History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 144

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 144

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EDWARD C. WILLIAMSON. Among the old families of Bucks county are the Williamsons, who, long connected with agricultural pursuits, have there- by gained comfortable livings, and at the same time, in all duties of citizen- ship have been active and progressive, thus advancing the material welfare of the community and upholding its politi- cal and moral status. Mahlon William- son, the grandfather, spent his entire life in Bucks county, and followed both farming and the lumber business. His children were: Isaiah; John; Peter; Mahlon; Jesse; Sarah, wife of Spencer WV. Buckman; and Elizabeth, the wife of William L. Moore.

Jesse Williamson, son of Mahlon Will- iamson, was born on the old family homestead in Falls township, Bucks county, in 1810. In early life he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until about forty years of age. He then began farming, and carried on agricul- tural pursuits until his retirement from business life. He spent the evening of his days in the enjoyment of a well earned rest, and passed away in 1893. He was twice married, his first union being with Margaret Buckman, by whom he had one son, Mahlon, now deceased. His second wife was Elizabeth Albert- son, and they had five children: Edward C .: Henry S., a merchant of Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Frank, who is now living in Lancaster; Ida, the wife of Headley B. Harper; and Ella, wife of Dr. Tan- tum, of Trenton, New Jersey.

Edward C. Williamson, eldest son of Jesse Williamson, was born in 1851 on the farm which is now his residence. He, too, has made agricultural pursuits his chief occupation, and in carrying for- ward the work he has followed most progressive ideas, so that his place is improved with modern equipments, and

in its neat and thrifty appearance indi- cates the careful supervision of a pro- gressive owner. Matters relating to local advancement elicits his attention and oftentimes receive hearty and help- ful co-operation from him. He is a di- rector of the Falsington Library Asso- ciation, and is a valued member of the Presbyterian church of Morrisville, tak- ing an active part in its work, and serv- ing as a member of its board of trustees for a number of years. His political sup- port is given the Republican party, and he held the office of school director of Falls township for twelve years. Mr. Williamson has been married twice. He first wedded Annie C. Parsons, and his present wife was Corilla F. Davis, a daughter of Charles Davis, of New Jersey.

HENRY WINFIELD WATSON, of Langhorne, Middletown township, son of Mitchel and Anna (Bacon) Watson, and grandson of Joseph and Mary (White) Watson was born in Buckingham, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, June 24. 1856. The pioneer ancestor on the paternal side Thomas Watson, who came from High Moor, Cumberland county, county, England, in 1701. He settled for a short time near Bristol, Pennsyl- vania, but subsequently purchased several hundred acres in Buckingham township, where he built a large stone mansion and resided there until his death. The pioneer ancestor on the maternal side was Nathaniel Bacon, grandson of Sir Nicholas Bacon, lord keeper to Queen Elizabeth, who came originally to Barnstable, Massachusetts, in the early part of the seventeenth century.

Henry W. Watson received an excellent English education in private schools, studied law under Hon. F. Carroll Brewster, and was admitted to the Philadelphia bar in 1881. He has been actively identified with many of the leading institutions in the vicin- ity of his home. In 1883 he was largely in- strumental in the organization of the Peo- ple's National Bank of Langhorne, and in the Langhorne Library, of which he was president for a number of years. He served as president of the first electric street rail- way company operated in Bucks county, and drove the first spike of said road on No- vember 20, 1895. This connection continued until 1898, when the road was sold, and afterward it was leased by the Newtown Electric Railway Company. In 1900 he was appointed receiver of the Washington & Potomac Railroad Company, and at the present time (1905) is president of the Washington, Potomac & Chesapeake Rail- road Company, and director of the Bucks County Trust Company and the People's National Bank of Langhorne. Mr. Watson is a stanch adherent of the Republican party. and has served several times as state and congressional delegate.

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

MILES FAMILY. Griffith Miles, the progenitor of the family in America, was born in 1670, in Wales. He married Bridget Edwards, also from Wales, born in 1672, daughter of Alexander and Catha- rine Edwards. Their children were: Es- ther, born 7 mo. 28, 1692; Martha, born 8 mo. 12, 1695; Margaret, born 2 m10. 9, 1698; Griffith, born 10 mo. 3, 1700; Samuel, born 7 mo., 1703; John, born 2 mo. 28, I709.

Griffith Miles, sin of Griffith Miles and Bridget Edwards, married Sarah, whose maiden name is not known. Their children were: Joseph, born September 17, 1722; Anne, and Martha.

Joseph Miles, eldest child and only son of Griffith and Sarah Miles, was born Sep- tember 17, 1722, and died November 27, 1800. His wife, Annie ( Nesmith) Miles, born May 18, 1732, bore him the following children: Lucy, born December 27, 1750, died February II, 1751. Lydia, born Octo- ber 7, 1752, died in August, 1841. Griffith, born October 4, 1754. Margaret, born Au- gust 20, 1756, died April 3, 1826. Joseph, born December 5, 1758, died January 18, 1826. John, born February 6, 1761. Thomas born January 2, 1762. Dorcas, born De- cember 30, 1764. Samuel, born October 30, 1766, died September 6, 1849. Jacob, born December 19, 1768, died August 23, 1822. William, born March 7, 1771. Ann, born August 4, 1776.

Samuel Miles, fifth son of Joseph and Annie (Nesmith) Miles, was born in East Pennypack, Moreland township, Pennsyl- vania, October 30, 1766. He was a cabinet maker by trade, and an active and public spirited citizen. He was a very religious man, and served as trustee of the Old School Baptist church, which was succeeded in 1832 by the New School Baptist church. About the year 1801 he purchased a farm consisting of one hundred and sixty-four acres in Southampton township, near Davis- ville, which was sold out of the family in 1873. He married Catherine Bennett, who was born July 21, 1772, and their children were: William Griffith, born February 19, 1798, died June 13, 1889. Ann Jones, born October 29, 1799, died December 23, 1802. Elizabeth Lydia, born November 5, 1801, died August 1, 1897. John Bennett, born March 3, 1804, died April 20, 1869. Eras- mus Nesmith, born August 2, 1806, died May 1, 1872. Samuel Madison, born Oc- tober 18, 1809, died April 24, 1810. Mary Bennett, born December 29, 1813, in South- ampton township, near Davisville, on the old Miles homestead, which is now occupied by Stanley Saurman. She is the only sur- viving member of the above named family, and is now in her ninety-second year.

William Griffith Miles, eldest son of Samuel and Catherine (Bennett) Miles, born February 19, 1798, died June 13, 1889. His wife, Ellen Maria (Bennett) Miles, whom he married November 24, 1825, was born September 27, 1808, and died August 16 1857. Their children are as follows:

Huldalı Catharine, born December 23,

1826, died January 8, 1851. Julia, born January 15, 1829, died November 20, 1866. Ellen L., born November 27, 1831, died March 31, 1836. Mary Matilda, born March 17, 1834, died April 25, 1836. Amanda Melvina, born March 3, 1840. Samuel, born June 20, 1844, died July 4, 1844.

WILLIAM H. PRICE, secretary of the Line Lexington Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and a veteran of the Civil war, during which critical period in the history of the nation he displayed his patriotism by enlisting in Company G, Two Hundred and Thirteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, serving in the Army of the Potomac, was born in New Britain township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1837, a son of John and Sarah (Swort- ly) Price, and grandson of Daniel Price, who was a farmer by occupation, a resident of Montgomery county, and a member of the Dunkard church.

John Price ( father) was born near Planes Meeting House, Montgomery coun- ty, Pennsylvania, in 1799. He was reared on his father's farm and in early life learned the trade of mason. Being a man of more than ordinary intelligence, and therefore thoroughly qualified to serve in the capacity of school teacher, he devoted his time and attention for a number of years to that vocation in the schools at Kulpsville, and other places, and also conducted a boarding school at Line Lexington for many years. He then changed his place of residence to New Britain township, Bucks county, set- iled on a large farm, and established Price's Boarding School, which he conducted suc- cessfully, for more than thirty years. In 1842 he organized the Line Lexington Fire Insurance Company, and up to the time of his demise served as its secretary. He cast his political vote with the Whig party until the formation of the Republican party, after which he changed his allegiance to that great organization. He held member- ship in the Dunkard church. By his mar- riage to Sarah Swortly, a daughter of Philip Swortly, a native of New Britain township, five sons and three daughters were born, namely: Philip, Daniel, Jona- than, William H., George, Sarah, Lavinia, and Mary. The surviving members of the family at the present time (1905) are as follows: William H., mentioned at length hereinafter; Sarah, Lavinia and Mary. After a long and honorable life, John Price (father) died in 1886; his wife survived him until 1888.

William H. Price received his educa- tional advantages in the school established and conducted by his father, and after com- pleting his course of instruction accepted a position as teacher, serving thus for almost a quarter of a century. The success at- tained in this vocation was the direct re- sult of his capacity of imparting the knowl-

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

edge he had acquired clearly and concisely to those under his control. Upon the death of his father he succeeded him as secretary of the Line Lexington Fire Insurance Com- pany, which position he still holds. He performis all the duties of good citizenship, and is a firm advocate of the principles of Republicanism. Mr. Price was united in marriage to Mary Ann Ackerman, daugh- ter of Henry Ackerman, of Berks county, Pennsylvania, and the issue of this union was one child, Mary, wife of E. K. Mussel- man, of Lansdale; they are the parents of one daughter, Florence Musselman.

ALBERT W. PRESTON. Amor Pres- ton was among the earliest of the English settlers in Penn's Colony, and lived for a time in Bristol township, Bucks county. He was a tailor by trade, and, adapting his vocation to the rude materials and cus- toms of the people whose lot was cast on the extreme borders of civilization, became an expert in fashioning civilized clothing out of the deer skins furnished by the In- dians, who were then very plentiful in the country. He became very friendly with the aborigines, and when his house in the woods was burned he was persuaded by the In- dians to remove with them farther back in the woods, near their Indian town of Hollecunk, in the Buckingham valley, near the present village of Holicong. Here, far from any white neighbors, he and his wife lived for several years, and saw their red neighbors and friends gradually dis- appear as the people of their own race filled up and cleared the surrounding country. Nathan Preston, whose brother Paul was the great-great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was said to have been the first white child born in Buckingham town- ship. He was nursed by an Indian woman, who many years afterward journeyed back from the wilderness to pay a visit to her white friends, when an old white haired woman, nearing the century mark. The two Preston boys, Nathan and Paul, were reared among the Indians and learned to speak their language before their own. Nathan married Mary Hough, in 1737, and settled near Doylestown, where he died about 1778, without male issue.

Paul Preston, notwithstanding the rude surroundings of his birth, acquired an ex- cellent English education and became an eminent mathematician and surveyor as well as an accomplished linguist, keeping up his studies through his whole life. In 1753 he purchased a farm of fifty acres in Bucking- ham, where he lived until 1792, when he purchased a farm of 130 acres in Plumstead, near Gardenville, on the Durham Road, where he died in 1806 at the age of eighty- four years. He married, November 21. 1753, Hannah Fisher, daughter of John and Mary ( Scarborough ) Fisher, and they were the parents of seven children, viz. : De- borah, who died unmarried; Samuel, born

1756, died in Wayne county, Pennsylvania, in 1834, was the first associate justice 01 that county; Ann, who died unmarried ; Naomi, who married James Price; Euphemia, who never married; Paul and Silas. Paul Preston was treasurer of Bucks county, 1768-1771.

Silas Preston, youngest son of Paul and Hannah (Fisher) Preston, was born in Buckingham and removed with his father to Plumstead. After his father's death he acquired title to the greater part of the homestead, whereon he lived his whole life. He married, April 6, 1796, Margaret Good, of Plumstead township, and they were the parents of two children-Sarah, wife of Thomas Brown; and Nathan Preston, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Nathan Preston was likewise a lifelong resident of Plumstead. He married Mar- tha Stradiing and reared a large family, several of whom are still living in Solebury township.

Joseph G. Preston, son of Nathan and Martha, was born in Plumstead township in 1832, and was reared to agricultural pur- suits, acquiring his education at the public schools. At the age of twenty-one years he removed to Lumberville, where he was employed for a number of years as a saw- yer in the mills. He later followed the butchering business for a short time. In 1862 he removed to a farm belonging to his wife's mother, near Peter's Corner, where he resided for the greater part ot his life. He was constable and tax col- lector of Solebury township for twenty years, and took an active part in all that pertained to the best interests of the com- munity in which he lived. In politics he was a Republican, and took an active part in the councils of his party, serving for many years as a member of the county committee and representing his district in congressional and state conventions. He was at one time the nominee of his party for a seat in the legislature, but was de- feated at the polls by a small majority, al- though the usual Democratic majority was much larger. In religion he conformed to the tenets of the Society of Friends, in which faith all his ancestors in America had been reared and lived. In early man- hood he married Elmira Walton, of Sole- bury, and they were the parents of four children, all of whom are still living: Al- bert W .; Anna, wife of Howard P. Evans, of Philadelphia ; Harry, a resident of Phil- adelphia ; and Emma, wife of Charles Case, also of Philadelphia. Mr. Preston died at Center Hill in October, 1901.

Albert W. Preston was born in Solebury township. He was reared on the farm and attended the public schools. - t the age of twenty-one he found employment, first in the Carversville and later in the Solebury creamery, where he learned the process of making cheese and butter, and became proficient as a creamery operator. Ile was for sixteen years superintendent of the Solebury creamery, and made it profitable

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

to the stockholders by his efficient manage- ment and the high grade of the products he turned out. His health failing, and having a liking agricultural

for pursuits, he abandoned the work and engaged in farm- ing, having a good tract of land in Sole- bury township, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, so that the fields yield to him large harvests annually and bring to him a good financial return.

In 1886 Mr. Preston was married to Miss Eva Knight, a daughter of Alfred and Ruth A. (Allen) Knight, of Solebury town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Preston are members of the Friends Meeting. He also belongs to the Farmers' Club and to other local organizations. He is a member of Doyles- town Lodge, No. 245, F. and A. M. : Doyles- town Chapter, No. 270, R. A. M .: St. Elmo Commandery, K. T., of Lambertville, New Jersey, and the Knights of Pythias fra- ternity. In politics he is a leading Repub- lican, and at his father's death was elected his successor in the office of constable, in which position he has since served. He exerts considerable local influence in pub- lic matters, and his efforts are always exerted on the side of improvement and progress, whether in interests of private or public concern.

JOHN SHERWOOD, deceased, for more than a quarter of a century an enterprising business man of Bristol township, his es- tate being located on the banks of the Dcla- ware river, was born in Edinburgh, Scot- land, June 29, 1806, a .son of Thomas and Catharine (Rixby) Sherwood, the former named having been a prominent manufac- turer, a man of substance, and of good standing in the community.

John Sherwood, the eldest of three chil- dren, was well educated in the schools of Edinburgh, his native city, and came to America in 1827. the year he attained his majority. He studied medicine for two years at the University of Pennsylvania, but, becoming interested in the study of botany, he abandoned his former studies and took up the business of florist, which he successfully conducted in Philadelphia for several years and until 1850, when he purchased an estate in the township of Bristol, on the banks of the Delaware, where he conducted an extensive business up to the time of his decease, May 2, 1883. He was engaged for over fifty years in the propagation of new and rare plants, and imported from Scotland many plants and shrubs native to that country. He also engaged in landscape gardening and among the many specimens of this art may be men- tioned the beautiful Laurel Hill Cemetery at Philadelphia. He became widely known as an authority on floriculture.

Mr. Sherwood was married three times. His first wife, whose maiden name was Wilemina Sinclair, died without issue. His second wife, Arrabella (Shuttlewood)

Sherwood, bore him two children: Joel William, born in 1843, married Emma Rodgers, now deceased; the other child died in infancy. After the death of his second wife, in 1846, Mr. Sherwood mar- ried Isabella Hartley, July 7, 1847, and their children were as follows: Robert Hartley, died in infancy, in 1849; Robert Hartley, born June 15, 1849; John Thomas, died in infancy; Henry Farnum, born August 10, 1854; Edward Caroll, died in infancy ; Cath- arine Jane, born April 14, 1858; and James Thorn, born February 21, 1863. Mrs. Isa- bella (Hartley) Sherwood, born February 1, 1826, passed on to her reward, January 28, 1900, mourned by a large circle of friends. She was one of that band of de- voted women who during the dark days of the civil war aided so materially in alleviating the suffering of the sick and wounded soldiers. In a hospital located near her home she performed most noble work in tenderly caring for the sick and dying soldiers, giving this loving service untiring attention.

Catharine J. Sherwood, only daughter of John and Isabella (Hartley) Sherwood, be- came the wife of Henry Horne Jones, of Philadelphia, June 2, 1886, and their chil- dren are: Henry Sherwood, born April 26, 1887, died October 27, 1892; Joel Enston, born September 7, 1890, died October 26, 1892, and was buried the same day as his brother Henry Sherwood; Isabella Sher- wood, born October 29, 1893; and Isaac Smithson Hartley, born August II, 1895. Henry H. Jones is a son of Colonel Charles A. and Elizabeth (Horne) Jones, of a prominent Philadelphia family. and his an- cestors were also prominent citizens of that city. Mr. Jones is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Friends' Society. while his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. and Mrs. Jones reside on the Sherwood homestead, where Mr. Jones con- ducts an extensive business as a florist, finding a ready market in Philadelphia. On the maternal side Mrs. Jones is eligible to membership in the Daughters of the Amer- ican Revolution and Colonial Dames through Samuel and Thomas Munson.

FRANCIS BARTLEMAN. Solebury township has no better known citizen than Francis Bartleman. He is a son of Theodore Bartleman, who was born in Germany and was a shoemaker by trade. He married Margaret Steinle, and seven children were born to them, four of whom are living: Barbara, who is the widow of Jacob Constantine, of Blooming Glen, Bucks county: Teresa, who is the wife of Balthas Schiele, of Plumstead township; Francis, mentioned at length hereinafter: and Robert, who lives in Plumstead township. The father of these children died in Germany when about forty-five years of age, and in 1852 the mother came with her five children to

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

the United States. She made her home in Plumstead township, where she subse- quently married Anthony Seifert, by whom she had one child, Magdalena, who is the wife of Philip Klein, of Brooklyn, New York.

Francis Bartleman, son of Theodore and Margaret (Steinle) Bartleman, was born June 27, 1836, in Wurtemberg, Ger- many, and received his education in the schools of his native land. After passing his fourteenth year he was apprenticed to the potter's trade, but before the ex- piration of his term of service the fam- ily came to America. He finished his ap- prenticeship in Plumstead township and Monroe county, and then worked as a journeyman in Plumstead township un- til 1860, when he leased the pottery of James Maginnis for a period of three years. Shortly after the breaking out of the civil war Mr. Bartleman rallied to the defense of his adopted country. Oc- tober 29, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Fourth Pennsyl- vania Regiment, Colonel Davis com- manding, for a term of three years. The regiment participated in the battles of Fair Oaks, Bottom's Bridge, Savage Sta- tion, and the siege of Yorktown. At the battle of Fair Oaks he was twice slightly wounded, in the space of a few minutes, by two spent balls, one in the neck and one in the leg. When the change of base of the Army of the James began, this regiment was part of the command as- signed to prevent the enemy from cross- ing the Chickahominy until the heavy trains should be safe from attack, a duty which was gallantly performed. The enemy was held in check until the 29th of June, when the bridge was destroyed and the One Hundred and Fourth Regi- ment was ordered to protect the rear. This dangerous service was again per- formed at White Oak Creek crossing, under a heavy artillery fire from the en- emy's batteries. The command then marched to Malvern Hill, where they were held in reserve during the engage- ment. The hard service seen by the reg- iment may be inferred from the fact that it arrived at Harrison's Landing after the Seven Days' battle with but twenty officers and four hundred and thirty-three men, the entire force at the time of en- listment having been eleven hundred and thirty-five. The command distinguished itself at the siege of Charleston, occupy- ing a position on North Edisto Island during the assault. The term for which Mr. Bartleman had enlisted expired Oc- tober 29, 1864, at which time he was hon- orably discharged, after being promoted to Corporal, Sergeant and Orderly Ser- geant, respectively.

After his return to civil life Mr. Bartle- man went to Flemington, New Jersey, where he was employed in a stone-ware pottery. In 1866 he returned to Bucks county and purchased the farm and pot-

tery of James Maginnis, conducting the pottery until 1880. In that year he was elected clerk of the court of quarter ses- sions, oyer and terminer, serving for three years with honor to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. After this he returned to business until 1892, when he went once more to Flemington and worked in the pottery of Fulper Brothers & Company until 1898. He then took up his abode in Cottageville, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he has since lived a retired life. For six years he served as school director in Plumstead township. He was the first commander of Major Edward L. Rogers Post, No. 448, G. A. R., which was eventually disbanded, and he is now a member of Lambert Borman Post, No. 48, G. A. R., Department of New Jersey. He is a past officer in the I. O. O. F. Lodge, the Knights of Pythias, and a mem- ber of Darcy Lodge, No. 37, F. & A. M., of Flemington, New Jersey. In pol- itics he is a staunch Democrat. Mr. Bartleman married, January 19, 1865, Maggie W. Hellyer, of Mechanicsville, and the following children have been born to them: Theodore, who lives in Philadelphia: William H., who is also a resident of that city; Frank, who makes his home in California; Eugene, who re- sides in Philadelphia; and Watson, who died in infancy.

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 144

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