Biographical Sketch of Samuel BUCKWALTER (1881); Chester County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sandra Ferguson <ferg@ntelos.net>.

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from Futhey and Cope's THE HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY (1881);

In 1713 the Manovon tract, at what is now Phoenizville, was patented to David 
Lloyd.  The earliest settler upon it was Francis Buckwalter, to whom Lloyd sold 
650 acres in 1720, for 195.  Buckwalter, a Protestant refugee from Germany, as 
subjected when in the Fatherland to many persecutions because of his faith, and 
it was a matter of family history that he was compelled to read his Bible by 
stealth, concealed in a cow trough.  He finally concluded to flee, and after 
leaving his home was pursued for 3 days by his vindictive Catholic brothers, who 
were determined upon his destruction.  His children were Joseph, Jacob, 
Johannes, Mary and Yost, and from him are descended all of the Buckwalter family 
in this county.  Of these, Johannes' son John, b Sep[t 14, 1777 married July 27, 
1800, Mary Bechtel, b Jan 2, 1775, and their children were Samuel, John, David, 
Henry, James, and Elizabeth, who married James Wynn.  Of these children, Samuel 
the eldest was born May 5, 1801, in East Nantmeal tpw, and in 1817-18 went to 
Charlestown twp to live with his grandfather, Johannes (John), on the farm on 
which John Henry Buckwalter now resides.  In 1832 he was married by Rev Jacob 
Wampole to Mary, dau of Daniel and Margaret High, of Schuylkill twp, by whom he 
had 7 children - Charles C; John Henry; Samuel R; Elizabeth, married to Enoch J 
Davis; and Helen Caroline, all living; and 2 deceased, DAvid and Margaret, who 
died young.  Samuel Buckwalter died Feb 26, 1869, and his wife, Mary High, Jan 
4, 1850.  He was a second time married, in 1855, to Ann Pennypacker, widow of 
James Pennypacker.  He was one of the most systematic farmers in the county and 
was, with his family, a member of the Mennonite Church.