History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 66

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 66

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Jacob Carrell, son of James and Diana (Van Kirk) Carrell, born April 27, 1735, was the great-grandfather of Ezra P. Carrell. He was born and reared on the old family homestead known as Car- rellton and lived there all his life. He and his brother served in the Northamp- ton company in the revolutionary war. He was a successful farmer and pos- sessed of considerable means. He de- voted himself to home and church af-

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fairs, taking little part in public mat- ters outside his own immediate local- ity. He married Elizabeth Jamison, daughter of Daniel Jamison, of Nocka- mixon, Bucks county, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and they reared a large family of children who by intermarriage with families in that vicinity brought the Car- rells into relation with many of the lead- ing families of Bucks county. His chil- dren were: Joseph; Benjamin, married Mercy Comfort; John; Mary, married Lot Bennett; Sarah, married Mahlon Banes; Jesse, married Mary Bennett; Isaac; Elizabeth, married John Cornell.

Joseph Carrell, the grandfather of Ezra P. Carrell, was born June 1, 1792, at Carrellton, the old family homestead near Richboro, Bucks county. When a young man he learned the trade of a car- penter under his uncle, Jesse Johnson, and followed it some years. About 1835 he purchased the Carrell farm in War- minster where he lived the remainder of his life, dying April 25, 1884. When quite a young man he served as corporal in the army during the war of 1812-14, and many were the anecdotes he used to tell of camp life at Camp Dupont, near Marcus Hook, where his regiment was then stationed, Philadelphia at that time only extending as far north as Vine street and south to Pine street. Those who knew him remember him as a portly, white-haired old gentleman, tall and erect, with a military bearing acquired in youth and never forgotten. He was one of the last survivors of the small coterie of veterans of the war of 1812-14 which included General John Davis, William Bothwell, and one or two others whose relations were very intimate. He was for many years an elder of Nesha- miny Presbyterian church, with whose interests he was actively identified dur- ing his whole life. He was twice mar- ried, to Mary and Anna Gill, sisters, of an old English family who emigrated from London to Philadelphia and later settled in Northampton, Bucks county, where their descendants are now quite numerous. By the first marriage he had three children: Hugh Jamison, Emily, and Ezra Patterson, and by the second marriage two daughters: Sidney, who became the wife of Thomas B. Mon- tanye; and Elizabeth, who married Rob- ert Thompson Engart.

F. HARVEY GRIM, M. D., who for the past twenty-five years has been a prominent physician at Revere, Bucks county. Pennsylvania, was born at Re- vere, September 4. 1859, and is a son of the late Dr. George W. and Elizabeth (Koons) Grim, the former of whom was one of the prominent practicing physi- cians of Upper Bucks and for thirty- three years was located at Revere, being

one of the prominent men of that local- ity. His great-grandfather was a native of Rhenish Bavaria, and belonged to a family that were prominent in the af- fairs of Europe several centuries ago, tracing their descent from Frankish resi- dents of that part of ancient Gaul that became later Normandy, where the fam- ily became allied with those of the Norse conquerors, and later migrated to the Rhine Provinces about the tenth cen- tury.

The American pioneer of the family located in Montgomery county, where George Grim, the great-grandfather of F. Harvey Grim, was born. He located in Upper Salford township and married Elizabeth Favinger, also of German or- igin, and they became the parents of three children, one son Adam and two daughters.

Adam Grim, son of George and Eliza- beth (Favinger) Grim, married Chris- tina Desmond, of English or Scotch- Irish extraction, and lived in Montgom- ery county. He was killed on the rail- road in 1846.

Dr. George W. Grim, son of Adam and Christina (Desmond) Grim, was born in Montgomery county, March I3, 1832 and was educated at Washington Hall, Trappe, Pennsylvania, receiving a good academic education. His father dying when he was of the age of fourteen years, he learned the trade of a stove moulder and worked at the same for some years. Having badly burned his foot in the discharge of his duties, he decided to prepare himself for the med- ical profession, and resuming his studies at Washington Hall accepted a position as instructor in that institution, in the meantime entering himself as a student in the office of Dr. Gross. at Harleys- ville. He later entered Jefferson Medi- cal College, from which he graduated in the class of 1859, and immediately lo- cated at Revere, Nockamixon township, Bucks county, where he soon built up a large practice. He purchased a fine farm near Revere, which he conducted in connection with his professional du- ties. He married in 1857 Elizabeth P. Koons, who survives him, and they were the parents of nine children, six sons and three daughters. Three of the sons are prominent physicians, two are mem- bers of the Bucks county bar, and one is an instructor at the Keystone State Normal school at Kutztown. The fam- ily are members of the Reformed church. Dr. George Grim died at Revere, March 6, 1892.

Dr. F. Harvey Grim is the eldest son of Dr. George W. and Elizabeth (Koons) Grim. He was reared in Nock- amixon township and acquired his edu- cation at the local school, the West Chester State Normal school and the Keystone State Normal school at Kutz- town. He studied medicine with his

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father and entered Jefferson Medical College, from which he graduated in the class of 1881. Returning to Revere he began the practice of his chosen pro- fession in connection with his father, and after the latter's death continued the practice at Revere where he has a large and lucrative practice, and main- tains the reputation of his father as a physician of superior merit. Dr. Grim has taken an active interest in the af- fairs of the community in which he lives, and has been identified with vari- ous local enterprises. He has served for twelve years as a member of the local school board in which he filled the position of secretary. He was a mem- ber of the medical board of pension ex- aminers for four years, and is a member of the County and State Medical Asso- ciations. He was instrumental in the establishment of Revere postoffice, and was its first postmaster in 1885. Prev- ious to that time it was known as "Rufe's" and earlier as "Kintner's." He is a member of Riegelsville Lodge, No. 567. F. and A. M .; a past chief of the K. G. E., and a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M. and I. O. R. M. of Ferndale and Kintnersville. Dr. Grim married Ella M. Rufe, daughter of Reden and Mary Ann (Hillpot) Rufe, of Nockamixon, whose paternal ancestors were among the earliest and most prominent resi- dents of Nockamixon. Mrs. Grim died October 4, 1899, leaving seven children: Edna F., Mamie B., Lizzie E., George W., Clair F., Esther M., and Horace R. The family are members of the Re- formed church.

Jacob Ruff, as the name was origin- ally spelled, emigrated from Germany in the ship, "Snow Betsy," arriving in Philadelphia, August 27, 1739, at the age of twenty-one years, and soon after lo- cated in Nockamixon,

Bucks county, where he became the owner of 180 acres of land. He was corporal of captain Jacob Shupe's company, Bucks county militia, in 1775 and 1777, and his sons, John, Jacob and Henry, were privates in the same company. This company was one of those stationed at Bristol, Bucks county, in 1777, under the com- mand of Colonel Hugh Tomb, and probably saw active service in the New Jersey campaign. Jacob Rufe died on Christnias day, 1790. aged seventy-two years. His wife Elizabeth survived him. They were the parents of six sons, Johit, Jacob, Henry, Christian, George and Frederick, and one daughter, Sophia, who married George Fulmer.

George Rufe, son of Jacob and Eliza- beth Rufe, was the great-grandfather of Mrs. Grim. In 1795 he became the owner of 181 acres of land near Kint- nersville, and in 1798 of 176 acres near Revere. He was a blacksmith by trade and followed that vocation in connection with farming until his death in Decem-

ber, 1822. His wife Sarah survived him. They were the parents of four sons, Jacob, John, Frederick and Samuel, and four daughters, Elizabeth, Sarah, Su- sanna and Catharine.

John Rufe, son of George and Sarah Rufe, was born in Nockamixon, in 1797. He learned the trade of a blacksmith with his father, and followed that voca- tion for several years in connection with farming. He also owned and conducted the well known "Rufe's Tavern," one of the old hostelries of that section. He died in 1872 at the age of seventy-five years. His wife was Catharine Hager, daughter of Valentine Hager, and they were the parents of six children: Isaac, Reden, Amanda, wife of Hugh Kintner, who was recorder of deeds of Bucks county in 1854; Josiah, William and John H.

Reden Rufe, the father of Mrs. Ella M. Grim, was born in Nockamixon, June 20, 1824. He learned the carpenter trade at an early age and followed it for twen- ty-five years. He then purchased the homestead of ninety acres, where he still reside. He was twice married; first to Sarah Burgstresser, who died at the age of thirty-one years; and second to Mary Ann Hillpot, of an old Tinicum family, who bore him four children: Ella, who married Dr. F. H. Grim; Josiah; Sey- mour, who married Cora Kohl; and Annie, wife of Oscar Stone.

EDWARD LONGSTRETH. The late Edward Longstreth, for many years su- perintendent of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, and a retired member of the firm of Burnham, Williams and Company, who now operate that plant, though a resident of Philadelphia for the last forty years of his life, was a native of Bucks county. Throughout a long and busy life he kept in touch with the county of his nativity and took an active interest in all that pertained to her wel- fare and advancement. Mr. Longstreth was born in Warminster township, Bucks county, June 22. 1839, and was a son of Daniel and Hannah T. Long- streth, and a descendant of one of the oldest and most prominent families of Bucks county. His pioneer ancestor, Bartholomew Longstreth, settled in Bucks county in the time of William Penn and became one of the prominent men of his time. An account of the de- scendants of Bartholomew Longstreth is given in General Davis' narrative his- tory of Warminster contained in these volumes. The Longstreths came of good old English Quaker stock and rep- resented the solid, conservative and substantial elements of the county in the colonial days as well as down to the present time.

Daniel Longstretli, the father of Ed- ward Longstreth, was born in War-

Edward Lingstruth

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

minster, November 25, 1800, and died there March 30, 1846. He married (first) Elizabeth Lancaster, January 4, 1827. She was born July 5, 1803, and died September 19, 1829. They were the parents of two children: John L., born November 10, 1827, who has been for many years actively associated with the business life of Philadelphia and 110W resides at 556 North Eighteenth street; and Elizabeth L., who died April 23, 1848. Daniel Longstreth married (sec- ond) October 25, 1832, Hannah Town- send and they were the parents of seven children; Joseph T., born August 7, 1833, died July 12, 1834. Sarah, born September 4, 1834, died in Baltimore, March 14, 1881, married Charles R. Hol- lingsworth. Moses Robinson died April 2, 1838. Edward C., born June 22, 1839, died February 24, 1905. Samuel T., born August 2, 1837. Anna, born April 2, 1841, married Robert Tilney. David S., born October 26. 1844, died July 9, 1845.

Edward Longstreth, the fifth child, was reared on his father's farm in War- minster and received a good English ed- ucation. On October 4, 1857, at the age of eighteen years, he went to Philadel- phia. A month later he began his ap- prenticeship with M. W. Baldwin and Company at the Locomotive Works. Trained in the habits of industry, punc- tuality and strict integrity, he was in many ways a remarkable apprentice. During his five years of apprenticeship he was never known to be late in re- porting for duty, and this trait character- ized his after life. His energy, aptitude and punctuality were so marked that when less than three years of a five years' apprenticeship had elapsed, he was made assistant foreman of one of the departments and was advanced to the position of foreman of the second floor of the works. While filling these positions he applied himself to a study of an improvement in the gauge system with success, and his perfected system has long been in use and is one of the characteristic features of the Baldwin Locomotive Works. Mr. Baldwin also patented locomotive trucks and draft ap- pliances of his improved pattern, which are still used in the works. On August I, 1867, he became foreman of the erect- ing shop, and on January 1, 1868, super- intendent of the entire works. He be- came a member of the firm January I, 1870, and continued the control of the mechanical and construction depart- ment, superintending the work of three thousand men. By reason of impaired health he retired from the active busi- ness of the firm January 1, 1886. Mr. Longstreth was at one time vice presi- dent of the Franklin Institute, and a di- rector of the Williamson Industrial School. In 1884 he was one of the most energetic and active members of the Committee of One Hundred, which de-

feated the corrupt organization in Phil- adelphia and aided Samuel S. King to the mayoralty. Until his death, Mr. Long- streth was a member of the Merchant's Fund, a charitable organization; direc- tor of the Delaware Insurance Com- pany; a member of the Union League and the Engineers' Club. He was a life- long member of the Society of Friends, holding membership in the meeting at Fourth and Green streets, Philadelphia. He was a member and for several years one of the trustees and directors of the Bucks County Historical Society, and took an active part in the work of pre- serving the records and archives of the history of the county, in which his ancestors had resided for inany genera- tions. It was through his liberality that the tablet was placed on the old York road in Warminster to mark the place where John Fitch conceived the idea of steamboat navigation, and he was also instrumental in having many other his- toric places duly marked. The first tract of land owned by the Society upon which to erect a building for its archives and collections was a gift from Mr. Longstreth. He was a man much re- spected and loved by his Bucks county contemporaries, among whom he had a large acquaintanceship. He died at his home, 1410 Spruce street, February 24, 1905, lamented and honored by all who knew him. Mr. Longstreth married, June 7, 1865. Anna C. Wise, and they were the parents of two sons: Charles and Howard, and one daughter, Mrs. W. L. Supplee, all residing in Philadel- phia. Mrs. Anna W. Longstreth, the mother, died September 18, 1899. His son Charles also served a five years' ap- prenticeship at the Baldwin Locomotive Works after his father had left the firm, and is now the head of the United States Metallic Packing Company, which con- ducts a very large business in that and other lines.

THE SIEGLER FAMILY. Mathew Siegler, for nearly thirty years a resident of Doylestown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, was born in the province of Baden, Ger- many, January 6, 1812, and married there, in 1837, Antoinette Eckerly, who was born in Baden, June 16, 1812. Mathew learned the trade of a stone mason, which he fol- lowed in Baden until 1849, when he emi- grated to Pennsylvania and located in Hill- town, Bucks county, at the present site of the borough of Silverdale. Having estab- lished a home in his adopted country, he sent for his wife and three children, who ar- rived in Bucks county in 1851. After fol- lowing his trade in Hilltown for ten years in 1859 Mr. Siegler removed with his fam- ily to Doylestown, where he resided until his death, July 30. 1888, being killed at a railroad crossing west of the town, one year after the celebration of the fiftieth anni-

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versary of his married life, at which all his children and grandchildren were present. His widow Antoinette survived him over ten years, dying November 1, 1898. They were the parents of five children, all or whom are still living: Augustus, of Phila- delphia; Pauline, who married (first) Francis Roach, and is now the wife of Joseph Merkle, of Doylestown; Charles Louis, of Doylestown; Peter, of Doyles- town; and Annie, wife of Bernard Mc- Ginty, the veteran job printer of Doyles- town. Augustus, the eldest son, married Mary Taylor, and they are the parents of six children, all of whom reside in Phila- delphia, except one. They are: Clara, wife of A. Fries Shive, of Doylestown; Nettie, wife of Harry Goldsmith; Julia, wife of John Friend; Marv, wife of Dr. Borger ; Henry and Agnes, who are single. Bernard and Annie (Siegler) McGinty are the pa- rents of five children: Antoinette, Kath- arine, Helen, Allen and Frank. The fam- ily are all members of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church.

CHARLES LOUIS SIEGLER, SR., D. D. S., of Doylestown, second son of Mathew and Antoinette (Eckerly) Siegler, whose arrival in America from the fatherland is mentioned in the preceding sketch, was born in the province of Baden, Germany, July 17, 1845, and accompanied his mother to America at the age of five years. He was reared to the age of sixteen years in Hilltown, Bucks county, and attended the public schools there. Removing with his parents to Doylestown in 1860 he studied dentistry with the late Dr. Andrew J. Yerkes, and at the latter's death in 1868 continued his practice until 1872. On April I of that year he started to practice dentis- try on his own account at his present loca- tion on State street, where he has since practiced and has built up a large and lucrative business. Dr. Siegler represents a fine type of German-American citizen- ship, and is one of the highly respected citi- zens of the town. He is deeply interested in local affairs and institutions, but takes little part in partisan politics. is member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church, of St. Joseph's Beneficial Society, and an active member of the German Aid Society of Doylestown, of which he has been a trustee for many years. He is also a member of the Mannaerchor Society.

Dr. Siegler married, February 5. 1873. Catharine Kearns, of Hilltown, Bucks county, who was born in Norriton township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1852, and is a daughter of John and Catharine (Kennedy) Kearns, both natives of Ireland, he of Drogheda, county Lough, and she of Carrick-on-Suir, county Tipper- ary. John Kearns came to America in 1839, and was married to Katharine Ken- nedy at Norristown in 1844. She had ac- companied her parents, John and Kath- arine Kennedy, from Ireland some years previously. Dr. Siegler and Katharine

Kearns were married at St. Agnes' Roman Catholic Church at Sellersville by Reverend Father Hugh McLoughlin. Five children were born to this marriage, in Doyles- town : Katharine and John, who died in in- fancy; and Estelle, C. Louis, and Frank, all of whom reside with their parents.

C. LOUIS SIEGLER, JR., eldest sur- viving son of Charles Louis and Katharine (Kearns) Siegler, was born in Doyles- town, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, Octo- ber 2, 1878. His earliest education was ac- quired at St. Mary's parochial school, Doylestown. He later attended Doylestown seminary, and graduated from the Roman Catholic high school in Philadelphia in 1896. In the same year he entered the den- tal department of the University of Penn- sylvania, and graduated with honors in the class of 1899. He located on Main street in his native town, where he has since practiced his chosen profession with suc- cess. He is a member of the State Dental Association, and stands high in his profes- sion. He is a member of St. Joseph's So- ciety and the German Aid Society of Doylestown.

PETER SIEGLER, youngest son of Mathew and Antoinette (Eckerley) Sieg- ler, was born in Hilltown township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, June 16, 1852, and came with his parents to Doylestown in his seventh year. He was reared in Doyles- town and acquired his education at the Doylestown public schools. In 1871 he en- tered the employ of Louis Spellier, at that time an eminent jeweler and watchmaker in Doylestown, with whom he remained for three years. Having mastered the mysteries of the craft he went to Lambertville, New- Jersey, and entered the employ of Rudolf Talcott. Mr. Talcott having sold his jewelry establishment at the end of three months, Mr. Siegler went to Trenton, New Jersey, where he was employed at his trade for a short time, and then returned to Doylestown and took charge of the jewelry and watchmaking department in the store of Henry Y. Moyer, on State street, where he remained for five years, the latter part of the time having an interest in the business. In the winter of 1883-4 he and his brother- in-law, Bernard McGinty, purchased the site of his present establishment and erected the present store and printing offices, Mr Siegler taking possession of his present jewelry store on June 6, 1884. - By pro- fessional skill and close attention to busi- ness he has built up a nice business, and is one of the solid conservative business men of the county seat. He is a member of the German Aid Society, of St. Joseph's Society, Sciota Tribe, I. O. R. M., and the Mannaerchor Society. He married, Octo- ber 31, 1884. Rosa E. Schmutz, daughter of John and Katharine Schmutz, who was born in Doylestown township, both her parents being natives of Germany, het

THE NEW YORK PUPIILLIBRARY

wany Endurance. MD.

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father of Baden, and her mother of Bavaria. Mr. and Mrs. Siegler are the parents of eight children, the eldest two, William and Katie, died in childhood, and those who survive are Marie, Catharine, Gertrude, Anna and Emma, twins, and Rose. The family are members of the Roman Catholic church.

WILLIAM S. ERDMAN, M. D., of Buckingham, Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania, was born in Richland township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, October 5, 1869, and is a son of Owen and Mary Ann (Singmaster) Erdman, both of Ger- man descent, whose ancestors .were among the early German settlers in Bucks and Montgomery counties. John Yost Erdman, the paternal ancestor of Dr. Erdman, was born at Pfungstadt, in Hesse-Darmstadt, in the year 1682, and emigrated to America with his son An- drew, arriving at Philadelphia on board the ship at "St. Andrew's Galley," John Stedman, master, September 24, 1737. Like nearly all the early German emi- grants he probably made his home for a short time among his compatriots on the Schuylkill or its tributaries. In 1750, however, we find him settled in Upper Saucon township, near Centre valley, in what was then Bucks county, but be- came a part of Northampton county in 1752 and Lehigh county in 1812. He was the owner of 178 acres of land that de- scended to his son Andrew and has re- mained in the family ever since. John Yost Erdman died in 1760, at the age of seventy-eight years.

Andrew Erdman, son of John Yost Erdman. married Anna Maria Freder- ick and had nine children, viz .: John, Andrew, Jacob, Catharine, wife of Jacob Barnhart; Yost, Sybilla, wife of Henry Bittz; Abraham, George, and Anna Mar- garet, wife of George Sober. Of the above children John, Jacob and George remained in Lehigh county; Andrew set- tled in Montgomery county where he was living in 1833 at the age of seventy- eight; Abraham removed to Westmore- land county, and Yost settled in Milford township, Bucks county. The sons-in- law settled in Northampton and Bucks counties.

John Erdman, great-grandfather of Dr. Erdman, was born on the old Le- high county homestead about the year 1760, and was probably the second son of Andrew and Anna Maria (Frederick) Erdman. He married Sarah Bitz and to them was born a family of six children, viz. : Jacob, Daniel, John, Henry, Kate and Levina.

Daniel Erdman, grandfather of Dr. Erdman, was born on the Upper Saucon homestead in Lehigh county, February 12, 1797, and spent his whole life there, living to a good old age. He married Anna M. Miller and had four children,

viz. : Sara Anna, Daniel, Owen and Anna Marie.

Owen Erdman, father of Dr. Erdman, was born on the old homestead in Le- high county, November II, 1828. He was reared to the life of a farmer and followed that vocation in his early man- hood. His education was acquired in the district schools of his native township; he conducted his father's hotel prior to his moving to Steinsburg, this county, where he purchased a farm and entered the cattle business, eventually drifting into the commission business; moving to the city of Philadelphia, where he conducted a commission house. Return- ing to Bucks county he settled in Rich- land Centre, where he began making leather flynets and harness: he followed that until the civil war broke out when he enlisted . in the army. He served three years and three months as a mem- ber of Company E, Third regiment, Pennsylvania Reserves and participated in several engagements, the most notable of which was the battle of Bull Run, where he received a wound which made it necessary for him to be sent to the hospital. He is still living in Rich- land township, near Quakertown, being engaged in the harness business. Mary Ann Singmaster, the mother of Dr. Erd- man, was a native of Richland town- ship, and comes of a well known Bucks county family of German ancestry that have been residents of Bucks county for several generations. Owen and Mary Ann (Singmaster) Erdman were the parents of four children: Dr. Milton S. Erdman, deceased, who was one of the most successful physicians in the county; Dr. Wilson S. Erdman, a prom- inent and successful physician of Rich- landtown, Bucks county: Sarah O. resid- ing at home; and Dr. William S.

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 66

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