Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Godshalk, William
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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


WILLIAM GODSHALK miller, P.O. New Britain, was born in 
Chester county, Pa., in October 1817, and is a son of Samuel 
and Sidney (Kelly) Godshalk.  The Godshalk family were early 
settlers in this county, his grandfather being a farmer.  
Our subject's farther was a miller, and on April 1, 1841, 
became the possessor of the mill property, which he sold in 
1847 to his son William, who is now running it.  He 
afterward moved to Doylestown, where he died in 1860.  He 
was an elder in the Presbyterian church.  He was the father 
of eight children, three still living:  Rachel, William and 
Sidney.  William learned the trade of a miller, and attended 
the common schools until 1833, when he turned his whole 
attention to his business.  At the age of 19 he entered the 
academy with the intention of learning Latin and becoming a 
lawyer; this purpose he abandoned and returned to the mill, 
and has made many improvements, introducing steam-power in 
1855 into the mill, which can also be run by water-power.  
In his younger days he was quite prominent in politics, in 
1848 being nominated for county treasurer, and in 1864 for 
the state senate.  In 1871 he was elected associate judge by 
one hundred and two majority.  He served five years, and in 
1878 he was nominated for congress in the 7th district, and 
was elected by 1,338 majority; and re-elected in 1880 by a 
majority of 1,864.  He has served four years in congress.  
He was a candidate for re-nomination in 1882, but was 
defeated, the nomination being given to the candidate from 
Montgomery county.  At the expiration of his term of office 
he returned to his old duties in the mill.  He was married 
April 22, 1841, to Anna Swartzlander, by whom he had five 
children, four living:  Alfred S., Mary, Elwood and 
Isabella.  His wife died in November, 1873, and he was again 
married in October, 1876, to Emily Van Horn.  In September, 
1862, he joined Captain George Hart's company, who went at 
the call of the government for service.  He was at 
Hagerstown, Md., at the time of the battle of Antietam.  Mr. 
Godshalk is an influential and prominent citizen of Bucks 
county.  He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian 
church.