Montgomery County PA Archives Biographies.....Detterer, William G. November 3, 1849 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson jpatter@epix.net February 25, 2026, 12:53 pm

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

WILLIAM G. DETTERER was born in Philadelphia, November 3, 
1849, and when he was thirteen years of age he left his home 
in Philadelphia and started out in life for himself. He 
secured a position with a farmer in Tacony, and after 
eighteen months spent in his service he went to Delaware 
county, where he worked another eighteen months for George 
B. Allen. Returning to his father, who was engaged in 
farming, he remained at home two years. He then worked on an 
adjoining farm owned by David Wolf, for a year or more. 
Withdrawing from that occupation, he went to Phoenixville 
and worked for several years in the Phoenix Iron Works, 
Leaving there he went to Pencoyd Iron Works, and was 
employed there about a year. He next worked for a few 
months, and was then employed with Dennis Keeley at 
Roxborough, farming and working in a coal yard.

Returning home, his father being on a farm near Chestnut 
Hill, he worked for a year with him, and then went back to 
Roxborough, where he remained three years in the service of 
the Hancock Ice and Coal Company. He then started as a 
tenant, occupying Mr. Shallcross's farm in Whitemarsh, and 
two years more on Thomas Phills' farm in the same township 
managed Mr. David's farm for seven years and afterwards the 
Dougherty farm in Plymouth township, near Norristown, for 
Mr. Detterer then went to Norriton township and bought what 
is known as the Baker farm, with eighty-four, acres of 
improved land, and having convenient and commodious 
buildings. The house and barn are both of stone. The house 
is supplied with water from a spring at some distance, and 
the house has every convenience found in a city home. 
 
Mr. Detterer is a Republican in politics, and has always 
voted for the candidates of that party. His first 
presidential vote was cast for General U. S. Grant. Mr. 
Detterer has been a member of the First Presbyterian church 
of Bridgeport for many years, and has been a trustee three 
years.

Joseph M. Detterer (father) was born near Trappe. He was a 
sheet-iron worker in Philadelphia, and was employed by John 
S. Clark and James S. Spear for many years, although he 
rented farms for his boys to cultivate. He was a Republican 
in politics. He married Miss Kate Simons, and their children 
were: Mary A., married William J. Morris; they reside in 
Wissahickon; their children are George, Edward, Emily and 
Lewis. 2. William G. Detterer. 3. Joseph M. J., unmarried, 
and resides with his mother in Roxborough. Joseph M. 
Detterer died March 20, 1879, his remains being interred at 
Barren Hill.

William G. Detterer married, December 22, 1870, Miss 
Catherine, daughter of David and Anna (Lloyd) Steele. They 
were an old family of Roxborough, and resided there for many 
years. David Steele was born in the home of his ancestors, 
in which Mrs. Detterer lived from childhood until she was 
married. Mr. Steele was a farmer and cooper, working at the 
latter trade in the winter and in the summer on the farm. He 
was a staunch Republican in politics. He was for twelve 
years superintendent of Fairmount Park, along the 
Wissahickon. 

His children were: Margaret, married George Frech, she died 
May 15, 1885; John, died in infancy; William F., married 
Sarah Bisbing, and lives in Roxborough; Catherine H. (Mrs. 
Detterer); David, Jr., Married Ophelia Dishing, and lives in 
Roxborough; Mary, married Joseph Hansen, and lives in the 
state of New York; Marion, married George W. Moyer, and 
lives in Roxborough.

Mr. and Mrs. William G. Detterer have had ten children, as 
follows: William F., born November 7, 1871, married Mary 
Mulholland, and they have two children, William Leroy and 
Raymond; Mary M., born May 27, 1874, died January 22, 1897; 
Nellie, born December 22,1876, unmarried, and is a trained 
nurse in Jefferson Hospital, Philadelphia; Lelna, born 
August 7, 1879, died January 5, 1902; Joseph M., born 
November 1, 1881, married Isabella Ribley; Walter, born 
November 7, 1883; unmarried, is a Machinist at Pencoyd Iron 
Works; Edward, born December 12, 1884, lives with his 
parents; Jennie, born April 5, 1887, died December 5, 1901; 
Howard, born September 1888, lives with his parents and 
works on the farm when not in school; Katie, born January 
10, 1890, died January 13, 1902.

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