Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Vandegrift, Hon. C. S., Jr
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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


HON. C. S. VANDEGRIFT, JR. of the firm of Thomas & 
Vandegrift, manufacturers and dealers in lumber, flour, 
feed, brick, and cement, and dealers in coal at Torresdale, 
P.O. Eddington, was born in Bensalem township, August 20, 
1839, and is a son of Alfred and Catherine (Gibbs) 
Vandegrift.  His parents were of Holland and English 
descent.  The family have been residents of Bensalem 
township for many years.  Our subject's father was a farmer 
all his life, and met with success.  His family consisted of 
eight sons and four daughters, ten of whom lived to maturity 
and were married.  C. S. Vandegrift was a third son.  He 
lived with his parents and attended the common school until 
he was 13 years of age, when he went to live with his uncle, 
C. S. Vandegrift, Sr.  He clerked in a store and attended 
academy two years.  He subsequently took full charge of the 
store, his uncle retiring, and continued the business in all 
nearly twenty-two years.  In 1874 he embarked in the lumber 
business at Eddington, and continued there six years, when 
he moved his business to Torresdale.  The mill business was 
established here at an early day, but this property came 
into the possession of the Thomas family over forty years 
ago, and has been run by them since, until Mr. Vandegrift 
became a member of the firm.  The present managers of the 
business have increased it and have met with success.  Mr. 
Vandegrift is a democrat in politics.  In 1882 he was 
elected state senator, and served four years in that 
capacity, with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of 
his fellow-citizens.  He was married in 1862 to Mary H., 
daughter of Charles Rowland.  She was a native of Chester 
county, Pa.  This union has been blessed with one child, 
Frederick B., who is now a custom house broker in 
Philadelphia.  All are members of the Presbyterian church.  
Mr. Vandegrift has served as trustee and treasurer of the 
board of trustees of the church, and also served as 
librarian in the Sabbath school.  He is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity, and a past master of the lodge, and past 
high priest of the chapter at Bristol.  He is a member of 
St. John Commandery, Knights Templar, of Philadelphia.