My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM DePREFONTAINE, a descendant of an old family in Pennsylvania, is a successful farmer of Jarrettown. He is a native of Bucks county, where he was born April 12, 1855. He was reared on a farm, and educated in the public schools, spending one year also at the Millersville State Normal School, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He taught school for some time.

Mr. DePrefontaine is the son of John and Mary (Megargee) DePrefontaine, his father being a native of Germantown, and his mother of Philadelphia. John DePrefontaine was the son of Benjamin and Phebe (Walter) DePrefontaine, both of Philadelphia county. The family came to the United States during colonial times, being of French origin and Huguenots in religious faith.

Benjamin DePrefontaine was a teacher, as was also his father, John DePrefontaine. Benjamin was also a civil engineer, and did much surveying in Philadelphia county in his day. He was a teacher, and, later, for many years, a justice of the peace. He attended Friends’ Meeting. He was widely known and highly respected. He died at Germantown at an advanced age. His children: Rebecca (Mrs. Paradee); John (father of William DePrefontaine); Ann E. (Mrs. Samuel Jones).

John DePrefontaine was reared in Germantown, where the family were highly respected members of the community. In his youth he worked at cabinet making, but soon engaged in farming near Germantown. On his marriage he rented a farm, and soon afterwards removed to Bucks county where he purchased a farm and remained three years, when he sold it and removed to Jarrettown, in Upper Dublin township, in 1856. He purchased a farm which he cultivated until 1873, when he retired to Jarrettown, where he built a home. He died there in 1886. He was a practical and successful farmer. He became a Methodist. In politics he was a Whig, and later a Republican but never aspired to political emoluments. He served for a time as a member of the Upper Dublin school board. He was one of the founders of the Jarrettown Methodist church, and was a member of the building committee and of the board of trustees. His wife survived him and died in September, 1894. She was a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Rorer) Megargee. The Megargee family were among the early settlers of Germantown, being paper manufacturers by occupation. Joseph and his wife were natives of Philadelphia county. He was reared a farmer but later engaged in hotel keeping, his inn being a popular stopping place for travelers. He retained the homestead farm, however, on which he died. The Megargees were of Scotch-Irish descent, and Presbyterians in religious faith. His widow died at Jarrettown while on a visit to her daughter, Mrs. DePrefontaine. She belonged to the Rorer family, of German descent, their ancestor having come to this country in colonial times, settling at or near Germantown. The children of Joseph and Mary Megargee: Margaret (Mrs. B. Smith); Mary, mother of William DePrefontaine; Caroline (Mrs. Z. Engle); Annetta (Mrs. A. Engle); Elizabeth (Mrs. Taylor); William, a farmer; Joseph, a teacher, and later in life a farmer; Albert, a farmer, and later in life a merchant; Maria, wife of K. C. James, a prominent attorney of Doylestown, Pennsylvania; Daniel, who died young.

The children of John and Mary DePrefontaine: Charles, the well known merchant at Blue Bell, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Walter, died at the age of nineteen years; Annie, Mrs. Francis Houpt; Albert, a business man; Joseph, died in childhood; William, subject of this sketch; Mary, Mrs. S. Houpt.

William DePrefontaine was reared on the farm, and remained with his parents until he had grown to manhood. He married in 1883, and then settled down to farming on the homestead near Jarrettown, and remained on the farm until 1895, when he bought a tract of three acres of land and a house in Jarrettown. He now follows gardening, and attends the Philadelphia markets. He clerked for a time in his brother’s store at Blue Bell when he was a young man. In politics he is a Republican, and has held the position of school director, having been president and secretary of that body. He was reared a Methodist, and has always manifested a deep interest in church affairs. He has been trustee, and also superintendent of the Sunday school for many years. When the church and public school were rebuilt he was a member of the committees in charge of the work.

Mr. DePrefontaine married Miss Ida A. Tyson, a native of Philadelphia, but reared in Upper Dublin township. She was born in 1858, and was a daughter of Ephraim and Anna (Maust) Tyson. The Tysons are an old colonial family, having descended from an ancestor who came originally from Holland and settled at Germantown. Ephraim was a shoemaker and farmer living in Upper Dublin township, and later in life in Horsham township, Montgomery county. He died in 1897. He attended Friends’ meeting, and was widely known and respected. His wife survives and resides on the homestead in Horsham. She is about seventy years of age, and is a member of the Baptist church. Their children: Ida A., wife of Mr. DePrefontaine; Samuel, a farmer; Robert E., a farmer; John M., residing on the homestead; William J., a market gardener; Albert A., a farmer; Anna (Mrs. J. Reifsnyder); Hannah, who resides at home; Charles P., a farmer.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. William DePrefontaine: Ethel, born in 1890; Minnie, born in 1894, both attending school.