598 



HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY 



6, 1863, and was there reared, being trained 

 in the work of the" fields, while during the 

 school sessions he pursued his education 

 in the public schools of the neighborhood. 

 In 1894 he purchased a farm in his native 

 township, and has since given his attention 

 to its further development and improve- 

 ment. He exercises his right of franchise 

 in support of the men and measures of the 

 Republican party, and is a member of the 

 Mennonite church. 



Mr. Alderfcr was married, September 19, 

 1885, to Miss Susan D. Rickert, a daugh- 

 ter of Valeiitine and Lizzie (Drizzle) 

 Rickert. They have four children : Irvin 

 R., born February 16, 1889; Lizzie R., June 

 15, 1891 ; Mahlon R., September 9, 1894; 

 and Ida, June 13, 1901. 



]\Iary (Erdman) Hunsberger. Mr. and 

 Mrs. Bloom had ten children : James Mad- 

 ison, born December 25, 1849; Missouri,. 

 born September 5, 1850, and died in 1852; 

 Frank, born November 14, 1852; Oliver,, 

 who was born September 19, 1855, and is 

 now deceased ; Sarah Jane, born November 

 25, 1857; William Packer, born February 

 24, i860; Edward H., born February i, 

 1862; Calvin H., April 20, 1864'; Ida H.^ 

 December 11, 1865; and Malinda H., who 

 was born August 26, 1867, and died in in- 

 fancy. 



WILLIAM BLOOM, a farmer, was 

 born in Leidytown, Bucks county, August 

 26, 1825. His grandfather, Harvey Bloom, 

 resided in New Jersey. His father, Peter 

 D. Bloom, was born October 26, 1777, in 

 Hunterdon county. New Jersey, the family 

 home being at Little York. After com- 

 pleting his education, which he acquired 

 in the public schools, he learned the har- 

 ness-maker's trade with his uncle at To- 

 hickon, Pennsylvania, and for some years 

 followed that business. He was also a tan- 

 ner, and conducted a tannery at Leidytown 

 for eight years. He purchased a farm and 

 tannery in Hilltown township at sheriff's 

 sale, and there carried on an extensive tan- 

 ning- business for many years, his practical 

 knowledge of the trade and capable man- 

 agement bringing to him gratifying success. 

 He not only prospered in business, but 

 was also a leading and influential citizen in 

 connection with public affairs, and his 

 opinions carried weight in the councils of 

 the Democratic party, to which he gave his 

 unfaltering suport. He was twice elected 

 to represent his district in the state legis- 

 lature, and took an active part in promoting 

 important measures which claimed the at- 

 tention of the house at that time. His relig- 

 ious faith was that of the Reformed churcn. 

 He died upon his farm June 5, 1875. when 

 almost one hundred years old. He married 

 Christina Heller, and they became the pa- 

 rents of eight children : Harvey, William, 

 Samuel, Mary Ann, Henry, Oliver, Lydia 

 Ann and Emeline. 



William Bloom, spending the days of 

 his boyhood and youth under the parental 

 roof, learned the tanning trade with his 

 father, and continued his assistant until 

 the father's death, after which he became 

 owner of the business and continued to 

 operate in that line until 1889. He then 

 turned his attention to farming, which he 

 has since followed. He is a member of the 

 Gerinan Reformed church, while his wife 

 holds membership with the Lurtheran de- 

 nomination. On the 5th of October, 1848, 

 Mr. Bloom was married to ]\Iiss Sarak 

 Hunsberger, a daughter of Samuel and 



CHARLES GARRISON KNIGHT. 



Among the colonists who came to Pennsyl- 

 vania with William Penn in 1682 were 

 Giles and Mary (English) Knight, who- 

 were married in their native country, Eng- 

 land, and became the founders in America 

 of the family of which Charles Garrison 

 Knight is a representative in the sixth gen- 

 eration. 



(II) Daniel Knight, son of Giles and 

 Mary Knight, was born in Pennsylvania 

 in 1697, and died in 1782 at the advanced 

 age of eighty-tive years. He was married 

 three times. His first wife, whom he mar- 

 ried in 1719, was Elizabeth Walker, and 

 they had three children: Mary, born No- 

 vember 22,, 1719; Joseph, born February 4,. 

 1721; and Jonathan, born August 5, 17^2. 

 The second wife of Daniel Knight was 

 Esther, widow of Joseph Walton. They 

 were married in 1728, and the children of 

 this union were: William, born September 

 27, 1729; David, July 7, 1732; Martha, Sep- 

 tember 17, 1736; Joseph, January 7^ 

 1739; Ann, December 15, 1741 ; and Thomas, 

 July 7, 1744. In 1777 Daniel Knight was 

 married a third time, Mary Wilson becom- 

 ing his wife. He settled in the southern 

 part of Byberry. in Philadelphia county, 

 and there reared his family. 



(III) Jonathan Knight, son of Daniel 

 and Elizabeth (Walker) Knight, was born 

 August 5, 1722. and died in 1772. He mar- 

 ried Grace Croasdale, who died in 1799. 

 They became the first representatives of the 

 family in Bucks county, settling in South- 

 ampton town>hip. They had six children : 

 John; Abraham; Absalom; David, who 

 died in 1821 ; Samuel and Inglish. 



(IV) Absalom Knight, son of Jonathan; 

 and Grace Knight, was born September 

 17, 1754. and died in 1818. His wife was 

 Anna Winder, and they had eight children : 

 Benjamin, who was born April 16. 1785,. 

 and married Mercy E. Martindale ; Amos, 

 who wedded Mary Clayton; Moses, who- 

 married Rose Tomlinson ; John, who mar- 

 ried Hester Knight; Grace, who married 

 Joshua Paul; AiDel; and Samuel. 



(V) Amos Knight, son of Absalonv 

 and Anna Knight, wedded Mary Clayton 

 and had five children: Clayton married a 

 Miss Warner, and their children were Mary, 

 Amos. Sarah, Ellena and Joseph ; he after- 

 ward married again, removed to Kansas, 

 and had several children, including Eva. 



