HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY. 



37i 



October s, 1896. The parents are consistent 

 members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. 

 Hobensack is a worthy Mason, belonging 

 to the lodee, chapter and consistory, so that 

 he has attained high rank in the fraternity, 

 the leading elements and teachings of which 

 he exemplifies in his life. 



EDWARD D. WORSTALL, a popular 

 merchant and postmaster at Jamison, is 

 of English lineage, the early members of 

 the family in America coming to Pennsyl- 

 vania from England in colonial days. Jo- 

 seph Worstall, Sr., grandfather of Edward 

 D. Worstall, was born in Bucks county, 

 •and was a tanner by trade. After mastering 

 that pursuit he carried on an extensive busi- 

 ness at Newtown for a number of years, 

 but subsequently purchased a farm upon 

 which he established his home and there 

 spent the evening of life. He was a con- 

 sistent member of the Friends meeting and 

 died in that faith. He married Jane Hes- 

 ton, a native of Hestonville, Chester county, 

 Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Edward 

 and Sarah Heston. Her father was born 

 in Chester county, March 16, 1745, and died 

 February 14, 1824, while his wite, who was 

 born April 16, 1763, died August 15, 1856, 

 at the age of ninety-three years. The Hes- 

 tons were directly connected with the Rev. 

 Hicks, the author of the Hicksite faith of 

 the Friends meeting. The Hestons were 

 widely known in eastern Pennsylvania, and 

 were prominent and popular people, highly 

 respected by all. Unto Joseph and Jane 

 (Heston) Worstall were born five children: 

 Sarah A., the wife of Jacob Hibbs ; Han- 

 nah, who married P. Scarbro ; Edward H., 

 a tanner ; Isaac H., a farmer and ex-county 

 treasurer of Bucks county ; and Joseph. 



Joseph Worstall, Jr., was born in Bucks 

 county and was reared in .Newtown, where 

 he learned the tanner's trade under the 

 direction of his father, whom he assisted 

 until after his marriage. He then purchased 

 a farm in Doylestown township, where he 

 established his home, there spending his 

 remaining days in the quiet pursuits of 

 agriculture. He affiliated with the Friends 

 meeting, and politically was Whig, but had 

 no aspirations for onice, although he kept 

 well informed on the issues and questions 

 of the day. It was his ambition to provide 

 well for his family and to this end he 

 labored earnestly and persistently, making 

 for himself an honorable name by reason of 

 his fidelity to all life's relations. He died 

 in July, 1853, while his wife passed away 

 in March. 1894, at the age of seventy- four 

 years. Mrs. Worstall bore the maiden name 

 of Mary Van Buskirk, and, like her hus- 

 band, \vas a native of Bucks county. Her 

 parents were Isaac and Susan (Van Horn) 

 Van Buskirk, representatives of early fam- 

 ilies of Bucks county. Both were members 

 of the Neshaminy Presbyterian church. In 

 their family were seven children : Andrew. 

 John George and Isaac, all of whom fol- 

 low farming; Mary, who became Mrs. 



Worstall; Susan, wife of S. Rake; and 

 Elizabeth, wife of R. Eddus. Mr. and 

 Mrs. Joseph Worstall, Jr., had but two chil- 

 dren, the daughter, Susan, living at home 

 with her brother, Edward D. 



In the usual manner of farmer lads Ed- 

 ward D. Worstall spent the days of his 

 boyhood and youth, being reared upon the 

 old family homestead by his mother, for 

 his father died during the infancy of the 

 son. He continued to assist his mother dur- 

 ing the period of his minority, and when 

 fie had attained adult age he purchased the 

 old homestead, which he conducted for a 

 number of years. In 1880 he was married, ■ 

 and the following year he purchased a store 

 in Jaminson, which he is yet conducting. 

 He has been very successful in his mer- 

 cantile ventures, -enjoying a constantly in- 

 creasing patronage. In 1877 he tore away 

 all of the old buildings and erected a com- 

 modious frame block, three stories high, 

 including both his residence and business 

 property. In 1898 he built a fine barn 

 and he has two acres of lan9 and manv out- 

 buildings. His is a finely improved home 

 and business place, and he is a practical and 

 prosperous merchant. He drew the plans 

 for the block which was erected, and in 

 his store he carries a well selected line of 

 general merchandise. He is also one of 

 the large stockholders in the Doylestown 

 National Bank, assisted in its re-organiza- 

 tion and has since been one of its directors. 

 He also holds stock in the Warwick Cream- 

 ery (Company, a successful business enter- 

 prise, and for two years he was secretary 

 and treasurer of the company. The third 

 story of his building is occupied by the 

 Odd Fellows lodge, and it was largely 

 through Mr. Worstall's instrumentality 

 that the lodge was instituted here. He also 

 secured the establishment of the postoffice 

 through the influence of I. N. Evans, con- 

 gressman from this district. Mr. Worstall 

 was appointed postmaster January 21,. 1884, 

 and has since managed the affairs of the 

 office. In his political affiliations Mr. Wor- 

 stall has always been a stanch Republican, 

 and in addition to serving as postmaster 

 he has held the office of school director in 

 Warwick township for thirteen years. He 

 likewise filled a similar position in Doyles- 

 town township for six years, and has been 

 treasurer of the Warwick school board for 

 the entire period of his connection there- 

 with. He belongs to the Independent Order 

 of Odd Fellows, in which he has filled all of 

 the chairs, has taken the blue lodge and 

 chapter degrees in Masonry, holding mem- 

 bership with the Doylestown lodge, is af- 

 filiated with the Knights of Pythias at Hat- 

 boro. with the Knights of the Golden 

 Eagle and with the American Mechanics. 

 He is in good standing in all of these 

 organizations and has filled many positions 

 in the different lodges. He and his family 

 are members of the Neshaminy Presbyter- 

 ian church. 



Mr. Worstall was married to Miss 

 Clarissa Fell, who was born in Doylestown 



