History of Bucks
County, Pa Volume 3 by William H. Davis
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HON. CHARLES SOUDERS VANDEGRIFTHON. CHARLES SOUDERS VANDEGRIFT., son of Alfred and Catherine (GIBBS) VANDEGRIFT, is a worthy representative of an old and eminent family. He was born Bensalem township, August 20, 1839. He was reared on his father's farm, and attended the public schools until fifteen years of age, when he entered Captain Alden PARTRIDGE'S Military School at China Hall in Bristol township, where he remained for two years. At the age of seventeen he entered the employ of his uncle and namesake, Charles S. VANDEGRIFT Sr., in the country store at Eddington, where he remained as clerk and proprietor until 1873 when he sold out the store, and in connection with J. and E. Thomas opened a lumber yard on the Delaware at Eddington. This partnership continued until 1890, when he retired from the firm. Since that time he has been employed in the settlement of estates and the transaction of public business. In 1882 he was elected to the state senate and served four years. He was an active member of the upper house, and served on the ways and means, agriculture and other important committees. In politics he is a Democrat, and has served as representative to District, State and National conventions. He has always taken an active interest in local matters, and served his township officially at different periods.. He is president of the Good Roads Association of Bensalem township, and one of its most active and efficient members. He is a director of the Farmers' National Bank; president of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Mutual Insurance Company of Bucks and Philadelphia counties; president of the Doylestown Publishing Company; and treasurer and trustee of the VANDEGRIFT Burial Ground at Cornwells. He is a past master of Bristol Lodge, No.25, A. Y. F. and A. M.; of Harmony Chapter, No.52, R. A. M.; and St. Johns Commandery, No.4, K. T., of Philadelphia, and is the district deputy grand master for the eighth district. He is a member of The Netherlands Society of Philadelphia. Mr. Vandegrift married, March 1l, 1862, Mary Hannah ROWLAND, daughter of Charles ROWLAND, of Chester county, Pennsylvarnia. To this marriage have been born two children: Frederic Beasley, born December 22, 1862; and George Bloomfield, born May 22, 1864. The latter died in infancy. Mr. and Mr.. Vandegrift are members of the Presbyterian church. Text taken from page 33 of: Davis, William W. H., A.M., History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania [New York-Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1905] Volume III Transcribed May 2000 by Judy Jackson of Missouri as part of the Bucks Co., Pa., Early Family Project, www.rootsweb.com/~pabucks/bucksindex.html Published May 2000 on the Bucks County, P., USGenWeb pages at www.rootsweb.com/~pabucks/ |