Montgomery County PA Archives Biographies.....Apple, John D. August 8, 1808 - April 9, 1862
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson jpatter@epix.net February 10, 2026, 11:52 am

Source: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County Pennsylvania, T. S. Benham & Company and the Lewis Publishing Company, 1904
Author: Ellwood Roberts, Editor

MISS HANNAH APPLE, of Pottstown, is the daughter of John D. 
Apple, a successful politician and a very prominent man in 
his day. He was born in New York, August 23, 1808. His 
parents emigrated from England to America and both died soon 
after their arrival in this country, being buried in New 
York city. Besides their son, John D. Apple, they had a 
daughter, Mary, who was reared by James Evans, of 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She married Benjamin Engert and 
removed to Palmyra, Burlington county, New Jersey, where Mr. 
Engert followed farming They are both deceased. They had 
five children, of whom some survive.

John D. Apple was reared in Worcester township, Montgomery 
county, in a family of Friends named Hoxworth. He was 
apprenticed to learn the blacksmith trade, and completed his 
term, but never followed that occupation, fate having other 
things in store for him. Through his indomitable energy he 
became self-educated until he was competent to take charge 
of a school, after which his progress was very rapid. He 
located in the upper section of Montgomery county, where he 
soon became a prominent citizen.

John D. Apple was for many years the most prominent 
Democratic politician in the upper section of Montgomery 
county, and for many years the intimate and personal friend 
of Hon. John B. Sterigere, and his staunch supporter until 
the latter's death in 1852, at the age of fifty-three years.

Mr. Apple was elected a justice of the peace in Marlborough 
township, a position which he held for many years, 
transacting much neighbor-hood business and enjoying the 
confidence of the entire community. He engaged in the 
occupations of surveying and conveyancing and drew the 
drafts and title deeds for much property in that part of 
Montgomery county. Their fine execution and perfect accuracy 
attest his proficiency in the business and furnish abundant 
testimony of his artistic methods. He had no superior in 
this line. He was an extensive reader of standard works and 
magazines, and was one of the few American subscribers to 
Blackwood's Magazine, the Penny Magazine and other noted 
British publications. Of studious nature, he became a good 
Greek, Latin and French scholar and an excellent 
mathematician.

In his younger years John D. Apple took an active part in 
military affairs and was captain of the Sumneytown 
Artillerists, who served during the Philadelphia riots in 
1844. Jesse Fenstermacher was second lieutenant and others 
of the company were Jacob Gilbert, George Gangler, William 
Gilbert, Daniel Heffner, Charles Hersh, Henry Hersh, John 
Kepp, Henry Nace, John Royer, Christopher Royer, Tobias 
Shuller, John Shuler and William Sheffer.

On Sunday, May 19, 1834, John D. Apple married Sarah, 
daughter of John and Betty (Walter) Bitting, of New Hanover 
township. She was born November 11, 1807, and died June 23, 
1884. Her father was a constable for many years and was a 
colonel in the War of 1812. His father, Anthony Bitting, was 
a colonel in the Revolutionary war. Anthony and Elizabeth 
Bitting came to America April 23, 1723, on the ship 
Franksheimer. He was a farmer.

The children of John D. and Sarah Apple were: Caroline, born 
August 8, 1836, and died January 5, 1837; Mary Ann, born May 
3, 1838, and died March 23, 1892; Jane, born October 17, 
1840, and died May 2, 1843; Hannah, born October 11, 1842; 
John Wright, born December 30, 1844, and died June 16, 1887; 
Sarah Jane, born February 5, 1849, and died unmarried, 
October 22, 1902; Lewis, born September 8, 1851, and died 
January 30, 1889.

J. Wright Apple, son of John D. Apple, attended the public 
schools and later Frederick Institute and Freeland Seminary, 
now Ursinus College, at Collegeville. In 1867 he entered the 
law office of George N. Corson as a student, and was 
admitted to the Montgomery county bar, August 17, 1869. He 
soon acquired a large practice and on January 1, 1876, was 
appointed solicitor for the county commissioners. In 1877 he 
was chosen district attorney and during his term of office 
had occasion to assist Henry S. Hager, district attorney of 
Philadelphia, in the noted case of Blasius Pastorius, which 
had been taken there on a change of venue, and acquitted 
himself with much credit. He was very diligent and energetic 
in the practice of his profession. He served as delegate to 
the Democratic conventions and was a local party leader. His 
death cut short his promising career.

Lewis C. Apple, youngest son of John D. Apple, was clerk to 
the county commissioners and served as deputy prothonotary 
of Montgomery county for three years. He and his brother are 
buried in the Pottstown cemetery.

John D. Apple died April 9, 1862, and his wife survived for 
twenty-two years. She belonged to the Lutheran church. All 
of the members of the family are buried in Pottstown 
cemetery, except the three eldest who were interred in Lower 
Salford township, Montgomery county.

Ten years after John D. Apple's death, in 1872, his family 
removed to Pottstown and built the home where Hannah Apple 
still lives. Miss Hannah Apple is the only surviving member 
of the family. She has reared and is educating Miss Mary 
Jane Toms, who lives with her. Miss Apple works a great deal 
for charity. She has a very fine collection of antiques.

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