In 1912, one hundred years later the centennial was celebrated by decorating the streets, patriotic flags, and a costume ball, to name just a few of the events. BCHS

Doylestown, the county seat, was first called by this name in 1778. It is derived the name from William Doyles, who settled there about 1735, and kept a hostelry at the cross-roads as early as 1742. The earliest inhabitants of the neighborhood were Scotch-Irish. In 1732 a log church was founded at Deep Run, eight miles north-west of Doylestown, of which Rev. Francis McHenry was installed pastor in 1738. Doylestown was incorporated as a borough in 1838. A flourishing boarding school for boys and girls has been established here by a joint stock company, and also a prosperous female seminary. Newspaper authority tells us that Doylestown, in 1778, contained but two or three log dwellings.

Early settlers: Joseph Kirkbride, William Doyle, David Thomas, William Wells, Thomas Adams, Thomas Morris, John Marks, Hugh Edmund, Clement Doyles, William Beal, Joseph Burges, Nathaniel West, William Dungan, Solomon McLean, David Easton, and Edward Doyle, Christian Wertz, George Stewart, Doctor Meredith, Jacob Thomas, Eli Vanluvanee (shoemaker). The oldest families of Doylestown, Harveys, Stewarts, McIntoshes, Vanluvanee, Halls, Magills, and the DuBoises. In 1820 the population of Doylestown was but 360, and about 500 in 1829. One account tells us the population was 800 in 1830. According to the census of 1840 the population was 906; 1850, 974 white and 32 colored; 1860, 1,416, and 1,601 in 1870, of which 139 were of foreign birth. The actual population is about 2,000.

The First Baptist church of Doylestown was organized on the evening of Thursday, December 3, 1867, with the election of Reverend W.S. Wood as pastor, and two deacons— Robert Johnson and James D. Scott. There were more than fifty constituent members, a majority of whom had formerly been connected with the New Britain church. It was recognized as a regularly constituted organization January 16, 1868, by a council composed of representatives of seven different Baptist churches, Dr. George Dana Boardman delivering the sermon on the occasion; and at the next meeting of the North Philadelphia Association this church was formally admitted into the body. The initial step in building a church was taken January 12, 1867, when a committee was appointed to purchase a suitable site. Within two years from that date the proposed building was under roof; but owing to financial stringency it was not dedicated until January, 1877. It is a substantial structure, eligibly located, commodious, well furnished, and involved an aggregate expenditure of twenty-three thousand dollars. The successors of Mr. Wood as pastor were: Reverend H.A. Hastings, John Miller, and T.R. Howlett. The membership numbers one hundred and seventy-five at present.