Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Gwinner, Samuel F.
************************************************
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:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

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


   SAMUEL F. GWINNER justice of the peace, P.O. 
Taylorsville, was born in Easton, Northampton county, 
September 10, 1828. Thomas Gwinner, his father, was born in 
Easton. He was a graduate of the College of Pharmacy and 
carried on the drug business in Philadelphia, and also in 
Easton. In October, 1836, he removed to Nockamixon township, 
this county, and resided there until his death. Samuel F. 
Gwinner was married in 1850 to Clarissa A. Spear. They have 
had four children:  John A., Clara A. (deceased), Edwin C. 
and Leila G.  Mr. Gwinner, in 1847, when between 18 and 19 
years old, engaged in boating paving-stones to Philadelphia, 
on the Delaware Division canal; his business was buying 
paving-stones and selling them to the city of Philadelphia. 
He continued in that business until 1856, boating himself 
during part of the time. In the spring of 1854 he was 
elected auditor of Nockamixon township, and in October of 
the same year was elected to the legislature. In the early 
part of 1856 he quit the paving-stone business and sold all 
his property with the object of going to Kansas to assist in 
keeping it a free state, but was prevented from going by 
sickness of himself and family. Being out of business he 
began reading law with J. Alexander Simpson, Esq., and in 
1858 moved to Philadelphia to complete his studies. He was 
admitted to the bar in this county November 2, 1865, having 
previously been admitted to Philadelphia. In April, 1859, he 
was appointed by the mayor of Philadelphia measurer of 
paving-stones, which position he held by reappointment until 
December, 1867. In October of the latter year he was elected 
to the common council in the Eighteenth ward for two years. 
He was twice appointed notary public for Philadelphia by 
Governor Geary, and held the office six years. In May, 1869, 
he was appointed by Honorable Henry D. Moore collector of 
the port, measurer, and held that office until August, 1876. 
In March, 1873, he moved back to Bucks county and settled at 
Taylorsville. In 1876 he was a candidate for senator against 
Honorable Harmon Yerkes, but was defeated with his party's 
ticket. In March, 1880, he was appointed by the governor to 
the office of justice of the peace to fill a vacancy. In 
January, 1882, he was appointed to a clerkship under 
Honorable Edward McPherson, clerk of the House of 
Representatives at Washington, and held that position during 
the 47th congress. He was elected justice of the peace in 
1884 for a period of five years, and is now filling that 
position. While in Philadelphia he was engaged in the 
foundry business for one year, and was also elected three 
terms as a school director in the eighteenth section, and 
was secretary of the school board when he moved from 
Philadelphia. In political affairs he has been very active. 
In 1854 and in 1855, he was a delegate to the state 
convention of the American party. He was active in the 
secret branch of that party, and was a prominent member of 
its county, state, and national organizations. In the spring 
of 1856 he was a delegate to the state convention that 
elected delegates to the national convention that nominated 
John C. Fremont for president, and in the fall of the same 
year was a delegate to the state convention that formed the 
Fillmore and Fremont union electoral ticket, supported that 
year. In 1876 he was a delegate to the republican state 
convention and was appointed the member of the state central 
committee for his county. He was, for many years, a member 
of the county committee of the whig and republican parties, 
and in 1874, 1875, 1883, and 1884, was chairman of the 
republican county committee. In 1876, 1882, and 1884, he was 
a delegate to the congressional convention in this district, 
and was secretary of the former and president of the latter 
two conventions. While a resident of Philadelphia, he was 
secretary of the state council of the Union League of 
America for many years, and was active in organizing 
councils of that organization throughout the state; he was 
also for many years one of the secretaries of the National 
council. He has been in every county but five, and in every 
county town but seven in this state on political business. 
In 1868 he was private secretary for Honorable Galusha A. 
Grow, then chairman of the republican state central 
committee, and in 1869 he was one of the secretaries of that 
committee. He was a delegate to every convention of his 
party to nominate candidates for judges, and to every 
convention held to form rules for the government of his 
party, held while he was a resident in Philadelphia. He has 
been an active Odd Fellow for many years, having been 
initiated into that order April 20, 1850.  In September, 
1857, he was elected representative to the Grand lodge by 
Nockamixon lodge, No. 536, located at Bridgeton, in 
Nockamixon township, and has been continuously re-elected 
until the present time. Prior to that time he was a member 
of the Grand lodge of New Jersey, having been admitted there 
in August, 1853. He was elected Grand Master of the Grand 
lodge of Odd Fellows of Pennsylvania, in 1869. In 1876 he 
was elected by the Grand lodge of Pennsylvania, Grand 
Representative to the Sovereign Grand lodge I. O. O. F., and 
held that position for ten years.