History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 53

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 53

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

John S. Cornell, Jr., youngest son of John S. and Elizabeth (Vandegrift) Cor- nell, is descended in the maternal line from Jacob Vandegrift, who served in the Revolutionary war and afterward removed to Northampton county, Penn- sylvania, settling in the southeastern part. It was his daughter who became the mother of John S. Cornell, of this review.

John S. Cornell, who was born July 16, 1827, was reared to farm life, and was educated near Holland, in North- ampton county, Pennsylvania. He en- gaged in farming at an early age and has followed this occupation to the present time. He resided near the Bear Hotel, at Richboro, until 1877, when he removed to his present farm, purchas- ing eighty acres of land in Northamp- ton township, which his labors have placed under a very high state of cul- tivation. and although now well ad- vanced in years he still gives his per- sonal supervision to its cultivation.

Mr. Cornell wedded Ellen Bennett, a daughter of William and Sarah (Wyn-

koop) Bennett, and through long years they have been held in favorable regard in Northampton township. Mrs. Cor- nell's ancestors in both paternal and ma- ternal lines were, like those of her hus- band, of Holland descent, and among the earliest settlers in Northampton and Southampton counties. Mr. and Mrs. Cornell have had no children.

JACOB SCHEERER, of Buckingham, was born in Hilltown township, Bucks county, August 29, 1850, the son of Christian and Lovina (Cassel) Scheerer. Christian Scheerer was born in Wur- temberg, Germany, in November, 1813, and came to this country when a young man. As a youth he had learned the trade of a dyer, and was employed in the Manayunk mills of Ripka & Co., in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, for about twenty-five years. On April 2, 1850, he purchased of his father-in-law, Jacob Cassel, a small farm in Hilltown township, Bucks county, and lived there- on until his death in 1897. In 1847 he married Lovina, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Oberholtzer) Cassel, of Hill- town. The Cassels emigrated to this country about 1740, and have been resi- dents of Montgomery county for sev- eral generations. Jacob Cassel was a farmer in Hilltown township from the time his marriage. Christian Scheerer was a man of fair education, and took an active interest in the affairs of his adopted country. In early life he was a Whig, but later a Democrat. In religion he was a member of the Lu- theran church. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. His wife was born in Hill- town in 1821, and died in 1900. She was a member of the German Reformed. church.

The subject of this sketch was. the second of the three children of Chris; tian and Lovina Scheerer, his elder brother John still living and a younger brother, Charles, is deceased. He was reared on the farm and received his education at the public schools. At the age of seventeen he apprenticed himself to learn the shoemaker's trade at Hockertown. Finishing his appren- ticeship in 1869, he worked as a jour- neyman shoemaker for seven years in Hilltown, Hatfield. Pennsburg and Line Lexington. In 1876 he came to Buck- ingham and opened a'shop, where he now resides. In 1875 he married Ann Rebecca, daughter of Aaron and Letitia (McDowell) Carver, of Buckingham, by whom he has three children: Carrie, re- siding at home: Walter, a trainman on the P. & R. R. R .; and Evan T., a printer, now foreman of the composing room of the "Doylestown Democrat." at Doylestown. In politics Mr. Scheerer is Democrat. He is a member of a Doylestown Lodge, No. 94. I. O. O. F.

239

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

DR. NOAH S. NONAMAKER, a well-known physician of Bedminster, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, was there born March 23, 1854. He is a descen- dant of Adam Nonamaker, a native of this county and of foreign parentage. His parents came to this country about 1747. Adam Nonamaker was born April 21, 1759, lived in Hilltown township, and was a farmer throughout the active years of his life. He married Miss Barbara Kramer, born March 5, 1763, died April 27, 1821. They had one child, Henry, the grandfather of Noah S. Adam Non- amaker died August 28, 1843, and is buried at the Tohickon church burying ground.

Henry Nonamaker was born in Hill- town township, July 31, 1786. He carried on for many years the business of un- dertaker and cabinetmaker very suc- cessfully in Bedminster. He, with all his family, was noted for skill as work- ers in wood. He married Miss Eliza- beth Rosenberger, born November 25, 1785, died in Bedminster township, April 7, 1845. There were seven children born of this union, four sons and three daughters: Charles, died at the age of about seventy-two; Henry died at the age of seventy-five; Maria died at the age of seventy-five, was the widow of Peter Stout; Elias, died at the age of about seventy-two from injuries sus- tained from a falling tree; Rebecca died at the age of sixty-five; Elizabeth died in early childhood; and Aaron, father of Noah S., died March 17, 1885, in the seventy-first year of his age. Henry Nonamaker, father of these children, died in Bedminster township, Septem- ber 16, 1871.

Aaron Nonamaker, the father of Noah S., was born in Rockhill township, June 26, 1814. He was brought up to farm- ing and for fourteen years after his marriage farmed the home place in .Bedminster township, and then pur- chased a small place near Perkasie, where he lived for nearly thirty years. He was an honest and upright man and though without education enjoyed the confidence and respect of the entire community. His wife was Anna Shutt, of Horsham township, Montgomery county. She was born March 5, 1815, and died in 1894, in the seventy-ninth year of her age. Their children are: I. Debaroh, widow of Charles Wise, re- sides in Perkasie; 2. Elizabeth, deceased ; 3. Jacob, a resident of Perkasie ; 4. Noah S. Aaron Nonamaker laid down the burden of life at his home in Perkasie, March 17, 1885, in the seventy-first year of his age.

Noah S. Nonamaker attended the dis- trict school until he was thirteen years old, then worked at farming and later engaged in mechanical pursuits for ten vears. He was a great reader and stu- dent, and while working in the vicinity

of Doylestown attracted the attention of Dr. F. Swartzlaider, who enabled him to satisfy his love for the study of med- icine, and while continuing to work in- dustriously he began reading for the profession under the instruction of Dr. Swartzlaider. He began his collegiate course in 1877, graduating from the Jef- ferson Medical School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1879. He at once came to Bedminster, where he has built up for himself a large and enviable prac- tice. Dr. Nonamaker is identified with the Doylestown lodge No. 245, F. and A. M., the Bucks County Medical So- ciety, and the State Medical Society. He is emphatically a self-made man, start- ing in life without advantages of any kind, supporting himself by industrious work in the daytime, and assiduous study at night. With rare energy, per- severance and indomitable courage he has become a well read and successful member of the honored profession. March 15, 1883, Dr. Nonamaker married Lizzie, a daughter of Abraham Beans, of Sellersville. She was born September 8, 1857. Six children were born of this union: Annie Lucretia, deceased; Edgar Vasco, who graduated from Perkiomen Seminary in 1905, and is going to pre- pare for the ministry at Muhlenburg College; Claudius Howard, deceased; Bessie Gertrude, deceased; Mattie Pau- line, deceased; and Celia Helen. The mother of these children died June 26, 1895.

ROBERT BROWN, late of Lower Makefield, deceased, was born on the old homestead where he spent most of his life and where his widow and two daughters still reside. This homestead is a part of a plan- tation that has been in the family for two hundred and twenty-five years, having been originally taken up by George Brown, who came from Leicestershire, England, and landed at New Castle in 1679, proceed- ing thence up the Delaware to Bucks county. His wife Mercy came over on the same ship with him and they were married at New Castle on their arrival. Tradition states that he had been court- ing her sister in Leicestershire, but that on her refusal to accompany him to America, he proposed to Mercy to ac- company him. They were members of the Society of Friends, and among the first members of Falls Meeting. They were the parents of fifteen children, sev- eral of whom died in infancy. Eight sons and three daughters survived; of the latter one married a Titus, another a Stackhouse, and the third, Mercy, mar- ried Robert Sotcher. son of William Penn's trusted steward, John Sotcher, many years a member of colonial as- sembly. George Brown was born in 1644, and died in 1726.

Samuel Brown, son of George and

240

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

Mercy, was born 9-11-1694, and mar- ried, 5-9-1717, Ann Clark and had five children, viz .: George, who married (first) Martha Worrell and (second) Elizabeth Field; John, see forward; Mercy, who married Joshua Baldwin; Ann, who married Joseph Lovett; and Esther, who married Daniel Lovett, Samuel Brown died 10-3-1769.

John Brown, second son of Samuel and Ann (Clark) Brown, was born 8- 29-1724. He was known as "Fox Hunt- ing John Brown" to distinguish him from his cousins of the same name, and was a prominent man in the commun- ity. He settled on the Newport road, near Emilie, where he died I-1-1802. His wife was Ann Field, daughter of Benja- min Field, a trustee of the loan office in 1743 and a member of colonial assem- bly 1738-1745. John and Ann (Field) Brown were the parents of nine chil- dren: Samuel, the eldest, born II-I-1751, died 1813, married Abi White and was the father of General Jacob Brown; 2. John, born 1753, died 1821, married Martha Harvey; 3. Benjamin, born 1754, married Jane Wright; 4. David, born 1756, died 1777; 5. Sarah, born 6-II- 1758, married Samuel Allen; 6. Mary, born 1761, died 1777; 7. Charles, born 3-27-1762, see forward; 8. William, born 1764, died 1764; 9. Elizabeth, born 12-II-1765, died 1824, married Mahlon Yardley in 1787.

Charles Brown, the seventh child of John and Ann, resided on the Milford road, two miles from Fallsington. He married in 12 mo., 1784, Charlotte Palmer. He was a farmer and a mem- ber of Falls Meeting. He died 9-20- 1834. Charles and Charlotte were the parents of thirteen children, five of whom died in infancy and three daughters, Mary, Martha and Mercy, died in early life, unmarried. Those who survived were: Joshua, born 1785, married Sarah Lovett; Benjamin, born 8-18-1787, see forward; Joseph, born 1789, never mar- ried, was drowned in the Neshaminy in 1863; Alice, born 1792, married John Moon.

Benjamin Brown, second of Charles and Charlotte, born 8-18-1787, married 6 mo., 1811, Mary, daughter of Isaac Barnes and Martha Brown, his wife, the latter being a daughter of George Brown (3), above mentioned, who had married Elizabeth Field. After his marriage Benjamin Brown went to live on the old homestead which for two generations had been in the branch of the family to which his wife belonged, and died there 9-10-1879. Benjamin and Mary (Barnes) Brown were the parents of nine children, three of whom died young. Isaac, the oldest son, born 2-5-1815, married Sarah C. Smith, and is still living in Newtown; William, born 10-25-1817, married Huldah Pettit, of Philadelphia, and died 4-17-1877; Robert,

see forward; Joseph, born 12-28-1824, died in 1903, he married Phebe Stackhouse; Joshua, born 2-3-1831, is still living in Phila- delphia, he married Sarah Hance; Char- lotte, born 1834, married Herbert Galbraith, of Philadelphia, and died in 1879.

Robert S. Brown, the third son of Benjamin and Mary (Barnes) Brown, was born on the old homestead, I-24- 1820. He married, 10-19-1871, Caroline Barnes, daughter of John R. S. and Mary D. (Loud) Barnes, and grand- daughter of Isaac Barnes, who was a cousin to Isaac Barnes, the grandfather of her husband. Her maternal grand- father, Thomas Loud manufactured the first upright piano ever built in this country ; it is now on exhibition at - Me- morial Hall, Philadelphia. Before his marriage Robert S. Brown removed to Philadelphia and carried on the milk business for some years, and then re- turned to the old homestead, where he died February 17, 1903. His widow and children still reside there. His chil- dren are: Mary, born 9-7-1872, and Charlotte, born 1-19-1876. The latter married, 6-12-1900, Nicholas Brewer Davis; they have two children: Lynn David, born August 1, 1901, and Dor- othy Wayne Davis, born May 17, 1904. The family are members of the Society of Friends.

PHILIP C. SWARTLEY, of Line Lexington, Bucks county, belongs to a family that has been prominent in the affairs of the section in which he re- sides for five generations. His paternal ancestor, Philip Schwartley, was born in Eppingen, in Necker Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, October 28, 1764, and accompanied his elder brothers John and Jacob to America in the ship "Min- erva," arriving in Philadelphia Septem- ber 30. 1772. The Schwartley brothers located for a time in Franconia town -. ship, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where Philip married Sarah Rosen- berger, born January 24, 1765, daughter of the Rev. Henry and Barbara (Oben- holtzer) Rosenberger, and granddaugh- ter of Henry Rosenberger, the pioneer ancestor of the family in America. Philip Schwartley about the year 1790 settled in New Britain township, and became a large landholder and prominent citizen of that township. He died September 23, 1840, and his wife Sarah died. April 6, 1849. They were the parents of nine children, the sixth of whom, Abraham Swartley, was the grandfather of Philip C. Swartley. He was born in New Brit- ain township and resided there all his life, becoming a large landholder and a prominent and useful citizen. He died November 17. 1879. He was twice mar- ried, his first wife being Anna Delp, daughter of John Delp, of New Britain, also of German descent, whose family,

1.K

A. : TI

X AND

\r' NS.

LA Phoques

241

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

like that of her husband, were of the Mennonite faith. Abraham and Anna (Delp) Swartley were the parents of four children: Henry D., Philip, Abra- ham, and Sarah, who died young. Abra- ham Swartley married (second) Barbara Hunsicker, who survived him, and had four children; Isaac, who died young; John; Anna, wife of Levi Henge; and Sarah, who married Joseph Hyer.

Henry D. Swartley, eldest son of Abraham and Anna (Delp) Swartley, was born in New Britain township. Soon after his marriage he settled in Hilltown township, where he followed the life of a farmer. He married Sarah Clymer, daughter of Henry and Eliza- beth (Kulp) Clymer, and they were the parents of five children: Annie, wife of Milton D. Alderfer; Abraham C., who married Sallie Detweiler; Philip C., the subject of this sketch; Henry C., who married Elizabeth Myers; and Sarah, who married David B. Beidler, of Phil- adelphia.

PHILIP C. SWARTLEY, a son of Henry D. and Sarah (Clymer) Swartley, was born in Hilltown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, July 15, 1860. He quired his education at the public schools of Hilltown township, the North Wales high school and at Perkiomen Seminary. He worked on his father's farm until sixteen years of age, and then taught school in Hilltown during the years 1876, 1877 and 1878. He then be- gan farming, which he has since fol- lowed in connection with the vocation of an auctioneer. He also does an ex- tensive business in the sale of live stock on commission. In 1900 he purchased his present farm at Line Lexington, which he has since conducted. In poli- tics he is a staunch Republican, and is one of the local leaders of his party in that section, serving for several years as a member of the county committee. He has filled the position of township as- sessor for four years, and has occupied other township offices. In religion he is a Mennonite. He is a member of the Order of Knights of Maccabees, and is affiliated with other beneficial organi- zations. He married Helen Leidy, daughter of Isaiah and Elizabeth (Swartz) Leidy, and they have been the parents of six children: Warren, de- ceased; Elizabeth; Raymond; Margaret; Edmund; and Paul, deceased.

LOUIS AUGUSTUS HOGUET, for sixty years a public-spirited and influ- ential citizen of Bristol, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, was born May 5, 1822, in the city of Philadelphia, a son of Fran- cis Augustus and Mary (Collins) Hoguet, who were the parents of six children: Josephine and Francis (twins),

Louis Augustus, Adelaide, Lucien and Mary. Francis A. Hoguet (father) emi- grated to America and located in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in business as a jeweler on a large scale. He is a descendant of a French ances- try, and was born and died in France.

Louis A. Hoguet attended the schools of Philadelphia, and after completing his studies learned the drug business, being employed in a wholesale and retail drug house, and at the age of twenty-two came to Bristol, Bucks county, and opened the first drug store in that sec- tion of the county. This was in the year 1844, and he conducted that business very successfully from that date up to the time of his decease, June 23, 1904. He was a man of excellent judgment, a careful adviser, and one who had the full confidence of his business and social as- sociates. He occupied a prominent po- sition among the business men of the town of his adoption. He was one of the oldest directors of the Farmers' Na- tional Bank, his term of service in this capacity being the longest of any in its history. He was treasurer of the Bristol Water Company, and sometimes called "its father;" was president of the Bristol Gas Company; and an ardent friend to all measures that in his judgment would improve the borough or be helpful to his fellow-citizens. He was for many years an active member of Bristol Fire Com- pany, No. 1, having been a charter mem- ber of this organization. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, affil- iating with Bristol Lodge, No. 25, An- cient York Free and Accepted Masons, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Bristol. He was one of the originators and for many years the treasurer of the first Building and Loan Association in Bristol, the first meeting for organization being held in his store. He was a painstaking me- thodical man of business. his charac- teristics winning for him the confidence and esteem of the entire community.

On March 9, 1844. Mr. Hoguet mar- ried Mary Louisa Murphy, of Philadel- phia, and the issue of this union was the following named children: Thomas Henry, deceased, who was edticated at Louisburg Seminary; Clara became the wife of J. Ross Calhoun, whose father was Admiral Edwin Calhoun, of the United States navy, deceased; Albert, deceased ; William. deceased ; Clifford, deceased; Ellen, who received her ed- ucation Chelton Hills, and became the wife of Winfield Scott Wintermute, of Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of five children: Louis Hoguet; Clara, who became the wife of William R. Pierce, of Philadelphia; Edith, who became the wife of Louis Conant, of Montevista, California, and they are the parents of one child, Emily: and Helen. Mrs. Hoguet, the mother of

16-3

2.42

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

these children, died about 1860. On Feb- ruary 26, 1862, Mr. Hoguet married Maria Hellings, of Bristol, Bucks county, daughter of Joseph A. and Susan (Richards) Hellings. The issue of this union was one child, Annie, born September 19, 1869, who was educated at St. Mary's Hall, Burlington, New Jer- sey, and on October 23, 1894, became the wife of Richard Henry Morris, of Bris- tol, Pennsylvania, son of Captain Rich- ard Henry and Alice (Vanuxem) Morris, now living at Germantown, Pennsyl- vania, and they are the parents of three children: Charlotte, born December 1, 1895; Richard Henry, born May 14, 1897; and Margaret, born September 1, 1898. This family is now living in Ger- mantown, Pennsylvania.

JOHN JOSEPH KILCOYNE, the genial proprietor of the Closson House at Bristol, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, was born at Holmesburg, Philadelphia, September 30, 1864, and is a son of Michael and Margaret (McGinnis) Kil- coyne, the former of whom was a well- known contractor and builder of Holmesburg.

John J. Kilcoyne was educated at the Holmesburg Academy, and at the close of his school days learned the trade of a mason with his father and worked at the same for about twelve years. In the spring of 1897 he came to Bristol and assumed the management of the old and popular hostelry, known as the Clos- son House, and on April 3, 1900, became its proprietor and has since conducted it in an efficient manner, maintaining its old-time reputation as one of the leading hostelries of lower Bucks. Mr. Kil- coyne is the Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge of Bristol.

Mr. Kilcoyne married, September 20, 1894, Theresa Marie Antoinette Farley, daughter of James and Elizabeth Jane (Leslie) Farley, of Bristol, and grand- daughter of Thomas and Ann (Brady) Farley, and two children were the issue of this union: John Leslie, born July 30, 1895, now a student at St. Dominic's, Holmesburg, and Anita, born July 26. 1897, now attending the Sacred Heart Academy at Torresdale. James Leslie, maternal grandfather of Mrs. Kilcoyne, who was a well-known resident of Bris- tol. Pennsylvania, for many years, was a native of Ireland, from whence he came to America and settled at Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, later locating in Bristol, and becoming the owner of boats on the Lehigh Valley canal. He was also the owner of the ""Exchange Hotel," in Bristol. James Leslie married Mary Bovle, who bore him a family of six children, four of whom attained years of maturity, as follows: Elizabeth J., Henry, a physician and druggist; James,

an attorney; and Mary A., who became the wife of Jolin W. Closson. John W. Closson, now deceased, was born near Point Pleasant, Tinicum township, June 16, 1839, a son of George W. and Char- lotte (Wyker) Closson, natives of Bucks county, and a grandson of William and Sarah Closson and Henry and Mary Wyker. John W. Closson was educated at Point Pleasant, and clerked in stores for his father and brother until the out- breaking of the civil war, when he joined the Doylestown Guards, April, 1861. Upon his return home he en- gaged in mercantile business for him- self at Point Pleasant, continuing the same until his marriage to Mary A. Leslie, above mentioned, after which he moved to the "Exchange Hotel" in Bris- tol, which he purchased in 1872 of his father-in-law, James Leslie, and in 1875 remodeled, and which has since been known as the Closson House. In 1872 Mr. Closson was elected coroner, and by a special act of the legislature he was empowered to appoint deputies throughout the county of Bucks, and served six years, when his health fail- ing him, he gave up political life and turned his attention to his hotel, where he died November 8, 1882. Mrs. Clos- son took charge of the hotel at once, and being a lady of excellent mind and busi- ness talent, she made the house one of the most popular in the state. Owing to the increase in trade, she erected a fine three-story brick building with pressed brick front and all the most modern improvements; the chambers of the house are spacious, handsomely fur- nished, well ventilated and comfortable, and the parlors and reception rooms are attractive and elegant. Mrs. Closson, who was an aunt of Mrs. John J. Kil- coyne, reared Mrs. Kilcoyne to woman- hood and at the death of the former she left the Hotel Closson to her, which is now being managed by her husband, John J. Kilcoyne.

ELMER L. JOHNSON, a represen- tative of that class of men whose active careers are spent in the quiet but useful calling of agriculture, was born on the old Johnson homestead in Bensalem township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, February 8. 1860. His parents were Jesse L. and Anna P. (Levis) Johnson, and his grandparents were Clark and Rachel (Grim) Johnson.

Clark Johnson (grandfather) was born on the old Johnson tract. which con- sisted of between six and seven hundred acres, owned by his father, who di- vided it among his five children, and the farm of one hundred and fifty acres farmed by Elmer L. Johnson, whose name heads this review. is all that re- mains in the family at the present time

243

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY ..

(1904). Clark Johnson followed farm- ing as a means of livelihood, his pro- ducts finding a ready market. He was a vestryman of the Episcopal church, and his political affiliations were with the Democratic party. He married Rachel Grim, who was a native of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, and their children were: John, who was a merchant of Hulmeville; Adaline, who became the wife of C. M. Henry; Ann, who became the wife of Frank Wood; and Jesse L., who is mentioned hereinafter. Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson lived many years beyond the allotted scriptural age of three score years and ten, he dying at the age of eighty-four, and she at the age of eighty- six.

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

History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 53

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