History: Local: Chapter XXXIX: Abington Township - Part II: Bean's 1884 History of Montgomery Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Susan Walters USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/montgomery/beantoc.htm URL of html Table of Contents and illustrations. 技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技 BEAN'S HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技 690 (cont.) CHAPTER XXXIX. PART II ABINGTON TOWNSHIP. [By Wm. J. Buck.] BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. BENJAMIN T. HALLOWELL. John Hallowell, the progenitor of the family, came from Nottinghamshire, England, with William Penn, in 1682, and settled in Abington township, Montgomery Co., Pa., where, in 1696, he purchased six hundred and thirty acres of land, a portion of which is still in possession of the family of the subject of this biographical sketch. In the direct line of descent was Peter Hallowell, who also resided in the same township, having married Rachel Taylor. Their children were Julianna, born September 2, 1782, who died March 1, 1785 Joel, born May 26, 1784 Sarah, born February 25, 1786, whose death occurred in 1856 Eleanor, born October 11, 1789 Martha, born May 21, 1792 Benjamin, born February 23, 1795, who died the same year Benjamin T., born July 11, 1797. The last named, and youngest of the number, whose birth-place was Abington Township, enjoyed such advantages of instruction as were obtainable at the public schools and at the boarding- school of Joseph Foulke, in Gwynedd township. He early acquired a habit of intelligent reading, and possessed a retentive memory, which proved more serviceable in later years than the discipline derived from study under teachers. 691 Being without means, he engaged in farm labor, subsequently assuming the direction of a school, and, later, the position of clerk in a country store. In 1832 he purchased a portion of the original tract in Abington township, now occupied by his family, and began his career as a farmer, which was continued without interruption for the remainder of his life. Mr. Hallowell was, on the 26th of January, 1837, married to Eliza, daughter of Phineas Buckman, and left children,- Buckman Reuben Edwin Joshua I. Franklin Lydia (who died in 1852) Sallie Mary B. Mr. Hallowell was foremost in all enterprises affecting the development of the township, having been the first to agitate the matter of the construction of the Germantown and Willow Grove plank-road, of which company he was one of the incorporators, and for many years its president. He was also largely engaged in real estate operations. His influence was widely felt in the arena of politics, in which he manifested a keen interest, and participated actively in the various political contests of the day. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1844, re-elected in 1845, defeated in 1846 and re-elected in 1847, his defeat being the result of a loyal opposition to an effort to effect a division of his native county. He served in 1845 on the committee on local appropriations; was, in 1846, chairman of the committee on lands and member of that on ways and means. In 1848 he was a member of the committee on banks, and chairman of the committee on elections. Mr. Hallowell also filled for years the office of justice of the peace and served as school director of the township. He was active in the organization of the first grange in the county and first Master of Pennypack Grange, No. 8. He was educated in the faith of the Society of Friends, of which Mrs. Hallowell was a birthright member, and worshiped with the Abington Meeting. The death of Mr. Hallowell occurred on the 29th of September 1884, in his eighty-eighth year, and that of his wife September, 10, 1877, in her sixty-third year. PICTURE OF JOHN J. HALLOWELL, APPEARS HERE. JOHN J. HALLOWELL. John Hallowell, the grandfather of John J. Hallowell, resided in the township of Cheltenham, Montgomery Co., from whence he removed to Abington township, where he died, in 1793, of yellow fever. He married Martha Roberts, whose children were Isaac, Israel, John R. and Ann, the wife of Joseph Williams. Israel was born in 1776, in Montgomery County, where his life was spent, his business having been that of a miller; he was also the owner of valuable farms in Abington township. 692 He married Mary, daughter of William Jarrett, of Horsham township, and had children, Ann J. (Mrs. Isaac Mather) Martha (Mrs. Samuel Parry) John J., Jarrett, Tacy (Mrs. David Eastburn) Israel Jonas W. Mary (Mrs. George Ely). The death of Mr. Hallowell occurred in 1853. His son, John J., was born on the 25th of June, 1811, at his father's house, in Abington, and received his education at the Westtown Boarding-School, and later under the careful training of Joseph Foulke, a popular instructor of that day, who resided in Gwynedd township. He, on the completion of his studies, entered the flouring-mill owned by his father, and became proficient in all branches of milling, which engaged his attention for several years in connection with farming. In 1834 he married Rachel, daughter of Anthony Williams, of Cheltenham, whose children are Williams, who married Sallie, daughter of Edwin Tyson, and died leaving one child, also deceased; Elizabeth; and Franklin W., who cultivates the farm, and is married to Sallie, daughter of William and Caroline Fenton, of Abington. The children of the latter are Carrie F. and Helen R. Mr. Hallowell, after conducting the mill for a period of years, devoted his time exclusively to farming, which was continued until his son, Franklin W., assumed control of the land, when he retired from labor other than that involved in the management of his private business. Though a decided Whig and Republican in politics, he has never accepted office, and has filled no official position other than that of treasurer of the Fox Chase and Huntington Turnpike Company. He is a birthright member of the Society of Friends, and worships with the Abington Meeting. Mr. and Mrs. Hallowell celebrated in 1884 the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage, when a most interesting reunion of relatives and friends occurred at their hospitable home. PICTURE OF JOSEPH W. HALLOWELL, APPEARS HERE. JOSEPH W. HALLOWELL. John Hallowell, the grandfather of Joseph W., was descended from English stock. He resided in Abington township, where he owned and operated a grist-mill, located upon the Pennypack stream, prior to the war of the Revolution. His death occurred in 1793, of yellow fever, contracted while prosecuting his business in Philadelphia. He married Martha Roberts, of Quakertown, Bucks Co., Pa., and had three sons Isaac Israel John R. one daughter, Ann, who married Joseph Williams, of Plymouth township. John R. Hallowell was born at the homestead in Abington township, and spent the earlier years of his life in the mill owned by his father, after which he became the owner, by purchase, of the farm now the residence of his son, the subject of this sketch. 694 He married Ann, daughter of William Jarrett, of Horsham Township, Montgomery Co., and had children William J. Lydia (Mrs. Morris Paul) Martha (Mrs. Edwin Satterthwait) Joseph W. Penrose. Joseph W., of this number, who was born February 18, 1823, on the homestead, received his education at the schools immediately near his home and later at Alexandria, D. C. On his return he at once became familiar with the labor of the farm and assisted his father until his marriage, in 1851, to Hannah S., daughter of John Lloyd, of Moreland Township. The children of this marriage are Edwin S., Emma, Fannie and Anna. Mr. Hallowell, on his marriage, rented the farm, and on the death of his father, in 1856, became, by inheritance and purchase, possessor of the property. He has since that date been devoted to the pursuits of an agriculturist, though the cultivation of the land has recently been given up to his son. Mr. Hallowell votes the Republican ticket and adheres to the principles of that party, but has never been actively engaged in the work of the party and has filled no office other than that of school director. He was one of the incorporators and is at present director of the Jenkintown National Bank, as also of the York Road Turnpike Company and member of the Huntington Valley Building and Loan Association. Mr. Hallowell is descended from Quaker stock, and is by birthright a Friend, his association being with the Abington Friends' Meeting. PICTURE OF WILLIAM T. MORISON, APPEARS HERE. WILLIAM T. MORISON John Morison, the father of William T. Morison, was born in Keith, Scotland, in 1760, came as supercargo from a Scottish port to America, and settled in Petersburg, Va. In 1801 he removed to Philadelphia, and soon after purchased the property on which his son now resides. He was, in 1790, united in marriage to Ann Coke, a native of Virginia, and had children, John P., a physician, who died in 1849 Jane (Mrs. Robert Montgomery), who died in 1875 Mary Ann (wife of Rev. Nathan Harned, a native of Rockingham County, Va., and a clergyman of the Presbyterian Church), whose death occurred in New York, October, 9, 1854 Robert (deceased), a druggist in Philadelphia William T. Agnes, deceased George N., a merchant and wholesale druggist, formerly of New Orleans and now of Philadelphia Robert, deceased James, cashier of Adams Express Company Charles S., deceased. Mr. Morison continued farming employments until his death, which occurred at his home on the 28th of December 1838. 694 His son, William T., was born at the homestead October 7 1809, and has made it his lifetime residence. After a preliminary course of study at the public school near his home, he became a pupil of a classical school under the direction of Dr. Robert Steel, of Abington Township. Immediately on the completion of his studies he returned to the farm, and soon became interested in its routine of labor and responsibility. On the death of his father a portion of the property became his by inheritance and the remainder by purchase, since which date he has been actively employed as a farmer. Mr. Morison is in politics a Democrat, as a representative of which party he was elected justice of the peace and served for several years. He was in 1849, elected to the State Legislature and reelected in 1850, serving on various important committees. In 1851 he was made a member of the board of canal commissioners, and on the completion of his three years of public service retired from the field of politics. He has since that date been devoted to the more tranquil and congenial employments attending the life of an agriculturist. Mr. Morison is a Presbyterian in his religious faith, and a pew-holder in the church of that denomination in Abington village. DAVID NEWPORT. David Newport, son of Jesse W. and Elizabeth Newport, was born Dec. 18, 1822, in the city of Philadelphia, Pa. He is a descendant in the sixth generation from Thos. Newport, of London, England, who settled in New Jersey about 1698. It is, stated of him (Thomas) that the people of his neighborhood were in the habit of meeting at his house on the Sabbath day for the purpose of social worship, and that he having a remarkably fine voice, was in the habit of singing with them. On one occasion he felt it his duty to speak to those assembled, and thus became their minister, afterwards, on becoming, acquainted with the Society of Friends, he connected himself with that people. Thomas Newport married Elizabeth Lockwood, and had two children,- Jesse Mary. The Newport family at an early date removed and lived near Duck Creek, Del. Mary Newport went to Philadelphia and engaged in profitable business in that city, but never married. The fund now in possession of the Philadelphia Meeting was left to that meeting by her. Jesse Newport was the father of ten children, most of whom lived to old age. Their names were Thomas Aaron David Jesse Benjamin Richard Elizabeth Lydia Mary Sarah. Jesse's son David often spoke of the difficulties to which they were subjected during the Revolutionary war, and that his father purchased, outside of the productions of the farm, nothing but iron and salt he being opposed to war. In 1786, Jesse Newport purchased the Overington farm in Oxford Township, and, with his family, became members of the Abington Monthly Meeting. In 1794, Jesse, with seven of his children, removed to Westmoreland County, Pa., and it is related of these seven children that they became the parents of seventy children, or an average of ten each, all of whom arrived at adult age. Elizabeth Newport, the mother of David Newport, was the daughter of James and Margaret Ellison, of Burlington, N. J. James Ellison was a descendant from John Ellison, who settled on the coast of East Jersey, at Toms River, Monmouth Co., near the close of the seventeenth century. His son, John Ellison, second, married a granddaughter of Gryffyth ap Gryffyth, and in accordance with the annals of that family he was a lineal descendant of Lewellyn ap Gryffyth, who was the last Welsh Prince of Wales. On the maternal side of the Newport family, David, the subject of this sketch, is the eighth in descent from John Rodman, an Englishman, who settled on Barbadoes Island about 1650, and whose sons, Thomas and John, afterwards emigrated to New England. All the different ancestral branches of the family were members of the Society of Friends, and six of them were ministers of that denomination. The great grandfather of David Newport, Thomas Wood, was, however, disowned by the society for taking part in the Revolutionary war. David, besides learning the practical duties of a farmer, while yet in his teens attended a Philadelphia School, and later was sent to the Friends' school, at Alexandria, Va. When at the age of twenty-one years be was fully initiated into the duties and responsibilities of a farmer, near the beautiful farm upon which he now resides, near Willow Grove, Montgomery Co. Early in life, he took a deep interest in the moral and political subjects of the day, and was especially interested in the slavery question that was being forced upon the country about the time of his majority. Being born a Friend, he naturally inherited all the peculiar hatred of oppression possessed by one of that religious faith, and enthusiastically espoused the cause of freedom with fervor and zeal, and lifted up his voice and wielded his pen against "the sum of all villainies," as slavery was termed by liberty loving old John Wesley. In the Presidential contest of 1848, Mr. Newport was one of the seven fearless advocates of freedom in Moreland township, who dared to stand up and vote for the Free-soil candidate, Martin Van Buren. Previous to the election of Abraham Lincoln, there was none more so, and few as active citizens concerning public affairs as Mr. Newport With his natural taste for agricultural pursuits, he also acquired a taste for the literary field, and often contributed interesting articles for both the "Herald and Free Press" and the "Republican," both published in Norristown. Accordingly, after the war began, and the new system of internal revenue was framed by Congress, 695 President Lincoln appointed him collector for the Congressional district composed of counties Montgomery and Lehigh, with his office in the courthouse at Norristown. He chose Samuel Homer and Howard M. Jenkins as his deputies, and during the four years from 1862 to 1866, about $2,500,000 of direct tax was received and paid over by him. He held the position till the tragic death of Mr. Lincoln placed Andrew Johnson in the Presidential chair. "Mr. Newport's courtesy, fidelity and uprightness," says Mr. Auge in his history, "were conspicuous while he held the place, and no man ever retired from a fiduciary trust with a cleaner reputation. Some time after his retirement from office he was busy with his pen, being an almost constant contributor to political, religious and scientific publications of the country. He also frequently courted the muse, and the following lines were written on hearing of the re-election of President Lincoln in 1864: 'From where the placid Delaware winds onward in its course, To where Niagara's waters flow with their resistless force; From where New England's stalwart sons amidst the woods of Maine The axe rings forth the anthem -ring forth the glad refrain. "The miner in the land of Penn, the boatman at the oar, The farmer in the teeming West among his garnered store, The sailor on the ocean amidst the surging sea, All, all have caught the glad acclaim -'Lincoln and Liberty!' "And o'er Pacific's gentle wave far toward the setting sun, From where the sands with gold are mixed, and silvery waters run; From where Nevada rears his head and winter's chaplet crowns, Where nature both in mount and tree in giant growth abounds. "There in that land where Broderick lived, there where he fought and fell, In freedom's ranks his friends have ranged, and freedom's cohorts swell. The tide from out the Golden Gate is ebbing towards the sea; Amidst the shrouds the sailor sings -- 'Lincoln and Liberty.'" Mr. Newport is also the author of a small volume of poems, containing many gems of poetic thought, that have become very popular where known. He is also the author of another small volume entitled, "Indices, Rational and Historical," written about 1869. Having been born a member of the Society of Friends, and as the weight of years bore down upon him, he became more and more impressed with the things pertaining to religion than in his younger days, and in 1871 he felt a call to the ministry, and thus became a minister of the Society of Friends which position he continues to fill to the satisfaction of his friends. His utterances at meetings are those of plainness and earnestness, and he feels it his duty as a Christian to call men to the Spirit of Truth in themselves, instead of directing them to mere declarations of truth as authority. Divine Truth he believes is to be realized by the inspiration of the Spirit as "the Gift of God" to His children, who are "heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ." He is a member of Abington Monthly Meeting, where, as well as by all who know him, he is held in the highest esteem for his many good qualities as a Christian gentleman and a kind neighbor. Since about 1841-42 he has been engaged in farming as his principal business, until within the last few years he has added the cares and responsibilities incumbent upon him as a member of the firm of William C. Newport & Co., manufacturers of phosphates, at Willow Grove, Montgomery Co., Pa. David Newport was married, April 8, 1847, to Susan Satterthwaite. They have two children William C. Newport, now a manufacturer of phosphates at Willow Grove, Emma N. Tyson, the wife of Canby S. Tyson. Susan S., wife of David Newport, is the fourth in descent from William Satterthwaite, of Hawkshead, England, who emigrated to this country and settled in Bucks County, Pa., in 1733. He married Miss Pleasant Meade, who was a relative of the family of the late Major-General George G. Meade. William Satterthwaite was the grandson of Clement Satterthwaite, who was born at Hawkshead in 1600. On the maternal side, Susan S. Newport is a descendant of James Claypoole, who came to Pennsylvania in 1683. He was a particular friend of William Penn, and purchased from him five thousand acres of land in the new province. James Claypoole's brother, John, married Oliver Cromwell's daughter Elizabeth. James and John Claypoole's father, John, was an intimate friend of the Protector, and was knighted by him 16th of July, 1657. He was the grandson of James Claypoole, who was knighted, as Mark Noble, in his history, says, by James I., June, 1604. He also says that his father's name was James, and that he was buried at Narborough October 16, 1599. The family have also a letter of Benjamin Claypoole to his nephew, George Claypoole, dated London, 22d March, 1706-7, giving the family history much as above. Susan S. Newport's grandmother, Elizabeth Claypoole, was a woman of much mark in her day. She had the honor of making the first American flag; as for details see "Harper's Magazine," June, 1873. JACOB P. TYSON. John Tyson, the father of Jacob P., was born August 27, 1772, and married Sarah Paxson, whose birth occurred November 30, 1782. Their children were Mary Ann, born in 1811; Joseph C., in 1813; Jacob P.; Elwood, in 1817; Agnes and Sarah, in 1818; Rebecca, in 1820; Ruth Anna, in 1822; and John S., in 1824; all the sons being now deceased. John Tyson resided in Abington township, where he was a successful lime-burner and also cultivated a farm. His death occurred August 9, 1848, and that of his wife September 30, 1854. 696 Their son, Jacob P., was born July 8, 1814, on the homestead farm in Abington township, as were all the children, the property having been for generations owned by the family. He attended the neighboring school and later became a pupil of Joseph Foulke's celebrated boarding-school in Gwynedd township, after which, for a brief period, he engaged in teaching. His time was, however, chiefly employed on the farm until his marriage, to Mary B., daughter of William Michener, of the same county, when he removed to a tract of land, belonging to his father, in the same township. Mr. Tyson eventually inherited this farm, but was obliged to relinquish active employment, his health, at no time robust, precluding the hard labor incident to the life of a farmer. PICTURE OF JACOB P. TYSON, APPEARS HERE. Having acquired a knowledge of mathematics and surveying, he entered at once upon a pursuit where these attainments could be made available. His ability and scrupulous integrity speedily rendered his services much in demand in the settlement of estates and the survey of lands in the county. He was frequently appointed guardian and executor, these important trusts engaging his attention until the date of his death. Jacob P. Tyson enjoyed the most absolute confidence of the community as a citizen of high moral character and excellent judgment in all matters of business. He was identified with most public enterprises in the township -notably the Independent Mutual Fire Insurance Company and the Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company as director, and as treasurer of the Willow Grove and Germantown plank-road, of which he was one of the projectors. He was, from its organization, a director of the Jenkintown National Bank, which passed a series of resolutions on the occasion of his death, December 19, 1876, commemorative of his character and services. Jacob P. Tyson was by birthright a Friend and worshiped with the Abington Friends' Meeting. GEORGE HAMEL. John C. Hamel, the father of George Hamel, was a native of Amsterdam, Holland, and when a youth was drafted into the French army under Napoleon. Preferring freedom to this arduous service, he deserted and fled to America, landing in New York, from whence he came to Philadelphia, and entered a packing-house, when, after some years experience as assistant, he embarked in the business. He remained until 1834 engaged in mercantile pursuits, at which date a farm was purchased in the suburbs of the city, and later one in Abington Township. His death occurred in Philadelphia in 1854, in his sixty-fifth year. 697 Mr. Hamel married Mrs. Catherine Zink, daughter of Henry Zink, whose children were Margaret (Mrs. Daniel William) Henry W. George Amanda L. (Mrs. Robert Zane) Emeline (who died in youth) John C. whose death also occurred at an early age. Mrs. John Hamel's death occurred at Jenkintown in her ninety-sixth year, and that of her sister, Mrs. Hildebrandt, in her ninety-fourth year. George Hamel was born June 6, 1821, in the city of Philadelphia, where his boyhood, until his sixteenth year, was spent. He then removed to Montgomery County and resided upon his father's farm, meanwhile educating himself with what books and papers he could obtain from different sources. He became interested in the various branches of labor incident to a farmer's life, and on the 26th of August 1841, married Miss Hannah, daughter of John and Rachel Tyson. The children of this marriage are John C. Mary C. Margaret George Rachel T. (Mrs. Joseph Druckenmiller) Ida Amanda Harry L. and four who are deceased. On his marriage Mr. Hamel removed to his present home, then the property of Mrs. Hamel's grandfather, Benjamin Tyson, and later to another farm located in the same township. He embarked for a brief period in mercantile ventures at Willow Grove, Montgomery Co., and in 1854 made agriculture the business of his life. On his farm is a product known as gannister-stone, chiefly used in lining cupolas and converters in Bessemer Steel-Works. PICTURE OF GEORGE HAMEL, APPEARS HERE. Those quarries are worked by him, and produce the only stone, which it is possible to utilize for the purpose above mentioned, in the country. Mr. Hamel's political convictions led to his affiliation with the Democratic party, which he represented during the years 1856-57 and 1858 in the State Legislature, serving on the committees on banks and banking, agriculture and others of equal importance. He is largely identified interest of Abington, having been for thirty years auditor of the township, and filled the office of school director. He was for many years a director of the Willow Grove and Germantown Plank Road Company, and is actively identified with Tacony Grange, 1859 of Montgomery County. Mr. Hamel is a member, and an elder in the Carmel Presbyterian Church, at Edge Hill, having formerly filled the same office in connection with the Abington Presbyterian Church, and been superintendent of the Sabbath-schools at Edge Hill, from which grew the present church organization since its commencement, in 1872. 698 SAMUEL N. KULP. Mr. Kulp is of German descent, his grandfather, Isaac Kulp, having been a weaver at Milestown, now the Twenty-second Ward of Philadelphia. He married Elizabeth Moore, whose children were Joseph Philip Jacob Mary Ann (Mrs. George Wentz) Hannah (Mrs. Jacob Wentz) Eliza (Mrs. John Pierson) Philip, of this number, was born at Milestown, and followed the trade of his father until his later purchase of a farm, which he cultivated. He married Ann, daughter of John and Sally Nice, of Milestown, and had children,- Isaac (deceased) John (deceased) Samuel N. Sarah N. (Mrs. Reuben Harper, deceased) Margaret H. (Mrs. Alfred Buckman) Maria L. (Mrs. John Hawkins) Eliza A. (Mrs. Franklin B. Thompson). Samuel N. was born November 29, 1826, at Milestown, now a part of Philadelphia, and in youth became familiar with farm labor. At the age of seventeen, after a period of attendance at the neighboring public school, he learned the trade of millwright in Abington Township, and continued to follow it until twenty-six years of age. He was, on the 16th of December 1852, married to Mary Ann, daughter of John and Kitty Ann Blake, of Abington. Their children are Margaret B. (Mrs. Samuel R. Livezey), Joseph (who resides at home, and is married to Viola S. Tomlinson), Ida A. (Mrs. John R. Reading), John B., Emma L. and William. Mr. Kulp, three years after his marriage, purchased a farm within the limits of the city of Philadelphia (Twenty-third Ward), and for eighteen years resided upon it. He then removed to his present home, in the township of Abington, where he has since 1873 been employed in farming of a general character, as also to a limited extent in real estate operations. PICTURE OF SAMUEL N. KULP, APPEARS HERE. His political associations are with the Republican Party, though his various business interests have left no leisure for participation in political movements either of a local or general character. He is a supporter of the Lower Dublin Baptist Church, of which Mrs. Kulp is a member. Mr. Kulp began life with no aids other than were supplied by his own industry and ambition, and is consequently indebted to no other agencies for his success in life. 699 WILLIAM BLAKE. John Blake, the grandfather of William Blake, immigrated to America prior to the war of 1812, in which he served as a soldier. He, on the completion of his term of service, made the present Twenty-third Ward of Philadelphia his residence, and there followed his trade of carpenter. He married Catherine Stevens, of Bucks County, whose death occurred in her eighty- ninth year. Their children were Abram John Henry Jacob, all of whom followed the trade of their father. Mr. Blake's death occurred on the 6th of November 1829, in his eighty-sixth year. PICTURE OF WILLIAM BLAKE, APPEARS HERE. His son, Henry Blake, was born in 1780 in Philadelphia and early removed to Montgomery County, where most of his life was spent. He married Rachel, daughter of Jesse Hawkins, who was an extensive farmer. He was of Welsh extraction and a prominent representative of the Society of Friends. The children of this marriage are Mary, Kesiah, William and Elizabeth. Mr. Blake for many years pursued his trade of carpenter, but ultimately became a farmer, having purchased the property now owned by his son William. He was identified with the interests of the township, having for twelve years been supervisor of roads. He died July 3, 1860, in his eightieth year. His wife died in her ninety-second year. William Blake was born in September, 1814 on the farm he now occupies, and spent his youth in labor, varied by attendance at the district school of the neighborhood. He then rented a farm in Cheltenham, from which he removed to Bucks County, but finally returned to the homestead, a portion of which came to him by inheritance and the remainder by purchase. Here he has since continued the pursuits of a farmer Mr. Blake was, in the fall of 1839, married to Elmina, daughter of William H. and Martha Ball. Their only child was Martha Jane, who died in her third year. He was a second time married, in 1854, to Hannah, daughter of Samuel Deaves, of Philadelphia. Mr. Blake has been for three years a director of the Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Montgomery County. He is a Republican in politics, but not active beyond the casting of his ballot. He is in religion a Friend, and worships with the Abington Meeting. 700 JOSEPH KIRK. John Kirk, the progenitor of the family in America, came from Alfredtown, Derbyshire, England, in 1687, and settled in Darby (now Upper Darby), Delaware Co., Pa. He was married in Darby Meeting, the following year, to Joan, daughter of Peter Elliot, to whom were born ten children. John, their second son, whose birth occurred January 29, 1692, purchased, in 1712, of John and Sarah Ironmonger, two hundred acres in Abington township, adjoining the Upper Dublin line, for which he paid one hundred and sixty pounds, and subsequently added to this tract by a second purchase of five hundred acres adjoining, but situated in Upper Dublin township. He married Sarah, daughter of Rynear Tyson, to whom were born eight children. John Kirk was by trade a mason, and in 1722 did the mason-work for Sir William Keith, then Governor of Pennsylvania, on what was later known as the Graeme Park mansion, now in possession of Abel Penrose, of Horsham Township, in Montgomery County. Jacob Kirk, the son of John and Sarah Kirk, who was born in 1735, survived until his ninety-third year, and died in the same house in which he was born. PICTURE OF JOSEPH KIRK, APPEARS HERE. He was married, in 1760, to Elizabeth, daughter of John Cleaver, of Bristol Township, Philadelphia Co. Their son Jacob, born the 23d of September 1769, married Rebecca, daughter of Charles and Phebe Iredell, in 1792, and is located on part of the original purchase of two hundred acres. Of their eleven children, the survivors are Charles Kirk, of Warminister township, Bucks Co., still active and enterprising in his eighty-fourth year; Phebe Paxson, widow of Joseph Paxson, of the vicinity of Stanton, 701 Del., in her ninety-second year; and Abram Kirk, of Upper Dublin, in his seventy-fifth year. The latter, born March 5, 1810, married Caroline, daughter of Levi and Mary Jarrett, on the 27th of December 1838. Of their five children, Joseph, the eldest son, was born on the 13th of December 1839, in Upper Dublin Township, where he resided until thirty years of age, becoming a pupil first of the public school and later of schools in Hatboro' and Norristown. On the completion of his studies he returned to the farm and assisted in its cultivation until his marriage on the 10th of March, 1870, to Miss Lydia, daughter of the late Reuben and Elizabeth son, William Smith, who was united in marriage to, Williams, of Abington township. Mr. Kirk soon after rented a farm near Weldon, Abington township, and for thirteen years engaged in the employments of a farmer. At the expiration of this time he removed to Weldon, having purchased a residence, and made the latter place his home. A Republican in politics, he is not active in the political field nor ambitious for office. He is a member of the Weldon Building and Loan Association. Mr. Kirk and his wife are both members by birthright of the Society of Friends and worship with the Abington Meeting. D. Jarrett Kirk, brother of Joseph Kirk, married Cornelia, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Kenderdine. Their children are two sons, Benjamin K. and Joseph. PICTURE OF JOHN SMITH, APPEARS HERE. JOHN SMITH. William Smith, the progenitor of the branch of the Smith family represented by the subject of this biography, came, in 1684, from Yorkshire, England, and settled in Wrightstown, Bucks Co. He married, on the 20th of the Ninth Month, 1690, Mary Croasdale, and had among his children a son William Smith, who united in marriage to Rebecca Wilson. Their son Thomas married Sarah Townsend, whose son William, representing the fourth generation, married Sarah Buckman. Among the sons of the latter was John Smith, born in 1803, who, after spending his early years upon the farm, learned the trade of blacksmith, which he prosecuted in Abington, to which township he removed for the purpose. Here he met and married Agnes Hallowell, daughter of Caleb Hallowell, their children being Caleb H., married to Susan V. Hallowell Franklin, whose wife was Caroline E. Kinsey Hutchinson, married to M. Elizabeth Comly Mary Anna. Mr. Smith, on his marriage, settled at Huntington Valley, Moreland Township, where he for years carried on his trade. 702 He was for an extended period justice of the peace of his township, and elected county commissioner for the unexpired term of Samuel Shoemaker. On retiring from this office he embarked in the real estate business. His excellent judgment and thorough familiarity with property and its value in Montgomery and Bucks Counties and also in the city of Philadelphia, enabled him to establish a lucrative business, which he managed with great success until his death. He was president of the Independent Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Philadelphia, and identified with the leading projects in his township and county. Mr. Smith was a Friend by birthright, and worshiped with the Abington Meeting. His death occurred in July 1867, in his sixty- fifth year. PICTURE OF THOMAS BUCKMAN, APPEARS HERE. THOMAS BUCKMAN. Thomas Buckman, the great-grandfather of the subject of this biographical sketch, accompanied William Penn from England to America in 1682, and settled in Bucks County, Pa., where he conducted a successful business as a blacksmith. Among his children was Thomas, who succeeded to his father's trade, and located in Newtown, Bucks Co. His children were Thomas, Jesse, Phebe (Mrs. Kelly), and Hannah (Mrs. Leedom). Thomas and Jesse both followed the blacksmith's trade, the former having married Mary, daughter of Abram and Rachel Harding, of Bucks County, whose children were Abram Priscilla (Mrs. Jacob Twining) Rachel (Mrs. Chillian Cooper) Hannah (deceased) Harding (deceased), Mary (Mrs. William Bailey) Phebe (Mrs. John Jones) Thomas Sarah Ann (Mrs. John Jones) William and Benjamin. Thomas was born on the 11th of December 1802, in Falls Township, Bucks Co., and after a period of early youth spent at home, became a member of the family of his brother Harding. Moreland township, in the same county, next became his home, where, for three years, he rented and cultivated a farm, moving, at the expiration of that time to Abington, upon a farm situated in the vicinity of Jenkintown. Mr. Buckman continued his vocation as a farmer in various portions of the county until an advantageous opportunity occurred to engage in lime-burning, to which he gave his attention for six years, after which he purchased a farm in Delaware. 703 Three years later he became a resident of Cheltenham township, and the owner of land on which he resided for eight years. In 1851 his present home was purchased, to which he removed the following year, having since been assiduous in his labors as a farmer. Mr. Buckman was married in 1828 to Anne, daughter of Clement and Rebecca Comly, and has children,- Amos Alfred Mary (Mrs. Charles Harper) Jacob William Thomas and Joseph. Mrs. Buckman died in 1861, and he was again married, in 1864, to Mary Ann, daughter of Thomas Brooke, who served in the war of 1812, and granddaughter of Major William Brooke, a soldier of the war of the Revolution. Their children are Linford and Jesse. Mrs. Buckman's mother died in November, 1883, in her ninety-first year. Mr. Buckman has no political aspirations, and is content to vote the Republican ticket without reference to the offices dispensed by the party. He is a Friend by birthright, and worships with the Abington Meeting. PICTURE OF ANDREW J. RICE, APPEARS HERE. ANDREW J. RICE. Mr. Rice is of German descent, his great-grandfather, Daniel, having been a resident of Frankford, Pa., where he was a miller prior to the Revolutionary war. His sons were Daniel, Peter and another not mentioned. Daniel resided near Philadelphia, and followed his trade as a journeyman miller, having married a Miss Dungen to whom were born children,- Daniel George Isaac Phebe and Elizabeth. Daniel of this number, whose birth occurred in 1816, at Germantown, early removed to Montgomery County where he purchased the mill property now operated by his son, the subject of this biographical sketch. He married Sarah Weiss, of Holmesburg, Pa., and had children,- Phebe Cornelia Caroline, deceased Sarah, deceased Mary, deceased Susannah, deceased Andrew J. 704 The latter was born on the 28th of April, 1851, at Fentonville, now a part of Philadelphia, and accompanied his father on his removal to Abington township. Here his youth was spent, his education having been received first at the public school of the neighborhood and later at Jenkintown, after which he entered the mill as an apprentice to the miller's trade. He finally resumed its management and conducted the business until his father's death, on the 30th of October, 1880, when the property came by inheritance to the surviving children, Andrew J. still continuing to act in the capacity of manager of the mill. This mill is one of the oldest in the State, and a distinguished landmark in the county, having been operated long prior to the Revolutionary war. Mr. Rice, in 1883, remodeled it, introducing the roller process and otherwise adding to its advantages. Andrew J. Rice, was, in 1874, married to Mary, daughter of John Brooks, of Chester County, Pa. Their children are a son Charles Harvey, and a daughter Loretta Washburn. Mr. Rice is in politics a Democrat as were also his ancestors, but does not participate in the active campaign work of the party. He is a member of Friendship Lodge, No. 400, of Free and accepted Masons, of Jenkintown, and of Peace and Love Lodge, No. 337, of I. 0. 0. F., also of Jenkintown. In religion he inclines to the New Church doctrines, though not identified by membership with any church. ABNER BRADFIELD. By Thomas Bradfield, Attorney-at-Law, Philadelphia. The ancestry of Abner Bradfield sprang from an old English family, and came from England to this country early in the eighteenth century, and, from best information that can be gathered, at this time, settled in Bucks County, Pa., but who the pioneer was in engrafting the stock in the New World is not known to the writer. The records of Buckingham Friends' Meeting, Bucks County, furnish the best starting-point. The meeting was established as a meeting of worship in the year 1700, and as a meeting of business in 1720. By the records of this meeting it appears that one William Bradfield married Hannah Pennington, and that they had eleven. children, whose births are registered, being the birth of Abner, the eldest, registered as on the 21st of the Ninth Month, 1748, There is a further registry of the marriages of five of the children, that of Abner not being among them. Abner violated the rules of the meeting in that respect, for which offense he was disowned, this being the penalty at that time among Friends for so grave an offense. He married Phoebe Cadwalader, the date of which marriage is not now known. Some time after his marriage he built the old log house still standing in Edge Hill village, Cheltenham township, into which he moved. He only lived there a short time. He moved into another house in the village, afterwards used as a store, and which was for a long time the only store in the village. He afterwards purchased the Dotts property, on the south side of Edge Hill, fronting on the Susquehanna Street road, in Abington township, and removed thereto and continued to reside there up to the time of his death, in about the year 1810. He had several children, of whom William was next in line. William was married to Martha Minor, August 15, 1749, and moved into a house then owned by his father, on the Jenkintown road, near Weldon, in the township of Abington. It was in this house that Abner, the subject of our history, was born, on the 18th day of May, 1802. The house was afterwards burned down, and the one now standing there was built upon the same site. The property has lately passed into the possession of Xanthus Smith, artist, he having purchased it from the heirs of John Martin, deceased. Besides Abner, William had two other children, William and Esther. The latter died in her infancy. William, the father, moved to Bucks County while Abner was yet out an infant. He did not reside there long, for his father (Abner the elder) having willed him the homestead in Abington township, before mentioned, he moved thereto after his father's death, in 1810, when Abner was eight years of age; and from this time, and from this early age, the active life of the present Abner may be dated and considered to have been entered upon. William, his father, was a man of a social and kindly disposition, lacking, however, that force and energy which is said it have characterized his father, Abner the elder, and of whom it is said by those who knew him that his grandson, Abner, was it true scion. William could easily be influenced to make bargains he would afterwards regret, and the difficulties entailed would sometimes strain his energies; but fortunately the wife and mother, with the aid of her son at this time, was equal to the occasion. At this tender age of eight years Abner commenced to accompany his mother to the Philadelphia markets, which he afterwards attended regularly, at the age of twelve years commencing to go alone. Many incidents are related of his courage and determination, as also of his discretion while yet a youth. Abner, shortly after becoming of age, on the 26th day of August, 1823, married Sarah Ann, daughter of Enoch and Elizabeth Thomas; he took charge of the homestead, his parents making their home with him, and resided there some eight or nine years, during, which time his father and mother both died. After the parents' death, Abner and his brother William, who were the only heirs, agreed upon an amicable division of the property, consisting of the homestead, containing forty-four acres, and a small place, containing about seventeen acres, fronting on the northwesterly side of the Willow Grove and Germantown plank road, north of Weldon, now owned by Russel Smith, the artist, and Xanthus, his son. 705 They agreed upon three thousand dollars as the value of the farm, and eleven hundred and fifty dollars as the value of the lot. Abner gave William the first choice, and he took the homestead, which left the lot to Abner. There was no administration (their father having died intestate) or law proceedings whatever, excepting, the necessary deeds; Abner deeding his interest in the homestead to William, and William his interest in the lot to Abner, and paying him such sum as they had agreed upon in equalizing values. Abner removed to the lot in the spring of 1832, and in the fall of the same year bought the farm on the north side of Edge Hill, fronting on the Susquehanna Street road, and shortly moved in and took possession, though he did not get his deed until April, 1833. He continued to reside there until the time of his death, June 14,1875. The farm passed to his three surviving sons Jonathan, Thomas and Joseph, -under provisions contained in his will. He and his wife lived together nearly fifty-two years, she, the wife, being still living. Whatever knowledge he possessed may be said to have been self-acquired. In his youthful days the advantages for obtaining an education in the country among persons of moderate means, who were struggling to raise a family, were very limited, and, as has already been shown, he had very few opportunities of enjoying what there were, he, at the early age of eight years, having been forced to the front as a bread winner and supporter of the home. The amount of his schooling, as he has often related, was seventeen days one winter and nineteen another, the last being when he was about sixteen years of age. Yet he could, in a short time, by natural and correct mathematical deductions, find the area of almost any-shaped piece of land from the line with his head alone. He was ready and quick at matters of interest and figures generally. He was a reading man and kept himself informed in what was going on. He took a great interest in matters affecting his neighborhood, was a close observer and would retain thoroughly in his mind or memory whatever came under his observation, or in which he took a part or had an interest, ever afterwards. His memory was wonderful in all money transactions. They seemed to be photographed upon his mind as they would be written upon a day-book and ledger. All matters as to the measurement of lands and land-marks had an attraction for him, and he could locate the place of land-marks many years after they were made, and long after their immediate evidence had been obliterated. He took a great interest in education, and after the adoption of the free-school law was a school director for many years. The office was often pressed upon him; when, however, he accepted the trust, he performed his duties with all his ability. No business matters of merely personal interest would keep him from meeting the board of directors and visiting committees on which he was appointed. It was so with him in every position he was called to fill. He was many years one of the directors of the Willow Grove and Germantown Plank-Road Company, of which he was one of the original charter members and took a very great interest in trying to make it a success. He was frequently called upon as an arbitrator in disputes between individuals and very generally the finding would be satisfactory to both parties; they would have so much confidence in his ability to find the truth and see the justice of the matter that they would accept the result without further question. He was a man of a social turn, and liked to chat with his friends and neighbors. It made no difference to him as to the financial or family standing of a man, it was enough for him if a man properly conducted himself. It mattered not whether he was a common laborer or the landed proprietor, he could always spend a few minutes to chat with them. Strangers happening in at meal-time, black or white, if they were sufficiently decent in appearance to admit of it, were invited to partake of the meal, always seating them beside himself. Whatever he undertook he first made up his mind as to its utility and feasibility; he would then undertake it and accomplish it. Whatever he did, he did thoroughly and in season. He was a farmer by occupation; early in life he burned lime to a limited extent, and furnished and personally hauled the lime to build the stone posts, many of which are still standing, on the farm known as the "Stone Post Farm," on the Holmesburg turnpike below Holmesburg, in the Twenty-third Ward of the city of Philadelphia ; he burned the last kiln of lime he ever burnt in the spring of 1840, and that for the purpose of furnishing lime to build a barn on his farm, which he did. He had no faith in making money hastily, his motto being that a dollar earned by honest industry was worth ten made by speculation; small gains honestly made would leave the surest results in time. He could never be induced to touch any of the speculations that sprung up in his day, such as "mortis multicaulus," coal, oil, etc.; none of the exciting reports of fortunes made in them had any weight with him nor turned him for one moment from his steady business pursuits, as he would say great gains to the few meant much loss to the many. His idea of honest, and truth was not to be honest and truthful because it was the best policy, but because it was the right thing to do and to be. He could not have two faces; he was the same at all times and to all men; he would not profess what he could not or would not carry out. He was a man that took little pride in dress; in fact he was almost indifferent in that particular; but he took considerable pride in horses, and enjoyed driving a horse that could move without whip or spur and that could move the dust. 706 He seemed to have no desire for travel or seeing other countries or places; the real, living world to him was in his own immediate family. He loved his home, and when away on business, when the business was done, hastened to return. He had eleven children all of whom could not exhaust his boundless love; he always assisted in the care and nursing of the young children; in sickness he never seemed to tire in watching and caring for them; in health they were his social companions; he counseled with them on almost every matter. Even when yet of tender years he could handle and care for a child or for the sick as tenderly as a mother. He had a great veneration for his mother. He would often speak of her counsels to him in youth and all the way up to manhood; they were all good, they were all wise, they were all tempered by love, they became more plain, more vivid to him as he advanced in life; in a word, her advice was the living counsel and guide of his whole life. She has been spoken of by others, who remember her as a woman, though of delicate constitution, possessed of great kindness, always ready to lend a helping band; yet, with all, having great firmness and decision of character. In politics, he was a Whig until the rise of the Republican Party, which he always afterwards warmly supported. Early in his life he became impressed with the enormity of American slavery, and boldly asserted and maintained his views on this subject; yet he would not intentionally give offense to any, though they differed radically, and he always retained their respect. Early in life he saw the evils of the use of intoxicating drink, and quite early in life quit furnishing liquor to his laboring men, which it was the general custom of the neighborhood to do at the time. During the last few days of his last illness his physician tried to urge him to take liquor as a stimulant, but he most positively refused, saying his intellect might be clouded thereby, and he wanted to die in the fullest possession of his faculties, which he did. To religion, he was a firm believer in the pews maintained by Friends; he subscribed to the view, preached by Elias and Edward Hicks. Though so firm a believer in the religious views held by Friends, and as much as he felt interested in the progress and welfare of the society, he never felt that lie had got to that condition which would warrant him in seeking a closer fellowship by becoming a member, though he often expressed a desire to be allowed to contribute to the support and maintenance of the meeting. His remains were followed to the grave by a very large concourse of sincere friends, among who were several colored people. Some two or three friends made remarks at the grave, and one of the colored men present, who had occasionally exhorted among his own people, feeling that more might be said and should be said, more directly as to the religious views of his deceased friend, was incited to speak. We will hastily refer to the children of our subject and close. Of the eleven children six, are now deceased; three died in early infancy. Julianna, the second child, died from burns caused by her clothing taking fire when near thirteen years of age. She was a girl of very active intellect and gave great promise of noble womanhood. The sadness caused by this event seemed never to leave the parent. Elizabeth, his fourth child, died when thirty-one years of age. She had married and had a son, who died before her. She inherited largely her father's ways and disposition, particularly the gentler and kindlier parts. Albert, the sixth son and eighth child, died at the age of thirty years. He, in early childhood, was almost as staid and earnest in the real work of life as is usual with persons of mature age. He never had to be corrected at school or at home. He cheerfully took hold of the work set for him to do, and with the same earnestness that his father had done before him. At the age of fourteen he met with an accident on the playground at school, receiving a severe bruise on the hip, which caused him great suffering for two years, and which left him badly lamed for life. After his recovery he attended Rev. Samuel Aaron's school, and so much impressed was Mr. Aaron with his scholarship and energy that he gave him an assistant tutorship in his second year. He afterwards studied law with G. R. Fox, and was admitted to the bar, and two years afterwards received the nomination for district attorney. During the canvass he took a severe cold, the result of exposure, and this, with the injury received in youth, caused his death about two years afterward. Jonathan, the first-born still lives. He moved on the old homestead a few years ago and continued there until quite recently, when he purchased a farm near North Wales, and moved thereto, and Joseph the seventh son and ninth child, who had been living in Philadelphia, removed to the homestead. The two youngest children, daughters, are still living, are married and have families of children. Thomas, the third son and child, and from whom the above memorial was gathered was accidentally hurt at thirteen years of age by a wound in the knee with a pitchfork while working at hay-making, and from which he was confined to the house pretty much for seven years, when he got so that he could go to school, and after a couple of years went to teaching school in the country, which he followed for seven years, then went to Philadelphia in 1859 and entered upon the study of the law with John S. Shoemaker, Esq., and after a couple of years was admitted to practice at that bar where he still continues to practice. For a corroboration of some of the above stated facts we are indebted to George W. Bradfield, of Philadelphia, who is the oldest living member of the family now known in this county. He remembers seeing Abner Bradfield, the elder, who was his grandfather.