History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 84

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 84

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Erwin Scheetz, junior member of the firm of A. F. Scheetz's Sons, was born in Doylestown, May 26, 1873, and received his intellectual training there. He entered the store at an early age and grew up with the business. At the death of his brother Harry, he purchased the Novelty Hat Store, which he conducted for one year, and then purchased his brother Harry's interest in the firm of A. F. Scheetz's Sons, and has since been a member of that firm with his brother Harvey. He married, February 14, 1903, Sarah Huber, of Philadelphia. Mr. Scheetz is a director in the Doylestown Gas Company, and is interested in other local enterprises. He is a member of Aque- tong Lodge, No. 193, I. O. O. F .. and re- ligiously is affiliated with Salem Reformed church.

HON. GEORGE LEAR. Among the self-made men of his day and generation who have achieved eminence and suc- cess in the face of adverse circumstances, was Hon. George Lear, of Doylestown, deceased. He was born in Warwick township, Bucks county, February 16, 1818, the son of Robert and Mary (Meloy) Lear. He was reared on a farm, and at the age of thirteen years was thrown entirely upon his own resources. Until the age of nineteen he sought such employment as could be obtained in an agricultural community, and devoted his spare moments to the acquiring of an education. He was for some years a member of the family of the late Will- iam Kitchin, Sr., of Solebury, whose sympathy and encouragement to the as- piring youth were freely acknowledged and requited by Mr. Lear in later years. In 1837 he became a teacher in the

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

public schools, and followed this voca- tion for four years, when he entered a country store and devoted his spare mo- ments to the study of law under the pre- ceptorship of Eleazer T. McDowell, Esq., of Doylestown. He removed to Doylestown in 1844 and entered the of- fice of his preceptor and was admitted to practice at the bar of his native county on November 16, of the same year. In August, 1848, he was appointed deputy attorney general for the county of Bucks, by Hon. James Cooper, the attorney- general of the state, and was recommis- sioned by Mr. Cooper's successor, Hon. Cornelius Darrah, and held the posi- tion until the office was superseded by the creation of the office of district at- torney in 1850. Endowed with more than ordinary intellectual ability, strong will, a marked gift of oratory, a tremendous force of character and in- ·dustry, and. above all, of a sturdy com- mon sense, he soon rose to a proud posi- tion among his fellows. He was an elo- quent speaker and a forceful reasoner, and had great power before a jury. He rarely accepted a case until he was con- vinced of the justice of the claim of his client, and then threw himself into it with all the force of an indomitable cour- age and sense of justice. The people of Bucks county will long remember the bold advocate and faithful counselor. He was for many years the recognized leader of tlie bar. The host of friends who knew him and loved him will like- wise remember his genial, honorable and manly traits of character, that made him a pleasant companion and a faithful friend. What he was in the practice of his profession he was, in the world at Marge, a bold and fearless advocate of right and justice, and earnest in the de- fense of his principles. In politics he was an ardent Republican from the or- ganization of that party, and stood de- servedly high in its councils. He was a member of the constitutional conven- tion of 1872-3, but did not sign his name to or vote for the constitution as adopted by the convention. Though he advocated and helped to sustain all the important measures of reform in the convention, he was convinced that the instrument as adopted contained unwarranted restric- tions on the rights and powers of the people. In 1875 he was appointed by Governor Hartranft as attorney general of the state, and filled that position with eminent ability. He was elected presi- dent of the Doylestown National Bank, and filled that position until his death. He died at his home in Doylestown, May 23, 1884, and his funeral obsequies were attended by the most prominent men of the state. In January, 1845, he married Sidney White, of Montgomery county, who survives him. They were the pa- rents of three children-Henry, born March 21, 1848; Cordelia, who died in

1903, unmarried; and Mary, the wife of George P. Brock.

Henry Lear, son of George and Sid- ney, was educated partly in Doylestown and Philadelphia, and graduated at Yale College in the class of 1869. He attended lectures at the University of Pennsyl- vania, and studied law in the office of his father, and was admitted to the bar September II, 1871. He is a man of marked ability as a lawyer, and achieved eminence in the practice of his profes- sion. He succeeded his father as presi- dent of the Doylestown National Bank in 1884, and held that position for twenty years. He married, June 10, 1875, Louisa Philler Brock, daughter of John J. and Julia (Philler) Brock, of Doylestown. Their children are John B., George, Will- iam P., Julia, and Sidney. The family are members of the Protestant Episco- pal church.

GEORGE H. QUINBY, of Warring- ton, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, was born in Solebury township, and is a son of James and Grace (Ridge) Quinby, the former a native of Amwell township, Hunterdon county, New Jersey, and the latter of Tinicum township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania.

Isaiah Quinby came from Chester in 1742, bringing a certificate to Bucking- ham Monthly Meeting of Friends, and located in Amwell township, New Jer- sey, retaining his membership in Buck- ingham Meeting, and later Solebury, when became a monthly meeting. Most of his children intermarried with Bucks county families, and he has nu- merous descendants in Bucks county. James Quinby, the grandfather of George H., married Io mo. 13, 1803, Margaret Good, of Plumstead township, Bucks county, and resided the greater part of his life in New Jersey. He died 2 mo. 2, 1830, and his widow 2 mo. 25, 1842. They were the parents of seven chil- dren: Mary: Rachel, who died in in- fancy; Martha, who married John E. Kenderdine, of Solebury; Hannah, who married Thomas Atkinson, of Wrights- town: Francenia, who died unmarried in 1854; Isaiah, born September 5, 1814, located in Solebury, in 1834 and lived there all his life, married Ruth Scar- borough, and left . one son and two daughters; and James, born 1816, mar- ried Grace Ridge.

James Quinby was born and reared in Amwell, Hunterdon county, and came to Solebury, Bucks county, when a young man, and was employed for some years in the milling business with his brother-in-law, John E. Kenderdine. On his marriage he began farming in Sole- bury, and has since followed that voca- tion. He was supervisor of roads in Solebury township for eleven years. James and Grace (Ridge) Quinby were

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

the parents of seven children, viz .: Ellen, wife of William Jay, of Illinois; Elwood, a farmer in Illinois; Joseph, engaged in the dry goods business in New York; George H., of Warrington; Frances, married (first) William Worstall, and (second) Smith Clark, both of Solebury; Henry R., a farmer near Carversville, Bucks county; and Mary, wife of James M. Winder of Philadelphia.

George H. Quinby was born and reared in Solebury township and re- sided there until 1897, when he removed to Philadelphia, where he was engaged in the milk business for two years, and then removed to Warrington township, Bucks county, where he has since been engaged in farming. He has filled the position of supervisor of roads in that township for the past four years. He married Josephine Ely, daughter of James H. and Emeline (Magill) Ely, of Solebury, and they are the parents of eight children: Lizzie, wife of Edward Shupe, of Solebury; James E., a farmer near Bristol, Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania: Grace, a successful teacher in the public schools of Bucks county, and a graduate of West Chester Normal School; Lewis L., a successful grocer in Philadelphia; May, who is filling a cler- ical position in Philadelphia: Mark, a farmer; Joseph, also engaged in agricul- tural pursuits with his brothers in Bris- tol township: and Emeline, who is a graduate of Warrington schools, and resides with her parents.

WILLIAM F. KELLY, postmaster of Doylestown, Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania, was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. September 3. 1866, and is a son of the late William F. and Cathi- arine (Phalen) Kelly. William F. Kelly, Sr., the father of Postmaster Kelly, was born in Queen's county, Ire- land, August 15, 1823, and was a son of Garret and Ann (Fines) Kelly. Garret Kelly was a farmer in Queen's county, and reared a family of eleven children, of whom eight lived to maturity, viz .: William F., Margaret, Maria, Patrick, James, Thomas and John, six of whom · migrated to America. William F. Kelley was reared on a farm in his native county, and remained there until twen- ty-seven years of age. On September 15, 1850, he took passage at Dublin on the sailing vessel "Carry" for America, and landed at New York, October 15, 1850. After remaining for a week in New York he came to Horsham township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and went to work on a farm, remaining at his first place two and a half years, part of which time he had full charge of the farm. He then removed to Hatboro, where he resided for one year. In 1854 he returned to his first employers and

took charge of their farm, working it on shares until 1863. In 1864 he removed to Sprigfield . township, Montgomery county, where he farmed until 1873, when came to Buckingham township, Bucks county, and purchased the farm of 118 acres where his widow and young- est son still reside, and lived there the remainder of his life, dying there No- vember 24, 1898, at the age of seventy- eight years. Mr. Kelly was a man of irreproachable character, and won the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He married, January 11, 1859, Catharine Phalen, who was also a native of Queen's county, Ireland, and they were the pa- rents of four children Jeremiah, of Doylestown; Daniel, who died in New York in 1901; William F., Jr., the sub- ject of this sketch, and Thomas, who resides with his mother on the home- stead in Buckingham.

WILLIAM F. KELLY, JR., was reared on his father's farm in Bucking- ham, and acquired his education at the public schools and at Doylestown Sem- inary. At the close of his school days he located in Doylestown and engaged in the real estate and insurance business until 1894, when he became deputy sher- iff of the county, in which capacity he served for three years. In 1897 lie was appointed deputy prothonotary, and was reappointed in 1900 and 1903, resigning to accept the position of postmaster, to which he was appointed June 25, 1905. Mr. Kelly was a competent and obliging official, and in his ten and a half years service as a county officer gave entire satisfaction to the patrons of the offices, and made many friends. He had also served for several years as assessor of Doylestown borough prior to appoint- ment as deputy sheriff. In politics he is a Republican and has taken an active part in the councils of his party, and was sec- retary of the Republican county commit- tee for a number of years. He is un- married.

SAMUEL P. McILHATTEN, M. D., a leading physician and surgeon of Ivyland, was born in Philadelphia, February II, 1879. The family, of Scotch lineage, was founded in America by Samuel McIlhatten, a native of the green isle of Erin. He was a weaver by trade. and followed that business in New York city, becoming prom- inently identified with that line of industrial activity there. His children were: Alex- ander, a ship carpenter; D. J., Rachel, and Jennie. D. J. McIlhatten, father of Dr. McIlhatten, was also born in the United States, and won for himself a creditable position in the business world that yielded to him a good financial return, becoming anditor of a steamship company. He is now retired from active business life. He wedded Mary Patterson, who was of Scotch lineage, a daughter of Samuel Patterson.

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

a farmer of Westmoreland county, who was a practical and successful farmer and later lived retired in Philadelphia, where his death occurred. The members of Samuel Patterson's family were: Maggie, now Mrs. McKnight; Mrs. Margaret Patchell; Mrs. Mary Mcllhatten; Thomas, who learned the coppersmith's trade and is now in Harts- ville; Robert, a farmer; James, who is con- nected with the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia; and McLeod, a farmer. The children of Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Mc- Ilhatten were Samuel P .; Thomas, who is engaged in the coal business in Boston, Massachusetts ; David A., Edward and Wal- ter, all in college. The parents reside in one of Philadelphia's suburbs. Mr. Mc- Ilhatten is now enjoying a well earned rest. Both he and his wife are Presbyterians in their religious faith.

Dr. Mellhatten was born in Philadelphia, February II, 1879, and spent his boyhood days there in the usual manner of city lads. He first attended the public schools and later the Friends' Academy, after which he took up the study of medicine, continuing his reading in the Medico-Chirurgical Col- lege of Philadelphia, where he pursued a full course and was graduated with the class of 1900. He then practiced in his home city until January, 1902, when he lo- cated in Hartsville, remaining there until March, 1904, when he located in Ivyland. He has since given his entire attention to his profession, and by his capability and skill has won the confidence of the com- munity and gained a very desirable patron- age. He is a member of the Bucks County Medical Society, and the Medical Club of Philadelphia, and is also a member of the Neshaminy Presbyterian church. Dr. Mc- Ilhatten was married October 19, 1904, to Miss Anna P. Flack, daughter of Theodore and Margaret ( Patterson) Flack, . of an old Bucks county family.

WILSON C. EVANS, of Kintners- ville, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, was born in Carversville, same county, in the year 1832, and is a son of Caleb and Sarahı C. (Black) Evans, the former a native of Montgomery county, and the latter of Plumstead township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. On the paternal side Mr. Evans is of Welsh descent and a descendant of Cadwallader ap Evan, who emigrated from Wales in 1698, and settled in Gwynedd (now) Montgomery county. Thomas Evans, the great-grand- father of Wilson C., was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Evans, and grand- son of Cadwallader, and was born 8 mo. 24, 1733. died 9 mo. 3, 1818. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John and Jane Roberts, who was born II mo. 19, 1740. and died 8 mo. 16, 1794. The last named couple resided in Plymouth township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and were the parents of ten children, of

whom seven lived to mature years: Caleb, Tacy, Nathan, Jonathan, Eliza- beth, and Jane. Jonathan Evans, sev- enth child of Thomas and Elizabeth (Roberts) Evans, was born at Plymouth, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, 6 mo. 26, 1778, and died in 1844. He married Io mo. 5, 1809, Elizabeth Iden, daughter of George and Hannah (Foulke) Iden, of Richland, Bucks county, who was born in that township. They settled in Montgomery county and reared a large family, all of whom except two sons, Caleb and William R., removed to the western states early in life.

Caleb Evans was born in Montgomery county April 8, 1815, and at the age of seventeen years came to Bucks county and located in Solebury township. He learned the trade of wheelwright, and followed that trade at Ruckmans, in Solebury, for several years. He was also the proprietor of the store at Ruekmans for some years. He removed later to Carversville, where he resided until about 1894, when he removed to Doyles- town and resided with his daughter, Mrs. Edward Doan, until his death, Feb- ruary 17, 1901. He was an industrious man and exemplary and respected citi- zen. William R. Evans, a younger brother of Caleb, also settled in Solebury, and was for many years a prominent merchant and business man of Carvers- ville, Solebury township. Caleb Evans married Sarah C. Black, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Carver) Black, of German and English ancestry, who was born March 15, 1818, and died at Doylestown, March 14, 1903. Their chil- dren were Mary Emma, wife of Edward R. Doan, of Doylestown, and Wilson C. Evans, the subject of this sketch.

WILSON C. EVANS was born and reared in Carversville and received a good common school education. In early life he filled the position of clerk in a country store, first for his father and later for others, and in 1875 engaged in the mercantile business for himself at Landisville, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, but sold out at the end of two years and purchased the Sands homestead at Sand's Corner, in Buckingham, of the estate of his father-in-law, and lived there until 1888, devoting his energies to agricultural pursuits and the buying and shipping of poultry and calves for the New York markets. In the spring of 1888 he sold his Buckingham farm and removed to Kintnersville and engaged in the mercantile business, continuing and increasing his poultry shipping and com- mission business. In poltics Mr. Evans is an active Republican, taking a deep interest in the success of his party and its principles, but has never aspired to other than local office. He has served for a number of years as a member of the school board of Durham township, and filled other local positions. He mar-

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

ried in 1870 M. Jennie Sands, daughter of James and Rachel (Shaw) Sands, of Buckingham, and they have been the pa- rents of four children, one of whom died in infancy. Those who survive are: Adah S., born 1871, now the wife of Stacey Vanderbelt, of Hunterdon county, New Jersey; Stanley C., born April 26, 1873, residing with his parents; and Emma D., born in 1877, now the wife of William Nicholas, a commission mer- chant of New York City, New York.

COLONEL CHARLES M. BETTS, of Philadelphia, is a son of John and Sarah C. (Malone) Betts, both natives and lifelong residents of Bucks county, and a descendant in the eighth genera- tion from Richard Betts, who came from England to Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1648, and soon after to Newtown, Long Island, where he became prominent in public affairs, member of provincial as- sembly (1665); commissioner of high- ways; sheriff, (1678-1681), etc. He died November 18, 1713, aged one hundred years. His son Thomas married in 1683, Mercy Whitehead, daughter of Major Daniel and Abigail (Stevenson) Whitehead, whose father and grand- father were both members of provincial assembly, etc. Thomas Betts, son of Thomas and Mercy, born at Newtown, Long Island, August 14, 1689, married (first) Susanna Stevenson, and (second) Susannah Field, of New Jersey. He moved first to Burlington county, New Jersey, and later to Newtown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1747. Thomas Betts, fifth child of Thomas and Susanna (Stevenson) Betts, born at Newtown, Long Island, February 18, 1723, came to Bucks county with his parents and later settled in Buckingham township, where he died in June. 1785. He married Sarah, daughter of William and Rebecca (Wilson) Smith, and granddaughter of William Smith and Stephen Wilson, both natives of England, and great-granddaughter of Thomas Croas- dale, who came to Pennsylvania with William Penn in the "Welcome" in 1682, and of Henry Baker, one of the most distinguished men of his time in Bucks county. Stephen Betts, eighth child of Thomas and Sarah (Smith) Betts, born in Buckingham, May 31, 1758, settled in Solebury in early life, and died there November 19, 1834. He mar- ried April 19, 1786, Hannah Blackfan, daughter of Crispin and Martha (Davis) Blackfan, granddaughter of William and Eleanor (Wood) Blackfan, and great- granddaughter of Edward and Rebecca (Crispin) Blackfan, the latter being a daughter of Captain William Crispin, uncle to William Penn, and his first com- missioner of the colony of Pennsyl- vania.

John Betts, the father of Colonel Charles M. Betts, was the youngest son of Stephen and Hannah, and was born in Solebury, Bucks county, August 10, IS04, and in 1836 located in Warminster township, Bucks county, where he died. He married Sarah C. Malone, daughter of John and Rachel Malone, of Bucking- ham, born May 20, 1810, died January 27, 1858, and they were the parents of five children, two daughters who died young and three sons, Charles M., Ed- ward T., deceased, and Dr. B. Franklin Betts, of Philadelphia.

COLONEL CHARLES M. BETTS was born in Warminster, Bucks couney, August 9, 1838, and reared on his father's farm there, attending school at Loller Academy, Hatboro, and later an academy at Burlington, New Jersey. When six- teen years of age he removed to Phila- delphia and accepted a position with the

firm of Malone Taylor, wholesale lumber merchants, with whom he re- mained until the fall of 1861. He was then commissioned by Governor Andrew Curtin as first lieutenant of Company D, Third Regiment, Blue Reserves, organ- ized for the defense of the city. In No- vember of the same year he accepted a position as chief clerk in the quarter- master's department, General W. B. Franklin's division and corps. On the call of President Lincoln for 300.000 more troops, after the seven days battle in front of Richmond, Lieutenant Betts felt impelled to take a more active part in the suppression of the rebellion, and resigned his position in the army as a civilian, and in August, 1862, enlisted as a private in the Fifteenth Pennsylvania (Anderson's) Cavalry, then being re- cruited. He served with this regiment until the close of the war, being pro- moted through the several grades as a non-commissioned officer, and in March. 1863, was made captain of Company F. The following year he was promoted to major of the regiment, and in the spring of 1865 was advanced to the position of lieutenant-colonel, and commanded the regiment until it was mustered out of service, May 21, 1865, Colonel William J. Palmer, its organizer and commander, having been made brevet brigadier-gen- eral. Colonel Betts was wounded in the left arm in fight near Gatlinsburg, East Tennessee, with the Cherokee In- dians who had enlisted in the confeder- ate service. He was awarded a medal by Congress for distinguished services in action near Greensboro, North Caro- lina, in April, 1865. He is a past com- mander of the Medal of Honor Legion, and of Post No. 2, G. A. R., and has been president of the Fifteenth Cavalry Association since its formation in 1873.

Soon after the close of the war, Col- onel Betts became a member of the firm of Taylor & Betts, wholesale lumber merchants, Philadelphia, which was con-

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

tinued until 1890, when the present firm of Charles M. Betts & Co. was formed, consisting of Colonel Betts, his son B. Franklin Betts, and C. Walter Betts, son of his brother, Edward T. Betts. Colonel Betts was a charter member of the Lumbermen's Exchange of Phila- delphia, and its president in 1890. He also served for two years as president of the National Wholesale Lumbermen's Association, and several years as presi- dent of the Philadelphia Wholesale Lum- ber Dealers' Association, and has been a director of the Consolidation National Bank and the Trades League of Phila- delphia. He married in 1866, Louisa G. Hance, daughter of David and Sarah J. (Lancaster) Hance, and their children are: B. Franklin, who married Helen D. Furman; William T., who married Flor- ence B. Shaw; Charles L., married Ella F. Lucas; John H., married Mary F. Smith; and Caroline Lancaster, married Joseph Linden Heacock. All are living except John H., who was killed in an elevator accident in March, 1902.

WILSON W. BEAN, of Ferndale, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, the largest individual shoe manufacturer in Bucks county, was born at Ferndale, February 22, 1853, and is a son of Henry and Sarah (Hager) Bean, both of German descent. Henry Bean, the father, was born in Richland township, Bucks county in 1813, his pioneer ancestors having been early settlers in Rockhill township. Early in life he learned the trade of a shoe- maker and became very expert at that trade, being able to make three pairs of shoes in a day, at a time when they were entirely handmade. By industry and close attention to business he was able to accumulate a considerable estate. He located at Ferndale and manufactured shoes for the wholesale trade, his pro- duct being marketed mainly among the retail merchants of Bucks county, with whom he maintained a high standing for the excellence of his work and conscien- tious business methods. He died at Ferndale, in 1882. He was twice mar- ried. By his first wife, who died in 1856, he had nine children, viz .: Andrew J., a shoe manufacturer of Ottsville. Bucks county: Mary, wife of Aaron Lightcap; Catharine, deceased, who was the wife of Joel Tettemer; Henry H., who was also a shoemaker, now deceased; Emeline, wife of John F. Heller: Wilson W., the subject of this sketch; John A .; and two who died in infancy. Henry Bean mar- ried (second) Sarah Fretz, by whom he had three children; C. H. Bean, a shoe manufacturer at Ferndale: W. R. Bean, and Irwin, who is employed in the shoe manufacturing establishment of his half- brother, Wilson. W. Bean. Mr. Bean and his family were members of the Lu- theran church.

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 84

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