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BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS

OF

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

PENNSYLVANIA

CONTAINING


GENEALOGICAL RECORDS 0F REPRESENTATIVE FAMILIES, INCLUDING

MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLERS AND BIOGRAPHICAL

SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS

 
ELLWOOD ROBERTS, EDITOR



 
 
"Knowledge of Kindred and the genealogies of the ancient families deservereth the highest praise. Herein consiseth a part of the knowledge of a man's own self. It is a great spur to virtue to look back on the worth of our line."-Lord Bacon.

"There is no heroic poem in the world but is at the bottom the life of a man."-Sir Walter Scott


 
 
ILLUSTRATED
 
 
VOL. I.

T. S. BENHAM & COMPANY

AND

THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY

NEW YORK        CHICAGO

1904




(Picture of Title Page)






iv.              INTRODUCTORY



The individual was exalted in all his best attributes. Penn had claimed to all who would come that they should feel assured for themselves and for all generations to come after them, of their freedom in as men and Christians, that they may not be brought in bondage but by their own consent, for we put the power in the people. He made it his greatest care to frame a constitution "as near as may be conveniently to the primitive, ancient and fundamental laws of the Kingdom of England, but introducing the democratic method of making all offices elective, and a new principal of perfect religions freedom-"that no man number of men upon earth hath power or authority to rule over men's consciences in religious matters"-which stood in marked contrast with the theocratical ideas of the Puritans in New England, and to the aristocratical reign of Locke in Carolina.

In response to Penn's liberal scheme of government, his declaration in of his intention in to "try this holy experiment of a free colony for all mankind." there came a sturdy people- men and women, too, of brawn and brain and conscience, their hearts fervent in reverence of God and a desire for religious civil liberty-who had voluntarily separated themselves from them native land in order to enjoy the privileges which had been denied them there. It would be worth much could we be afforded a glimpse of these pioneer. They were men of ordinary mold. Great as was their strength of character, and broad (for the times) as was their mental scope, they were building far better than they knew. Simple and clean in their lives, the homes which they builded were humble, but they were the seat of all the domestic virtues, and the children they reared inherited the athletic frame, rugged constitution and noble principles of their forebears.

Montgomery county affords a peculiarly interesting field for such research as has been required in the making of the volumes now present to the to the reader. Her sons at home and abroad have shed luster upon her name by deeds of gallantry on land and sea, by achievements in the arts and sciences, in the pr professions, in statesmanship, and in commercial affairs. Wherever they have dispersed, in the long-ago or in the more recent days, they have been a power for ideal citizenship and good government. Even in the colonial period, when its territory yet formed a portion of the county of Philadelphia, were men there of the highest attainments and of world-wide renown. Here lived the Muhlenbergs, David Rittenhouse, John Lukens, Benjamin Lay, and many others who by natural ability, scholarly acquirements and, above all, by their intense patriotism, shed upon their age, a lustre which yet illumines our own, and will be transmitted to the latest generation. The Revolutionary era abounded in memorable events in Montgomery county. At Valley Forge the army under Washington endured patience privation unparalleled in the behalf of freedom and independence. The valleys of the Schuylkill and Perkiomen were the scene of some of the most remarkable strategic movements of the heroic period. Washington, Lafayette, Wayne and other famous leaders with familiar figures to the forefathers of that day, and of whose own number were men who fought at Germantown, at Brandywine, at Monmouth. In the great Civil War, men of Montgomery County were among the most valiant and faithful defenders of the Union. It gave to the country Hartranft, Hancock, Slemmer, Zook and a host of others whose names are emblazoned upon the roll of fame. Three governors of the State-Porter, Shunk, and Hartranft-were born within the limits of this historic old county, and the home of Pennypacker, a descendent of one of its oldest families, is upon the bank of the Perkiomen.

v.

Thus, in each succeeding generation and at every stage its progress, the people of the county of Montgomery have had the service of men of the loftiest character and highest capability, in arms, in the arts of peace, in statesmanship, in affairs and in letters. It is to connect the active progressive men of the present generation with their illustrious ancestry that the present volumes have been undertaken, in the convection that



It is indeed a blessing when the virtues

Of noble races are hereditary.

And do, derive themselves from the imitation

Of virtuous ancestors.



The publisher here take occasion to express their obligations to the editor, Mr. Elwood Roberts. "Native here, and to the manner born," he has given to his labors not only diligence and industry, but something of that enthusiasm which is praiseworthily becoming in him who holds a proper appreciation of a noble people from whom he sprang and amidst whom he was reared. With reference to the biographical matter it is to be said that the utmost care has been exercised. Yet, in some cases, it may be that a sketch will be found incomplete or faulty, and such shortcoming is ascribable to the paucity data furnished, many families being without exact records in their family line. In all cases the sketch has been submitted to the subject or to his representative for correction or revision, and or revision him rests the final responsibility in case of omission or inaccuracy.

It is confidently believed that the present work will prove a real addition to the mass of literature concerning the people of the historic region under consideration, and that, without it, much valuable information therein contained would be irretrievably lost, owing to the passing away of many custodians of family records and the disappearance of such matter.

                       PUBLISHERS.



vii       INDEX.



Alderfer, John B., 319
Allebach, D. Melvin, 172
Allebaugh, Elmer S., 255
Anders, Samuel K., 19
Anders, William S., 499
Anderson, John F., 121
Argue, Andrew K., 63
Arnoldy, Henrie, 300
Arthur, Albanus C., 393
Ashton, Charles B., 95
Auchenbach, William, 525
Ayars, Matilda M., 419

Bach, William P., 215
Baker, Andrew H., 21
Barlow, Harvey, 199
Barlow, Joel, 394
Bate, Richard H., 487
Bate, William T., 484
Bauer, George, 195
Bean, Wilmer M., 97
Beaver, Barnet K., 438
Beeber, Thomas R., 301
Beener, Christian, 219
Bellows, Horace M., 436
Benner, Milton B., 307
Bergey, David H., 50
Berkhimer, Charles, 155
Berkhimer, George, 256
Berkhimer, John, 151
Binder, William J., 68
Bishop, Daniel M., 453
Blattner, John, 177
Block, Benjamin E., 541
Boorse, Elizabeth A., 391
Boorse, John C., 251
Bosler, Joseph, 515
Bowman, George W., 243
Boyd, James, 1
Boyer, Henry K., 240
Boyer, J. Frank, 304
Bradley, Andrew J., 480
Brant, Samuel S., 427
Brecht, John E., 364
Brooke, William 203
Brophy, Joseph J., 360
Brownback, Henry M., 24
Buckman, Thomas, 112
Buckwalter, I. N., 232
Butcher, William, 138
Buzby, Thomas F., 528

Caley, Cyrus H., 107
Cameron, James S., 355
Carey, Joseph H., 203
Cassel, Benjamin C., 174
Cassel, Isaac R., 394
Casselberry, Clarence M., 181
Castner, George W., 296
Chain, B. Percy, 89
Childs, Louis M., 42
Childs, S. Powell, 127
Clamer, Francis J., 56
Clark, Isaac J., 528
Clayton, Abraham T., 59
Clayton, Hamilton, 65
Clayton, William L., 469
Cleaver, Chalkley K., 338
Cleaver, Jonathan, 540
Clemmer, Josiah, 247
Clymer, Frank, 394
Comly, Harry, 380
Conard, Henry F., 156
Conrad, John M., 159
Cooke, Jay, 62
Corson, Ellwood M., 292
Corson, Isabella F., 471
Corson, Mary, 471
Corson, Joseph K., 44
Coulston, John M., 524
Coulston, Joseph P., 524
Coulston, Walter 74
Cox, B. Wilson, 513
Cox, Charles A. 512
Cozens, James A., 372
Crawford, Albert 224
Cressman, Henry C., 102
Custer, Horace A., 210

Davidheiser, Franklin B., 43
Davidheiser, Milton R., 439
Davidheiser, William W., 416
Davis, Jesse B., 93
Davis, Jesse M., 322
Davis, John, 182
Davis, Mary A., 463
Davis, The Family, 71
Dengler, Harry C., 226
DePrefontaine, Charles, 147
DePrefontaine, Walter, 150
Detwiler, George M., 358
Dingee, Albert H., 529
Dingee, Lester I., 529
Dotterrer, Augustus W., 395
Dresher, Samuel, 460
Duddy, John, 448
Duffield, Frank W., 158
Dyer, John T., 35

Ebert, Horace M., 9
Edwards, Jacob, 527
Egbert, Allan C., 257
Egolf, George L., 396
Ehst, Jacob M., 407
Ellis, David M., 328
Erb, Israel M., 381
Espenship, Matilda B., 347
Evans, Benjamin, 297
Evans, L. Kryder 213
Evans, Miller D., 222
Evans, Montgomery, 5
Evans, Oliver, 336
Evans, William, 298

Famous, Benjamin F., 164
Farrall, Frank P., 330
Feather, Hiram B., 187
Fegely, Calvin, 191
Fegely, W. O., 369
Fegley, Franklin G., 273
Felty, L. R., 540
Finkbinder, U. G. S., 238
Fisher, Adam, 452
Fisher, Harvey S., 384
Fisher, John F., 175
Fisher, Samuel R., 230
Fisher, S. Wilson, 264
Fleck, Byron M., 463
Forance, Joseph, 373
Foulds, Thomas, 272
Freed, Elias K., 491
Freed, William G., 169
Fretz, Allen M., 245
Fritz, John S., 202
Fritz, John S., 493
Fronhiser, Samuel, 183
Frorer, Henry, 350
Fryer, Josiah, 390

viii       INDEX.

Gable, Percival K., 77
Garber, Joseph S., 420
Gehman, Abner H., 277
Gehret, George W., 361
Geist, Howard W., 351
Gilbert, Elias H., 220
Gilbert, James W., 203
Gilbert, John G., 132
Gilbert, Maurice E., 259
Gilbert, William, 404
Gillin, Robert H., 451
Gillin, Thomas S., 449
Glenn, Thomas A., 531
Godshalk, Frank S., 318
Godshalk, George D., 315
Godshalk, J. W., 493
Gordon, Samuel R., 252
Gotwals, Abraham G., 362
Gotwals, Joseph K., 312
Gotwalts, Jacob V., 8
Groff, Henry A., 27
Groff, Joseph W., 368

Hainer, Levi W., 295
Hall, Joanna, 379
Hall, William M., 379
Hallman, Harry F., 265
Hallman, James M., 253
Hallowell, Alfred P., 66
Hallowell, Jacob L., 435
Hallowell, Joseph W., 136
Hallowell, William J., 481
Hamel, George Sr., 539
Hampton, John, 52
Harry, Edwin M., 293
Hart, Andrew L., 458
Hart, Elwood L., 141
Hart, Zieber, 220
Hartenstine, Samuel, 406
Hartranft, Caroline K., 266
Hartranft, John F., 517
Harvey, David G., 67
Hawkins, Charles G., 413
Heckler, Isaac R., 382
Heebner, Jacob W., 337
Helffenstein, Albert, 118
Hendricks, Abraham H., 186
Hendricks, Joseph H., 333
Herner, Henry H., 447
Herner, John R., 475
High, David K., 328
High, Samuel H., 530
Hillegass, Mahlon, 475
Hillegass, Warren S., 308
Hinderberger, Franz, 489
Historical Society of Montgomery County, 341
Hobart, William M., 189
Hobson, Freeland G., 12
Hoffecker, Reuben I., 16
Holcomb, Mrs. Charles, 96
Hollenbach, George C., 197
Holly, Theodore, 470
Hoot, Ellwood, 533
Hoover, Francis C., 162
Hoover, Hiram C., 30
Hower, Frank A., 165
Hughes, The Family, 282
Jarrett, John H., 354
Jarrett, Samuel F., 444
Jenkins, Earl A., 11
Jenkins, Howard M., 38
Jenkins, Parker, 426
Johnson, Jacob S., 237
Jones, George W., 290
Jones, Jonathan R., 542

Kane, Edward F., 388
Kane, James J., 538
Keeler, Henry A., 101
Kehl, Albert G., 542
Kennedy, David R., 119
Kepler, Furman, 422
Kepler, Levi F., 453
Keyser, Esther W., 308
Keyser, Milton T., 114
Kibblehouse, Ralph K., 268
Kirk, Jesse J., 73
Knipe, Irvin P., 92
Kratz, Harry W., 432
Krause, Anna J., 267
Kreible, Abraham, 421
Kreible, Jesse S., 299
Kreible, John K., 178
Kulp, Samuel N., 86
Kurtz, Irwin B., 196

Landis, J. Horace, 81
Landis, Jonas M., 364
Laros, Jesse S., 478
Larzelere, Nicholas H., 6
Latch, Edward B., 121
Leaf, Henry P., 195
Lee, J. Ellwood, 22
Leitenberger, John, 316
Lenhart, John E., 446
Levengood, Peter Y., 260
Lewin, J. Milton, 482
Lewis, Effie M., 494
Linde, Catherine, 279
Linde, Christian, 279
Lindsay, Andrew, 69
Livezey, Mary Roberts, 60
Livezey, T. Ellwood, 32
Livezey, Thomas H., 510
Lodge, John W., 176
Longstreth, Sarah H., 454
Loomis, John, 251
Loughlin, Alexander, 472
Lovett, Robert, 490
Lowery, Harry S., 531
Lukens, Charles, 505
Lukens, George W., 317
Lukens, George T., 506
Lukens, Jawood, 506
Lukens, The Family 502
Lukens, William E., 521

Mann, Charles H., 476
March, Thomas, J., 324
Martin, William J., 54
Mather, Charles, 53
Mather, Isaac, 184
Mathews, Edgar, 236
Mauck, The Family, 500
McCann, Joseph W., 154
McFarland, The Family, 433
McGinley, Joseph J., 225
McHarg, John S., 446
McHarg, William, 367
McKinlay, John 348
McMahon, George, 423
Meschter, George K., 306
Messinger, S. L., 216
Metz, Abraham K., 445
Metz, John K., 309
Mills, Ellis, 353
Mintzer, William M., 25
Moore, Herbert U., 459
Moore, M. Anna, 497
Morgan, George C., 109
Morris, John R., 139
Morris, Oliver G., 409
Morton, The Farm, 419
Moyer, Tobias E., 470
Murphy, Andrew J., 479
Murphy, Benjamin Franklin, 163
Murphy, George, 141

Nash, Daniel, 502
Nash, Harry L., 228
Nash, Joseph Y., 125
Neiman, Howard Y., 215
Newlin, Franklin, 271
Newport, David, 129
Nippes William D., 331
Noble, Samuel, 61
Nyce, Edwin S., 404
Nyce, Jacob P., 315

Oberholtzer, Morris B., 360
O'Brien, Michael P., 76
Ortt, Rowley K., 83

Penrose, Benjamin F., 383
Phillips, Thomas W., 140
Pifer, George W., 228
Porter, J. Elmer, 400
Potts, William W., 326

Rambo, Charles W., 231
Ramey, Charles, 227
Ramsey, Ellen D., 343
Rapp, Peter S., 429
Raudenbush, Owen, 135
Reifsnyder, Horace F., 514
Reigner, Jesse B., 350
Rex, John H., 64
Richards, Anna E., 190
Richards, William B., 321
Richardson, David D., 10
Righter, Horace B., 428
Roberts, Algernon B., 512
Roberts, Charles H., 274
Roberts, Ellwood, 342
Roberts, Hugh, 88
Roberts, Willis R., 160
Rodenbaugh, William H., 116
Rogers, The Family, 536
Root, R. Morgan, 451
Royer, John D., 393
Rupert, William W., 207
Ruth, Jacob K., 310

Sands, Horatio, 206
Sassaman, Henry S., 179

ix       INDEX.

Saylor, Albert G., 198
Saylor, Elmer E., 422
Schall, John W., 90
Scheidt, Adam, 104
Schirmer, John, 157
Schneider, Henry W., 269
Schrack, John, 398
Schreiber, John S., 138
Schreiber, Theodore, 133
Schwab, George M., 152
Schwenk, Samuel Z., 399
Schweyer, Henry A., 346
Seiple, Samuel C., 344
Seipt George A., 311
Shade, Jacob, 414
Shade, John M., 208
Shaner, Harry A., 413
Shellenberger, Edwin M., 170
Shelly, Daniel W., 543
Shelmire, John S., 401
Sheppard, William, 261
Shoemaker, Jesse C., 164
Shoemaker, Joseph A., 144
Shoemaker, Louis, R., 378
Shoemaker, Mary S., 148
Shoemaker, William H., 146
Shuler, William R., 357
Simpson, Charles, 417
Slingluff, Henry G., 142
Slingluff, William H., 280
Slough, Ephraim F., 303
Smith, Frank L., 424
Smith, Newberry A., 46
Smith, O. P., 212
Smith, Thomas V., 258
Snell, William C., 392
Snyder, John C., 294
Snyder, Stephen, 319
Sommer, Henry J., 499
Souder, Elmer N., 476
Souder, Harvey, 352
Spang, Joseph, 204
Springer, Daniel J., 239
Stager, John, 544
Stahlnecker, Henry W., 467
Stannard, Edward J., 153
Stannard, Lewis J., 323
Steele, Thomas C., 211
Stinson, Charles H., 87
Stong, Lewis B., 133
Stout, Amanda, 492
Stout, John D., 420
Stover, Christian, 401
Strahan, J. A., 107
Strasser, Ernest W., 461
Streeper, Thomas S., 332
Strehle, August, 474
Styer, Freas, 320
Summers, The Family, 534
Summers, William, 535
Supplee, J. Henderson, 506
Supplee, Joel, 249
Swavely, Sameul B., 412

Taft, Eugene L., 254
Taggert, William, 235
Tauble, Louis E., 223
Templeton, Charles, 85
Thomas, Benjamin, 36
Thomson, James K., 49
Thomson, Thomas, 522
Titlow, Jacob R., 234
Todd, John, 188
Townsend, Edward Y., 46
Townsend, Henry T., 48
Townsend, John W., 48
Twaddle, John H., 200
Tyson, John H., 99
Tyson, Joseph H., 310

Updegrove, Francis B., 349

Vanderslice, John M., 192
Van Horn, James, 167
Voorhees, J. Frank, 396

Wagner, John T., 221
Walt, Abram, 370
Walt, Andrew, 462
Walton, Amos, 149
Walton, William E., 143
Wanger, Irvin P., 28
Wanner, Elwood J., 509
Watt, George W., 299
Weber, J. Howard, 173
Weigner, John K., 314
Weinberger, J. Shelly, 402
Wells, Mary M., 270
Wells, William J., 440
Wentz, Abram, 70
Werkiser, Adam, 135
West, William, 168
White, Daniel H., 483
Wiand, William H., 457
Wickersham, Frank, 466
Wieand, Charles S., 408
Willauer, William, 384
Williams, Irvin C., 229
Willard, Philip, 456
Wise, Henry Y., 426
Withers, M. Augustus, 180
Wolford, Benjamin D., 380
Wood, Charles S., 513
Wood, David E., 430
Wood, Horace C., 159
Wood, John, 532
Wood, Richard F., 464
Woodward, S. B., 542

Yeager, Samuel S., 171
Yeager, Samuel M., 415

Ziegler, Elmer B., 538

(Picture of Ellwood Roberts)

Montgomery County Index

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