HOWARD OLIVER FOLKER, of Philadelphia, was born at Davisville, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, March 15, 1857, and is a son of David and Elizabeth (WILSON) FOLKER.  David FOLKER, the father, was born in Buckingham, Bucks county, July 17, 1826, and was a son of James and Mary (HURLINGER) FOLKER.  He learned the trade of a harnessmaker, which he followed in Southampton township, Bucks county, for many years.  During the civil war he was an uncompromising friend of the Union, and stood shoulder to shoulder with the loyal and earnest men of that section in measures tending to the support of the government and the prosecution of the war.  He was an industrious and exemplary citizen who had the respect of all who knew him.  He died February 23, 1892.  He married Elizabeth WILSON, born September 4, 1826, died November 11, 1882.  She was a daughter of Ezekiel WILSON, who was born July 11, 1789, and died April 28, 1854.  He was a private in Captain William PURDY’s company in the war of 1812-14, serving at Camp Dupont, Marcus HOOK, under Colonel Thomas HUMPHREY.  His wife was Elizabeth DUNGAN, born May 31, 1794, died August 17, 1850, youngest daughter of John and Mary (HYLE) DUNGAN, and great-granddaughter of Rev. Thomas DUNGAN, of Cold Spring.  The children of David and Elizabeth (WILSON) FOLKER were: Mary died in infancy, Charles White, now a resident of Camden, New Jersey; Howard Oliver, and Horace Conard, deceased. 

John Dungan WILSON, second son of Ezekiel and Elizabeth (DUNGAN) WILSON, born August 28, 1817, died September 1, 1875, was a man of fine parts and varied accomplishments.  He was a jeweler and watchmaker, gunsmith, machinist and carpenter, and a thorough mechanic in all that the word implies.  He was also an expert dancing master and a professor in the manly art of self-defense.   He married Lucy Ann LEWIS, daughter of Elias LEWIS, and was a model husband and indulgent father.  His wife still survives him, living in 1905 at Hatboro, Pennsylvania.   No children now living.  He is interred at Davisville Baptist church.

                Howard O. FOLKER was educated in the common schools and at the First State Normal School at Millersville, Pennsylvania.  He taught School for a short time, and in 1873, during the Cuban imbroglio, entered the United States navy and assisted in returning to the United States the filibustering steamer “Virginius,” after the massacre of American citizens at Santiago.  A year later he was transferred to the Mediterranean squadron, and visited all the different countries of Europe as well as those of Asia and Africa.  In 1877, under the new navel apprentice system, he was appointed naval schoolmaster by Commodore SCHUFELDT, and sent to Port Royal, South Carolina, to take charge of the Cadets at the training station there.  Two years later, he was transferred to the U.S.S. “Kearsage,” of Alabama fame, and in her made several cruises in the West Indies and to South American ports; was at the occupation of Shepherd’s Island, United States of Colombia, and assisted in the establishment of a coaling station there.  He left the navy in 1881 and entered the service of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company, filling the position of traveling car agent for twelve years.  He is at present connected with the transportation department as chief car distributor, with offices in the Reading Terminal, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Since leaving the navy he has taken great interest in veteran associations, and has assisted in the formation of a number of these patriotic associations.   He is a past commander of the John A. DAHLGREN Garrison, No. 85, Army and Navy Union, and is its present adjutant.   He is also an active member of Farragut Association, U. S. Naval Veterans.  Mr. Folker is a member of the Bucks County Historical Society, and has prepared a number of papers for its archives on local and family history.  He has devoted several years to investigations in reference to his distinguished ancestors, the DUNGAN family, and from his “Chronicles of the DUNGAN Family” the brief sketches of some of its distinguished members which follow this sketch are derived.  Mr. FALKER (sic) married Annie M. FORNEY, daughter of Peter and Mary Ann (HENNING) FORNEY, of Annville, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of six children: Lucy Wilson, now a teacher in the Philadelphia schools; Marian Henning; Alma Forney; Judson La Barre; and Irene Stine, deceased.  Their eldest child, Amos Franklin, is also deceased

Test taken from page 205-206 of:

Davis, William W. H., A.M., History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania [New York-Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1905] Volume III

Transcribed May 2001 by Joan Lollis of IN. as part of the Bucks Co., Pa., Early Family Project, www.rootsweb.com/~pabucks/bucksindex.html