from Bucks County, Pennsylvania – Book of Biographies

Mathias J. Loux has been a resident of Bucks County all his life, and, having been reared to manhood within its boundaries and brought up to the noble calling of a farmer, he has done his part in its agricultural development; he is now living in retirement, enjoying a well-earned competency and spending his latter days in quiet and peace.  This worthy citizen of New Britain Township was born in Hilltown Township, this county, July 13, 1841, and is a son of Mathias and Catherine (Yost) Loux and grandson of Andrew Loux.

Our subject is of sturdy German stock, and the name Loux has long been connected with the early history of this county; the family was founded by Andrew Loux, the great-grandfather of our subject, who emigrated from Germany with his two brothers, Jacob and John; Andrew first took up a tract of land in Bedminster Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, but later disposed of his first purchase and bought a large farm in Hilltown Township, this county, and continued to reside there until death claimed him.  He was a farmer all his life.  Andrew Loux, the grandfather of our subject, was born and reared in Hilltown Township, and his vocation was that of a farmer.  His son, Mathias Loux, the father of our subject, was born in Hilltown Township, and learned the trade of a weaver, which he successfully prosecuted in addition to carrying on general farming.  His entire life was spent in Hilltown Township, where he died on the homestead in 1874.  He chose Catherine Yost as his life companion and they became the parents of a family of fourteen children, who were named as follows:  Andrew, Isaac, Daniel, Hannah, the wife of William Mace; Catherine, wife of Mathias Hartman, of Line Lexington, this county; Mary, wife of John Kratz, a retired farmer of Sterling, Illinois; Elizabeth, wife of Charles Miller; Noah, resides at Sterling, Illinois, and is a carriage and furniture maker; Adrian, died aged three years; Anna, Eli, Israel, who resides on the old homestead; David and Mathias J., our subject.  The mother of our subject died in 1874.

Mathias J. Loux acquired a liberal education in the district schools of Hilltown Township, and remained under the parental roof until he attained the age of twenty years; at that time the Civil War broke out, and, being inspired by a patriotic spirit, Mr. Loux offered his services in defense of the Union, and on the sixth day of September, 1861, enlisted in Co. A, 104th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which was under the command of Colonel Davis and Captain Rogers.  Our subject participated in many engagements, among which the most notable were Fair Oaks, Seven Days’ Fighting, Siege of Charleston, which lasted nine months, John’s Island and many others.  He was in eleven battles and skirmishes the first year of his service.  Our subject received an honorable discharge September 23, 1864, at Philadelphia, but on March 30, 1865, he re-enlisted in Hancock’s Corps in which he served until the following April, when the war was brought to a close.  Returning home, our subject learned the trade of a mason, which he followed two years, and then engaged in farming, which he successfully prosecuted for a period of eleven years; he then took up his former trade which he has continued up to the present time, but on account of his bad health since the war he has been unable to do much work.  In 1880, Mr. Loux purchased his present residence, which he has remodeled into a neat, little home.  Our subject takes an active interest in the welfare of his community of which he has so long been a member, and is highly respected by this fellow-townsmen.

Mr. Loux is a solid Democrat in politics, but is not an aspirant to office; religiously, both he and his devoted wife are members of the Reformed Church of Dublin, this county.  Mr. Loux, on August 12, 1865, married Annie Elizabeth Bryan, a fourth cousin to Honorable William Jennings Bryan, who was the Democratic candidate for President in 1896; she was born in Plumstead Township, this county, November 12, 1840, and is a daughter of William G. and Louise (Leidy) Bryan; her father was a resident of Line Lexington, and was a hatter by trade, which occupation he followed until his death.  Mr. and Mrs. Loux have reared one son, Harvey Monroe, born October 23, 1875.  Harvey resides on a farm near where our subject resides, and he married Anna E. Haldeman, by whom he reared one daughter, Grace Marcella.