My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL N. KULP, a retired farmer of Abington township, is of German descent, although his ancestors came to this country more than two centuries ago. His grandfather, Isaac Kulp, was a weaver at Milestown, in what is now the Twenty-second ward of Philadelphia. He married Elizabeth Moore.

Isaac Kulp, (grandfather) and his wife Elizabeth had the following children: Joseph, Philip (father), Jacob, Mary Ann (Mrs. George Wentz), Hannah (Mrs. Jacob Wentz), and Eliza (Mrs. John Pierson). Philip (father) was born at Milestown, and also followed the occupation of a weaver until he purchased a farm on which he afterwards resided, operating it very successfully. He married Ann, daughter of John and Sallie Nice, of the vicinity of Milestown, also of an old family in that section, the former of German descent, and highly esteemed for their plain and substantial virtues. The children of Philip and Ann Kulp: Isaac and John (both deceased); Samuel N., subject of this sketch; Sarah N. (Mrs. Reuben Harper); Margaret H. (Mrs. Alfred Buckman); Maria L. (Mrs. John Hawkins); Eliza A. (Mrs. F. B. Thompson).

Samuel N. Kulp was born November 29, 1826, and was reared to farm life, attending a neighboring school. At the age of seventeen years he learned the trade of millwright in Abington township, and was employed in that occupation until he was twenty-six years of age. He married, December 16, 1852, Mary Ann, born June 12, 1828, daughter of John and Kittie Ann (Miles) Blake, of Abington township, in Montgomery county. Their children: Margaret B., born October 5, 1853, married, November 2, 1876, Samuel R. Livezey; Joseph K., born October 27, 1855, married, November 26, 1884, Voila S. Tomlinson; Ida Ann, born August 7, 1857, married October 30, 1877, John R. Reading; John B., born January 30, 1860, married, September 20, 1885, Mary E. Wiggins; Emma L., born August 6, 1863, married, March 22, 1892, Thomas McNair; William, born January 21, 1866, married, January 25, 1893, Nellie J. Gentry. Mr. Kulp, three years after his marriage, purchased a farm within the limits of the city of Philadelphia, on which he resided for a period of eighteen years. He then removed to his present home in the township of Abington, not far from the city line, on which he has lived since 1873. For the past ten years he has relinquished the cares of farming, leaving them to others. He was also at one time engaged in real estate operations. He is one of the oldest citizens of that section of Montgomery county, and is highly esteemed by all who know him, for his integrity and other sterling qualities. His political associations were with the Whig party, and with the Republican party since its formation in 1856. He has, however, never held public office, although he might have done so, had he not been too busy with his own affairs to participate in movements of a public character. In recent years he has allied himself to the Democratic party. In religious faith he affiliates with the Baptist denomination, worshipping at the Lower Dublin church. Mr. Kulp’s career is another exemplification of the power of honest industry to aid in the realization of prosperity and win the respect and esteem of the whole community. He is emphatically a self-made man, having begun life without aid from any source except his own industry and ambition, and the faithful assistance of his dutiful wife.