History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 150

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 150

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

JAMES L. BRANSON, of Langhorne, Bucks county, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, April 3, 1831, but is a descendant of early English settlers in Burlington county, New Jersey, where Thomas Branson was a landholder in 1700. He married Eliza- beth Day, daughter of John Day, of New Hanover township, Burlington county, and settled in Springfield township in the same county, and reared a family of children who have left numerous descendants.

William Branson, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Burlington county and married there on 4 mno. II, 1753, Elizabeth Osborne, daughter of John and Martha, (Antrim) Osborne. Soon after their marriage they removed to Stafford county, Virginia, where twelve children were born to them.

Jacob Branson, ninth child of James and Elizabeth, and grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born"in Stafford county, Virginia, 5mo, 8, 1771, and married there, "according to the good order of the So- ciety of Friends," Rebecca Holloway, daughter of Asa and Abigail Holloway.

Isaiah Branson, father of James L., was born in Stafford county, Virginia, February 25, 1799. In 1805 he removed with his par- ents to Belmont county, Ohio. Isaiah Bran- son was one of nine children, if whom the youngest, Ann Branson, born in 1809, was an esteemed minister of the Society of Friends and traveled extensively in that ser- vice for a period of over fifty years. The journal kept by her of her travels and min- istrations was published by the Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends after her death in 1892. In her eightieth year she visited the New England Yearly Meeting at Westerly, Rhode Island, the sessions of which covered a pe- riod of nine days, and took a prominent part in the proceedings. At this time she also visited and attended a number of meetings in and around Philadelphia, speaking with much force and fervor. The last entry was made by her in her journal five days before her death, at the age of eighty-three years.

Isaiah Branson married in 1828 Sarah Gould Lawton, who was born at Marietta, Ohio, November 14, 1802, and was a daugh- ter of James and Susanna (Gould) Lawton, who were married at Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Imo. 1, 1789, and removed to Ohio in 1795. The Goulds and Lawtons were among the earliest settlers at Newport, Rhode Island, Jeremiah and Pricilla Law- ton coming from England and settling there in 1637. Their son Daniel became an ear- nest and eloquent minister of the Society of Friends, and in the year 1659, as re- corded in his diary, along with two other men and three women, received "thirty stripes on the bare back for no other reason than being Quakers." James and Susanna Lawton settled in 1795 at Barlow, Washing- ton county, Ohio, near Marietta, where members of the family still reside on the old homestead .. James lived to the age of ninety-two years and Susanna, his wife, to the age of ninety-four years. Isaiah Bran- son, father of the subject of this sketch, lived to the age of eighty-six years and ten months, and Sarah, his wife, to the age of ninety-eight years and nine months, a most remarkable record of longevity in one family.

James Lawton Branson, the subject of this sketch, was born and reared in Belmont county, Ohio, and received his education in the Friends' schools of that county. At the age of nineteen years he accepted the position of district school teacher, in which position he served for seven years in his native county, and in Richmond, Indiana, where the family re- moved in 1852. Having inherited a me- chanical turn of mind from his ancestors, several of whom were more or less skilled in mechanical work, he turned his atten- tion to the improvement of mechanical ap- pliances, and in 1858 was granted a patent for an improvement in knitting machines. In 1860 he obtained a patent on improved hand looms, which were manufactured at Cincinnati, Ohio, and were used extensively during the civil war, in the weaving of cloth out of which clothing was manufactured for the use of the Union soldiers. The sales of these machines, during a period of three months amounted to over $60,000, James L. Branson entered the army in the spring of 1864 in Company G, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment, Indiana Volun- teers, and in General Schofield's corps of General Sherman's army went to Atlanta. He was with the army of Sherman from the time it entered Smoke Creek Gap, near Chattanooga, until Schofield's corps re- turned north and fought the battle of Franklin, Tennessee. He was then invalided and returned home. He is a member of the Ohio Society of Philadelphia.

Mr. Branson, though always a busy, in- dustrious and energetic man, has in the midst of his duties always found time to keep himself well informed on all the main topics of the times, and has always mani- fested a deep interest in all that pertained

зато 2 Вашон

693

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

to the welfare of the community in which he lived. In 1872, while a resident of Chi- cago, during the administration of Joseph E. Medill as mayor of the city. Mr. Bran- son was the agent of the Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and in that capacity caused the arrest and prosecution of about 1,200 persons for cruelty to dumb animals, in most of the cases acting as both prosecutor and lawyer. His zealous and efficient work in the prose- cution of human brutes, made him a repu- tation in the Humane Society, not only in Chicago, but all over the United States.

In 1887 Mr. Branson located in Lang- horne, Bucks county, where he has since resided. He has been three times married. His first wife, whom he married November 18, 1855, was Martha Evaline Ruby, and they were the parents of three children : Isadora C., born September 22, 1856 ; Edwin Ruby Branson, born January 5, 1858; and Sarah Eliza, born April 14, 1860. His second wife was Ida Mary Clark, who bore him no children. He married (third) on October 29, 1904, Jessie Gordon, widow of the late Samuel Chapman of London, Eng- land. She was born in Scotland, a daugh- ter of John Gordon, of Elgin, Morayshire. Scotland, and granddaughter of the late Laird Mortimer, of Morayshire.

Isadora C. Branson, eldest daughter of the subject of this sketch, married Novem- ber 3, 1878, Thomas Hibbert of Chicago, and their seven children are: I Eva May Hibbert, married October 24, 1899, Oscar Milne Parsons, of Philadelphia, and has two children: Oscar Milne, Jr., and Law- ton Hibbert Parsons. 2. Lawton Edwin Hibbert. 3. Ida May Hibbert. 4. Thomas Hibbert. Jr. 5. Emily Grace Hibbert. 6. James Hibbert. 7. Branson James Hibbert.

Edwin Ruby Branson, only son of James L. and Martha Evaline Branson, married March 4, 1890, Marion Watson Dunham and they are the parents of two children, Edwina Ruby and Marion Adele.

Sarah Eliza Branson married June 3, 1875, William S. Twitty, of Chicago, and they were the parents of two children : Alice Marietta, married November 30. 1897. George S. Erisman, and has the following - children : Dorothy Edna, Natalie Madeline, George Branson, and James Lawton Eris- man. Edna Ruby Twitty, the other child of Sarah Eliza and William S. Twitty, mar- ried October 11, 1900, Samuel C. Randall, of Langhorne. Sarah Eliza Twitty mar- ried (second) September 4, 1882, Samuel F. Robbins of Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, and they are the parents of three children : Mabel G., Edith R., and James B. Robbins.

JOHN M. LANDIS, who was born in Hilltown township, Bucks county, Septem- ber 25. 1876, is a son of George and Bar- bara C. (Moyer) Landis. His education was acquired at Huntsberger school. in Hilltown township, and after putting aside his text books he continued to assist his

father upon the home farm until after his marriage. In 1901 he purchased the old Garges homestead, containing fifty-six and a half acres of improved land, and hereon he follows general farming, having placed his fields under a high state of cultivation.

On the 19th of January, 1899, Mr. Landis was married to Miss Bertha K. Hockman, who was born in New Britain township, Bucks county, August 16, 1879, her parents being Christian and Amanda M. (Kulp) Heckman. Her father was born in Bed- minster township, September 29, 1845, and was a son of Ulrey D. and Margaret (Moyer) Hockman. To Mr. and Mrs. Lan- dis have been born two children: Lillie H., July 6, 1900; and Blanche H., July 6, I902. The parents are members of the Mennonite church, and politically Mr. Landis is a Republican.

ALBERT S. PAXSON, a farmer of Southampton township, was born March 5. 1854, in Salem county, New Jersey. His paternal grandparents, Charles and Grace (Michener) Paxson, were the pa- rents of the following children: Annie; Sarah; John; Merritt, who married a Miss Knight, and their children were Sarah. Charles, Merritt, Mary, Susan, Hannah, Amanda, Aaron, John H. and Phineas.

Phineas Paxson, youngest son of Charles and Grace Paxson, married Re- becca Tomlinson, and they had six chil- dren, as follows: Emily A., who was born April 12, 1851, and was married October 8, 1873. to A. Taylor Praul, by whom she had one son, Clarence T., born December 31. 1876: Albert S .; John, who married Sarah White: Augustus; Ella; and Caroline.

Albert S. Paxson, eldest son of Phin- eas and Rebecca Paxson, spent a portion of his younger years in Middletown and afterwards in Southampton. Pennsyl- vania. He acquired his education in the public schools and at the Friends' school at Langhorne, and decided upon farm- ing as a life work. He has since given his attention to agricultural pursuits and in 1878 he purchased the farm upon which he now resides, comprising ninety acres. Previous to this time he farmed for his father upon the old homestead, and since starting upon an independent business career he has met with a fair measure of prosperity. On the 30th of December, 1875. Albert S. Paxson mar- ried Miss Josephine Bitting. daughter of John R. and Hannah (Bartine) Bitting. Her father was born January 29, 1826, and now resides at Doylestown. His daughter Josephine was born August 27. 1852. There were six children born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Paxson: John Phineas, who died three days after birth ; William Albert, who was born September 18, 1878, and wedded Mary Tay- lor, a daughter of Benjamin Taylor ; Marv

694

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

Emily, who was born May 6, 1881, and is the wife of Norman Hibbs ; George Parker, born October 30, 1883: Wesley Bitting, born February 11, 1886; and Samuel Tomlinson, who was born December 26, 1886, and died in early childhood.

GEORGE MOSES REED, an hon- ored veteran of the civil war, living a re- tired life at Langhorne, was born No- vember 23, 1839, in Ireland, whence he was brought to America at the age of five years by his parents, David and Jane (Hunter) Reed. His grandfather was Moses Reed.

The public schools of Philadelphia and the Bensalem school provided him his educational privileges, and after putting aside his text books he assisted his father on the home farm, gaining practical and comprehensive knowledge of the best methods of conducting agricultural pur- suits. In 1866 he began farming on his own account on land owned by Alex- ander Schriver, of Hartford county, Maryland, where he remained for eight years. On leaving that locality he came to Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and pur- chased his present fine farm in Middle- town township, where he still remains. At the time of the Civil war Mr. Reed enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of Company K, Thirteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry, with which lie served throughout the period of hostilities, and then received an hon- orable discharge in Philadelphia, on the 25th of August, 1865, being mustered out at Camp Cadwallader. Mr. Reed's was an active campaign, for he took part in many skirmishes and in a number of im- portant engagements, including the bat- tles of Winchester. Strasburg and two engagements at Martinsburg. South Mountain, and the seven days battle of the Wilderness. He was twice wounded, once at Winchester and again at Cul- peper Courthouse. He now belongs to H. Clay Beatty Post, No. 73, G. A. R., at Bristol. He is also a member of Neshaminy Lodge, No. 422, I. O. O. F., has taken the encampment degrees, be- longs to the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 109, to the Knights of the Golden Eagle, No. 262, at Langhorne, and of the last named has been a trustee for eight years. In his political views Mr. Reed is a stalwart Republican, and has served his township as supervisor of roads for six years, during which time great im- provement has been made in the roads in this section of the state. He is recog- nized as a painstaking, efficient and hon- orable official and citizen, and his co- operation can always be counted upon to aid in any progressive measure for the general good. He was one of the direc- tors of the board of education of Middle- town in 1895 and 1896. In 1903 hie sold

his magnificent farm to the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company, receiving there- from the price which he asked, and which was a handsome increase over the original cost. He now resides at Langhorne, enjoying the fruits of his active life.

On the 2d of April, 1863, Mr. Reed was married to Miss Mary Jane Sharkey, of Middletown, Pennsylvania, a daugh- ter of William and Ellen Sharkey, who are both deceased. They have become the parents of ten children: David Lin- coln, born September 28, 1864, was mar- ried April 15, 1896, to Mazie Gaffney. William, born September 14, 1866, mar- ried Minnie Viola Phillips, on the 14th of March, 1894, and they have one son, William Hervey, who was born Decem- ber 16, 1894. Mary Jane Reed, twin sis- ter of William, was married April 24, 1889, to Samitel C. Bunting of Bensalem, and they have three children-Charles Henry Bunting, born January 23, 1891; George Moses Bunting, born March 5, 1892; and Mary Jane Bunting, born April 25, 1899. Emma Reed, born January 17, 1868, is unmarried and resides with her parents. Frederick Shriver Reed, born June 29, 1869, was . married March 23, 1892, to Mary Reed, and they have one child, George Moses, who was born May 18, 1893. Robert Hunter Reed, born February 20, 1871, was married April 21, 1894, to Josephine Robinson, and they have one child, Mary Jane Reed, born September 9, 1894. George Mann Reed, born May 8, 1874, was married May 10, 1898, to Marion Hellings. James Field Reed, born November 29, 1876. Henry Gaw Reed, born November 1. 1878. Pier- son Mitchell Reed, born July 8, 1880. The children were educated in the public schools of Langhorne. James F., Henry G. and Pierson M. reside on the farm, assisting in farm work. These boys are all good Republicans, like their father. Mr. Reed is an owner of real estate in Langhorne borough, having several houses there.

FRANK K. REEDER, merchant and postmaster at Penns Park, is living here in the vicinity of his grandfather's old home. for the greater part of the land on which Penns Park has been built was once in possession of Abraham Reeder. The latter was a son of Charles Recder, at one time a prominent farmer of Wrightstown, Bucks county. Abraham Reeder carried on farming in Wrights- town township, and, subdividing his property, sold much of it in town lots. He afterward. opened a hotel in Penns Park, which he conducted for many years. His wife was Margaret Conard.

Mahlon H. Reeder, son of Abraham and Margaret (Conard) Reeder, was born at Penns Park, Pennsylvania, April 10, 1806, was there reared, and after his

695

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

first marriage engaged in farming there for a number of years. Subsequent to his second marriage he resided for a number of years in Philadelphia, where he was engaged in the jewelry and watch-making business on the Frank- ford road. While never serving an ap- prenticeship, he was a nattiral mechanic, and could use any tool or do almost any constructive work. From Philadelphia he removed to Stockton, New Jersey, where he was engaged in the same business for four or five years, when he returned to Penns Park and continued in the same line up to the time of his death. He was a Republican in politics. He was a broad reader, a deep student and the possessor of marked mechanical ingentity. He was the inventor of an automatic rail- road switch, a model of which nc sent to the Czar of Russia and re- ceived from him in return a valuable medal. He was also the builder in his early years of an electric battery and numerous other machines prior to the advent of electricity. All this he did in young manhood, when upon the farm. Mahlon H. Reeder was married twice. At Penns Park he wedded Miss Mary Twining, and their children were: Hus- ton T., of Helena, Montana; Lewis A. Reeder and George W., deceased; Willis WV., who is engaged in the real estate busines in Philadelphia; Abraham and Stephen, both deceased; and Maria Louisa, deceased. After the death of his first wife. Mahlon H. Reeder married Eliza T. Keyser, and of their two chil- dren Frank K. is the survivor.

Frank K. Reeder was born in Phila- delphia, July 4, 1861, and was seven years of age at the time of the family's return to Penns Park. His education was acquired here and in the schools of Philadelphia, and when in his sixteenth years he accepted a position in a grocery store of the latter city. A year later he became one of the office force in the em- ploy of Frank Siddall. a soap manufac- turer, and later returned to Wrightstown township, Bucks county. During the following year he was employed by W. B. Hagaman, a well known merchant of Wrightstown, and later worked a year for Lewis Hagaman, at Rushland, at the time of the building of the railroad through the town. In 1892 he was asked by W. B. Hagaman to take charge of his branch store at Penns Park, which business he has since managed very suc- cessfully. He was appointed postmaster the same year, and has since acted in that capacity. He has a wide and favorable acquaintance in Penns Park both as a business man and citizen. Mr. Reeder votes with the Republican party, and be- longs to several fraternal organizations, being a member of Newtown Lodge, No. 427, F. and A. M .; Siloam Lodge, No. 265. I. O. O. F .; and Penns Park Council No. 973, Junior Order United American

Mechanics. On the 4th of July, 1892, Mr. Reeder was united in marriage to Mrs. Emma Twining, a daughter of Wal- ton T. Worthington, of Penns Park, and they have one daughter, Florence Reeder.

JACOB WILLARD, of Southampton, Bucks county, was born near Hulmeville, in Bensalem township, Bucks county, in the year 1838, and is a son of Lewis and Sophia (Bursk) Willard, and a grandson of Jacob Willard, whose wife was a Carey. Jacob Willard had three children, viz .: Fannie, who married Asa Everett, and had a large family of children ; Julia Ann, who married Peter Bird, of New Jersey, and removed to Illinois; and Lewis. Lewis and Saphia were the parents of six children : Elizabeth, Beulah Ann, Mary, Jacob, Hannah, and Theodore.

Jacob Willard was reared on a farmi pur- chased by his father about 1835, and was educated at the local schools. He was reared to the life of a farmer, and has never followed any other vocation. He and his sister Mary inherited the old homestead, which he continued to conduct until recently, when he retired from active busi- ness, and is now living near Feasterville, Southampton township. He married Phoebe Ann, daughter of Michael and Ann (Roads) Stevens, and granddaughter of John and Sarah (Stoothoff ) Stevens.

MICHAEL SHOLL TRUMBAUER, a prosperous farmer of Bucks county, was there born in the old Trumbauer homestead, near Richland township, De- cember 7, 1850. His grandparents were John and Elizabeth ( Baum) Trum- bauer, both deceased. His father was John Trumbauer, who in 1843 married Elizabeth Sholl, daughter of Michael and Lydia (Donahue) Sholl, of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and the following children were born to them: Henry S., 1845; Milton S., 1848; Michael S., 1850, mentioned at length hereinafter; Levi S., 1853; Lydia A. S., 1855; Mary Eliza- beth S., 1859; and Sarah Jane S., 1861. For twelve years Mr. Trumbauer fol- lowed the occupation of shoemaking. He was a Democrat in politics and a member of the Lutheran church.

Michael Sholl Trumbauer received his education in the district school, which he attended until his eighteenth year, as- sisting his father on the farm during his spare time. From 1897 to 1900 Mr. Trumbatier attended school in Bedmin- ster and Milford townships, thus acquir- ing a good, practical education. He fol- lowed farming for a time with his brother, having purchased a tract of land of about forty acres, and was attended with considerable success. In 1898 Mr. Trumbauer removed to Quakertown,

696

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

where he has since resided. Mr. Trum- bauer is a Republican in politics, but has never aspired to public office. In mat- ters of religion hie accords with the doctrines of the Lutheran church, being a member of the Scheetz Lutheran church at Spinnerstown, Milford township.

February 25, 1807, Michael Sholl Trumbauer was united in marriage to Eliza Moyer, daughter of Henry Beidle and Susan ( Kratz) Moyer, who was born March 1, 1860, in Bedminster township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. Her father, Henry Beidle Moyer, was born Decem- ber 26, 1826, in Milford township, the son of Abram and Annia ( Beidle) Moyer. He followed the occupation of a farmer all his life. In politics he was a Whig, but after the formation of the Republi- can party, he joined that organization. He was a member of the Lutheran church. September 18, 1858, Mr. Moyer married Susan Kratz, settled in Bed- minster township and the following chil- dren were born to them: Eliza; Mary Ellen, born April 16, 1869.

JOHN B. POORE, county treasurer of Bucks county, was born in Nockamixon township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, May 6, 1867, and is a son of Robert Alpheus and Hannah (Bennett) Poore, both natives of Upper Makefield townsliip, Bucks county. On the paternal side Mr. Poore is of Eng- lish descent.

John Poore, born in Wiltshire, England, in 1615, settled in Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1635, and became one of the prominent men of that town, filling the position of se- lectman and many other positions of trust. The house built by him is still standing in Newburyport, and has been continuously owned and occupied by his descendants to the present generation. He died November 21, 1684, 'his wife Sarah and eight of his thirteen children surviving him. The chil- dren were: John, Hannah, wife of Elisha Isley ; Henry ; Joseph ; Mary, wife of John Clarke; Sarah. wife of John Sawyer; Lydia, wife of Pennel Titcombe; and Abi- gail, wife of Isaac Isley.

John Poore, son of John and Sarah, was born at Newbury, Massachusetts, June 21, 1642, and died there February 15, 1701-2. Like his father, he held many positions of trust in his native town, filling successively the offices of overseer of wills,. selectman and constable, and many other local offices. He married, February 27, 1665, Mary Tit- combe. daughter of William and Joanna (Bartlett) Titcombe, who was born Febru- ary 27, 1644, and they were the parents of eight children, seven of whom grew to maturity, viz : five daughters and two sons, Jonathan and John. The latter died un- married August 17, 1705.

Jonathan Poore. sixth child and only surviving son of John and Mary (Titcomb)

Poore, was born on the old homestead at Newbury Neck, February 25, 1678, and died there June 30, 1742. He filled many im- portant positions, and, dealing extensively in real estate, he was one of the prominent men of that locality. He married, August 18, 1703, Rebecca Hale, daughter of John and Sarah (Jaques) Hale. She was born February 18, 1693, and died March 16. 1760, having married (second) Jonathan Jewett. Jonathan and Rebecca (Hale) Poor were the parents of nine children, six of whom grew to mature age, two sons and four daughters. The eldest son, John, born 1711, died 1792, was prominent in the affairs of his native town and took an active part in the war of the revolution. His wife was Ann Longfellow.

Daniel Poore, sixth child and second sur- viving son of Jonathan and Rebecca (Hale) Poore, was born in Newbury, Massa- chusetts, March 13, 1716. On arriving at years of manhood he settled at Haverhill on land given to him by his father, in that part of Haverhill which fell into the state of New Hampshire in the readjustment of the state lines in 1741, and was later incorpor- ated into a district under the name of Plais- tow, and in 1769 incorporated into the town of Atkinson. The land on which he lived was owned and occupied by his great- grandson, Jeremiah T. Poor, as late as 1880. Daniel Poore was an enterprising and prominent man in the community, a sur- veyor, officer of militia, etc. He died January 9, 1792. He was twice married ; his first wife and the mother of his six children was Anna Merril, born in Haver- hill, March 18, 1718-19, and died July 6, 1781. She was a daughter of Nathaniel and Ruth (Wallingford) Merrill. Her father and grandfather were born in New- bury, and her great-grandfather, Nathaniel Merrill, was the ancestor of the now nu- merous family of the name. Daniel Poore married (second) February 24, 1782, Lydia Bradley, who survived him but nine days. The children of Daniel and Anna (Merrill) Poore were: Jonathan, Daniel, David and Jeremiah, all of whom lived and died in New Hampshire; Merrill, who died in in- fancy, and Jolin.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 150

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