History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 16

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 16

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Morgan James, sixth son of John and Elizabeth James, was born on the old plantation in New Britain, April 27, 1752. At the breaking out of the Revo- lution he, with his brothers Josiah, Will- jam, Isaac, became members of the Asso- ciated Company of New Britain militia. Morgan was later a private in Captain Henry Darrah's company, and was in ac- tive service under General John Lacey. His brothers, Isaac, Ebenezer, Simon and William, were also in this company. Morgan James married, as before stated, Margaret James, daughter of John and Magdalene. Their children were: I. Ly- dia, who married Mathew Thomas. 2. Benjamin, born November 28, 1786, died May 24, 1865, married Elizabeth, daughter of Moses Aaron, and widow of James Poole, left no issue. 3. Naomi, born February 26, 1793, died November 4, 1871, married Jacob Conrad. 4. Isa- iah, born August 27, 1798, died Septem- ber 23, 1886, married Caroline James, daughter of Abel James.

Isaac James, second son of William and Mary James, born in New Britain about 1726, received from his father in 1749 a deed for over 200 acres of land upon which he lived his entire life. He was constable of New Britain township for many years. He died very suddenly in 1766, aged about fifty years. His wife, whom he married in 1751, was Sarah Thomas, daughter of John Thomas, who came to New Britain from Wales in

1726 and died there in 1750. The chil- dren of Isaac and Sarah (Thomas) James were: 1. Abiah, born 1745, died December 1, 1834, married September 22, 1773, Rachel Williams. 2. John, born 1747, a soldier in the Revolution, mar- ried Dorothy Jones. 3. Abel, born 1749, died 1798, married Elizabeth Hines. 4. Nathan, born 1754, died 1845, married Sarah Dungan. 5. Samuel, born 1760, died 1848, married Elizabeth Cornell and removed to North Carolina in 1785. 6. Us- lega, born 1762, died 1844, married Jo- seph Morris. 7. William, born 1764, died 1854, removed to Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania. 8. Benjamin, born 1766, died 1854, married Ann Will- iams. Tracy, died young. Of these, Ab- iah, Abel, Nathan, and Benjamin have descendants residing in Doylestown,and will be noticed later in this sketch.

Abel, the youngest son of William and. Mary James, born about 1729, died Sep- tember, 1770, at Dover, Delaware, was in some respects the most prominent of the family in his generation. He re- ceived a liberal education and was pos- sessed of ample means and early evinced a taste for mercantile pursuits. He mar- ried Mary, daughter of Thomas Howell, of Warwick, in 1756, and entered into business in Philadelphia and Dover, Del- aware, and was for several years very successful. An unfortunate speculation ruined him. and the worry and strain of his financial difficulties brought on a fever from which he died while at Dover. His plantation of 235 acres in New Brit- ain had been heavily mortgaged to tide him over a financial speculation and was sold. He left five sons and four daugh- ters, viz: I. Daniel, the eldest son, was a clerk for his father at Dover at the time of the failure; after his father's death he secured a position as clerk at Dur- ham Iron Works, then operated by Jo- seph Galloway. At the closing of the furnace in 1776 he returned to Delaware and joined Proctor's Delaware regiment as a lieutenant, was promoted to cap- tain, and served throughout the war. 2. William, the second son, was also a sold- ier in the Revolution, first enlisting in Captain Edward Jones' company recruit- ed in Hilltown, and later serving in Cap- tain John Spear's company in the Elev- enth Pennsylvania Regiment. 3. Mar- garet, married William Kerr, of War- wick. 4. John James was a noted mill- wright, and lived and died in Lower Dublin township, Philadelphia county. 5. Mary, married Abel Thomas of Hill- town; they removed first to Harford county, Maryland, and later to Rock- bridge county, Virginia. Martha, married Asa Thomas, brother of Abel .*

Abel H., youngest child of Abel and Mary (Howell) James, was born Jan-

*Catharine, another daughter, married Mr. Hilt, an iron master, having iron works in the extreme western end of Virginia.

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

uary I, 1771, a few months after his father's death. When quite a youth he went with his brother-in-law, Abel Thomas, to Maryland, and a few years later to Virginia, near the Natural Bridge, where he engaged in the trans- portation of produce down the James river. The boats were built at Lexing- ton, and on reaching tidewater were sold as well as the cargo, and a new one built for the next trip. He returned to Bucks county in 1803 to marry Cath- arine Owen, daughter of Griffith Owen, Esq., of Hilltown, intending to return with her to Virginia. He was, how- ever, persuaded to remain in Bucks county, and in 1804 he opened a store at what is now Hagersville, on the Beth- lehiem road, above Dublin, which he conducted a few years when he opened a store at Lewis' Tavern, in Hilltown. A few years later he purchased the store property at Leidytown and remained there one year, when he purchased the tavern and store known as Lewis', at what is now Hilltown postoffice and re- mained there until his death, June II, 1838. His wife died August 12, 1810, and he married (second) Gainor Mathias, a widow. His children were: Caroline, born September 2, 1804, died Septem- ber 5, 1888, married Colonel Isaiah James, before mentioned; Mary, born March 6, 1806. died young. Owen, born 1807, died young. John Owen James, the great Philadelphia merchant. born March 8, 1809, died June 26. 1883. Cathar- ine Owen, who married Abel H. James, · was born in Hilltown township, Bucks county, June 17, 1781. She was the eld- est daughter of Griffith Owen, Esq., and his wife Jane Hughes.

Griffith Owen, the grandfather of the Griffith mentioned above, was a native of Wales and came to America in 1721, settling in Hilltown. He was received into Montgomery Baptist church, and on June 30, 1731, married Margaret, daugh- ter of Thomas Morgan, who it is said accompanied him from Wales to Bucks county. Griffith Owen, Sr., was one of the most prominent men of Hilltown. He was captain of the Hilltown company of Associators in 1747-8, raised for the de- fence of the frontiers and was a member of colonial assembly from 1749 to 1760. He died October 18, 1764. He had three sons, Owen, Ebenezer and Levi; and one daughter, Rachel Erwin. His eld- est son, Owen Owen, married Cathar- ine Jones about 1756, and had eight chil- dren; Abel, Elizabeth, Griffith, Edward, Owen, Margaret. Sarah and Mary. Grif- fith, the second son, was born Febru- ary 9. 1758. He was one of the trustees of Hilltown Baptist church, and a very prominent man in the community. He was commissioned a justice of the peace in 1801, and served in that office until prevented by the infirmities of age from discharging its duties. He died Feb-

ruary 5, 1840. His wife, Jane, was the daughter of Christopher Hughes, of Bedminster and was born September I, 1759, died January 9, 184I.

Isaiah James was a very prominent man in local and county affairs, a mem- ber of New Britain Church, he always took an active part in all its affairs and was a consistent member thereof. After his marriage he lived for a number of years in Hilltown township. In 1849 he purchased the New Britain farm, now owned by the estate of his son, Eugene, and made his home thereon for several years, conveying it to Eugene in 1870. Like all the family he was an ardent Democrat in politics and always took an active part in his party's councils. He was a member of the Assembly, 1834- 1838, and Prothonotary of Bucks county 1848-1851. The children of Isaiah and Caroline James were Abel HI., born April 16, 1825, died September 20, 1850. He was a man of more than ordinary culture and fine ability. He served as Deputy Prothonotary during his fath- er's incumbency of that office up to the time of his death. Isabella, born August 9, 1828, married Dr. Thomas P. Kep- hard; she is now residing in Doyles- town with her daughter Florence. Eu- gene, born March 31, 1831, died August 22, 1896, married Martha J., daughter of Abiah J. and Miranda (James) Riale. Isaiah James, the father, was for many years a Colonel of militia, and was al- most universally known as Col. James.

Abiah James, eldest son of Isaac and Sarah (Thomas) James, born in 1745, died December 1, 1834. He accepted the 222 acre farm of his father, under pro- ceedings in partition in 1789, but soon after conveyed a portion thereof to his brothers. He married September 22, 1773, Rachel Williams, and had six chil- dren, viz: I. Margaret, married Joshua Riale and had. Abiah J., who married Miranda, daughter of Joseph and Mar- tha (Mann) James; Rachel who married Joseph Evana; Elizabeth, who married Josiah Lunn, Ann, and Sarah who mar- ried David Stephens. 2. Col. Nathan James, a soldier in the U. S. army who served through the war of 1812. 3. Eliza- beth who married William Hines, and had children, Nathan, Dr. A. J., deceased, fate of Doylestown, Elizabeth and Emily. 4. Abiah, married Pamela Jones. 5. Martha, died unmarried. and Benjamin W., who married Elizabeth Black, daugh- ter of Elias and Cynthia (James) Black.

Abel James, second son of Isaac and Sarah (Thomas) James, born 1749, died 1798, married Elizabeth Barton, and had four children, Barton, who removed to Baltimore, Maryland. James, who re- moved to Ohio. John, who died unmar- ried and Cynthia, who married Elias Black, the latter being the parents of Elizabeth, who married Benjamin W. James. Benjamin W. and Elizabeth

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

had one son, Abiah R., who married Josephine Leavitt and is now living in Doylestown township. A sketch of their only son Wynne James, Esq., will follow. Nathan James, third son of Isaac and Sarah (Thomas) James, born 1754, died 1845, married Sarah Dungan, and had four children, I. John D., for many years Court Crier, married Sarah Cline, and had Elizabeth who married Asher Cox, Nathan C., a life long member of the Bucks County bar, Sarah, who mar- ried Jacob Shade, and Henrietta. 2. Ann, ' or Nancy, married Jesse Callender. 3. Joseph, married, Martha Mann, and had Miranda, who married Abiah J. Riale, Wilhelmina, Charles, Joseph, Louisa, and Susan. 4. Simon, married Mary Meredith.

Benjamin youngest son of Isaac and Sarah (Thomas) James, born 1766, died 1854, was a farmer and resided in New Britain township. He married Ann or Nancy Williams, daughter of Benjamin Williams. She died in 1838. Their chil- dren were: I. Uslega, married Edward Roberts; 2. Isaac W., married Ann Mere- dith; 3. Abiah, married Charlotte Aa- ron; 4. Thomas C. never married; 5. Elizabeth M., died unmarried; 6. Sarah Maria, married (first) Hervey Mathias. (second) John G. Mann; 7. Abel, died unmarried: 8. Silas H. died unmarried; 9. Oliver P., M. D., and two daughters who died young.

HOWARD I. JAMES, Esq., of Bristol, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, senior member of the firm of Gilkeson & James, is the sec- ond son of Eugene and Martha A. (Riale) James, of Doylestown township, whose an- cestry is given on other pages of this work, and was born on his father's farm in Doyles- town township. He was educated at the public schools and Doylestown Seminary, and read law with his brother, Henry A. James, Esq., and was admitted to the Bucks county bar May 9, 1892. He opened an office at Bristol, Bucks county, and began the practice of his profession, forming a partnership with his brother Henry A., who had an office at Doylestown. In 1898 he formed a co-partnership with Hon. B. F. Gilkeson, of Bristol, under the firm name of Gilkeson & James. This firm was for many years the leading one at the local bar, and did an immense amount of legal business, the routine work of which de- volved largely upon Mr. James. At the death of Mr. Gilkeson, in 1904, Mr. James continued the business for the family, and on the admission of B. F. Gilkeson, Jr., to the bar about a year later, he became a member of the firm, the old firm name of Gilkeson & James being continued. Mr. James has been a successful practitioner, and is one of the leaders among the younger members of the bar, and highly respected by his fellow attorneys.

WYNNE JAMES, lawyer and real es- tate agent, Doylestown, was born No- vember 2, 1865, in Doylestown town- ship, on a part of the plantation that had been in the tenure of his direct an- cestors for over a century, and where his father, grandfather and great-grand- father were born. Ile comes of the good old James stock. His great-great-grand- father Abel James, through his matern- al grandmother, was second lieutenant of Captain William Pugh's company, Fourth Battalion of Pennsylvania militia, and saw active service in 1777 under Lieutenant Colonel William Roberts. Several other members of the family were also in the service, among them John James and Isaac James, who served under Captain Henry Darrah, in the bat- talion of Lieutenant Colonel (afterward General) John Lacey, the former being a brother to Abiah James, the great- grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Abiah James was also a mem- ber of the militia.

Abiah R. James, the father of the sub- ject of this sketch, as before stated, was born on the old homestead in Doyles- town township, formerly New Britain, being the son of Benjamin W. James and Elizabeth Black, the former being a son of Abiah James and Rachel Will- iams, and the latter a granddaughter of Abel James and .Elizabeth Barton. Abiah R. was educated in a school established on the home farm by his father, and where many prominent men were edu- cated under the tuition of Professor Clark, a graduate of Yale College, and an eminent educator. „Arriving at man- hood he married Josephine Levitt, of Memphis, Tennessee, whose family had sought refuge in the north during the trying scenes of the civil war in their native state. At the death of his father he inherited the farm that had descend- ed from father to son for six generations, and still owns it. Failing health in- duced him to leave the farm and he and his wife live retired in Doylestown town- ship. He is a trustee of New Britain Baptist church, of which his ancestors have been members since its organiza- tion. In politics he is a Democrat, but has never sought nor held office. The subject of this sketch is the only child.

Wynne James was educated at the public schools of his native township and at Doylestown English and Classical Seminary, where he graduated in 1885. He taught school in Doylestown town- ship for one year, in Southampton for three years, and again in Doylestown township for one year. In 1891 he en- tered as a student at law in the office of Nathan C. James, Esq., at Doylestown, and was admitted to the bar in March, 1893. since which time he has practiced law and conducted an extensive real estate business, his practice being mainly in the orphans' court and in connection

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

with real estate titles and conveyancing. He is a member of Doylestown Lodge, No. 245, F. & A. M .; Doylestown Chap- ter, R. A. M .; and Philadelphia Con- sistory; Doylestown Lodge, No. 94, I. O. O. F .; the Royal Arcanum and the Knights of the Golden Eagle. He was married in 1895 to Madeline Mai Gen- try, of Memphis, Tennessee, and has two children, Madeline A., and Wynne, Junior.

HENRY A. JAMES, attorney and counselor at law, Doylestown, son of Eugene and Martha A. (Riale) James, was born in Doylestown borough, Octo- ber 22, 1865. Through the various in- termarriages of his ancestors, as shown by the preceding sketch of the James family, Mr. James is a descendant of two of the sons of the emigrant John James, viz: William and Thomas, and a lineal descendant of three of the sons of the former.

Eugene James, the father of Henry A. James, was the son of Col. Isaiah and Caroline James, and was born at War- rington, Bucks county, where his father was at the time conducting a store, March 31, 1831. Most of his boyhood days were spent in Hilltown, where his father was engaged in the mercan- tile business. In 1849 his father pur- chased the old James plantation in New Britain, and Eugene, at the age of eigh- teen years, became its principal farmer, his father at the time being prothono- tary of the county. He remained on the farm until his marriage in 1864 to Maria A. Riale, daughter of Abiah James and Miranda (James) Riale, when he settled in Doylestown. His father-in-law, Abi- ah J. Riale, dying at about this time, Eugene purchased his interest in the mercantile firm of Bell & Riale, who conducted a store where George W. Met- lar, is now located, and became a mem- ber of the firm. He continued in the store business until the spring of 1870, when he purchased his father's New Britain farm and lived there until his death, August 22, 1896. He was an ac- tre and prominent man in the commun- ity, and won the esteem of all who knew him. He held many positions of trust; was one of the directors of the Doyles- town National Bank, from January, 1884, until his death: president for many years of the Whitehall Fire Insurance Company; a director of the Whitehall Turnpike Company, and one of the man- agers of the Doylestown Agricultural and Mechanics Institute. Eugene and Martha A. (Riale) James were the par- ents of three children-Henry A .: How- ard I., a prominent member of the Bucks county bar: and Gertrude Miran- da, wife of Rev. Purdy Moyer.

Henry A. James was reared from the age of five years on the New Brit- 5-3

ain farm, and received his early educa- tion at the public schools. He later at- tended the Doylestown English and Classical Seminary, from which he grad- uated in 1884. In the following year he registered as a student at law in the office of J. M. Shellenberger, Esq., at Doylestown, and was admitted to the bar of Bucks county, January 30, 1888. For two years he remained in the office of his preceptor, and then opened an office for himself, and has since prac- ticed his chosen profession in all its branches, and has met with success. In politics he is a Democrat, and has taken an active interest in the councils of his party, frequently representing his home district in state, congressional and dis- trict conventions. He has been a mem- ber of the Doylestown school board for several years. He is a member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and of the Bucks County Historical Society. He is one of the directors and counsel for the Whitehall Fire Insurance Com- pany, vice-president of the Fellowship Horse Company, president of the Doy- lestown Fire Company, and one of the board of censors and examiners of the Bucks County Bar Association. He is a member of Doylestown Lodge, No. 245, F. & A. M., and Aquetong Lodge, No. 193. I. O. O. F.

He married, April 30, 1902, Miriam Watson, daughter of ex-Judge Richard and Isabella T. (McCoy) Watson, of Doylestown. They have no children. Mr. and Mrs. James are members of St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal church, of Doylestown, of which Mr. James has been a vestryman and accounting war- den for a number of years.

IRVIN MEGARGEE JAMES, of Doylestown, was born in that town, No- vember 25, 1860, and is a son of the late Nathan C. and Maria (Megargee) James, the former of whom was for many years a prominent member of the Bucks County bar, and died August 10, I900.

Nathan James. the great-grandfather of Irvin M., as shown by a preceding sketch, was a son of Isaac and Sarah (Thomas) James, and a great-grandson of John James, the emigrant ancestor of the family. He was an officer of militia during the revolutionary war, having been commissioned first lieuten- ant on May 6. 1777, of the Eighth Com- pany, Captain John Thomas, Second Battalion. Colonel Arthur Erwin. Bucks County Militia. and was promoted May May 10, 1780, to captain of the Seventh Company. Fourth Battalion. Colonel Mc- Elroy. Captain Thomas' company was in active service in August. 1777. Cap- tain James married Sarah Dungan, daughter of John Dungan, of New Brit-

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

ain, and had four children, viz: John D .; Nancy, wife of Jesse Callender; Jo- seph, and Simon. John Dungan James, son of Captain Nathan and Sarah ( Din)- gan) James was the grandfather of Ir- vin James. Ile was an officer in the war of 1812-14. in the company of his cousin, Captain Nathan James, as was also his brother Simon. John D. was crier of the courts of Bucks county for forty years. He married Sarah Cline, and had seven children; Elizabeth; Nathan C., above mentioned; Sarah, Silas, Hen- rietta, Mary Ann, and Elizabeth.

Irvin Megargee James was born and reared in Doylestown, and was educated at the Doylestown Seminary and the Cheltenham Academy at Ogontz. Penn- sylvania. In 1879 he accepted a position as clerk in the wholesale dry goods es- tablishment of William B. Kempton & Co., of Philadelphia, where he remained for two years. The next three years he held a similar position with Riegel, Scott & Co., in Philadelphia. On July 5, 1885, he was appointed a clerk in the United States pension office at Phila- delphia, which position he filled accept- ably for five years, four under General W. W. H. Davis, and one year under his Republican successor. Pension Agent Shelmire. In 1890 he entered the employ of the Philadelphia "& Reading Railroad Company, where he remained for one year. when he accepted a re- sponsible position in the offices of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, where he remained until April, 1903. He now follows a general insurance and real es- tate business at Doylestown.

Mr. James has been a member of the Doylestown school board for the past four years, and is now the secretary of the board: he is also clerk of the town council. He married, November 27. 1889. Elizabeth C. Firman, daughter of the late Samuel A. and Hannah ( Doan) Firman. Their only surviving child is Marie Megargee, born July 5, 1893. Mr. and Mrs. James are members of St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal church of Doylestown, of which Mr. James has been a vestryman for a number of years.

DR. OLIVER P. JAMES, late of Doylestown, deceased, was the young- est son of Benjamin and Nancy (Will- iams) James, and was born in New Brit- ain township, Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania. in 1815: He was a descendant in the fifth generation from John and Eliza- beth James; who emigrated from Pem- brokeshire, Wales. in 1711, as shown by the preceding sketch. On the maternal sitle he is said to be a descendant of the Roger Williams family of Rhode Isl- and.

Dr. James was reared upon the New Britain farm, on Pine Run, and received

his education at the schools of the

neighborhood. At the age of nineteen, beheving that a mechanical trade was his sphere in life, he took up that of a carpenter. He did not bind himself as an apprentice, as was the custom in those days, but, after assisting in build- ing a house erected for his father in 1834. he went Philadelphia and worked at the trade for two years. Be- coming convinced by that time that he had mistaken his calling, he abandoned the saw and plane, and in 1837 entered himself as a student of medicine in the office of his cousin, Dr. Robert E. James, of Upper Mount Bethel, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, father of Robert E. James, Esq., of Easton, and read the allotted time with the Doctor, and during the winter season attended lec- tures at the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where he graduated in March, 1840. During his studies it de- veloped that he possessed a peculiar aptitude for his chosen profession. Dur- ing the year succeeding his graduation his cousin and preceptor, Dr. Robert E. James, was serving a term in the state legislature and the young doctor took charge of his practice in his absence. He opened an office in New Britain, where he soon built up a large practice. In the first or second year of his prac- tice he was appointed physician at the Bucks County Almshouse, a position he retained for seventeen years. This po- sition attracted attention to the rising voung physician, and assisted in secur- ing him a large practice that soon ex- tended into the far surrounding sec- tions. He continued his residence in New Britain until 1859. when he re- moved to Doylestown, purchasing the present Ginsley property, on Main street, the former residence of General Sam- uel A. Smith. Soon after the war he purchased the handsome residence on North Main street, where he spent the . remainder of his life, and where his widow and daughter still reside.

Dr. James became very prominent in the practice of his profession. Prior to his retirement from active practice. a few years before his death, he was one of the most prominent physicians of the county, and enjoyed an extensive and lucrative practice. He was always close- ly identified with the interests of his town and county, and in his prime his high ability, courtly manners and kind- ly nature commanded the highest re- spect and gave him a wide influence among men.

In politics he was a Democrat. and from early manhood he took an active interest in politics. In 1864 he was elected to the state senate over his old neighbor, William Godshalk, by a ma- jority of 980 votes. In 1878 he was the candidate of his party for congress from the Seventh District, and, though he ran

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 16

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