Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Search, Theodore C.
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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
Southampton Township


   THEODORE C. SEARCH wool manufacturer, 106 Chestnut 
street, Philadelphia, is a grandson of Christopher and Ann 
Search, who located in Southampton township about seventy 
years ago.  He died in 1841, aged 77, his wife dying some 
years afterwards in her 90th year.  They had eight children, 
one of whom, Jacob M., the father of Theodore C., was born 
there in 1810.  He has always lived on the homestead, which 
he farmed until eight years ago, when he built a house on a 
part of the farm in the village of Southamptonville, where 
he now lives.  Jacob Search took a warm interest in 
educational matters, and was long an active member of the 
school board.  He has for many years been a trustee of the 
Southamptonville Baptist church.  His wife, Nancy M., is a 
daughter of Richard Corson, of Northampton township. She was 
born in 1817.  Their five children are all now living, viz.: 
 Elwood, living with his parents; Harry L., at Somerton; 
Erasmus, a wool merchant in Philadelphia; Annie, wife of 
Edwin Roberts, of Philadelphia; and Theodore C., who was the 
second son, and was born March 20, 1841.  In 1839 he went to 
the Crozer Normal and High school at Chester, as student and 
assistant teacher, graduating three years later.  He then 
taught for one season in Fallsington, Bucks county, when he 
went to Dauphin county as principal of the High school at 
Middleton, afterwards for two years being principal of the 
Academy at the same place.  In 1866 he came back to 
Philadelphia, and for two years was an instructor in the 
Quaker City Business college, and one year as principal of 
the National Commercial Institute, resigning to accept a 
position in a wool store.  In 1872 he was admitted to a 
partnership in the house of Fiss, Banes, Erbin & Co., 
manufacturers of worsteds and woolen yarns, and has 
continued in the business ever since, finally succeeding to 
their business under the title of Erben, Search & Co.  On 
December 25, 1862, Mr. Search was married to Anna L., 
daughter of Ephraim White, of Newtown.  She was born in 
November, 1841.  They have one daughter, Ida, who lives with 
her parents.  In addition to his duties as one of the 
honored merchants of the city, wielding a large influence in 
business circles, Mr. Search holds many positions of honor 
and trust, giving largely of his valuable time to 
institutions designed to promote the welfare of his 
fellow-men.  For some years he has been a director of the 
Bank of North America, is Vice-President of the Pennsylvania 
Museum and School of Industrial Art, and chairman of its 
committee of instruction; and he has been the entire 
organizer of the Philadelphia Textile school connected with 
it, the only school of the kind in America, giving 
instruction to young men in the textile manufacturing trade; 
he is also president of the Philadelphia association of 
textile manufacturers; a member of the committee on Science 
and Art of the Franklin Institute; treasurer of the Baptist 
Orphanage; and president of the board of trustees of the 
Baptist Memorial church, of which he and his wife are 
members.