Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Headman, Francis W.
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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
Bensalem Township


FRANCIS W. HEADMAN farmer, P.O. Bensalem, was born in 
Philadelphia September 14, 1821, and is a son of Jacob and 
Susan (Du Camp) Headman, both natives of Philadelphia and of 
German and French descent.  The grandfather, Francis William 
Headman, and his brother Andrew emigrated from Germany some 
time between 1766 and 1773.  Andrew settled in the upper end 
of Bucks county, and Francis William settled in 
Philadelphia.  They were both potters by trade.  Francis 
William located on the corner of Eighth and Market streets, 
and lived and died on Eighth near Market street.  Both 
brothers served in the revolutionary war.  Francis William 
was a sergeant.  There is a vast now in Independence Hall 
which was worn by Sergeant Headman at the battle of 
Germantown, and Francis W. has a flag which he carried in 
that battle. He carried on his trade in Philadelphia almost 
all his life.  Andrew lived and died in this county.  The 
father of Francis W. Headman was a coachmaker by trade, and 
with his brother carried on coach-making on the corner of 
Eleventh and Market streets.  He was at one time 
superintendent of the Germantown railroad.  Both parents 
died in Philadelphia. They had four children:  Mary A., wife 
of Thomas H. Rockwell; Francis W., Henry D., and George F., 
deceased.  Francis W. remained in Philadelphia until 1848.  
He learned the trade of a machinist with M. W. Baldwin.  He 
was engineer in 1841 and 1842 on the Pennsylvania railroad, 
and in 1843 run between Springfield, Mass., and Pittsfield.  
He was a railroad engineer for several years.  In 1843 he 
went to Philadelphia and built all the machinery for 
Roussel, a manufacturer of mineral water, and was afterward 
a partner in the firm for four years.  In 1849 he went to 
Savannah, Ga., where he remained until 1861, being engaged 
in plumbing and gas-fitting.  In 1856 he bought the place 
where he now lives and sent his family to live on the farm, 
and since 1861 he has resided there.  From 1865 to 1867 he 
represented Bucks county in the legislature.  He has held 
several minor offices in his township.  Mr. Headman is one 
of the prominent men of Bucks county, a man of great 
influence.  He was one of the few democrats who served in 
the legislature from 1865 to 1867, and his democratic 
friends presented him with a handsome gold head cane which 
was presented him by the old soldiers of "1812" in 
remembrance of the interest he took in the soldiers' cause 
while serving in the legislature, by passing a pension bill. 
 He was married in 1842 to Ann Elton, a native of 
Philadelphia, by whom he has two children:  Frank C., in the 
real estate business; and G. D. Sickel, in the lumber 
business, both residents of Philadelphia.