Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Paxson, William Rodman
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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
Middletown Township


   WILLIAM RODMAN PAXSON farmer, P.O. Langhorne.  The 
pioneers of the Paxson family were among the earliest 
settlers of Bucks county.  There were three brothers, 
William, James and Henry, who came here in 1682 and settled 
in Bucks county.  They were members of the Society of 
Friends, and farmers by occupation.  Their descendants still 
live where they settled, and some of them still adhere to 
their religion and occupation.  The youngest members of the 
family are of the eighth generation of Paxsons in Bucks 
county.  William Paxson, one of the pioneer brothers, had a 
son named William, who also had a son William.  The latter 
had a son, Joseph.  He was the father of John Paxson, who 
was born in Bensalem township, April 17, 1777.  He followed 
farming until 1814, when on the establishment of the bank in 
Bristol he was elected a director, and in 1884 was elected 
president and served in that capacity until his death, in 
1850, at the same time owning and farming his place.  This 
was the first bank in Bucks county.  John Paxson married 
Sarah Pickering, a member of the Society of Friends and of 
English origin.  They had twelve children, two of whom are 
living:  Margery, widow of Joseph Camby, and Mary, who was 
born in Bensalem township October 31, 1804, and died June 
17, 1887.  She now resides in Langhorne and is unmarried.  
Samuel H. Paxson, deceased, brother of these ladies, was 
born in Bensalem township September 12, 1812.  He was 
educated in the Friends' school and was a farmer by 
occupation.  He married Sarah Richardson, whose grandparents 
were natives of England, and by her had five children, three 
now living:  John, who is a practicing physician at 
Jenkintown, Montgomery county, and William Rodman Paxson, 
who is a prominent farmer in Middletown.  He was born April 
16, 1846, in the house in which he now resides.  He was 
reared on the farm and received his education in the 
Friends' schools.  He also attended the High school in 
Philadelphia.  He was engaged as a salesman in a dry goods 
store in Philadelphia for several years, but owing to 
failing health has from 1872 to the present time followed 
agricultural pursuits.  In 1874 he married Catherine, 
daughter of Howard and Mary S. Paxson.  Her parents were 
early settlers in Bucks county.  Mr. and Mrs. Paxson have 
three children:  Charles C., Anna Richardson and Marion E.