the army after the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British, broken in
health and fortune, although in 1777 was chairman of the Pennsylvania
navy board in command at Philadelphia, and in 1779 was president of the
court of inquiry respecting the military officers. After the war he resumed
printing in Philadelphia, but never regained his fortune. He consoled him-
self with the thought that he had aided in securing independence for his
country, often remarking to his children: "Though I bequeath you no
estate I leave you in the enjoyment of liberty." He died September 25,
1791, and was buried by the side of his wife in the Second Presbyterian burial
ground on Arch street, Philadelphia, but later his remains were removed to
North Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia.

He married, August 15 (or 18), 174 — , Rachel Budd, born January 7,
1720, died June 26, 1780, daughter of Thomas and Debora (Lanstaflf)
Budd, granddaughter of William and Ann Budd, and great-granddaughter
of Rev. Thomas Budd, who prior to 1661 was rector of the parish of Mat-
tock, Somersetshire, England, later coming to New Jersey with four sons.
William Budd in 1685 was a member of the general assembly of New
Jersey.

Children of Colonel William Bradford: i. Thomas, of whom further.
2. William (4), attorney general of the United States, justice of the supreme
court of Pennsylvania, attorney general of Pennsylvania, graduate of Prince-
ton, 1772, lieutenant-colonel in the Revolutionary army, and one of the
distinguished men of his day; he married Susan Vergereau, daughter of
Hon. Elias Boudinot and his wife, Hannah (Stockton) Boudinot, of Eliza-
beth and Burlington, New Jersey ; no issue. 3. Schuyler, died in the East
Indies. 4. Rachel, married Hon. Elisha Boudinot. 5. Tacey, married
Joshua Maddox Wallace. 6. Elizabeth, married Captain Thomas Houston.

(IV) Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Bradford, son of Colonel William
(3) and Rachel (Budd) Bradford, was bom in Philadelphia, May 4, 1745,
died in that city. May 7, 1838, aged ninety-three years, buried in North



BEAVER COUNTY 1035

Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia. He obtained a college education in
Philadelphia, entering the printing business with his father in 1762 and
becoming a partner in 1766. He, like his father, was a militant patriot, was
captain of a militia company in Pennsylvania and saw active service at
Brandywine, Trenton, Germantown, Valley Forge, and elsewhere. He
also served as deputy commissary general of prisoners, ranking as lieutenant-
colonel. After the war he resumed printing with his father, continuing the
publication of the Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser until 1801,
then merging it with the True American which he had established earlier.
In 1801 he admitted his son William and in 1819 retired from business. He
was for some time printer to congress. Lieutenant-Colonel Bradford mar-
ried, November 23, 1768, Mary Fisher, who died November 18, 1805, aged
fifty-five years. She was the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Coleman)
Fisher, granddaughter of Samuel and Sarah (Lane) Fisher, and great-
granddaughter of William and Mary Fisher, of Herefordshire, England.
Children: i. Samuel, a book publisher of Philadelphia, married Abigail
Inskeep. 2. William, a printer of Philadelphia, partner with his father after
1801. 3. Thomas, of whom further. 4. Elizabeth, married James Darrach,
of Philadelphia. 5. Mary, married William Flintham, of Philadelphia.
6. Susan, married Jacob Ritter, of Philadelphia.

(V) Thomas (2) Bradford, son of Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas (i) and
Mary (Fisher) Bradford, was born in Philadelphia, September 11, 1781. He
attended the University of Pennsylvania until fifteen years of age, then
entered the office with his father, learning the printer's trade and becoming
an unusually expert compositor. He had a strong inclination for the law
and after three years in the printing office obtained his father's permission
to begin legal study. He at once entered the office of William Todd, an
eminent lawyer of the Philadelphia bar, and so rapid was his progress that
on October 18, 1802, he was admitted to the bar. He rose rapidly in his
profession, practicing alone until 1843, when he admitted his son, Vincent
L. Bradford, who continued his partner until death severed the connection.
He was not only learned in the law and highly regarded as an able, honor-
able lawyer, but was also eminent in the church, trusted in political life and
generous in aid of philanthropic institutions. He was an elder of the Fifth
Presbyterian Church, inspector of the Eastern Penitentiary, and a past
master of Lodge No. 121, Free and Accepted Masons. In 1849 JeflFerson
College conferred upon him the honorary degree of LL.D. He died October
25, 185 1, and is buried in North Laurel Hill Cemetery.

He married, May 5, 1805, Elizabeth Loockerman, born December 23,
1779, died April 12, 1842, eldest daughter of Vincent Loockerman, of
Dover, Delaware. Children: i. Vincent Loockerman, LL.D., lawyer, mar-
ried Juliet Sophia Rey. 2. Benjamin Rush, of whom further. 3. Elizabeth
Loockerman, married Rev. William Theodore Dwight, D.D., pastor of
Third Congregational Church. Portland, Maine, for thirty-two years. 4.
Colonel William, died unmarried. 5. Rev. Thomas Budd, an eminent divine



I036 PENNSYLVANIA

of the Presbyterian Church, married (first) Henrietta Singer, (second)
Lucinda Hall Porter.

(VI) Benjamin Rush Bradford, second son of Thomas (2) and Eliza-
beth (Loockerman) Bradford, was born in Philadelphia, September 15,
1813, died June 9, 1884. He was educated in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, his
health forbidding a collegiate course. He resided in Dover, Delaware, for
three years, moving to Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in 1837, and to a farm
near New Brighton, Beaver county, in 1839. He was himself a large land
owner and had the care of several landed estates in addition to his own,
located in Pennsylvania and Virginia. In the care of these he traveled over
eighteen thousand miles on horseback during his earlier life. He had many
suits for ejectment during his managership of these estates, all of which he
prepared to the satisfaction of the judges, before whom he never lost a
case. He was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of New Brighton,
was elected in 1849 a trustee of Western Theological Seminary, was one
of the founders of the Union Benevolent Society of Philadelphia, one of
the corporate members of the board of colporteurage and a member of the
general assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the years 1849-55 ^"^
i860. He took a deep interest in the Sunday school of his church and for
fifty years was scholar, teacher and superintendent. He was an active
worker in the temperance cause; was a candidate for governor of Penn-
sylvania on the American ticket and for lieutenant-governor on the Prohibi-
tion ticket. An able business man and a successful real estate dealer, his
life was more remarkable for his Christian activity and usefulness. He
was honored in his community and died deeply regretted.

He married, November 26, 1840, Margaret, youngest daughter of Wil-
liam and Jane Campbell, of Butler, Pennsylvania ; she was born June 6,
1817, died at New Brighton, September, 1888. Children: i. A child, died
in infancy. 2. Elizabeth Jane. 3. Julia Sophia, of whom further. 4.
Thomas, died unmarried, December 21, 1902, aged fifty-six, graduate of
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, C. E., member of Pennsylvania legislature
1879-80. 5. Eleanor, born October 10, 1848; married, March 4, 1875,
Walter Buhl, of Detroit. 6. William Campbell, died October 11, 1887, aged
thirty-six years. 7. Child, died in infancy.

(VII) Julia Sophia Bradford, daughter of Benjamin Rush and Mar-
garet (Campbell) Bradford, was born August 8, 1844, died November 19,
1900. She married, October 12, 1865, Charles C. Townsend, born Novem-
ber 24, 1841 (see Townsend VI). Children: i. Juliet, born November 3,
1866; married, November 27, 1890, Frederick George Barker, born Septem-
ber 10, 1858 (second wife) ; children: Gertrude, deceased; Dorothy, George
Stevenson, Rebecca, Margaret, Frederick George (2), Juliet, Richard
Hoopes. 2. Gertrude, born February 29, 1868, died July 4, 1889; married,
October 11, 1888, Frederick George Barker (first wife). 3. William Penn,
born April 18, 1870; married, October 7, 1890, Eleanor Coleman, born
January 24, 1870; children: John Coleman, deceased; Gertrude, Eleanor,



BEAVER COUNTY 1037

Genevieve, Juliete Bradford, Richard M., Harriet. 4. Vincent Loockerman
Bradford, of whom further. 5. Charles C, born April 2, 1872 ; married,
October 9, 1895, Mary Calvin, born September 18, 1875; children: Mildred,
Walter, Kathryn, Harold, Elizabeth S. 6. Benjamin Rush Bradford, born
October 3, 1873. 7. John Macdonald, born November 27, 1877; married,
January 28, 1904, Mary Myrtilla Myers, born June 20, 1880; one son,
Edward M.

(Vni) Vincent Loockerman Bradford, son of Charles C. and Julia
Sophia (Bradford) Townsend, was born in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania,
April 3. 1871. He was educated in the public schools of New Brighton,
finishing the high school course. At the age of seventeen years he entered
business life with his father, then a partner in the wire manufacturing firm
of W. P. Townsend & Company, and later head of C. C. and E. P. Town-
send. The latter corporation is now owned and managed by the great-
grandsons of the founder, Robert Townsend, who in 1828 established the
plant in Fallston. He was succeeded by his son, William Penn Townsend,
and in 1894 by his grandsons, C. C. and E. P. Townsend, the fathers of
the present owners. Vincent L. Bradford has been continuously in the
service of this corporation since his seventeenth year, occupying various
important positions, his present one being that of secretary and treasurer.
The business is an extensive one and ranks with the leading industries of
the United States. Mr. Bradford is a member of the Masonic Order, be-
longing to New Brighton Lodge, No. 219, Free and Accepted Masons;
Beaver Falls Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ; Mt. Moriah Council, Royal and
Select Masters; Pittsburgh Commandery, No. i. Knights Templar; Syria
Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, the latter two bodies located in
Pittsburgh, the first three in New Brighton, his home. He is a member
of the Pittsburgh Athletic Club and interested in out-of-door sports. In
political faith he is a Republican, and in religious affiliation a Presby-
terian.

He married, January 29, 1894, Grace G. Critchlow, born April 23,
1871, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Gales) Critchlow, of New Brighton.
Children: Juliet S., bom October 16, 1902; Vincent Loockerman (3), De-
cember 12, 1905.



Hon. James J. Davidson was an honored citizen and
DAVIDSON representative business man of Beaver, Pennsylvania,

during his active career. He left an indelible impress
upon the civic and industrial annals of the city, and upon his record there
rests no shadow or blemish. His strength was as the number of his days,
and not only did he accomplish much in connection with the practical affairs
of life, but his nature, strong and kindly in tolerance, was everywhere a
potent influence for good. Mr. Davidson was born at Connellsville, Fayette
county, Pennsylvania, November 5, 1861, and he was summoned to the life
eternal January 2, 1897, at the comparatively early age of thirty-five yeara



I038 PENNSYLVANIA

James J. Davidson was a descendant of ancestors who as Protestants
were driven by religious persecution from their native Scotland and took
refuge in the northern counties of the Green Isle, their children and grand-
children forming that stalwart Scotch-Irish stock which has given to the
United States some of her best and ablest citizens. The founder of the
American branch of the Davidson family came about 1695 from the north
of Ireland and settled near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It is a noteworthy
fact that he had lived in Londonderry during the famous siege of that
city by the English.

William Davidson, grandfather of James J. Davidson, was born Feb-
ruary 14, 1783, at Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and in 1808
settled in Fayette county, in the same state. His first important position
was that of manager of the Laurel Furnace, and later he became iron-
master at Breakneck. Mr. Davidson was a recognized leader in the public
affairs of Fayette county, and stood high in the confidence and esteem of
liis fellow citizens, as appears from the fact that he was a member of both
the senate and house of Pennsylvania, serving also as speaker of the latter
body. His influence among his colleagues in the legislature was very great.
Mr. Davidson married Sarah Rogers, a woman of strong personality and a
high order of intellect, and they became the parents of two sons, among
them Daniel R., mentioned below; and one daughter.

Daniel R., son of William and Sarah (Rogers) Davidson, was born
January 12, 1820, at Connellsville, Pennsylvania, and received his education
in the public schools of Fayette county, where the greater portion of his life
was passed. After completing his course of study he turned his attention to
agriculture, cultivating with signal success a tract of land given him by his
father. At the age of twenty-one he became interested in the project of
the railroad from Pittsburgh to Connellsville, and was instrumental in se-
curing rights of way and funds with which to further the undertaking. The
road was completed in five years and became a power in developing the
business resources of this part of the state. Later Colonel Davidson (as
he was always called) promoted the Fayette County railroad, and he was
also one of the promoters of the Southwestern Pennsylvania railroad. His
fine business abilities were not devoted to the development of railroads
alone, but were also of service in utilizing the resources of the great coking-
coal lands in Fayette county. He was the owner of two plants in the coke
region, and was president of the Love Manufacturing Company of Roches-
ter during the period of its existence. He was one of the organizers of the
National Bank of Commerce, Pittsburgh, and during his later years was
president of that institution. Colonel Davidson married Margaret C. John-
ston, and twelve children were born to them, among whom were the follow-
ing: George, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; James J.,
mentioned below ; and Frederick, a prominent business man of Beaver.
Colonel Davidson resided for years on his farm near Connellsville, widely
sought as a counsellor in business, politics and personal matters. Though



BEAVER COUNTY 1039

actively interested in public affairs, he could never be prevailed upon to
accept office. At the time of his death, which occurred in 1884, he was
one of the prominent men, not only in his own county, but also in western
Pennsylvania.

Hon. James J. Davidson, of this notice, was educated in the public
schools of his native place and he also attended Beaver Seminary. In 1878
he was matriculated as a student in Bethany College, at Bethany, West Vir-
ginia, and later spent three years in the University of Kentucky, at Lexing-
ton, in which institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1883,
with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. After leaving college he took up the
study of law in the office of Hon. John J. Wickham, of Beaver, devoting his
attention to legal work for the ensuing two years. In 1886 he became in-
terested in oil development as a member of the firm of Darragh, Watson &
Company, prominent oil producers, and with the passage of time he gradually
became interested in other important business enterprises in Beaver county.
He was elected president of the Union Drawn Steel Works, of Beaver
Falls, and his brother Frederick is now the controlling spirit in that in-
stitution.

Early in life Mr. Davidson affiliated with the Republican party, in the
local councils of which organization he became an active factor. In 1894
he received the unanimous endorsement of his party in Beaver county for
delegate in Congress, but at the District Congressional Convention later in
the year, held at Beaver Falls, he withdrew his candidacy in favor of Hon.
T. W. Phillips, of Lawrence county. In 1896 he was again the unanimous
choice of Beaver county for congress, and at the district convention held
at Butler he was nominated on the first ballot, and at the ensuing election
won by a big majority. Shortly after the election he went west in order to
recuperate his health, which had been seriously affected by an attack of
pneumonia. He spent considerable time in Salt Lake City and Colorado
Springs, and eventually settled at Phoenix, Arizona, where January 2, 1897,
he died in his thirty-fifth year.

Mr. Davidson was married, January 31, 1889, to Miss Emma E. Eakin,
a daughter of John R. Eakin, of Beaver. Two children were born to them,
namely: Philip James, whose birth occurred on May 26, 1891 ; and Sarah
Norton. Mrs. Davidson resides in Beaver with her two children.

In a fraternal way, Mr. Davidson was prominent in Masonry, having
attained to the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite branch, and having
likewise passed through the circle of York Rite Masonry. He was a valued
and appreciative member of Tancred Commandery, Knights Templar, and
of Syria Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
He was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights
of Pythias, the American Mechanics, and the Americus Club of Pittsburgh.
He was for many years a leading and influential citizen of Beaver, and his
activity in business affairs, his co-operation in public interests and his zealous
support of all objects that he believed would contribute to the material.



I040 PENNSYLVANIA

social or moral improvement of the community, kept him in the foremost
rank of those to whom the city owes its prestige as a commercial center of
the state.



Documents show that the Rhodes who settled in Rhode
RHODES Island emigrated from Yorkshire, England, about 1635. In

England the name was originally spelled Rode and later
Rhode. In 1566 appears the first record with the letter "s" added to the
name. That the name was taken from a place is shown by the following
quotation from an old book: "Two Norman warriors who accompanied
William the Conqueror to England, 1066, Willelmus and Hugh by name,
were granted the moiety of O'Drode (or little Arm de Rode), situated 4>^
miles S.S.W. of Macklesfield, Chester county, England. That the name was
adopted from this place is proved by a deed of 44 Henry III., in which
Willelmus' descendant, Thomas de Rhode, granted by charter to Margery,
daughter of Geoffrey de Lostoc, all his rights to the town of Rode for one
pair of white gloves and a halfpenny for all services." The late Cecil John
Rhodes, of Kimberley, Africa, and of England, was a descendant of the
Hertfordshire branch of the family.

(I) Zachary Rhodes commences the history of the family in Rhode
Island. He was born in 1603, and settled in Rehoboth in 1643. In 1644,
with other settlers, he signed an agreement forming a town government. In
1646 he left Rehoboth, crossed the river and bay to Rhode Island, and with
others settled at Pawtuxet, where he became a large owner of land. His
reason for leaving Massachusetts appears to have been of a religious nature,
as records show that he refused to comply with the Massachusetts law which
sought to compel him to contribute for the support of preaching. In religious
sentiment he was an Independent, or Baptist. Without doubt he was
banished from the colony because of his peculiar views, but he became a
man of strength and influence in the community, in Rhode Island. From
1664 until 1665 he was treasurer of the town of Providence, and at the
same time was a member of the town council. In 1658 he was admitted a
freeman. He was a member of the general court at Portsmouth in August,
1659, and in 1662-63. In 1661 he attended as commissioner from Provi-
dence the general court at Newport, and was appointed member of a com-
mittee to adjust difficulties existing between Massachusetts and Rhode
Island, and was also appointed, with Roger Williams and others, to draw
up and sign an address to His Majesty, King Charles II. In March, 1663-64,
as deputy from Providence, he attended the general assembly of Rhode
Island, held at Newport, and also in 1665. In 1653 he, with five others,
signed an address to the court assembled in Boston, asking that Pawtuxet
might be dismissed from the government of the Massachusetts colony. He
made his will in 1662 and died in 1665. In 1646, Zachary (or Zachariah)
Rhodes married Joanna Arnold, born February 27, 1617, died in 1692.
Children: Jeremiah, bom June 24, 1647; Malachi; Zachariah; Elizabeth;
Mary ; Rebecca ; John, of further mention ; Peleg.



BEAVER COUNTY 1041

(II) John, fourth son and seventh child of Zachary and Joanna (Ar-
nold) Rhodes, was born in 1658, and died August 14, 1716. He was
admitted a freeman in 1681, at a meeting of the general assembly at New-
port, at which time he was a resident of Warwick. In 1700, at a meeting
of the general assembly held at Newport, he was elected general attorney
for the colony of Rhode Island. In 1702-03-04 he was a deputy from
Warwick to the general assembly, and in 1707 he was elected clerk of the
general assembly. He married (first) February 12, 1685, Waite Waterman,

born in 1668, died in 171 1. He married (second) Sarah , born 1653,

died March 30, 1730. Children : 1 Zachariah, born at Scituate, Rhode
Island, November 5, 1687, married (first) Mary Randall, (second) Mary
Sheldon ;Ljohn, of further mention,^Mercy, born November 20, 1691, twin
of John f; Joseph, born September 25, 1693, at Providence, married Mary
Arnold ^William, born July 14, 1695, married Mary Sheldon ©Phebe, born
November 30, 1698, married (first) Anthony Holden, (second) Samuel
Aborn flResoIved, born May 22, 1702, married Mary Greene ;^ait, born
December 16, 1703, married Abraham Sheldon.

Waite (Waterman) Rhodes was a daughter of Resolved and Mercy
(Williams) Waterman. Richard, the American progenitor of the Waterman
family was born in England in 1590, came to America in 1629, and was of
Salem, Mass. He was one of the seven persons to whom Roger Williams
deeded land in Providence, and in 1639 was one of the original twelve mem-
bers of the First Baptist Church. He was one among those who signed an
agreement in 1640 for a form of government. In 1655 he was made a
freeman and served respectively as commissioner, juryman and warden.
He died in 1673, and his wife Bethia in 1680. Their children were:
Mehitabel, Waite, Nathaniel and Resolved. Resolved, son of Richard and
Bethia Waterman, was born in 1638 and died in 1670. He served as deputy
to the general court in 1667. He married, in 1659, Mercy Williams, born in
1640, remarried after the death of her first husband, and died in 1705.
Children: Richard, born in June, 1660; Mercy, 1662; John, 1666; Resolved,
1667; Waite, who married John Rhodes, as above mentioned. Roger Wil-
liams, father of Mercy (Williams) Waterman, and grandfather of Waite
(Waterman) Rhodes, founded the colony of Rhode Island in 1636. He was
born in South Wales, about 1598, and was a son of William Williams, of
Conwyl parish. He died at Providence, Rhode Island, in 1683. He mar-
ried, in 1632, Mary Warnard, who died in 1676. Children: Mary, born in
1633; Freeborn, 1635; Providence, 1638; Mercy, who became Mrs. Water-
man; Daniel, born in 1642; Joseph, 1643.

(Ill) John, son of John and Waite (Waterman) Rhodes, was born in
Warwick, November 20, 1691, and died in 1776. He held a commission as
major in the colonial militia. In 1716 he was admitted a freeman, and in
1731-35-42-43-44 and in 1751 and 1753 he was deputy in the general as-
sembly from Warwick. He married (first) January 29, 1714, Catherine,
who died July 25, 1731, a daughter of Lieutenant Charles and Catherine



1042 PENNSYLVANIA

(Green) Holden; he married (second) Mary Whipple. Children: Waite,
born December 29, 1714; John, May 5, 1716; Catherine, August i, 1717;
Charles, September 29, 1719; Mercy, February 29, 1720-21, died, February,
1723-24; Anthony, born May 29, 1722; Joseph, August 22, 1723; Zachariah,
September 8, 1727; Holden, May 30, 1731.

(IV) Records deficient.

(V) William Rhodes, the next in line, was born in Providence, Rhode
Island, March 18, 1749. He must have come to Beaver county, Pennsyl-
vania, prior to 1774, as he was married there in that year. He was a Whig
in political opinion. He married, January 29, 1774, Elizabeth Maginn.

(VI) William, son of William and Elizabeth (Maginn) Rhodes, was