My Genealogy Hound

JOHN S. NEWBOLD, deceased, who throughout his active career fully examplified the best principles of citizenship and ably sustained the reputation he gained for business ability and sterling upright character, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1831. The Newbold family is of English origin, and resided for centuries at Hackenthorpe, in Derbyshire, England.

The ancestor of the American branch of the Newbold family was Michael Newbold, who emigrated from the vicinity of Sheffield, England, to this country in 1680, settling near Croswicks, Burlington county, New Jersey. He belonged to the established Church of England, and was one of the leading contributors to the erection of the old church at St. Mary’s, Burlington. The line of descent is traced through William Newbold, great-great-grandson of Michael Newbold, who was born in the year 1780, and died in 1841. When a mere lad he left the town of Burlington, Pennsylvania, locating in the city of Philadelphia, where he laid the foundation of prosperity for his descendants, who are quite numerous. He engaged in mercantile pursuits in partnership with his brother and William Montgomery, under the firm name of Montgomery & Newbolds, and under their judicious management the business prospered greatly, becoming in due course of time one of the leading enterprises of the city.

William Henry Newbold, son of William Newbold, founded the present banking firm of W. H. Newbold’s Son & Company, purchasing the property near Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, in 1850. In business life, success depends so entirely upon individual merit that when one has attained a position of prominence, as did William H. Newbold, by his conservative management of affairs, it is an unmistakable evidence of ability, natural and acquired. His career was one of marked enterprise, wherein his reliable methods contributed in a large measure to his prosperity. He was a man of intelligence and piety, was honored and esteemed accordingly, and as a citizen was ever alert and earnest in promoting the welfare of his city, state and nation. In 1857 he built the Church of Our Savior, in Jenkintown, as a thank-offering to the Lord for his narrow escape from death in a railroad accident during that year. After a life of usefulness and activity, Mr. Newbold died in the year 1862.

John S. Newbold, son of William H. Newbold, for many years the senior member of the firm of W. H. Newbold’s Son & Company, possesses in a large degree the characteristics of his forefathers-business ability, integrity, good judgment and perseverance-and by the exercise of these traits he became a prominent factor in banking circles, and was enabled to amass a handsome competence. He was interested in several important enterprises, and served in the capacity of director of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, of the Insurance Company of North America, and of the Library Company of Philadelphia. He was an honorable, conscientious man, a thorough Christian in every sense of the word, and was held in high estimation by all who came in contact with him, either in business or social life. He was a vestryman of Christ Church, Philadelphia. At the death of his father in 1862, the property which had been named “Vernon” in honor of Newbold Vernon, England, came into his possession, and he resided thereon up to the time of his decease.

Mr. Newbold was united in marriage to Miss Buckley, who is a descendant through the Penrose family from Tobias Leech, who was one of the original settlers of the township of Cheltenham, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and who so named it from the town of Cheltenham, in Gloucestershire, England, from whence he came to this country. John S. Newbold died in 1887. His widow resides on the old ancestral property.

Clement B. Newbold, son of John S. Newbold, purchased the group of farms where he now resides, naming the place “Crosswicks,” the name of the village in Burlington county, New Jersey, where Michael Newbold, the immigrant ancestor, located on his arrival in America in 1680. He is a member of the firm of W. H. Newbold’s Son & Company. In 1897 he married Miss Mary Scott, daughter of Colonel Thomas A. Scott, who was president of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for many years.

Arthur E. Newbold, son of John S. Newbold, is a member of the firm of W. H. Newbold’s Son & Company. He is also a director of the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society, the Pennsylvania Company for Insurance on Lives and Granting Annuities, the Commercial Trust Company, and the Insurance Company of North America. He purchased property at Laveroch Station, on the Cresheim Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and named his place “Farleigh.” He married Miss Harriet Dixon, granddaughter of Hon. George M. Dallas, once vice-president of the United States.