340 



HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY. 



the Democracy, served as school director 

 and filled some minor township offices. In 

 the Presbyterian church he held member- 

 ship, served as one of its elders and took 

 an active interests in its work. He mar- 

 ried Caroline Matlack, a daughter of 

 Francis E. and Mary (Titus) Matlack, the 

 latter a native of Doylestown, Pennsyl- 

 vania, while Mr. Matlack was born in 

 Philadelphia and was a son of Abram and 

 Elizabeth (Elliott) Matlack. Abram Mat- 

 lack was a native of Petersburg, Pennsyl- 

 vania, and when a young man removed to 

 Philadelphia, where he fouowed the wheel- 

 wright's trade for a number of years. Sub- 

 sequently he returned to Petersburg, where 

 his remaining days were passed. Francis 

 E. Matlack was born in Philadelphia and 

 spent his entire life in this state. He pur- 

 sued his education in his native city, and 

 later engaged in the conduct of a boot 

 and shoe factory for many years. In 1866 

 he retired from that business and nurchased 

 a farm in Warminster township, carrying 

 on general agricultural pursuits until his 

 demise, which occurred December i, 1890. 

 In politics he was a Whig and afterward a 

 Republican, but he never aspired to public 

 office. He was a consistent and worthy 

 member of the Presbyterian church, con- 

 tributed generously to its support, aided 

 actively in its work and served as one of its 

 trustees. He died December i, 1890, while 

 his wife passed away in 1881. She w'as the 

 daughter of Joel and Hannah (Thompson) 

 Titus, both natives of Bucks countv. and 

 descended from old colonial families. The 

 children of Mr. and Mrs. Titus were : Jo- 

 seph ; John ; Samuel ; Elizabeth : Griffith ; 

 Susan, who became the wife of J. Mana- 

 hon : Lucy A. ; and Mary, the wife of F. 

 Matlack. The children of Francis Matlack 

 are: Mary E.. and Caroline, the latter the 

 wife of Horace G. Phillips. Following their 

 marriage Mr. and Mrs. Horace G. Phillips 

 resided upon a farm in Bucks county and 

 here his death occurred January 28, 1904, 

 while his wife passed away July 25, 1902. 

 They were the parents of seven children : 

 Francis M. : Emily, the wife of H. Halde- 

 man; Marv. the wife of C. Sprogell ; Eliza- 

 beth, the wife of W. McDaniel ; Rachel, the 

 wife of H. Barton, an architect in the em- 

 ploy of the government at Washington. D. 

 €.;' Caroline, the wife of W. Vanartsdalen ; 

 and Ella G. 



Francis M. Phillips was born and reared 

 in Warminster township, early becoming 

 familiar with agricultural pursuits and 

 throughout his entire life he has engaged 

 in the tilling of the soil. He acquired his 

 education in the common schools, and re- 

 mained at home until after his marriage, 

 bringing his bride to the old homestead 

 farm, where he yet resides. He inherited 

 the Matlack homestead and expects alwavs 

 to make it his place of residence. On 

 February i. T900. Mr. Phillips was married 

 to Miss Florence E. Watson, who was born 

 in Bucks county, January i. 1877. Her 

 paternal grandfather. Howard Watson was 



born at Edgewood, Bucks count}^, March 

 10, 1822, and learned the blacksmith's trade, 

 which he followed througliout his active 

 business career, but in his later years lived 

 retired. After his marriage he settled at 

 Horsham, where he conducted a smithy 

 for a number of years, but is now living 

 retired in Byberry. He married Catherine 

 L. Doron, who was born in June, 1826, 

 and was reared at Hatboro Mill. Thev re- 

 sided for forty-nine years at the Horsham 

 homestead, having there a small tract of 

 land and a commodious home. They were 

 members of the Horsham meeting, and Mr. 

 Watson was a Republican in his ■ political' 

 affiliation. Their children were: Elwood, a 

 steamboat clerk and business man • B. 

 Frank; Enos, a farmer of Horsham; 

 Howard, engaged in the insurance business; 

 and Adele. wife of H. Jenks. B. Frank 

 Watson was born at Horsham and learnecf 

 the blacksmith's trade with his father. He 

 remained at home until his marriaee and 

 then settled upon a rented farm, where he 

 lived for a year. He afterward located 

 upon the homestead now occupied by 

 Francis M. Phillips, and here he carried 

 on agricultural pursuits throughout his re- 

 maining days, passing awa^' February 28. 

 1898. He followed general farming and 

 also raised some stock, and was practical 

 and successful in his business methods. In 

 politics he was a Republican, and fratern- 

 ally was connected with the Knights of 

 Pythias. His wife died in 1897. :5he lost 

 her parents during her early girlhood and 

 was reared by her grandparents, who were 

 prominent farming people and were highly 

 respected throughout the community in 

 which they lived. Mrs. Watson was an 

 only child. By her marriage she became the 

 mother of four children : Florence E., now 

 Mrs. Phillips; Herbert: Claude L. ; and 

 Leila H. Both Mr. and Mrs. Phillips hold 

 membership in the Hartsville Presbyterian 

 church. They are w'idely known in Bucks 

 county, representing old families of Penn- 

 sylvania, and Mr. Phillips is regarded as 

 one of the progressive agriculturists of his 

 community. 



ELMER E. ALTHOUSE. editor and 

 proprietor of the "Sellersville Herald," 

 was born in Sellersville, Bucks county, 

 Pennsylvania, December 12. 1874. a"ct 

 is a son of Milton D. and Elizabeth 

 (Nace) Althouse. The pioneer ancestor 

 of the subject of this sketch was Arndt 

 ^Andrew) Althouse. who emigrated 

 from Germany in the ship "Fane" ar- 

 riving in Philadelphia on October 17, 

 1749. He located on the Tohickon, near 

 Church Hill, in Haycock township. He 

 and his wife Anna IMaria were members 

 of Tohickon Reformed church at Church 

 Hill, and their son Daniel was baptised 

 there March 4. 175.^. 



Daniel Althouse was a farmer in Hay- 

 cock township until 1785. wiien he lo- 

 cated in Redminster towmship. where he 



