My Genealogy Hound

DR. CHARLES H. MANN, a leading physician of Bridgeport, is a member of an old Bucks county family. He was born in Doylestown, August 3, 1852, on the homestead farm which came into the possession of his grandfather in 1790, he buying it of Benjamin Snodgrass. It is now owned by Dr. Charles. H. Mann. On this farm Dr. Mann was reared, attending the public schools of the vicinity and graduating at the Doylestown Seminary. From that institution he entered LaFayette College, at Easton, taking a two years’ course. He then became a student in the Bellevue Medical College in New York city, from which he was graduated in April, 1874. He also graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, receiving from the last-named institution his degree of M. D.

Dr. Mann was resident physician at the Children’s Hospital, at Twenty-second and Walnut streets, from his graduation until February, 1875. He then went to Bridgeport, Montgomery county, April 1, 1875, and there he has continued until the present time, having an extensive practice and enjoying a high reputation for medical knowledge and skill. A considerable part of his practice consists of accident cases due to the railroad lines which are operated in that borough. He is always ready in any emergency to give prompt attention and to relieve the sufferings of any who have been injured in any way. He was a prominent witness in the Kaiser murder case which occurred a few years ago, he having been called upon to render aid to the murdered woman, but finding that life had been extinct for some time when the party reached his office.

Dr. Mann is a Democrat in politics but not an office seeker in any sense of the word. He has been very closely identified with the public school interests of the borough of Bridgeport, having been a member of the school board for thirteen consecutive years. He has also been a member of the Bridgeport town council two terms. He was on the United States pension board for six years, having been appointed during the administration of President Cleveland. He has been a member of Montgomery Lodge of Odd Fellows, No. 57, for more than a quarter of a century. He is also a charter member of the Bridgeport Camp of Patriotic Order Sons of America, and belongs to the Foresters of America, Court Pride of Norristown, of which order he has been surgeon for a dozen years.

Dr. Mann has belonged to the Bridgeport Presbyterian church for more than a quarter of a century, and is a member of its board of trustees and an elder. He is a member of the County and State Medical Societies and was for some time president of the Montgomery County Medical Society. He has been a member of the surgical staff of Charity Hospital, Norristown, since the organization of that institution. He has been coroner’s physician for Montgomery county since January, 1902.

James S. Mann (father) was born on the homestead farm in Bucks county and on reaching manhood became a farmer and ultimately the owner of the tract. In 1875 he engaged in mercantile pursuits in Doylestown. On January 9, 1879, Dr. Mann married Frances Kimbel, daughter of John and Charlotte (Miller) Bickings. She was born in Norriton township, being a descendant of an old Montgomery county family. Her grandfather on the mother’s side was Samuel Miller, of another old family long resident in the vicinity of Norristown. They were all farmers. Mrs. Mann’s father, John Bickings, was born in Norriton and always lived there. The Bickings and Millers were Democrats. Charles Miller, an attorney in Norristown, was a member of the Miller family.

Charles H. and Frances Kimbel have three children: Charles Warren, born January 25, 1880, graduated from the Norristown high school and then entered Lafayette College, where he remained two years. He next entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania but was obliged to abandon his studies there owing to the condition of his health, and is now secretary and treasurer of the Eureka Paper Mill, in Bridgeport; Charlotte Bickings, born June 5, 1882, was graduated from the Bridgeport high school and Wilson College, Chambersburg, and now resides with her parents; Martha Greir, born July 17, 1884, was graduated from the Norristown high school, in the class of 1903, and then entered Wilson College, at Chambersburg.

The Manns of Doylestown and adjoining townships and counties are descended from Scotch-Irish ancestry. John Mann, son of James and Mary, emigrated from County Donegal, Ireland, to America, at the age of twenty-years, landing at Bristol in 1732 or 3. He came with the McNairs and other Scotch-Irish families since prominent. He settled in Warminster or Warwick township, not far from Hartsville, owning land in both at his death. In 1736 he married Margaret Mitchel, of Warwick, born in 1707. Their children are: William, born in 1738; Mary, 1740; John, 1742; Ann, 1745; James (first) 1747; James (second) 1749; and Samuel Mitchel, 1755. In 1748 he purchased one hundred and sixty-two acres of land in Horsham township, which became the family homestead. In 1754 he erected a dwelling which is still standing. His wife died in 1769 and he in 1779, at the age of sixty-seven years. His sons and daughters married into the families of McLaughlin, McNair, Keith and others, and were all Presbyterians in religious faith. Joel K. Mann, of Montgomery county, was a congressman. He died in 1857, at the age of seventy-six years. James S. Mann, of Doylestown, (father) is a grandson of the immigrant.