Montgomery County PA Archives Biographies.....Alderfer, Lewis S. April 14, 1860 - 
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Joe Patterson jpatter@epix.net February 18, 2026, 2:59 pm

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

LEWIS S. ALDERFER. Abraham Alderfer, grandfather of Lewis S. 
Alderfer, was born in Lower Salford township, Montgomery 
county, Pennsylvania, he being a descendant of the Alderfer 
family who settled in that section of Pennsylvania at an 
early date.

He was educated in the schools of that day in his 
neighborhood, and on leaving school engaged in the 
occupation of farming, which he followed all his life. He 
married and reared a family of children. Among them was 
Jacob, father of Lewis S. Alderfer. He was born on the 
homestead in the same township, and grew to manhood there, 
being educated in the neighborhood schools. He then betook 
himself to the occupation of farming, like his father, which 
he also made a life pursuit. He was a Whig during the 
existence of that political organization, and later a 
Republican in politics, exerting himself to secure the 
triumph if its principles and candidates. He married Miss 
Susanna Swartley, of Hatfield township. The couple had the 
following children: Levi (deceased), Mary, Lavina, Amandus, 
Susanna, Jacob, Amanda, John, Abraham, Philip, Elizabeth, 
Sarah, Emeline and Lewis S., the subject of this sketch.

Lewis S. Alderfer was born in Lower Salford township, April 
14, 1860. He attended the public schools, and on 
relinquishing school study turned his attention to farming 
on the homestead, which he continued for several years very 
successfully. He then commenced farming for himself in 
Towamencin township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where 
he remained for twenty-two years, and in 1902 retired from 
active life and came to his present home in the borough of 
Lansdale, where he purchased a handsome property, and 
erected a modern mansion with all home conveniences.

Mr. Alderfer married, in 1881, Miss Mary E. A. Heebner, 
daughter of Benjamin Heebner, of Worcester township. She is 
now deceased. They had one child, Alvin, who is unmarried. 
In 1900 he married (second wife) Angeline (Detwiler) Romig, 
widow of James Romig. Mr. Alderfer has no children by the 
second marriage. Mr. Alderfer is a Republican, and is 
regarded as an upright man and a good citizen by all who 
know him. He and his wife attend the Mennonite church.

On the 25th of May, 1764, John Clements sold a grist mill in 
Lower Salford, on a branch of the Perkiomen, to Frederick 
Alderfer, who conveyed it to his son John, July 1, 1777. 
Although it does not appear that the Alderfers were the 
earliest family in the township, they have become very 
numerous and influential in that section of Montgomery 
county, holding a considerable amount of real estate. There 
were twenty-six voters of the name in the township in a 
recent year. In the assessment of 1776 the name of Frederick 
Alderfer occurs. He was a miller, holding 490 acres of land, 
and having two sons, John and Jacob. The mill property which 
belonged to the early Aldersfers was on the northeast branch 
of the Perkiomen, a mile north of Lederachville.

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