History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 156

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 156

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

iam L. Craven; Isaac C .: William, who followed school teaching and afterward engaged in farming; John, of Ohio, who was a captain in the rebellion; Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Hillings; and Mary E., wife of Thomas Mayberry.

Isaac C. Hobensack, father of Will- iam Hobensack, was also a native of Bucks county, and, reared to agricultural pursuits, he remained upon the home farm near Johnsville until his marriage. After he wedded Joanna Hogeland he brought his bride to the old homestead, but later removed to Jacksonville and in 1862 bought a farm in Southampton township, whereon he spent his remain- ing days. He carried on general agri- cultural pursuits and found a ready sale for his products in the Philadelphia mar- kets, being numbered among the general farmers and market men of his locality for a half century. His interest in com- munity affairs was deep and sincere and prompted him to capable service when he was called to public duties. He be- came county commissioner as a member of the first Republican party and acted in that capacity for thirty-two years, capably promoting the interests of the county by his faithful discharge of the duties that devolved upon him. He was also a school director for a number of years, and he served as a delegate to congressional conventions on several occasions. Widely recognized as one of the leaders of the Republican party in his locality, he did everything to promote its growth and insure its success. His life in all its relations was straight-for- ward and honorable, and for many years he was the trustee of the old school Baptist church of Southampton. He continued a resident of Southampton township until his death which occurred January 9, 1904. His wife, who still sur- vives him, now resides on the old home farm at the age of seventy-two years. She is a daughter of Abraham Hogeland, a harnessmaker, who in his later life fol- lowed farming. He belonged to one of the old families of Bucks county and was prominent in its public life. as a Democrat, who filled various positions. He acted as justice of the peace and in township positions did creditable service for the community. He belonged to the Dutch Reformed church and died in that faith in 1865. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary A. Fenton and who also belonged to an old family of Bucks county, was a daughter of John Fenton, an agriculturist. To Mr. and Mrs. Hoge- land were born nine children: Joseph, living in Trenton, New Jersey; Susannah, the wife of H. D. Leffert; William, a hotel keeper: Joanna, who became Mrs. Hobensack: Theodore, a farmer; Morris, who carries on agricultural pursuits; Elias, who was at one time sheriff of Bucks county; Frank, a farmer, who served as justice of the peace; and

Charles, a farmer and miller. The chil- dren of Isaac C. and Joanna Hobensack are: Mary A., the wife of H. B. Krew- son, a farmer and special agent; Isaac Morris, of Montana; Louisa, who died in infancy; William, of this review; B. Frank, who was at one time sheriff of Bucks county and is now following the real estate business: Albert C., of Ivy- land; Emily, the wife of W. C. Yerkes; Wilkins, who is private secretary for Hon. I. P. Wagner, congressman of Seventh Congressional district of Penn- sylvania; and Joanna, at home. The mother is a member of the Dutch Re- formed church of Churchville, Pennsyl- vania.

William Hobensack was reared under the parental roof where he remained un- til twenty-five years of age, when he was married and began farming on his own account. He had acquired a good edu- cation in the common schools and in Hatboro Academy, and he received prac- tical training in farm labor under his father's direction. At the tinie of his marriage he rented the Abram Hogeland farm, which he continued to cultivate for three years, and in 1890 he joined his brother B. Frank and they became mer- chants and mill men of Ivyland, con- ducting a mill in which they manufac- tured feed and also dealt in coal, lum- ber, farm implements and fertilizers. He built up a very large trade and bought and shipped grain of all kinds. In 1899 William Hobensack purchased his broth- er's interest, and yet conducts the busi- ness under the old firm name of Hoben- sack Brothers. He handles goods in large quantities and his patronage has long since reached profitable propor- tions. He is practical in all that he does, possesses sound judgment and keen dis- cernment, and in the capable control of his mercantile interests has met with very gratifying success. He also owns a large and well improved farm, which is kept under a high state of cultivation and is a well improved property.

Mr. Hobensack wedded Miss Mary A. Stout, who was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, in 1868, a grand- daughter of Henry Stout, a leading farmer of this part of the state and one of the trustees and deacons in the old school Baptist church of Southampton, Pennsylvania for many years. Her pa- rents were Christian F. and Sarah Shel- mire Stout, both belonging to early east- ern families of Pennsylvania. Her father was reared to farm pursuits, and later entered the employ of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company, in which service he has since been retained, one of the most trusted representatives of the road. The children in his family are: Albert, who is connected with a creamery : George S., a conductor on the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad; Mary A., now Mrs. Hobensack; Valeria,

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

the wife of L. Terry; Nora, the wife of J. Terry; and Harry, a carpenter. Mr. and Mrs. William Hobensack had nine children: Isaac C., born April 18, 1888; Sarah M., born June 13, 1889; Bertha, born February 21, 1891: George F., born November 24, 1892; Joanna, born Janu- ary 14, 1894; William P., born June 25, 1896; Clarice D., born April 20, 1898; Earle M., who was born January 13, I901, and died at the age of seven months: and Alice, born May 3, 1902. Mr. Hobensack exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party and is deeply interested in its growth and suc- cess, believing that its platform contains the best elements of good government. He has served as a school director for a number of years and is likewise deeply interested in the moral development of his community, having for more than twenty years been a member of the old school Primitive Baptist church, in which he is serving as clerk and trustee. He is likewise a member of the Commercial Exchange of Philadelphia. In his busi- ness career he has made a steady ad- vancement through close application, laudable ambition and strong purpose, and is to-day one of the leading repre- sentatives of trade interests in lvyland.

T. S. WORTHINGTON, one of the most progressive farmers of Bucks county, living in Warwick township, was born in Buckingham township, February 19, 1840. His paternal grandfather, Ben- jamin Worthington, was a leading agri- culturist of his community and cared not to take an active part in other interests outside of his business and his church, he being a devoted member of the Friends' Meeting. His political endorse- ment was given the Democracy. In his family were four children: Benjamin, Amasa, Hester and Mary A.

Amasa Worthington, born in Bucks county, was reared to farm life, and when he was married settled upon the old homestead in Buckingham township, but later sold that property and removed to Wrightstown township. where he pur- cliased a farm and devoted his attention to its further improvement until his death. He engaged in general agricul- tural pursuits and in driving stock from the west, and he handled many droves of cattle, finding that business profitable. He also attended the Philadelphia mar- ket where his produce found ready sale, many of his customers giving him their patronage for years. His early political support was given the Democracy, while later he voted with the Whig party, and on its dissolution became a Republican. He never had political aspirations and served only as school trustee. He mar- ried Amy Spencer, a daughter of John Spencer, who was an enterprising farmer,

belonging to one of the old and valued families of Bucks county, of Qnaker faith. His children were: Saralı, Sam- uel, Amy and John. Amasa and Amy Worthington had seven children: Sarah, who married James Slack, a soklier of the One Hundred and Fourth Pennsyl- vania Infantry in the civil war; Louisa; T. S., of this review; Benjamin, who died in early manhood: Lucretia, wife of H. Buckman: John, of Philadelphia, and Anna, at home.

T. S. Worthington, reared upon the home farm. acquired his early education in the public schools and afterward at- tended Carversville Seminary. On at- taining his majority he began merchan- dising at Rush Valley, where he re- mained for five years-a successful epoch in his business career. He after- ward had a commission wagon and did a general business. Following his mar- riage, in December, 1870, he returned to the old homestead and engaged in farm- ing for a year, after which he purchased the farm upon which he has resided con- tinuously since 1871. this being known as the Hart Jamison farm. It contains one hundred acres, well improved, and in fact is one of the best farm properties of the county, for its owner is a most progres- sive and practical agriculturist. He has made an addition to the house and other- wise remodeled it, has built a barn, and keeps all his buildings and fences in good repair. The fields are under a high state of cultivation and he sells his products in the Philadelphia market, which he has attended since locating on this farm. There is much fruit upon his place, and altogether there are ten groves of forest or fruit trees. He uses the latest im- proved farm machinery and attached to the barn are large silo tanks, with a gas- oline engine furnishing the power for cutting the fodder, for pumping water, for making cider and for grinding the feed for himself and others. He is in ad- vance of most farmers in the methods which he follows in his chosen field of labor, and while he is quick to adopt new methods. he is so practical in all of his labors that his judgment is rarely if ever at fault in determining upon the utility of a new invention or method of farm work. He is both a successful farmer and market man. In his political views Mr. Worthington is a stanch Re- publican, taking an active interest in all public questions connected with the wel- fare and progress of his community, but he has never aspired to office, preferring to devote his undivided attention to his business affairs. The only office he has ever held is that of member of the school board, in which capacity he served for many years. He was reared in the Friends' Meeting and yet adheres to that denomination.

Mr. Worthington married Miss Jane Powell, who was born in Delaware

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

county, Pennsylvania, in 1845, a daugh- ter of Thomas and Sarah (Parsons) Powell, both descendants of early fami- lies of Delaware county. They were members of the Friends' meeting, and Mr. Powell followed the occupation of farming to provide for his family. His death occurred in Delaware county and his wife, yet surviving him, still makes her home there. His political views ac- corded with the principles of the Repub- lican party, and he was an honored citi- zen of his community. In their family were seven children: Anna, wife of L. Hill; Jane, wife of T. S. Worthington; Owen and William, who follow farming; Emily, the wife of G. Dutton; Linton, a farmer; and Hannah, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Worthington have two sons and two daughters: Amasa, who is farming on the old homestead, was born May 6, 1873, and married Grace Jones, a daugh- ter of George Jones, a prominent rail- road man employed as machinist boss, having charge of a gang of men for the Cumberland Valley Railroad. Amasa Worthington has two children-Saralı J. and Helen M. T. Powell Worthing- ton, the second son, died at the age of twenty-three years. Ethel has completed the Normal Teachers' course at West Chester, and is now teaching. Amy S. is now attending the West Chester Normal School.

BANES FAMILY. The Banes and Beans families of Bucks county are de- scended from the old Yorkshire family of Baines, the main branch of which have resided at Baines Hall, Knowesthorpe, Yorkshire, for over seven hundred years. According to Burke, the founder of the Yorkshire family came from Scotland and located in Yorkshire in 1182, and they as well as the Bayne, Bane, and Bean families, of Scotland, representa- tives of whom have found their way to America at different periods since 1650. claim descent from Donalbain, son of Duncan, King of Scotland, and brother to Malcomb Canmore, with whom and his son he several times contended for the throne of Scotia, and has been im- mortalized by Shakespeare in "Mac- beth." The Yorkshire family of Baines have been knighted at several different periods and has produced many famous men. Sir Edward Baines, M. P., the owner and editor of the Leeds Mercury a century ago, and whose descendants still edit the paper, and his distinguished brother, Hon. Mathew Baines, M. P., were of this family. Among the earliest converts of George Fox in Yorkshire were Joseph and William Baines, of Stangerthwaite. The former, born in 1633. became a landholder in Bucks county in 1683, and through his daugh- ter Hannah, wife of Daniel Jackson, to

whom he conveyed five hundred acres of land in Buckingham township in 1699, has descendants in Bucks county at this day.

The pioneer ancestor of the family of the name of Bucks county was Mathew Baines, of Weyersdale, Lancashire, sup- posed to have been the son of William Baines, the convert above mentioned. Mathew Baines, of Wyersdale, husband- man, was married at Lancaster Monthly of Friends, England, 10 mo. 22, 1672, to Margaret Hatton, daughter of William Hatton, of Bradley, Lancashire, and the records of that meeting show the birth of four of their children: Thomas, born 1675: Eleanor, 1677; Timothy, 1678, and William, 5 mo. 14, 1681. In the year 1687, Mathew Baines sailed for America with his family, but he and his wife and possibly two of their children died at sea. On the arrival of the vessel in which they sailed at Chester, the two children Eleanor and William were taken in charge by Friends, and the records of the orphans' court held at Chester, I mo. 6. 1687, show that Francis Little, prob- ably a fellow passenger, was directed to pay over to John Simcock and Thomas Brasse, trustees, to William and Ellin Baines, the sum of twenty-eight shillings in his hands. The date of the court minute being old style, was probably March 6, 1688, as indicated by the fol- lowing letter of Phineas Pemberton, written to John Walker of Lancashire, from which it would seem that Mathew Baines carried a letter to James Harri- son, of Bucks county, one of Penn's commissioners, an'd father-in-law of Phineas Pemberton, called by Logan, the "Father of Bucks County." or that one had been sent to Harrison in his behalf. The letter is as follows :

"Pennsillvania, fron ye ffalls of Dell- aware, in ye County of Buckes, the 13th day of ye Ist Mo., 1688:

My very deare love to Hen: Coward & his wife, I recd. his letter to father, concerneing Mat : Banes but have not time now to write him how: He died att sea & desired father in Law might have the tuition of his children but father died be- fore the children came in: however I went to see after them, they inclined to stay at Chester County where they landed to weh I was willing p'vided Friends would see after them, els if they would not I told ffriends I would. Ye boy is put out to one Joseph Stidman who is said to be a very honest man. Ye girle is withe John Simeocke & hath 40 or 50s. wages per annum. The boy is to be with sd. Stidman until he comes to ye age of 20 yeares weh is ye customary way of putting forth orphans in these partes. My deare love to ffriends att Lancaster Remember me if thou hast opportunity to Judith Hunter and to old Tho: Rawlinson if living.

"Phinehas Pemberton."

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

Elinor Banes, the daughter, married 7 mo. 26, 1694, Thomas Duer, of Bucks county, where are left numerous of their descendants. In the Duer family bible is found the record of the birth of the three eldest children of her brother William Banes.

William Banes, probably soon after the termination of his term of service with Joseph Stedman, married and lo- cated in Southampton township, Bucks county, where a tract of land is marked with his name on an early survey, though no deeds appear of record to or from him. He died prior to May 23, 1729, when letters of administration were granted on his estate. His widow Eliza- beth, maiden name unknown, survived him many years, her will dated Decem- ber 27, 1768, being probated September 16, 1771. The children of William and Elizabeth Banes were ten in number, and as follows: I. Joseph Beans*, born Sep- tember 24, 1708, died 1771, married May 17, 1733, Esther Evans, and had children: John, James, Mathew, and Seth.

2. Mathew Beans, born December 10, 1709, died in Buckingham township, Bucks county, in April, 1791, married first, May 2, 1734, Margery Paxson, daughter of Henry, and second, May 18, 1763, Elizabeth, the widow of Edward Rice; had three children by first wife; Jonathan: Ann, wife of Amos White; and David. By the second: Aaron, Eliz- abeth and Moses.

3. James Banes, born about 17II, died July, 1749, was a blacksmith in South- ampton, married October 22, 1742, Eliza- beth Sands. Had children: Phebe, Jesse and Elizabetlı.

4. Timothy Beans removed to Sole- bury in 1738, joined Buckingham Friends' Meeting and married Rebecca Paxson, sister to his brother Mathew's wife. Re- moved to Tinicum township in 1755, and in 1783 removed with his family to Fair- fax, Virginia.

5. Thomas Beans lived in Southamp- ton township until within a short time of his death, in Abington township, Montgomery county, in March, 1792. He was a large landowner in Southampton, Warminster and Abington. He married April 9, 1739, Jane Sands, daughter of Richard, and granddaughter of Stephen and Jane (Cowgill) Sands, and they were the parents of five children: Nathan, born June 3, 1740, died April 5, 1828; Isaac, born January 17, 1742; Thomas, born Oc- tober 3, 1744, see forward; Stephen, born July 8, 1753; and Jane, born December 8, 1758, married Griffith Miles. The family were members of Southampton Baptist church, where Thomas and Jane were

baptized April 15, 1749. Thomas mar- ried second, November 25, 1772, Eliza- beth Hollingshead, who survived him.

7. William Beans removed to Bucking- ham in 1755, died there May 23, 1811, leaving an only son Joshua, the grand- father of the late Joshua Beans, Esq., of Doylestown.

8. Jacob Beans, born 1729, died No- vember 13, 1807, in Solebury township. Became a member of Buckingham Meet- ing in 1745, and married Sarah Hartley, by whom he had eight children: Han- nah and Rachel, who died young; Jo- seph; Benjamin; Tamar, married David Newburn; Asenath, married Robert Walker; Ann, married Benjamin Taylor; and Mahlon. Sarah, the mother, died July 29, 1795, and Jacob married, second, Han- nah Iden.

9. Elizabeth Banes married November 2, 1749, Richard Sands, and left numer- ous descendants.

IO. Elinor, who died unmarried.

Thomas Banes, third son of Thomas and Jane (Sands) Banes, born in South- ampton township, Bucks county, October 3, 1744, died January 23, 1828. He was a member of Captain Folwell's company . of Southampton Associators in 1775. He succeeded to the Southampton home- stead at the death of his father, and also owned other land in Southampton and Warminster. His widow Mary died April 7, 1836, at the age of eighty-five years. Their children were: William Banes, born August 4, 1770, died Janu- ary 1, 1803, married Ann Miles; Samuel P. Banes, married Ann Dennis and lived and died in Churchville. Southampton; Elijah, see forward; Elizabeth, married Elias Yerkes; and Sarah married Thomas B. Worthington.

Elijah Banes, youngest son of Thomas and Mary, born on the old Southampton homestead in 1790, inherited the greater part of it and lived thereon all his life, dying September 10, 1861. He married Ann Evans. and they were the parents of nine children: Elizabeth, married William Garwood; Margaret C., died in infancy; Jonathan C., died in Moreland in 1897; Isaac D .; Angeline, married Levi Antrim; Jane C., not married; Elmira, married John Knowles; Gustavus A. B., not married, has visited many of the countries of Europe and all of America; and Dr. Samuel Thompson Banes. Ann Banes, the mother, survived her hus- band and died October 10, 1871.

DR. SAMUEL THOMPSON BANES of 845 North Broad street, Philadelphia, is the youngest son of Elijah and Ann (Evans) Banes. He was born in South- ampton township, Buck county, April 16, 1846. His early education was ob- tained at the Southampton school and at the Loller Academy, at Hatboro. He later took a course at the Carversville Normal Institute, Carversville, Pennsyl-

*The name for some reason became early corrupted into Beans, all of the children of William, except James, signing it in that manner, though the children of Joseph and the grandchildren of some of the other sons later spelled it Banes. The name is spelled in this narrative in the form used by the person referred to.

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vania, where he graduated in 1865, and where he was engaged as an instructor. He studied medicine with Dr. Charles W. Seary and Dr. Gordon, of Philadel- phia, after a full course in the University of Pennsylvania. He immediately began the practice of his chosen profession in his na- tive village of Southamptonville. In 1872 he removed to Camden, New Jersey, and accepted the position of surgeon to the Camden and Atlantic Railroad Com- pany, .which position he filled until the company was absorbed by the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company's system. He then took a course in the Jefferson Medi- cal College, and, graduating in 1882, was appointed assistant on the staff of Pro- fessor William Thompson, of the depart- ment of the eye and ear. He was also assistant under Professor Gross of the surgical department of the Jefferson Medical College. In 1886 he located at his present home, 845 North Broad street, Philadelphia, where he has since prac- ticed medicine and surgery. In 1893 he was appointed special examining sur- geon of the pension department of the United States, and still holds that posi- tion. He is a member of the Medico- Legal Society, Philadelphia County Med- ical Society and the American Medical Association: also the National Associa- tion of U. S. Surgeons. He is a mem- ber of Crescent Lodge, No. 493, F. and A. M., and Harmony Chapter No. 52, R. A. M. Dr. Banes has been twice married; his first wife, Carrie, daughter of Frederick and Mary Ellinger of Bucks county, died in 1877. He married for his second wife, in 1887, Eliza S. Nicholson, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, daughter of Judge Nicholson, of that city. To the doctor and his wife has been born one child, Elizabeth D. The family are affiliated with the Broad street Presbyterian church.

THE TORBERT FAMILY of Bucks county is descended from Samuel Tor- bert, who came to Pennsylvania in 1726, from Carrickfergus, Ireland, and located at Newtown, Bucks county. His family sought refuge in Ireland during the re- ligious persecutions in Scotland and, when the same contest of argument and arms that had wasted Scotland sprang up in Ireland, he joined the many Ulster- Scots who poured into this country after the period of Antrim evictions in Ire- land. He was for some years associated in the tanning business at Newtown with John Harris, Anthony Teate (Tate) and David Lawell, all compatriots of his, and purchased of the London Land Com- pany a tract of land in Upper Makefield township, which he named Sylvan Re- treat, and which remained the property of his descendants until 1873, being owned by his son James Torbert, his

grandson James Torbert and his great- grandson John Keith Torbert. Ile mar- ried Elizabeth Lamb in Ireland, and his children were six sons and two daugh- ters: William, James, Lamb, Thomas and Benjamin: Elizabeth, who became the wife of Anthony Teate, a Provincial sol- dier and officer, who was one of the largest landowners about Newtown, and one of the most prominent men of his day; and Jane, wife of John Henderson, who removed to the west.

James Torbert, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Lamb) Torbert, was born at Carrickfergus, Ireland. Tradition relates that he did not accompany his parents to America, but remained in Ireland with his grandmother until ten years of age, and then accompanied relatives to Bucks county. These relatives were probably the Polks of Warwick, Bucks county, as an old paper filed in the common pleas court of Bucks county in 1752 shows that there were busines dealings between his father, then of Carrickfergus, Ireland, and the Polks, in 1725. James Torbert married Hannah Burleigh (or Burley), daughter of John Burleigh, an- other Ulster-Scot, who settled in Upper Makefield at about the same date as the McNairs and Torberts, and died there in 1748. James Torbert became a consid- erable land owner in Upper Makefield, and died there in 1813. He and his wife Hannah were the parents of nine chil- dren, as follows: I. Samuel, married Elizabeth Keith: 2. James, married Mar- garet McNair: 3. Abner, married Jane Gibson, and removed to Ohio; 4. Lamb, born May 9. 1769, and died in Lower Makefield August 23, 1849; his first wife and the mother of his nine children was Jane Slack, daughter of Cornelius, of Makefield. 5. Elizabeth, married Abra- ham Slack. 6. Alice, married James Slack. 7. Ann, married John Hare. 8. Amelia, married Christopher Search. 9. Anthony.

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 156

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