History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 55

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 55

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LINFORD R. CRAVEN. Among the men who have achieved local eminence in their chosen profession is Linford R. Craven, photographer, Doylestown, Penn- sylvania. He was born March 26, 1864, in Hilltown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, the son of Joseph and Ann (Ritchie) Craven.

The family of Craven are of Holland des- cent, and have been residents of Bucks county since the first quarter of the eigh- teenth century. Jacobus (James) Craven was one of the trustees of Neshaminy Presbyterian church of Warwick in 1743. He was a large landowner in Warminster township and in Moreland township, Mont- gomery county. He died about 1760 at an advanced age. His children were : Thomas, Giles, James, Alice, wife of Harman Van- sant ; Elinor. wife of Clement Dungan ; Hannah, wife of William McDowell; Esther, wife of William Gilbert; and Mary, wife of Anthony Scout. Giles died without issue in 1798, and James removed to Vir- ginia.

Thomas Craven, married Lena. daughter of William and Janet (Suydam) Bennett, and settled in Warminster township, where he died August, 1799, leaving sons: Will- iam, James, Giles, Isaac and Thomas, and daughters: Christiana, wife of Thomas Beans; Edith, wife of Charles Vansant; Ann, Catharine and Helena.

Isaac Craven inherited from his father the "Mansion House" and 103 acres of land in Warminster that had been his grand- father's, whereon he died in May. 1835. at an advanced age. His children were Will- iam, Isaac, Abraham, and Elenah, wife of John Finney. Only the last two survived him and inherited his lands. His son Abra- ham married Hannah Finney and settled

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

on a farm in Moreland, but returned to Warminster some time after his father's decease. Ile died in 1882, aged about eighty-five years, leaving seven children, four sons and three daughters.

Joseph Craven, son of Abraham, and fath- er of the subject of this sketch, was born near Hatboro, in Moreland township, in 1823. He married Ann, daughter of Thomas Ritchie, and great-granddaughter of James Ritchic, a Scotch-Irish settler of Warwick township, Bucks county. In 1869 he removed to Hatboro, where he conducted a store for four years. In 1873 he purchased a farm in Moreland, upon which he resided until 1883, when he removed to North Wales, Montgomery county, where he lived a retired life.

His children are: Edwin, residing in Scranton, Pennsylvania; Sue, wife of Frank Mc Veagh, of Philadelphia; Joanna, wife of Lewis K. Hall of Upper Makefield; Will- iam of Bridgeport, Pennsylvania; Linford R .; Robert, of Ashbourne, Pennsylvania ; and Mary deceased, who was the wife of Elmer Smith.

Linford R. Craven, the subject of this sketch, was educated at the public schools of Hatboro and Upper Makefield, and at the age of fourteen years began his business career as a clerk in a store at Frankford, Philadelphia. In 1880 he removed to North Wales, where he was employed in making shirts, came to Doylestown three years later and followed the same business for one year, when he began photographing in connection with Samuel F. Dubois, a local photographer, and William Boyce of Phila- delphia. In 1885 he opened a portable studio in Doylestown, and a year later pur- chased the old spoke factory at the junction of Court and State streets and erected his present residence and studio. In politics Mr. Craven is a Democrat. He and his family belong to the Doylestown Presby- terian church. He is a member of Doyles- town Lodge, No. 94, I. O. O. F., Doyles- town Encampment, No. 35, I. O. O. F., St. Tammany Castle, No. 173, K. G. E., and of Lenape Council No. 1117, Royal Arcanum. He has served three years in Doylestown borough council, and held other local offices. He was married February 14, 1883, to Fannie H., daughter of Gibson Johnson.

CHARLES D. BIGLEY, the genial pro- prietor of the North Main Street Bakery, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and for many years an officer in the Bucks county courts, was born in Nockamixon township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, December 14. 1844, and is a son of Isaac and Mary (Deemer) Bigley, both of German extraction.

Adam Bigley. the grandfather of Charles D .. was a saddler by trade. and a lifelong resident of Nockamixon township. having purchased a small farm there in 1807. which he conducted in connection with his

vocation as a harness maker. He died in Nockamixon in 1839. He and his wife Sarah were the parents of four children: Isaac, Solomon, Ann, wife of David Haring, and John.

Isaac Bigley, eldest son of Adam and Mary, was born in Nockamixon township, September 5, 1798, and died there October 12, 1883. He was a limeburner in Durham township and in Hunterdon county for sev- eral years, but during the last forty years of his life resided in Kintnersville, Nock- amixon township, on the line of Durham township, on a small lot conveyed to him in 1842. He married Mary Deemer, daughter of Solomon and Mary Deemer, of Nock- amixon, and a granddaughter of Michael Deemer, an early settler in Nockamixon. (See Deemer Family). They were the parents of nine children, viz: Elizabeth, who married James Lewis ; Sarah, who mar- ried Jesse Moser; Catharine, wife of Will- iamı Cyphers of Riegelsville, Pennsylvania; Hannah, wife of Frank Laubenstaine; Susan, wife of Owen Gares; Adam, who married Mary Bellis of New Jersey; Lydia, wife of William Nicholas; Solomon and Charles D. All three of the sons served in the Union army during the civil war; Adam in a New Jersey regiment ; Solomon D. in the First Pennsylvania Regiment and later as recruiting sergeant ; and Charles D. in the One Hundred and Seventy-fourth regiment.

Charles D. Bigley was born and reared in Nockamixon township, and acquired his education in the public schools. In early life he followed the trade of a cigar maker, and was also engaged for some time in lime- burning. In October, 1862, he obtained the consent of his father and enlisted for nine months service in the One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Pennsylvania Regiment,

under Colonel John W. Nyce, and at the organization of the regiment in Philadelphia on November 1, 1862, was appointed corporal in Company

F under Captain Thomas W. Harris. November 19, 1862, the regiment proceeded to Washington, D. C., and from there to Suffolk, Virginia, where it reported to General Peck and was assigned to General Ferry's brigade, and on December 31, was ordered to Newbern, North Carolina, where it arrived January 6, 1863. In the same month it was ordered to reinforce the army operating in front of Charleston, South Carolina, and sailed from Beaufort, arriving at Hilton Head on February 5, and was stationed on Helena Island for about a month. It then proceeded to Beau- fort, where it was engaged in provost duty until June. 1863, when it was again trans- ferred to Hilton Head. Towards the close of July, the term of enlistment being about to expire, the regiment was ordered north. and. returning to Philadelphia, was hon- orably mustered out of service August , 1863. Mr. Bigley returned to Nockamixon, where he resided for the next twenty

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

years, being employed for fourteen years at Durham furnace. Politically Mr. Big- ley is a Democrat, and has always taken an active part in the councils of his party, as well as in the affairs of the commun- ity in which he lived. He was a member of the school board of Nockamixon town- ship for a number of years, and also filled other local offices. In the fall of 1884 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the office of clerk of quarter sessions of Bucks county, and removed with his fam- ily to the county seat. He filled the of- fice of clerk of courts for three years with eminent ability, and since the expiration of his term of office has filled a number of official positions. He was a member of borough council for seven years, resign- ing the position during his third term by reason of his removal to a different ward. In 1896 he was appointed a tipstaff of the court, and in 1901 was advanced to the position of court crier, which he since filled to the satisfaction of the court. In 1890 he purchased the North Main Street Bakery of Enos Weiss, and is still en- gaged in conducting it. He is a member of Peace and Union Lodge, No. 456, I. O. O. F., of Rieglesville, Pennsylvania ; of Pakonet Lodge, No. 158, I. O. R. M., of Kintnersville; and of General Robert L. Bodine Post, G. A. R., of Doylestown. He and his family are members of Salem Reformed church.

Mr. Bigley has been twice married. His first wife was Mary Jane Fluck, daugh- ter of Amos Fluck, of Springfield town- ship, Bucks county, and they were the par- ents of two children; Oscar H., now trans- cribing clerk in the office of the recorder of deeds; and Minnie, wife of Reuben C. Stever. Oscar H., married A. Florence Grim, daughter of the late George W. and Elizabeth (Koons) Grim, of Nockamixon, and sister of Hon. Webster Grim of Doylestown, and they have been the parents of six children, three of whom survive, viz : Grace, a teacher in the public schools of Bucks county, Ethel, and Dorothy. Reu- ben C. and Minnie (Bigley) Stever are the parents of three children : Charles B., Helen and Frank, deceased. Mrs. Mary Jane Big- ley died July 11, 1894, and Mr. Bigley mar- ried (second) December 3, 1896, Mrs. Ella (Harrold) Haldeman, widow of Ja- cob Haldeman, of Doylestown township. and daughter of William Harrold, of Doylestown.

JAMES S. HARRAR, descended from an honored early family in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and now following farming in Warminster township, Bucks county, was born April 30, 1866, in the former county, his parents being Joel J. and Wilmina (Haupt) Harrar, who were likewise natives of Montgomery county. The father was a son of James S. Harrar, also born in Montgomery county, while

the great-grandfather. John F. Harrar, Sr., was a native of Wales and emigrated to America during the colonial epoch in the history of the United States, settling in Montgomery county. He was a Baptist in religious . faith. In early manhood he learned the shoemaker's trade, and in ad- dition to that occupation followed farm- ing. James S. Harrar was reared in Mont- gomery county, and after his marriage set- tled upon a farm there, carrying on agri- cultural pursuits throughtout his remain- ing days. He, too, was a Baptist in relig- ious faith and was of a leading and influen- tial family of the county. He had a broth- er, Nathan Harrar, who was twice a repre- sentative of the district in the state legis- lature of Pennsylvania. The children of James S. Harrar, grandfather of our sub- ect, were five in number: Lydia, Joel J., Martha, Elwood and Mary.

Joel J. Harrar, father of James S. Har- rar, was married and settled near the old home farm, where he remained for five years. He afterward removed to the Thom- as Folk farm, upon which he lived for thirteen years, when he purchased the Will- iam Shae farm in Horsham township, Bucks county, where he remained until his death, which occurred January 29, 1904. He lived the quiet life of a farmer, and his upright and honorable career gained for him the respect of his fellow men. His political support was given the Democracy. His wife survives him and finds a good home with her son James. She was a daughter of John and Susan (Fell) Haupt. The Haupt family, residents of Berks coun- ty, were of German descent, while the Fells lived in Buckingham township. Bucks county, and were of Quaker faith. John Haupt was an agriculturist, actively iden- tified with farming interests in Montgom- ery county, and he died upon the old fam- ily homestead near Montgomeryville. In his family were four children: Seneca, a farmer ; Wilmina, who became Mrs. Har- rar; Nathan; and Elizabeth. To Joel J. and Wilmina (Haupt) Harrar were born four children: John, a farmer; James S .: Elwood; and Wilmar, a farmer for the McKean estate.

James S. Harrar was reared to farm life and remained at home until his mar- riage, when in 1890 he rented the old his- toric farm known as the Isaac Parry prop- erty in Warminster township, Bucks coun- ty. He has since purchased this place and yet resides thereon, carrying on general farming and also attending the Philadel- phia market. He has repaired and remod- eled the barn, placed all of the buildings in good condition, has his fields under a high state of cultivation and, in fact, has made his farm one of the best improved properties of the locality. He uses modern machinery in its development and culti- vation, and everything about his place is kept in excellent condition. He also has a herd of cows and sells milk and he

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also keeps good horses, both for the farm work and driving. Mr. Harrar was rcared in the Democratic faith, and has always supported the party, but has never sought or desired office.

He has been married twice. His first wife died August 8, 1898, leaving a son, Carrell, who was born May 3, 1893. December 4, 1901, Mr. Harrar wedded Miss Susan C. Parry, belonging to one of the old and prominent families of Pennsyl- vania. Her parents were Isaac C. and Sarah B. (Hicks) Parry, both natives of Bucks county, descended from ancestors who have long been identified with the development and progress of the state. The mother was a daughter of Edward and Sarah (Worstel) Hicks, of Newtown. Ed- ward and Elias Hicks were cousins, and both were highly educated and became emi- nent preachers, being the founders of the Hicksite branch of the Friends society. Ed- ward Hicks was an eminent divine of that denomination, and was well known through- out . the world by the representatives of the Society of Friends. He resided in Lang- horne and at Newtown, Bucks county, but he preached the gospel according to his interpretation in many places in America and thoroughly established the faith in which he believed. The children of Ed- ward Hicks were: Mary, Mrs. Susan Car- lac, Isaac W., Mrs. Elizabeth Plummer, and Mrs. Sarah H. Parry.

In the paternal line the ancestral history of Mrs. Harrar can be traced back through many generations to Thomas Parry, Sr., who came from Radmanshire, Wales, to America during colonial days and settled in Montgomery county, being one of the early promoters of development and prog- ress in eastern Pennsylvania. He assisted in laying broad and deep the foundation for the present development and progress of his part of the state, and was a leading and influential resident of. Pennsylvania. He and his descendants have been con- sistent members of the Society of Friends. to which they yet adhere. They have lived lives of simplicity and of honesty, and have ever commanded the respect of those with whom they have come in contact. Thomas Parry, Sr., was the father of Thomas Par- ry, Jr., and he was the father of Jacob Parry, whose son Isaac Parry, Sr., was the father of Isaac C. Parry, who was Mrs. Harrar's father. Isaac Parry, Sr., was a broad-minded, intelligent business man and farmer, who was often called upon to write wills, settle estates and acts as guardian for heirs. None of the family have ever as- pired to elective offices or public notoriety of any kind. They have mostly followed farming, but others have been concerned with industrial and commercial interests. Thomas Parry, Sr., obtained a large tract of land at Edgehill, where he improved an extensive farm. becoming very successful. There he reared his family and spent his remaining days. Thomas Parry, Jr., his

son, was reared to manhood upon the old homestead and after his marriage removed to Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he purchased an extensive tract of land, including the farm upon which James S. Harrar now resides. Thomas Parry improved a large portion of his property and thereon reared his family. His son Jacob married and settled upon the old homestead, continuing the work of further development and there he, too, lived and died. His son, Isaac Parry, Sr., obtained the old homestead, which in turn was inherited by his son, Isaac C. Parry, and both reared their fami- lies and died upon that place. During the period of the revolutionary war the Parry family was often molested by the contending armies, who foraged upon their place. On one occasion a scouting party of English came to the homestead farm and found there some fat sheep, one of which they killed, compelling Mrs. Parry to cook it for them in the Dutch oven. Before the cooking pro- cess had been completed, however, a party of American scouts appeared and the British fled, so that the American troops got the meal which had been prepared for the other soldiers. The Parry family, from Thomas Parry, the progenitor in America, down to the present generation, has always been dis- tinguished for simplicity of living, pur- ity of morals, untiring industry and high principles. Isaac Parry, Sr., grandfather of Mrs. Harrar, was born upon the old family homestead in June, 1774, and died there in October, 1857. He was mar- ried twice, his first union being with Sarah Hopkins, by whom he had three children: Rebecca, Jacob and Richard H. His second wife was Mary Nixon, a daughter of Samuel and Susan (Rob- erts) Nixon, also of a prominent family of Bucks county, and their children werc: Tacey, who died unmarried; Thomas; Samuel; Isaac C .; Susanna; and Mary, who became the wife of Jo- seph Saunders, of Philadelphia, and is the only one now living.

Isaac C. Parry, father of Mrs. Har- rar, was born and reared on the old fam- ily homestead in Bucks county, and became one of the prominent farmers of the locality, carrying forward the work of agricultural development that had been instituted by his ancestors. He was a man of sterling integrity and honor, his name being above reproach, and he lived a life in harmony with the principles of Friends, in which he reared his family and they have never departed from that faith. He married Miss Hicks, and they became the parents of five children: Elizabeth H., who mar- ried Isaac Warner; J. C., of Philadel- phia; Tacey M., the wife of R. Willetts; Mary S .; and Susan C., the wife of J. S. Harrar. The father died upon the old

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

family homestead July 12, 1893, passing away at the age of seventy-seven years, while his wife's death occurred Febru- ary 23, 1895.

ABRAHAM M. MYERS. Six genera- tions of the Myers family, to which Abra- ham M. Myers belongs, have resided in Bucks county. His great-great-grandfather was the first of the name to locate here, settling Bedminster township, near

Pipersville, whence he removed to Plum- stead township. He was a farmer and blacksmith, following those pursuits throughout his entire life. He married a Miss Nash and they had children : Henry, Abraham, Christian, Esther, Mary and Bar- bara.

Henry Myers (2) son of John Myers, also learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed in connection with agricultural pursuits. He lived near Smith's corner, in Plumstead township, on land which had hitherto been in possession of his father. He married Margaret Geisinger, and they had children : Abraham G., Joseph G., Mary, Nancy, Esther and Henry G.

Abraham G. Myers (3) son of Henry and Margaret (Geisinger) Myers, was born on the old home farm in Plumstead town- ship, October 27, 1800, and died January 27, 1881. He, too, followed the occupation of farming, and lived near Pipersville. He was married in 1834 to Sarah Fritz, and their children were three in number : Francis F., Mary, who was born April 23, 1840, and died June 7, 1893; and Aaron F., born May 4, 1846.

Francis F. Myers (4), elder son of Abra- ham G. and Sarah (Fritz) Myers, was born in Bedminster township, April 22, 1838. He was a farmer, and lived all his life in the township of his nativity. His wife bore the maiden name of Rachel Myers, and they had the following children: Abraham MÍ., Sarah Ann, the wife of Allen Zetty; Mary Ellen, wife of Levi Myers; Minerva, wife of Henry Myers ; Huldah ; Rachel , Amanda: Ida: and Livvie, deceased.

Abraham M. Myers (5), the eldest child of Francis Myers, was born in Bedminster township, July 19, 1861, and was reared upon his father's farm, while his education was acquired in the district schools of the neighborhood. At the time of his marriage he settled in Skippack township, Montgom- ery county, where he conducted a farm for two years and then returned to Bedminster township, where he worked in a mill for three years. On the expiration of that period he purchased the Jacoby farm, on which he still resides, and to the further development and improvement of which he still directs his energies, making it an excellent property. He has also been active in community af- fairs. and in 1892 was elected a school director, which position he has since con- tinued to fill. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, and he is a

member of the Lutheran church. On January 13, 1883, Mr. Myers was united in marriage- to Miss Sarah Ann Gruver, a daughter of John and Hannah (Hillpot) Gruver, and they now have seven children, who are rep- resentatives of the Myers family in the sixth generation in Bucks county. These are : Ervin G .. born April 7, 1884; Eva G., born May 9, 1885; Francis G., born August 17, 1887; Jerome G., born September 19, 1894; Hannah C., born March 6, 1896, died April 15. 1897; Aaron G., born September 14, 1898; and Norman, born June 21, 1902.

WILLIAM PENN ROBERTS, a mem- ber of the firm of Roberts, Winner & Co., manufacturers, of Quakertown, Pennsyl- vania, was born August 16, 1843, near Per- kiomen Junction, Schuylkill township. Chester county. Pennsylvania, a son of Lewis and Harriet (Brooke) Roberts and grandson of Israel and Anna (Foulke) Roberts. who resided near Trumbauers- ville, Pennsylvania, where Israel Roberts was engaged in agricultural pursuits.

Lewis Roberts ( father) was born December 21, 1791, in Milford township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He attended the subscription schools of his district, and received some instruction from the Friends' school at Richland Monthly Meeting, Quakertown. He then learned wheelwright- ing and ploughmaking, which trades he fol- lowed throughout the active years of his career. On May 24, 1821, Mr. Roberts married Harriet Brooke, daughter of Isaac and Susan (Jones) Brooke; her father was a miller of Conshohocken, Montgomery county, and settled at Perkiomen Junction, Chester county. Their children were as fol- lows: Clementina Brooke, became the wife of Samuel Lee, of Leesport, Berks county. Anna Foulke became the wife of Evan Vanderslice, of Schuylkill township, Chester county ; they now reside at Valley Forge. Sarah Emily became the wife of Joseph Fussell, of Chester Springs, Chester county. Mary became the wife of Charles Fish, and they now reside at Reading. Charles Brooke, born September 13, 1829, died February 5, 1885, married Rebecca Rossiter ; they lived in Perry county, Pennsylvania. Lewis Ellwood, born February 26, 1835, married Jane Foulke, of Quakertown, and they reside in the city of Philadelphia. Jo- seph Jones, died at Relay Station, Mary- land ; he was a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Volun- teers during the Civil war. William Penn, mentioned at length hereinafter. David Brooke was killed in the battle of Peters- burg, April, 1865 ; he was first lieutenant of Company H, Two Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Ninth Army

Corps. during the civil war.

William Penn Roberts attended the dis- trict school, and at the same time assisted with the work at home until the death of

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

his father, in 1861, when the family moved to Port Kennedy, Montgomery county. He attended the school of that section for one winter, 1861-62, and in the spring of the latter named year went to Philadelphia and entered an apprenticeship to learn stove- plate molding with Cox, Weightman & Cox, founders. Here he remained for one year, but on account of labor troubles was com- pelled to give up learning the trade at that place. He went to Stuyvesant, New York, and entered the employ of the Columbia Company, where his brother, Lewis E. Rob- erts, was engaged as moulder, and here com- pleted his term of apprenticeship, serving one and one-half years with this firm. He worked as a journeyman for the same com- pany until the fall of 1865. when he was employed by his brother, Lewis E. Roberts, who had established a stove plate foundry at Quakertown, Pennsylvania, in 1864, in conjunction with David H. Thomas, who had erected a small shop near Strawn's Mill. In 1867 the firm felt the necessity of enlarging their facilities to meet the de- mands of their constantly increasing busi- ness, and accordingly located on Broad street, near Third street, Quakertown, where they erected a large foundry and stove fitting room, taking possession of the same in that year. William P. Roberts continued with them as a floor worker until 1875, in which year he was engaged as fore- man of the molding department, and con- tinued in that capacity until the destruction of the plant by fire in 1880. The firm then leased the American Stove Foundry, at Second and Mifflin streets, Philadelphia. In 1881 William P. Roberts joined with several other former employes of Roberts & Thomas and purchased the 'ruins of that firm at Quakertown, and under the title of Rogers, Roberts, Ecypes & Co. started the plant in February, 1882. Since then there have been some changes in the personnel of the firm, but Mr. Roberts has kept his place. and to- gether with William P. Winner and Francis Cavanaugh form the firm of Roberts, Win- ner & Co., master mechanics in their lines, all of them, and during this latter partner- ship the business has gained in volume and importance until at the present time (1905) the stoves of Roberts, Winner & Co. can be found at the homes of people from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The firm gives em- ployment to about one hundred hands in its various departments, and is thus an im- portant factor in the industrial life of the town. Mr. Roberts is actively interested in local political affairs, has served on the Quakertown board of education, and also in other positions of usefulness to the citizens of that town. His views coincide with those of the Republican party.

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 55

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