690 



HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY. 



his township for seventeen consecutive 

 years. In religion and politics h^ has fol- 

 lowed in ihe lootsteps of his father, hold- 

 ing membership in the Alennonile church 

 and affiliating with the Republican party. 

 On November 18, 1869, Air. Kratz was 

 married to Angeline Godshalk, who was 

 born September 13, 1843, a daughter of 

 Abraham and Mary (Keiff) Godshalk. 

 Ten children were the issue of this union, 

 as follows : i. Abraham, born December 

 24, 1870, died August 3, 187 1 ; 2. Jennette, 

 born April 6, 1872; 3. Harvey, born March 

 29, 1874, married Annie Swartley, and they 

 are the parents of three children: Edna, 

 Viola, and Harrold ; 4. William, born Octo- 

 ber I, 1875; 5. Mary, born May 29, 1877, 

 died in May, 1879; 6. Sarah Emma, born 

 September lO, 1879, wife of Herbert Lilly, 

 and mother of one child : Annetta Lilly ; 

 7. Ella, born October 16, 1881, died in Jan- 

 uary, 1883; 8. Howard, born November 22, 

 1883; Ida May, born September 28, 1885, 

 died November 28, 1887; 10. John F., born 

 April 9, 1888. 



AARON LEATHERMAN. Like many 

 of the old families of Pennsylvania, the 

 Leathermans sprang from German ancestry, 

 representatives of the name coming from 

 the fatherland to Bucks county, Pennsyl- 

 vania, during the pioneer epoch in the his- 

 tory of this part of the state. The grand- 

 father, Jacob Leatherman, was a farmer of 

 Plumstead township. His son, Joseph 

 Leatherman, father of our subject, was born 

 in Bucks county, and throughout his busi- 

 ness career carried on agricultural pursuits, 

 remaining a life-long resident of Plumstead 

 township. His political views were in ac- 

 cord with the principles of the Whig party, 

 and, enjoying the full confidence and respect 

 of his fellowmen, he was chosen to the 

 office of township supervisor, in which ca- 

 pacity he served for a number of years. His 

 religious faith was in accord with the 

 teachings of the jNIennonite church. He 

 was twice married, his first wife being Miss 

 Sarah Myers, and there were eleven chil- 

 dren by that wife: Joseph; Jacob ; Isaac ; 

 Christian; Abram ; Esther, the wife of 

 Elias Fretz; Sarah, the wife of John Fretz ; 

 Mary, wife of Jacob Shaddinger ; Catherine, 

 wife of John Halderman; Elizabeth, the 

 wife of Henry D. Wismer ; and Annie H., 

 who died at the age of twenty-four years. 

 For his second wife Joseph Leatherman 

 chose Mrs. Mary Slotter nee Godshall. 



Aaron Leatherman, the only child of the 

 second marriage, was born in Plumstead 

 township, March 6, 1837. Following the 

 completion of his common-school course he 

 gave his undivided attention to the work of 

 the home farm, assisting his father in us 

 operation until he had attained his majority. 

 He then began teaching school, and for 

 some time followed that profession in Bed- 

 minster and Plumstead townships, especi- 

 ally through the winter seasons, while in 

 the summer months he gave his attention to 



agricultural pursuits. Among his other edu- 

 cational labors he taught a singing school 

 for some time, having much natural talent 

 in that direction, as well as a good Under- 

 standing of the principles of the art. He 

 was also engaged in the butchering business 

 for a number of years m Danboro, Pennsyl- 

 vania, and subsequently turned his atten- 

 tion to the commission business, which he 

 followed for seventeen years. His business 

 career has been characterized by laudable 

 ambition, strong and honorable purpose, 

 and what he possesses has been acquired 

 through his own well directed efforts. He 

 has been a director in the lianboro & Plum- 

 steadville Turnpike Company for a number 

 of years, and at this writing (,in 1904J is 

 president. He was also for some years sec- 

 retary of the Danboro Live-Stock Asso- 

 ciation, and his business affairs have large- 

 ly been of a character that, while promoting 

 individual success, have also advanced the 

 general prosperity and material develop- 

 ment of the county. Deeply interested in 

 the welfare and progress of his county, 

 IMr. Leatherman has taken an active and 

 helpful part in many measures contributing 

 to the general good. In politics he is an 

 earnest Republican and upon that ticket 

 he was elected assessor of Plumstead town- 

 ship when he was but twenty-two years of 

 age, and held the office continuously for 

 seventeen years. No higher testimonial of 

 his capable service could be given than the 

 fact that he was so long retained m his posi- 

 tion. He was employed by the government 

 as an enrolling officer during the war of 

 1861-65. He has also been auditor of his 

 township for some time, and in the spring of 

 1904 was elected supervisor, which position 

 he is now filling. Recognizing the obligations 

 which have devolved upon him in his con- 

 nection with public office, he has faithfully 

 performed his duty as a patriotic citizen, 

 and his efforts have been beneficial to his 

 community. He is a man of unquestioned 

 honor and integrity, his life being in har- 

 mony with his principles as a member of 

 the old IMennonite church. He has been 

 very active in the Sunday-school at Dan- 

 boro, and has filled the office of treasurer 

 for nearly thirty years. 



Mr. Leatherman was married on the 26th 

 of May, i860, to Miss Elizabeth Fry, a 

 daughter of Samuel and Susanna Fry. They 

 have six children : Susanna, born January 

 4. 1861, and is the wife of Eli Van Luvanee ; 

 Mary Emma, born November 3, 1862, and 

 is the wife of John Gerhart; Anna, born 

 August 23, 1865, and married A. G. C. Wel- 

 don ; Lizzie, born December 7, 1867, and 

 married Stanley G. Rapp ; Rosie, born April 

 15. 1870; and Eleanora, born January ir, 

 1881, and is the wife of Daniel P. Fluck. 

 The mother died January 29, 1902. 



Mr. Leatherman is one of Bucks county's 

 most respected citizens, a broad-minded 

 public spirited man, ever alive to the inter- 

 ests of his community. Progress has been 

 the keynote of his public and private life, 

 and he has made advancement along lines 



