Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Firman, Samuel A.
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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
Doylestown A-L


SAMUEL A. FIRMAN real estate broker, P.O. Doylestown, was 
born in Plumstead township, Bucks county, December 26, 1826. 
 He lived with his grandfather, George Firman, on a small 
farm in Plumstead until he was 14 years of age, when he 
became a clerk in the store of William P. Mort at Danboro.  
After remaining there about two years, he spent six months 
with his grandfather, and then engaged as a clerk in the 
store of William R. Evans at Carversville.  He was in Mr. 
Evans' employ until April 1, 1850, when he became a partner 
in the concern, which adopted the firm name of Evans & 
Firman.  In the spring of 1854 the partnership was dissolved 
and the business closed out, and Mr. Firman became a 
salesman in the dry goods store of C. Stoddard & Bro., in 
Philadelphia, where he remained one year. He then returned 
to Carversville and formed a partnership in the mercantile 
business with Morris L. Fell.  A short time afterward he 
bought out Mr. Fell and continued the business alone for 
four years, when he associated with him James P. Hough as a 
partner, under the name of Firman & Hough.  This partnership 
continued for two years, when Mr. Firman again conducted the 
business alone for four years.  He then sold out the 
business to Charles and Watson F. Paxson.  After the lapse 
of a year Mr. Firman formed another partnership with W. F. 
Paxson and H. A. Pickering, under the firm name of S. A. 
Firman & Co., which continued business at the old place 
until 1875, when he sold out to Paxson & Pickering. In 1861 
Mr. Firman has purchased the coal yard property at 
Lumberville from the estate of John E. Huey, and formed a 
partnership with Charles Auld, under the name of Firman & 
Auld, which firm conducted the coal business at the above 
place for five years, when the property was sold by Mr. 
Firman for twice the amount he paid for it, and the firm 
cleared $9000 in the business.  In 1870 our subject opened a 
store at Bulls Island station, N. J., under the name of F. 
K. Firman & Co., which was conducted successfully until 
1874, when he transferred his stock to Lahaska, Bucks 
county, where he continued until 1879.  He came to 
Doylestown in 1875.  He had been engaged in the real estate 
business one year previously to his removal to Doylestown, 
and he afterward turned his entire attention to that 
business, having formed a partnership for that purpose with 
T. O. Atkinson, under the name of T. O. Atkinson & Co.  The 
business of this firm was very extensive, amounting to about 
$1,000,000 per annum.  In 1881 the partnership was dissolved 
and Mr. Firman has conducted the business alone since that 
date.  He was married in 1852 to Hannah Doan, daughter of 
Jonathan Doan, of Buckingham township.  Mr. and Mrs. Firman 
have had three children, only two of whom are living:  
Laura, wife of H. O. Harris, and Lizzie.  Mrs. Firman is a 
member of the Presbyterian church.  Mr. Firman has been a 
director of the Doylestown National Bank for over twenty 
years, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity.