History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 31

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 31

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In the autumn of 1893 he was elected on the Republican ticket to the office of clerk of orphans court of Bucks county, and in the spring following removed to Doylestown, where he has since resided. After his retirement from office on the expiration of his official term, he was appointed a deputy clerk of the same court, acting more especially as advisor

Warren P. Ely

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

and assistant to his chief, and during a large portion of this same period also serving as deputy register of wills, and for some time as deputy recorder of deeds and deputy sheriff. In March, 1900, he went to Jacksonville, Florida, to fill a position in the mercantile house of Doty-Stowe Company, but returned to Doylestown May Ist of the same year to accept the position of business man- ager of the "Republican," a daily and weekly newspaper. He was so engaged until August, 1901, when he resigned to take charge of the work of arranging, recopying and filing the papers and rec- ords of the orphans' court office under the direction of the court, a task which employed him constantly for nearly two years .. Since the completion of this labor his entire time has been devoted to historical and genealogical work, and much of the contents of the genealogical department of these volumes (History of Bucks County) is from his pen.

Proud of the achievements of the sons of Bucks county, abroad as well as at home, Mr. Ely has made a close study of the part the county has taken in the rise and development of the province, state and nation, and is recognized as an authority in matters relating to its local history, and particularly the genealogy of its early families. He was directed into this channel of thought and investigation during his incumbency of the office of clerk of the orphans, court,

and while rendering efficient service in that capacity, found congenial occupation in his contact with the ancient records of the county not alone in his official investigations, but in the fund of information opened up to him with reference to the old families of the county. He became an active member of the Bucks County Histori- cal Society, was its first regularly con- stituted librarian, and has occupied that position to the present time. He has contributed a number of papers to the archives of the Society, these including one of particular merit, on "The Scotch- Irish Families of Bucks County."

Mr. Ely is deeply interested in gen- eral educational affairs, and gave cap- able service as one of the trustees and directors of the Hughesian Free School, in Buckingham, until his removal from the township rendered him ineligible for the office. He is a member of the fra- ternity of Odd Fellows, affiliated with Aquetong Lodge, No. 193. in which he is a past grand, and Doylestown En- campment, No. 35, in which he is a past chief patriarch; he has represented both in the grand bodies of the state for a number of years, and for some time filled the position of district deputy. He is also a past select commander of the Ancient Order, Knights of the Mystic Chain, of Pennsylvania. affiliated with Buckingham Castle, No. 208, which lie represented in the select castle for sev-

eral years, also serving for three years as trustee of the state body.

Through his marriage, Mr. Ely is re- lated to a family as old in America as his own. March 29, 1882, he married Hannah S. Michener, a daughter of Hugh and Sarah (Betts) Michener. She is de- scended on the paternal side from John and Sarah Michener, who came from England about 1690 and settled in Phil- adelphia, later removing to Moreland township, Montgomery county, whence William Michener removed in 1722 to Plumstead, Bucks county, where Mrs. Ely's ancestors were prominent farm- ers for several generations. On the ma- ternal side she is descended from Col- onel Richard Betts, who came from England to Ipswich, Massachusetts, about 1648, and soon afterward to Long Island, where he filled many high and honorable positions under the colonial government-member of the provincial assembly, commissioner of highways, sheriff, officer of volunteers, etc., and died November 18, 1673, at the remark- able age of one hundred years. Among the maternal ancestors of Mrs. Ely were also the Stevenson, Whitehead, Powell, Whitson, De la Plaine. Cresson, Cock, Halleck,. Este, Field and other prominent families of Long Island and New Jersey and the Blackfan, Simpson, Warner, Wiggins, Croasdale, Chapman and Hayhurst families of Bucks county. Many of her lineal ancestors have held high official positions in the early days of the colonies, as have those of her husband.

The children of Warren S. and Han- nah S. (Michener) Ely are as follows: M. Florence, born July 19. 1884; Laura W., born February 21. 1887, died Feb- ruary 25. 1903; and Frederic Warren, bora February 16, 1889, now a student at Swarthmore College.

HON. IRVING PRICE WANGER, the present representative in congress from the Eighth Congressional District, comprising the counties of Bucks and Montgomery, while not a native or a resident of Bucks, nevertheless holds a conspicuous place in the interest and regard of the people of the county he has so ably and conscientiously repre- sented in the law making body of the nation for the past twelve years, and some account of his career and ante- cedents will be of interest to the readers of this historical work.

He was born in North Coventry town- ship, Chester county. Pennsylvania, March 5, 1852, and is the eldest son of George and Rebecca (Price) Wanger, and a descendant of early settlers in Montgomery county, of the religious sects known as the Brethren (Dunkards) and Mennonites. His paternal ances- tor, Henry Wanger (or Wenger, as the

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

name was then spelled) came from Switzerland with other Mennonites in 1717, and located on one hundred acres now included in the borough of Potts- town, Montgomery county, purchased September 15, 1718, with his wife Eliza- beth and several children. He was a farmer by occupation, and later pur- chased additional land in that locality. He died in 1753, and is supposed to be. interred in the Mennonite burying ground East Coventry, Chester county. John Wanger, son of Henry and Elizabeth, was born on his father's farm at what is now Pottstown, December 10, 1726, and in 1754 purchased part of the plantation, on which he resided until 1762, when he removed to Union town- ship, Berks county, where he had pur- chased 293 acres of land on which he lived until his death, January 5, 1803. He was court martial officer of Captain Thomas Parry's company, Fifth Bat- talion Berks County Militia, commis- sioned May 17, 1777, under Colonel Jacob Weaver.

Abraham Wanger, son of John, was born at Pottstown, December 15, 1761, and died in Berks county, March 18, 1793. His wife was Susanna, daughter of Jacob and Magdalena Shantz, and their son, Abraham, born December II, 1787, was the grandfather of Congress- man Wanger. He was born on the old Berks county homestead, which was ac- quired by his father in 1788, and re- mained in that county until late in life, when he removed to Chester county, where he died April 23, 1861. He mar- ried Mary Berge, daughter of Abraham and Susanna (Shantz) Berge, and they were the parents of ten children, five of whom grew to manhood and woman- hood.

George Wanger was born in Berks county in 1820, and was reared to manc hood in that county, and then removed with his parents to Chester county, where he followed the occupation of a farmer during life. He was a soldier in the civil war, enlisting first in the Key- stone Guards, organized for state de- fense, in Company E. Nineteenth Regi- ment, and was in service a short time. Later he served for two months in Com- pany D. Forty-second Regiment Penn- sylvania Volunteer Militia, which went to Chambersburg. George Wanger, though a Mennonite by birth, became a member of the official board of St. James' Methodist Episcopal Church at Cedarville. Chester county, the site of which church he presented to the con- gregation. He died in North Coventry township, December 30, 1876. He was known as a man of great force of char- acter and high standing in the commun- ity: a strong advocate of the public school system, he served for a number of years on the local school board. Or- iginally a Whig, he cast his first presi-

dential vote for Henry Clay. He was a strong advocate of the restriction and abolition of slavery, and his home was one of the stations of the "Underground Railroad" through which many runaway slaves were assisted to freedom. He was active in the formation of the Re- publican party, and foremost in the tem- perance movement in his locality. He- married Rebecca, daughter of Rev. John. and Mary (Reinhart) Price, whose direct ancestors for five generations had been preachers in the denomination known as. German Baptist Brethren; the first, Rev. Jacob Price (or Priesz), was a native of Witzenstein, Prussia, and united with. the sect soon after its establishment at Schwarzenau in 1708, and early became: a preacher and missionary. Driven by religious persecution to Serverstin, Friesland, he came to Pennsylvania with the first party of German Baptists in 1719, and settled on Indian Creek,

Montgomery county. His son, Rev. John Price, was born in Prussia and ac- companied his father to America in his. seventeenth year. He was a poet and preacher, and a personal friend of Chris- topher Saur, the noted German printer who in 1753 published a collection of Mr. Price's poetry. He was one of the founders of the mother church at Ger- mantown in 1723. He had two sons, John and Daniel, both of whom became preachers, the former settling in In- diana county, Pennsylvania, where he- has left many descendants. Rev. Daniel Price was born in Montgomery county, December II, 1723, and died there Feb- ruary II, 1804. He married in 1746 Han- nah Weickard, and left a large family. He owned two hundred acres of the land taken up by his grandfather, and was. active in local matters, serving as town- ship auditor and supervisor. Rev. George Price, son of Daniel, was also a preacher among the German Baptists. He was born in Montgomery county, No- vember 1, 1753, but removed to East Nantmeal, Chester county, in 1774, and to Coventry in 1794. His wife was Sarah Harley, and they were the parents of several children.

Rev. John Price, son of George and Sarah, was the father of Mrs. George Wanger, and the grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch; he was a farmer and preacher, and was born in Chester county, August 6. 1782, and died April 12, 1850. His wife was Mary, daughter of John and Hannah (Price) Rinehart, born May 17. 1783, died April 23, 1863, and they were the parents of twelve chil- dren, three of whom and the husband of a fourth became preachers.

George and Rebecca (Price) Wanger were the parents of six children, five sons and one daughter, of whom four survive-Irving P., Newton, George F. P., assistant postmaster of Pottstown, and Joseph P. Wanger.

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

Hon. Irving P. Wanger was born and reared on the old homestead in Chester county, and was educated in the public schools and the Pottstown Hill and high schools. He taught school for one year and in 1870 became a clerk in the pro- thonotary's office at West Chester, and in the following year was appointed deputy prothonotary, which position he resigned at the end of a year, and in January, 1872, began the study of law in the office of Franklin March, Esq., at Norristown, Montgomery county. In December, 1872, he was appointed dep- uty prothonotary of Montgomery under William F. Reed, the first Republican ever elected to that office in Montgom- ery. He continued the study of law and was admitted to the bar of Montgomery county in December, 1875. Being an earnest student and

an eloquent forcible advocate, he soon acquired a practice from all parts of Montgomery county. His talent for public speaking caused his services to be in demand in behalf of the candidates of his party, and he soon became a prominent figure in Montgomery county politics, being an earnest and logical advocate of the prin- ciples of the Republican party. In 1878 he was elected burgess of Norristown, . and in 1880 to the office of district attor- ney of Montgomery county. In the lat- ter position he instituted several re- forms, among them, the dividing the list of criminal cases to be tried among the several days of the term, thus ob- viating the necessity of all the witnesses and parties interested to attend during the whole term, and thereby making a great saving to the taxpayers. This cus- tom has been uniformly followed since.

In 1880 Mr. Wanger was a delegate to the Republican national convention, and voted continuously for the unit rule and for the nomination of James G. Blaine for the presidency, until the final ballot, when, as requested by the friends of the latter, he voted for James A. Garfield, the nominee. In 1886 he was again elected to the office of district attorney by a ma- jority of 1187 votes, running several hundred votes ahead of his ticket, not- withstanding the fact that his opponent was one of the most capable candidates ever nominated by the Democracy. In 1889 he was chairman of the Republican county committee. In 1890 he was unanimously nominated for congress in the Bucks-Montgomery district, but, ow- ing to the unpopular candidacy of George W. Delameter for governor. was de- feated by 187 votes, the Republican ticket being defeated in both counties by a much larger vote. Two years later he was again nominated, and elected, though the district gave a majority for Cleveland. In 1894 he was elected by a majority of 4826, and has been re- elected in 1896, 1898, 1900, 1902 and 1904. by increased majorities, his majority in

the latter year being 10,252, showing that his course at Washington had been such as to commend him strongly to the people of the district. His support has not been confined to members of his own party, voters of other party affilia- tions testifying their appreciation of his worth by their votes at each election. As a congressman Mr. Wanger has taken an active part in the debates in the house on the tariff, the currency, the Philippine legislation, and other ques- tions of national interest, but his strong point has been his conscientious atten- tion to all matters affecting his consti- tuents, doing everything possible to pro- mote the prosperity and welfare of the people of his district, as well as of the country at large. He has always voted with his party upon questions involving its principles, ably and earnestly up- holding the policy of Mckinley and Roosevelt, whenever it has been a mat- ter for action in congress or elsewhere. It was upon his motion that the special committee was appointed which inves- tigated the hazing of cadets in the United States Military Academy at West Point, and suggested important legislation on the subject, which was adopted. His principal committee service has been as a member of the committee on foreign and interstate commerce, and as chair- man of the committee on expenditures in the postoffice department. He has always been a faithful exponent of the wishes and interests of his constituents, as his repeated re-elections testify.

As a public speaker, Mr. Wanger stands deservedly high: he is argumen- tative, logical, clear and deliberative, ap- pealing always to the reason and jndg- ment of his hearers, rather than to their prejudices and personal or partisan feelings. He is a ready debater and par- liamentarian, quick to take advantage of the weak point in the argument of his opponent. He has always kept in close touch with the measures and policies of the two dominant parties in congress, and is quick to perceive and defend the interests of his constituents in any pro- posed legislation. During his service he has made many friends among the representatives of other districts and states, frequently securing their services and support, when occasion required in his home district.

Mr. Wanger was married on June 25, 1884, to Emma C. Titlow, daughter of John Titlow of North Coventry, Ches- ter county, a playmate and schoolmate of his youth. They are the parents of three children-George, Ruth and Ma- rion. Two others, Lincoln and Rebec- ca, died in infancy. He resides with his family in the old Chain homestead, 827 West Main street, Norristown. His mother, from whom he inherits many of his characteristics, resides with him. She is a member of the Methodist

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

church. Marshall street, Norristown. Mr. Wanger is himself a member of St. John's Episcopal church. He is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Improved Order of Red Men, and of the various branches of the Masonic fraternity, having been grand commander of the Knights Templar of Pennsylvania in 1894-5.

WILLIAM WATSON, one of the most enterprising and progressive farm- ers of Buckingham, was born on the old Watson homestead upon which he still resides, February 17, 1862, being only son of Henry and Emeline P. (Rich) Watson.

The first American ancestors of the subject of this sketch were early settlers in Chesterfield township, Burlington county, New Jersey. Mathew Watson and Anne Mauleverer, his wife, migrated form Scarborough, in Yorkshire, Eng- land, about 1682, and settled in Chester- field. They were members of Chester- field Monthly Meeting of Friends. Mathew's occupation is given as "chem- its." He purchased in 1683 of Thomas Hutchinson, late of Beverly, in York- shire, a one-twelfth share in the prov- ince of West Jersey, and appears to have been a man of wealth and education. He died in Chesterfield, 7 mo. 13, 1703. and his wife Anne died there II mo. 16, 1721. Their children were: Mathew, Jr., born at Burlington, 10 mo. 2, 1682; and Marmaduke, born 8 mo. 13, 1685. Mathew seems to have been engaged in a ship- ping business, as on1 3 mo. 27. 1724. he takes a certificate from Chesterfield Meeting to "transport himself to other parts on account of trading."

Marmaduke Watson, second son of Mathew and Anne, was married at Bur- lington Meeting, I mo. 27, 1718, to Eliza- beth Pancoast, daughter of William and Hannah (Scattergood) Pancoast. He inherited from his father large tracts of land in different parts of West Jersey, allotted as part of the one-twelfth share of the province, among them a tract in Bethlehem township, Hunterdon county, on the Musconetcong creek, which he devised in his will to his son Aaron. This will is dated in Chesterfield town- ship. Burlington county, 3 mo. 14, 1746, and was proven July 24. 1749, and men- tions, beside the son Aaron, wife Eliza- beth, son Marmaduke, and daughter Anne, wife of Joseph Curtis.

Aaron Watson, son of Marmaduke and Elizabeth (Pancoast) Watson, was born in Chesterfield about 1720. It is possible that on arriving at manhood he became associated with his uncle Mathew in the "trading" business, as he seems to have followed a migratory life for some years. In 1744 he brings a certificate from Chester, Pennsylvania,

Meeting to Philadelphia, where he re- mained until after his father's death. In 1750 he takes a certificate to his old home at Chesterfield, but probably lo- cated at once on his inheritance at Beth- lehem, now Kingwood, though he does not take a certificate to Kingwood Meet- ing until 1754, when about to marry Sarah Emley, a member of that Meeting. The children of Aaron and Saralı (Emley) Watson were: John, Lucy, Anne and Sarah, all born at Kingwood, New Jersey.

John Watson, eldest child of Aaron and Sarah, born at Kingwood, about 1755, was reared on the Jersey farm. During the Revolution he removed to Shrewsbury, and engaged in the manu- facture of salt on the Jersey coast, where Point Pleasant is now located. He sold the product to the continental army, and thus incurred the special enmity of the British, who destroyed his residence and plant, thereby ruining him financially. He married about 1778 or 1779, at Shrewsbury, Mary Jackson, a descen- dant of Daniel Jackson, who migrated from Stangerthwaite, in Yorkshire, about 1693, and located in Bristol township, Bucks county, whose descendants had removed to Shrewsbury prior to the revolution. John Watson_ returned to . Kingwood in 1781, with wife and datigh- ter Saralı. His eldest son John was born there Io mo. 25, 1781. In the autumn of 1782 he removed to Middletown, Bucks county, where his son Aaron was born, and his eldest child, Sarah, died. He removed to Buckingham in 1785, where the rest of his ten children were born, viz .: Hannah, married William Gilling- ham: Sarah, married George Hughes; Elizabeth, married James Shaw: Joseph; Charles; Ann; Marmaduke and John. In 1794 he purchased 140 acres of land lying on both sides of the Mechanics- ville road, and including the present Watson farm, the original buildings be- ing on the northwest side of the road, where John Riniker now lives. He died on this farm in 1818, and the farm was partitioned through the orphans' court, the farm now occupied by the subject of this sketch being adjudged to his oldest son, William Watson.

William Watson, son of John and Mary (Jackson) Watson, was born in Kingwood, 10 mo. 25, 1781, and was but a child when his parents removed to Buckingham. He married, May 10, 1809, Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Mar- garet (Jenks) Gillingham, who was born II mo. 21, 1784, and died June 28, 1868. Upon his marriage William Watson set- tled on the farm still occupied by his grandson the subject of this sketch, the building then being first erected for him by his father. William Watson was a prominent and useful man in the com- munity, and filled many positions of trust. He was one of the original trus-

Henry Watson

THE NEW : ONE PUBLIC LIBRARY

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

tees of the Hughesian Free School, and filled other responsible positions; was one of the solid substantial men of his day, a prosperous farmer and conserva- tive business man. He and his family were inembers of Buckingham Meeting of Friends. The children of William and Elizabeth (Gillingham) Watson were: Samuel G., born 4 mo. 10, 1810, married Sarah H. Thomas; Jenks, died an in- fant; Margaret Jenks, born 1814, died 1835; Mary, born 4 mo., 17, 1817, mar- ried Joshua Fell; Henry, the father of the subject of this sketch: Elizabeth, born 1822, died 1861; and Sarah, born 1825, died 1904. Neither of the last two were married, and lived and died at the residence of their brother Henry, on the old homestead.

Henry Watson, the father of the sub- ject of this sketch, was born on the farm upon which he still resides, on 12 mo. 17, 1819. He is one of the most highly esteemed men of his neighborhood. Like his father, he is a member of Bucking- ham Friends' Meeting, and has fully maintained the standing of this old and respected family. He succeeded his father as a trustee and director of the Hughesion Free School, and has served as director of the public schools for many years, and held many other posi- tions of trust. He married Emaline P., daughter of Moses Rich, of Buck- ingham, who was born in 1822 and died January 3, 1903. They were the parents of five children: John Rich, who died in infancy; Caroline M., born 10 mo. 19, 1852, died II mo. 8, 1898, married Lewis D. Rich; Martha Rich, born 7 mo. 25, 1855, died 3 mo. 12, 1903, married James McNair; Fannie, born 4 mo. 8, 1858, married William E. Wilson; and William, born 2 mo. 27, 1862.

The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm, and obtained his education at the public schools and at Doylestown English and Classical Seminary. Being the only son, the care of the farm de- volved upon him at an early age, his father being occupied with public affairs and the oversight of several other farms owned by the family. Like his father and grandfather, he is an excellent farmer, and takes great pride in the old farm, which is one of the best tilled and productive in the township. In pol- itics Mr. Watson is a Republican, and, though never an office seeker, takes a keen interest in all that pertains to the best interests of his party, and has served as a delegate to several state and district conventions. He is a member of Buck- ingham Friends' Meeting. Socially 'he is a member of Doylestown Lodge, No. 245, F. and A. M .; a past high priest of Doyelstown Chapter, No. 270, R. A. M .; a member of Pennsylvania Commandery No. 70, K. T .; Philadelphia Consistory, A. and A. S. S .; and of Aquetong Lodge,

No. 193. I. O. O. F., and Doylestown Council, No. 1117, Royal Areanum.

He was married on 12 mo. 5, 1893, to Caroline M., daughter of the late Cap- tain John S. Bailey, of Buckingham, and has one child, Edward Blackfan Watson, born in 1894.

PROFESSOR A. J. MORRISON, one of the best known educators in Phil- adelphia, was born in Northampion township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania February 14, 1844, and is a son of Judge Joseph and Eleanor (Addis) Morrison. John Morrison, the great-grandfather of Professor Morrison, was a native of the north of Ireland, and was one of the great army of Ulster Scots who, having fled from religious persecution and in- ternecine strife in their native Scotia, took temporary refuge in the province of Ulster, Ireland, from whence many emigrated to Pennsylvania in the first half of the eighteenth century. John Morrison settled on the banks of the Brandywine, where his son, John Morri- son, was born in 1767. On attaining man- hood he located in Northampton town- ship, Bucks county, where he died March 17, 1858, at the age of ninety-one years. He married Hannah Yerkes, daughter of Elias Yerkes, of Southampton, who was born June 30, 1772, and died February 12, 1844. Her paternal grandfather, Silas Yerkes, was born in Moreland township, Montgomery county, February 15, 1723, and died there September 25, 1795. He was a son of Herman Yerkes, born 1687, and grandson of Anthony Yerkes, one of the first burgesses of Germantown. Silas married June 14, 1750, Hannah Dungan, daughter of Thomas and Esther Dungan, and granddaughter of the Rev. Thomas Dungan, who founded the first Baptist church in Bucks county, in 1684. Their son Elias was born in Warminster (where his parents resided for many years) December 7, 1751, and died in Moreland, January 15, 1828. Eliza- beth (Watts) Yerkes, the mother of Silas, born April 15, 1689, died October II, 1756, was the daughter of Rev. John and Sarah (Eaton) Watts of South- ampton.

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 31

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