Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Dana, Robert S.,M.D.
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Lower Makefield Township


   ROBERT S. DANA, M.D. P.O. Morrisville, was born in 
Circleville, O., November 10, 1833, and is a son of 
Sylvester and Elizabeth (Brown) Dana, his father a native of 
Wilkesbarre, Pa., and his mother of Bloomfield, Connecticut, 
and of French and English descent. Richard Dana was the 
first of the family in America.  He was one of the Huguenots 
born in France about 1612, whence he fled to England in 
1629.  He left England about 1640, and landed in the 
Plymouth colony, subsequently settling in West Cambridge, 
near Boston.  He died in Massachusetts, April 2, 1690.  
Anderson Dana was born in 1733, and emigrated with the 
Connecticut colony to the Wyoming valley, then Westmoreland, 
now Luzerne county, Pa., in 1772, where he made a 
settlement.  He was killed July 3, 1778, in the Wyoming 
massacre, at which time he was a member of the colonial 
legislature, representing the district of Westmoreland in 
the Connecticut legislature.  He was a very prominent man, 
and held a number of offices.  His body was never identified 
after the massacre. Anderson Dana, Jr., the grandfather of 
the present generation, was born in 1765 at Ashford, Conn.  
He moved to Wilkesbarre with his father, and after the 
battle fled back to Connecticut, as did all the other 
inhabitants of the valley.  After several years he returned 
to Luzerne county to look after his father's property there. 
 He married Sarah Stevens, of Wilkesbarre, and spent the 
remainder of his life in Luzerne county, where he carried on 
farming.  He was at one time associate judge of the county 
and councilman, also lieutenant in the state militia, and 
held a number of important and prominent offices.  He was 
held in high esteem by the people among whom he lived.  At 
the time of his death he was 86 years of age.  Sylvester, 
the father of Robert S., was reared in Wilkesbarre, and 
graduated at Yale college, receiving the degree of Master of 
Arts when he was about 21 years of age.  After he graduated 
he returned to Wilkesbarre, Pa., where he studied law with 
Judge Garrick Mallory.  When admitted to the bar he went to 
Ohio, and had charge of Worthington seminary for two years, 
then practiced law with Judge Doane, and edited the "Olive 
Branch" about four years, but his health failing, he moved 
back to Wilkesbarre, where he took charge of the academy, 
with which he was connected as principal until 1839, when he 
built a fine private academy of his own, which he kept until 
October, 1865.  He then gave up his school and moved to 
Bucks county on the place where Robert S. now lives, and 
died there June 19, 1882, aged 77 years.  His wife died 
February 6, 1878.  They were the parents of five children:  
Robert S., Eunice A., Elizabeth Louisa A. and Ellen.  The 
daughters are living in Trenton.  Sylvester Dana was a man 
of great educational ability.  He had charge of the academy 
at Jersey Shore for two or three years, and also at 
Saltsburg, near Pittsburg, for two years.  He never took an 
active part in politics.  Robert S. Dana was but three years 
of age when his parents left Ohio.  He studied under his 
father until he entered the Jefferson Medical college, from 
which he graduated in March, 1857.  He studied medicine for 
five years in Philadelphia. He practiced in Nanticoke one 
year, and in Wilkesbarre two years.  In August, 1861, he 
enlisted in the 9th Pa. Cavalry staff as musician (mounted 
cavalry band).  In September, 1862, he was mustered as a 
physician in the 107th regiment, Pa. Cols.  He entered as 
assistant surgeon, and was afterward promoted first surgeon 
of his regiment, and served until the close of the war.  
After being mustered out he attended college at 
Philadelphia.  In June, 1866, he came to Morrisville, and 
has since continued in practice in this locality.  He has a 
beautiful residence, and is now retired from active 
practice.  He was married June 13, 1872, to Fannie Pawling, 
of Norristown, by whom he has one child, Sylvester, born in 
1873.  Mrs. Dana is a member of the Episcopal church.  The 
doctor if a trustee and treasurer in the Presbyterian church 
in Morrisville.  He was a member of the school board for 
eight years, and its president seven years.  He was also a 
member of the town council two years, and is an enterprising 
and influential citizen.