History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 93

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 93

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turning to the farm, was for five years engaged in the tilling of the soil, prior to November 3, 1902, when he opened a grocery and restaurant in partnership with his son. George E., under the firm style of G. E. and A. A. Black, and still

remains in this business, having pur- chased the interest of his son in April, 1904. Whatever success he has achieved is due entirely to his own labors, for he started out in life empty-handed. The force of his character, his strong pur- pose and indomitable energy, have been the salient features in his career and have gained him a comfortable compe- tence. Politically he is a Republican, and, while he has never been active in search for public office, he was elected and served as constable of Plumstead township in 1882. He married Miss Su- san Rymond, and they have six chil- dren: Elizabeth, wife of Frank Kugler; George E .; Anna Mary, wife of Elmer Margerum; Lillie C., wife of Victor Johnson; and three who died in infancy.

George E. Black was born November 12, 1860, at Point Pleasant, Pennsyl- vania, and acquired a common-school education. He remained at home with his father until twenty-eight years of age, and during his early manhood was identified with various business enter- prises, finding in each transition stage opportunity for further advancement and a broader scope for his labors. He con- ducted a restaurant in Lambertville, New Jersey, for five years, in connection with the grocery business, and in 1903 pur- chased the hotel and dwelling house known as the George Closson property, at Lower Black's Eddy. He did not take possession of this, however, until April I, 1904, but is now successfully engaged in business and is a popular and genial hotel proprietor. As before stated, he was associated with his father in the conduct of a grocery and restaurant, and after selling out became proprietor of the hotel, which is now being conducted so capably that it has won favor with the traveling public. Mr. Black is well known in local fraternal circles, belong- ing to Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 391, in which he has passed all of the chairs.

Mr. Black wedded Miss Vinnie J. Sine, a daughter of William and Sarah Sine, of Raven Rock, New Jersey, and they have become the parents of two chil- dren: Nellie Lulu, born January 20, 1890; and Andrew A., born June 1, 1892.

ELIZA B. TROEMNER, of Point Pleasant, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, is a daughter of the late Ralph Stover and of his wife Eliza Stover, botli of whom are descendants of Henry Stauf- fer, who was born in Alsace, and came to America with his wife Barbara Hock- man, on the ship "St. Andrew." arriving in Philadelphia, September 9, 1749. They located on the Skippack in the present limits of Montgomery county, Penn- sylvania, where they resided for about ten years and then removed to Bedmin- ster township, Bucks county, and located

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

on two hundred and thirteen acres of land belonging to Chief Justice William Allen, of which Henry Stauffer com- pleted the purchase and received a con- veyance on June 12, 1762. This land re- mained the property of his descendants for a century. The children of Henry and Barbara (Hockman) Stauffer were: Ulrich, born July 16, 1750, married Bar- bara Swartz and lived and died on the homestead; Barbara, died young; Henry, born July 10, 1754, married Elizabeth Fretz and settled in Springfield town- ship; Jacob, born May 13, 1757, died April 28, 1844, married (first) Elizabeth Swartz and (second) Catharine Stauffer; Ralph, born June 10, 1760, died Novem- ber 7, 1811, married Catharine Funk, granddaughter of pioneer Bishop Henry Funk. The family name was changed to Stover on application to the legisla- ture by Ralph Stover.

Ralph Stover was one of the prominent business men of his time, filling for many years the office of justice of the peace, a very important position in that section of the county, and did a large amount of public business in the transfer of real estate, settlement of estates, etc. He was a member of the state lgislature from 1783 to 1799. and took an active part in state legislation of that im- portant period of our history following the close of the revolutionary struggle. Mr. Stover was one of the first board of directors of the poor, created under the act of 1807, and superintended the erec- tion of the first almshouse of the county. He purchased a farm of three hundred acres at the point where the Durham crosses the Tohickon, partly on Bed- minster and Tinicum townships, where he died November. 7, 1811, in the prime of life and usefulness.

Abraham F. Stover, eldest son of Ralph and Catharine (Funk) Stover, was born on the old homestead in 1786. He succeeded his father as justice of the peace and was twice elected to the state legislature. In 1833 he sold his interest in the old homestead and removed to Fauquier county, Virginia, where he died in 1854. He married Rachel Fretz, born 1787, died 1870, of the prominent family of that name in Bucks county, an ac- count of which will be found in this work. Of their three sons, Charles, Al- bert, and Ralph, the two former died in Virginia.

Ralph Stover, born September 28, 18II, went to Virginia with his parents but returned to Bucks county in 1841. He married in October, 1838, Eliza, daugh- ter of Henry S. and Barbara (Stout) Stover, and granddaughter of Jacob Stover, eldest son of Henry Stauffer, the emigrant. Her maternal grandfather was Isaac Stout, of Williams township. Northampton county, who was a son of Jacob and Anna (Miller) Stout. the pio- neers of the family in America. Henry

S. Stover was one of the pioneer millers on the Tohickon as well as a large land owner. Ralph Stover purchased of his father-in-law the mill property and farm at Point Pleasant long conducted by him, also the house still occupied by the subject of this sketch, where he passed a busy and successful life, living to an advanced age. He was one of the most active in the building of the Delaware river bridge at Point Pleasant, was also one of the projectors of the Danboro and Point Pleasant turnpike, and an officer of both corporations for many years. He was likewise interested in many other local enterprises. Ralph and Eliza Stover were the parents of twelve chil- dren, three of whom died young, and the names of the others are as follows: Robert C., of Virginia; Mary G., wife of Charles E. Keyser; John Henry, who was a soldier in the Union army during the civil war, was wounded at the ter- rible battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia, in 1864, and died of his wounds in Wash- ington, D. C .; Eliza B., the subject of this sketch, who married Frederick W. Troemner, and their children are: Flor- ence M., Clara Louise, and Henry, de- ceased; Ella, wife of John B. Lequear; Adelaide, wife of A. L. Thompson, of New York; R. Chester, of Bristol, Bucks county; Annie, wife of Albert Stover, of Kintnersville; and Albert F., of Point Pleasant. Frederick W. Troemner, aforementioned, was the son of Henry Troemner, who emigrated from Ger- many when a young man and in 1840 established the manufacture of fine bal- ances in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Upon the death of his father, Frederick W. Troemner succeeded to the head of the firm of Henry Troemner and so con- tinued until his death, April 3, 1902.

GEORGE W. FLAGLER, of Tinicum township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, comes from the following family :

The grandfather emigrated from Ger- many to this country with his family about 1840, and settled in New York city, where he followed butchering until about 1871 or 1872, when he moved to Bucks county, and purchased a farm in Tinicum township. He there tilled the soil until overtaken by death in 1894. He was a devoted member of the Lutheran church. He married, and his children were Peter, George, and Bar- bara.

Peter Flagler, son of the emigrant, was born in Germany, coming to this country with his father when young. In early life he was engaged in the butcher business with his father in New York city, but later followed the footsteps of his father, and began farming in Bucks county, Penn- sylvania, in which he is still engaged. In religious faith Mr. Flagler is of the Lutheran faith. He married Miss Rosa

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

Moser, by whom eight children were born : Katie, wife of Martin Luly; Barbara, wire of Simon Bickl; Dora, wife of John Franklin; George, the subject of this memoir; Mary, wife of John Rutherford; Maggie, wife of Peter Laubenstein; Rosa, wife of John Jamison; Christian, a farmer of Bucks county.

George W. Flagler, son of Peter, born in New York city, April 23, 1858, was edu- cated in the common schools and removed to Bucks county, Pennsylvania, with his family, when but fourteen years of age. When quite young he began work in a sash and blind factory, but later took up cigar making. For two years he followed boating on the Delaware canal. But, finally, the farm attracted his attention, and he has since followed it in its various branches. In 1889 he bought his present farm of ninety acres, one of the best in the township. Mr. Flagler is a member of the Lutheran church, and a good church worker. He married Miss Ella Eisentrager, and to them six children were born: May, born May 10, 1880; Arthur, born Septem- ber 21, 1883, a clerk in Clymer's store at Doyleston, Pennsylvania; Rosa, born June 26, 1885; Nora, February 3, 1888: Lloyd, August 14, 1891; Walter, July 19, 1899.

GEORGE W. LERCH holds a foremost place among the enterprising business men of Bedminster township. He is a grand- son of David Lerch, who was a farmer in Northampton county, where he died. His son Samuel was born in that county July 15, 1823, and moved to Tinicum township when a young man, settling on a small farm. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Reformed church, in which he served as a deacon for many years. He married Sarah, daughter of Peter Shull. of Tinicum, and they were the parents of three sons: Clinton, who resides in Tini- cum: Samuel, who lives in Lambertville : and George W., mentioned at length here- inafter. Mrs. Lerch died in 1867, and her husband survived her many years, passing away in 1891.

George W. Lerch. son of Samuel and Sarah (Shull) Lerch, was born March 9, 1854, in Tinicum township, and in his four- teenth year began to earn his living by farm work. In 1873 he apprenticed himself to Reuben Hunsberger. of Bedminsterville, in order to learn the tinsmith's trade. Three years later he purchased the business of Mr. Hunsberger, and has since conducted it with signal success. He belongs to the Junior Order of American Mechanics and the Knights of the Golden Eagle. In poli- tics he is a Democrat, and takes an active part in the affairs of the organization. He is a member of the Reformed church. Mr. Lerch married, November I. 1880, Anna, born July 31. 1859, daughter of Elias Strouse, of Tinicum, and four children have been born to them, three of whom are now

living : Howard W., Edna F., and Carrie E. All these children reside at home with their parents. Both as a business man and a citizen Mr. Lerch is recognized as one of the leaders of the township in progress and reform.

- DAVID SHAMP one of the respected citizens of New Hope, Bucks county, is a son of Jonathan Shamp, who was born on Schooley's Mountain, Sussex county, New Jersey, and learned the cooper's trade which he followed in later life. He married Nancy Gillett, and they were the parents of twelve children, four of whom are now living : Matilda, wife of Isaac Houseworth, of South Easton, Pennsylvania; Isabella, wife of Newbury Fair, of Phillipsburg, Pennsyl- vania; William, resides with his brother; and . David, mentioned at length herein- after. Jonathan Shamp died at the age of seventy-three.

David Shamp, son of Jonathan and Nancy (Gillett) Shamp, was born August. 31, 1836, in Sussex county, New Jersey. Owing to the straitened circumstances of the fam- ily, his educational opportunities were limited, and at the early age of nine years he began to work on a farm, the proceeds of his labor going to his father up to his twenty-third year. At the breaking out of the civil war he did not at first see his way clear to respond to the call of his country, but in October, 1862, he enlisted for nine months' service, and later re-enlisted for another term, which would have obliged him to serve two years. He was, however, held by the government for three years. He was a member of Company G, commanded by Captain Corcoran, One Hundred and Fourth Regiment, and was discharged in July, 1865. After his return to his home in Upper Black Mountain township he went to work at boating, which he had followed since his ninth year, and which he now continued until 1878, since which time he has been variously employed. In 1889 he moved to New Hope, where he has since resided. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Shamp married, in 1859, Louisa War- ford. of Upper Black Mountain, and three children have been born to them, two of whom are living: Amos, lives in Bayonne, New Jersey and William, a resident of Aurora, Illinois.

JOHN W. BRADSHAW was born in Fulton county, Illinois, August 14, 1856, a son of Samuel and Martha (Walton) Brad- shaw. The paternal ancestor of the family was Thomas Bradshaw, of Oxton, Notting- hamshire, who presented a certificate at Darby Monthly Meeting, Chester county, 5 mo. 6, 1683, from Farnsfield Monthly Meeting. Nottinghamshire, England. On 3 mo. 12. 1687. he proposed intentions of marriage with Sarah Levis. of Darby. They were the parents of four children, born at

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

Darby ; Hannah, Mary, John, and Sarah, John being born 10 mo. 30, 1690.

James Bradshaw, son of John, married about 1740, Ruth Lowther, daughter of William and Martha Lowther, of Bucking- ham, Bucks county, who had brought a cer- tificate from Abington Meeting, a few years previously and settled near Mechanicsville, in Buckingham. James Bradshaw pur- chased of his father-in-law in 1741 a por- tion of the Lowther homestead, and at Lowther's death in 1750 purchased the bal- ance of the 150 acre farm, and resided there- on until his death in 1776. James and Ruth (Lowther) Bradshaw were the par- ents of twelve children, seven sons: John, William, James, David, Amos, Joel, George, and five daughters: Rachel, married Isaac Child; Sarah, married David Gilbert ; Ruth, married Watson Welding; Mary, married Isaac Kinsey; and Martha. William, sec- ond son of James and Ruth, settled in Plumstead, where he became a large land- holder. He was twice married, first on 4 mo. 19, 1769, to Sarah Preston, and second to Mary Shaw of Plumstead, 12 mo. 22, 1774.

William Bradshaw, Jr., was born in Plumstead township on the old homestead purchased by his father soon after his first marriage, and lived and died there. He married Rachel Lewis, and had a number of children, among whom was Samuel, the father of the subject of this sketch, who was born in 1814. He married Martha Wal- ton, daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Ar- mitage) Walton, the former a native of Buckingham, and the latter of Solebury township. Martha was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, October 12, 1812.

Samuel Bradshaw and wife removed to . Fulton county, Illinois, about 1855, and re- mained there about four years, returning to Plumstead township in 1859, where he died the following spring at the age of forty-five years. He was a justice of the peace in Plumstead for fifteen years, and followed surveying, conveyancing and civil engineering. In early life he had also been a school teacher. His widow died in Sole- bury in 1882. The families of both the ta- ther and mother of the subject of this sketch had been members of the Society of Friends since their arrival in this country. His ma- ternal ancestor, Samuel Armitage, brought a certificate from Yorkshire, in 1739, and settled in Solebury township where he has left numerous descendants.

John W. Bradshaw, from the age of six years, was reared by his grandmother, Ra- chel (Lewis) Bradshaw, in Plumstead township. After the death of his grand- mother, his aunt, Mary Bradshaw, purchased the farm where Mr. Bradshaw lately re- sided, at Peter's Corner, in Solebury town- ship, and he came there to live with her, and conducted the farm for her until her death in 1889, when he purchased the farm and continued to reside there until the autumn of 1904, when he removed to Phila- delphia. On March 17, 1884, he married

Anna J. Betts, daughter of William and Emily ( Walton) Betts, of Solebury, and, having purchased a small lot across the road from the farm, resided there until after his aunt's death. He is a Republican in politics, and in religion a Friend. He is a member of Doylestown Lodge No. 245, F. and A. M., and of Paunnacussing Lodge No. 221, K of P., at Carversville. Mr. and Mrs. Bradshaw are the parents of three children : J. Watson, Emily, and William, all of whom are filling responsible clerical positions in Philadelphia. Another son, George, died in infancy.

DAVID VAN HART. Among the de- scendants of the old settlers of Bucks coun- ty must be numbered David Van Hart. The great-grandfather of Mr. Van Hart was a native of Holland, who settled in Falls township prior to the revolution. His son, Jacob Van Hart, was a farmer and shoemaker, and married Mary, daughter of Daniel Richardson, a pioneer, who lived near Dolington. Their family consisted of fifteen children.

Charles Van Hart, son of Jacob and Mary ( Richardson) Van Hart, mentioned above, was born October 9. 1821, in New- town township, and later settled in Upper Makefield township, where he engaged in farming. Politically he is a Democrat. He married Eliza Tomlinson, and they were the parents of seven children, six of whom are living : Jacob, lives in Upper Make- field; Mary, married Edward Lake, of Philadelphia ; Eliza, wife of Winfield Pool, of Wycombe; David, mentioned at length hereinafter: John, lives in Lower Make- field township; and Catherine, a widow, and resides in Yardleyville. After the death of his wife, Mr. Van Hart married Jane Jackson.

David Van Hart, son of Charles and Eliza (Tomlinson) Van Hart, was born August 15, 1846, in Bucks county, and was educated in the common schools. At the age of nineteen he began to work for the farmers, and after some years entered the service of a farmer near Taylorsville, by whom he was employed by the year for four years. He then rented the "Edward Merrick farm," which he cultivated for five years, and moved thence to the Harvey farm, where he spent two years. His next removal was to Bronwsburg, where for five years he cultivated the Boileau farm, and then spent one year on the Wagner farm. After living for three years on the Horn farm, he took up his abode in 1889 on the Wynkoop farm, where he has since resided. For nine years he has served on the school board, and for ten years has held the office of tax collector of the township. His politi- cal principles are those of the Republican party. He is a member of the Thompson Memorial Presbyterian church, in which for the last twenty-one years he has held the office of trustee. Mr. Van Hart mar-

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY. € .

ried, in September, 1869, Frances Jackson, of Solebury township, and they have three children: Eugene, a resident of Brooklyn, New York; Charles, a farmer in Upper Makefield township; and Abner, lives in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

ABRAHAM F. MYERS, one of the representative farmers of Bedminster town- ship, Bucks county, is a grandson of Henry and Elizabeth (Fretz) Myers, the former a mason and farmer of Plumstead town- ship. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Myers: Henry F .; John F. ; Reuben F .; Joseph F., mentioned at length hereinafter; William F .; Barbara; Cath- arine; and Annie. The parents of these children both died in Plumstead township.

Joseph F. Myers, son of Henry and Eliza- beth (Fretz) Myers, was born March 17, 1812, in Plumstead, and like his father was a mason and farnier. In 1845 he purchased a farm in Bedminster township, where he passed the remainder of his days. He was a member and trustee of the second Deep Run Mennonite church. His wife was Bar- bara, daughter of Abraham Fretz, of Bed- minster township, and their children were eight in number of whom the following survive: Henry F., who lives in Tinicum ; Aaron F., a resident of Bedminster ; and Abraham F., mentioned at length herein- after. Mrs. Myers died January 8, 1884, in her seventy-second year, and the death of Mr. Myers occurred, May 12, 1882.

Abraham F. Myers, son of Joseph F. and Barbara (Fretz) Myers, was born Octo- ber 12, 1842, in Plumstead township, and received his education in the common schools. Until 1871 he assisted his father in the labors of the homestead, and in that year undertook the management of the farm as a tenant. In 1881 he purchased his present home farm of one hundred and six acres, near Hagersville, where he has since resided. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the New Mennonite church. Mr. Myers married, November 18, 1871. Susanna High, born in 1849, daughter of John F. High, of Plumstead township, and they were the parents of two children : Clara, wife of Elmer E. Savacool, of South Perkasie ; and Josephine, who is now house- keeper for her father. Mrs. Myers died in 1885, and Mr. Myers subsequently married Caroline, widow of Aaron Line, whose maiden name was Michener. Mrs. Myers died in 1895.

WILLIAM PAUL TRUMBAUER, a prosperous farmer and old resident of Richland township, Bucks county. Penn- sylvania, was born in Springfield town- ship. December 17, 1865, on the farm of his maternal grandfather. John Greup. He is a son of Henry and Sarah (Greup) Trumbauer. and grandson on the pa- ternal side of George and Elizabeth

(Kinsey) Trumbauer, and on the mater- nal side of John and Mary (Nuspickle) Greup. The Trumbauer family is one of the oldest in upper Bucks county, and has always held itself as one of the most intelligent and respected of that com- munity.

Henry Trumbauer (father) was born in East Rockhill township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, July 12, 1844, on the farm of his mother's people, then being oper- ated by his father, and which consisted of seventy-five acres. He attended the district schools of the county until he was fourteen years of age, after which he worked on the home farm until he at- tained the age of twenty. The follow- ing four years were spent in learning the trade of stone mason with Ezra Moore, a contractor, who resided at what is now South Perkasie. For many years after the expiration of his appren- ticeship he followed farming, and in 1897 sold the farm to hs son, William Paul, who now operates the place. He then removed to Quakertown, and there fol- lows his trade of stone mason, from which he derives a comfortable liveli- hood. In September, 1866, he married Sarah Greup, daughter of John and Mary (Nuspickle) Greup, residents of Spring- field township, Bucks county, where the former named is engaged in farming, and had issue: William Paul, mentioned hereinafter; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Milton Grout, and resides at Quakertown; Peter and Annie. The mother of these children having died, Mr. Trumbauer married in March, 1884, for his second wife, Elizabeth Fry, daughter of Joseph and Christiana (Campbell) Fry, of Springfield township.

William Paul Trumbauer acquired the education the common schools of that period afforded, and during his spare time assisted his father with the farm work. In 1875 his father purchased the farm of John Johnson, in Richland town- ship, near the Tohickon creek, where the townships of Haycock, East Rockhill and Richland meet, and it was on this farm that the early life of William P. was spent. He attended school until his seventeenth year, when he commenced his first regular employment, the quar- rying of building stone, of which there were large quantities on his father's farm. Previous to 1898 he worked his father's farm on shares for three years, and in 1890 became a tenant farmer, fol -. lowing this occupation in connection with the quarrying of stone. Subse- quently he became the owner of the paternal estate, which was purchased by his father in 1875. and this he now operates as a dairy and general farm, in addition to the extensive business he conducts in stone-quarrying. Mr. Trum- bauer is a Democrat in politics, and is now (1905) supervisor of public roads of the southern part of Richland town-

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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

ship. He is greatly interested in local affairs, and is an industrious, useful cit- izen. September 20, 1890, Mr. Trum- bauer was united in marriage to Ida Christine Gross, born November 24. 1866, daughter of Edwin and Lydia (Fluck) Gross, for many years residents of Lower Saucon township, Lehigh county, from whence they removed to and settled in Springfield township, Bucks county. Six children were the issue of this marriage, as follows: Pearl, deceased; Stella, born June 14, 1893; Minnie Elizabeth, November 8, 1894; Laura Lydia, March 12, 1898: Mary Sarah, March 13, 1901; and Margaret, July 12, 1903. Mr. Trumbauer, realiz- ing the value of a good practical educa- tion, loses no opportunity to give his children the very best possible advan- tages along this line. Mr. and Mrs. Trumbauer are members of the Spring- field Reformed church, at Pleasant Valley.

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History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 93

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