Bucks County PA Archives Bios..... Warwick Township from Battle's, History of Bucks County, 1887 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Patricia R. Smith Bastik History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887. ************************************************ Chapter LI Biographical Sketches - Warwick pp. 1168-1173 JOSEPH HART deceased, son of Colonel William Hart, was born in 1792, in the village of Hartsville, which derived its name from the Hart family. He married Miss Mary Carr, of Hartsville. He was for a time engaged in the mercantile business in Philadelphia, but at length permanently returned to his residence in Hartsville, and superintended the cultivation of his farm. He died November 4, 1872. His son Byron Hart was born in Hartsville in 1826, received his preparatory education at a classical school at Hartsville, entered Yale College in1847, and was graduated in 1851. He studied medicine under Professor John H. Mitchell, and attended lectures at the Jefferson Medical college, whence he graduated in 1854. He engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Philadelphia, and married Miss Ella Levine, of that city. He died in New York, at the house of his brother-in-law, October 7, 1864. He was a kind, faithful, intelligent and skillful physician, and was much loved and esteemed by all you knew him. SAMUEL H. HOUGH miller, P.O. Hatboro, was born at Newville, in Warrington township, on March 8, 1839, his parents being Benjamin and Maria (Wentz) Hough. Samuel H. received his education in the schools of the county, finishing at Tuscarora, Juniata county, Pa., together with his twin brother Simpson. He worked at farming until he was 20 years of age, and then went to learn the trade of milling at Horsham, Montgomery county. After three years' apprenticeship he worked there one year, then came back to Warrington township and rented Long's mill, where he carried on business for twelve years. He then came to the Hartsville mills, which he operated until April 1, 1887, when he moved to the Hatboro roller mill, Montgomery county. He was married in Montgomery county, January 28, 1864, to Miss Angeline Doron, of Horsham, daughter of John and Catharine (Land) Doron. On her father's side her ancestors were Welsh, and on her mother's side they were German. Her father's parents came from New Jersey to Pennsylvania. Her father died in December, 1846, and her mother, March 3, 1876. They are buried at the Friends' burying-ground, Horsham. Mr. and Mrs. Hough are the parents of one child, Clara. Mr. Hough is a republican. His parents were members of the Baptist church. B. TAYLOR JAMISON farmer, P.O. Jamison, was born in Warwick township, December 13, 1824. In his early boyhood days he attended school in an ancient building which stood on the present site of the famous Old Neshaminy cemetery. His teacher was the well-known Mahlon Long, now a resident of Philadelphia. It was under Mr. Long that he first learned to read and write. In later years he attended school under the able instruction of the later Honorable George Lear, at the Dark Hollow school in Warwick township. Here he made rapid progress and laid the foundation for a more advanced education. He completed his school days at Hatboro academy. Among his friends and classmates were a Mr. Yerkes, afterward a distinguished judge of Philadelphia, and now deceased; Rev. David Yerkes, a brother of the judge, now stationed at Plainfield, N. J.; and Alfred Thomas, a reputable lumber dealer, at Eddington, Pa. At the close of his school career he engaged in farming for his father until he was 24 years old, when he rented seventy-five acres of his father, and in seven years purchased the same, and has remained there ever since. He has brought the farm into a high state of cultivation. In 1862 he was married to Annie E., the estimable daughter of Horace G. and Emily (Shipps) Phillips, the father a native of New Jersey and the mother of Northampton township, and the parents of six children: Annie E., Caroline S., Horace G., David S., and two who died young. He has been adverse to office-seeking, preferring to attend strictly to his farm duties, and has been successful in his chosen business. He has been trustee of the Hartsville Presbyterian church, and is a director of the Hartsville and Centerville turnpike. He has always acted harmoniously with the democratic party, and has never failed to vote at any general election. He has two daughters: Emily P. and Mary T. MAJOR GEORGE JAMISON (deceased), son of John Jamison, was born in Warwick, Bucks county, Pa., March 27, 1807. He was a descendant of Henry Jamison, of Scotch ancestry, who emigrated to America, and settled in 1724 on a tract of five hundred acres in the center of this township, including the ground on which the village and post-office of Jamison now stand. George, when a boy, attended the common schools of the vicinity and the classical academy of Rev. R. B. Bellville, pastor of Neshaminy Presbyterian church, under whose instructions he pursued the study of Latin and other branches of an academical education. Having married Miss Louisa Stucker, of Warrington, he devoted himself to agriculture, in which he was very successful. He was interested in military affairs and was major in the state militia. Having an active, inquiring mind, he employed his leisure hours in reading, and was very familiar with books and periodicals. For many years he owned a share in the Hatboro public library, and was repeatedly chosen one of its directors. A regular attendant for a long time of Neshaminy Presbyterian church, he was for years one of the trustees and secretary of the board. He was interested in the education of youth, and in company with his relative, William Jamison, before the adoption of the present school system, he built a school-house in the neighborhood of his residence, which for a generation bore the name of ÒJamison's school-house.Ó He had four children, two sons and two daughtersÓ John and George W.; Elizabeth, who married Stephen Yerkes, of Warminster; and Jane, who became the wife of William Conard, of Philadelphia. In the latter part of his life he transferred his business to his sons, and resided in Hatboro, where he died, universally respected, January 31, 1886, nearly 79 years of age. WILLIAM M. JAMISON farmer, P.O. Hartsville, was born in Warwick township, Bucks county, June 11, 1831, his parents being William and Ann (Taylor) Jamison. The Jamisons are of Scotch-Irish descent, and the first one who came to the country was Henry Jamison, who came with his family and located at Southampton township. Henry Jamison was the great-great-grandfather of our subject. He returned to the old country, while his son Henry started to Florida on a sailing vessel, and was never heard of again, and it is supposed the vessel was lost. His wife is buried on the site of the old Neshaminy church. He had a son Robert, grandfather of our subject, and three other sons, who afterward removed to Washington and Green counties. He also had five daughters. Robert married Sarah Mearns, and they lived and died on the farm where our subject now resides. The former died about 1826, and his wife about 1804. They are buried in the old Neshaminy cemetery. William, our subject's father, was born in 1788, and was reared on the farm, which has been in the family since 1728. He had ten children, of whom two died young. The remaining children were: Phebe, Sarah A. (Thompson), died in 1871; Mari, B. T., Rachel F., William M., Emma and Robert, deceased. William, father of the above, died in 1864, aged 76. His wife died in 1883, aged 84. They are buried at Hartsville. William M. has always resided where he now lives. He was married March 13, 1867, to Elizabeth Meredith, of Bucks county, a daughter of James Meredith. Mr. and Mrs. Jamison are the parents of two children, Henry and Sarah. His grandfather had six children: Mary, wife of Marshall Means, moved to Franklin county; Hugh; Henry had four children, one living, Henry, now in Warrington township; Rachel, wife of James Flack, moved to Baltimore; and William. D. K. LEWIS farmer, painter, etc., P.O. Bridge Valley, was born in Buckingham township, Bucks county, May 16, 1816, his parents being Jehu and Mercy (Kitchen) Lewis. The Lewis family are of Welsh descent. Jehu Lewis, father of D. K., came to Bucks county from Catawissa, Columbia county. At the age of 17 years D. K. commenced the trade of chair-making in Buckingham township, with Amos Jones. He served an apprenticeship of four years, and afterward started a shop in Buckingham township, which he conducted three years, when he went to New Hope, and there conducted a shop three years, and then went back to Buckingham township. In 1845 he came to Warwick township, and has carried on his trade ever since. He has also carried on painting. He was married in Solesbury [sic] township, November 26, 1840, to Miss Elizabeth L. Goucher, a native of that township, and a daughter of John and Mary (Lukens) Goucher. Her mother was of Welsh descent. Her father died in Solebury township, and her mother in Warwick. The former is buried in the Quaker cemetery in Solebury township, and the latter at the Carversville cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were the parents of nine children; seven living: Thomas Elwood lives at Forrestville; John lives with his parents; George H. lives in Buckingham township; William J. lives in Warwick township; Mary Anna, deceased, was the wife of Frank Carver; Emily H., wife of William Rockafeller; Edward F., school teacher; Ida A., deceased; Allen T., school teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are members of the Christian church at Carversville. JOHN B. OPDYKE farmer, P.O. Bridge Valley, was born in Kingwood township, Hunterdon county, N. J., March 16, 1824, his parents being George and Amy (Reading) Opdyke. The Opdyke family are originally from Holland, and Gyspret Opdyke, the progenitor of the family in this country, was commissary of the government in New York from 1635 to 1664. George Opdyke, grandfather of John B., was a resident of Kingwood township, Hunterdon county, N. J. He married Zerviah Baker. A daughter of George Opdyke, named Rachel, married Elijah, a second cousin, and they removed to Bucks county, Warwick township, in 1806. He died in Doylestown township, and his wife in Warwick township. Both are buried at Doylestown. They have two sons and a daughter buried there. They have a son named Adam K., born in 1803, who lives at the ÒTurk,Ó in Doylestown township. George Opdyke, the father of our subject, was born in Kingwood township, where he followed farming. He married Amy Reading, a native of Kingwood township. They had nine children: George, Lucy and Nancy, deceased; Sophia B., wife of Asa Ent, died in Warren Co., Ill. (she had a son George, who was in the 104th Pa. Vols., and afterward in the regular army, being in the service eighteen years, and dying in it. He was hospital-steward); Lucy Emily, wife of Daniel Poulson, lived in Delaware township, Hunterdon county; Joseph Reading, died at Morris, Ill.; Theodosia R., lives at the ÒTurk,Ó Doylestown township; John B., our subject; George W., lives in Buckingham township. George Opdyke, father of the above died in December, 1831. His widow died August, 1858. They are buried at the Reading burying ground, in Kingswood township. In 1836, when 12 years old, John B. came to Bucks county, to live with his uncle Elijah and was reared by him. In 1859 Elijah removed to the Turk village, and John B., and his brother George farmed the place seven years. George then married and moved away the following spring, and John B. has resided here ever since. John B. was married in this county, March 15, 1860, to Miss Ann Conard, of Warwick township, daughter of Abraham and Euphemia (Flack) Conard. The Conards are of German origin. Mrs. Opdyke's parents are both deceased, and are buried at the Neshaminy cemetery, in Warwick township. Mr. and Mrs. Opdyke are the parents of five children, of whom three are living: George W.; Marion C., deceased; Amy F.; Jonathan, deceased; and John B., Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Opdyke attend the Neshaminy Presbyterian church. He was auditor of the township for seven years. He is a republican politically. WILLIAM K. PRESTON pastor Presbyterian church of Hartsville, or Neshaminy church, P.O. Hartsville, was born the 27th of October, 1852, his parents being John T. and Sarah A. (Kent) Preston. He is of English descent. John Preston, the progenitor of the family in America, came from England to Virginia in 1741, and there the succeeding generations of the line of our subject resided until his grandfather and his family removed to southern Indiana. From there John T., with three brothers, removed to Louisiana, and thence to Natchez, Miss., where he carried on the mercantile business and from there removed on account of ill health to southern Illinois in 1852 and commenced farming, which he followed until his death in 1861. His widow resides in Waldo, Florida. William K. spent his early life on the farm and began his education in the Washington seminary, Ill., where he prepared for college. In 1872 he commenced teaching, which he continued four successive terms. In the fall of 1876 he entered Wabash college, Ind., from which he graduated in 1880. He then became principal of the academy at Newtown, Ind., which position he held one year. In 1881 he went to Princeton Theological seminary, from which he graduated in the class of 1884. He was then settled over a church in Fort Penn, Delaware, where he commenced in January, 1884, as supply, continuing until May, 1885, when he began his pastoral duties in the Neshaminy church, where he was installed June 4, 1885. He was examined, licensed and ordained by the Newcastle presbytery April 15, 1884, and was installed in his pastorate at Fort Penn, Del., June 5, 1884. He was married October 14, 1884, to Miss Mary G. Ferguson, of Princeton, N. J., daughter of William G. and Sarah B. Ferguson. He is a member of the Masonic order and also of the Phi Gamma Delta, a college fraternity. The trustees of Wabash college, at their annual meeting June 14, 1887, conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts, the second degree in course. ALBERT E. RAMSEY hotel-keeper, P.O. Jamison, was born in Philadelphia February 7, 1842, his parents being James M. and Sarah J. (Dungan) Ramsey. The Ramsey family were originally from Scotland, and William, the grandfather of our subject, was the only one who settled in Bucks county, his brothers going farther west. William was a farmer. He is buried at the Neshaminy graveyard, James M. Ramsey was born in Bucks county. He began life as a farmer and afterward kept store at Johnsville with his brother. He afterward went to Fox Chase, where he kept hotel for a number of years. He then removed to Philadelphia and kept the Farmers' hay market at Seventh and Oxford streets until his death, which occurred in September, 1870. His widow is still living. They had ten children, of whom nine are living and eight of them in Philadelphia. Albert, our subject, was the second child. After leaving school he was engaged in his father's hotel until his marriage, then went to Fox Chase and ran the hotel there until 1871, when he engaged in the coal business in Philadelphia. Three years later until 1871, when he engaged in the coal business in Philadelphia. Three years later he went to Bustleton and clerked and traveled on the road for J. P. Varee & Co. for two years. March 1, 1876, he went to Breadysville, Bucks county, and kept a temperance hotel for thirteen months. He then went to Ivyland and opened the big temperance house there, which he kept one year. He then went to Centerville and kept hotel three years, then to Hartsville two years and in April, 1883, bought the Jamison Corners hotel, which he has conducted ever since. He was married in Philadelphia February 5, 1868, to Miss Anna M. Baker, daughter of Frederick (Weaver) Baker. Her parents are both deceased, her father having died in 1885 and her mother many years previously to that time. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey are the parents of five children, three living: Frederick C., Walter E. and Clarence. Deceased: Julia O. and Byron. Mr. Ramsey is a member of Rising Star lodge, No. 47, I. O. O. F., at Bustleton, also Improved Order of Red Men, at Ivyland, Knights of Golden Eagle at Jamison's Corners, and the Order of Sparta at Philadelphia. JOHN L. WIDDIFIELD farmer, P.O. Hartsville, was born in Philadelphia, September 2, 1826, his parents being John and Christiana (Singer) Widdifield. His maternal ancestors were German, and were settlers of Lancaster county. The Widdifields were among the early Friend settlers of Pennsylvania, their first location being probably at Philadelphia. John Widdifield, the father of our subject, was reared in Philadelphia, and was there engaged in mercantile business. After the panic of 1839 he removed to Bucks county, and located in Doylestown township, along the Neshaminy, and was engaged in farming. He was presiding elder of the Presbyterian church at Doylestown for many years, and up to the time of his death. He died and was buried at Doylestown. His widow, who removed to Hartsville, survived her husband many years. She is also buried at Doylestown. They were the parents of seven children, of whom five are living: Anna, John L., our subject; Mary, wife of Charles W. Hare, son of Dr. Hare, of Philadelphia; William, lives in Cincinnati; Harry, resides in Philadelphia. When John L. was 14 years old, he removed with his parents to Bucks county. He received his education in Philadelphia. He remained on the farm until the age of 34, when he went to Illinois and remained two years. He then returned to Hartsville, where he has resided ever since, with the exception of his term of service in the army. He was married in January, 1860, to Miss Frances Hart, of Bucks county, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Carr) Hart. The Hart family were of Scotch descent. Her father died in 1870, and her mother November 10, 1866. Mrs. Widdifield had two sisters, one of whom, Mary, died at the age of 14 years, and the other, Eliza, wife of Thomas H. Buckman, resides in Solebury township. She had one brother, Byron. Mr. and Mrs. Widdifield are members of the Warwick Neshaminy church. Mr. Widdifield entered the service of the Union in the nine months' call for volunteers in company C., one hundred and twenty-eighth regiment, in 1862. He participated in the engagements at South Mountain and Antietam, in the latter of which he was so disabled that he was discharged in December, 1862, at Washington. He had returned home in September, and had gone back to his regiment, but his unfitness for service in consequence of his wound brought him his discharge at the time mentioned. Mr. Widdifield had three brothers in the service, his brother Harry being the only one of the three who came out alive. He entered the one hundred and fourth when a boy, and served throughout the war. Caspar, who was assistant surgeon in the eighty-first, died in the service, of fever contracted in South Carolina. He is buried in the Doylestown cemetery. Thomas B., who was in the one hundred and fourth, was wounded at Fair Oaks, and died in Harrisburg in 1863. He is buried at Doylestown in the churchyard.