History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 49

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 49

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LEWIS W. FELL, of Buckingham, merchant, was born in Buckingham . township, near Mechanicsville, on a farm that had been the property of his ances- tors since 1723. He is only son of David and Margaret (Atkinson) Fell, of Buck- ingham, and of the sixth generation in descent from Joseph Fell, who came from Longlands parish, Rockdale, Cum- berland, England with Bridget Wilson, his wife, in 1705.

Joseph Fell, eldest child of Joseph and Bridget, born in Cumberland, England, 4 mo. 29, 1701, was reared on his father's farm near Pool's corner, where H. Clay Large now lives, and on his marriage in 1735 received from his father a deed of gift of 125 acres of land on the Durham road. above Mechanicsville, purchased by Joseph, Sr., in 1723, and lived thereon until his death, 2 mo. 22, 1777. He mar- ried, I mo. 4, 1735, Mary Kinsey, daugh- ter of Edmund and Sarah (Ogborn) Kin- sey, the former an eminent preacher among Friends. The children of Joseph and Mary Fell were seven in number, five of whom grew to maturity, viz .: Joseph, born 8 mo. 31, 1738; Sarah, never mar- ried; Rachel, born 1744. married William Lownes; David, born 1750, married Sarah

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

Kinsey; and Martha, born 1756, married Edward Rice. Mary (Kinsey) Fell, was born 2 mo. 29, 1715, and died 12 mo. 29, 1769.

Joseph Fell, eldest son of Joseph and Mary, born 8 mo. 31, 1738, on the home- stead farm in Buckingham, married 10 mo, 21, 1767, Rachel Wilson, born 4 mo. 5, 1741, died 3 mo. 8, 1810, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Canby) Wilson, of Buckingham, and removed to Upper Makefield, where he purchased a farm. He died there 3 mo. 26, 1789. He had eight children, six of whom grew to ma- turity, viz .: Joseph, born 1768, married Esther Burroughs; John, born 1770, mar- ried Edith Smith; Martha, married Ben- jamin Schofield; David, married Phebe Schofield; Jonathan, born 5 mo. 5. 1776; Rachel, born 1783, married John Speak- man.

Jonathan, son of Joseph and Rachel, was born in Upper Makefield township, 5 mo. 5. 1776, and married I mo. 2, 1799, Sarah Balderston, and removed to North- ampton township. Two years later he removed to Falls township, near Mor- risville, where he lived until 1831, and then removed to the old homestead of his ancestors in Buckingham, where he died 7 mo. 27, 1849. His wife Sarah died at Morrisville II mo. 23, 1802, and he married Io mo. II, 1809, Jane Buckman, born 12 mo. 12, 1784. died 3 mo. 25, 1874, daughter of James and Sarah (Burroughs) Buckman. By his first wife he had two chil- dren-Jane, who married Seth Davis; and Rebecca, who died an infant. By his second marriage he had six children, viz .: James, born in 1810, married (first) Mary Cad- wallader, and (second) Mary Holcombe; Sarah, who never married; Joshua. born 2 mo. 22, 1814, married Mary Watson, has been postmaster and merchant at Mechanicsville for many years; Eliza- beth, born 1817, died 1853, unmarried; Hannah, born 2 mo. 22, 1820, married Thomas Story Smith, of Upper Make- field; David, born II mo. 13, 1823, mar- ried Margaret Atkinson.

David Fell, the father of the subject of this sketch, born in Penn's Manor, near Morrisville, II mo. 13, 1823, was the youngest child of Jonathan and Jane Buckman Fell. As he was but eight years old when the family moved to the old homestead in Buckingham, his boy- hood days were spent on the farm that remained his home during the rest of his life. He was a man of high character, much esteemed in the neighborhood, and held many positions of trust. Like his ancestors for many generations, he was a member of the Society of Friends, and a regular attendant at Buckingham Meet- ing. He died on the old homestead 8 mo. 9. 1887. He had married I mo. 3. 1850. Margaret, daughter of Abner and Sarah Atkinson, who bore him three children: Sarah Jane, born II mo. 7, 1850, married Horace Michener, living

in Doylestown; Mary Lester, born 9 mo. 26, 1853, married Thomas B. Claxton. and died; and Lewis, the subject of this sketch. Margaret (Atkinson) Fell is still living in Doylestown.

Lewis W. Fell was born on the home- stead of his ancestors in Buckingham, 6 mo. 2, 1857, and remained thereon until 1881. He was educated at the public school of the neighborhood and at the Doylestown English and Classical Sem- inary. In the spring of 1881 he accepted a position in the store of his brother-in- law, Evan T. Worthington, at Bucking- ham, and two years later acquired an interest in the business, forming a co- partnership under the firm name of Worthington & Fell, which lasted for six years, when he purchased the entire interest in the store and has since con- ducted it with marked success. The store has the reputation of being one of the best country stores in the county and does a large. trade. Mr. Fell was ap- pointed postmaster of Buckingham on February 18, 1890, and has held the po- sition continuously since. In 1896 Mr. Fell was one of the organizers of a local telephone company in Buckingham, which was later purchased by the Stand- ard Telephone Company, who estab- lished their exchange in his store, which is also the exchange for the Bell Tele- phone Company. Mr. Fell is a member of Aquetong Lodge, No. 193, I. O. O. F .. of Doylestown, and was an original member of Buckingham Castle, No. 208, A. O. K. of the M. C., and has been its treasurer since 1893. He is a member of Buckingham Friends' Meeting. Po- litically he is a Republican.

Mr. Fell was married on January 20, 881, to Emma Clara Worthington, daughter of Elisha and Harriet (Lukens) Worthington, who has borne him two children: Arthur D., who assists his father in the business; and Ashton W., who is private secretary to John Shreeve, publisher . of the "Atlantic City Review," Atlantic City, New Jersey. Mr. Shreeve is also secretary for Congress- man Gardner, and secretary of the Con- gress of Labor. Both the sons are grad- ttates of Friends Central School, Phila- delphia. and of Pierce's Business Col- lege.

ALLEN G. MOYER belongs to one of the old and honored families of Bucks county. The name was variously spelled by the ancestors, some using the form of Meyer, while others continued the spelling used by the subject of this re- view and his immediate branch of the family.

His father. Christian Moyer, was born near Sumneytown, Montgomery county, ahont 1814. In early life he followed milling, but later engaged in merchan- dising at New Galena, Pennsylvania, for

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

many years one of the enterprising rep- resentatives of commercial interests in that place. He conducted his store with good success until his death, and was also the promoter of other business en- terprises which proved of direct value to the community. In 1860 he discov- ered the lead mines at New Galena, which were on the property owned by himself and his brother-in-law, Daniel Barnes. His political views were in ac- cord with the principles of the Repub- lican party, which he always supported by his ballot. He held the office of school director, and at one time was postmaster of New Galena for your years. He be- longed to the Old Mennonite church, and died in that faith in 1867. His wife was Miss Barbara Godshalk in her maiden- hood, a daughter of John Godshalk. They had eight children, one of whom was drowned in a mill race when only two years of age, while another died at the age of six years. The surviving six members of the family are: Enos. who is now connected with mining interests in British Columbia; Isaac G., a butcher, residing in Dover, New Jersey; Allen G .; Mahlon G., of North Wales, and who for the past thirty years has been in the employ of the Western Union Tele- graph Company; Lydia, the wife of Samuel Leatherman, of Doylestown; and Amanda, the wife of H. Erwin Fritz, of Bedminster.

Allen G. Moyer, son of Christian Moyer, was born in New Britain town- ship, Bucks county, August 5, 1848, and at the usual age entered the public schools, where he completed his liter- ary education. In the school of experi- ence, however, he has learned many valuable lessons. He clerked in his father's store until seventeen years of age, and following his father's death was employed for a year as a salesman in the store of R. J. Hillier, at Line Lex- ington. He afterward followed house painting and paper hanging for a 111m- ber of years, and since 1884 has been engaged in butchering hogs in Hilltown and Plumstead townships. In 1888 he purchased the place which is now his home at Danboro, and has made exten- sive and modern improvements there. This property is an evidence of his life of business activity and energy, for he started out with little capital, and all that he has acquired has been won through his own efforts. Mr. Moyer is a leading member of the Doylestown Presbyterian church, and has been par- ticularly active in Sunday-school work.

He wedded Miss Mary Brantl, a daughter of John and Margaret Brand, and in 1902 was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the IIth of December of that year. They were the parents of fifteen children, seven of whom died ere reaching the age of ten years. The others are Wannita,

born January 6, 1871, and is the wife of J. P. Leatherman: J. Arthur, born March 9. 1872; Purdy B., born December 27, 1873, and was ordained as a minister of the Baptist church in 1900, now occupy- ing the pulpit of the Hepzibah Baptist church near Coatesville, in Chester county, Pennsylvania: Carey, born July 10, 1877, and is engaged in the butcher- ing business in Danboro; Harvey K., born April 28, 1878, and is engaged in merchandising at Doylestown; Margar- etta B., born February 28, 1880, now the wife of Wilson Fretz; Jesse, born June 1, 1882; and Nellie, born December 1, 1887.

ABRAHAM GEORGE MOYER. A type of the well-informed and energetic business man who is essential to the. well-being of any community is Abra- ham George Moyer, of Quakertown. He belongs to a well known family, the various branches of which are scattered through Bucks county.

He is a grandson of Samuel Moyer, who was a resident of Hilltown. Joseph Hunsicker Moyer, S011 of

Samuel Moyer, before mentioned, was born May 22, 1840, on the homestead in Hilltown township, and until his eighteenth year attended the public schools of his dis- trict. His life was devoted to agricul- tural pursuits. He married Elizabeth Yoder, daughter of Abraham and Mary ( Yoder) George, the former a farmer of Milford township, who had obtained his education in the subscription school. The other children born to himself and his wife were: I. Charles, who married a Moyer. 2. Jacob, who married and lives at Milford Square. 3. Benjamin, who married and is a resident of Spin- nerstown. 4. Daniel, who is a farmer at Milford Square and has been twice married, his second wife being Mary, daughter of Jacob Shelly, of Milford township. 5. Anna, who is the wife of Abram Leatherman, of Plumsteadville.

Mr. and Mrs. Moyer were the parents of the following children: I. Mary, who married Jacob Rush, son of William and Mary (Moyer) Rush, of Bedminster township, and lives on the Moyer home- stead, near Plumsteadville. 2. Emma, born May 24, 1865, became the wife of John Bergstresser, of Haycock town- ship, and died in 1904, leaving four sons : Abel B., Howard. Daniel, and Elton. 3. Abraham George Moyer mentioned at length hereinafter. 4. Daniel born in May, 1870, married Maggie, daughter of Henry Souder, of Souderton. and lives at Perkasic. 5. Elizabeth, born in 1872, became the wife of John, son of William and Maria (Moyer) Stauffer. 6. Cath- arine, born in 1874, married Henry C., son of the Rev. John and Mary Beidler, of Rosedale Valley, and lives at Allen-

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

town. 7. Adeline, who is the wife of John Fluck, and lives at. Lansdale. 8. Joseph Wilson died in infancy. Mr. Moyer, the father of the family, died at the comparatively early age of forty-six, passing away February 20, 1886, on his own farm in Plumstead township.

Abraham George Moyer, son of Jo- seph Hunsicker and Elizabeth Yoder (George) Moyer, was born April 4, 1867, on his father's farm in Hilltown township. When he was one year old his father purchased a farm of fifty- eight acres near Plumsteadville, and there the family took up their abode. On this farm, which had previously been the property of Tobias Rickert, Abra- ham George rendered valuable assist- ance, at the same time attending the district school. He left school his eighteenth year and was not yet nine- teen at the time of the death of his father. The farm was then sold, and Mr. Moyer became a pupil in the West Chester State Normal School. After teaching for a time in a school near Dublin, he went to Plumsteadville, where for four years he was engaged in the creamery business. He then devoted four years to a mercantile business at Milford Square, and at the end of that time purchased the Milford Square creamery which he conducted for five years. His next venture was to bttild a creamery in Milford township, which he still owns. In 1900 he purchased from Enos R. Artman the store which he now occupies, and which was then conducted by his brother-in-law. Henry Beidler. On this site he is now doing a thriving business. The confidence reposed in Mr. Moyer by his fellow-citizens is dem- onstrated by the fact that he has been chosen by them to fill the office of com- mitteeman for Shelly district, and that while a resident of Milford township he served for one year as school director, resigning his position when he moved to Quakertown. In his political principles he is a Republican. He and his family are members of the Mennonite church at West Swamp, in which he served as superintendent of the Sunday school from 1896 to 1900.

Mr. Moyer married, November 26, 1887. Hannah Oberholtzer, daughter of Levi and Mary (Oberholtzer) Fretz, the former a farmer of Plumsteadville. Mrs. Moyer received her education in the district school. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Moyer consists of the follow- ing children: I. Willis, born April 23, 1891. 2. Pearl, born February 12, 1893. 3. Edna, born November 28, 1895. 4. Elizabeth, born November 27, 1898. 5. Joseph, born June 16. 1901. It. is to be believed that these children will prove worthy heirs of the good qualities as well as of the good name of their an- cestors, and that they will live to do credit to their native county.

HARVEY W. MOYER. Among Chal- font's progressive and public-spirited citizens must be nttmbered Harvey W. Moyer. Mr. Moyer is a son of Levi S. Moyer, who learned the trade of a miller at Diehl's mill near Hellertown, Pennsylvania, and afterward purchased the property and the business. Subse- quently he engaged in business as a btttcher. He married Caroline, datighter of Shelly Weinberger, of Milford, and the following children were born to them: Clinton W .; Mary A .; Joseph W .; Emma W .; and Harvey W., men- tioned at length hereinafter. The pa- rents of these children were, as their names would indicate, of German de- scent.

Harvey W. Moyer, son of Levi S. and Caroline (Weinberger) Moyer, was born June 21, 1868, in Bingham, North- ampton county, Pennsylvania, and was edticated in the public schools of his birthplace. There also he was trained by his father to the occupation of a' butcher, and followed the business for four years. Beginning in a small way and on borrowed capital, his efforts were crowned with success, and he was enabled to discharge his obligations and build up a flourishing trade. In 1894 he moved to Chalfont, and is now at the head of a large establishment, his con- nections extending throughout the adja- cent country. He is a successful busi- ness man and has built for himself a comfortable and attractive home. He is active as a citizen, and has been chosen by his neighbors a member of the town council, an office which he still holds. In politics he is a Republican, and in re- ligion a member of the Mennonite church. Mr. Moyer married, December 29, 1892, Lizzie S., born November 23, 1871, datighter of Abram and Ellamina (Sleifer) Kttlp, and . three children have been born to them: Florence, who was born January 30, 1894; Grace Lorene, born October 14, 1896; and Ray K., born November 23, 1898, and died July 19, 1900.

H. WATSON JOHNSON. a prosper- ous agriculturist, son of Charles and Esther (Strawn) Johnson, was born No- vember II, 1832, on the farm where he now resides, it being part of the original tract acquired by Casper Johnson (great-grandfather), the first of that family to come to the colony of Penn- sylvania, emigrating from his home in Holland early in the eighteenth century. Casper Johnson (grandfather), son of the emigrant ancestor, was born on the farm now owned by Henry Johnson, the farm owned by H. Watson Johnson be- ing a part of that tract. Charles John- son (father), son of Casper and Geborah Johnson, was born on the homestead farm. He attended the subscription

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schools of his community, and followed farming. He was a man of considerable fame as a farmer and man of affairs in northern Bucks county, and in his im- mediate neighborhood was looked upon as a leading agriculturist. His employes always received recognition and their just dues for faithful services, and his home was always a resort for neigh- borly intercourse. He was a member of the Whig party, and took an active interest in its affairs. He married Esther Strawn, daughter of Abel and Elizabeth Strawn, of Haycock township, and had issue: H. Watson, Mary Ann, wife of Aaron Walp, of Quakertown; Oliver James married Maria Stover, and they reside in Haycock township; Anna Maria, wife of Louis N. Shelly, of Quakertown.

H. Watson Johnson attended the sub- scription schools of Richland township until the free school system was intro- duced, and later the public schools, com- pleting his studies at the age of eigh- teen years, and in the meantime assisted on the home farm. For one year after leaving school he clerked in the general store of Mr. H. Buchacer, at Richland- town, but, his parents being insistent upon his returning home, he complied with their request and thereafter re- mained at home. After his marriage he assumed charge of his father's farm. working the same on shares, and con- tinuing thus until the death of his father, February 28, 1879, and at the settlement of the estate he became the owner, pur- chasing the interest of the other heirs. Since attaining his majority Mr. John- son has taken an active part in the affairs of his community. In politics he is a Republican, and has served his party in local, county and state conventions as delegate, and has also served for fifteen years as director of the local school board. In the campaign of 1874 Mr. Johnson, at the solicitation of his party, stood as candidate for the state legis- lature, and. although the county was at that time strongly Democratic, he, with no special effort on his part, came within twenty-two votes of being elected, which was an unmistakable proof of his pop- ularity. Of recent years Mr. Johnson has not taken so active a part in politi- cal affairs as of yore, devoting his time and attention to the care of his estate, he being of the fourth generation to re- side there.

Mr. Johnson married. November 15, 1855. Margaret Kratz, daughter of Jacob and Eliza (Fretz) Kratz, of Plumstead township. Five children were the issue of this union: I. Erwin Thomas, now a practicing physician and surgeon at Leidytown, Hilltown township; he mar- ried Martha, daughter of Leidy Sheip. 2. Charles Jacob died in 1878. 3. Oliver Kratz died in 1893. 4. Harvey Ellwood. who attended the township schools, and is now at home, assisting his father with

the duties of the farm. 5. Jennie, who married November 7, 1894, Wilson Erd- man, M. D., son of Owen and Mary Ann Erdman, of Richland township; Dr. and Mrs. Erdman reside in Richlandtown. Mr. Johnson and his family attend the Union Reformed church at Richland- town.

LEVI SWARTLEY, of Chalfont, Bucks county, is the only

surviving child of John and Mary (Moyer) Swartley, and was born in New Britain township, April 5, 1832. Philip Schwardley, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Eppingen, in Necker, grand duchy of Baden, Germany, October 28, 1764 and is supposed to have come to this country with his elder brothers John and Jacob in the ship "Minerva," arriving at Philadelphia on September 30, 1772. As, however, the list of pas- sengers does not include the names of the two younger brothers, it is possible they may have followed their brother to Pennsylvania some years later.

Philip was probably a resident for some years of Franconia township, Montgomery county, where he married Sarah Rosenberger, born January 24, 1765, daughter of Rev. Henry and Bar- bara (Oberholtzer) Rosenberger, and a sister to Magdalena, the wife of his brother John Schwardley. About 1790 Philip Schwardley settled in New Brit- ain township, Bucks county, where he became a large landowner. He died Sep- tember 23. 1840. and his wife Sarah died April 6. 1849. They were the parents of nine children. viz .: Elizabeth, married Jacob Krout; Henry; John; Jacob; Mary. married Jacob Hafner; Philip; Abraham; Samuel; and Sarah, who mar- ried John Price.

John Swartley, second son of Philip and Sarah (Rosenberger) Swartley, was born in New Britain township June 8, 1792, and was reared on his father's farm. In 1814 he married Mary Moyer, born in Springfield township, Bucks county, October 9, 1795, and died in New Britain, on April 10, 1872, daughter of Jacob and Magdalene (Moyer) Moyer, of Springfield, and settled in Plumstead township, where they resided for one year. April 3. 1816, his parents conveyed to him a farm of ninety-one acres in New Britain, where he lived from that dlate until his death. March 14. 1856. John and Mary (Moyer) Swartley were the parents of eight children, viz .: I. Jacob M., born April 15. 1816, died De- cember 20. 1885. married Anna Ruth and left a number of children. 2. Sarah, born September 28. 1818, died January 7, 1001. married Abraham Kratz. 3. Will- iam, born June 25. 1821, died April 17, 1875. was blind for thirty-eight years. 4. Magdalena, born September 28. 1824. died April 7, 1893, married in 1844

JOSEPH THOMAS

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

Henry Ruth; 5. Joseph M., born Decem- ber 7, 1826, married three times; lived on the old homestead, where he died March 26, 1892. 6. John M., born Septem- ber 18, 1829, died September 24, 1900; Levi M., the subject of this sketch; and Mary, born May 5, 1835, died January 2, 1888, married William G. Moyer.

Levi M. Swartley, youngest son of John and Mary, was born and reared on the New Britain homestead and re- mained there with his mother until he was twenty-seven years old. After a residence of a year and a half in Hill- town he purchased the old homestead and returned to it, and resided thereon until 1890, since which time he has lived a retired life in the borough of Chal- font. He is a member of the Mennon- ites, and politically is a Republican. He married December 2, 1860, Lydia H. Myers, daughter of Isaac Myers, of Plumsteadville, and they have been the parents of three children: Mary Ann, born September 22, 1862, married Abra- ham L. Garges, of New Britain, and has children: Anna, Howard and Lydia. Isaac M., born January 16, 1865, died May, 1892, married Mary L. Moyer, daughter of Abraham Moyer, and left one child, Bertha. Ella M., born August 3, 1873, married Henry Rosenberger, and has one child, Laura Elizabeth.

JOHN SWARTLEY, postmaster of Chalfont, was born in New Britain township, Bucks county, November 19, 1862, and is a son of John M. and Mary (Moyer) Swartley, and a grandson of John and Magdalene (Moyer) Swartley, whose ancestry is given in the sketch of Levi Swartley.

John M. Swartley was born in New Britain township, September 18, 1829, and was educated at the local schools. He followed the life of a farmer, near the little village of Newville. and was a member of the Mennonite church. He was an active and progressive farmer, and filled the office of supervisor of New Britain township for a number of years. He married on October 18, 1853, Eliza- beth M. Moyer, daughter of Rev. Abra- ham and Anna Moyer, of Bedminster, the ancestors of the former having borne the name of Christian for four gener- ations, the first of whom was Christian Meyer, who came to Pennsylvania about 1712 and settled in Franconia township. His grandson, Christian Moyer, born in Franconia, March 27, 1763, married Mary Landis, and settled in Bucks county. Rev. Abraham Moyer, of Bed- minster, above mentioned, was the ninth of their eleven children: he married Anna Moyer, and Elizabeth M., who married John M. Swartley, was the youngest of their five children. John M. and Elizabeth M. (Moyer) Swartley

were the parents of eight children, viz .: Mary Ann, born January 5, 1855, died July 12, 1873; Amanda, born April 19, 1856, died June 22, 1878, married Novem- ber 13, 1877, A. G. Ruth; Oliver J., born November 15, 1857, died August 30, ISS5; William M., born September 24, 1860; John, the subject of this sketch; Emma Jane, born November 24, 1863, died April 19, 1878; Elizabeth M., born May II, 1865, died February 15, 1884; and El- mer M., born June 25, 1873, died April 29, 1899. John, the father, died Septem- ber 24, 1900.

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 49

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