My Genealogy Hound

BENJAMIN K. TOMLINSON. Among the early settlers of Montgomery and Bucks counties, Pennsylvania, who suffered all the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life, and to whom so much credit and honor is due for their indefatigable efforts in clearing and cultivating the land, building homes and improving the condition of affairs generally, was the Tomlinson family, so worthily represented in the present generation by Benjamin K. Tomlinson, a successful agriculturist and an esteemed resident of Whitemarsh township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania.

John Tomlinson, grandfather of Benjamin K. Tomlinson, was a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the common schools of his neighborhood, and his active career was devoted to farming, in which occupation he was eminently successful. He was a well informed man, and therefore wielded quite an influence in the community. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and a Whig in politics, but never sought or held political office. He married a Miss Tomlinson (no relative) and they reared a large family of children, all of whom became useful and active citizens.

Robert Tomlinson, father of Benjamin K. Tomlinson, was born on the old homestead in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in 1814. He acquired the education afforded by the common schools of that day, which enabled him to cope successfully with the duties and responsibilities of an active career. He became thoroughly familiar with all the details of farming by assisting his father on the home farm, whereon he remained until he was of age, when he moved to Horsham township, Montgomery county, where he continued farming operations up to the breaking out of the Civil war. He then traded and sold his property, taking up his residence in New York state, but at the close of hostilities between the north and south returned to Horsham township, remaining there until his death. As a citizen he was public-spirited and active, promoting to the best of his ability the enterprises calculated to promote growth and prosperity. His political affiliations were with the Republican party, Shortly after his removal to Horsham township, Mr. Tomlinson married Miss Hannah Kenderdine, a daughter of Thomas Kenderdine, who , conducted a sawmill in Horsham township, and was familiarly known as “Saw Mill Thomas.” The Kenderdine family was one of the most prominent in Montgomery county, its members filling many positions of trust and responsibility. Their children were: Edward K., Isadore, Algernon, Selina, Sarah, Rachel, Frank L. and Benjamin K. Robert Tomlinson, the father of these children, after a life of great usefulness. died in 1879. His widow, who was a woman of exemplary character and greatly beloved by all who knew her, passed away in 1893.

Benjamin K. Tomlinson was born on the home farm in Horsham township, near Prospectville, on what was known as the old Armitage farm, September 9, 1848. He obtained a thorough knowledge of the rudimentary branches of education in the common schools of the township, and completed his course of study at Shortledge’s Academy, Concordville, Delaware county, Pennsylvania. At this time the Civil war broke out, and being of a patriotic nature and also desiring in her hour of peril to serve the country he loved, he enlisted in three different companies, but was rejected in each on account of his youthful age. He gained his first practical experience by working on the farm of Daniel Foulke, of Gwynedd township, with whom he remained a short time, He then engaged with his brother in the coal business in the city of Philadelphia, in the management of which he was eminently successful. In 1880 he removed to Green Lane, Montgomery county, engaged in the ice business, and after continuing the same for five years, returned to the city of Philadelphia and engaged in the egg and butter business. His next place of residence was Roxborough, where for some time he was engaged in the tilling of the soil. In 1891 he purchased the old Freas farm of thirty-nine acres in Whitemarsh township, whereon he has resided ever since, conducting a general farm with success.

Mr. Tomlinson is a practical business man, possessing in a large degree capacity for details, promptness, thoroughness and reliability, all of which are such requisite essentials for success, no matter what calling or profession a man may enter. He is an honored member of the Society of Friends at Plymouth Meeting. He is an Independent Republican in politics, and while he is an earnest party worker has never sought or held public office, preferring the routine of business life to that of the political arena. Mr. Tomlinson is a fair type of a true American citizen, a man who has been prospered in many ways, who enjoys the confidence of all who know him, and whose sterling worth and integrity are well worthy of example.

In 1872 Mr. Tomlinson married Miss Catherine Shaw, a daughter of Lewis and Esther (Fitzwater) Shaw, residents of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, Mr. Shaw being one of its prominent and successful farmers. Their family consists of the following named children: Edwin K., married Minnie Heyne; Mary J., who became the wife of Lewis Hughes, and they are the parents of three children; Hannah K., Sarah K., Elizabeth, Walter Pamilla, deceased; Charles A., Lorenzo, and Edith B. Tomlinson.