Montgomery County PA Archives Biographies.....Bisbing, John January 15, 1833 - 
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Source: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County Pennsylvania, T. S. Benham & Company and the Lewis Publishing Company, 1904
Author: Ellwood Roberts, Editor

JOHN BISBING, of an old and highly respected family of 
Chester county, was born January 15, 1833. Being reared on a 
farm, his opportunities for education at that day were 
somewhat limited, but he made the most of them, and acquired 
knowledge that has enabled him to make his way in the world 
without difficulty. Mr. Bisbing is the son of Peter and 
Nancy A. (Fush) Bisbing, both of Chester county.

Peter Bisbing was the son of Frederick Bisbing, of the same 
vicinity, the family being of German descent, mostly tillers 
of the soil, and attached to the Lutheran church. Peter 
Bisbing (father) was by trade a spinning-wheel maker, which 
occupation he pursued for many years, varying it with the 
duties of farming. During the latter part of his life his 
health was poor, and he confined himself entirely to 
farming, not venturing beyond the beaten pathway of life to 
seek official or other honors. He died in 1848. His wife 
survived him, making her home with her children, and dying 
in 1862. Mrs. Bisbing was the daughter of Frederick Fush, 
also of German descent, the family being among the early 
settlers of that section of Chester county, Their children: 
Betsy, twice married, being first Mrs. Neiman, and next Mrs. 
Freese; Hannah (Mrs. Ortlip); Nancy A. (mother); George and 
Frederick.
 
The children of Peter and Nancy A. Bisbing: Mary (Mrs. M. 
Griffith), who died soon after her marriage; Susan, died 
unmarried; Sarah (Mrs. Jacob Umstead); Hannah (Mrs. 
Heebner); Eliza (Mrs. S. Garner); Henry, who died in 
Germantown; John (subject of this sketch); Ellen (Mrs. Jonas 
Amole); Catharine (Mrs. D. Diffenderfer). All are now 
deceased except John Bisbing.

John Bisbing remained with his parents until he was fifteen 
years of age, when he went from home to work on a farm, in 
order that he might assist in supporting the family, 
continuing to work in this way after his father's death to 
help his mother, who was left with a large family to rear, 
and educate as best she could. He married and made a home 
for his mother in 1858, where she resided with the exception 
of brief intervals the remainder of her life. Mr. Bisbing 
rented a farm for several years before his marriage, his 
mother and two of his sisters keeping house for him.

After his marriage he continued renting for a time in 
Chester county, but ultimately removed to the locality where 
is now Royersford, and rented a farm of Daniel Latshaw, so 
continuing for twenty years. Mr. Bisbing was employed about 
a year in assisting in the construction of the Pennsylvania 
& Schuylkill Valley Railroad, furnishing several teams. This 
was in 1884, about which time he began work in general as a 
contractor, furnishing horses and carts where they were 
required for hauling, grading, etc. This business he has 
ever since continued, carrying it on very extensively and 
very successfully as well. He also runs a stone quarry, and 
furnishes brick and other materials where they arc needed by 
his patrons. He was also engaged in the construction of the 
extension of the Schuylkill Valley Traction Company's 
trolley line to Trappe and beyond that borough. He has been 
a builder, owning about twenty-five dwellings which he built 
himself in Royersford. These are mostly brick houses, 
consisting of residences, offices, etc. In 1891 he erected a 
handsome residence in Royersford, where he lives, giving 
most of his time and attention to building and contracting, 
and has assisted very greatly in improving and building-up 
Royersford.

Although often urged to accept public position, he has 
steadily refused to do so, partly, perhaps, because his 
hearing is somewhat defective. In politics Mr. Bisbing is a 
strong Prohibitionist, voting often the ticket when his was 
the only ballot of that description cast at his polling 
place. He is always ready to advocate the principles of his 
party, believing that they are calculated to promote the 
best interests of the community. He has served as constable, 
tax collector, and member of the town council. In religious 
faith he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. He has served as a member of the board of trustees 
for several years, and he rendered effective aid by liberal 
contributions and otherwise in the erection of the new 
church building of that denomination at Royersford, it being 
a large and handsome stone structure.

Mr. Bisbing is emphatically a self-made man, commencing life 
as it were at the bottom of the ladder, and working his way 
by his own efforts to an honorable and influential position 
in his community. An affectionate son, he enjoys the reward 
of the full performance of duty to his parents, being 
fortunate in all his enterprises. Having cultivated for many 
years the land on which a great part of the borough of 
Royersford. stands, he has had the satisfaction of seeing a 
prosperous town grow up around him, his own efforts 
contributing very materially to the results which have been 
achieved in a few years.

Mr. Bisbing married Miss Mary A. Potts, who was born in 
Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1834. She is the daughter of 
Amos and Sarah (Reifsnyder) Potts, both of Berks county. 
Amos Potts was the son of Edward Potts, who was born four 
days after his parents reached this country from Germany. 
The children of Edward Potts were: Amos (father of Mrs. 
Bisbing); William, Jacob, Daniel, Elizabeth (died young), 
Maria (Mrs. A. Reed), Anna (Mrs. D. Schrack), and Eliza, 
died unmarried.
 
Amos Potts was reared as a farmer, and, in accordance with 
the custom in Berks county in his day, was taught also the 
trade of shoemaking. After his marriage he purchased a farm 
which he managed for some years, but later retired from 
active work, and ten years afterwards, in 1896, he died at 
the old homestead, at the advanced age of eighty-seven 
years. He was a careful farmer, attending strictly to the 
tillage of his acres, and never aspired- to public position, 
although an active and exceptionally successful business 
man. His wife died in 1891, and: he married (second wife), 
Mary Spice. She preceded him in death leaving no children. 
Sarah Reifsnyder, Mr. Potts' first wife, was a daughter of 
Samuel Reifsnyder, of Berks county, a prominent, practical 
and successful farther. The children of Samuel Reifsnyder 
were:. Samuel, Joshua, Lydia (Mrs. Fox), Betsy (Mrs. J. 
Bickel), Mary A. (Mrs. T. Bickel), Sarah, mother of Mrs. 
Bisbing.

The children of Amos and Sarah Potts were: Henry, of 
Douglassville; William. (deceased); Andrew, residing on the 
homestead; Mary A. (Mrs. John Bisbing); James, died young.

Mr. and Mrs. John Bisbing have had six children, as follows: 
Clara (Mrs. J. Fleming); Ella (Mrs. L. Brownback), who died 
in 1898, leaving two children; Anna (Mrs. H. Brownback), who 
has one son; John, who is a contractor like his father; 
William, who has a livery stable in Royersford; Emma, died 
at the age of thirteen months.

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