History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 83

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 83

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Joseph Hinkle, eldest son of Philip, was the grandfather of Dr. Hinkle. He married Ann Marshall, one of the nine daughters of Edward Marshall, who made the one and a half days walk in 1737, that defined the purchase of the land known as the "Walking Purchase." Edward Marshall died in Tinicum town- ship, November 6, 1789, aged seventy- nine years. A full account of him and his exploits with the Indians is given in this work in the chapter entitled "The Walking Purchase." Ann Hinkle was a daughter of the second marriage to Eliz- abeth Mease, who died October 12, 1807, aged eighty years. Joseph Hinkle died in Plumstead township June 24, 1821, aged fifty-six years.

William Hinkle, son of Joseph and Ann (Marshall) Hinkle, was born in Plumstead township, and spent his whole life there as a farmer. He died in July, 1860. His wife was Elizabeth Walter. daughter of Michael Walter, Esq., for many years a prominent farmer and jus- tice of the peace of Plumstead township.

Dr. Albert G. B. Hinkle was reared on the farm in Plumstead township, Bucks county, attended the public schools of that neighborhood and finished his ele- mentary education' at Point Pleasant Seminary, under the Rev. Dr. Hyde. He studied medicine under his relative, Dr. James M. Ridge, then of Tinicum town- ship. later of Camden, New Jersey, now deceased, who was also a descendant of Edward Marshall. Dr. Hinkle entered the Medical Department of the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1857, and practiced his pro- fession in Philadelphia, until the sum- mer of 1862, when he was appointed as- sistant surgeon in charge of the trans-

port, Daniel Webster No. 2, and served until taken sick with typhoid fever, when he was relieved from service. On his recovery he resumed the practice of medicine in Philadelphia, where he has since been in active practice.

Dr. Hinkle married in 1860, Emma Sevelenge Downie, of Philadelphia, and they are the parents of two children: Sallie, wife of William R. Warner, Jr., a prominent wholesale druggist and chemist of Philadelphia; and William Marshall Hinkle, M. D., also a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.

VALMORE M. HELLYER, of the mer- · cantile firm of A. S. Hellyer's Sons, was born at Mechanics Valley, Buckingham township, Bucks county, September 15, 1857, and is a son of Amos S. and Annie (Penrose) Hellyer. His paternal great- grandfather, Bernard Hellyer, is said to have been the son of an English baronet, and came to this country about the middle of the eighteenth century, when a lad. He spent his life in central Bucks county, and reared a large family of children. He was twice married, the second time somewhat late in life, on December 24, 1795, to Sarah Walton, by whom he had four children- Hettie, who married Aaron Crooks; Mary, who married Aaron Bradshaw; Benjamin ; and Anderson.

Anderson Hellyer the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Bucking- ham township, Bucks county, and spent the greater part of his life there. He married Mary Cress, daughter of Michael Cress, and they were the parents of nine children- George, who lived and died at Newtown, Bucks county; Amos, of Doylestown : Cress, of Crawford county, Pennsylvania ; William who died young; Myrom B., of Bucks county ; Mahlon, of Crawford coun- ty, Pennsylvania; Joseph, of Ohio; Jenks, of lower Bucks county ; and Catharine, who married John Griffith, and is deceased.

Amos S. Hellyer was born in Bucking- ham, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1828. His younger days were spent upon farms in Buckingham and Solebury town- ships. On his marriage in 1854 he located at Mechanics Valley, where he was the pro- prietor of the hotel for several years. He later removed to Mechanicsville and was employed as a lightning rod salesman. In 1872 he took charge of the farm belonging to the Hughesian Free School, at Buck- ingham, which he conducted for fourteen vears. In 1886 he sold out and removed to Doylestown and entered into the mercantile business with his son, Samuel A. Hellyer, under the firm name of A. S. Hellyer & Son, which continued until 1898, when he retired from the firm, his elder son Val- more M. becoming a partner with Samuel A. under the firm name of A. S. Hellyer's Sons. Mr. Hellyer is distinctly a self-made man. Left at an early age to his own re-

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

sources, he has by industry and careful business methods acquired a competence. Always a man of strict integrity and high moral character, he has the respect and es- teem of all who know him. Amos S. Hell- yer married Annie Penrose, a daughter of Samuel and Catharine (Cressman) Pen- rose, of Plumstead, formerly of Richland, the former of English and the latter of German descent.

Jonathan Penrose, the grandfather of the above named Samuel Penrose, was the eldest son of Robert and Mary (Heacock ) Roberts, an account of whose arrival in America and subsequent settlement in Rich- land, Bucks county, is given elsewhere in this work. Jonathan was born March 1, 1736( N. S.) in Richland township, and lived his whole life there, dying in 1797. He married, May 10, 1759, Martha Pen- rose, and in 1761 purchased a farm partly in Rockhill and partly in Richland, where he died. He had three sons, Isaiah, David and Robert, and four daughters, Mary, Phebe, Martha, and Sarah. David Penrose, son of Jonathan and Martha, was born and reared in Richland. He was a carpenter and farmer in Rockhill township, owning a portion of the old homestead on the Rich- land line. He married Mary Hartzell of Rockhill. Samuel Penrose, son of David and Mary (Hartzell) Penrose, was born in Rockhill township about the year 1800, and resided there and in Richland until 1842, when he purchased a farm of fifty acres in Plumstead, near Carversville, and re- moved thereon. He lived in Plumstead un- til 1848, when he sold his farm and removed soon after to Philadelphia, where he died about 1860. He was a man of consider- able prominence in local affairs, and was a member of legislature from Bucks county in 1839-40. He married Catharine Cress- man, of Rockhill, and they were the pa- rents of nine children, five of whom grew to maturity : Annie, the wife of Amos S. Hellyer ; Franklin C., of Doylestown; Sam- uel C., of Wilmington, Delaware; Joseph, who enlisted in the army during the civil war, and was among the missing after the battle of Petersburg, and was never after- wards heard of: Maria, widow of Kinsey Reeder., of Makefield, now livin~ in Phila- delphia : Jonathan, of Trenton, New Jersey.

Amos S. and Annie ( Penrose) Hellyer were the parents of three children, one of whom, a daughter, died in childhood. The two who survive are Valmore M., the sub- ject of this sketch, and his partner in the firm of A. S. Hellyer's Sons, Samuel A. Hellyer, born July 14, 1859. The latter remained on the farm with his father until 1876, when he became a clerk in the store of Joseph K. Beans, at Holicong, where he was engaged for less than two years. Returning home in 1878 he attended Dovles- town Seminary for one year, and in 1879 went to Yardleyville, where he was clerk in the general merchandise store of Thomas Pursell for four years. He then accented a position with S. P. Dunham & Co., of

Trenton, where he was employed until February, 1886. On March 16, 1886, he opened the store in the Armstrong building, Doylestown, and conducted business there for twelve years in partnership with his father, under the firm name of A. S. Hell- yer & Son. In 1897 he purchased the site of the present store and erected the present handsome store building, and, greatly en- larging the business, took his brother V. M. Hellyer into the firm under the title of A. S. Hellyer's Sons, opening business in the new store April 10, 1898. He mar- ried, June 20, 1885, Martie D. White, ot Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and they are the parents of two daughters, Grace and Carrie.

Valmore M. Hellyer was born and reared in Buckingham, and acquired his education at the Hughesian School and Doylestown Seminary. In 1880 he accepted a position in Buckingham Valley Creamery, and soon after became its superintendent and general manager, retaining that position with emi- nent satisfaction to the corporation for thir- teen years. In August, 1894, he purchased the creamery and operated it on his own account until April, 1895, when he sold out. Prior to leaving the creamery he had erected a stone crusher on Buckingham mountain, which he operated for several years. In 1898 he purchased his father's interest in the firm of A. S. Hellyer & Son, and in 1900 removed to Doylestown, where he has since resided. He has always taken an active interest in local affairs and enter- prises. He has been secretary and treas- urer of the Centreville and Pineville Turn- pike Company since 1887. and is also secre- tary and treasurer of the Buckingham and Doylestown Turnpike Company. He was a trustee of the Hughesian Free School un- til his removal to Doylestown. He is a member of the Doylestown Lodge, No. 245, F. and A. M., and Chapter, No. 270, R. A. M. : Aquetong Lodge, No. 193. I. O. O. F., and Castle No. 208. A. O. K. of the M. C. He married, March 16, 1881, Lettie Fell, daughter of Charles K. and Letitia (Large) Fell, and they are the parents of two chil- dren-Alma and A. Newlin.

STACY L. WEAVER. who for the past thirty years has been engaged in the ice business at Doylestown, was born in Tinicum township, Bucks county, Sep- tember 27. 1846. He is a son of Isaac and Cypra Ann (Laubenstein) Weaver, the former deceased and the latter still residing with her son at Doylestown. The Weaver family have been residents of Tinicum township since its organi- zation. Brice and Anna (Trollinger) Weaver, the grandparents of the subject of this sketch, were engaged in farming all their lives in Tinicum township, and reared a family of nine children-Isaac, the father of Stacy L., who died about 1892; Mrs. Martha McClain, residing

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

with her son-in-law, George W. Ott, in Doylestown; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Scott, who lived and died at Passaic, New Jersey; William, who lived and died near Frenchtown, New Jersey; Christian, now residing in Doylestown; Clara, wife of Edward Lovett, of Penns Manor, Bucks county; Mrs. Ellen Jen- kins, who died in Trenton, New Jersey; and Samuel, who lived and died in Tin- icum. John Weaver, the father of Brice, was also a resident of Tinicum township and of English parentage, and his wife, Elizabeth McCauley, was of Scotch Irish parentage.

Stacy L. Weaver married Marietta WVorman, of another old Tinicum fam- ily, a descendant of Johannes and Bar- bara Woerman, who came from Ger- many in 1735 and settled in Rockhill township, Bucks county, removing to · Bedminster in 1754, and to Tinicum in 1761, where Hohn Worman died in 1768. Stacy L. and Marietta (Worman) Weaver are the parents of four children: Burton, Estella, Anna, and Clarence.

THE SCHEETZ FAMILY is an ex- tensive one in Bucks county. as well as in other parts of Pennsylvania and in many other states of the Union, south and west. They are the representatives of probably no less than thirty pioneer emigrants of the name who emigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania between the years 1700 and 1760. All these pioneer emigrants probably trace to a common ancestor at or near Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, in the seventeenth century or earlier.

The earliest record of the family in con- nection with Pennsylvania was in 1683. when Johan Jacob Scheetz, a minister of Crefeldt, on the Rhine, purchased of Will- iam Penn four thousand acres of land to be laid out in Pennsylvania. He was one of about a score of Palatines who purchased large tracts of land of Penn with the pur- pose of establishing a German colony in Pennsylvania, and later organized them- selves into a company known as the Frank- fort Company, and named the eminent scholar and teacher Francis Daniel Pas- torious and others to come to Pennsylvania and take up the land for them. In accord- ance with this plan the thirteen families, principally from Crefeldt, came to Penn- sylvania in 1683 and founded Germantown. Not nearly all the purchasers were include ' in these thirteen families. Johan Jacob Scheetz never came to America, but died in Crefeldt prior to 1701, when William Penn patented to his widow Catharine the land originally purchased by him. Cath- arine sold the greater part of the land to Daniel Falkner, Arnold Stork and George Miller. Later, however, representatives of the family began to make their appearance

at Germantown. Conrad Scheetz, said to have been a son of Johan Jacob, arrived at Philadelphia in the ship "Samuel," August 30, 1737, aged thirty years, and George Scheetz followed him in October of the same year. Conrad Scheetz died in 1771, leaving a widow Catharine and several chil- dren. He is supposed to be the father of Henry Scheetz, who married Catharine Rubinkam, daughter of Justus and Susanna (Rittehuissen) Rubinkam, and was the father of General Henry Scheetz, of Mont- gomery county, who commanded a brigade in the Fries rebellion, and later in the war of 1812-14. Conrad Scheetz was a "paper maker" in Lower Merion in 1763, as shown by the Philadelphia records, and Henry, the father of the General, was later the pro- prietor of a paper mill at Sandy Run, White Marsh township, where the General was born in 1761.

Conrad Scheetz, of Germantown, "hatter" and later a "storekeeper," doubtless a son of Conrad, the "paper maker," though possibly the *Johan Conrad Scheetz who emigrated from Germany in the "Loyal Judith" in 1743.) was the ancestor of the Scheetz family of Kellers' Church, Haycock, and Doylestown, Bucks county. He died at Germantown in 1812, and his widow Christianna survived him many years. He was associated in the ownership of land at Germantown and Chestnut Hill with Philip Scheetz, probably a son, who was an "inn- keeper" in Haycock township, Bucks coun- ty, 1798 to 1802, when he purchased of Conrad the real estate at Chestnut Hill and removed there. Philip had come to Bucks county in 1788, and followed the trade of a hatter at or near Sellersville for ten years prior to his removal to Haycock, where he purchased a farm of 114 acres in 1798. Conrad and Christianna were the parents of three sons and three daughters, who died unmarried.

George Scheetz, son of Conrad and Chris- tianna, was born at Germantown. December 12, 1785, and was also a hatter by trade. He came to Bucks county when a young man. and lived at Keller's Church. Bed- minster township, for forty-five years, dving there September 17, 1863. He was a school teacher for many years, and many old resi- dents of that locality acquired their early education at his school at Keller's Church. For twenty years prior to his death he was a member of Keller's Reformed Church. and served several years as a

*This Conrad Scheetz settled in Upper Hanover, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, in 1755.

NOTE-There is another branch of the Sheetz family in Bucks county. the descendants of George Ludwig Scheetz, who arrived in the " Dragon." September 30. 1732. and soon after settied in Milford township. Bucks county. where he purchased land in 1753 which he and wife Ann Mary conveyed to their son George in 1767. Adam Scheetz, of Nockamixon, propably of the same branch, died in 1819 at an advanced age. He had sons. Conrad, John. Andrew, Adam. Jacob, John and Michael, and three daughters who married and reared families bv name of Althouse, Raisner and Stone. Some of this family removed to Virginia and North Carolina about 1800.

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

deacon. He married Hester Fluck, who was born March 6, 1792, and died April 7, 1875, and they reared a family of nine children, viz .: William, Edwin, Franci., Reuben F., Jacob, Eliza, wife of Aaron Hul- mer, Samuel F., Charles, and Albert F., all of whom are now deceased. Of the children of George and Esther (Fluck) Scheetz, William, the eldest, born in 1812, was a farmer for many years, latterly in Richland, near Quakertown, where he died October 19, 1888, leaving two sons and four daughters. Francis, born 1814, was a farmer and later a merchant at Norristown, Mont- gomery county, where he died 1897, leav- ing two sons, Remandus, a wholesale grocer of Norristown, and Mahlon F. Scheetz. Jacob, born 1815, was a carpenter by trade, but was a lifelong farmer in Bedminster, and died there April 5, 1899; he had two children, Levi G. and Lizzie Ott. Reuben F., born 1817, was a mason by trade, but most of his life was devoted to clerical and mercantile pursuits, he was many years a resident of Doylestown, and at one time had a hardware store there; he was clerk of quarter sessions of Bucks county, 1849-51 ; prothonotary, I866-69; deputy sheriff, 1863-66; deputy clerk of orphans' court, 1884-87. He died in Doylestown early in 1888; he had five sons and one daughter, two sons are since deceased. Edwin F., born 1821, was a miller by trade, which he learned at New Hope, Pennsylvania; he was, however, a merchant for the greater part of his active life, later living retired in Quakertown, where he died September 28, 1904; two children-Oliver R., teller of Quakertown Bank, and Amanda, wife of Charles Biehn, survive. Charles, born Jan- uary 17, 1823, was a justice of the peace and merchant at Keller's Church, Bed- . minster township, where he lived all his life, dying June 1, 1901. He married Mag- dalena Hager, and had eight children; his son, George H., succeeded him as justice, and is also a merchant at Keller's Church. Eliza married Aaron Fulmer, a farmer of Bedminster, she died in 1888. Samuel F., born 1828, was a merchant and justice of the peace for many years at Rich Hill, Rockhill township, where he died August 3, 1890; had three daughters.

Albert F. Scheetz, youngest son of George and Esther (Fluck) Scheetz, was born at Keller's Church, Bedminster township, Bucks county June 1, 1831. He was for a half century actively connected with busi- ness enterprises in Bucks county, the greater part of which was spent in Doyles- town. He was reared in Bedminster town- ship, and received his intellectual training at the public schools and under the private tuition of his father. At the age of seven- teen years he was apprenticed to the car- riage maker's trade at Springtown, Bucks county. After serving two years in that capacity he continued for one year at journey work at Quakertown, and then went to Bedminster and filled the position of clerk in a mercantile establishment for

two years. In 1853 he opened and conducted a store for one year at Stover's Mills, Hay- cock township, for Jonas Stover. He then went into the mercantile business for him- self at Wormansville, Tinicum township, with his brother-in-law, Morgan Rufe, as partner, under the firm name of Scheetz & Rufe, which continued until 1857. In that year he formed a copartnership with his brother, Edwin F. Scheetz, under the firm name of E. F. Scheetz & Brother, and they conducted a store at Quakertown for three years. In 1860 he purchased his brother's interest and conducted the store alone until the close of the war in 1865, when he dis- posed of the store to his brother Edwin F. Scheetz. A year later he came to Doyles- town, and in partnership with Morgan Rufe, under the firm name of Rufe & Scheetz, bought and finished leather until 1869, when they built a steam tannery at . Doylestown and manufactured and sold leather for a number of years. In 1870, leaving Mr. Rufe to attend to the tannery, Mr. Scheetz removed to Pittston, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, where he established a store and sold leather of his own manu- facture. In 1872 he purchased his part- ner's interest and, returning to Doyles- town, operated the tannery for several years. In 1878 he formed a partnership again with his old partner, Morgan Rufe, under the old firm name of Rufe & Scheetz, and opened a general merchandise store in the Armstrong building on Main street, Doyles- town, where they remained for six years, when Mr. Rufe purchased the Cowell House, (hotel property) at Court and Pine streets, and rebuilt it and converted it into a store, and, the firm taking a new part- ner, Oliver R. Scheetz, a nephew, located there. Mr. Rufe retired at the end of one year, and the firm of A. F. & O. R. Scheetz, continued for another year, when Mr. Scheetz purchased his nephew's interest and conducted the business for three years, un- til 1889, when he retired and was succeeded by his two sons, Leo and Harvey. Leo died September 8, 1890, and was succeeded by his brother Harry. Harry died in 1896, and the youngest son Erwin became a mem- ber of the firm, and with his eldest brother Harvey still conducts the business under the firm name of A. F. Scheetz's Sons. Morgan Rufe dying in 1894, the present firm purchased the property, rebuilding and re- fitting it, and have the largest general mer- chandise store in Doylestown. When the present store was first opened it was in a sense an experiment, as the idea of con- ducting a large department store of its class in a country town was a new one, but by a careful study of the wants of the people. courteous treatment of customers and the application of thorough business principles to every branch of the trade, Mr. Scheetz and the succeeding members of the firm have built up and maintained a business in- stitution of which the town is proud. A few years after retiring from the business. Mr. Scheetz was afflicted with locomotor

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

385

ataxia, and was almost helpless for about three years. He died December 8, 1903.

Mr. Scheetz married, in 1859, Matilda Laubach, born in Durham township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, January 31, 1833, ninth and youngest child of Frederic and Catharine (Jacoby) Laubach, of Durham, and a descendant of Christian Laubach, who with his father, Rhinehardt Laubach, came to Bucks county from Germany and settled in Lower Saucon, Northampton (then Bucks) county, in 1738. (See Laubach in this work). Christian Laubach was captain of a "Ranging Company" that saw active service in the French and Indian war.

Frederick Laubach was a son of Urich Laubach, and grandson of Captain Chris- tian. He was reared in Lower Saucon and removed to Durham in 1816, where he be- come a large landowner and prominent man. He died May 17, 1851, and his wife, Cath- arine Jacoby, born November II, 1791, died January 8, 1862. She was a daughter of Peter (1759-1815) and Catharine (Trauger) Jacoby, of Durham, and a granddaughter of Conrad Jacoby, born 1730, died 1795, who was one of the early German settlers in Lower Milford, Bucks county, removing successively to Springfield, Durham and Bedminster, where he died. (See Jacoby in this work).

Albert F. and Matilda (Laubach) Scheetz were the parents of seven children: Leo, who died in 1890; Morgan, died young ; Harry, died 1896; Harvey, and Erwin, the members of the present firm; Ellen, living with her mother in Doylestown; and Allen, a twin to Erwin, who died in infancy. Al- bert F. Scheetz and his family were and are members of the German Reformed church. In politics he was a Democrat. Though in no sense a politician, he took a deep interest in local affairs. He was for sixteen years a member of the school board of Doylestown borough and was treasurer of the board when the handsome new school building was erected. He was one of the organizers of the Doylestown Electric Com- pany in 1892, was superintendent and pur- chasing agent from its inception to 1895, and one of the board of directors from its organization to his death. He was also one of the purchasers of the plant of the Doylestown Gas Company, in 1894, and a director therein until his death. As a busi- ness man and public spirited Christian gentleman Mr. Scheetz stood exceedingly high in the estimation of those who knew him best, and won and held the respect and esteem of all who knew him.

Harvey Scheetz, senior member of the firm of A. F. Scheetz's Sons, was born at Quakertown, February 22, 1861, and came to Doylestown with his parents at the age of five years, and was reared in that town, acquiring his education at the Doylestown schools. At the age of fifteen years he entered his father's store as a clerk, and continued to fill that position until he be- came a member of the firm in 1889, with his brother Leo. At about the same time

he and Leo purchased the Novelty Hat Store on State street, Doylestown, which Leo conducted until his death in 1890, after which it was conducted by the youngest brother, Erwin, until the latter became a member of the firm, Harvey retaining the management of the department store of which he has been one of the proprietors under the firm name of A. F. Scheetz's Sons since 1889. He is one of the directors of the Doylestown Electric Company, and is one of the active managers of the plant, and was one of the promoters of the Doyles- town Worsted Company, and has served as a director from its organization. He was also one of the active organizers of the Doylestown Board of Trade, of which he is a director. He is a member of Salem Reformed church, and politically is a Demo- crat. He is a member of Aquetong Lodge, No. 193, I. O. O. F., a charter mem- ber of St. Tammany Castle, No. 173, K. G. E. Mr. Scheetz married, April, 1892, Clara M. Desh, daughter of Aaron and Susan (Bunstine) Desh, of Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, and they. are the parents of one child, Albert Frederick.

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 83

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