Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Eastburn, Moses
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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
Solebury Township


   MOSES EASTBURN retired, P.O. New Hope, is the youngest 
and only surviving son of Moses and Rachel Eastburn before 
mentioned, and is now living on the place of his birth, 
where almost all of his life has been passed.  He was born 
5th mo., 9th, 1815, and is a worthy representative of this 
old family. Always unassuming in demeanor, Mr. Eastburn has 
ever been distinguished by the possession, in a marked 
degree, of those sterling qualities which have characterized 
the members of this family.  He has never held any political 
office, though often urged thereto, but has been in many 
positions of trust, and has always taken an active part in 
enterprises for the benefit of the people of the county, 
among whom his long and useful life has been passed.  As a 
farmer he has stood in the front rank in the county.  He was 
a manager for several years, and afterward president of the 
Bucks County Agricultural society; an active member of the 
Solebury Farmers' club; a manager of the Farmers and 
Mechanics' Mutual Insurance association of Bucks county for 
many years, and its president from 1877 to 1886; a manager 
of the Lahaska and New Hope Turnpike company, from the 
organization of its first board in 1853, and its president 
continuously since 1864; a manager of the Buckingham and 
Doylestown turnpike company since 1867; and a director at 
different times of the Lambertville National bank.  Amongst 
township offices he has held the positions of school 
director, assistant assessor, etc. He was appointed by the 
court in 1877 a member of the almshouse investigating 
commission, serving thereon with Dr. Joseph Thomas and 
William Kinsey, Esq.  He has served Solebury monthly meeting 
of Friends for thirty years, as assistant clerk first, and 
since 1864 as clerk, and in every position he has filled has 
discharged its duties with ability and fidelity.  Mr. 
Eastburn was married o 4th mo., 16th, 1845, to Mary Anna, 
daughter of Hugh B. and Sarah M. Ely, of Buckingham 
township, where she was born on 11th mo., 30th, 1816. She 
died 7th mo., 22nd, 1879.  They had two children:  Hugh B. 
and Fanny C., the latter of whom died in 1851. Hugh B. 
Eastburn, only surviving child of Moses and Mary Anna 
Eastburn, was born on the homestead in Solebury 2nd mo., 
11th, 1846.  He attended the public schools until the fall 
of 1859, when he went to the Excelsior Normal institute at 
Carversville, graduating there in 1865.  In September, 1866, 
he commenced a two years' service as teacher of the Boys' 
Grammar school, one of the Friends' schools, located at 
Fifteenth and Race streets, Philadelphia, and taught in the 
Friends' Central High school in 1869.  While in Philadelphia 
he began the study of law under the direction of D. Newlin 
Fell, Esq. (now judge).  He was admitted to the bar in 
Philadelphia in the spring of 1870.  In June of that year he 
was appointed by State Superintendent Wickersham to fill a 
vacancy in the office of County Superintendent of schools in 
Bucks county, and was elected to that position in 1872, and 
again in 1875 by the directors of the county.  He discharged 
the duties of the office with ability, and resigned in July, 
1876, and was succeeded by W. W. Woodruff.  During the 
session of 1876-77 he attended the law department of the 
University of Pennsylvania, and was admitted to the bar of 
Bucks county in August, 1877, and in 1885 was elected 
district attorney.  Mr. Eastburn was chairman of the 
committee of arrangements, having in charge the Bucks county 
bi-centennial celebration in 1882; was a member for several 
years of the board of trustees of the West Chester State 
Normal school, and is a director of the Bucks County Trust 
company.  He was married in December, 1885, to Sophia, 
daughter of John B. and Elizabeth S. F. Pugh, of Doylestown, 
and has one child, Arthur Moses, born September 27, 1886.  
Mr. Eastburn is regarded as one of the leading young men of 
the county.