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Anna (Girton) South & Isaac South Jr.

Anna Girton South
1841-1904

Isaac South Jr.
1841-1915

Anna was born in 1841 to John Girton and Jane Spicer. The Girton family had a shop @ 164 S Main St, which still stands and is now an insurance provider.

Isaac was born to Isaac South Sr and Sarah Lovett in Lower Makefield in 1841. Isaac Sr was born in LMT and lived in LMT until his death in 1901 at age 83. (1)

So Isaac & Anna were local kids who married June 1, 1864, (2) and quickly became a prominent Yardley couple. Anna was very active in the Ladies Aid Society, which provided supplies and care to soldiers. (3) Though we have found his draft records, it does not appear he was ever called to serve. (4) Isaac was one of the first council people in Yardley. (5)

Isaac was a well respected contractor/builder. The end of 1897 was a pretty tough time for Isaac’s business is appears. First in Nov, he and 3 of his carpenters had their horse scare which nearly overturned their wagon they were riding, as it fell into the trolley trench that was being excavated at the time. Though no major loss, the men were undoubtedly quite shook. (6) Then just a month later, the entire business was burned to the ground, owing to some troublesome mice. But as soon as the insurance adjusters approved, Isaac rebuilt and continued as a pillar of the community. (11) In fact, “South St” off of Main St. was named after him in 1908 where he had just completed 2 new houses and granted the land of the street to the borough. (7) This street is not surprisingly, just 1 block north of Anna’s parents’ home and a half mile north from Slate Hill Cemetery.

Isaac & Anna have 2 young children buried here at Slate Hill, “Baby South” and “Little May.” They were laid to rest beside Anna’s parents, which is a fitting place for a mourning mother to lay her children. There are no known records of these two children, so we can only assume they died quite young, in one case not even old enough to receive a name.

Fortunately, Isaac & Anna had two other children that lived until adulthood. John Sherman South and Gertrude South. Gertrude married Warner Roberts who was a grocer. The 1900 census lists Gertrude and Warner and their three sons living with Isaac and Anna in 1900. (8) It appears that after Anna’s death in 1904, Isaac closed up any other home(s) he and Anna had and officially lived with Gertrude and her family full time, according to the Bucks County Gazette. (9)

Though a solid member of the community, Isaac wasn’t perfect… because, who is?!?! It appears that in May 1902, Isaac and a friend were picked up for public drunkness. They were “locked up” for 24 hours since they were not able to pay the $2 fine. (10) It’s a surprise that with a successful business, a wife, and 2 adult children in the area that the fine was not paid. Perhaps he was being taught a lesson?! One can only assume Anna was NOT pleased with this behavior!

Isaac passed away March 20, 1915. (1)There is no stone for Isaac so we are uncertain as to his actual burial spot. His obituary did indicate a burial in “Yardley Cemetery” which is not one of the most used names for the cemetery, so we cannot be sure. However, we choose to honor him here considering so much of his family rests within Slate HIll Cemetery.

References & Links

Photographs

Photo of Anna & Little May Reenactors 2023
Anna Girton South Marker