My Genealogy Hound

ROBERT S. MANN. The Mann family, of which Robert S. Mann, a well known resident of Montgomery township, is a representative, are originally of Scotch-Irish ancestry. John Mann, whose remains are interred in the Neshaminy Creek church graveyard, was the founder of the family in this section of Pennsylvania. He was the son of James Mann and Mary Carrol, who emigrated from Scotland to North Ireland about the year 1690. In the year 1732 he emigrated from county Antrim, Ireland, to America, so that he came here at twenty years of age. He married Miss Margaret Mitchel, about the year 1736. They were farmers in Warwick, Bucks county, for a little time, then John purchased 164 acres in Horsham. Their family consisted of seven children of whom five lived to maturity: Samuel, John, William, Ann and Mary. John Mann died June 17, 1779, and Margaret Mitchel, his wife, died August 24, 1769. Bother are interred as above stated.

Samuel Mann (great-grandfather) was born in Horsham township, in 1755, the estate being still in the possession of the family. He spent his entire life in this township and upon the homestead farm, and was a farmer by occupation. He was prominent in the community, and was active in all public affairs. He was in 1776 enrolled in Captain David Marple’s Fifth Company of Infantry, Fourth Battalion (or regiment) of Philadelphia County Militia, Colonel William Dean commanding. He was a writer of deeds, and a magistrate. He died in 1826, aged seventy-one years. His brother, Captain John Mann, born in 1742, was of the Philadelphia county militia in 1776; on war committee, 1777; commissioner 1790; member of Pennsylvania legislature, 1803; and a private in the war of 1812. Samuel Mann married Margaret Keith, May 13, 1777, who was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, 1757; she was a sister of Rev. Isaac Stockton Keith, a Congregationalist minister of Charleston, South Carolina. The children of Samuel and Margaret (Keith) Mann were: Isaac, born June 25, 1778, married Hannah Huston, and died in 1851. Martha, born December 12, 1779, married for her first husband, a Mr. Holmes, and for her second husband, a Mr. Ramsey, and died in 1859. Samuel M., born in 1781, married Susan Burrows, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and died in 1859. Margaret Keith, born in 1783. Mary, born in 1784, died in 1785. Mary S., born in 1786, married Abraham Slack, of Bucks county, and died in 1872. Elizabeth, born in 1788. Josiah S., born in 1789, married Susan Yerkes, and died in 1863. Ann, born in 1791, married James McNair, of Mount Morris, New York, and died in 1870. James A., born in 1792, died 1794. Sarah, born in 1793, married Charles Craven, of Bucks county, and died in 1880. Hannah, born in 1798, died in 1871, unmarried.

Josiah Mann (grandfather) was born on the old homestead farm, where he spent his early life. On attaining maturity his father settled on him about forty acres, and on this farm he lived for many years, cultivating and improving it, but the autumn of his life was spent with his son Samuel in the Huntingdon Valley, near Bethayres. By his marriage to Susan Yerkes he became the father of six children, as follows: Samuel, who married Julia Roberts; George Y., mentioned hereinafter; Charles, who married Lucy Boutcher; Margaret, died unmarried; William, who married Rachel Closson; and Aaron, died unmarried.

George Y. Mann (father) was born on the homestead farm about 1813 or 1814. He spent his early life at home engaged in agricultural pursuits, and when he attained his majority purchased a farm of sixty acres situated about a mile from the old homestead, to which he subsequently added by purchase twenty-five acres, and. on this farm he passed his life with the exception of about two years which were spent in Jenkintown, where he died after a useful and well-spent life on January 10, 1901. His wife, Isabella (Shoemaker) Mann, died in Jenkintown, September 3, 1899. They were the parents of two children: Robert S., mentioned hereinafter; and Anna Mary, born October 12, 1548, unmarried.

Robert S. Mann was born in Horsham township, February 14, 1845. He attended the public schools of his native township and also the Friends’ school, and the knowledge thus obtained prepared him for a life of usefulness and activity. He resided on the homestead farm until manhood, thus acquiring a practical experience in all the duties pertaining to farm life. In 1872 he removed to Wilmington, Delaware, and resided there for three years, during which time he was employed as an accountant. In 1875 he removed to Livingston county, New York, where he resided for three years, after which he returned to the state of Pennsylvania, locating in Moreland township, near Willow Grove, where for thirteen years he followed agricultural pursuits on rented farms. In 1901 he purchased the farm of fifty acres on which he now resides, and by progressive methods and unceasing labor he has it under a perfect state of cultivation, realizing a goodly profit from the proceeds thereof. Mr. Mann is a Republican in political views, but has never sought or desired public office, preferring to devote his time to his business interests. In all matters pertaining to the social and material welfare of the community he evinces a deep interest and concern, aiding to the best of his ability in the fulfillment of all enterprises promoted for the public good.

On January 18, 1872, in the Presbyterian church at Abington, Mr. Mann was united in marriage to Sarah Letitia Mann, who was born in Livingston county, New York, January 27, 1845, daughter of William K. and Sarah D. (McNair) Mann. One son is the issue of this union, Ralph H., born in Livingston county, New York, April 16, 1876, married, June 15, 1904, Bertha A. Steever, daughter of Ephraim Steever. Mr. Mann and his wife are consistent members of the Abington Presbyterian church.

Mrs. Mann is also a direct descendant of the original John Mann, the founder of the family in Pennsylvania. Her paternal grandfather was Samuel, a son of Samuel and grandson of John Mann; he was born in Horsham township, was there educated, and afterwards learned the trade of blacksmith. In early manhood he left the homestead farm and started out in life for himself. He went first to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where he married Susan Burrows, daughter of General John Burrows. From Williamsport he went to Livingston county, New York, where he took up land, made his home for the remainder of his life, and worked at his trade of blacksmith in connection with agricultural pursuits. The following named children were born to Samuel and Susan (Burrows) Mann: Samuel, deceased; John, deceased; William, Isaac, deceased; Jane, who became the wife of Isaac Slack; Margaret, widow of the Rev. Thomas Aitken, of Scotland; Mary, deceased, was the wife of William McNair; and Nathaniel B. Mann.

William K. Mann, father of Mrs. Mann, was born in Livingston county, New York, September 15, 1811. He has been a resident of Groveland township, Livingston county, during his entire life. He was an extensive land owner, and devoted his time to the tilling of the soil and the sale of grain, dealing largely in that commodity. He now lives retired on a farm adjoining the one on which he was born. He always took an active part in political matters, and was an earnest worker in the ranks of the Republican party, but never a seeker after office. Mr. Mann was twice married. His first wife, Sarah D. (McNair) Mann, bore him the following named children: William Henry, deceased; Frances, who was accidentally killed by a train at Ambler Station in 1897; Mary, wife of the Rev. Andrew L. McNair; Sarah Letitia, aforementioned as the wife of Robert S. Mann; Theresa, wife of Thomas Titsworth; Franklin K., unmarried, residing in Denver, Colorado. His second wife, Fannie (Dodge) Mann, who was the widow of Charles Wheelock, bore him one daughter, Wilhelmina, who is unmarried, and resides with her father.