in Philadel- phia. After serving his time he engaged in the business for himself, and for many years was identified with the interests of book-binding. In politics he was Democrat and in religion a Baptist, be- ing very active in church work, and for many years a deacon in the Tenth Bap- tist church, Philadelphia. He married Elenora Bell, and three children were born to them, two of whom survive: Howard M., mentioned at length here- inafter, and George, who makes his home with his brother. Mr. Griffee died in 1880, in Philadelphia, where the greater part of his life had been passed.

Howard M. Griffee, son of Peter and Elenora (Bell) Griffee, was born June 10, 1850, in Philadelphia, and received his preparatory education in the Hancock grammar school, afterward attending the Kennett Square classical school, from which he graduated in 1869. In 1870 he took up the study of medicine under Dr. Mayhew Johnson, of Penn's Grove, New Jersey, and in 1872 entered the medical department of the University of Penn- sylvania, receiving from that institution in the spring of 1875 the degree of Doc- tor of Medicine. In July of the same year Dr. Griffee began practice in Tay- lorsville, where for many years he has had an extensive connection. Since 1894 he has been a stockholder and director

in the Taylorsville and Delaware Bridge Company, and is now a member of the building committee having charge of the construction of the new iron bridge. He is a member of the United States pen- sion examining board. His interest in focal affairs is active, and for twelve years he has served as president of the school board. He is a member of the Bucks County Medical Society and the State Medical Society, and also belongs to Newtown Lodge, No. 427, F. and A. M., and Welcome Lodge, No. 229, I. O. O. F., of Philadelphia. In politics he is a staunch Republican. Dr. Griffee married, in 1880, Sarah, daughter of Ab- ner Van Hart, of Upper Makefield town- ship. Mrs. Griffee died April 6, 1902, and on July 4, 1903, Dr. Griffee married Nellie Monta, daughter of Joseph Os- born, of Harlow, Essex, England. There are no children by either marriage.

In the yard of Dr. Griffee's house stands the monument erected to mark the point of Washington's embarkation for his passage of the Delaware. This historic spot is a constant centre of at- traction for those interested in the events of the period of the revolution.

JOSEPH F. CLUNN. From a list of the substantial citizens of Solebury town- ship the name of Joseph F. Clunn must not be omitted. Mr. Clunn is a grandson of Joseph Clunn, who was born in Eng- land, but when a young man came to the United States and settled in Bucks county, where he was one of Bristol's best known and most respected citizens, holding for many years the office of justice of the peace. Robert Clunn, son of Joseph Clunn, mentioned above, was born in Bucks coun- ty, and learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed but a short time, abandoning it for a seafaring life. During his trips as master of his vessel he visited many ports in different parts of the world. Later he retired from the sea and moved to North- umberland county, where he purchased a farm on which he resided for the remainder of his life. He married Rebecca, daughter of Henry Pfeister, who was for many years landlord of the Fox Chase Tavern, and three sons were born to them: Joseph F., mentioned at length hereinafter; Robert, and George; the two last-named are de- ceased. Mr. Clunn died at the early age of thirty-eight years, and his widow subse- quently married A. Samuel Hoovan and moved to Bucks county. By her second marriage she was the mother of the fol- lowing children: John; Morris; Henry; Rebecca A., who is the wife of Edward Emberson, of Lambertville; and Isabelle, who is the wife of Mr. Roberts, of Tren- ton, New Jersey. The three sons are de- ceased. Mrs. Hoovan died in her fifty- ninth year.

Joseph F. Clunn, son of Robert and Re- becca (Pfeister) Clunn, was born April 23,

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1839, near Fisher's Ferry, Northumberland county, and from his early boyhood worked for neighboring farmers. When his mother and stepfather purchased a farm in Plum- stead he was called home, and thenceforth assisted in the farm work until the time of his marriage, when he became a tenant farmer. At the end of seven years he bought a farm in Plumstead, which he cultivated for three years. He then sold the property and went to Maryland, where he engaged in shipping peaches, but, the crops being poor, he returned home after a year's absence and settled at Norris- ville. After a year spent as switch and telephone tender at the bridge he went to Point Pleasant, where he was variously en- gaged for three years. Later he took up his abode in Solebury and spent some years in the commission business, since which time he has been engaged in farming. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian church at Carversville. Mr. Clunn married in 1860, Charlotte, daughter of William Poulton, of Bucking- ham township, and two children have been born to them: George David S., deceased ; and Mary Alice, who is the wife of George H. Van Horn, a dry goods merchant of Jeannette, Pennsylvania.

HANNAH G. SHADDINGER. Three generations of the Shaddinger family have occupied the old home in Plumstead town- ship. Andrew Shaddinger, the grandfather of Hannah G. Shaddinger, was born in Bucks county and continued a resident thereof until his death. He was a farmer and drover, dealing in stock and carrying on general agricultural pursuits through- out his entire life. In 1819 he built the house now occupied by Hannah G. Shad- dinger, it being the family home continu- ously since. His children were Abraham ; Henry ; Jacob; Barbara, the wife of Hiram Michner; Sarah, who married Epenitos Wismer; Catherine, the wife of Andrew S. Michner; and Esther Comly Michner.

Abraham Shaddinger was born on the old family homestead in 1804, and always followed the occupation to which he was reared. He early learned to be a good judge of the value of cattle, and was well known as a drover as well as an agricul- turist. His life was marked by unfalter- ing industry and he continued actively in business until advanced age forced him to retire. His death occurred at Point Pleas- ant in 1896, when he had reached a very venerable age. He married Miss Mary Fretz, and they became the parents of four children : Andrew, of Point Pleasant, who followed the same occupation as his father ; Henry F., deceased, who was a farmer on the old homestead near Gardenville : Susanna S .. the widow of John D. Walter and a resident of Point Pleasant; and Hannah G. The last named was born on the old homestead, and is of the third gen- eration that has lived in the same house.

ANDREW J. GIBSON is one of the leading farmers of Upper Makefield township. The founder of the Bucks county branch of the Gibson family came from Ireland in the seventeenth century and settled in Plumstead township, where he took up a large tract of land. James Gibson, the grandfather of An- drew J. Gibson, was a farmer and lived and died in Plumstead. Andrew Gib- son, son of James Gibson mentioned above, was born in 1800, in Plumstead township, and passed his life on the homestead. During the greater part of his life he was a Democrat, although an anti-slavery man, but on the breaking out of the civil war allied himself with the Republican party, to which he ad- hered during the remainder of his life. He married Nancy Ruckman, and they were the parents of seven children, three of whom are still living: Andrew J., men- tioned at length hereinafter; Isabella, who is the widow of William Strimple, of Flemington, New Jersey; and Nancy, who is the widow of the Rev. Samuel Harrison, and resides with her sister in Flemington. Mr. Gibson, the father, died on the homestead in his eightieth year. He belonged to the church of his an- cestors, which was the Presbyterian.

Andrew J. Gibson, son of Andrew and Nancy (Ruckman) Gibson, was born June 15. 1836, in Plumstead township, and received his education in the com- mon schools. As a young man he was employed as a salesman by a Philadel- phia publishing house, a position which he retained for several years and in which he was very successful. After his marriage he moved to Newtown, where he resided one year, being still employed by the publishing house, and in 1877 re- moved to the farm of his mother-in-law, in Upper Makefield township, giving from that time forth his whole atten- tion to agricultural pursuits. In 1881 he purchased, in the same township, the farm which has ever since been his home. In politics he is a Prohibitionist. He and his wife are members of the Pres- byteran church. Mr. Gibson married, in 1876, Jennie M. Vanartsdalen, and they are the parents of two daughters, both of whom are at home with their father and mother-Nellie and Mary J. Mr. Gibson has now for twelve months suf- fered the great affliction of total blind- ness, his sight having gradually failed during the last nine years.

The paternal great-grandfather of Mrs. Gibson took up a large tract of land in Northampton township, which was later divided among his three sons, who lived and died on their respective farms. These sons were John, Isaac and Simon. John was the father of two sons, Francis and John, between whom he divided his farm. John removed to Richboro a short time prior to his death. Francis mar- ried Mary J., daughter of Adrian Cornell,

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and among their children was Jennic M., who became the wife of Andrew J. Gib- son, as mentioned above. The Cornell family was founded in Bucks county by Adrian and Matchie (Hagaman) Cornell, who about 1735 purchased a tract of land in Northampton township from Penn- ington, a son-in-law of William Penn. Adrian Cornell and his wife came to Bucks county from Flatbush, Long Island, making the journey on a cart drawn by a team of oxen. The tract of land on which they settled was then known by the name of "Holland." They erected a log cabin and thus began their pioneer life in what was then a wilder- ness. Adrian Cornell was one of a large family, members of which are now to be found in all parts of the United States. The name has suffered many corruptions, being spelled in various ways. Not a few of those to whom it belongs use the form "Cornwall," and from this it is supposed that the family originated in England and was transplanted from Cornwall, in that country, to Amster- dam, Holland, and thence to the shores of the New World.

WILLIAM MAWSON. The name of William Mawson, of Newtown, is insepar- ably identified ith the manufacturing in- terests of Bucks county. Mr. Mawson is a son of John B. Mawson, who emigrated from Yorkshire, England, in 1870, and found employment in a wood-working es- tablishment in Philadelphia, where he re- mained until 1884.

In that year Mr. Mawson removed to Bucks county and settled in Yardley, where he established a factory for the manufacture of bobbins. The enterprise proved success- ful, but in 1891 the factory was destroyed by fire, and Mr. Mawson sold the business to his sons, James, William and Charles, who in 1892' erected a large factory at New- town and began the manufacture of bobbins and spools on an extensive scale, under the firm name of Mawson Brothers. In 1900 James Mawson retired from the firm and moved to Binghamton. New York. where he operates a similar factory. Until 1904 the business was continued at New- town by William Mawson and his brother Charles, the name of the firm remaining unchanged. The industry steadily increased until the establishment became one of the most prominent among the manufactories of Bucks county. In 1904 a stock combina- tion was formed and chartered under the name of The Excelsior Bobbin and Spool Company, with a capital of sixty thousand dollars. Additional buildings were erected and the latest improved machinery intro- duced, more than doubling the capacity. The wood used is largely a native growth, but hard-wood shipments are also secured from the south and west. The product finds a market in all parts of the United

States, and shipments are also made to foreign countries. Mr. Mawson and his sons are good citizens, taking a lively in- terest in all that pertains to the welfare of their town and county. In politics they arc Republicans. Charles, the junior mem- ber of the firm, belongs to the town coun- cil of Newtown borough.

Mr. Mawson married, before leaving England, Eleanor Battye, and their chil- dren are: John, who is employed in the United States arsenal at Frankford; Mary, who is the wife of Edward Godfrey, of Newark, New Jersey; James, who lives at Binghamton, New York; Agnes, who is married to Frederick Walker; Isabel, who is the wife of Frank Cassidy, a plumber of Paterson, New Jersey ; 'Will- iam, mentioned at length hereinafter ; Eleanor, who is married to Frederick Walker; Charles, who was born in 1873, in Philadelphia, married in April, 1895, Irene Balderston, and has two children, Edna and Clifford; and George, who is employed on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. All these children with the exception of the three last named were born in England.

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 141

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