History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 73

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 73

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MILTON ALTHOUSE BIEHN, of West Chester, Pennsylvania, was born June 10, 1851, at Bunker Hill, now Rich Hill, in Rockhill township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, a son of Michael Martin and Catharine (Althouse) Biehn, and grandson of Abram and Mary (Mar- tin) Biehn.

Michael Martin Biehn (father) was born in Rockhill township. Bucks county, Pennsylvania, October 3, 1810. His an- cestors were among the German emi- grants who came to this country under Thomas and Richard Penn and took up a considerable tract of land. They fol- lowed farming and the weaving of cloth

and carpets. On June 10, 1838, Mr. Biehn married Catharine Althouse, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Wert) Althouse, of Richland township, farm- ers, and settled at Bunker Hill. Their children are: Maria, born April 13, 1840, married, September 10, 1859, Tobias Hinkle, of Bunker, or Rich Hill, a full account of whom appears in the sketch of Harry Hinkle; Elizabeth, born March 8, 1847, resides with her sister, Mrs. Maria Hinkle, at Quakertown; and Mil- ton Althouse, mentioned hereinafter.

Milton Althouse Biehn attended the Rock Ridge public school until his four- teenth year, after which he was appren- ticed to learn the boot and shoe making with his brother-in-law, Tobias Hinkle, with whom he continued as journeyman or tradesman for several years there- after. In 1871 he moved to Quakertown, Pennsylvania, in company with Tobias Hinkle, in whose service he continued there and finally formed a copartnership with him in a boot and shoe store on Front street. In 1874 Mr. Biehn erected the storehouse now occupied by Harry Wilson Hinkle, son of Tobias Hinkle, and conducted business under the title of Hinkle & Biehn, this connection con- tinuing until the retirement of Tobias Hinkle on account of failing health, when he was succeeded by his sons Harry W. and Nelson B. Hinkle, and this partner- ship was continued until 1892. In 1893 Mr. Biehn moved to West Chester, Ches- ter county, and established a boot and shoe store in that town. Mr. Biehn has been remarkably successful in his bus- iness ventures, which is owing largely to his close study of trade conditions and the needs of his customers. His store is located at No. 33 West Gay street, this being the first one he established, but in 1904 he established another at the cor- ner of Gay and Church streets, which is managed by his son, Harry Biehn. Mr. Biehn and his family are members of the West Chester Methodist Episcopal church. in the affairs of which Mr. Biehn is much interested, serving as class leader, and for nine years assistant su- perintendent of the Sunday school con- nected therewith. He is a trustee of the Young Men's Christian Association of West Chester, in which position his services are highly apprecated. He was formerly an adherent of the Republican party, but differing from them on several issties, particularly the liquor question, he thought best to cast his vote with the party whose principles were more closely allied with his own, the Prohi- bition party. On December 1I, 1877, Mr. Biehn was married to Sarah Ed- wards, daughter of Benjamin Roberts and Lydia (Bartholomew) Edwards, of Quakertown, a family descended from the early and substantial settlers of Bucks county. The issue of this mar- riage was: I. Nellie E., born September

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

18, 1878, attended the Quakertown pub- lic schools, the West Chester high school, from which she was graduated in the class of 1896; Philadelphia Colle- giate Institute, from which she was graduated in the class of 1897; and the Woman's College, at Baltimore, Mary- land, from which she was graduated in the class of 1901. She is now (1905) a teacher in the department of mathe- matics at the West Chester high school; she resides at home. 2. Harry E., born May 24, 1880, attended the Quakertown public schools, West Chester public schools, Williamson Trade school, Dela- ware county, and State Normal school, at West Chester. He entered his father's boot and shoe store, and is now manager of the new store established by his father in the fall of 1904 at West Ches- ter. 3. Grace E., born October 14, 1886, died July 1, 1887.

Mrs. Bielin traces her ancestry to Hugh Edwards, of Wales, who mi- grated to this country under William Penn and settled first in the southern part of Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He resided for a time in the vicinity of Pen- lyn, Gwynedd township, now in Mont- gomery county. He was a man of con- siderable force of character, was a member of the Society of Friends and devoted considerable time to preaching. During the early part of the eighteenth century he settled in that part of Bucks county now occupied by Milford and Richland townships. William Edwards, son of Hugh Edwards, married Martha . and among their children was a son, William Edwards, born May 13, 1746, near Trumbauersville, Milford township, Bucks county; he was a farmer by occupation. He married Maribah Gaskill. daughter of Samuel and Mar- garet Gaskill and had issue: Margaret and Amos. Amos Edwards was born in Richland township, April 10, 1786, mar- ried Abigail Roberts, daughter of Abel and Margaret Roberts, and their chil- dren were: Eveline, born May 18, 1821. married Milton Johnson, a farmer, of Richland township; and Benjamin R., born January 1, 1824. Benjamin R. Ed- wards, father of Mrs. Biehn, was born as above stated in Richland township on a farm containing forty acres then owned and operated by his parents. He at- tended the subscription schools of his township, also the school attached to Richland Monthly Meeting of the So- ciety of Friends, and among the teach- ers at the latter school were John Ball and Hannah Foulke, prominent educa- tors of that day and place. Leaving school at the age of nineteen years, he for a time conducted a subscription school of his own and also assisted on the home farm. At the age of twenty- five years, he went to Milford township and there learned the milling trade with Daniel Heist, who conducted a grist mill

at Swamp creek. Settling at Milford Square, he conducted for a time a mill for grinding feeds, but in 1856 disposed of his business and moved to Quaker- town where he conducted a flour and feed store until 1899, in which year he retired from active pursuits. He is a birthright member of Richland Monthly Meeting of Friends, of Quakertown, and in politics is a Republican, taking an ac- tive interest in the success of that party. On November 13, 1853. Mr. Ed- wards married Lydia Bartholomew, daughter of Henry and Ann (Bleam) Bartholomew, farmers of Milford town- ship. Their children are: Ellen R., born July 19, 1856, became the wife of George T. Hersh, of Allentown. Henry, born February 13, 1858, married Hermina Brown, of Rockhill township, and they reside in Quakertown. Sarah Roberts, born May 20, 1860, became the wife of Milton A. Biehn, as afore mentioned. Amos, born March 27, 1870, is unmar- ried and resides at home.

JOHN B. HERITAGE. The Herit- age family is of English ancestry and was founded in America by two broth- ers, one of whom settled in New Jersey and the other in Bustleton, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania being among the first set- tlers in that village. John F. Heritage, grandfather of John B. Heritage, was born in Bustleton, Philadelphia. He served his country in the war of 1812 and in his home community was re- garded as a representative citizen. He was a tailor by trade, and while carry- ing on that business for many years also conducted agricultural pursuits. In politics he was a Democrat. He mar- ried Ann Fetters, a native of Montgom- ery county, and their children were: John F .; Joseph; George; Samuel, who died at the age of thirty years; Sarah, the wife of D. Test; and two daughters who died in early womanhood.

John F. Heritage, Jr., son of John F. and Ann (Fetters) Heritage, was born in Philadelphia county, and in his youth learned the trade of tailor under the di- rection of his father, whom he also as- sisted in the operation of the home farm up to the time of his marriage, when he settled upon another farm and in con- nection with its cultivation worked at his trade. He thus carried forward the business that his father had inaugurated, but upon a more extensive scale. Inter- ested in military affairs, he became a captain of a militia company which was called to active duty in Phladelphia at the time of the riots there. In politics he was a Democrat. Purchasing his father's homestead at Bustleton he therein spent the evening of life, dying at the ripe old age of seventy-five years. He was a man of good physique, large and well

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

proportioned, of a social nature, enjoy- ing the companionship of his friends, while to the poor and needy he was charitable and benevolent. His integ- rity and honor were above reproach, and he was a consistent and worthy member of the Pennypack church for thirty or forty years, regularly attending its serv- ices and contributing liberally to its sup- port. His wife died about five or six years prior to his demise. She bore the maiden name of Ann Benner and was a daughter of John Benner, who died dur- ing her early girlhood, leaving two daughters. the sister. of Mrs. Heritage being Mrs. Hannah Campbell. Her ma- ternal grandfather was Joseph Durman, who was a captain of a company in the war of the revolution, defending the cause of the colonies. When at home on a furlough he was taken from his bed by the English and sent to an English prison, but later was exchanged and re- joined the American forces, continuing to serve with the continental troops until independence was achieved. Following the establishment of the republic he set- tled in Philadelphia county, where he fol- lowed farming and spent his remaining days. His farm remained in possession of the family for many years. Seven children were born of the marriage of John F. Heritage and Ann Benner as follows: Anna, wife of George Brooks; Joseph, a carriage and coach manufac- turer; Samuel, who is connected with his brother Joseph in business: John B .; George, a farmer; Mary A., who died unmarried; and Emma C., who died at the age of thirty-five years.

John B. Heritage was born near Bus- tleton in Philadelphia county, Pennsyl- vania, July 23, '1835. In the public schools he acquired his education. while upon the home farm he was reared. early becoming familiar with the duties and la- bors that fall to the lot of the agricul- turist. Thinking that he would find an industrial pursuit more congenial he learned the carriage painting trade, which he followed for a number of years, but his health prevented his continuance in that line of activity and he returned to agricultural life about three years after his marriage. He rented a farm and was engaged in its cultivation when he was drafted for service in the rebellion. but he hired a substitute and continued his farming operations in Montgomery county. In 1866 he purchased the farm in Bucks county upon which he now re- sides, its former owner having been Morris Jarrett. Here he carries on gen- eral agricultural pursuits, and also at- tends the city market. His business af- fairs are capably managed and are bring- ing to him a good financial return. He has never aspired to public office, yet his fellow townsmen elected him to the position of supervisor. In politics he is a Democrat. In 1860 Mr. Heritage mar-

ried Miss Mary L. Harris, who was born in Bustleton, January 13, 1836, and who has been to him a faithful and devoted wife. She is a daughter of Theophilus and Ellen (Merritt) Harris, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Bucks county. Her grandfather, Theo- philus Harris, was of Welsh descent and was a leading divine of the Primi- tive Baptist church. On leaving Vir- ginia he removed to Bustleton, Pennsyl- vania, where he engaged in church work and also farming. He was likewise con- nected with the cloth factory, and was prominent in local affairs in his com- munity as well as in the church. His first wife bore the maiden name of Mary Long Harris and was of English descent. She died in Virginia, and after his re- moval to Pennsylvana he married a daughter of Dr. Jones, of a prominent Baptist family. By the first marriage there was one son, Theophilus Harris. By the second marriage the children were: Mrs. Sarah Griffith; Mrs. Martha Chilton; Mrs. Mary Bazier; and Mrs. Ann Willstack, whose husband was a wealthy resident of Philadelphia, and he and his wife donated millions of dol- lars to the city. To Mr. and Mrs. Her- itage have been born four children: Charles E., a farmer; Mrs. Mary E. Schlotzhaur; John, a farmer; William C., who is operating the old homestead and who married Sallie Fenton, by whom he has one child, Hannah May. Both Mr. and Mrs. Heritage are members of the Baptist church.

Theophilus Harris, father of Mrs. Her- itage, was a highly educated man who as- sisted his father in business, acting as bookkeeper in the factory and supervis- ing other business enterprises. Later he engaged in farming, giving to the culti- vation of the soil his entire attention, and in the evening of life retired from active business pursuits, his children conducting the farm. In politics he was a Democrat, and he supported the Baptist church, although he was not a member. His wife died in 1858, and his death oc- curred in 1865. Their children were: Mary L .; Theophilus, of Philadelphia; Mrs. Christiana Clayton, who died leav- ing three children; Thomas, of Philadel- phia; and Ellen, wife of George W. Her- itage.

PATRICK BREEN, who following the occupation of farming in Warwick town- ship, has also been active and influen- tial in political circles, was born in county Tipperary, Ireland. December 26, 1830, his parents being James and Mary (Hays) Breen, both of whom are natives of Ireland, where their marriage was celebrated. Mrs. Breen was of a distinguished family, one of her great uncles being a general in the English army. The paternal grandfather, John

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Breen, was a resident of Ireland and spent his entire life there. His only child was James Breen, who following his marriage settled upon a farm in Ire- land, and all of his children were born in that country. In 1849 he emigrated to America, and the following year was joined by his family. He went first to New Jersey, but soon afterward re- moved to Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and located in Northampton township. He was there employed as a laborer and did some contracting on the turnpike. Later he purchased a small farm in Wrightstown township, and subse- quently sold that property and bought a tract of land in Northampton town- ship. His wife died in Northampton township in 1858, and he afterward mar- ried again. In his old age he and his second wife made their home with his son, Patrick, and he here died in 1881. He was a stanch Democrat in his politi- cal views, but never an aspirant for office. Both he and the mother of Pat- rick Breen were Catholics in religious faith. They had five children: Patrick; Johanna, who since 1861 has been in the convent known as Mount Hope Retreat near Baltimore, Maryland ; Margaret, the wife of Patrick McNanaman: Will- iam, a prominent farmer, who died at Spring House: and Elizabeth, who be- came the wife of A. Colligan, of Jersey City, New Jersey, but both have passed away.

Patrick Breen pursued his education in subscription schools of his native land, and when nineteen years of age crossed the Atlantic to the new world. For four years he was employed as a laborer, and then rented a farm, remain- ing thereon for two years after his mar- riage, when in 1856 he purchased the farm upon which he now resides known as the Thomas Helm farm. It was then but partly improved, but he has erected a large commodious frame residence, a substantial barn and other necessary out- buildings for the shelter of grain and stock and has added all of the modern equipments, keeping his place in an ex- cellent state of cultivation. He follows general farming and markets his pro- ducts at Philadelphia. He also raises some stock, keeping a herd of good cows and selling the milk at the creamery. He has always been a practical and success- ful farmer, and is a stockholder in the Creamery Company.

In January. 1853, Mr. Breen was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Maher, who was born in Ireland, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ma- her, who spent their entire lives in that country. Mrs. Breen was reared by an aunt, as was her brother, Timothy Maher. who came with her to America and who was later known as a leading agriculturist of his community. He died and was buried in Doylestown. In the

family of Mr. and Mrs. Breen were nine children, of whom six died in childhood, including Lizzie, who passed away at the age of thirteen. The others are: Will- iam, who followed the butchering busi- ness; Thomas, who was a painter by tarde and possessed considerable artistic skill; and James, a butcher. The last named is the only one now living. Mrs. Catherine Breen departed this life in July, 1879, in the faith of the Catholic church. On the 24th of November, 1881, Mr. Breen was married to Miss Annie Brahan, who was born in Ireland, July, 1846, a daughter of Michael and Mary Brahan, also natives of that country whence they came to America in 1849, settling in Bucks county. Her father was an industrious man and hard worker. He voted with the Democracy, and both he and his wife were of the Catholic faith. He died in 1903 at the age of eighty years, while his wife's death oc- curred in 1882, when she was seventy- five years of age. Their children were Annie; Kate, deceased; Maria, deceased, who was the wife of William J. Brennan; Bridget, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Breen had one son, John, who was born Janu- ary 15, 1892, and died April 14, 1892.

Mr. Breen gave his early political sup- port to the Democracy, but at the open- ing of the rebellion, he became a champion of Republican principles. He is thor- oughly informed on all questions per- taining to the history of the world. He has always taken an active interest in politics, has been judge of elections, and in 1892 was chosen to fill the position of clerk of quarter sessions in Bucks county, serving for three years in a manner creditable to himself and satis- factory to his constituents. In 1879 he. was appointed by the legislature to the position of engineer for the capitol at Harrisburg, and acted in that capacity for two years. He has a wide and fav- orable acquaintance in the county in which he has lived from early manhood to the present.

O. JAMES JOHNSON, a well known resident of Haycock township, Bucks coun- ty, Pennsylvania, son of Charles and Esther (Strawn) Johnson, was born January 10. . 1838, on the homestead farm now owned and occupied by his brother, H. Watson Johnson, in the northern part of Richland township, and which farm is part of the tract of land acquired by Casper Johnson (I), from Richard and Thomas Penn in the early part of the eighteenth century. Casper Johnson (2), son of Casper John- son, the immigrant. was the father of Charles Johnson, who in turn was the father of O. James Johnson.

Charles Johnson (father) was born on the homestead farm. He attended the sub- scription schools of the neighborhood, and

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

his active career was devoted to farming. He was one of the public-spirited and in- fluential men of the community, and highly esteemed for his integrity and enterprise. He was an advocate of the principles of the Whig party, to which organization he gave his allegiance. He was united in marriage to Esther Strawn, daughter of Abel and Elizabeth Strawn, of Quakertown, and their children were: H. Watson, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Mary Ann, wife of Aaron Walp, of Quaker- town; Oliver James, mentioned hereinafter ; and Anna Maria, wife of Louis N. Shelly, of Quakertown.

After attending the public schools of Richland township until his seventeenth year, O. James Johnson assisted at farm- ing with his father until his marriage in the year 1867. Shortly afterward he set- tled on a farm near California station, in Richland township, where he remained for one year, after which he removed to the farm of his father-in-law, Abram Stover, at Tohickon, in Haycock township, where he remained until the spring of 1883, when he moved to where he now resides. This farm which contains eighty-seven acres of arable land, he purchased in 1882 from Charles McCarthy, and he greatly improved the same by erecting an entire new set of buildings which added greatly to its an- pearance. He conducted this as a dairy and general farm until 1900, when he retired from active work and was succeeded by his eldest son, Elmer Johnson, to whom he rented the farm and stock. Since that "ear Mr. Johnson has led the quiet life of a country gentleman, enjoying to the full the consciousness of a life well spent. He takes little interest in public affairs. He is a Re- publican in politics, and while he ardently believes in the principles of that party has taken only nominal interest in its work. and beyond serving two terms as a school director has never aspired to or held any other office of a political nature.

Mr. Johnson married January 19, 1867. Anna Maria Stover, daughter of Abram and Sarah (Fulmer) Stover, farmers, of Hay- cock township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. Their children are as follows: Elmer, born April 16, 1868, married November 10, 1894. Emma Afferbach, daughter of John and Abbie (Fulmer) Afflerbach, farmers of Haycock township. Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Johnson reside on a farm, and their chil- dren are: Abbie Laura, died in infancy ; Anna Maria, and Clarence Wilmer. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson belong to the Reformed church at Kellers Church, Pennsylvania. Laura, born August 12, 1869, married, De- cember 12, 1892, Stover Detweiler, son of John and Lavina Detweiler, of Haycock township; he is a miller by trade. and re- sides in East Rockhill township, near Thatcher Post Office. Pennsylvania, and their children are: Mabel, died in infancy : Laura Grace, Blanche, died in infancy ; and Earl. Mr. and Mrs. Detweiler are members of Kellers Reformed church. Louis, born

May 9, 1871, married, February 19, 1896, Annie Frankenfield, daughter of Abel and Cathrine (Hager) Frankenfield, farmers of Haycock township. They reside at Iay- cock Run, where Mr. Johnson is engaged at farming ; their children are: Elsie, James Freeman and Ruth. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson belong to the Lutheran church at Kellers Church, Pennsylvania. Harry, born No- vember 12, 1872, died October 5, 1873. Minnie, born November 2, 1874, married February 20, 1897, Isaac Ruth, son of David and Mary (McElroy) Ruth, farmers of Springfield township. They reside at Pleas- ant Valley, Springfield township, where Mr. Ruth is engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Ruth are both members of the Lutheran church of Springfield township. Pennsyl- vania. Their children are: Florence Pearl, and Harry Watson, died in infancy. El- mira, born October 31, 1876, married, No- vember 28, 1898, Edwin Lewis, son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Lutz) Lewis, of Haycock township; they reside at Lansdale, Penn- sylvania, where Mr. Lewis is engaged in the livery business. Mr. Lewis is a member of the Lutheran church at Kellers Church, Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Lewis is a member of the Reformed church of the same place. Their children are: Esther Elizabeth, Richard, died in infancy : Evelyn Myrtle, died in infancy; and Edith Margaret. Freeman, born April 3, 1880, unmarried. is employed on the home farm with his brother, Elmer Johnson. He also is a mem- ber of the Reformed church at Kellers Church. Warren, born October 16, 1881. unmarried, resides at Fairview, near Quakertown: he is a blacksmith by trade. Stover, born May 21, 1887. unmarried, re- sides on the homestead farm, and is a mem- ber of the Reformed church of Kellers Church.

JOEL M. MASON has spent his en- tire life in Falls township, his birth oc- curring within its borders on May I. 1850. Several generations of the family have been represented here. His pa- ternal grandfather, Ernest Mason, lived and died in Bucks county and was iden- tified with its agricultural interests. He married Hannah Hart and they had five children: Daniel: Joel; Edmond; Ruth, wife of Walter Collas; and Ernest, who was drowned when a child.

Joel Mason, son of Ernest Mason, was born in Falls township, in 1883. In early life he began farming and afterward in connection with the tilling of the soil took contracts to make excavations. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, active in the interest of the party and doing all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success, yet never seeking political preferment for himself. For some years he was the supervisor of the Delaware Navigation Company on its canal. He married Miss Anna Feir, of New Jersey, and they had five children :

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Rebecca, wife of Samuel Burk, of Mont- gomery county, Pennsylvania; Annie, who became the wife of Charles Schaffer and after his death married Jacob Painter; Joel M .; Matilda, wife of George Harry; and Edmond, of Morrisville, Pennsylvania.

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 73

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