History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 147

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 147

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John Cope, seventh child and fifth son of Adam and Margaret (Hartzel) Cope, was born and reared in Hilltown, and in- herited from his father a portion of the old homestead, and spent his whole life there .. He married Susanna Savacool, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Miller) Savacool, of Hilltown (see sketch of Aaron Savacool, in this work), and they were the parents of six children; William S .; Elizabeth, wife of Isaac Wambold; John Frank; Henry S .; Maria; and Susanna. John Cope died in 1862, and his wife in 1873.

John Frank Cope, second son of John and Susanna (Savacool) Cope, was also born and reared in Hilltown. In the division of his father's real estate in 1863 he acquired title to a fine farm, part of the land that had belonged to his grandfather, Adam Cope, and lived thereon until his death, August 10, 1902. He married Maria, daugh- ter of Jacob Leidy, who survives him. They were the parents of two children-Mil- ton L., the subject of this sketch; and Dr. Leidy L, Cope, a successful physician of Hatfield, Montgomery county, Pennsyl- vania.

Milton L. Cope was born and reared on the old homestead in Hilltown, and was educated in the public schools. He early manifested a taste and talent for music, and has filled the position of organist at his church for twenty-one years. He continued to conduct the homestead farm until 1883, when he started into the music business in a small way, selling pianos from his home on the farm. His bu-iness ,having materi- ally increased, he removed to Souderton in 1896, and carried on the business there tin-

til 1902, when he removed to Perkasie, and erected a large music warehouse and now carries a large stock of pianos. He also lias a branch establishment in Allentown, at 141 South Eighth street, and does a large business. He is one of the active business men of Perkasie, and is well known in busi- ness and social circles in upper Bucks and Lehigh counties. He is still the owner of the old homestead in Hilltown.

Mr. Cope was married on September II, 1883, to Susan Savacool, daughter of Aaron and Esther ( Stetler ) Savacool of Hilltown, who died in 1896, leaving two boys; How- ard, born May 11, 1888; and Raymond, born December 17, 1893. On April 29, 1898, Mr. Cope married Mrs. Alice Guth, a widow, and daughter of Jonas H. and Sarah Schmoyer of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Cope has one child by her former marriage Helen Maria Guth, who was born December 18, 1893.

THOMAS STRAWN, one of the retired business men of Quakertown, is a grandson of Thomas and Elizabeth (Johnson). Strawn, who were residents of Bucks coun- ty not less than a century ago, and his maternal grandmother was Rebecca Ball.

Johnson Strawn, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Johnson) Strawn, was born in 1811, on Fellman's farm, in Richland town- ship, and attended the subscription school of his birthplace. He learned the carpen- ter's trade and later the manufacture of agricultural implements. In 1856 he erected the grist and saw mill which he afterward operated. He married Jane Penrose (see Penrose, in this work), and they were the parents of the following children : I. Evan. Penrose, born September 16, 1834, died October 5. 1838. 2. Joseph P., born August 16, 1836, died October 8, 1858. 3. Thomas, mentioned at length hereinafter. 4. Mary Ann, born April 18, 1841, married, in 1869, Edwin A., son of David Johnson, a painter, formerly of Richland township, now of Philadelphia. 5. Johnson, born October 13, 1849, married, in 1871, Florence, daughter of Charles F. Mendith, and they are the pa- rents of the following children : Ollie M., born March 18, 1872, died May 4, 1876; Thomas B., born March 3. 1874, lives in Richland township, and married a daugh- ter of Dr. Callahan, of Philadelphia ; Charles M., born August 13, 1879, lives at home and is an electrical engineer ; Harry MI., born October 15, 1885, lives in Phila- delphia. Mr. Strawn died in 1858.

Thomas Strawn, son of Johnson and Jane (Penrose) Strawn, was born April 4, 1838, on the farm of his grandfather Penrose, in Richland township. and received his preparatory education in the subscription school, later attending the Friends' school at Quakertown. At the age of twenty he succeeded by the death of his father, to the milling business, and also to the manu facturing of agricultural implements. In

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

1873 he associated with himself his brother Johnson, and when he retired from business in 1897 he was succeeded by this brother. From 1890 to 1896 he served on the con- mittee of the electric light and water plant. He was for many years interested in the Richland Library, founded in one hundred granges, an institution which had always been encouraged by his family. From 1809 to 1872 he served as a member of the town council of Quakertown. In politics he is a Republican. He is a birthright member of the Richland Meeting of Quakertown, and has served for three years as overseer. He has since been elected a member of com- mittee. Mr. Strawn has never married.

PHILIP S. CRESSMAN, proprietor of the American House, Perkasie, Bucks coun- ty, Pennsylvania, was born in Hilltown township, Bucks county, May 31, 1860, and is a descendant of one of the oldest Ger- man families in Bucks county. Johannes Cressman, his great-great-great-grandfath- er, was born in Germany and came to Penn- sylvania with his father, George Cressman (or Gressman, as the name was spelled in German) about the year 1720. The family settled in Franconia township (now Mont- gomery county) from whence Johannes Cressman came to Rockhill township, Bucks county, where he was a landowner as early as 1747. He later returned to Franconia, where he died in 1786. His children were Anthony, John, Elizabeth, Mary, Catharine and Hannah.

Anthony Cressman, eldest son of Jo- hannes, born May 9, 1731, came to Rock- hill with his parents when a child. He was a farmer, and became a considerable land- holder prior to his death, which occurred March 3, 1789. By his wife Magdalen he had seven children: Jacob; Elizabeth, wife of Daniel Sliver; Abraham; John; Adam; Catharine, and Sarah. Jacob Cressman, eldest son of Anthony and Magdalen, born in Rockhill, October 27, 1755, inherited the homestead farm in Rockhill and became one of the largest landowners in the township. He died June 15, 1832. His wife was Eliza- beth Nace, and they were the parents of twelve children. Philip Cressman, young- est son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Nace) Cressman, born in Rockhill township, in . 1797, resided on a portion of the old home- stead in Rockhill until the death of his fa- ther in 1832, and then removed to Hilltown township. He was a blacksmith by trade, and followed that vocation in connection with farming in both Rockhill and Hill- town. He died in 1872. He married Mag- dalena Stout, and they were the parents of three children, two of whom survived child- hood, viz .: Henry, the father of the sub- ject of this sketch ; and Eliza, wife of Jonas Łeidy.

Henry Cressman, born in Rockhill, De- cember 14, 1825, removed with his parents to Hilltown at the age of six years, and re- sided on the old homestead there for the

remaining fifty years of his life, dying April 8, 1882. He married Sarah A. Snyder, daughter of George and Mary ( Wittig) Snyder, of Hilltown, who was born Janu- ary 1, 1833, and had six . children as fol- lows: James S., born December 6, 1853, married Emma Savacool, and has one child, Roland; William S., of Sellersville, a gro- cer, married Emma Gearhart, and has three children, the eldest of whom, Alma, is a school teacher at Perkasie; Philip S., the subject of this sketch; Henry M. S., who is supervisory principle of schools at Egg Harbor City, New Jersey, who married Emma Jacoby, and has three children ; Mary Ann; and another who died in 111- fancy.

Philip S. Cressman, born May 31, 1860, was reared on his father's farm in Hill- town, and educated at the public schools, remaining on the farm until his twenty- second year, when he became a clerk in the general merchandise store of his father-in- law, Reuben B. Crouthamel, at Hagers- ville. He remained there two years and in 1884 went into the hotel business at Perkasie as proprietor of the American House, which he has since conducted, erect- ing the present hotel building and hall in 1894. He is a successful and progressive business man, and owns considerable real estate in that thriving borough. He lias always taken an active interest in all that pertains to the best interests of the town, and has served several terms as a member of the local school board. He is a member of McCalla Lodge, No. 596, F. and A. M., at Sellersville, and of Perkasie Lodge, I. O. O. F. He married in 1882 Mary Crou- thamel, daughter of Reuben B. Croutha- mel, then of Hagersville, Rockhill town- ship, but later of Philadelphia, and they are the parents of four children, Howard, Frank, Winfield, and Mabel.

ABRAM F. SWARTZ. Early in the eighteenth century, the Swartz family, of German lineage, was founded in Penn- sylvania, where representatives of the name have since been found, doing their full share in upholding the legal and moral status of the state. The first of the family of whom we have authentic record was Andrew Swartz, a native of the fatherland. His son.

Andrew Swartz, was born in Germany and emigrated to America in 1727, ar- riving in Philadelphia on the 16th of Oc- tober of that year. He located in Fran- conia township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he purchased a tract of land comprising one hundred and fifty-five acres, then a part of Salford: township. He followed farming through- out the greater part of his life. He mar- ried Catharine Kline, and they became the parents of ten children, as follows: Mary, born December 2, 1728; Abra- ham, January 5. 1731; Margaret, Decem- ber 7, 1732; Ester, February 2, 1735;

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

Isaac, April 2, 1737; Susanna. December 3, 1739; Andrew, June 29, 1742; Jacob, . 1744: John, July 18, 1747; and Elizabeth, July 28, 1750. Abraham Swartz, son of Andrew and Catharine (Kline) Swartz, was born on the old family homestead in Montgomery county, and made farming his life work.

Abram Swartz, son of Andrew Swartz, was born in Franconia township, Mont- gomery county, April 16, 1790. He was a clockmaker, and followed that trade when all of the work was done by hand, even making his own castings for wheels, in addition to making all the parts and the frame. He manufactured the kind of timepiece now known as "grandfather's clock," carrying on the business for many years in Lower Salford township, Montgomery county, but later turned his attention to farming. He met with a sudden death, slipping from his wagon and sustaining internal injuries which caused his demise the same night. He married Susanna B. Fry, who was born January 28, 1796. His death occurred in 1832, and she died September 26, 1861. She was a daughter of George Fry. Mr. and Mrs. Swartz were the parents of seven children, as follows: I. John F., who was born July 2, 1816, died Sep- tember 6, 1897, married Susanna Hen- dricks, by whom he had two children, and after the death of his first wife he married Ester Fontz, and they had two children. 2. George F., born October 26, 1818, wedded Mary Moyer and died July 15. 1875. 3. Catharine, born September 26. 1820, became the wife of Jacob A. Hendricks and they had one child; fol- lowing the death of her first husband she married Martin Kulp, and they had three children; her death occurred April 9, 1864. 4. Mary, born September 13, 1822, was the wife of Martin Kulp, and died December II, 1843. leaving one child. 5. Elizabeth, born February 10, 1827, was the wife of Edward Thompson and the mother of three children; her death oc- curred August 6, 1857. 6. Sarah A., born February 24, 1829, was the wife of Will- iam R. Christman. and died January 19, 1865 : they were the parents of five children.

Abram F. Swartz, seventh and young- est child of Abram and Susanna (Fry) Swartz, was born in Lower Salford town- ship. Montgomery county, March 21, 1832. and was reared by his uncle on a farm at Silverdale, Hilltown township, Bucks county. He was but a babe when his father died, and went to live with his uncle when two and one-half years of age. He obtained his elementary educa- tion in subscription schools that neighborhood, and completed his studies in the Washington Hall Boarding School at Trappe, Montgomery county. He afterward learned the trade of cabinet- making under the direction of Daniel Rosenberger, at Hatfield, Montgomery county, and when he had mastered the

business he worked at carpentering through the summer months, while in the winter seasons he was engaged in teaching school. He began following that profession when eighteen years of age, and was thus identified with the ed- ucational interests of this part of the state until about sixty years of age. Fol- lowing his uncle's death he purchased the farm upon which he was reared and lived there until 1897, when he re- moved to Blooming Glen, locating on the place which he had purchased the prev- ious year. Here he has since lived re- tired, having in former years acquired the competence which now supplies him with all the necessities and many of the comforts and luxuries of life. Politi- cally a Republican, Mr. Swartz has al- ways taken a deep interest in the party, its growth and success, and has ever kept well informed on the leading ques- tions of the day. He served for seven ycars as assessor of Hilltown township. Religiously he is a member of the Men- nonite church, and is well worthy the trust so uniformly accorded him.

Mr. Swartz married in 1855, Catharine A. Siegfried, who was born March 28, 1831, a daughter of John H. Siegfried. Her death occurred in 1873. There were six children by that marriage: I. Susanna Louise, born February II, 1856, married Henry B. Lapp, and their six children are Nelson, Stella, Agnes, Esther, Mar- tha and Walter. 2. Mary S., born Septem- ber 23, 1857, is the wife of Isaac B. Beideman and has nine children, Frank, Estella, Harry, Alice, Abram, Raymond, Edna, Bertha and Harvey. 3. Isaac Franklin, born April 27, 1860, married Amanda Elizabeth Bishop. a daughter of Jacob Bishop. 4. John S., born April 27. 1864, died June 2. 1866. 5. Abraham Lincoln, born .June 27, 1866, married Elemanda Crouthammel, and they have two children; Mamie, who was born and died in 1894, and Abram Warren, born October 20. 1896. 6. William Henry, born May 31, 1868, died April 15, 1878.

Abram F. Swartz was married (sec- ond) December 23. 1882. to Mary C. Swartz, a daughter of Andrew S. and Catharine B. (Cassel) Swartz. They have two children: Norman S., born Oc- tober 12, 1883, and Maurice S., born De- cember 10, 1884, and died March 27, 1885.

CHARLES BENJAMIN KRAUSE, of Doylestown, Bucks county. Pennsylvania, was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, June I. 1834, and is a son of Carl G. and Johanna (Brinkman) Krause, the former born March 8, 1803 and the latter in August, 1805.

Carl G. Krause was a manufacturer of cotton goods at Copenhagen. Believing that America offered better facilities for their manufacture, he came to Philadelphia

Charles. B. Prause

WOLLT LEANRY

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

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in 1851 and engaged in the manufacture of carpets. Being joined there by his son, the subject of this sketch, in 1856, he left the business in his charge and went on an ex- ploring expedition to the far west in 1857, crossing the plans from Kansas City, Miss- ouri, to Colorado in a train of ox-teams, and proceeded as far as Pike's Peak. In 1859 he returned to Philadelphia and re- sumed the manufacture of carpets there, continuing to operate his mills until his death on May 5, 1879.

Charles Benjamin Krause, the subject of this sketch, was educated in Copenhagen and learned the trade of a weaver in all its branches. On January 27, 1855, he mar- ried, at Copenhagen, Christina Berg, a native of Sweden, daughter of Nels And- ries and Christine (Osterfelt) Berg. Her father was born in 1780, four miles from Lond, Sweden, and died in 1843. He was an officer in the Swedish army, and fought under Napoleon at the battle of Leipsig and afterward was an officer under the Swedish government until his death in 1843. He was a son of Andries Berg, also an officer in the Swedish army, and had one brother, Ole. In 1856 Mr. Krause removed with his wife to Philadelphia and engaged in the weaving business. In 1863 he began the manufacture of carpets in that city, and is still extensively engaged in that business. In 1902 he erected a new factory and en- gaged in the business on a larger scale. He' removed to Doylestown, Bucks county, in 1885, where he still resides. He is a mem- ber of the Lutheran church, and in politics is a Republican. Charles Benjamin and Christine (Berg) Krause have been the parents of three children: Carl Benjamin, who died in infancy ; Emma Christine, born in Philadelphia in 1862 ; and Carl Benjamin, Jr., born in Philadelphia. November 21, 1865. Emma Christine married Dr. Will- iam Brodie, born in Philadelphia in 1860, son of Dr. Robert Brodie, a druggist at Twentieth and Callowhill streets. Dr. Will- iam Brodie graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1878, and began the prac- tice of medicine at Pineville, Bucks county, removing later to Forest Grove, Bucking- ham township, where he practiced until his death, September 2, 1898. His widow re- sides with her father at Doylestown. They were the parents of three children, Emma K., born February 4. 1880; Carl Benjamin, born February 1, 1882; and Christine Sar- ah, born November 9, 1885. Emma K. Brodie married Charles Sponsler, and re- sides in Washington, D. C. Carl Benja- min Brodie is an employee of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company, and also resides in Washington.

Carl B. Krause, Jr., only son of the sub- ject of this sketch, born in Philadelphia, November 21, 1865, was educated at the Friends' School at Fifteenth and Green streets, and at Pierce's Business College. After the completion of his education he assisted his father in the carpet manufactur- ing business, and later became a partner

under the firm name of Charles B. Krause & Son. He resided for a time in Doyles- town township, where he had charge of a farm owned by his father, but in 1902 re- turned to Philadelphia, and now has charge of the business at the new factory. He married, September 21, 1887, Pauline Priz- endense, daughter of Jacob Prizendense, of Hilltown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of four children: Carl Benjamin, Jacob Frederick, Anna Christine and Christine Helen.

SAMUEL SCHAFFER. A list of the experienced and successful farmers of Bucks county would be incomplete without the name of Samuel Schaffer. Mr. Schaffer is a representative of that large and force- ful German element which includes so large a number of the best citizens of Pennsyl- vania.

Conrad Schaffer was born in 1801 in South Germany, and at the age of thirty emigrated to the United States. After liv- ing for a while in Philadelphia he found himself, by reason of the great financial de- pression which then prevailed throughout the country, out of employment, and so left the city, thinking that in the country his chances might be better. He walked as far as The Turk, an inn in Bucks county, where he was given food and lodging for the night. The next day he walked to Hilltown, and there obtained work at his trade, which was that of a mason. After a few weeks he went to New Britain, where he also worked at his trade, and as he was known to be an industrious and thrifty man he was offered a small farm, which he bought without a dollar, giving notes on small payments. He then sent for his wife, whom he had left in Philadelphia, and they set- tled on the farm. By his skillful manage- m'ent of the property, together with close application to his trade, he was enabled in a few years to pay all the notes and to be- come the possessor of an unincumbered estate. He and his wife were the parents of one child, Samuel, mentioned at length hereinafter. This worthy couple were loved and respected during their lives, and when they died were sincerely mourned. Mrs. Schaffer before her marriage was Sarah Schmidt, and was, like her husband, a na- tive of Germany.

Samuel Schaffer, son of Conrad and Sarah (Schmidt) Schaffer, was born Au- gust II, 1834, in New Britain township, where his boyhood and youth were spent in assisting his father in the labors of the farm. He succeeded in time to the owner- ship of the homestead, and has for many years led the happy uneventful life of a prosperous farmer. His time has been spent in cultivating his paternal acres in the best manner, in reaping the results of his labors, and in discharging the duties of a good citizen. In politics he is a Democrat. He and his family are members of the Chal-

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

font Lutheran church. Mr. Schaffer mar- ried Katie, daughter of Leonard and Peggy (Rockwood) Felty, of Montgomery county, and their children are: Annie M., who was born March 19, 1875; and Frank L., born August 28, 1877, who married Katie, daughter of John Rumler; they have one child, Samuel J.

HENRY STACKHOUSE. born March 12. 1862, in the house which he yet occupies, represents one of the old families of Bucks county, and the farm which he owns and operates came by purchase into possession of his great- grandfather, Stephen Stackhouse, who was born August 12, 1761. After arriv- ing at years of maturity he purchased what has since been known as the old family homestead, and to its develop- ment and improvement he gave his at- tention throughout his remaining days. He also followed the weaver's trade, do- ing considerable business for people of the neighborhood at a time when much of the weaving was done by the hand loom. He was married September 15, 1784, to Amy Van Dycke, who died Sep- tember 20, 1804. Their children were: Sarah, born February 10, 1785; John, February 18, 1787; Mary, October 14, 1788; James R., November 21, 1790; Stephen, April 9, 1793; Samuel, born No- vember 28, 1794; Ann, January 30, 1797; Amy, October 9. 1799; and Elizabeth, born March 19, 1802, died in 1901, aged ninety-nine years and six months.

James R. Stackhouse, second son of Stephen Stackhouse, was born in Bucks county, November 21, 1790. In his early childhood his parents removed to the farm which is now occupied by Henry Stackhouse. He, too, learned the weav- er's trade and followed that pursuit in connection with farming throughout his active life. He was married on the 27th of April, 1815, to Martha Watson, and they had four children: Miles W., born March 6, 1816; Mary Ann, December 25, 1818: Henry W., September 25, 1821; and Jacob W., September.30, 1826.

Henry W. Stackhouse, son of James R. Stackhouse, was a native of Falls township. and throughout his business career followed farming, giving his time and attention to the cultivation and im- provement of the home property until 1890, when he retired from its manage- ment. However, he continued to reside on the old homestead until his death, which occurred July 8, 1891. He was married twice. On the IIth of Novem- ber, 1847, he wedded Mary Sat- terthwaite, who died June 27, 1851. On the 24th of March, 1859, he married Ann Satterthwaite, and they had four chil- dren: Elizabeth S., February 23. 1860; Henry, March 12, 1862; Tacie, January 15, 1865; and Mary, April 12, 1869.

Henry Stackhouse, only son of Henry W. and Ann (Satterthwaite) Stackhouse, occupying the ancestral farm, is ac- counted one of the leading agriculturists of his community. He obtained a public school education, and assisted his father in the operation of the farm until the latter's retirement, when he assumed the management of the home place, which he has since conducted. He purchased this property in 1894, and it has now through four generations been in the family. Possessing good business abil- ity and laudable ambition to utilize his · farming interests to the best advantage, he has year by year acquired therefrom a comfortable competence. On the 27th of September, 1893, Mr. Stackhouse mar- ried Miss Anna L. Tomlinson, a daugh- ter of Francis and Emily A. Tomlinson, and they have one child, Emily A., born September 9, 1899.

HENRY S. SHELLY. The descen- dant of a race of farmers, and himself a successful agriculturist, Henry S. Shelly, of Levin. Mr. Shelly is a grand- son of Michael Shelly, a native of Le- high county, Pennsylvania, who was a lifelong farmer and a good citizen. His children were: Henry S .; Samuel M., mentioned at length hereinafter; Chris- tian; Barbara; and Elizabeth.

Samuel M. Shelly, son of Michael Shelly, was born December 6, 1796, in Milford township, and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. For many years he cultivated his own farm in his native township, but finally sold it and moved to Plumstead township, where he passed the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Mennonite church, in which for many years he held the office of deacon, and also served as treasurer. He married Catharine Strunk, who was born January 29, 1797, the marriage tak- ing place March 2, 1819. The following children were born to them: Elizabeth, Barbara, Thomas, Charles, Samuel and Henry S., mentioned at length herein- after. The death of Mrs. Shelly, the mother of the family, occurred when she had reached the age of seventy-two years, eight months and eighteen days. Her husband survived her but a few years, passing away December 25, 1873. aged seventy-seven years. None stood higher in the esteem of their neighbors than did this truly worthy and estimable couple.

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 147

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