CHAPTER L.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES—WARRINGTON.

CHARLES M. CADWALLADER, farmer, P.O. Warrington, is a descendant of an old Welsh family, the pioneer of which came to this country many years ago. His grandfather, Benjamin Cadwallader, was born in Montgomery county, and was a resident of Horsham township, afterward removing to Buckingham township, in this county, where he lived until shortly before his death, at Byberry, Philadelphia county, when he was about 80 years of age. This was about fifty years ago. He was married to Miss Hannah Bradfield, a native of Horsham, who died before her husband. They had nine children: Uree, Eli, Elizabeth, Benjamin, Yarley, Peter, Cyrus, David and John; all deceased. Yarley was the father of Charles M. He was born in Horsham, was married in Buckingham township, and lived in Byberry and Upper Dublin, where he owned farms, but five years before his death removed to the farm of Charles M., in this township, where he died in September, 1872, aged 80 years. He was a farmer all his life; a member of the Society of Friends, and was an upright, conscientious man. His wife was Christiana Moore, a native of New Jersey. She died in November, 1879, aged nearly 85. They had eleven children, of whom five died young, and one son, Peter, after reaching maturity. Five now survive: Mary, wife of Thomas Lightwood, living near Three Tons, Montgomery county; Howard in Norristown; Elizabeth, wife of Francis Diament, of Philadelphia; Sarah A., wife of Samuel Ely, living near Kansas City; and Charles M., who was born in Byberry, November 6, 1830. He was reared on a farm, but when 18 years old learned the trade of miller, at which he worked for nine years, when he bought the farm, which has since been his home. February 16, 1855, he married Anna, daughter of Charles Conard. She was born February 16, 1830, in that part of Warwick township, now included in Buckingham. To their union four children were born, one of whom died in childhood. The others are: Elizabeth, wife of George Corson, a farmer and lime burner, in Plymouth township, Montgomery county; Martha A. and Howard M., both of whom live with their parents. Mr. Cadwallader and his family are members of the Society of Friends, in politics he is a republican.

ELI CADWALLADER, farmer, P.O. Warrington, Pa., is a son of Eli Cadwallader, who was born at Horsham and married Rachel, daughter of James Morris, of Doylestown township. Eli learned the trade of a tanner at Horsham, and was of age when his parents went to Buckingham township. He lived with his father until his marriage, when he rented farms, and after his father’s death bought the old homestead, on which he lived until his death in 1863, in his eighty-first year. His wife died about two years before her husband, when 71 years of age. They had five children, all now living: James M., living on part of the old homestead in Buckingham township; Uree, widow of Haslett Gibson, living in Danborough, Plumstead township; Ann, widow of Samuel Trumbauer, living with a daughter in Philadelphia; Grace, wife of Moses Haldeman, of Plumstead township; and Eli, born January 19, 1834, in Buckingham township. He lived with his father until he died, and after that bought the farm in this township which has since been his home. He has never engaged in any occupation but farming, and has a large, well-cultivated farm. He was married, September 8, 1870, to Sarah, daughter of George Knipe, of Pocona township, Monroe county. She was born November 12, 1847. They have five children, all living with their parents. Their names are: Washington, Mary, Ruberta, Sarah and Grant. Mr. Cadwallader and his family are members of the Society of Friends. His neighbors give him a high character. In politics he is a republican.

ENOS G. DETWILER, P.O. New Britain, is of German extraction, his great-grandfather having emigrated from Germany many years ago, and settled in this state, of which his grandfather, Jacob, was a native. Jacob settled in his latter years in New Britain township, where, he had a farm and saw-mill. There he died, about thirty years ago. His son John, the father of Enos G., was born in New Britain township, and was a farmer in New Britain and Doylestown townships until a short time before his death, which occurred in New Britain in 1872. His wife was Annie Godshalk, who died some years before her husband. Their children were: John, living in Missouri; William, who died when about thirty years old; Eliza, deceased, who was the wife of Cornelius Bergy; Maria, deceased, who was married to Henry Benner; Sarah, wife of Joseph Angy, living in Doylestown township; Magdalena, wife Of Henry Detwiler, living in Ill.; and Enos G., the oldest of the sons, who was born January 5, 1834. He was brought up to farming, and in 1865 bought the farm where his son William H. now lives, on which he stayed for thirteen years, then removing to the place where he now lives. He was married October 16, 1860, to Sarah, daughter of John Sherm, of New Britain township. She was born August 27, 1841. They had twelve children, of whom six died young, some in infancy. The survivors are: William H., John F. on his father’s home place; Anna Barbara married Levi L. Moyer, and lives in New Britain township; Irwin S., Alfred S., and Sarah Elizabeth, who live with their parents. Mr. Detwiler has never held any public office. Beginning life without much educational advantage, and without capital, he has, by care, industry and honesty acquired a competence. He and his wife belong to the Mennonite church.

JOSEPH K. DOBBINS, farmer, P.O. Neshaminy, Pa., is a grandson of John Dobbins, a native of Mount Holly, N.J., where he owned a farm. His son Joseph was father of the subject of this sketch. He was born in the same place and died there in 1859, in the sixty-first year of his age. He was also a farmer. His wife, Mary Hilyard, came of a prominent English family. Her father was the builder of the old historic fort, Castle William, on Governor’s island, in New York harbor. Another of the ancestors was Sir Richard Summers, from whom the Sandwich islands derived the name by which they were first known, as the Summers islands. Mary Hilyard was born at Fort Columbus, and died in 1872 in her, sixty-first year. John Dobbins was vice-president of the first meeting organized to aid in building the first railroad projected in this country. Joseph Dobbins’ children were: Eber H., John J., Richard J., Joseph K., Edward T., Murrell, and Mary A., all now living; and Susan and Sarah, deceased. Joseph K. was born in Pemberton, N.J., December 27, 1838, and, learned the trade of iron moulding, at which he worked four years, and in 1861 went to Washington, where he superintended the building of many of the forts for the defense of the capital, having thousands of men under him, he being in charge of one of three divisions into which the defensive works were organized. He discharged his duties in a way to win commendation from the government, and on the completion of the chain of works, he did other government work, but on the approach of the rebels to the capital in 1863 he was again placed in charge and remained until the close of the war. Returning home, be bought the farm in Bucks county, which he occupied for two years, when he sold it and removed to a farm near Philadelphia, and two years later went to Orange county, Va., staying there eight years, when he returned to Philadelphia and repurchased the farm in Bucks county, which has since been his home. In 1862 he was married in Washington to Sarah Malvina, daughter of’ Thomas Jenkins, a native of Maryland, where she was born. Her ancestors were well known in Maryland and the District of Columbia, where they resided many years. Both of Mrs. Dobbins’ grandparents had been in the war of 1812, and her mother’s ancestors had been in the revolutionary army. A granduncle of Mrs. Dobbins was one of the defenders of Baltimore, and fell in the successful defense of the city against the British in 1814. His name is inscribed on the monument erected to their memory in Baltimore. Mr. and Mrs. Dobbins have nine children: Joseph T., who is in New Jersey; Florence A., Susan C., Clara M., Sallie L., Mary H., Edward J., Merrill F., and Gertrude V., all making their home with their parents. Mr. Dobbins is a member of A.Y.M., and is regarded by his neighbors as one of the substantial citizens of the town. In politics he is a republican.

JAMES B. DOYLE, bank president, Philadelphia; is a native of Bucks county, born in Warrington township about fifty years ago. He lived on a farm until he was 15 years of age, and then began learning the trade of a carpenter. When master of his trade he went west, but later returned to Bucks county and shortly after went to Philadelphia. This was in the early days of the war, and an opportunity offering he engaged in the building business on his own account, and by hard work and strict attention to business he became one of the leading builders of the city. One of the best monuments of Mr. Doyle’s skill as a builder is the elegant and substantial court-house at Doylestown, in his native county, of which a very complete description is given elsewhere in this work. In the spring of 1886 Mr. Doyle concluded that the objects which in early life he had set out to accomplish were attained, and he determined to retire from active business life and spend the rest of his days in well-earned ease and comfort. No sooner had he made this determination, however, than he was called to the presidency of the Northwestern National bank, then just starting. He accepted the office, and under his supervision the bank is prospering. Mr. Doyle’s successful career shows what can be accomplished by young men of fair intelligence and honest and steadfast purpose, though possessed of but little of this world’s goods as capital.

GEORGE M. GARNER, farmer, P.O. Tradesville, Pa., is a grandson of Samuel Garner, who was a resident of that part of New Britain township which has since been added to this township, where his son John, father of our subject, was born. He owned a large tract there, which is now divided into three separate farms. He died on his farm, now owned by his son Levi M. in 1872, in his eightieth year. He was a prominent and influential citizen of the township, and one of the five who organized the Pleasantville Reformed church, of which he was an elder until the time of his death. He was married first to Sarah Markley, who died in May, 1863, aged 69. His second wife was Rebecca Ryner, who lived six years after her husband’s decease. His children, all by the first wife, were Eliza, widow of Joseph Beidelman, of Washington, N.J.; George M.; Joseph, in Doylestown township; Maria, wife of Tilghman Hoover, of this township; Sarah Anna, wife of Peter Landis, of New Britain; Priscilla, wife of John Nash, of this township; Samuel and John, who died young; Levi M., farmer, of this township. George M. was born May 11, 1821, in this township, and until his marriage resided with his parents. With the exception of two years spent with his son in the store at Tradesville, he has never followed any business but farming, from which he retired eight years ago. He was married December 24, 1847, to Sarah A., daughter of John Shutt, of Doylestown township. She was born November 18, 1827. To their union three children have been born, all living. Their names are Ann Amelia, wife of Henry S. Scholl, of Juniata county; Frank S., married to Adeline Geil, and living on his father’s farm, in the house where his father was born; and Sylvester, married to Laura Fesmire, and is agent and telegraph operator at West Point station, on the stony Creek railroad in Montgomery county. George M. Garner has filled the office of supervisor of this township for two terms, of five years each. He is one of the solid, substantial men of the township, who is respected by those who know him. In politics he is a republican.

LEVI M. GARNER, farmer, P.O. Tradesville, Pa., is the youngest son of John Garner, who inherited the farm on which his father died. He was born at this place August 9, 1837, and on his marriage rented the farm until his father’s death, when it was bequeathed to him at an appraisement, and he has since resided there. On December 25, 1862, he was married to Miss Emma Wahl, daughter of John L. Wahl, formerly of Philadelphia, who was at that time a storekeeper and farmer at Tradesville, and subsequently returned to Philadelphia, where he died. Mrs. Garner was born November 7, 1842, and lived with her parents until her marriage. To their union four children have been born: Edward L., born September 19, 1868, now in a hardware store in Philadelphia; Herbert W., born July 23, 1875; Harry C., born October 11, 1879; and Christie Ida, who died in infancy. Mr. Garner has always been a farmer, and his house and buildings show him to be one of the progressive sort. He and his wife rare members of the Pleasantville German Reformed church, of which he is a trustee. In politics he is a republican.

ENOS HALDEMAN, farmer, P.O. New Britain, is of German extraction, his grandfather being John Haldeman, who lived on the place now occupied by Henry Haldeman. He died there about seventy years ago. His wife, Mary, survived him several years. They had five sons: Joseph, John, Jacob, Abraham and Christian; and four daughters: Susan, Mary, Elizabeth and Margaret, all now deceased. John, the father of Enos, was born in 1782, and died in 1834. At his marriage he removed to a farm which he bought from his father, near the old home, where he lived until his death. He was highly respected, and was supervisor of this township for fourteen years in succession, and after a short interval, for several years more. His wife was Catherine Buzzard, Of Hilltown township, this county, whose father was a noted gunsmith. She was born in 1785, and died in August, 1868. They had seven daughters: Sarah, Eliza, Ann, Rachel, Mary, Catherine and Priscilla. They had but one son, Enos, who was born January 22, 1811, and lived at home until his father died. In 1867 he bought part of the original farm, which was then owned by his uncle Abraham. On March 28, 1844, he married Eliza, daughter of Henry Kohlbain, of this township. She was born January 1, 1819. To their union thirteen children were born. Five of them died young, and one son, Henry H., died October 21, 1871, when 21 years old. The survivors are Catherine, wife of Fenton Kephart, of Doylestown township; Elmira, wife of Charles B. Smith, now in Duluth, Minn.; Harvey, married to Angerine Terry, and living in New Britain township; Deborah, wife of John R. Rowland, in Doylestown township; John T., married to Hannah Fry, and living in Doylestown township; Annie, wife of Eli Haldeman, in Doylestown borough; and Wilhelmina, wife of Joseph G. Hart, who, with her family, lives with her parents. Mr. Haldeman and his wife are members of the Baptist church, in New Britain, and have all of their lives been very industrious people, who have brought up a numerous family, now all happily settled, and they have the esteem of all who know them.

MAHLON KELLER, hotel-keeper, P.O. Neshaminy, is a grandson of Peter Keller, of Haycock township, this county, who died there about 1830, aged 90 years. He was a blacksmith by trade, but owned a farm, to which his sons attended. He was twice married, his first wife having three children, and his last twelve. A son of the first wife, named George, was the father of Mahlon. He was born in Haycock, learned his father’s trade, and lived and died there. He worked at his trade until he was past 85, dying when nearly 95 years old. He is buried in Bedminster township, at Keller’s church, which was named after the family, one of whom donated the ground on which the church was built. His wife was Elizabeth Keichline, a daughter of’ Abraham Keichline, of Rockhill, who were among the earliest settlers in that part of the county. Her father was a soldier of the revolution, who, after the war, returned to Haycock, where he died in 1836, at the age of 85. Mrs. Keller died fifteen years before her husband, when about 76 years. old. They had eight children: Francis, who was married to Mary Yost, and was a blacksmith by trade, died in December, 1886, at Paradise Valley, near Scranton; William, deceased; Josiah, who was a carpenter, and died at Honesdale, Wayne county, in 1880; Samuel, a carpenter, married to Catherine Fox, who lives in Plumstead township; and Mahlon, the youngest son. The daughters were: Catherine, widow of Isaac Hartzell, lives in Rockhill; Elizabeth, who has been twice married, and is now the widow of Jacob Kramer, and lives in Philadelphia; and Hannah, deceased, who was the wife of Thomas Walter. Mahlon was born January 1, 1827, in Haycock township, and learned the trade of blacksmith, at which he worked for seventeen years. He was also a farmer and a butcher, and for a time carried the United States mail, and was for two years in the milk business in Philadelphia. In 1876 he bought the hotel at Neshaminy, where he has since lived. November 1, 1856, he married Rebecca, daughter of Henry Wolfinger, of Tinicum township. To their union two daughters were born: Emma, wife of Joseph Paul, of Neshaminy, and Amanda, at home. Mr. Keller is a member of Warrington lodge, No. 245, I.O.O.F., and belongs to the Lutheran church. His wife is a member of the Reformed church.

BENJAMIN LARZELERE, farmer, P.O. Eureka, is the great-grandson of Nicholas Larzelere, who emigrated from France to Long Island about 1690. His son Nicholas removed to Lower Makefield, in this county, in 1741, and his descendants now live in this and Montgomery county. His son Benjamin, born in Bensalem township, Bucks county, was the grandfather of our subject. He died in 1851, in his eighty-fourth year, on a farm he owned in Bristol township, part of which extended into the borough of Bristol. His son Nicholas was the father of Benjamin. He was born at Bristol in 1797. After his marriage, he removed to Montgomery county, and subsequently bought a farm in Moreland township, that county, where he died in 1857, in his sixty-first year. His wife was Esther Berrell, of Abington, a daughter of Colonel Jeremiah Berrell, who was colonel of one of the state militia regiments, and descendant of an old Montgomery county family. She is still living, and is now in her eighty-fourth year. They had twelve children, all living except a son, Joseph, who was burned to death at the time when his parents’ house was totally destroyed by fire in 1841. The survivors are: Samuel, a farmer in Doylestown township; Jeremiah B., on the old homestead farm; William, engaged in the foreign fruit business, in Philadelphia; Mary, wife of Albert Shively, of Jenkintown, Montgomery county; Henry B., a machinist in Muncy, Lehigh county; John B., farmer and drover in Montgomery county; Sarah Ann, wife of Robert Kirby, in Philadelphia; Amanda, unmarried, living with her mother; Hannah, wife of Israel Mather, of Montgomery county; James H., also in the fruit business in Philadelphia; and Benjamin, the second son, born January 14, 1826, in Abington township. He has always been a farmer, and on his marriage removed to Moreland township. A year later he came to Warminster township, in this county, buying a farm which he sold six years later, and in 1855 bought the farm which has since been his home. March 2, 1848, he married Mary Ann, daughter of Henry Maxwell, of Moreland township. Mrs. Larzalere, who was born in Moreland, January 2, 1827, is of Irish and Dutch extraction. They have nine children:

Esther Ann, wife of Timothy B. Ely, a farmer of Upper Dublin, Montgomery county; Nicholas H., married to Ida Locke, daughter of Dr. John Locke, of Norristown, where they live, and where he is a practising attorney;. Mary Emma, wife of J. Wesley Carwithen, a farmer in Doylestown township; Alice B., wife of Granville Sellers, a farmer in New Britain township; Miriam, wife of B. Franklin Wright, a farmer in Montgomery county; B. Franklin, married to Ida Elizabeth Walter, on a farm adjoining his father’s place; Sarah Ann, wife of John M. Krout, a farmer of Plumstead township; Hannah H., wife of Charles O. Wiser, of this township; and Adele D., living with her parents. Mr. Larzelere is an energetic, enterprising farmer. His house was built in 1865, on the site of one of the oldest houses in the county, which was built in 1749 by James Dunlap. Mr. Larzelere’s farm, which he has greatly improved, extends five-eighths of a mile along the county line, and is half a mile wide.

HOWELL. E. McNAIR, P.O. Neshaminy, is the great-grandson of Samuel McNair, who settled in Horsham, Montgomery county, where he owned a farm, and where he died. His son, Samuel, the grandfather of Howell E., lived with his father until his marriage, when he removed to Upper Dublin in the same county, living on a farm of his father’s. In 1819 he bought and removed to a farm in Warminster township, where he died in 1847, aged 76. His wife was Cornelia Van Artsdalen, who died four years before her husband, in her sixty-fifth year. Their children were: Simon, Mary, Elizabeth, Samuel and William, all deceased. Two of the family survive: Ann, who never married, and is now living in Philadelphia, and John, the father of Howell E. He was born in Upper Dublin, September 30, 1804. He has always been a farmer, and after his marriage took charge of the home farm in Warminster township, where he remained for seven years, and then removed to a farm which he had bought and still owns, and on which he lived for twenty-seven years, when he removed to his present home in Warminster township. December 22, 1836, he .was married to Rachel C., daughter of Robert Service. She was born in July, 1814, and December 22, 1886, she and her husband celebrated their golden wedding. They had eight children: Hannah S., deceased; Samuel W., living in this township; Mary and Martha, who died young; Robert S., a teacher, who lives in Warrington; Emily, who died in childhood; William H., who lives in Warminster; and Howell E., who was born September 12, 1848, on the farm adjoining where he now lives. He is a farmer, but in his youth was in the employ of the Lehigh Valley railroad company, at Mauch Chunk, and also taught school for two years. After his marriage, he bought the farm where he now lives. March 25, 1874, he was married to Hannah M., daughter of Frederick Hoover, of this township. She was born June 5, 1846. They had eight children; the eldest, Walter H., and the youngest Emma L., are deceased. The survivors are: Maria F., Helen G., Charles R., Arthur S., Addie W. and Irving L. Mr. McNair has been three times assessor of the township, and in 1879 was elected justice of the peace, and re-elected in 1884. He belongs to the A.O.U.W., of Hatboro. He is an elder in the Neshaminy Presbyterian church of Warwick. His wife is a member of the Reformed church of Pleasantville.

JOSEPH PAUL, farmer, P.O. Neshaminy, was born October 8, 1835. His paternal ancestors were of Welsh extraction. His great-great-grandfather was Thomas Lloyd, a resident of Moreland, Montgomery county. The next in descent was John Lloyd, whose son Benjamin was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. The father of Joseph Paul was John Lloyd, born in Moreland in 1796, and who died in 1878. He was married to Sydnea Paul, a daughter of Joshua Paul, of this township. Joshua P. Lloyd, our subject, remained with his parents until January, 1858. His uncle, Joseph Paul, had bequeathed him the farm on which he now lives on condition that he assume his name— Joseph Paul— which he did by authority of the court of Montgomery county. Here he has a fine residence and is one of the most substantial citizens of the township. He was married in 1887 to Emma, daughter of Mahlon Keller, of this township. Mr. Paul belongs to the Society of Friends. In politics he is a republican.

WILLIAM PENROSE, P.O. Neshaminy, is the great-grandson of Samuel Penrose, and, grandson of William Penrose, natives of Quakertown, in this county. His parents were Jarrett and Tacy S. (Kirk) Penrose. William was born July 31, 1847. He was reared a farmer and until his marriage resided with his parents, after which he removed to the farm which his wife inherited in this township and which has since been their home. December 14, 1871, he was married to Hannah, daughter of Morris Paul, who was born May 26, 1850. They had four children: J. Howard, born May 10, 1873; Morris Paul, November 8, 1875; William, October 16, 1877, and Lydia H., April 28, 1880. Mr. Penrose and his wife are members of the Society of Friends.

WILLIAM H. STUCKERT, farmer, P.O. Warrington, Pa., is a son of Henry Stuckert, who came from Germany in the last century, and about 1812 bought a farm of two hundred and thirty acres. He died in 1836, in his seventieth year. His wife was Elizabeth Bennett, a native of England. She died seven years after her husband. Before coming here, Henry Stuckert was a baker in Philadelphia. His children were: George and John, who died in Philadelphia; Jacob, who died in Trenton, N.J.; Louisa, widow of George Jamison, now living in Hatboro:

Anna Maria, wife of Jackson Beaumont, of Solebury township; and William H., the third son, born October 2, 1816. His father died before he was of age, and he had charge of the estate for seven years, when, on its division, he became the owner of a part of the farm, the other part going to his brother Jacob, who sold it several years later. It was subsequently purchased by Mr. Stuckert. In 1841 Mr. Stuckert was married to Rachel, daughter of Amos Scarborough, of this township. She was born September 18, 1819, and died. February 14, 1880. To their union six children were born: Henry Clay, who lives on part of the home farm; Sarah E., wife of’ Dr. Abraham H. Clayton, of Richboro, Northampton township; Amos, who resides with his father;. William, a lawyer in Doylestown; John C., an attorney in Bristol, in this county; and Frederick A., deceased. Mr. Stuckert has been a farmer all his life, and until 1874 lived on the place where he was born, but at that time rented the farm to his son, and removed to a farm which he had bought in Doylestown township. After the death of his wife he returned to his old home, living there with his son Amos. He is one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Warrington township.

SAMUEL WEISEL, farmer and lumberman, P.O. Chalfont, is of German lineage, his great-great-grandfather having emigrated from Germany, when 12 years of age. He settled in Bedminster township, where his son Michael was born and lived until his death. His son, George, was the grandfather of our subject. He was born in Bedminster, March 11, 1773, and removed to Montgomery county, where he bought a farm, where he lived until he came to the farm now occupied by Samuel, on which he died, April 23, 1862, in his ninetieth year. On April 19, 1796, he was married to Margaret Scheib, who was born June 8, 1775, and died May 27, 1858, in her eighty-third year. Their children were: Mary Magdalena, George and Michael, all deceased. George, the father of Samuel, was born November 8, 1799, and died February 23, 1881, aged 82. He lived with his father until the latter’s death, and in 1833 removed from Montgomery county to the place now occupied by his descendants in this township, which he and his brother Michael owned in partnership. Later they dissolved, and George took the entire property, which he deeded to his son Samuel on the latter’s marriage. On September 15, 1822, he was married to Catherine, daughter of John Scheib, of New Britain township, where she was born, August 22, 1802. She is still living with her son, and is now in her eighty-sixth year. To this union four children were born: Henry, born September 21, 1823, and died June 3, 1884; Mary Ann, born October 3, 1825, who died February 20, 1878; Aaron, born February 25, 1831, now living in New Britain township; and Samuel, born April 12, 1828. He was five years of age when his parents came to this township, and since then has always lived on the same place. On his marriage he took possession of the farm, his parents removing to the new house they had built on the property where his father died, and where Samuel had also removed a few months previously. The farm then comprised sixty-four acres, but subsequent purchases by Mr. Samuel Weisel have increased it to two hundred and seventy-three acres, making him the largest landowner in the township. Seven years ago he gave up the active management of the farm to his son, Franklin P., and has since attended to the saw-mill, which adjoins the place. On November 2, 1851, he was married to Catherine A., daughter of John M. Kober, who was born in New Britain township, September 15, 1829. Their union was blessed with six children: Franklin P., A. Amanda, Mary A., Catherine Ann, Henry Phares, living; and Sallie E., deceased. Mr. Weisel has an interest in educational matters, and for sixteen years has been school director. He and his wife are members of St. Peter’s Reformed church at Hilltown, of which he has been a deacon, He is an energetic citizen, whose well-directed labors have entitled him to the competence he is enjoying. In politics he is a democrat.

NATHAN M. WISER, P.O. Eureka, is a grandson of Valentine Wiser, who was of German extraction, and a resident of New Jersey. He afterward removed to Chester county, where he followed the trade of blacksmith, and died there. His wife died before he left New Jersey. Mr. Wiser’s maternal ancestors are the Marples, a numerous family, who are residents of Montgomery, Philadelphia and Bucks counties. The son of Valentine Wiser, named Jacob, was father of our subject. He was born January 18, 1806. He had two brothers who lived to maturity, Michael and Valentine; both now deceased. Jacob was born in Mullica Hill, N.J., and his mother dying when he was 9 years old, he was sent to work in a mill owned by Mr. Neisel, with whom he lived until he was 21, and then worked in a mill in Hatboro for over twenty years. In 1839 he removed to a farm in Hartsville, Warminster township, this county, owned by his wife’s father, where he lived six years. Four years later he bought a farm in Hilltown township, on which he lived twenty-two years, when he retired, and died in New Britain township, August 7, 1877, in his seventy-second year. In 1830 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Nathan Marple, of this county. This family had long been residents of this county. Mrs. Wiser was born in Warminster township, June 2, 1808, and now lives with her son. To their union five children were born: Thomas M., in Montgomery county; Edith Anna, who died in infancy; Jacob, who died in Manayunk, in 1881; Martha Louisa, wife of Isaac Rutherford, of Philadelphia; and Nathan M., the second son, who was born September 30, 1833. He remained with his father until his marriage, when he rented a farm in Hilltown township, and a year later rented his father-in-law’s farm in the same township, where he stayed eight years, and in 1866 bought the place where he now lives. Two years ago he erected a fine residence, where he lives in comfort. On November 12, 1856, he was married to Wilhelmina, daughter of John Snyder, of Hilltown. She was born October 7, 1834. They have six children, the first dying in infancy. Elizabeth H. died on April 7, 1863, aged 4; Alfred S. died when six months old; and Walter B. when nine years old. The survivors are: Charles Oscar, born January 17, 1861, who is married to Hannah, daughter of Benjamin Larzelere, of this township, and lives with his father; and Emma Matilda, born November 30, 1864, who is a teacher. Mr. Wiser has been a school director for many years. He is a member of Doylestown lodge, No. 94, I.O.O.F. He and his wife and children are all members of the Reformed church at Pleasantville, of which he is both treasurer and trustee. In politics he is a democrat.

WALTER S. WORTHINGTON, merchant and postmaster, P.O. Neshaminy, is the descendant of old residents of the state. His father, Israel Worthington, was a resident of Doylestown township, where he owned a farm, on which he died in 1883, aged 62. He was a man of quiet, retiring disposition, and a member of the Society of Friends. His wife was Mary Leah Townsend. She died two years previously to her husband, at the age of 56 years. She was a member of the Presbyterian church at Doylestown. They had five children: Edward, a merchant in Carversville, this county; Townsend, a miller at Edison, this county; Walson, deceased, also a miller; John, deceased; and Walter S., who was born May 3, 1855, in Doylestown township. On leaving school he began clerking at Edison, staying there eight years, and in 1883 bought the store in Warrington Square, where he now is. On February 28, 1883, he married Lizzie D., daughter of David S. Fetter, of Northampton township, this county. She was born August 3, 1864, and to their union two children have been born: David F. and W. Raymond. Mr. Worthington is an enterprising man, and is spoken of in the highest terms by his neighbors. In politics he is a republican.