Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Smith, Daniel
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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
Buckingham Township


DANIEL SMITH retired P.O. Lahaska, was born in Buckingham 
township, Bucks county, March 2, 1795, and is a son of 
Joseph and Ann (Smith) Smith, of English descent.  Robert 
Smith was the first to come to this county, and settled in 
Upper Makefield township at an early day.  The tradition is 
that his father, who started from England with his wife and 
children, died on the passage and was buried at sea.  In 
1738 Robert Smith built a stone addition to his log house 
which is yet standing, and has been occupied as a dwelling 
house by six generations of the family.  Robert and Joseph 
Smith, grandsons of Robert and Phebe Smith of Buckingham 
township, made the first plough ever made with an iron mould 
board.  Joseph Smith was the first person in Bucks county 
who was successful in burning anthracite coal for fuel.  The 
first experiment was made by heating anthracite red hot with 
charcoal, which proved a failure, but he did not despair, 
and eventually succeeded in getting it to work right.  He 
was the founder of Smithtown, having removed there in 1802, 
and erected a number of houses and shops.  It was in one of 
these shops, about 1812, that the first Lehigh coal was 
burned.  He died in 1826, aged 73 years.  He had twelve 
children: Jonathan, Joseph, William, George, Mahlon, Amos, 
Charles, Jonas, Albert and Phoebe, all deceased.  Those 
living are Sarah, who resides in Doylestown; and Daniel, who 
was the youngest of ten sons and lived with an uncle and 
aunt from childhood.  He was married at 29 years of age and 
continued to live on his uncle and aunt's farm in Plumstead 
township, which he inherited at their death in 1843, where 
he lived until April 3, 1866, when he moved to the place 
where he now resides.  Mr. Smith is in his 93rd year, 
retains his faculties, and is a very active man for his age. 
 He was married in April, 1824, to Hannah, daughter of 
Stephen and Hannah (Blackfan) Betts.  Mr. and Mrs. Smith had 
six children, four of whom are living"  Anna E., Esther, 
Samuel, deceased.  Martha, Letitia R., wife of Timothy 
Atkinson, deceased; Hannah B., deceased.  James Willis 
Atkinson, son of Timothy and Letitia R. Atkinson, was born 
in Wrightstown, September 25, 1866.  The family are all 
members of the Society of Friends, and are influential and 
prominent in the county.