Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Sheetz, Edwin F.
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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
Richland Township N-Z


   EDWIN F. SHEETZ retired merchant, P.O. Richland Center, 
was born August 20, 1821, in Bedminster township, this 
county, and is a son of George and Esther (Fluck) Sheetz.  
His grandfather, Conrad, came from Germany and settled in 
Philadelphia, where he reared a family of children, among 
whom was George, the father of Edwin.  George followed the 
trade of hatter in Bedminster township, and afterward 
engaged in teaching.  His children were:  William, Francis, 
Reuben, Jacob, Edwin F., Charles, Samuel, Albert and Eliza.  
All of them reside in Bucks county except Francis, and he 
resides in Montgomery county.  Eliza is the wife of Aaron 
Fullmer, of Rockhill township.  Edwin F. remained at home 
until he was ten years of age.  His father was unable to 
give his sons a financial start in life, so Edwin at the age 
of ten was bound out for his board and clothes until 
eighteen years of age.  Each of the sons was required to 
learn a mechanical trade, and Edwin chose that of carpenter, 
at which he worked for about four years, and then decided to 
engage in merchandising.  At the age of 22, with a capital 
of $140.00, he began business in his native township, where 
he met with encouraging success, and in 1855 he came to 
Quakertown and purchased the property now owned by H. G. 
Ahlum on the corner of East Broad and Hellertown streets. 
Here he opened a store and also engaged in the hotel 
business for a time, and the same year he built the brick 
building now owned by John Z. Rufe, and moved his goods to 
this place, renting his hotel property.  Here he continued 
for nearly twenty years, when he sold out to his son Oliver 
R. and Hiram Tice, and retired.  By honest and successful 
management he acquired a competence and a good name to 
support and comfort him in his declining days.  His wife was 
Catherine, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Weidemoyer) 
Rufe.  He has two children living, Oliver R. and Amanda; one 
son and one daughter died when they were between three and 
four years old, and were named Samuel R. and Mary Ellen.