History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 75

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 75

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EDWARD A. IVINS, of Falls township, a representative of one of the old and honored families of Bucks county, may be properly mentioned among the citizens who are contributing their quota toward the development of the agricultural interests of the community. He is a native of Penns Manor, the date of his birth being Febru- ary II, 1858.

Aaron Ivins, grandfather of Edward A. Ivins, resided at Penns Manor, Falls town- ship, where he successfully conducted agri- cultural pursuits for a number of years. He married Hope Aaronson, and they were the parents of three children: Edward A.,

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

Aaron R., and Stephen Woolston. His second wife, whose maiden name was Han- nah Eastburn, bore him two children, one of whom died in childhood, the other being William Henry Ivins, of Langhorne, Penn- sylvania.

Edward A. Ivins, eldest son of Aaron and Hope (Aaronson) Ivins, was born in Penns Manor, July 30, 1828. The occupation to which he was reared he made his life work, being accounted one of the practical and progressive farmers of his locality. He enjoyed the confidence of the entire com- munity, and was thoroughly trustworthy in all the relations of life. He was united in marriage to Anna Brown, who was born in Penns Manor, May 23, 1830, a daughter of Moses and Ann (Harvey) Brown, life- long residents of Penns Manor. Moses Brown was born in 1792, was a farmer by occupation, and died May 16, 1874, aged eighty-eight years. His wife, Ann (Har- vey) Brown was born in 1794, and died January 10, 1852, at the age of fifty-eight years. They were the parents of five chil- dren : Alice, who died in infancy: Eliza- beth, who became the wife of Thomas Headley, and died at the age of eighty-five years; Sarah, born 1820, died at the age of twenty-one ycars; Mary, born 1825, died in 1871; and Anna, aforementioned as the wife of Edward A. Ivins. The family on both sides were members of the Friends Society. The children born to Edward A. and Anna B. Ivins were as follows: Annie, who died unmarried ; De Witt Clinton, a resident of Plainfield, New Jersey ; Edward A., mentioned hereinafter ; M. Harvey, a resident of Langhorne, Bucks county, and William Henry, deceased. Edward A. Ivins, father of these children, died at Penns Manor, August 12, 1900.

Edward A. Ivins, second son of Edward A. and Anna (Brown) Ivins, entered the public schools of Penns Manor at the usual age, and after studying for some time be- came a student in the Friends Central School, of Philadelphia, conducted by Aaron B. Ivins, a relative. When he had completed his course of study he entered the employ of the Phila- delphia and Reading Railroad Com- pany as clerk in the counting depart- ment, and remained there for eighteen years, this fact being ample proof that he was one of its most trusted and capable employes, discharging the duties assigned to him in a conscientious and painstaking manner. In June, 1900. prior to the death of his father. he returned to the old home- stead and assumed its management, and since then has given his attention ex- clusively to the same, his energy and en- terprise being resultant factors in making this one of the fine farming properties of the locality, having thercon all the im- provements usually found upon the estate of a careful, energetic and progressive farmer.

Edward A. Ivins married Mary L. Thomas, who was born January 8, 1863. a

daughter of Jonathan and Mary Ann (Knight) Thomas, deceased, who were well known residents of Bensalem township, and the parents of eleven children, among whom were the following: Ellwood, Carrie, wife of

J. J. Broadhurst, of Langhorne; Howard, Reese, Henry, Russell, Mary, wife of Edward A. Ivins; Franklin, and Clinton Thomas; they also had a step-daughter, Ellen Thomas. One child was the issue of the marriage of Edward A. and Mary L. Ivins, A. Russell Thomas Ivins, born Jan- uary 19, 1892.

SAMUEL J. GARNER, of Hatboro, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, was born in Philadelphia, of Bucks county pa- rents, May 2, 1852, but for the last thirty years has been one of the leading citizens of the thriving borough, just over Bucks county's southwestern line.

The family of Garner is of German origin, and descended from Hans (John) Garner, who came to Bucks county about the middle of the eighteenth century and settled in New Britain township, near the present village of Colmar on the county line. Samuel Garner, son of John, the pioneer, was reared in New Britain town- ship, Bucks county, and became a promi- nent man and a large landowner there and in Warrington. He reared a large family of children, among whom was Samuel, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. By a later division of the township most of the land of Samuel Garner, Sr., in New Britain township, was incorporated into the township of Warrington and is still owned and occupied by his descendants.

Samuel Garner (2) was born in New Britain township, Bucks county in 1798, and, inheriting a portion of his father's real estate, followed the life of a farmer there and in Warrington during the active years of his life, removing late in life to Doyles- town township, where he died about 1877. He took an active interest in the affairs of his locality, filled a number of local positions, and was a soldier in the Mexican war. He married Mary A. Snare whose father was for several years proprietor of the old historic Green Tree Tavern on the county line in Warrington township. On the maternal side she was descended from the Polks and other prominent Scotch- Irish families of Neshaminy colony in War- wick and Warrington.

Samuel S. Garner, son of Samuel and Mary A. (Snare) Garner, was born in War- rington township. Bucks county, in March, 1828, and lived there until the age of eighteen years, when he went to Philadel- phia and learned the trade of a bricklayer, and resided there the greater part of his life. He married a widow Ray, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Carr. He died in 1890.

Samuel J. Garner, the son of Samuel S. and Elizabeth (Carr) Garner, born in Philadelphia, May 2, 1852, attended school

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

in Philadelphia and in Doylestown town- ship, Bucks county, where a portion of his boyhood was spent. He later learned the jewelry trade, and in 1872 located in Hat- boro and opened a jewelry store, later opening a clothing and a more general mer- chandise store. He conducted both busi- nesses for ten or twelve years, and then en- gaged in the real estate business, which he has since followed with success. In poli- tics Mr. Garner is a Republican, but he has never aspired to public office. He has served many years on the local school board, of which he is president, and has always taken an active interest in educational mat- ters. He has also served for several years as a member of borough council, and taken a leading part in all that pertained to the best interests of the borough. He is one of the directors of the Bucks County Trust Company, and interested in a number of Bucks county's local enterprises.

He married Fannie H. Wilson, daughter of Silas Wilson, a well known dry goods merchant of Philadelphia, and they are the parents of five children: Howard W., a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and now studying in Paris; Marion, resid- ing at home; Samuel Carl, in the brokerage business in Philadelphia; and Ralph and Florence, who are attending the public school.

FRANKLIN GILKESON. The late Benjamin F. Gilkeson, for many years one of the leading attorneys of the Bucks county bar, and prominently identified with the political affairs of his native county, was born in Bristol, Bucks county, August 23, 1842, and spent his whole life there.

His father, Andrew W. Gilkeson, Esq .. was born in Montgomery county, but was of Bucks county ancestors, and spent most of his life in this county. His father, also named Andrew, was a lieutenant-colonel in the war of 1812, and prominently identified with the volunteer militia in the years im- mediately following the second war with Great Britain, and the family were among the early settlers of Pennsylvania. Andrew W. Gilkeson was a prominent attorney, being admitted to the Bucks county bar April 29, 1840, and practicing for many years at Bristol. He took an active in- terest in the affairs of the county, and filled the office of prothonotary of the county for the term of 1854-7. He married Margaret M. Kinsey, of that borough, whose ances- tors had been among the early English set- tlers in Bucks county, her great-great- grandfather, Samuel Kinsey, having settled in Bristol township in 1728. Andrew and Margaret M. (Kinsey) Gilkeson were the parents of four children, of whom Benja- min Franklin was the eldest, and the late A. Weir Gilkeson, also a prominent at- torney of Bristol, was the youngest.

Benjamin F. Gilkeson was educated in the graded schools of Bristol and at the acad-

emy at Hartsville. He studied law with the late Anthony Swain, of Bristol, and was admitted to the bar February 2, 1864, and at once engaged in practice at Bristol. Pos- sessed of more than ordinary ability in the line of his profession, an earnest and care- ful student, his unflagging energy and in- domitable will soon brought him to the front, and for twenty-five years prior to his death he was the leader of the Bucks county bar, and represented vast corporate interests both in the county and elsewhere. Soon after his admission to the bar he launched into the political arena, and was a promi- nent figure in the political councils of the county and state for many years. Reared in the Democratic faith, he was an early convert to the principles of the Republi- can party, and was for several years a col- league of Hon. Caleb N. Taylor, at that period a potent political factor in Bucks county and twice her representative in con- gress. Taylor and Gilkeson later became estranged, and the rising young attorney became the recognized leader of his party in the county, and held that position in local and state politics for many years. He served as the representative of his county in many state, national and congressional conventions, and also in the state committee, of which he was for some years chairman. He was intimately associated with the lead- ing statesmen and politicians of his day, serving in the cabinet of Governor Daniel H. Hastings as commissioner of banking, and taking an active part in state affairs for many years. He was second comptroller of the United States Treasury during the administration of President Harrison, and made an excellent record. He was promi- nent in the Masonic fraternity, and served as district deputy grand master for Bucks and Montgomery counties. He was one of the trustees of the State Lunatic Asylum at Norristown, and held many other posi- tions of trust and honor.

Mr. Gilkeson was twice married; first in 1870, to Charlotte B. Jones, daughter of George B. Jones, of Pittsburg. She died in 1872, and he married (second) in 1874 Helen E. Pike, daughter of Samuel Pike of Bristol, and they were the parents of three children: Franklin, a member of the Bucks county bar, and of the firm of Gilke- son & Janes, and two daughters, Helen and Ethel.

HARRISON C. STOUT. Among the useful and respected citizens of Bucks county must be numbered Harrison C. Stout, of Quakertown. He is a grandson of Jacob and Lydia (Barndt) Stout, whose son, Abraham Barnard, in youth assisted his father on the farm and afterward learned the cabinet maker's trade. In poli- tics he was a Whig, and in religion a member of the German Reformed church. . He married Lydia Cressman, and they were the parents of one son; Harrison C., men-

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

tioned at length hereinafter. The death of Mr. Stout occurred in 1841.

Harrison C. Stout, son of Abraham Bar- nard and Lydia (Cressman) Stout, was born October 3, 1836, at Sellersville, Rock- hill township, and was the only child of his parents. While he was still an infant the family moved to Milford township and set- tled in what is now Rosedale. After the death of his father his mother moved to Sellersville, and it was there that Harrison C. spent his boyhood. At the end of eight years he went to live with his uncle, Jacob Stout, and in 1851 moved to Doylestown. where he was employed on the "Bucks County Express," a German newspaper. After a few months he was obliged to abandon this work on account of failing sight, and took a position with Dr. W. S. Hendrick, with whom he remained for one year. He then went to Hagersville in order to learn the carpenter's trade with Elias Rosenberg, and after applying himself to that calling for two years and a half mi- grated to Stirling, Illinois. Thence he pro- ceeded to Missouri, and extended his wan- derings as far south as Fort Scott, Kan- . sas. In the spring of 1859 he returned to Pennsylvania and settled with his uncle Jacob at Bridgetown, where for some time he worked at his trade. In 1863 he moved to Philadelphia, where for a short time he was employed as railroad carpenter, after- ward applying himself to general carpentry. He then became foreman in the furniture factory of Ebert, Sleifer & Hall, a position which he held for eight years. In 1870 he , moved to Sellersville, where he followed his trade until 1875, in which year he established himself as a manufacturer of cigar boxes. In 1890 he settled in Quakertown, building the plant which he now operates, and in which he employs a large number of hands. He is actively interested in local affairs, and during his residence in Sellersville served as chief burgess. Since coming to Quakertown he has been for three years a member of the council, and has also served as chairman of the electric light committee and of the fire department. He has been prominently identified with fire departments in various places for about fifty-three years. He was one of the or- ganizers of the fire department at Sellers- ville, Bucks county, and was its first chief. In 1892 he organized the Quakertown fire department, and has been chief ever since. He had a wide reputation as a fireman, and has in many instances risked his own life to save others from being consumed by the flames. Politically he is a Republican, and is active in the interests of the organiza- tion. He is a member of the First Re- formed church, in which he has held the office of trustee and since 1889 has served continuously as elder.

Mr. Stout married, October 18. 1865, Mary Ann Nace, and they have one son, Edward Newton, born March 30, 1863. and lives in Philadelphia, where he is employed as an engineer in Cramp's shipyard. He

married in 1882, Susan, daughter of Jesse and Eliza (Nace) Nace, of Sellersville, and their family consists of the following children : Minnie, died in 1891; Harrison Stephen, born September 20, 1885, and lives with his grandfather in Quakertown; Will- iam, born June 30, 1891, and is at home with his parents in Philadelphia; and Charles, deceased. Mrs. Stout is a grand- daughter of Adolf and Annie ( Weitzel) Nace, whose son Isaac was born July > 1810, and was a lifelong farmer. He lived at one time in Montgomery county, and later took up his abode in Haycock town- ship. He married in 1835, Anna, daughter of Jolin and Mary (Zellers) Berger, and they were the parents of the following chil- dren: I. William, born January 21, 1837. married, January 1, 1860, Lisetta Seems, and lives at Siegfried, Lehigh county. 2. Mary Ann, born February 8, 1839, became the wife of Harrison C. Stout, as mentioned above. 3. Henry, born October 25, 1841, is unmarried and makes his home with his- sister. 4. Eliza, born February 21, 1843. resides in Philadelphia. 5. Isaac, born Feb- ruary, 1846, married Elizabeth Monroe, of Philadelphia, and died in 1889. 6. Sarah, married a Mr. Obiedenn, of Philadel- phia. 7. Isaac, born July 3, 1855, died in 1899. Mr. Nace, the father, passed the greater part of his life in New Britain township, but at the time of his death was a resident of Silverdale, Hilltown town- ship

WILLIAM SCOTT is the owner of a good farm about a mile distant from Yard- ley. It was in the vicinity of this borough that he was born, on the 16th of December, 1864. His father, Thomas Scott, emigrated from his native country, Ireland. to Amer- ica in 1857, when nineteen years of age, and settled in Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he worked on a farm for about three- years. He then removed to Penns Manor, Bucks county, where he entered the em- ploy of Arthur Collins, in whose service he remained for some time. He then began farming on his own account, and has since given his undivided attention to agricul- tural pursuits. He is a member of the Presbyterian church of Morrisville, and a respected and worthy citizen of his com- munity. He married Miss Cecelia Moran, a daughter of William and Margaret Moran, of Chester county, Pennsylvania, and they had four children, one of whom died in childhood, the others being William ; Robert, a resident farmer of Lower Make- field township; and Mary, at home.

At the usual age, William Scott entered the public schools, his time being passed in a manner similar to thatof most farm lads of the period. He continued to assist his father in the cultivation of the home place until eighteen years of age, when he went to New York city, believing that he would prefer commercial life. He there entered the employ of T. G. Patterson, a

LW YORK MEUS LIBRARY

X AND -I NS.

Thomas. K. Gumppen

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

manufacturer of packing boxes, with whom he continued for twelve years. On the ex- piration of that period he returned to ches- ter county, Pennsylvania, where he had charge of a farm for William J. Moran for two years, and then returned to Bucks coun- ty, where he purchased the farm upon which he now resides, about one mile dis- tant from Yardley, and has since given his entire attention to agricultural pursuits. In politics he is a Democrat, but has never sought or desired public office, preferring to devote his attention to his business af- fairs, in which he is now meeting with creditable and gratifying success. Mr. Scott married Miss Margaret Irwin, and they have two children: Edith G., born February 4, 1901 ; and Florence, born July 17, 1902.

RICHARD M. JOHNSON, one of the most prosperous farmers of Bucks county, and a man who is held in high ,esteem by his follow-townsmen as an upright, honest and useful citizen, was born in Richland township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, No- vember 22, 1841, the son of Milton and Evaline (Edwards) Johnson. The pro- genitor of the Johnson family in America was Casper Johnson, great-grandfather of Richard M. Johnson, who emigrated to this country from Gerinany at an early day, settling in the province of Pennsylvania, in Upper Bucks county. He married and had a son, Casper Johnson.

Casper Johnson, junior, grandfather of Richard M. Johnson, was born in Richland township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He acquired what education the subscription schools of that day afforded, and followed the occupation of blacksmithing all his life. He married Mary Gibson and had a son, Milton.

Milton Johnson, father of Richard M. Johnson, was born in 1823 in Richland township, on the farm now owned by Cor- nelius Loucks. He attended the subscrip- tion schools, and then turned his atten- tion to farming, which occupation he fol- lowed all his life. He was a Whig in politics, but at the formation of the Repub- lican party joined that organization. He married Evaline, daughter of Amos and Abigail (Evans) Edwards, of Quakertown, and the following children were born to them: Richard Moore, mentioned at length hereinafter; Amos, born November 24, 1849, married Anna Shaw, daughter of William and Hannah ( Morgan) Shaw ; he is a farmer, living at the corner of Station road and Bethlehem pike, south of Quaker- town.

Richard Moore Johnson was educated in the common schools of his native place, and also studied in a private school under the preceptorship of Rev. A. Horne, at Quaker- town, until his twentieth year. He then lo- cated on his father's farm, which his father had purchased in April, 1842, and assisted

with the farm work. In 1870 Richard, with his brother Amos and their father com- menced working the home farm on shares, and this arrangement existed until 1876. Milton Johnson ( father) died in 1883, after which Richard purchased his brother's in- terest and continued to operate the farm for himself. The farm consists of one hun- dred and four acres of fertile, gently stop- ing land, with a southern exposure, and which Mr. Johnson operated as a dairy and general farm. Politically Mr. Johnson is a strong Republican, and, although living in a district that is strongly Democratic, has on several occasions been elected to local offices, thereby defeating the candi- date of the Democratic party and demon- strating the esteem and respect in which he is held by the community. Mr. Johnson is a member of the school board and has served as judge of elections. He is a mem- ber of the Society of Friends, Richland Monthly Meeting, at Quakertown. His mother was a birthright member of this organization. March 25, 1870, Richard M. Johnson was united in marriage to Mary P. Strawn, daughter of Eli W. and Mar- garet (Penrose) Strawn of Richland township. She was born September 26, 1841, and died July 29, 1892. The follow- ing children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson : Harry S., born February 13, 1872, married Melvina Penrose, daughter of Stephen and Hannah (Morgan) Penrose, of Quakertown. Her parents are farmers living on Strawn farm on Bethlehem pike, one mile south of Quakertown; Milton, born November 11. 1876, married Martha Penrose ; Walter E., born October 26, 1879, unmarried : Maurice, born September 5. 1886, unmarried ; Arthur R., born June 26, 1891, attending school.

THOMAS K. GUMPPER, of Newtown, Pennsylvania, is the son of John J. Gumpper, of Germany, who settled in Phil- adelphia when quite young. John J. Gump- per was a man of more than ordinary abil- ity. He began his active career by learn- ing the barber trade, and in early manhood opened a shop in Philadelphia, and a few years afterwards by energy, perseverance and thrift was the owner of several barber shops in the city. For a number of years prior to his retiring from business he was busily employed in looking after these shops, although he did not work at the chair himself. He was the Republican candidate for congress in the third Philadelphia dis- trict, his Democratic opponent having been the Hon. Samuel Randel, who was elected from this district several terms. He was counsel at Ghent under President Grant. He was a member and one of the organizers of the Union League of Philadelphia. For several years prior to his death, which oc- curred in 1896. he was engaged in various business enterprises and accumulated a handsome fortune. He married Susan W.

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Elton, and their children were: Joseph E., deceased ; and Thomas K., mentioned here- inafter. Thomas Keyser, the maternal grandfather of Thomas K. Gumpper, was a Dunkard minister, and was among the early settlers of Germantown. He donated the ground occupied at Germantown by the Dunkard graveyard.

Thomas K. Gumpper was born in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, November 1, 1843. He received his education at the common schools of his native city, and early in life mastered the trade of barber under his father's instruction. In 1873 he moved to Newtown and established himself in the barber business, which he successfully fol- lowed for twenty years, since which time he has lived a retired life. He served as mail carrier in Philadelphia from 1862 to 1874, and was also connected with the Phil- adelphia arsenal for two years. He is a member of the Episcopal church of New- town. He is also a member of the Mystic Chain, No. 121, of Newtown, in which order he has passed all the chairs. Politically Mr. Gumpper is a Republican. He served as mayor two terms, as assessor nine years, as tax collector for Newtown borough for about two years, and for quite an extended period was a member of the council. In each place of public and private trust he has proved himself capable and trustworthy. Mr. Gumpper married, February 24, 1862, Miss Emma Hill, daugh- ter of George M. and Anna Hill. Mr. Hill was a well-known Philadelphia politician ; he was city commissioner two terms, tax collector two terms, sergeant-at-arms at Harrisburg three or four years, and also United States detective, having worked on the case of President Lincoln when as- sassinated by Mr. Booth. The Hills were among the early settlers of Kensington and were large property holders and prominent people. The issue of this union was eleven children, as follows: John J., who died in infancy; Mirriam, born October 23, 1864. wife of James Gamble : Annie H., who died at four years of age ; Sue W., born January 13, 1868, wife of John R. Lenny, o. Phila- delphia; Thomas K., born May 25. 1871 ; John T., born June 26. 1873; William K., born December 23, 1875; Joseph E., born February 28, 1877: James P. H .. deceased, born August 10, 1880; Ray E., born Sep- tember 11, 1883; Charles N., born June 17. 1887. Their grandchildren to the date of February, 1905, are: Mirriam E., Clara, James Elton, Thomas Ashton, Harry. Erben, Emma and Edna, children of James and Mirriam Gamble. Thomas K., Edward. William and Roy, children of John R. and Sue W. Lenny. Emma H., child of Thomas K. Gumpper. Thomas K., son of John J. Gumpper. Irene, James G. and Helen, children of William K. Gumpper. Ruth and Mirriam, children of Joseph E. Gumipper. All in all he of whom this notice is written may very well count life a success. He has by dint of industry built up for himself a home surrounded with

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 75

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