Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Wildman, John
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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


   JOHN WILDMAN bank president, P.O. Langhorne, was born in 
Middletown township, February 10, 1813, being a son of John 
and Mary (Knight) Wildman, natives of Bucks county.  In 1693 
Martin Wildman, the great-great-grandfather of John, came to 
Bucks county from Yorkshire, England, and settled in 
Middletown township.  He brought Ann, his wife, and six 
children with him. They were members of the Society of 
Friends and brought a certificate of membership from the 
monthly meeting of Settle, Yorkshire, England.  Their 
children were:  Matthew, born November 12, 1678; John, 
February 2, 1681; Joseph, January 23, 1683; James, January 
20, 1685; Alice, February 6, 1687; and Elizabeth, September 
9, 1689; all of whom were born in England.  One of these 
children, Joseph, was great-grandfather of our subject.    
His son John (born in Middletown July 8, 1732) was the 
grandfather of the present John Wildman, and his son John 
(born March 28, 1771) our subject's father and a successful 
farmer.  He moved to Bensalem township in 1817, and died 
there in 1842.  His family consisted of twelve children, ten 
of whom grew to maturity.  John was the seventh of the 
family, and was reared on the farm.  He attended the 
district school, and later the Friends' school in Byberry, 
Philadelphia.  He chose farming as a profession, and in 1840 
purchased a farm in Middletown township, on which he lived 
until 1850, when he disposed of it and moved to Attleboro, 
now Langhorne.  Since that time he has been agent for the 
Mutual Beneficial Insurance association of Bucks county, and 
for several years treasurer of the same.  In 1853 he was 
elected a director and appointed an agent of the Bucks 
County Contribution (the oldest insurance company in the 
county), holding both positions to the present date.  He is 
the only surviving member of the board as it stood when he 
was elected a member thereof.  He is a republican in 
politics, and in 1865 was appointed and served an unexpired 
term as one of the associate judges of Bucks county.  He 
served three years as jury commissioner, and has been one of 
the members of the visiting committee of public charities 
for the county of Bucks since the creation of that office in 
1874.  When Attleboro (now Langhorne) was incorporated he 
was elected its first chief burgess.  On the organization of 
the People's National bank of Langhorne he was elected 
president, continuing to serve in that capacity to the 
present time.  He also had the honor of naming the bank.  
Besides having been elected and appointed to positions of 
trust and honor he has, as executor, administrator and 
assignee, settled many estates, and has served as guardian 
for several orphan children.  He has always been a faithful 
friend and upright citizen.  In 1841 he was married to 
Abigail, daughter of Thomas Thomson.  This estimable lady 
was of English origin, and she and her parents were members 
of the Society of Friends.  They had one child, Jane T., who 
is the wife of Joseph John Watson, and has two children:  
Franklin and Abigail T.   Mr. Wildman's wife died in 1868, 
and in 1871 he was married to Sarah Ann, daughter of Yardley 
Taylor, of Loudon county, Va.  She is of English descent and 
was the widow of Abram Warner.  Mr. and Mrs. Warner had four 
children:  Hannah, wife of Phineas Briggs, a farmer; 
Letitia, wife of S. B. Twining, proprietor of stone quarries 
at Yardleyville; William Y., a farmer; and George, a lumber 
dealer in Philadelphia.  All are members of the Society of 
Friends.