Montgomery County PA Archives Biographies.....Detwiler, Isaiah H. September 23, 1842 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joe Patterson jpatter@epix.net February 14, 2026, 10:31 am Source: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County Pennsylvania, T. S. Benham & Company and the Lewis Publishing Company, 1904 Author: Ellwood Roberts, Editor ISAIAH H. DETWILER, one of the best known farmers in Perkiomen township, was born near Iron Bridge, where he still lives, on September 23, 1842. He is the son of Christian and Catharine (Heebner) Detwiler. Christian Detwiler (father) was born April 30, 1802, and was reared on his father's farm in Perkiomen township, Montgomery county. He afterwards purchased this farm and lived there until within a few years of his death. He was a practical and successful farmer, and remodeled his home, a commodious brick house in place of the old home. He also added other land to the original tract and made the whole farm one of the best reproved in the neighborhood. He attended the Philadelphia market for many years. In religious faith he was a Mennonite, and was a minister. On January 15, 1824, Christian Detwiler married Catharine, daughter of Abraham and Catharine (Rittenhouse) Heebner. Their children Abraham, a farmer, died leaving four sons, he being born May 12, 1825; Samuel, born February 18, 1827, a prominent farmer of Worcester township; Margaret, born January 16, 1820, married D. Custer, of an old family; Mary, born November 8, 1831, married Abram Hunsicker, of Perkiomen township; Enos H., born August 4, 1834, married Mary J. Heyser, their son, Mr. Charles H., being proprietor of the Central Hotel at Royersford, and Enos H., residing in Philadelphia, although he owns the old Detwiler homestead; Catharine, born November 5, 1837, married P. Good, and lives in Lower Canada; Isaiah H., subject of this sketch; Christian, born November 16, 1843, for many years cashier of the First National Bank at Norristown, died in 1882, leaving five children; Lydia, born October 7, 1845, married J. G. Gotwals. Christian Detwiler died December 3, 1861. His wife, Catharine Detwiler, after her husband's death, made her home with her son, Isaiah H., until her death on April 2, 1897. The paternal grandfather of Isaiah H. Detwiler was a prominent man in his day, and lived on the farm in Perkiomen township which is now the property of his grandson, Enos H. Detwiler. He was of German descent. His children: John, Joseph, Abram, Christian, and Jacob. Jacob, the oldest, removed to Canada, where he became quite prominent residing near Berlin. There was also a daughter Catharine, who married George Detwiler, a well-known preacher of the Mennonite denomination. The Detwilers were among the earliest settlers in that section of Montgomery county. In the assessor's list of June, 1756, Joseph Detwiler is named as being the owner of 180 acres of land, and Henry Detwiler, l00 acres. Ten years later, when Henry Pennebacker was assessor, and John Detwiler collector of the township, John Detwiler, a weaver, was assessed as having 200 acres of land; John Detwiler, Jr., is assessed for 320 acres; Henry Detwiler for 270 acres. The family have intermarried in the course of several generations with many of the leading families of that section of the county. Abraham Heebner (maternal grandfather) was a farmer, distiller, and teamster of Norriton township, Montgomery county. He was among the leading farmers and business men of the county. He was born December 28, 1766, and married, December 1, 1701, Catharine, daughter of Matthias Rittenhouse. Their children were Sarah, born November 20, 1792, married, November 28, 1811, Benjamin Cassel, they having ten children, and she dying June 30, 1841; Hannah, born October 1, 1794, married G. Metz; Christopher, born January 17, 1707, died January 25, 1797; John, born January 15, 1798, died same day; Joseph, born April 9, 1799, married March 21, 1826, Susanna, daughter of Henry Letherach, they having nine children; Susannah, born July 25, 1806; Catharine, born January 5, 1804 (mother); Rebecca, born July 9, 1806, married, November 9, 1826, Joseph Cassel, son of John Cassel, they having ten children; Mary, born August 27, 1808, married, October 20, 1831, Isaac B. Cassel, they having six children; Elizabeth, born March 23, 1811. Abraham H. Heebner died November 25, 1846, and his wife September 27, 1851. The family were members of the Schwenkfelder church. Christopher Heebner (maternal great-grandfather) was the son of David Heebner, and married, May 3, 1757, Susanna, daughter of Halls and Anna (Reinwald) Wiegner. Their children: Melchior, born 1759, died 1781; John, born 1761, died 1824; Sarah, born 1763, died 1833; Abraham, born 1766, died 1846 (grandfather); Christopher, born 1770; Susanna, born 1773, died 1777; David, born 1778, died 1783. Christopher Heebner died August 21, 1827, and his wife January 17, 1814. At the time of his death he was eighty years of age, and she died aged seventy-six years. David Heebner (Heebner) (great-great-grandfather) and his wife Maria emigrated from Germany in 1734 and settled in Pennsylvania. He died December 27, 1784 and his wife June 11, 1793. Their children: Christoph (great-grandfather); Susanna; Rosanna, born May 9, 1738; George, born June 21, 1744. David Hebner came to America with the colony of Schwenkfelders. Isaiah H. Detwiler was reared to farm pursuits and attended the district schools. His, father removed from the old homestead a few years before his death to the present home of Isaiah Detwiler. He built the present buildings and lived there until his death, December 3, 1861. Isaiah managed the farms for his father two years before the latter's death, and has continued there ever since. In 1865 he married Mary Hallman, born in 1845.He has attended market for nearly thirty-five years, adding occasionally to his first purchase, and also selling some land, so that he now owns ninety-four acres of highly cultivated land, the buildings having been very much improved. He has a large herd of cattle, and makes butter at his home, having introduced all the improved machinery for this purpose. He supplies customers regularly with his butter, which gives excellent satisfaction. Mr. Detwiler gives all his time and attention to his business, and is one of the most practical and successful farmers of Perkiomen township. In politics he was reared a Republican, and has always adhered to that party, although he never aspired to public office. He was a school director, however, for a dozen years. He is a member of Trinity Reformed church at Collegeville, and has been in elder since 1891. He takes an active interest in church work and assisted in organizing the Sunday school at Iron Bridge more than a quarter of a century ago, and has been superintendent ever since. Besides being active in Sunday school work he is a good talker, and can interest the children as to secure their attendance.He commands the confidence and respect of the whole community. Mr. Detwiler's wife was born in Skippack township. She is the daughter of Michael and Anna (Markley) Hallman.He was a prominent farmer and in politics in active Republican, and filled the office of supervisor in the township. He attended Philadelphia markets for many years. He died in 1884 aged seventy-one years.His wife died in 1888.They are members of the Dunkard church. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Anna (Markley) Hallman's father were: Mrs. Tyson, Mrs. Detler, Mrs. Nilly, Mrs. Depsell, and Michael. The children of Mrs. Hallman's father: Jacob, Philip, Anna (Mrs. Hallman); Mrs. H. Hunsicker; Deborah, married James Cassell; Sarah, (Mrs. Harley). The children of Michael and Anna (Markley) Hallman: Jacob, a farmer; James, a merchant; Mary, wife of Mr. Detwiler; Anna, Mrs. S. Brecht; Michael, a farmer. The Children of Isaiah H. and Mary (Hallman) Detwiler: Warren H. born March 21, 1867, died August 31, 1903: Anna, married Michael, a machinist of Philadelphia; Mary, married F. Bader; Isaiah, unmarried; Norman, a farmer; Elmer, resides with his parents; Herbert S., a student at the normal school; Samuel R., in school; Katie, died of diphtheria; Bertha, died at the same time and Allan, died also during the epidemic of diphtheria. Mr. and Mrs. Detwiler are members of the Reformed church. Warren H. Detwiler, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Detwiler, was among the foremost educators of Pennsylvania. He was a student at the, West Chester Normal School, and taught some in the public school before his graduation, For two years he was principal of the Hatboro public schools, and in 1889 entered Haverford College, from which noted institution he was graduated with honors in 1892. In March, 1892, he was elected to the chair of history and civics in the Bloomsburg State Normal School, and entered upon his duties at once. After remaining in this position for nine years he was elected a professor of history and economics in the Northeast Normal Training School in Philadelphia. In 1899 the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by Haverford College, Mr. Detwiler was always an enthusiast in athletic sports and during his senior year in Haverford College was captain of the football team.At Bloomsburg State Normal he organized the first football team. Later he became an enthusiastic hunter and fisher, being an expert shot with a pistol. In the summer of 1903, a neighbor called him in to shoot a cat, and in some unknown way he shot himself, being thus cut off in the midst of his promising career. He was highly appreciated and loved by his classmates, scholars and associates, many of whom attended his funeral. His funeral sermon was preached by Dr. Hemmingway, a Presbyterian minister of Philadelphia. A special meeting of the class of 1892 of Haverford College was called in Philadelphia, September 24, 1903, and resolutions were adopted in regard to his death. His death was a great loss to the community and to the schools. He left a widow and two children. 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