History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 68

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 68

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Jacob Heller, the grandfather, was born in 1804, and died in Easton, in 1881. Brought up in the faith of the church according to its teachings, he also- reared his family in the same way. He was the first elder in Appel's church. He- married Sarah Bellis, of Lower Saucon, a descendant of one of the original own- ers of West Jersey, Lawrence Bellis, and their children were: Elizabeth. born in 1825: William, born in 1827: Josiah B., born in 1829; Jacob, Sarah, John, Susan and Emma.

Josiah B. Heller, the father of Will- iam J. Heller, was born in 1829, and pursued his education in a school at. Hellertown, and under Dr. Vanderveer at Easton. Subsequently he engaged in teaching in Easton and in surrounding townships, and he also was numbered among the music instructors of the Le- high Valley on his day. After devoting a number of years to educational work he engaged in farming for a decade, and then returned to Easton, where he con- ducted a transfer freight line for many years. He was one of the carly men- bers of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at that place, and took a helpful interest in promoting the lodge and its growth. His political allegiance was given to the Democracy, whch he con- tinued to support until his death, De- cember 5. 1898. He married Susan Hein- lein, of Forks township, a descendant of George Ileinlein, captain of the Durham township militia during the revolution, and a great-granddaughter of Elizabetle

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

3II

Morgan, of Morgan's Hills. Their chil- dren were: George B., born in 1853; William J., in 1857; Arthur P., born in 1864. died in 1903; and Lizzie May, born in 1869, marred Chester Seip.

William J. Heller is indebted to vari- ous institutions of Easton, Pennsyl- vania, for the educational privileges he enjoyed in his youth. After putting aside his text books he followed various pursuits and became quite widely known because of his artistic talent and ability. In 1886, however, he established his present business, the manufacture of flags, opening the first exclusive flag factory in the United States. His bus- iness has constantly grown in volume and importance, and to-day he manufac- ttires nearly one-half of the flags used in this country. While witnessing the decoration of a public school building for a celebration in the year, 1886, the idea occurred to him that the nation's emblem should be seen over school buildings of the country in order to fos- ter a spirit of patriotism among the chil- dren of the land. He began discussing the idea with the prominent educators of America, and, in fact, was the founder of the movement which has embodied his ideas, and deserves great credit for instituting the patriotic movement which swept over the country in 1892. He is popular and well known among workers in patriotic circles, and was one of the first active members of the Patriotic League. He has had many honors con- ferred on him by the Woman's Relief Corps, the National Congress of Wo- men, and other national patriotic organ- izations. He is a charter member of the George Washington Memorial Associa- tion, organized to promote the establish- ment of the University of the United States. He is an honorary member of the various leading women's clubs in many parts of the country. He has lectured in many of the principal cities of America upon patriotic occasions. His lecture on "The Evolution of Our National Ensign" is universally known. History has always been a most inter- esting sttidy to him, and he believes in promoting every line of thought that will foster a love of country and its people. He has made a study of local Indian history during his leisure hours, and is now engaged in compiling data for a history of the Forks of the Dela- ware. He is a life member of the His- torical Society of Pennsylvania, also the Pennsylvania German Society, a mem- ber of the Bucks County Historical So- cieties in this and adjoining states. He takes an active part in public affairs, and is a member of the board of trade and of the Municipal League of the city of Easton.

Mr. Heller married, May 5, 1877. Miss Tillie A. Lesher, a daughter of George Lesher, and a lineal descendant of

George Loesch, of Tulpehocken, Berks county, Pennsylvania, who gave so gen- erously of his means to assist the strug- gling Moravians when they first landed in this country. His memory is yet per- petuated by the record of his good deeds, preserved in the Moravian archives. Mr. and Mrs. Heller became the parents of three children, two sons and one daugh- ' ter. The two sons, Ray and Harry, died in early childhood. The daughter, Bes- sie Evelyn Heller, is a lineal descendant of sixteen patriots who gave active service in the revolutionary war, and a great-great-great-granddaughter of Elizabeth Morgan, of Morgan's Hill, through her paternal grandmother, Su- san (Heinlein) Heller, a daughter of George Bay Heinlein, who was the son of James Heinlein and his wife Ann Bay, a daughter of Mrs. Morgan by her first husband Hugh Bay.

Mrs. Morgan's maiden name was Lizzie Bell, or "pretty Lizzie Bell." as she was known by nearly every one in Philadelphia, where she was born and raised. She was the daughter of Jacob and Ann Bell, residing on Front street, Philadelphia, prior to the revolutionary war. Her parents were orthodox Quakers, and consequently frowned upon a certain young grocer, Hugh Bay, son of Rev. Andrew Bay, a chaplain in the provincial army, who was getting very intimate with Elizabeth, and who was not of their faith. They used mild methods to discourage intimacy, and when, a few years later, Hugh made his appearance dressed in the uniform of a noted artillery company in the revolu- tionary service, he was refused ad- mittance to the Bell domicile, and Eliza- beth was compelled to make closer ap- plication to her studies. All went seemingly well until the British army was reported coming toward Philadel- phia, when its citizens prepared to repel the enemy by gathering all ammunition, collecting old lead and converting it into bullets, etc. Elizabeth, whether through born intuitiveness or from close application to study, at that opportune time developed character that was one remarkable feature in after life. She re- moved the leaden weights from her father's clock and converted them into bullets for her soldier lover, Hugh Bay. This not only caused a flurry in Quaker- dom, but so enraged her father that he forthwith transported her to Europe to finish her studies. After the lapse of four years her father, thinking that she had outlived her infatuation, brought her home. Elizabeth, however, true to her first love, was married to Hugh Bay in the Swede's church, Philadelphia. At- gust 16, 1781. This act so shocked the orthodox Quaker congregation that they immediately called a special meeting at which a resolution was passed expelling Elizabeth from the congregation for

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marrying a worldly man, and a certifi- cate to that effect was given her. What effect all this had upon her parents is unknown. Her father died a few years later, and left the greater part of his wealth to Elizabeth and her mother. Hugh made a good husband and main- tained a fine house on the fashionable street. After a marriage of three years he unfortunately died, leaving only one child, Anna. Elizabeth remained a widow six years, when, on September 2, 1790, she became the wife of Dr. Abel Morgan, a prominent physician of Phila- delphia, and formerly a surgeon in the revolutionary army, and a brother of General Daniel Morgan. Two months later her mother died. With the exception of the birth of another daughter, nothing eventful transpired until 1793 when the great epidemic broke out in Philadelphia, when Dr. Morgan took precautionary measures and removed his family from Philadelphia to the Lehigh Hills, leav- ing his home in charge of the colored servants. Dr. Morgan selected for his retreat a hotel on the top of the hill overlooking the "Forks of the Dela- ware." This delightful locality was a favorite of Dr. Morgan's when he was surgeon in the revolutionary army and encamped with his regiment at Colonel Proctor's headquarters along the ravine to the south of what is now Kleinhan's green houses, which was then along the main road to Easton from the south. Dr. Morgan. after seeing his family com- fortably settled, returned to Philadel- phia to help stamp out the epidemic. Elizabeth, not receiving any communica- tion from him for upwards of two months. and quarantine being removed from Philadelphia, concluded to make a trip there. On her arrival at her Phila- delphia home she found that the servants had decamped, the house had been ran- sacked from garret to cellar, and every- thing of value confiscated. At a loss to know what had become of her husband, she made inquiry of the health officers and found that her husband had con- tracted the malady and died within a few days after his arrival, and was buried in the trench along with the rest. This double affliction required consid- erable fortitude to withstand. Finding herself the second time a widow, she disposed of her fine home and all her interests in Philadelphia and returned to the "Hills," with the purpose of liv- ing in quiet retirement with her two daughters. She never returned to Phil- adelphia, but purchased the hotel prop- erty in which she had taken up her abode, and lived there for upwards of fifty years. Mrs. Morgan made good mise of her excellent education. She possessed a fine library, and her favorite pastime was reading law books, of which she had a complete set. These were kept on a bench in the public room.

where she would dispense law when oc- casion required. This room, in time, became the popular retreat for those of her neighbors who could not settle their differences themselves. They would invariably refer their case to this improvised court. A request for her de- cision was never refused; both old and . young respected her judgment, and sel- dom was there an appeal to a higher tribunal. This condition of affairs brought forth a protest from the legal fraternity of Easton, who endeavored by various methods to break up the practice. Reflections as to her char- acter and the character of the place were made, bringing her name into ridi- cule with the unthinking. All this un- kindness toward the "Widow" Morgan only increased her popularity. Few of these gentry of the bar could boast of a better legal education than Elizabeth Morgan, and none of a better univer- sity training. Her last will and testa- ment (written by herself) for scholarly composition and legal construction is the peer of any instrument of any mem- ber of the legal fraternity of her day. Steeled to adversity, never showing re- sentment toward her traducers, living a good and true life, a kind and generous neighbor, ministering to the afflicted, ad- justing neighborly disputes for many years, she died October 16, 1839, aged eighty years, and was buried in the Re- formed cemetery on Mount Jefferson (now the site of the new library). Her obsequies were attended by people from far and near, her funeral cortege being nearly two miles long, reaching from the cemetery gates to a point along the Philadelphia road beyond Lachenour Heights, South Side. Her second dangh- ter. Hannah Morgan, died at the age of twenty years. Her first daughter, Ann Bay, was married to James Heinlein, a son of Captain George Heinlein, of Dur- ham township, Bucks county, a prom- inent figure in the revolution. Their children were: George, born 1799; Hugh, born 1802; Abel Morgan, born 1804; Ed- ward, born 1806; Morgan, born 1808: Jacob, born 1811; John, born 1813; Henry, born 1814; Hannah Eliza, born 1815. became the wife of William Raub. Of the many descendants of these grandsons of Elizabeth Morgan living in the Lehigh Valley and the regions round about, there are very few bearing the name of Heinlein. Mrs. Morgan took great pride in her grandsons and gave all of them an advanced education. Three of these grandsons emigrated in company with several of the families of Hays from Lehigh county to Ohio, set- tling in and around Fremont. Mrs. Heinlein, the mother, married for the second time a Mr. Schultz. She was buried to the right of her mother, Mrs. Morgan, and Hannah, the other daugh- ter, was buried on the left side. Their

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remains were not disturbed when the site of Easton's colonial burying ground was remodeled for the park surrounding the new library.

FRANCIS R. SWALLOW. Well known and valued in Bucks county is Francis R. Swallow, one of the summer residents of Lumberville. Mr. Swallow is a son of Charles R. Swallow, who was born about 1812, near Ringold, New Jersey, and was reared in Hunterdon county. He settled on a farm near Rosemont, where for many years he fol- lowed agricultural pursuits. About 1851 he moved to Lumberville and en- gaged in mercantile business, which he carried on for several years. About 1865 he removed to Lambertville, New Jersey, where for a number of years he conducted a mercantile business, which he finally sold and became a commer- cial salesman for a wholesale shoe house, a position which he continued to hold during the active years of his life. He married Eliza Robinson and five of the ten children born to them are now living: Harriet, who lives in Philadel- phia: Emma, who is also a resident of that city; Hannah, who is the wife of A. H. Horton, of Philadelphia; Francis R., mentioned at length hereinafter; and Winfield, who lives in Philadelphia.

Francis R. Swallow, son of Charles R. and Eliza (Robinson) Swallow, was born September 29, 1846, in Rosemont, Hunterdon county, New Jersey, and from his early boyhood was in the store with his father. At twelve years of age he went to Lahaska, where he found em- ployment in the store of William Bald- erston, a worthy member of the Society or Friends, with whom he remained, until the second year of the civil war. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Regiment for nine months' service. Two months after the expiration of his term he re-enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Ninety-Sixth Regiment for three months' service, and after the expira- tion of this his second term was em- ployed for some months in Philadelphia. In March. 1864, he again enlisted, this time in Company I, Two Hundred and Thirteenth Regiment for one year, serv- ing until the close of the war. After Mr. Swallow's retirement from military service he went to Philadelphia and for nineteen years was employed by the old Carpenter Ice Company. In 1886, in partnership with Thomas C. Jenkins, he organized the Washington Ice Com- pany, with offices at 13 Brown street, and a shipping wharf at the Brown street

shipping market wharf. From small beginning the business increased to large proportions, the company running thirty-five wagons, the first wagons and teams ever used in that business in

Philadelphia. In 1899 they sold out ad- vantageously to the trust, and for five years Mr. Swallow and his partner served as officers of the company. In the autumn of 1903 Mr. Swallow again engaged in the ice business, confining himself strictly to the wholesale trade, with offices at Broad and Cumberland streets, Philadelphia. The title of the present company, of which Mr. Swallow is sole owner, is "The Washington Ice Company." The business is carried on principally by car-load lots and wagons are run as far from the city as Bristol. Mr. Swallow is also interested in the New Knickerbocker Ice Company. He is a member of Birney Post, No. 63, G. A. R., of Philadelphia, and also be- longs to Gothic Lodge, No. 519, F. and A. M. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Swallow married in 1876 Mary A. Diddleback, of Philadelphia, and nine children have been born to them, five of whom are living: Mamie E., who is the wife of Charles Krupp, of Philadel- phia; Frank W., who is a student in Jef- ferson Medical College; Isabelle May ; Florence H., and Lilliam Hazle. The four last-named are at home with their parents. In 1899 Mr. Swallow purchased the old Fretz residence in Lumberville, which he has since used as a country home, his city residence being at 2042 Mount Vernon street, Philadelphia.

JOSEPH JENKINS ERWIN, of Spokane, Washington, though his lot is now cast far from the place of his nativity, cherishes a love of the good old county of Bucks where his ancestors on both maternal and paternal lines lived, loved and labored. He was born in the year 1844, and is a son of John and Martha M. (Jenkins) Erwin, both of whom came of Bucks county ancestry and are descended from early settlers in and near Bucks county, of Scotch-Irish Welsh, Holland, and English extraction. His maternal ancestry is given fully in the sketch of his cousin, Zachary Tay- lor Jenkins, which appears elsewhere in this work.

John Erwin, his great-grandfather, was of Scotch-Irish origin. and a resi- dent of Southampton township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he died February 7, 1823, at the age of fifty- three years. The Erwin family were early Scotch-Irish emigrants to Bucks county, and took a prominent part in the founding of the Republic, many of them taking an active part in the revolution- ary struggle. Hugh Erwin was a mem- ber of the associated company of South- ampton in 1775. and doubtless the pio- neer ancestor of John Erwin, and prob- ably also a kin to Colonel Arthur Erwin, of Tinicum, who came to Pennsylvania about 1760 and was assassinated while

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serving in the state assembly in 1790. John Erwin, of Southampton, married Susan Tomlinson, of English Quaker ancestry, who was born in Bucks county, in 1775, and died February 5. 1856. She was a descendant of Ralph Dracott, an early Huguenot settler in Southampton. John and Susan (Tomlinson) Erwin reared a family in Southampton, among whom was Joseph Erwin, born Decem- ber 23, 1792, died October 8, 1870.

Joseph Erwin married Hannah Morri- son, born February 10, 1796, died De- cember 10, 1860, daughter of John and Hannah (Yerkes) Morrison, and grand- daughter of John Morrison, who came from the north of Ireland and settled on the Brandywine, and a descendant on the maternal side from Anthony Yerkes, one of the early burgesses of German- town. (See "Morrison Family" in this work.) Joseph and Hannah (Morrison) Erwin lived for a time in Montgomery county, where was born to them a fam- ily, of whom two were as follows: John Erwin, the father of the subject of this sketch, and Martha Morrison Erwin, who married John Jenkins, brother ot Martha Merrick Jenkins, whom her brother married.

John Erwin, son of Joseph and Han- nah (Morrison) Erwin, was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. As before stated he married Martha Mer- rick Jenkins, daughter of Joseph and Tacy (Martindale) Jenkins, of Bucks county, whose distinguished ancestry is given in the account of the Jenkins fam- ily in this work, and they were the pa- rents of six children: Joseph Jenkins, the subject of this sketch, born June 16. 1844; B. Frank, residing in Philadel- phia; Preston, of Westport, Missouri; Tacy, wife of William Sutton, of Phila- delphia: and James and Charles Erwin, also of Philadelphia.

THE BARNSLEY FAMILY. The late Joseph Barnsley, of Hartsville, Warminister township, Bucks county, was of English descent. He was born in Newtown, Bucks county, June 9, 1820, a son of William and Jane (Van Horn) Barnsley, and grandson of John and Elizabeth (Van Court) Barnsley.

John Barnsley emigrated from York- shire, England, about 1760. He was the first member of his line to found a fam- soil. ily on American His uncle, Thomas Barnsley, was a major of the British army in the "60th Royal Ameri- man Regiment," and had fought in the French war under Lord Loudon in 1756. After the settlement of the "French and Indian trouble" in connection with Braddock's defeat, he resigned his com- mission, went back to England, whence he returned with his wife and nephew John, and bought an estate of five hun-

dred acres on the Neshaminy creek in what is now Bensalem township. Here he built a mansion, the bricks for which were brought from England. This house is yet standing, a fine representation of colonial architecture. Major Barnsley died in 1771, his wife surviving him sev- eral years. They had no children, and the executors being Tories, who were expatriated, the estate was not settled for several years.

John Barnsley, one of the four heirs, received his portion in continental money, and not investing it at once it became worthless. He was married about the time of his uncle's death and managed the estate until his attnt's de- mise. On the breaking out of the revo- lution he became one of a committee in Bensalem to drive off the cattle to keep them from the British. In January, 1777, he was with Washingtan's army in the night march from Trenton to Prince- ton. His team was impressed to haul ammunition, and in the battle of Prince- ton he was ordered by Washington in person to drive along the line to supply the soldiers. His time expiring shortly after. he came home suffering great hardships on the way. He followed farming in Bensalem for several years, finally buying property at Newtown, where he lived until his death, February 2, 1796. His wife was Elizabeth Van Court, whose ancestors were French Huguenots, originally called De la Court. She was born at Huntingdon valley, Montgomery county, in 1751, and died in 1824.

Their son, William, father of the sub- ject of this sketch, was born in Ben- salem township, November 8, 1775, and removed with his parents to Newtown township when a boy. He married, Jan- uary 21, 1808, Jane Van Horn, born in Lower Makefield, March 25, 1784, who- died July 25, 1861. Their children were: Mary, John, Thomas and Joseph. He lived in Newtown until 1831, when he bought a farm at Huntingdon valley, Moreland township, where he resided until his death in 1848. He was a suc- cessful farmer and financier, acquiring three farms, besides other property. His son John remained on the homestead farm in Newtown, where he lived until his decease, January II, 1880. He fol- lowed surveying and held the office of magistrate for thirty-five years.

Mary, died unmarried January 16. 1889. Thomas lived on the homestead at Hunt- ingdon valley until his death, September 6, 1866.

Joseph Barnsley was reared at New- town and Huntingdon valley, and in 1845 located on the farm in Warminster which he later inherited. He resided there until 1868, when he was appointed United States revenne collector for fifth district and transferred his home to Doylestown. On the expiration of his

Joseph Barnsley

THE IL W YU. K PUBLI L'ORA E

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Geo. K. Wildman

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term of office in 1870. he did not return to his farm which he had rented, but purchased a new home, the beautiful "Roseland" property at Hartsville, where he lived until his sudden death from heart trouble in full vigor of mind and body January 12, 1888. He married, January 21, 1847, Lydia Harper Walton, who was born in Horsham township, November 28, 1826, and at this writing, September, 1905, survives him, living in Hatboro, Montgomery county, Pennsyl- vania. They had no issue. Mr. Barns- ley was a man of clear-cut principles and staunch integrity, of strong mental powers with a philosophical bent, brightened by a rich vein of humor. He had a tender heart and generous nature, becoming a public benefactor within the circle of his influence. He was further an individual of intense public spirit and patriotism. A Republican in politics he took a lively interest in the success of his party. One of the best known citi- zens of the township, his personal pop- ularity led to his election to the state legislature in 1858, 1859, and 1860, up to that time the first nominee of his party to serve three successive terms from this county. From early manhood he had been called to fill various public offices and positions of trust and con- fidence. He was president of The Farm- ers' Hay Market Company, of Philadel- phia for eleven years prior to his death, and director of Hatboro National Bank from its organization. He lies interred in the graveyard of St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal church in Newtown. In his will he bequeathed an ample trust fund for the erection and maintenance of a memorial library and reading room in this town, the home of his boyhood and last resting place of his parents and family.

GEORGE KNORR WILDMAN. Prominent among the representative cit- izens of Bensalem township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, who follow the quiet but useful calling of agriculture. is George K. Wildman, a native of that township, born on the homestead farm, February 22, 1859. The founder of the Wildman family in America was Martin Wildman, who came from Yorkshire, England, in 1683, accompanied by his wife. Ann Wildman, and settled in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he followed farming as a means of livelihood. They were honest and God-fearing people. members of the Society of Friends, and at their decease left to their children the legacy of an untarnished name and rep- utation. The line of descent is traced through their son. John Wildman, who was the father of a son. John Wildman. who married Marjorie Knight. and among their children was a son, John Wildman, who was born in Bensalem

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 68

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