People | Horsham Preservation and Historical Association

William Penn

William Penn Author: Kevin Winters Published: June 6,2025 William Penn William Penn is likely well-known to most readers as the founder/proprietor of the colony of Pennsylvania. While the township of Horsham is part of that colony it is likely that Penn had very little, if anything, to do with the township and likely never visited since the land was still wilderness with the 1st settler in Hatboro reaching this area only by 1701 (Smith 1945 p17 ) which is the year that Penn left the colony for good. (Independence Hall Association (3) -no date ) He had...

Native Americans: Lenape

Posted in People.

The Lenni Lenape The Lenni-Lenape (which means “Men of Men” or “Original People” (The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape, 2007) or “the people”(Eden, D, 2015). They were also called “The Grandfathers or ancient ones” (Nanticote) by other native tribes. They are the oldest known nation in the Northern Hemisphere, heir oral history suggests that they crossed into Alaska across the frozen Bering Sea thousands of years ago and eventually made their way to the eastern shore of North America. Archeological evidence suggests that this may have been as long as...

Margaret Choate

Posted in In Memoriam, People.

Margaret Choate Margaret Ellen (Hinton) Choate died on April 5, 2017 in Horsham, Pa. at the age of 69. She and her husband, Peter Choate, founded the Horsham Preservation and Historical Society in 1997. In 2002 they both retired to work full time for this organization. Margaret was born in Philadelphia to Elsie and William Hinton. She grew up in Southampton, PA and graduated from William Tennant High school. Margaret worked in banking for 25 years for First Pennsylvania/CoreStates Bank, retiring in 1994 from the Horsham branch as Manager and Assistant Vice President. Margaret had a love...

Peter Choate

Posted in In Memoriam, People.

Peter Choate We are extremely sad to report the passing of our dear friend Peter Choate. Pete was the cofounder and long-time leader of our organization. He passed away peacefully January 13, 2025, at the age of 83. Pete and his wife Margaret are shown below in March, 2016 at the Penrose-Strawbridge House. Both Pete and Margaret committed the latter parts of their lives to our group, preserving the history of Horsham Township, the restoration of the Penrose-Strawbridge House and service to our community. Margaret passed away April 5, 2017. Peter Jacquet Choate was born on May 28,...

Memories of Sue Bibus

Posted in In Memoriam, People.

Memories of Sue Bibus as told to her daughter Susan Gilbert: Sue Bibus was born Sophie Halata in 1923 in rural Springhouse and moved to the western corner of Horsham shortly after. Her father, Michael Halata, was from Ukraine and worked as a gardener on some of the estates nearby. The Halatas moved from Springhouse to Melody Lane off Lower State Rd., just above Welsh Road sometime in the mid 1920s. Sue’s father built their home with help from a cousin. It had a barn, corn crib, chicken coup, and other small out buildings, which were there for years. She was one of nine children...

Isaiah Lukens

Posted in People.

“Lukens was the town clock maker and general machinist. No man of that period better known or held in higher esteem” George Escol Sellers171 Isaiah Lukens was born August 24, 1779 in Horsham and is known for many fine clocks he made for notable buildings such as Loller Academy in Hatboro, PA, the State House/Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Germantown Academy, and many others. Less well known is his interest in air guns and medical equipment He was also one of the founders of the Franklin Institute, and a member of American Philosophical...