History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 79

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 79

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almost six years. Mr. Minster , been prominent in the political affairs of the Republican party, both state and na- tional, and particularly active in those of Bristol borough and the towns of Bucks county, he always being found in the front ranks of those who are strenuous in the service of his party. He is connected with the Presbyterian church of Bristol borough, contributing freely to the support of the same. He is also actively connected with many of the business enterprises of Bristol, and is president of the Bristol Company, or- ganized for the manufacture of ice from distilled water, their plant for the pur- pose being one of the finest in that vicinity. Mr. Minster is a member of Lodge No. 25, Ancient York, F. & A. M. of Bristol; Mohegan Tribe of Red Men; and Ancient Order of Mystic Chain, Beneficial Society. He is a great lover of horseflesh, and at various times has been the proud owner of many fine specimens of the same.

Mr. Minster married, October 20, 1892, Olivia Goslin Highland, of Bristol, Bucks county, daughter of Eugene and Louisa (Goslin) Highland, and their children are: Ellwood Gilkeson, born August 11, 1893; and Clarissa High- land Minster, born March 22, 190I. Eugene Highland, father of Mrs. Min- ster, was a butcher by trade. He served as clerk of quarter sessions court of Bucks county, for many years. He was very popular in politics, also in social life, and was respected and esteemed by all with whom he was brought in con- tact. In 1861 he enlisted in Captain Beatty's company and served until the close of the war. At the end of his service he was presented with a Henry Rifle by the government for his valiant and courageous conduct as a soldier. This token of esteem is retained and highly prized by his widow. His death occurred May 24, 1894.

JOHN A. GROSS. The Gross family has figured in connection with the £ material and moral development of Bucks county for four generations. Jacob Gross, the founder of the family in America, was a native of Germany, whence he emigrated to this country, about 1761. He first settled at Skip- pack, Montgomery county, subsequently resided in Germantown and thence re- moved to Bedminster township, Bucks county, where he spent his remaining days. He was a shoemaker by trade and followed that pursuit in connection

Ellwood It. Minister

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

with general farming up to the time of his demise. While in Bedminster he was ordained a minister of the old Deep Run Mennonite church and was afterward elected a bishop of that de- nomination. His death occurred Decem- ber 12, 1810, when he was sixty-seven years of age and his remains were interred in the church cemetery. He gave his services without financial com- pensation to the cause of the ministry, and his influence was marked as a potent element for good in the neighbor- hood where he resided. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Krall, died February 10, 1816, at the age of sixty-three years. They were the par- ents of six children: Christian, Isaac, Mary, who became the wife of Abram Nash ; Daniel, John and Jacob.

John Gross, son of Jacob and Mary (Krall) Gross, spent his entire life in Bucks county, and during the greater part of his business career carried on agricultural pursuits in Fountainville, Pennsylvania. He, too, was an ordained minister of the Old Mennonite church and officiated for years as pastor of the congregation of that denomination at Doylestown. He was married twice, his first union being with a Miss Leatherman, by whom he had the fol- lowing children: John L., Jacob, Joseph, Anna, the wife of Henry Godshalk; and Mary, the wife of John Godshalk. For his second wife John Gross married Mrs. Myers, a widow, and their chil- dren were: William and Samuel, twins, and Sarah, the wife of Samuel W. Lapp.

John L. Gross, the eldest son of John Gross, was born in Fountainville, Penn- sylvania, August 25, 1824, and in early life he engaged in farming. He was employed by Christian Leatherman and others until he found opportunity to engage in business on his own account. In connection with general agricultural pursuits he carried on the commission business, carrying his products to the Philadelphia market. About 1853 lie en- tered mercantile circles in partnership with Henry H. Rosenberger, his brother- in-law. establishing a commission busi- ness at Dublin. About four years later he purchased two acres of ground from his father, constituting a part of the old family homestead, and he erected there- on a store building in Fountainville that is still occupied by his son, John A. Gross. There he carried on merchandis- ing for about thirteen years, after which he sold his business to John L. Kramer and resumed farming, conducting agri- cultural pursuits with good success for ten years. At the end of that time he purchased the stock that was in his store building and resumed merchandis- ing, in which he continued until 1891, when he retired from business life and sold his stock of goods to his two sons, Daniel G. and John A. Gross. Starting

out empty handed to make his own liv- ing he continually progressed and as the result of his capable management, keen discernment and executive force he won a full measure of prosperity. He also took a deep interest in the moral development of his community, and for a long period served as an elder in the Old Mennonite church, occupying that position up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 5th of December, 1901. In early manhood he married Miss Esther Gotwals, and they become the parents of four children: Daniel G., Mary Ann, the wife of Henry Johnson; John A., and Emma, wife of John F. Mood.

Jolin A. Gross was born in the house where he now lives and in which he conducts his mercantile interests, his natal day being October 28, 1865. He acquired his education in the common schools and early became familar with commercial methods by acting as clerk in his father's establishment. He was thus employed until 1891, when he and his brother Daniel purchased the busi- ness of their father and for four years conducted the store under the style of Gross Brothers. On the expiration of that period Jolin A. Gross bought his brother Daniel's interest and has since continued as sole proprietor, conducting one of the best general stores in this part of Bucks county, his reliable busi- ness methods and earnest desire to please his patrons being among the salient features of his successful career. On the 6th of December, 1888, John A. Gross was married to Miss Anna E. Leather- man, daughter of Isaac and Lydia Leatherman, and they had one child, Clarence L., who was born November 5, 1890, and died June 27, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Gross hold membership in the Salem Reformed church of Doylestown. In politics he is a Republican and was auditor of his township for three years. In 1891 he was appointed postmaster by John Wanamaker, then postmaster general of the United States, and has. since occupied that position.

CHARLES THOMAS IREDELL. The name of Charles Thomas Iredell, for more than a half a century an hon- ored citizen of Bristol, will ever be in- separably associated with the financial interests and institutions of Bucks county. The name of Iredell is a very ancient one and the following origin has been ascribed to it: "In an old Norman manuscript, mention is made of this family. Sir Pierre d'Ancoma followed William the Conqueror and was pres- ent at the battle of Hastings. The king, being very pressed, and in danger of his life, Sir Pierre is stated to have rescued him by slaying those around

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

him, to whom the king said, 'Sir Pierre, thou hast given me air (Eyre) to breathe,' from hence the crest. On a wreath of colours, a dexter arm em- bossed in armour proper garnished and charged, in the hand a sword." The Conqueror subsequently gave Sir Pierre large tracts of land about Dale, and by royal license the family name was changed to that of Eyre-Dale, moder- nized about the fifteenth century to Ire- dell. The founder of the family in this country was Thomas Iredell, who came here in 1700. He belonged to the branch of the family living near Carlisle, Eng- land, and brought with him to the Monthly Meeting of Friends in Phila- delphia the following certificate:

Certificate of Removal

On behalf of Thomas Iredell, taken from the Records of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting.

"From our. Monthly Meeting upon Pardshaw Cragg, Cumberland, ye 27th of ye 6th month, 1700, to Friends in Pennsylvania and other parts of Amer- ica: Dear friends and brethren, ye tender salutation of our dearest love in ye truth always continues and reaches forth to you. Ye account we have to give to you is on behalf of a young man, the bearer hereof, Thos. Iredell, who this day layd before us ye transporting of himself into Pennsylvania, requesting our certificate along with him.

"We therefore certifie to all where he may come, that he hath of late years come frequently amongst Friends. His carriage appears to be sober and truth- like. Those that know him ye best give no other account but well. He comes with consent of his Mother, though no Friend, and enquiry hath been made of his clearness in relation to marriage, but nothing appears to ye contrary.

"We need not to further inlarge, but subscribe ourselves. Your friends and brethren behalf of ye aforesayd Meeting.

Thos. Griffin, John Burngeat & others."

Thomas Iredell settled at first in Philadelphia, and afterward bought of Samuel Carpenter two hundred acres of land, in Horsham township, adjoining Friends' Meeting property at that place, on which he erected a dwelling. In an iron knocker on the door was drilled. "T. I., 1720," supposedly the date of building. Before leaving Philadelphia he married, Third month, 9th, 1705, at Friends' Meeting-house, corner of Sec- ond and Market streets, Rebecca Will- iams, also of Philadelphia.

Robert Iredell, presumably the son of Thomas and Rebecca (Willians) Ire- dell, married Hannah Lukens, who was descended in the third generation from Jan (or John) Lucken (or Lukens), who came from Holland in 1683. and was one of the thirteen original settlers of

Germantown, who took up the land from Francis Daniel Pastorius. Jan Lucken was one of the overseers of Friends' Meeting established in that neighbor- hood, the members of which were a pro- gressive and far-seeing people, inas- much as they made at that early day- 1688-the first protest against slavery and presented it to the Yearly Meeting, which, however, did not act in the mat- ter. This action on the part of the Ger- mantown Friends antedated by many + years the agitation which finally cleared the Society of any complicity in the evil.

Charles Iredell, son of Robert and Hannah (Lukens) Iredell, married Phoebe Cadwallader, and they were the parents of a son, Joseph, who was a merchant in Philadelphia. Joseph Ire- dell married eleventh month, 9th, 1804, Hannah, daughter of Mordecai and Eliza- beth (Jarrett) Thomas. The Thomas family was of Welsh origin.

Charles Thomas Iredell, son of Joseph and Hannah (Thomas) Iredell, was born 9 mo. 11, 1805, in Hatboro, Pennsylvania, and in his early boyhood his parents moved to Philadelphia, where he at- tended school, later becoming a pupil at the Westtown Boarding School. Until 1827 he was employed in a drug-store, and in that year entered the Farmers' Bank of Bucks county, afterward the Farmers' National Bank of Bucks county. He was connected with the institution first as clerk and subsequently as cash- ier. For more than fifty years he was at his post, faithful to his trust, with in- tegrity as the key-note of his character. This trait, together with his clear pene- tration in regard to business matters and his indefatigable energy, were fully ap- preciated throughout the wide circuit having dealings with the bank. He was treasurer of several building associa- tions. In politics he affiliated with the Whigs and later with the Republicans, having a warm feeling for the principles through which the party appealed for its support to the country, but he kept aloof from the vortex of politics and never sought or held an office. He and his wife were both birthright members of the Society of Friends, as had been their an- cestors for many generations, and both were standard-bearers of its principles. Mr. Iredell held many positions of trust and usefulness in the Bristol Meet- ing. in which he served as trustee, treas- urer, elder and clerk, while Mrs. Iredell was for many years an acknowledged minister of the Society.

Mr. Iredell married, 10 mo. 8, 1829, Rebecca Newbold, and they were the parents of the following children. all of whom were born in Bristol: 1. Hannah Ann, who became the wife of Nathan Spencer Thomas. of Philadelphia, later of Elmira, New York. Their children are: Rebecca Iredell, who married George Pickering and has three children, Dor-

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

othy Iredell, Ruth Thomas, and Hannah Rowlette; Anna Abbott, who died in her fourteenth year; and Charles Iredell. Mr. Thomas, the father, died in' 1890. 2. Louisa. 3. Joseph, who died in infancy. 4. Samuel Newbold, who resided many years in Titusville, and married Margaret Monier Spangler, of Philadelphia. Their children were: George Spangler, who married Orinda Corson Fausette, of Trenton, New Jersey, and has one son, Leslie Newbold; Harriet Louisa; Will- iam Miller, who died on the eve of man- hood; Charles Francis, who married Elizabeth Hyde, of Titusville, and has four children, Francis Raymond, Henry Hyde, Helen Margaret, and Elizabeth Mae; Marian Oakford; Henry Volkmar, who married Margaret Valeria Mahoney, of New York city; Rebecca Catharine, and Florence Newbold. Mrs. Iredell died in 1899, and her husband passed away in 1902. 5. Abbie Newbold. 6. Rachel, who died in infancy. 7. Mary Howell. 8. Charles, who married Annie Maria Er- win, of Painted Post, New York, where they resided for some time, and then moved to Elmira, New York. They had one son, Arthur Erwin, who married Isa- bella Paxson Rogers, of Bristol, and has two children, Charles Vernon and Frances Barrett. Mrs. Iredell died in 1898. 9. Susan Trump. 10. Elizabeth Newbold.

Mr. Iredell was actively engaged in his duties at the bank until within six weeks of his death, which occurred Sixth month, 16th, 1882. The officers of the bank unanimously passed resolutions ex- pressive of their high appreciation of his services: of their sorrow at his decease; and of their sympathy with his bereaved family. One of the directors of the bank thus wrote of him in the columns of a local paper: "Above all was his devotion to rectitude as an inward principle to which all other things were made to yield. During the long period of his connection with the bank his integrity of conduct and friendly attention to those dealing with the bank were im- pressed upon all and contributed to exalt the character and credit of that excellent and popular institution. And amidst the numerous instances of recreancy to their trust which have occurred amongst of- ficers of moneyed institutions, that fidel- ity which never faltered in the worst, or wearied in the best of times, has made his example more distinctly marked and highly appreciated. At his post of duty, in the fullness of his years and the ma- turity of his character, he has passed away, leaving behind him a name and an example to be respected and followed by generations of his countrymen."

Mrs. Iredell was descended from Mi- chael Newbold, who came from York- shire, England, in 1679, and settl.d on the Assiscunk creek, just above Burling- ton, New Jersey. He had numerous de-

scendants and among them Joshua New- bold, who married Rebecca Atkinson. Their son, Samuel Newbold, married Abigail, daughter of Samuel and Susanna (Han- son) Howell. The former was de- scended from John Howell, who came. from Wales with his three children in 1690. The eldest of these children, Jacob Howell, married Sarah, daughter of Randal Vernon, who, with his two. brother, Robert and Thomas, had allied himself with the Friends' cause in this country a short time before the arrival of William Penn. They belonged to a family of note in England, being sons of James Vernon, who was secretary of state for Great Britain from 1697 to 1700, and brothers of Admiral Vernon, in honor of whom the Washington estate received its name. Thus it will be seen that the marriage of Samuel Newbold and Abigail Howell united two old fam- ilies. Mr. and Mrs. Newbold were the parents of a daughter, Rebecca, who was married at Friends Meeting, Byberry, Pennsylvania, to Charles Thomas Ire- dell, as mentioned above. The death of Mrs. Iredell occurred 4 mo. 23, 1893.

JOSEPH RIDGWAY GRUNDY, proprietor of the Bristol Worsted Mills and one of the most prominent manu- facturers and business men of Bucks county, was born in Camden, New Jer- sey, January 13, 1863, and is a son of the late William Hulme and Mary (Ridgway) Grundy, and a grandson of Edmund and Rebecca (Hulme) Grundy, and is a descendant on the maternal side from the earliest English settlers on the Delaware.

Edmund Grundy, grandfather of Joseph R. was a native of England, came to this country when a young man and located in Philadelphia, where he became a prominent merchant. He retired from business in 1856, at same time moving to Walnut Grove Farm, Bristol township, where he resided until his death in 1878. He married Rebecca Hulme, daughter of William and Rachel (Knight) Hulme, of Hulmeville, Bucks county, and they were the parents of five children.

William Hulme Grundy, the father of the subject of this sketch, was the 'second child of Edmund and Rebecca (Hulme) Grundy, and was born in Phila- delphia, in December. 1836. He was educated at a select school in that city and at an early age became a clerk in a mercantile establishment. Later he entered into the mercantile trade for himself in the city. In 1870 he began the manufacture of worsted yarns, mov- ing his plant to Bristol. Bucks county, in 1876, establishing the Bristol Worsted Mills, so long and successfully conducted by the firm of William H. Grundy & Co.,

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

of which firm he was the senior member. It proved to be one of the important industries of the county and gave em- ployment to several hundred hands. William H. Grundy was a public-spirited and broad minded business man and did much to advance the interests of his town. He was president of the Bristol Improvement Company, and filled the office of chief burgess of the town for two terms. He was always active in all that pertained to the best interests of the town and won and held the respect and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. He was one of the first members of the Union League in Phila- delphia, and a prominent member of the Manufacturers Club of that city. He was also a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity. His career of ex- traordinary business activity and use- fulness was terminated by his sudden death on October 26, 1893, of heart disease. Mr. Grundy married, in 1861, Mary Ridgway. of New Jersey, a lineal descendant of Richard Ridgway. of Wel- ford, county of Bucks, England, who arrived in the River Delaware, in the ship, "Jacob and Mary," of London, in September, 1679, and settled near the Falls of the Delaware in what is now Falls township, Bucks county, where he was a considerable landholder. The first court house of Bucks county was erected on land belonging to Richard Ridgway. Mr. Ridgway was accompanied to Amer- ica by his wife Elizabeth and son Thomas, and another son Richard was born a few months after their arrival. His wife died in Bucks county, and in 1699 he married Abigal Stockton, of New Jersey, and thereafter made his residence in Burlington county, New Jersey, where he became a very promi- nent man, and has left numerous de- scendants.

The maternal ancestors of William Hulme Grundy, were also among the earliest English settlers in Bucks county. George Hulme and his son George Hulme, Jr. came from England prior to 1700 and settled in Middletown town- ship. George, Jr. married, in 1708, Naomi Palmer, daughter of John and Christain Palmer, who came to Bucks county from Cleveland, Yorkshire, ar- riving in the Delaware, 9 mo. 10, 1683. Naomi only survived her marriage a short time. George Jr., married (sec- ond) her sister, Ruth Palmer, contrary to the rules of Middletown Friends' Meeting, which forbid marriage with a deceased wife's sister, and he was dis- owned by the Meeting. John Hulme, son of George and Ruth, married Mary Pearson, daughter of Enoch and Mar- garet (Smith) Pearson, of Buckingham, and their son, John. was the founder of Hulmeville. which still bears his name. He married Rebecca Milnor. daughter of William Milnor, of Penn's

Manor, and lived for a number of years in the Manor. In 1796 he exchanged his Manor farm with Joshua Woolston for the "Milford Mills," as Hulmeville was at that time known, and subse- quently purchased several hundred acres of land adjoining, and with his sons: William, John, Joseph, George, and Samuel established several new indus- tries there and laid out and developed the town. The family were the origi- nators of the Farmers Bank of Bucks county, now located at Bristol, which had its inception at Hulmeville. John Hulme was one of the most prominent business men of Bucks county and a pioneer in the rapid development that began in the first quarter of a century after the Revo- lution. His eldest son William was a carpenter and cabinet maker and was associated with his father in the varied . industries of the town and assisted materially in its development. He mar- ried, 4 mo. 17, 1794, Rachel Knight, and died in 1809, leaving one son Joseph K. and two daughters, Susanna, and Re- becca. The later was born in 1803, and became the wife of Edmund Grundy. She outlived all of her generation, dying at her country residence in Bristol township, October 26, 1895, at the ad- vanced age of ninety-two years. Of her five children only one survived her, Mrs. Susan G. Harrison. William Hulme and Mary (Ridgway) Grundy were the parents of two children, Joseph R. and Margaret R. Mrs. Grundy is still living in Bristol, though much of her time is spent in traveling in Europe and elsewhere.

ALBERT C. ALTHOUSE, M. D. One of the active practicing physicians of Bucks county is Dr. Albert C. Althouse, of Bed- minster township. Dr. Althouse is a de- scendant of Daniel Althouse, who came from Germany and settled in Bedminster, where he owned a large tract of land. Martin Althouse, son of Daniel Althouse, mentioned above, had a farm near Keller's Church and also worked as a mason. His wife was Catherine Sigafoos, and they were the parents of a large family, many of whom died young. Those who reached maturity were: Martin, Levi, Tobias, men- tioned at length hereinafter; Mathias, and Silas. The parents of these children are both buried at the Tohickon church. Mar- tin Althouse was accidentally killed while coming home with his team from Philadel- phia.

Tobias Althouse, son of Martin and Cath- erine (Singafoos) Althouse, was born in 1808, and was a blacksmith by trade. For thirty-eight years he was absent from the township, but returned four years before his death. He served in the army during the Mexican war and also in the Civil war. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Kramer, of Bedminster, and their children

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

were: Catharine, Samuel K., mentioned at length hereinafter, and Reuben. The mother of these children died in 1843, and the father expired January 13, 1885, in the home of the oldest son.

Samuel K. Althouse, son of Tobias and Elizabeth (Kramer) Althouse, was born June II, 1837, in Nockamixon township, and was about six years of age when his parents moved to Bedminster. From 1855 to 1860 he was engaged in teaching, and in 1865 purchased the farm on which he lived for the remainder of his life. Three years ago he retired from active labor. He has held the township offices of assessor, auditor and clerk, and has also served one term as county auditor. He is a member of the Tohickon Reformed church. He married, November 25. 1860, Sarah Ann, born July 26, 1837, daughter of Enos Crouthamel, and they were the parents of the following children: Sarah, who died in childhood; Albert C., mentioned at length hereinafter; Mary, who is the wife of Ed- win J. Rumer, of Bedminster township; Emma, who resides at home; Edwin, who lives in Bedminster township ; and Reuben, who is a resident of Washington, District of Columbia.

Albert C. Althouse, son of Samuel K. and Sarah Ann (Crouthamel) Althouse, was born April 7, 1863, in Bedminster town- ship, and received his primary education in the common schools, afterward attending the Sellersville high school and the West Chester State Normal School. At nine- teen years of age he took up the profession of teaching, which he practiced for six years, and during this time began reading medicine under Dr. Daniel P. Moyer, of Dublin. In the autumn of 1889 he entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which institution he received in the spring of 1892 the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He immediately opened an office in Pineville, where he practiced for eight years, and in 1900 moved to Dublin, where he has built up a large practice. He is a member of the Bucks County Medical So- ciety and the State Medical Association. He also belongs to the Knights of the Golden Eagle. He is a member of the Reformed church at Dublin. Dr. Althouse married, October 10, 1894, Ida, daughter of Jonas H. Lear, of Tinicum township, and they have three children ; Harold Lear, Georgie Neta and Jessie Beulah.

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 79

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