History of Bucks County, Pa Volume 3 by William H. Davis
Names and Page # Index

RICHARD H. VAN HORN

RICHARD H. VAN HORN, eldest son of Moses and Rebecca (SCATTERGOOD) VAN HORN, born at the old homestead of his grandfather, in 1844, was reared on the Upper Makefield farm, acquired a limited education at the public school and later took a course at Union Business College in Philadelphia. After a few years experience in the mercantile business in Philadelphia, he started into that business for himself at Lambertville, New Jersey in 1868. By strict application to business and a close study of the wants and needs of the community, he soon built up a large trade and his remodeled store in 1884 named "Grand Depot" enjoyed much more than a local reputation and soon outgrew its early modest quarters. In 1877 an adjoining building was added and the volume of business doubled. Seven years later the entire property was remodeled and both stores thrown into one, making a large and commodious department store, and his brother, Samuel S., who had been for some years a clerk in the establishment was given an interest in the business, and the firm name became R. H. VAN HORN & Brother. The partnership of the growing establishment extended far beyond the limits of Jersey into their native county, and the country districts and towns of New Jersey. In 1889, the brothers dissolved partnership and Richard H. continued the business alone until 1892, when his son Henry came of age and was admitted as a partner. Ten years later the younger son, Edmori E., becoming of age, also became a partner, and the firm of R. H. VAN HORN & Sons, continue to conduct the popular and successful establishment that has grown from its modest beginning of 1868. To an additional L a new building, the floor space of which combined with the original "Grand Depot" covers now (1904) about three-quarters of an acre.

Richard H. VAN HORN married, in 1869, Lydiana Beatty WARNER, born in 1845, daughter of Edwards Edmunds WARNER, of Philadelphia, and of New England ancestry, and they are the proud parents of two sons, both of whom, as before stated, are members of the firm. Henry E., the eldest, born April 21, 1870, married Era RUNKLE, of Hunterdon county, New Jersey; and Edmori E., born in October, 1879, married Jessie HOFFMAN of the same place. Mr. R. H. VAN HORN is an active member of the Society of Friends, having many years since transferred his certificate of membership from Wrightstown Monthly Meeting to Solebury Friends' Meeting where he and his wife Lydianna were subsequently appointed elders. R. H. VAN HORN has always shown an active spirit in his town affairs but little interest in "Political Pulls"; he has, however, served in the school board, acted as a member of the board of trade, and at present is next to the oldest director in the Amwell National Bank of Lambertville.

Text taken from page 97 of:

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