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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY. 



Jennie, who became the wife of William 

 Penrose, as mentioned above. Mr. 

 Trumbauer, the father of the family, died 

 February 2, 1898, having attained to the 

 great age of ninety years. 



JOHN ALBERT OZIAS. Tlie Ozias 

 family, of which John Albert Ozias is a rep- 

 resentative, was established in America by 

 Christopher Ozias, a native of France, who 

 came to America about the middle of the 

 eighteenth century. He landed at Balti- 

 more, from which place he traveled south- 

 ward to the French province of Louisiana, 

 and after residing there for some time he 

 made his way westward. Subsequently he 

 came north and settled at Philadelphia, 

 Pennsylvania. Soon, however, he removed 

 to Roxboro, where he followed his trade 

 of weaving, devoting his energies to that 

 pursuit throughout his entire lite. He was 

 married and had two sons, Joseph and 

 Jacob. Joseph Ozias, son of Christopher 

 Ozias was the father of three children : 

 John, Deborah, and George. 



George Ozias, father of John Albert 

 Ozias, was born April 10, 1810, at Rox- 

 boro, in Philadelphia county. He obtained 

 his education in the subscription schools of 

 the neighborhood and also in the free 

 schools of that locality, and on putting aside 

 his text-books he assisted his father in the 

 trade of weaving. Later, however, he 

 learned the carpenter's trade, and when he 

 had mastered that business he engaged in 

 contracting and building for many years, 

 being actively identified with the improve- 

 ment of the locality in which he made 

 his home. He resided for some time at 

 Germantown, in Philadelphia county, 

 where he carried on building operations, 

 but in 1837 removed to Nashville, Ten- 

 nessee, where he again conducted business 

 as contractor and builder. He was for 

 several years a resident of that southern 

 city, and then returned with his family 

 to Germantown in 1842. .He wedded Mar- 

 garet Barr, and they became the parents 

 of three children: John AiDert ; George B., 

 who is living at Vineland, New Jersey; 

 and one who is living at Quakertown. 



John Albert Ozias was born in German- 

 town, Philadelphia county, September 6, 

 1836, and the following year was taken 

 by his parents to Nashville, Tennessee, 

 where he remained until about six years of 

 age. He then again became a resident of 

 his native city, and attended the public 

 schools there until his parents removed to 

 what is now known as Chalfont, Pennsyl- 

 vania, in 1859. He remained at that place 

 for ten years, and in the meantime had be- 

 come an active factor in business life, en- 

 gaging in the coal and lumber trade. In 

 1869 he removed to Quakertown where he 

 established a lumber business as a member 

 of a firm, but not long afterward he pur- 

 chased his partner's interest and continued 

 to ) conduct his lumber yard alone until 



1886. He also dealt in coal, but in the year 

 mentioned he sold his coal and lumber busi- 

 ness to Benjamin Achey, who is still con- 

 ducting it. Mr. Ozias has since practically 

 lived a retired life, enjoying the fruit of 

 his former toil. He was capable in the 

 management of his business affairs, conduct- 

 ing his interests so ably that he won a very 

 desirable reputation. 



As a citizen Mr. Ozias has ever been 

 deeply interested in the puDlic welfare, and 

 while residing at Chalfont he served for 

 some time as justice of the peace. His ef- 

 forts in oehalf of the public good had been 

 exerted along other lines as well, for he 

 was instrumental in establishing the Build- 

 ing and Loan Association of Quakertown, 

 and many home owners in that borough 

 owe to his efiforts the beginning which they 

 made in securing homes of their own. In 

 educational work Mr. Ozias has also been 

 very active, believing that a man should not 

 be content in merely sending his children 

 to school, but that he should put forth 

 every effort toward having the schools of 

 an excellent character and that competent 

 teachers should be employed. His labors 

 have been effective and resultant factors 

 in the betterment of the school equipment 

 and facilities of Quakertown. In his politi- 

 cal affiliations Mr. Ozias has always been 

 a Democrat, and, although rather conserva- 

 tive in his political views and position, he 

 has nevertheless adhered closely to the 

 principles of that party. His fellow towns- 

 men, recognizing his worth and ability, have 

 several times called him to public office. 

 He served for six years as county auditor 

 of Bucks county, filling the position from 

 1892 until 1898, his course in office being 

 so commendable that he was reelected. 

 Mr. Ozias was the prime mover in the work 

 of having Richland Center incorporated into 

 Quakertown. His efforts have ever been 

 of a most practical character, yet all has 

 been done in a quiet and unobtrusive man- 

 ner. He cares not for outward display, is 

 entirely free from ostentation, and does 

 not seek public encomiums, but is content 

 with the consciousness of duty well per- 

 formed, whereby he retains his self respect. 



In 1862 Mr. Ozias was married to Miss 

 Amanda Echart, a daughter of Charles and 

 Elizabeth (Snyder) Echart, of Chalfont, 

 representatives of an old and respected fam- 

 ily of that community. The Snyders were 

 among the oldest settlers of Newtown 

 township, and were identified with the mill 

 business of the county in pioneer days. Mr. 

 Echart was also closely associated with the 

 milling business at Chalfont, and was thus 

 a factor in the industries of the town. He 

 was a son of George and Catherine (King) 

 Echart. George Echart was a man of con- 

 siderable influence and activity in public 

 affairs of his community. His father was 

 Charles Echart, a resident of Oley, Berks 

 county, Pennsylvania, and it was there that 

 George Echart was born, F'ebruary 12, 1770. 

 His death occurred March 16, 1848. Charles 

 Echart, Sr., was a soldier of the Revolu- 



