(Picture of Henry W. Hallowell)

 

HENRY W. HALLOWELL, a representative citizen residing near Bethayres, in Moreland township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, was born on the farm which is his home, February 7, 1847, and is a son of Israel and Rebecca (Williams) Hallowell. He is a descendant of John Hallowell, the immigrant, who became the progenitor of a numerous family in that section of the state, and from whom are descended most if not all the Hallowells residing in the Eastern, Middle and Central Western states.

John Hallowell, the immigrant, was twice married, as appears from the records of Abington meeting. His first wife, Sarah, bore him one child, John, born in England, 12 mo. 8, 1672. His second wife was Mary, a daughter of Thomas Sharpe, who came with him from Hucknow, in the parish of Sutton, Nottinghamshire, England, bringing a Friends' certificate dated 12 mo. 19, 1682. Of this marriage there were nine children; the first three born in England, and the others in America, as follows: Sarah, born 1677; Thomas; 1679; Mary, 1681; John, 1685; Elizabeth, 1687; Hannah, 1689; Samuel, 1692; Benjamin, 1694; Jane, 1696.

John Hallowell, on first coming to the country, settled near Darby. On 6th mo. 15, 1696, he bought from Silas Crispin, executor of the estate of Thomas Holme, a tract of land containing 630 acres in Abington township, adjoining Upper Dublin, and on the line of the Manor of Moreland for upwards of a mile, paying therefor 58 pounds, 16 shillings. Soon after this purchase John Hallowell removed to his new property, living at first in a rude cabin which he constructed partly in the ground, on the sunny side of a hill, making a habitation which in early days was known as a cave, similar to those constructed by some of the early settlers of Philadelphia. This was at or near what has recently been the residence of the well known horseman, Philip R. Theobald (who purchased the property from the estate of John Shaw), about a mile and a half southwest of Willow Grove, in one of the finest neighborhoods in Montgomery county.

The Theobald farm formed a portion of the original Hallowell tract. Up to the time of the Theobald purchase from the John Shaw estate, Shaw having purchased from Benjamin Hallowell, son of Isaac and Sarah Hallowell, about 1850, the property had remained in the Hallowell family, and the adjoining one-hundred-acre tract has remained in the family name for considerably more than two centuries. John Hallowell conveyed to his eldest son, Thomas, 8 mo. 1, 1702, 220 acres of his tract with the improvements thereon.

The remainder, 408 acres, he divided equally, 4 mo. 11, 1706, between two younger sons, Samuel and Benjamin, as they came of age. Thomas conveyed, 12 mo. 25, 1730, his 220 acre farm derived from his father to his eldest child William who purchased from William Dunn in 1730 one hundred acres in Moreland, which he conveyed to his son Thomas, a weaver, who had previously occupied it. This tract was situated a mile northwest of Willow Grove, and is the farm which was owned by Joseph Hallowell, father of Dr. William Hallowell, of Norristown, now long deceased, and on which he was born more than a century ago, he having been the son of Joseph Hallowell and grandson of Thomas Hallowell. Thomas died in 1788, and his son Joseph in 1843, William, dying fifty years later, so that the three generations of the same family, represented by these three individuals, owned the property for a time somewhat exceeding a century and a half, being a very remarkable instance of longevity in one family.

 

(Page 477)

 

Thomas, son of John and Mary Hallowell, born 1679, died 1734, married in 1702 at Darby, in what is now Delaware county, Pennsylvania, Rosamond Till, who survived him, dying in 1745. Both were buried in the old section of the burying ground adjoining the Friends' meeting house at Abington. Their children were: John, born 1703; Mary, 1705; Thomas, 1706; William, 1707; Rosamond, 1709; Elizabeth, 1711; Sarah, 1714; Thomas, 1715; Samuel, 1717; Joseph, 1719.

William, next in the line of descent, (great-great-grandfather, son of Thomas and Rosamond (Till) Hallowell, resided on his farm in Abington until 8 mo. 23, 1794, where he died at the age of eighty-seven years. He was twice married. His first wife was Margaret, born 1708, died 1753, daughter of Matthias (or Matthew) and Mary Tyson. They were the parents of twelve children: Thomas, born 1730; Rosamond, 1731; Matthew, 1733; William, 1734; John, 1736; Rynear, 1739; David, 1740; Mary, 1742; Isaac, 1744; John, 1746; John (3d), 1749; Joshua, 1751. William Hallowell married (second) Agnes, daughter of Peter Shoemaker, and to them were born four children: Daniel, born 1754; Caleb, 1756; Joseph, 1759; Sarah, 1761.

John Hallowell, son of William and Margaret (Tyson) Hallowell, born in 1749, great-grandfather of the subject, Henry W. Hallowell, was a resident of Cheltenham township, Montgomery county. He married, 11 mo. 3, 1774, Martha, born 3 mo. 9, 1753, in Milford, Bucks county, daughter of Thomas, Jr., and Letitia Roberts, been father being the son of Thomas Roberts, the immigrant. John and Martha (Roberts) Hallowell lived in Abington township after their Marriage, and John died there in 1793 during the prevalence of an epidemic of yellow fever in Philadelphia, he having contracted the disease while engaged in the transaction of business in that city. Their children were: Isaac, married Mary Fletcher; Israel, further mentioned below; Ann, married Joseph Williams; John R., married Ann Jarrett.

Israel, who was the second son of John and Martha (Roberts) Hallowell [Note 1] and grandfather of Henry W. Hallowell, was born in 1778. He was a large property holder, owning valuable farms in Abington and Moreland townships, and was also a miller, owning a grist mill on the Pennypack creek, which his father had operated prior to the Revolutionary war. He married Mary, daughter of William Jarrett, of Horsham, and their children were: Ann L., who married Isaac Mather, for whose children see sketch of Isaac Mather, elsewhere in this work; Martha married Samuel Parry; John J., married Rachel Williams; Tacy, married David Eastburn; William Jarrett, married Lydia Ann Lloyd; Israel, Jr., of whom further below; Mary, married George Ely; Jonas Wyman married Esther L. Fenton.

 

 

FOOTNOTE 1:

*Martha Roberts Hallowell, who was the great-grandmother of Henry W. Hallowell (the subject of this sketch), was a woman of great ability. She lived with her son, John R. Hallowell, at his home in Abington, her husband having died from yellow fever in 1793. She often walked to the home of her son Israel, who lived on the original homestead, the Pennypack flour mill, a short distance south from the place now known as Bethayres.

The story has been told by Joseph W. Hallowell (died in 1904), a grandson, who afterward owned and lived upon this farm, that on one occasion, after one of her visits, he saw Martha Roberts Hallowell pick up a branch of a tree for a cane, and on nearing home thrust it into the ground. It grew into a grand old tree, and yet stands a fitting memorial to the woman, and a constant reminder to the passerby of the kindness of heart and ever helpful spirit of her who planted it. The accompanying illustration shows the tree, a sycamore, as it now stands by the roadside at the entrance to the place which was once owned by Joseph W. Hallowell, and is now the property of Thomas B. Wanamaker.

END OF FOOTNOTE

 

(Page 478)

 

Israel Hallowell, Jr., son of Israel and Mary (Jarrett) Hallowell, married Rebecca Williams, and their children were: Mary Anna, born February 24, 1843; and Henry W., born February 7, 1847.

Henry Williams Hallowell, only son of the parents last named, was six years old when they removed to the mill near Chestnut Hill, in Philadelphia county, whence he returned with them the following year to the old homestead in Moreland. His occupation is that of a farmer. He has borne an active part in community affairs, having served usefully in various responsible positions, among others that of county treasurer, to which he was elected in 1898, and in which he served for three years, retiring at the close of his term with the confidence and esteem of all with whom he came in contact during his incumbency of the office. In politics he is a Republican, and takes a prominent and active interest in the councils of his party in Montgomery county. He and his family are members of the Society of Friends, as are the great majority of the descendants of his immigrant ancestor, John Hallowell. Mr. Hallowell married Margaret Thomson, who was born in Cheltenham township, January 6, 1848, a daughter of John and Caroline (Jones) Thomson. She is descended from two prominent families of Friends in lower Montgomery county, those of Thomson and Jones. John Thomson, of Cheltenham township, her great-grandfather, born 12 mo. 22, 1750, died 9 mo. 28, 1838, married in 1773 Abigail Roberts, born 7 mo. 28, 1751, died 7 mo. 15, 1843, daughter of Thomas, Jr., and Letitia Roberts, of Milford township, Bucks county. The couple had three daughters- Hannah, who married Thomas Shoemaker; Sarah, married Samuel Rowland; and Catharine, who died in her thirteenth year. Their second child, born 9 mo. 30, 1775, died 12 mo. 26, 1825, was Thomas, who married Jane Jarrett, and lived in Cheltenham. The children of Thomas and Jane; Thomson were: Ann, married Jacob Jarrett; Hannah, married John Roberts, of the Byberry family of Roberts; Catherine, married Richard, son of Richard and Rebecca Roberts; Sarah, married (first) Anthony Williams, (second) Jesse Shoemaker, and (third) Cyrus Betts; John, the father of Mrs. Hallowell; Abigail, married John Wildman, of Langhorne; and Elizabeth.

The children of Henry W. and Margaret (Thomson) Hallowell are: John T., born June 5, 1875, died July 30, same year; Israel, born November 10, 1876, died December 26, same year; Jane T., born October 20, 1878, married Dr. David G. Harvey; and Israel R., born April 12, 1884.

There are few families so much distinguished for longevity, integrity and industry, and so fully possessing the confidence and esteem of the community as the Hallowells. They have intermarried, as has been seen, with many of the leading families of their section of Pennsylvania. Among the more noted members of the family was Benjamin Hallowell, who was an eminent teacher, and an expert mathematician. His academy at Alexandria, Virginia, was one of the most popular boarding schools of its day, and at Sandy Spring, Maryland, where he passed his later years, he maintained a very flourishing school. He was one of the best known preachers of the Society of Friends.

 

(Page 479)

 

 

HUGH McINNES was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, in 1835. His father, John McInnes, was born in the same place in 1806, and was descended from a long line of Highland ancestors, one of whom, Sir Hugh McInnes, was killed In the Second Crusade. He came to America in 1840, settled in Philadelphia, and There started one of the first carpet manufactories in the city, which he operated for some years, subsequently engaging in the lime business, which he followed until his death in 1873. The wife of John McInnes was Martha Hunter, daughter of James and Martha Hunter, who were also natives of Scotland. The children of John and Martha McInnes were: John T.; Hugh (the subject of this sketch); Martha, widow of David Dunlap, of Phoenix, Arizona; Mary, wife of Peter Gold, of Philadelphia; Sarah, wife of Thomas Clarke, of Philadelphia; and Annie B., wife of George Snowden, of Philadelphia.

Hugh McInnes was a lad of about five years of age when he came to America with his parents. He was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia, and entered into the business of shipping stone and manufacturing lime in Upper Merion, Montgomery county, and at one time was the largest manufacturer of building and land lime in the eastern part of Pennsylvania; also operating marble quarries in Tredyffrin township, Chester county.

In 1879 he, in partnership with Robert P. Dager, of Norristown, Pennsylvania, built and equipped the Rebecca Paper Mill. Mr. Dager retiring in a short time, Mr. McInnes engaged extensively in the making of manila paper and the manufacture of paper bags, continuing until 1902, when he sold the mill and retired. He resides in a handsome residence which he built in 1893, on the corner of DeKalb and Chestnut streets, Norristown.

Mr. McInnes is in politics a Republican, and was a school director, town councilman and treasurer of the borough of Bridgeport, in which he resided for twenty-four years. He is a master Mason, and has been a member of Charity Lodge, No. 190, for more than forty years.

In November, 1861, Mr. McInnes married Miss Rebecca Ovenshine, daughter of Henry Ovenshine, and Mary Jane (Leese) Ovenshine. They have had five children: Henry O., Janet W., Martha H., Mary T., and Helen L. Henry O. and Helen L. died in infancy. Janet W. is the wife of George W. Roberts; they have one daughter, Rebecca McInnes Roberts.

On the paternal side, Mrs. McInnes is descended from Reinhold Abendschon, who came to this country in 1749, and on the maternal side from Nicholas Austen, a Quaker preacher, who came with William Penn in 1682. Mrs. McInnes has been prominent in public and charitable work for the past thirty years. She was treasurer for the Centennial Committee of Montgomery county. She was one of the leaders in the free bridge movement, and was treasurer of the Free Bridge Association; also one of the prime movers in the purchase of Washington's Headquarters at Valley Forge, and with Mr. and Mrs. William H. Holstein, arranged the price and terms with its then owner, Mrs. Hannah Ogden. She is now regent of the Centennial and Memorial Association of Valley Forge.

 

 

WILLIAM D. ZIMMERMAN, cashier of the First National Bank of Conshohocken, is a member of an old Montgomery county family who are descendants of John Jacob Zimmerman, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and eminent as a preacher and teacher. He is the son of Lorenzo D. and Anna M. (Dager) Zimmerman, and was born in Whitpain township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, September 7, 1854.

Mr. Zimmerman obtained his early education in the public school in the vicinity of his home, subsequently taking a course in the Norristown high school. On leaving that institution he returned to his home in Whitpain township, and remained there, assisting in various farm duties, until 1875. In that year he secured a position in the Montgomery National Bank of Norristown through a personal friendship that existed between his uncle, Isaac Zimmerman, and Mr. William H. Slingluff, who is now long deceased. The uncle has been for many years a director of the Bank of Montgomery County, the predecessor of the Montgomery National Bank, and while serving in that capacity had assisted in making Mr. Slingluff cashier of the institution, when he was but twenty-one years of age. Mr. Slingluff reciprocated this display of confidence in his own abilities by offering Mr. Zimmerman's nephew, William D. Zimmerman, the subject of this sketch, a position as bookkeeper in the bank.

 

(Page 480)

 

The offer was accepted, and Mr. Zimmerman entered upon his duties in the institution, September 1, 1875. After fourteen years of faithful and satisfactory service in that position, Mr. Zimmerman, by way of recognition, was asked by Mr. John Slingluff, president of the Montgomery Trust Company, then recently organized and located in the same building, to accept a somewhat similar position in the new institution. This offer was accepted by Mr. Zimmerman, and he remained in that capacity until May, 1890, when he was promoted to secretary and treasurer of the Trust Company, being duly elected by the board of directors. He continued in that capacity until October 1, 1894, when the late William McDermott, cashier of the First National Bank of Conshohocken, having resigned his position, Mr. Zimmerman was elected to fill it.

He entered upon the duties and responsibilities of the new position at once, and has ever since performed them to the satisfaction of all concerned, including directors and other officers, the customers of the institution and the public. He has thus had an experience of nearly thirty years in connection with banking institutions, including nineteen years in the two which are located in the Montgomery Bank building at Norristown.

Mr. Zimmerman is a Republican in politics, but has never taken an active part in political affairs, preferring to follow the pathway of close attention to business interests committed to his care. He married, April 10, 1879, Miss Mary L., daughter of William W. and Rosina (Thomas) Bally, a retired builder, formerly of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, but then residing in Plymouth township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman have one child, Frederic, born November 27, 1882, who is a clerk in the First National Bank of Conshohocken. Mr. Zimmerman and his family attend the Methodist church: John Jacob Zimmerman, the earliest known ancestor of the family, was born in the village of Vaihingen, on the River Enz, Kingdom of Wurtemberg, in 1644. He became a student at the celebrated University of Tubingen, graduating in 1664. He entered the Lutheran ministry, and from 1671 to 1684 was in charge of the church at Beitigheim. Becoming involved in a controversy with the orthodox clergy, they accused him of teaching astrology and magic, and he was tried and deposed from the ministry. From 1684 to 1689 he was a professor in the University of Heidelberg. He was evidently a very learned man, having been the author of eighteen or more works upon theology and astronomy. He died in Rotterdam, Holland, in 1693, when about to take passage for America with his family. His widow, with their children, Maria Margaretha, baptized October 10, 1675; Philip Christian, baptized February 18, 1678; Matthias, baptized June 25, 1680, and Jacob Christopher, baptized May 14, 1683, continued their journey to America, leaving Rotterdam in August,, 1693, and staying in London for several months. On February 21, 1694, they arrived at Deal, and after several delays sailed from Plymouth, for America on the 18th of April. They entered Chesapeake Bay on June 14, and reached Philadelphia on June 23, proceeding thence to Germantown, where they located, and where the widow died in 1725.

In 1708, Christopher Zimmerman's name appears among those of the members of the Mennonite church at Germantown. In the same year he bought a tract of land in Van Bibber township, Philadelphia county, and in 1734 was assessed as a land owner in Worcester township, then newly organized. In the same year he is mentioned as one of a jury to lay out a road from Pawling's plantation to another road leading to St. James church and Norriton Mills.

The second Christopher (great-grandfather) was born, in 1735. He married Deborah, daughter of Hance and Magdalena Supplee. Their children, eight in number, were: Magdalena, born 1764, married John DeHaven; Katharine, born 1767, married John Clemens; Susanna, born 1768, married Samuel Supplee; Isaac, born 1770, died unmarried; Jacob, born 1772, married Mary White; John, born 1775, died unmarried; David, born 1777, married Mary Matthias; William, born 1781, married Esther, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Norman) Butler.

Christopher Zimmerman, the father of these children, was a farmer during the early part of his life. He resided in Worcester township. Later, and at the time of his death in 1782, he lived on the homestead in Whitpain township. His remains repose in the old Bethel church cemetery (Methodist) in Worcester. The date of his birth, 1735, is still legible on the weather-worn tombstone.

 

(Page 481)

 

William Zimmerman (grandfather) was born and reared in Worcester township. He learned the trade of stone mason, but never followed that occupation to any extent. From 1830 to 1835 he was engaged in the lumber business in Philadelphia, in partnership with John Evans, the firm being Zimmerman & Evans. He subsequently purchased the farm in Whitpain which became the family homestead in the last century, where he resided to the time of his death. It consisted originally of two hundred acres of fertile land, but has been divided and occupied later by his sons. He was a Whig, and after the formation of the Republican party became one of its active Members. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was an emergency soldier in the war of 1812, and was stationed at Marcus Hook, near Chester, Pennsylvania, for a time. His children: Sylvester and Cecilia, twins; Lorenzo D. and Franklin. William Zimmerman died November 6, 1862, in the eighty-second year of his age. His wife, Esther, died August 8, 1888, at the age of ninety years.

Lorenzo D. Zimmerman (father) was born in Gwynedd township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, July 20, 1827. His father soon afterwards removed to Philadelphia and thence to Whitpain township, Montgomery county, where he received his early education at the Ellis school, near Washington Square, in that township. He reared his family on the Whitpain homestead, having married, in 1853, Anna Maria, daughter of Jacob and Caroline (Streeper) Dager, of Springfield township. They had two children, William D., subject of this sketch, and George S., who occupies the homestead. Lorenzo D. Zimmerman continued in an extensive farming business until February, 1881, when he retired from active pursuits. He removed to Norristown, where he purchased a site, No. 1300 DeKalb street, and erected a handsome residence in which he has since lived, enjoying well-earned retirement.

On his mother's side Mr. Zimmerman is descended from Leonard Streeper, who was the owner of an extensive tract of land in Whitemarsh township in colonial times. From this farm he donated the ground on which are the Barren Hill church and cemetery. He had a son, George Streeper, of Whitemarsh, who died in 1864, at the age of eighty-two years. He married Elizabeth Hinckel, who was born near Philadelphia in 1779, and attained the age of ninety-two years, her death having occurred in 1871. Caroline S. Dager, grandfather of William D. Zimmerman, was his daughter.

 

 

(Picture of George M. Stiles)

 

GEORGE M. STILES, M. D., gained prominence both in the line of his profession and as a public official of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and his labors were of a character that made him a representative and valued citizen. He was of English ancestry.

Levi Stiles (grandfather) was born in England, and came to America at an early age with his parents. The voyage was a long one, and several times the vessel went far out of its course and it was supposed that they would never reach harbor, but eventually anchor was dropped in American waters, and Levi Stiles landed in New York city. He was a brewer by occupation, and after reaching the new world he began the brewing business on a small scale in a town near the eastern metropolis. Subsequently he removed to Baltimore, Maryland, Where he resided up to the time of his death, conducting a brewery in that city. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Hent.

 

(Page 482)

 

Joseph H. Stiles (father), a son of Levi and Mary (Hent) Stiles, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1817, and died in 1881, at the age of sixty-four years. He pursued his education in the schools of his native city, and afterward learned the trade of shipwright. Eventually he became an extensive shoe merchant, conducting a wholesale business. His last days were spent in Burlington, New Jersey, where his death occurred. His wife, Elizabeth (Hankins) Stiles, a native of Virginia, who died August 2, 1902, bore him the following named children, all of whom are now deceased: William H.; Elmira, who became the wife of Benjamin H. Wiley; and George M., mentioned hereinafter.

Dr. Stiles was born in Burlington, New Jersey, February 14, 1844, and when a small lad went to his mother's old home in Virginia, where he remained for some time, acquiring his primary education in the public schools. He, after ward attended Pennington Seminary, and was there prepared for a collegiate course. He next entered Princeton University, from which famous institution he was graduated in the class of 1862, winning the Master's degree.

His professional training was received in the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, which he entered in 1864, completing the course by graduation in 1866, at which time he won some of the honors of the class. In 1863 he was appointed by Governor Curtin as a staff physician in a Pennsylvania Regiment.

Dr. Stiles located for practice in Whitemarsh township, Montgomery county, where he followed his profession until July, 1868, when he came to Conshohocken, where he resided continuously up to the time of his death. He led a most active life both in connection with his profession, and by reason of his identification with interests connected with the development and progress of his town, He served for many years as resident physician at the hospital at Radnor, Pennsylvania, and was also a physician at the Blockley Hospital, in Philadelphia, for a number of years. He was a trustee of the State Hospital for the Insane at Norristown, Pennsylvania, for six year and in addition to such duties he had a large private practice which was constantly making heavy demands upon his time and attention. He was always interested in everything tending to bring to man the key to that complex mystery which we call life, and had carried his investigations far and wife into the realms of medical science. He served in the capacity of surgeon for the Pennsylvania Railroad, and for over nine years was a member of the board of prison inspectors of Montgomery county. He held membership in the American Medical Society, the Montgomery County Medical Society, of which he was president, and the Alpha Mu Pi Omega medical fraternity of Philadelphia, of which he was also president. He was a gentleman of broad scholarly attainments, and was a member of the Society of Natural Sciences and the London Shakespeare Society, also of the Hudson Club and the Masonic lodge, having been a past master of the last named. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party, and he was a recognized factor iii community interests. For many years, he was president of the school board, and was largely instrumental in advancing the schools of Conshohocken to their present high standard. He was identified with the Society of Friends, was prominent and public-spirited, and aided greatly in promoting the material development and the intellectual, social and moral welfare of his community.

In 1872 Dr. Stiles was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Huston, a representative of the old Huston family of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. Their children were: Mary and Elsie, both deceased. The death of Dr. Stiles occurred June 9, 1904.

 

(Page 483)

 

 

JAMES E. DOUGHERTY, editor of the Bryn Mawr Record, is a native of Lower Merion, township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He was born December 5, 1862. His parents were Edward Dougherty, of Rathmullan, county Donegal, Ireland, and Annie McMullin, of county; Derry, Ireland. At the age of five and a half years he was sent to the public school at Bryn Mawr. With the exception of two years, one of which he spent at the Radnor school near the old Baptist burying ground at Wayne, and one at Easttown school, then Cabbagetown, now Waterloo Mills, Chester county, he remained at Bryn Mawr until April, 1878, when he entered the Augustinian College of Villanova, in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, at which institution he graduated, June 30, 1880, as B. S. His graduation took place twenty-two days after he had entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as a clerk in the office of the auditor of passenger receipts. He remained in that department for a period of fourteen years and six months, resigning his position on November 17, 1894, to be postmaster at Haverford, Pennsylvania, having been appointed August i6, 1894, by President Cleveland. He served until August 16, 1902, when as a Democrat, he was removed by President Roosevelt. He then became associated with the Suburban Publishing Company at Wayne, Pennsylvania, acting as editor of the Bryn. Mawr Record.

Politically, Mr. Dougherty is a Democrat, and he has always been an earnest advocate of its principles and policy. He has been county committeeman, and a delegate to several Democratic county conventions. Mr. Dougherty has been all his life a total abstainer from intoxicating beverages. He has the honor of having been the first member on the roll of the St. Thomas, at Villanova, Total Abstinence Society, which was organized January 14, 1877.

In 1892 he was instrumental in organizing Our Lady of Good Counsel Total Abstinence Benevolent Society of Bryn Mawr, and in May, 1900, he organized the Ladies' Society of the same parish. He has been a delegate to the Philadelphia Catholic Total Abstinence Union for a period of twenty-five successive years. He has also been a delegate to national conventions of the Total Abstinence Union of America from the Philadelphia Union of the Society.

Mr. Dougherty married, October 27, 1886, at Villanova, Pennsylvania, Mary Anti, daughter of Peter and Bridget (McGann) Rountree, of Haverford. The ceremony was performed by the late Rev. J. J. Blake, Q. S. A. The couple have had nine children, four of them deceased, those who are living being Edward J., Agnes, Joseph, Mary and Frances.

Mr. Dougherty has performed all his duties, whether as postmaster or journalist, with fidelity and success. He is a useful and highly respected member of the community in which he has lived all his life.

 

 

WILLIAM CALDCLOUGH WALKER, one of the best known citizens of Ambler, is a native of Horsham township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He is the son of George and Gulielma M. (Brunner) Walker, and was born at Horsham, January 13, 1844. He attended the public schools, and later a private school.

George J. Walker, father, was the son of and Elizabeth Walker. The original Walker was of Welsh descent. Comparatively little is known of the family history. The children of the grandparents were: Hugh, George, Griffith; Jackson who resides in Philadelphia, being about eighty years of age. George early in life was a freighter with a team between Bridge Point and Philadelphia, and later, after he was married, settled in Horsham, and had charge of the toll gate for a time. Later he established an exchange stable for the stage line, which he kept for a number of years. Still later in life he farmed in Horsham township. He continued on the farm for twenty-eight years, and then removed to Penllyn, and ultimately to Ambler, where he died, January 21, 1886, aged seventy-three years. In politics he was a Whig, and, after the formation of the Republican party, an active member of that organization, although he never sought or held office. He was a very conscientious man and good citizen. In religious faith he was a Presbyterian. His wife, who was about ten years his junior, survived him some years. She was the daughter of Paul and Elizabeth Lovett Brunner. Paul Brunner was a miller by trade, which occupation he followed in his younger days. The Brunners are an old Montgomery county family of German descent.

 

(Page 484)

 

He spent his later years with his daughter, Mrs. George Walker, and died at Penllyn. His children: Catharine (Mrs. J. Black); Gulielma (mother); John, an inventor, being a wagon and carriage builder; James, a veterinary surgeon; Anna, (Mrs. Samuel McDaniel, wife of a clergyman of the Christian church); Thomas, a carpenter who traveled much; Ellen (Mrs. L. Hall), whose husband was a wood carver, and one other.

The children of George and Gulielma Walker: Mary C., who was twice married, her first husband being Asher Collom, a teacher, and her second husband William Frankinfield, both husbands being now deceased; William C., subject of this sketch; Paul B., a railroad engineer, who is deceased, leaving a son and daughter; Thomas, a car inspector on the Philadelphia and Reading Railway; Anna M., Mrs. Charles Dewees, her husband being the blacksmith at Blue Bell; Jenks B., who died at the age of twenty-one years.

William C. Walker was reared on a farm, attending school and working at agricultural pursuits until he attained his majority. He commenced teaching as an occupation when he was twenty-two years of age, and was engaged in that for three years. He then secured a position in a general store in Centre county, Pennsylvania, and was thus engaged for two years. He then became manager of a store in Germantown, continuing in that employment two years. He then connected himself with the Philadelphia Coal Company and was thus employed for five years. The business of his employer having been absorbed by the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, he engaged with that corporation, and has ever since continued in that position. He started as a bookkeeper, and has filled various positions for it as occasion required, including those of salesman and collector. He has held responsible positions and maintained confidential relations with the company. He was at one time secretary at one of the company's mines, but the breaker burned and the mine was sold. Mr. Walker has assisted in organizing two or three railroads in New Jersey. He was a director in the board, but when the organization changed he withdrew from the management.

Mr. Walker was influential in organizing the Ambler Building and Loan Association in 1874, and has ever since been its secretary. He was for some time a school director in the borough of Ambler, and was the first president of the school board. He was a member of the first town council of Ambler, and its clerk for several years. He also served three terms as president of town council. Mr. Walker is a member of the Baptist church of Ambler, and was superintendent of its Sunday school for thirty years, being also in charge of the Bible classes, clerk of the church, president of the board of trustees, and a member of the board of deacons. Mr. Walker assisted in organizing. the National Bank of Ambler, was secretary of the original organization, and is yet a stockholder in the institution. He is secretary of the board of trustees of the North Philadelphia Association of Baptist churches, and secretary of the Sabbath School Association of Ambler and vicinity.

In 1890 he purchased the original Ambler homestead with sixteen acres of land. When he located in Ambler in 1873, he had purchased a house in which all his children were born, and in which his wife died in 1891. After her death he removed to his more recent purchase. He has plotted a portion of the land, and sold all but eight acres in building lots. There are ample grounds surrounding his residence, which is one of the most substantial and pleasantly located in Ambler, known, as "The Brookside." He owns several properties which he rents, and has other important real estate interests in Ambler. Fraternally Mr. Walker is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Knights of Malta, and of the Sons of Sparta. He has had many trusts placed in his hands, all of which he has faithfully performed. He is a willing worker in the church and Sunday school, and is also interested in every movement that is likely to promote the welfare of the community in which he lives.

Mr. Walker married Miss Emma A. Yocum, daughter of Charles and Louisa (Rickard) Yocum, prominent farmers of Gwynedd township. Mrs. Yocum was the daughter of Colonel Rickard, a prominent farmer of Berks county, Pennsylvania, of German descent.

 

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The children of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Yocum: Kate, Mrs. C. C. Murray; James, a farmer; Emma, wife of Mr. Walker; Rebecca, Mrs. Samuel Streeper, whose husband died February 23, 1902, at Ambler, leaving four children, Charles, Clarence, Elsie and Milton. Mrs. Charles Yocum died March 30, 1878, and Mr. Yocum survives and resides with his daughter, Mrs. Streeper. He was born in 1819. He is a Baptist as was also his wife: Mr. Yocum was born in Upper Merion township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, being a son of Reuben and Ann (DeHaven) Yocum Reuben Yocum was a grandson of Peter Yocum, who came to America from Sweden and located west of the Schuylkill. He was a property owner in the township in 1732. Reuben Yocum was a miller by occupation. He remained in Montgomery county until all his children were born, and in 1849 removed to the state of Illinois, where he became a prominent farmer, and lived to the age of ninety-seven years.

His wife, Ann DeHaven, was a descendant of one of the oldest families of Montgomery county. She was the daughter of Isaac DeHaven, who was a son of Samuel DeHaven, who served in the Revolutionary war. He was one of four brothers who emigrated to the United States about the year 1750, and became possessed of considerable wealth. They were Jacob, Samuel; Edward and Peter. They accumulated their money in the vineyard and wine making business, having settled with the Swedish colony west of the Schuylkill river.

They located on a tract of land obtained from the successors of William Penn. It was seven to nine miles in length, and was held by Jacob for the others, he being the oldest of the four, and a bachelor. During the stay of the American army at Valley Forge the DeHavens furnished supplies and money to the American cause. They also donated the land for Old Swedes' church; Upper Merion, where all the older members of the family were buried.

Jacob DeHaven is said to have advanced large sums of money to General Washington at the time of the Valley Forge encampment, although the records are singularly silent on, the subject, and his heirs have made many attempts to collect it from the United States government but so far without success. There is a tradition that Jacob DeHaven was offered continental money for his claim, but declined to accept it. He died comparatively poor in 1812. Samuel removed to the state of Kentucky, and Peter, the younger brother, resided in Philadelphia. He had charge of the guns and ammunition for the patriot army.

The brothers and sisters of Ann DeHaven; mother of Charles Yocum: Isaac, John, George, Samuel, Betsey (Mrs. J. Mattson); Mary J. (Mrs. Derrickson); Jane (Mrs. David Zell). The children of Reuben and Ann Yocum were William, Isaac, Charles (father of Mrs. Walker); Nelson, Samuel, George and Reuben.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. William C. Walker; Gulielma L., unmarried; Emma Gertrude, wife of Joseph J. Johnson, foreman at the Ambler Gazette Office; Bertha Y., unmarried; William C., Jr., born in October, 1884, died in 1895.

 

 

(Picture of Smith Harper)

 

SMITH HARPER, an eminently successful business man of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and one who is held in esteem as one of its useful and influential citizens, was born in Abington township, in the county named, April 26, 1827, son of William and Esther (Smith) Harper.

His father, William Harper, was a son of George and Mary Harper, and his birth occurred November 11, 1796, at the family homestead on the old York road, in Cheltenham township, the property now owned by the merchant prince John Wanamaker. For a short time after attaining young manhood, William Harper resided in Philadelphia, whence he removed to Cheltenham, where he engaged in the manufacture of gimlets, and afterward of garden hoes. He transacted a business which was of advantage to the community and remunerative to himself. April 1, 1848, he removed to Abington township, where he passed the remaining years of his life. He was united in marriage to Esther Smith, of Cheltenham township, and the children born to them were as follows: 1. Adeline; 2. Reuben; 3. Henry; 4. William; 5. Smith, who is to be further referred to; 6. Charles; 7. Mary; 8. Edwin; 9. Catherine; 10. Esther.

The mother of this, family died in 1838, and her husband survived her many years, dying in 1866, in his seventieth year.

 

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Smith Harper, fifth child and fourth son in the family above named, acquired his education in the Friends' school at Abington, and after completing his studies was associated with his father in his different business enterprises until some time prior to the death of the elder Harper. In 1848, the year in which he attained his majority, he purchased the feed mill located at Harper Station (which took its name from his family), on the Philadelphia, Newtown & New York Railroad. This he operated until September, 1902, in the meantime manufacturing hoes and other garden implements, which found a ready market in Europe as well as in the United States. In the last named year he sold his manufacturing interests to the American Fork and Hoe Company of Cleveland, Ohio, and retired from business pursuits after an active and useful career of more than a half century.

Mr. Harper married Miss Fannie Snyder, a daughter of George and Emeline Snyder, and of this union there is one surviving child, Esther, Fannie (Snyder) Harper died April 13, 1863. Mr. Harper was united in marriage (secondly) to Miss Martha L. Roberts, a daughter of Thomas and Priscilla L. (Watson) Roberts. The children born of this marriage were Jennie Watson, Fannie, who married Frank M. Feaster, and they have two children, Anita and Francis; Charles Smith; Anna Martha, John Krause, Mary Priscilla, and Frank West. Mr. and Mrs. Harper and their children are members of the Society of Friends. The family make their home in a beautiful modern stone mansion known as Lakeview, which was erected by Mr. Harper in the year 1880.

 

 

MILTON D. ZENDT, an enterprising and successful business man of Souderton, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, not only adds greatly to his own income by, the line of work he is engaged in, but also to that of the many employees of his plant, which is devoted to the manufacture of clothing for men and boys, and which is one of the leading enterprises of the town, and thus has contributed to the growth of that section of the county. He is a native of Towamencin township, Montgomery county, born September II, 1844, a son of Frederick and Mary (Delp) Zendt.

Frederick Zendt (father) was born in Germany in 1820. He came to the United States when two years old, and was educated in the common schools of Philadelphia, and later learned the trade of millwright. He settled in Towamencin township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he prosecuted his trade with a large degree of success, and also devoted considerable attention to farming in the township of Skippack, where he departed this life. He was a Republican in politics. He married Mary Delp, a native of Montgomery county, and they were the parents of six children: Lovina, Susan, Elizabeth, Henry, Morris, and Milton D. Mr. Zendt passed away in 1902, and Mrs. Zendt several years before.

Milton D. Zendt attended the common schools of Towamencin and Skippack townships, and Kulpsville Academy, Freeland Seminary, now Ursinus College, and Rambo's Academy at Trappe, thereby obtaining a good English education. For a period of time he assisted his father on the home farm, then served in the capacity of teacher in this county and Whiteside county, at Sterling, Illinois. He later clerked in a store at Harleysville, Montgomery county, and Sterling, Illinois, worked in huckster business while on his father's farm, and in 1870 came to Souderton, his present home, where he conducted a general store for a number of years successfully, but later disposed of this in order to engage in the manufacture of clothing for men and boys, which enterprise he is now conducting.

His plant is equipped with all necessary machinery for the successful conduct of the business, gives constant employment to a large number of hands, and his goods find a ready market in the large cities. He is reliable and prompt in his business transactions, and among his associates his word is considered as good as his bond. For fifteen consecutive years he has held and now holds the office of justice of the peace, the first justice of the peace of the borough of Souderton. During this long period he is credited with having kept a better transcript and having settled more cases than any other incumbent of the office in the county. Politically he is a staunch Republican, and socially a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is universally respected and honored in the community.

 

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Mr. Zendt was united in marriage in 1865 to Miss Mary Hallman, a daughter of George Hallman, a farmer of Skippack township, Montgomery county, and his wife Ann (Harley) Hallman. Their children are: Lillian, who became the wife of Dr. Umstead, and four children have been born to them; Anna, who became the wife of Frank Moyer, and their family consists of two children; Penrose, who married Laura Althouse, and the issue of this marriage was three children; George, who married Eva Barndt, and two children have been born to them; Norman, who married Gertrude Moyer, and they are the parents of one child; Fred, unmarried; Pearl, unmarried; and Beulah, unmarried. Mr. Zendt and the members of his family attend the Reformed church.

 

 

JESSE FRONEFIELD is the grandson of John Fronefield, who was born in Upper Providence township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where his ancestors settled on their arrival in America. He was for many years a resident of the village of Evansburg, and left there to join his son George in Chester county, where he died. John Fronefield married Edith Wolmer. The couple had four sons, all of whom grew to manhood, as follows: George, born in 1803; Jacob, Joseph and Jesse.

George Fronefield (father) was born near Evansburg, and grew to manhood in that vicinity. He learned the trade of a carpenter, and was also a cabinet maker and undertaker. For many years he followed these callings in his native village, being for a long time the only person who did so in that vicinity. In 1845 he disposed of his business and removed from Evansburg to Chester county, near Phoenixville, where he rented the Highley farm, on which he resided for a period of thirteen years, when he returned to Montgomery county, locating in Lower Providence township, where he rented, and occupied the famous Fatland farm of the Wetherill family.

He remained on it until the spring of 1864, when he returned to Chester county and rented the Bull Tavern farm, owned by Sampson Fudge. He remained on that farm until 1866, when he removed to Plymouth township, Montgomery county, where he engaged in business as the proprietor of what was then known as the Ritter Hotel. In the spring of 1870 he located in Norristown, the board of prison inspectors having appointed him to the position of assistant warden of the Montgomery county prison, under John C. Getty, who was the warden of the institution.

In 1872 the board of poor directors of the county, there being a vacancy in the position, elected him steward of the almshouse, and he held that office seven terms, or until 1880. In March, 1872, the almshouse was destroyed by fire, and he and his family, pending the erection of a new building, lived in a temporary structure which was a mere shed.

In 1880, Mr. Fronefield returned to Norristown, and made his home with George H. Kerper's widow, who was his oldest daughter, as the death of his wife had left him alone. He lived with Mrs. Kerper until his death. George Fronefield married in 1827 Rebecca M. Sharpley, daughter of Joseph Sharpley, by whom he had ten children, as follows: David W., Joseph, Annie, Rebecca, Hannah, John, George, Samantha, Clara, Jesse.

Jesse Fronefield, who was for six years a member of town council from the fourth ward of Norristown, was born in Chester county, September 10, 1845. He remained in the family of his father, attending the ordinary schools of the neighborhood, until 1864, when he was nineteen years of age. Being desirous of learning a trade, he entered Snyder's flour and grist mill, and served there an apprenticeship of eighteen months under the instruction of his brother Joseph. He then went to the H. J. Ashenfelter mills, on Mingo creek, in Upper Providence township, remaining there under instructions until January, 1866, when he went to the Bridgeport flour mill, then under the management of Samuel Beaver, long since deceased.

 

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In May, 1866, he went to his father's hotel, staying with him a year. He then took a position at the mill of Christopher Heebner, in Norristown (now Stritzinger's mill), and had charge of it until 1884. In that year he went to Schuylkill county and managed a mill known as the Shick-Wamsher Mill, continuing there until the fall of 1887, when he took charge of the E. & G. Brooke Milling Company's mill at Birdsboro, Berks county, remaining there until 1891. He then took charge of the Penn Milling Company's mill until 1892. He then went to Birdsboro and took charge of the mill of Reigner & Focht, being at that, place two years. Mr. Fronefield then left the milling business and accepted the agency for the products of the Pillsbury-Washburn Company in Norristown, in which he is still engaged.

Mr. Fronefield married on April 23, 1872, Miss Hannahretta Brooke Ward, daughter of Joshua Ward, of Bridgeport. They had the following children: John, born February 6, 1875; Naomi, born May 10, 1876; both are deceased. Mrs. Fronefield died August 20, 1880. Mr. Fronefield married (second wife) Anna Rebecca Johnson, daughter of Abraham Johnson, of Trappe. They have no children.

 

 

EDWIN METCALF, one of the best-known citizens of Norristown, is a native of Howgate, England, where he was born in 1848. He is a son of Edward and Sarah (Chapman) Metcalf. The family in England have an authentic history dating back to 1066, the time of the Norman Conquest.

In later generations it is traced through William Metcalf, great-great-grandfather of Edwin, Richard Metcalf (great-grandfather), and Sir Edward Metcalf, (grandfather), to Edward Metcalf, (father), who was a florist and fancy fruit grower by occupation, and resided on the old homestead in England all his life. Politically, the father was a conservative.

Edward Metcalf married Sarah Chapman, the couple having seven children, as follows: Willfah, Elizabeth (died in childhood), Martha (died also at an early age), Richard, now a resident of Brooklyn, New York; Ann, Edwin and Alfred the last named a barrister in England. The parents are now both deceased, the father dying at the age of eighty-four, and the mother at eighty-two, both in the year 1880. Edwin Metcalf left his native land when he was twenty years of age, having graduated meanwhile from the colleges of Nasboro, Whitby, and Eton. He took a course of free-hand drawing in the Academy of Fine Arts in London, and later had the advantage of a two years course in civil engineering at Oxford University. He was employed for a time in the capacity of a civil engineer on the Great Northwestern Railway. Afterwards he journeyed through the Holy Land, and made a tour into the interior of Africa, after which he came to America, locating in 1868 at Norristown. Forming a partnership with his brother. in the business of a florist, he continued in that for a time, then removing to Philadelphia, where he entered the employ or the North Pennsylvania Railroad Company, remaining there two years. He then became the manager of the lithographing establishment of Potts, Damen & Co., of Philadelphia, and later took a position with the National Bureau of Engraving as a steel plate engraver for the government. Remaining in this employment for a period of fourteen years, he was compelled to abandon it and resign his position because of failing eyesight.

In 1888 he returned to Norristown and resumed the business of a florist, which he conducted very successfully for a number of years, retiring from it a few years ago on account of ill health. In 1884 Mr. Metcalf married Mattie Davis. The couple have had three children, all daughters: Elizabeth V., Edna G., (deceased), and Elsie G. Mr. Metcalf and his family occupy a handsome residence on West Main street, Norristown.

Mr. Metcalf is an earnest Republican in politics, and soon after settling in business in Norristown, began to talk an active interest in the management of local affairs. He became a candidate for the position of councilman, was elected, and was a very useful member of that body, taking a progressive and businesslike view of every question that arose. On his retirement from that office he was elected borough treasurer by his party associates in town council, which position he has held ever since by successive annual re-elections. Attentive to business, courteous and obliging, and having a reputation for the highest integrity, few men have won to such a degree the respect and esteem of the entire community.

 

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Mr. Metcalf is a member of Curtis Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Order of Heptasophs, and of Lynwood Lodge, Ancient Order of United Workmen. Himself and family are attached to the First Presbyterian church, Norristown.

Mr. Metcalf's health was seriously impaired in consequence of a railroad accident in which he suffered severely from shock, a short distance below Norristown. Though able to attend to business, he has never entirely recovered from its effects. The property owned by the family in England, it may be added, was granted to their ancestor by Oliver Cromwell in the time of the Commonwealth, and has descended to the present owner in an unbroken line.

 

 

GEORGE W. FARRIS is a native of the vicinity of Jenkintown, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he was reared on the farm of his parents, Samuel and Maria (Grubb) Farris. The son labored much for others in the neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Farris had seven children as follows: George W., subject of this sketch; Mary Ann; Elizabeth and Hannah, both deceased; Margaret, Jane, and Samuel, deceased.

George W. Farris had few educational advantages. He began life on his own account after he reached manhood by working on the farm of Samuel Harmer, remaining with him for three years. He was then engaged in the operation of different quarries which abound in the vicinity of Jenkintown, fine qualities of building stone from which are sent to Philadelphia. On reaching the age of twenty-seven years he became an employee of Jay Cooke, the eminent banker and financier, whom he has faithfully served for a period of nearly fifty years as farmer and gardener. Mr. Farris married Caroline, daughter of John Peake, and they had six children as follows: Emma, married Robert Wilkey, and had eight children- George, Harry, Charles, Robert, Edward, Addie, Thomas and Esther; Edward, married Ella Malone, they having one child, Netta; Laura, married Clinton Dewitt Heacock, and had one child, Elsie; Mary, married Harry Studenmund, and had five children, Harry, Walter, Carrie, George and Van; Esther married William Revers, they having two children, Emma and William; Samuel, died in infancy. Mrs. Farris died November 15, 1863, and Mr. Farris married as his second wife, Caroline, daughter of George and Mary (Laird) Dougherty. She died February 23, 1897, leaving no children.

 

 

JACOB ACUFF, son of David and Margaret (Scheetz) Acuff, for many years the landlord of the William Penn Hotel at Gwynedd, was born there June 2, 1817, and died there October 2, 1898.

Jacob Acuff was educated in the pay schools of the vicinity until his sixteenth year, when his father required him to engage in the more active pursuits of farming and assisting in the management of the hotel. For a time he was absent from home, being with a sister whose husband was engaged in the hotel business in Philadelphia, and with whom he spent several years. Returning to Gwynedd, he entered into life at the hotel. He married, February 20, 1849, Elizabeth, daughter of Abraham and Sarah (Baker) Rhoads, born November 5, 1823. The Rhoads family were among the earliest settlers of that section of Montgomery county, and are related to the Jenkins, Castner and other old families of the vicinity. After his marriage the couple took up their residence at the hotel and conducted it until 1874, when he retired to the farm house adjoining the hotel, having rented the hotel privileges to other parties. In 1877 his oldest son David having married, he succeeded his parents in the management of the farm. Jacob Acuff again took possession of the hotel, where he remained until 1882, when he built a house adjoining the hotel, where he lived the remainder of his life, and where his widow still resides.

Jacob Acuff, in 1847, in conjunction with his brother, Justus and Charles Loeser, purchased the hotel and farm for the sum of $12,000, Jacob Acuff eventually succeeding to the possession of it.

The children of Jacob and Elizabeth (Rhoads) Acuff: David, born February 24, 1851, attended Friends' School at Gwynedd, and also the public schools of Gwynedd township, and later the Lewisburg Institute, now known as Bucknell University, until his eighteenth year, after which he returned to his home and engaged in work on the farm. He married, April 12, 1877, Emma, daughter of Ezekiel and Hannah (Meredith) Shoemaker, who resided near Norristown, and settled 0n the homestead, where David remained until March, 1899, when he retired to the home of his widowed mother, with whom he now lives, his wife having died many years ago, leaving no children. In politics he is a Republican, and has been for some years tax collector of Lower Gwynedd township; Annie Rhoads, born December 15, 1856, attended Friends' school at Gwynedd, and Swarthmore College; and married, April 13, 1872, Dr. Moses R., son of A. Phelps and Mary (Worrall) Knapp, they having one child, Kenneth Rudolph, born April 3, 1890, and residing on a property adjoining the hotel at Gwynedd; Mary, born May 23, 1858, died November 27, 1859; Justus, born July 13, 1861, attended the Friends' school at Gwynedd, and Sunnyside Academy at Ambler, engaged with W. J. Buck & Sons, manufacturers of gas fixtures in Philadelphia, in 1874, with whom he was employed for ten years, when he engaged with the American Gas Fixture Company at Race and Broad streets, Philadelphia, with whom he still remains; married December 30, 1897, Hannah, daughter of John and Barbara (Jeffries) Melcher, of Philadelphia, where Mr. and Mrs. Acuff reside; George Collyer, born January 22, 1867, died March 15, 1869.

 

(Page 490)

 

DAVID ACUFF (father of Jacob Acuff) was the son of Jacob and Mary (Ulrich) Acuff. He was born in Upper Dublin township, on a farm at that time managed by his parents. He received an ordinary education, and married Margaret Scheetz, belonging to an old family long settled in that section of Montgomery county, her parents being residents of Whitemarsh township. Their children: Annie, married Elias Cleaver; Justus; Mary, married Charles Loeser; Jacob, subject of this sketch; Emily, William, Cynthia and Jones. David Acuff followed farming for a livelihood for a time, and when quite a young man became the proprietor of the hotel at Springhouse, which he conducted very successfully, and, later took the hotel at Gwynedd, afterwards conducted for so many years by himself and his son Jacob.

Abraham Rhoads, father of Mrs. Jacob Acuff, was the son of Jacob and Ann (Morris) Rhoads, of Norriton township. They owned a farm which is now included in the tract with forms the site of the State Hospital for the Insane at Norristown, Pennsylvania.

The children of Abram and Sarah Rhoads: Jacob Baker, born June 20, 1820, married Ann Jenkins; Elizabeth, widow of Jacob Acuff: Annie, born March 5, 1827, died 1857, married George Collyer; Samuel, Joseph, Morris, Issachar, Catharine, Ellen and Ezekiel. Abraham Rhoads was born December 4, 1782, and died November 22, 1866. His wife, Sarah Rhoads, died April 3, 1840. Ann, mother of Abraham Rhoads, and grandmother of Elizabeth Acuff, died March 16, 1839.

Jacob Acuff was an active Whig in politics, and later a Republican. The family were all efficient workers in the ranks 0f the party. Jacob Acuff was for many years a member of the board of school directors f Gwynedd township, and served faithfully the interests of education. As a hotel proprietor he was a model of what a man should be in such a position. Under his management it was famed as a place where travelers could always find the most ample provision for their needs. Mrs. Acuff was a notable landlady, and ably seconded the efforts of her husband to maintain the hotel in proper condition and to keep up the high reputation which it enjoyed.

 

 

THE JONES FAMILY. Of distinctively Quaker lineage, Horace C. Jones, a representative of the family in the present generation, traces his ancestry back many generations.

David Jones, the founder of the family in America, came from Haverford, West, Pembrokeshire, Wales, in 1700, bringing with him his family and an interesting certificate from the Friends' meeting there. He settled in Plymouth township, and in 1733 one of his sons, John Jones, purchased one hundred and ninety-two and three-fourth acres of land along the Schulykill river, upon a portion of which the borough of Conshohocken now stands. Jonathan Jones, son of John Jones, inherited the farm, but outlived the father only a few years, and it then came to his son, Isaac Jones.

 

(Page 491)

 

Isaac Jones, son of Jonathan and Susanna (Ashton) Jones, was born May 20, 1772. He spent the most of his long life of ninety-six years on the farm which he inherited, and in addition to farming conducted an extensive lime burning business. He was a man of much force of character, a Whig in politics, and retained to the end of his long life the use of all his faculties and great clearness of mind. He married, 4th mo. 1793, Elizabeth Yerkes, born February 16, 1172, daughter of John and Ann (Coffin) Yerkes, who were married 8th mo. 30, 1769, the former named being a descendant of Anthony Yerkes, a Hollander.

To this union were born the following named children: Polly, John, William, Jonathan, Isaac, Ann, Susan J., Elizabeth, and Charles Jones. Isaac Jones (father) died June 12, 1868. Jonathan Jones, son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Yerkes) Jones) was born March 24, 1800, in Whitemarsh township. He engaged in farming and lime burning in the vicinity of Conshohocken, and when his sons, Evan D. and Ellwood, reached manhood he established a lumber business under the firm name of Jonathan, Jones & Sons, in Plymouth township. He was quite a prosperous man in business matters, and enjoyed the respect of the community in which he lived to an unusual degree. During his early life he was a Whig in politics, but upon the formation of the Republican party he joined their ranks. Mr. Jones and his family attended Plymouth Meeting. He married, 2d mo. 2, 1825, Elizabeth Davis, born 1 mo. 10, 1799, daughter of John Jr., and Ann (Peterman) Davis, of Plymouth township, and a descendant of an old Quaker Welsh family. Their children were: Anne, who became the wife of Samuel Foulke; Evan Davis, Ellwood, Esther, Elizabeth, who became the wife of William Webster, and resided in Norristown; Hannah, J. Davis, and Rachel Jones. Jonathan Jones died October 5, 1867.

(Picture of Ellwood Jones)

 

Ellwood Jones, son of Jonathan and Eliza (Davis) Jones, was born February 13, 1830. He was educated at the public schools and at a school under the excellent preceptorship of the Rev. Samuel Aaron, in Norristown. He was engaged with his father in the lumber business in Plymouth township under the firm name of Jonathan Jones' Sons. Later the business was carried on at Conshohocken by Evan D. and Ellwood Jones; after the death of Ellwood Jones it was conducted under the firm name of Evan D. Jones & Co., and it is now under the management of Joseph C. Jones & Sons. Evan D. and Ellwood Jones also operated a saw mill at Conshohocken. As a citizen Mr. Jones was progressive, public-spirited and influential in his town and county. In politics he was a Republican, and took an intelligent and active interest in the success of his party. He was conscientious and fair in all his views, energetic and painstaking in the charge of every duty, and highly esteemed by all with whom he came in contact.

Ellwood Jones was married, June 13, 1855, to Rachel Roberts Conrad; who was born December 6, 1829, near Norristown, a daughter of Aaron and Abigail (Roberts) Conrad, and to this marriage were born the following named children: 1. Horace C., mentioned hereinafter; 2. Abbie Conrad, born June 16, 1859, who became the wife of Henry Downes Cranor, born October 10, 1844, near Greensboro, Caroline county, Maryland, a son of Solomon Downes and Sarah Ann (Pritchett) Cranor, and the issue of this marriage is one child, Donald Francis Cranor, born February 20, 1890. 3. Aaron Conrad; born December 15, 1861, who married Mary Louisa Bean, daughter of Colonel Theodore Wilbur, and Hannah (Heebner) Bean, born November 6, 1863, and their children are: Dorothea Bean, born November 23, 1893, and Rachel Conrad, born June 2, 1899. 4. Esther, born June 4, 1864, died July 29, 1864. 5. Ellwood Conrad, born May 5, 1867, who was married February 18, 1903, to Martha Washington Sommer, daughter of Henry Sommer and the issue of this marriage is one son, Ellwood Conrad, born February 8, 1904.

Ellwood Jones, the father of the above mentioned children, died at his home in Conshohocken, June 4, 1870. His widow, Rachel Roberts (Conrad) Jones, survives him. She is a descendant of Thones Kunders, one of the first German emigrants in America. On July 24, 1683, a little band of thirty-three people with Daniel Francis Pastorius at their head, and hailing from Crefeld, near the Rhine, Germany, set sail in the good ship "Concord" for the new world. In this party were Thones Kunders, his wife Elin, and their three children. Before starting from Germany, Thones Kunders had purchased, for ten pounds, five hundred acres of land in Pennsylvania, and soon after his arrival he built a home, the walls of which are still standing and form part of the house No. 5709 Germantown avenue.

 

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History tells us that here was held the first Friends' Meeting in Germantown, which was attended by the dignified proprietor, William Penn. From this early settler Horace C. Jones traces his descent.

(Picture of Horace C. Jones)

 

Horace C. Jones, son of Ellwood and Rachel Roberts (Conrad) Jones, was born at Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, June 16, 1857. He was educated in the public schools, graduated from the Conshohocken high school in June, 1873, and after this he spent one year in the Scientific Department of the University of Pennsylvania, being a member of the class of 1877. Upon abandoning his studies he decided to embark in the business in which his father had been engaged, and he subsequently represented his father's interest in the firm of Evan D. Jones & Co. From 1874 to 1886 this firm was engaged in a large lumber business, and was one of the best known firms in that section of the state at the time.

In 1880 Horace C. Jones and Stanley Lees, under the firm name of H. C. Jones & Co., leased and operated the mills formerly owned by John Whitton, at Conshohocken, and continued here under this arrangement until 1885, when Mr. Lees retired from the firm, and John Booth was given an interest in the business in the capacity of manager, which arrangement was continued up to 1899, when the firm purchased the mill formerly owned and operated by Stanley Lees, under the firm name of J. & S. Lees.

The same year (1899) the firm of H. C. Jones & Co. was incorporated under the name of H. C. Jones Company, and the name of the mills changed to the Schuylkill Valley Woolen Mills. H. C. Jones was appointed president of the corporation, John Booth treasurer and general manager, and Ellwood C. Jones secretary. This institution has been successfully conducted by these gentlemen up to the present time, and has, by their careful and judicious management, become one of the leading enterprises of its kind in Conshohocken. Perhaps no greater tribute can be paid to the business ability of Mr. Jones than the statement of the fact that when he took hold of the Schuylkill Woolen Mills he was but twenty-three years of age. Notwithstanding the fact that Mr. Jonas has given a large part of his time to the aforementioned enterprise, his energetic nature has naturally prompted him not to devote all of his attention to this one business.

In the affairs of Conshohocken he has been a prominent figure, and has been identified with some of the most important interests of this section of the state, particularly in the financial development of its resources.

He is president of the Conshohocken Woolen Company, of West Conshohocken, for many years owned and operated by George and James M. Bullock; director in the First National Bank of Conshohocken, in the Norristown Trust Company, in the Conshohocken Electric Light and Power Company, and the Conshohocken Gas Light Company. He is thoroughly interested in the progress of these various enterprises, but devotes the greater part of his time to the Schuylkill Woolen Mills, which establishment is an important factor in the industrial development of Conshohocken. He is also largely interested in real estate in and near Conshohocken. In politics he is a Republican, but too actively interested in business affairs to participate very much in political work, beyond voting. He is a member of the Union League of Philadelphia; the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Historical Society of Montgomery county, and the Geographical Society of Philadelphia. He was formerly a member of the Manufacturers' Club of Philadelphia. He is a man of progressive tendencies, and is recognized throughout his town and county as a leading manufacturer.

 

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On February 5, 1889, Mr. Jones was married to Linda Loch, who was born November 25, 1864, a daughter of Dr. John W. and Hannah (McCrea) Loch, the former named being the proprietor of the celebrated Treemount Seminary of Norristown, Pennsylvania. The issue of this marriage has been one child, Spencer Loch Jones, born February 5, 1890.

 

 

DANIEL FOULKE, first son and second child of Joseph and Lydia (Walton) Foulke, was born February 21, 1814, at Plymouth Meeting. He attended the Foulke Boarding School, then kept by his father, and succeeded to the management of the same as principal in 1857, and continued as the head of that institution until its close, 1859-60, after which he took up the occupation of surveyor and conveyancer, and the management of estates, On April 8, 1847, he married Elizabeth Foulke, daughter of William and Susan Foulke. He settled at "Linden Lodge," the family homestead on Bethlehem Pike, which at that time contained seventy-nine acres, and which is now owned by Abigail W. Foulke, his daughter, who purchased the same at the settlement of the estate in 1898. The child born of his marriage was: 1. Anna, born November 5, 1848; married July 6, 1870, Henry S. Solliday, of Decatur, Illinois, Mrs. Foulke, mother of this child died, and Daniel Foulke then married Lydia Walton, the ceremony being performed October 13, 1853.

The children of this marriage were: 1. Edwin Moore, born October 10, 1854; married, June 6, 1877, Elva Jones, daughter of Mark and Eliza (Shearer) Jones, of Plymouth township, and their children were: Hester Bell, born August 19, 1878, married October 22, 1901, Henry Sharpless, of Baltimore, Maryland, formerly of Chester county, Pennsylvania; Helen Eliza, born August 1, 1880, resides at West Chester, where she is a teacher in the high school; Lydia Walton, born August 3, 1884, attends Swarthmore College; and Eliza Jones, born January 15, 1889, resides at West Chester. 2. Abigail Walton, born April 21, 1856; attended Swarthmore College, resides at "Linden Lodge," and is managing directress of Squirrel Inn, Catskill Mountains, New York. 3. Joseph Thomas, born April 24, 1863, attended Friends’ Central School at Philadelphia, and the Law Department of the University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Philadelphia and Montgomery counties bar. He married, October 5, 1892, Louisa Lydia Lippincott, daughter of Samuel R. and Hannah (Haines) Lippincott, and resides at Ambler. Their children are: Thomas Albert, born September 23, 1893; Hannah, born December 11, 1896; and Edward, born February 21, 1903. (For further information see "Foulke Record, History of Gwynedd," also "Foulke Genealogy.")

 

 

CHARLES WEIKEL GERHART, of Ambler, Pennsylvania, whose extensive business interests place him among the leaders in industrial circles, has achieved that success which is the logical result of enterprise, systematic effort, resolute purpose and straightforward dealing. He is the fourth child and second son of Levinus and Sarah Ann (Weikel) Gerhart, and was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, September 3, 1861.

Levinus Gerhart (father), son of Philip and Sarah (Boyer) Gerhart, was born December 29, 1824, in Lower Salford township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where his father (Philip Gerhart) owned and operated a farm, and for a time the old grist mill which had been for many years the property of the Gerhart family, but which more recently had been known as the David Harr mill. Levinus Gerhart received such schooling as was afforded to country boys, but found as other boys born to his estate that work and plenty of it was the only means of obtaining a livelihood.

 

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After his marriage he established himself as a farmer in Bucks county, in which occupation he achieved remarkable success. On November 1, 1857, he married Sarah Ann, born November 2, 1830, daughter of Charles and Katharine (Wampold) Weikel, farmers of near Sellersville.

Their children were: 1. Catharine. 2. Elizabeth Ann, married Emanuel Shelly, of Bucks county. 3. Reuben B. 4. Charles Weikel, mentioned at length hereinafter. 5. Henry Weikel, married Kate Holpp of Philadelphia, and now resides in that city. 6. Maria, married John Hemback, son of Michael Hemback, of Bucks county; John Hemback died, and she married for her second husband Samuel Katz; they reside at Souderton. 7. Sarah, married Oswin Wolfe, of Ridge Valley, Montgomery county. 8. Annie, married Frederick Heckman. 9. Hannah, unmarried, resides at Argus, Bucks county. 10. Elizabeth, married Harvey Beiley, of Trumbauersville, Bucks county. 11. Frank, married Clara Cressman, of Philadelphia.

Charles W. Gerhart attended the public schools of his district, at Ridge Road, and, learning by force of circumstances the necessity of earning his own living, left school at an early age and applied himself to farm work. Learning later in life that there were other occupations more remunerative than fanning, he relinquished this work and branched out for himself. For several years after his marriage he resided in the city of Philadelphia, whence he removed in 1888 to Ambler, where he established himself in the livery business, and by his close application to this particular line of work has built up an extensive trade. In politics he is a staunch adherent of Democratic principles, and while interested in the success of his party takes little active part in its affairs.

On February 17, 1886, Mr. Gerhart married Fannie Helen Oberholtzer, burn February 26, 1861, daughter of Christian H, and Margaret Jane (Gordon) Oberholtzer, of Gwynedd township. Their children are: Lulu Margaret, born January 12, 1887; Helen Alma, born January 19, 1889; Ross Gordon, born April 14, 1890; Charles Wallace, born November, 26, 1892; Marion Gracey, born January 3, 1896; and William Wallace, born July 30, 1902.

The Gordon and Oberholtzer families, from which Mrs. Charles W. Gerhart is descended, are amongst the old and substantial families of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, Ross Gordon, her grandfather, was a native of County Tyrone, Ireland. He married, January 26, 1830, Fannie Nutt, of county Derry, Ireland. They came to this country and settled near North Wales. Ross Gordon followed farming as an occupation, and became prominently associated with the affairs of the community. Their children were:

1. William, born February 6, 1831, in Ireland, where he remained with his grandparents until his seventeenth year, coming at that age to this country; he assisted his father on the farm, and became a soldier, serving through the Civil war. Subsequently he went west, and for a time was in command of a military post near Bala, Kansas, where he married.

2. Margaret Jane, born March 28, 1832, at North Wales; married, March 2, 1850, Christian H. Oberholtzer, son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Huntzberger) Oberholtzer. Christian H. Oberholtzer was a farmer and dealer in cattle, and resided on different farms in Montgomery and Bucks counties. Their children were: William Henry, born August 28, 1854; John Ross, born January 3, 1857, died November 21, 1857; Ross Edward and Fannie Helen, twins, born February 26, 1861. Fannie Helen became the wife of Charles W. Gerhart (subject), February 17, 1886.

3. Samuel Ross, born, January 4, 1834; married Margaret Knipe, of North Wales.

4. John B., born December 22, 1835.

5. John, born September 20, 1837; married Sarah Tyson, daughter of Joseph Tyson, of Norristown, and resides at Bloomsburg, Columbia county.

6. Helen, born January 11, 1840; married William Bissell, a native of Germany, who resides in Montgomery township, engaged in agricultural pursuits.

7. Robert Alexander, born March 7, 1841; married, and resides at Cape May.

8. Fannie Elizabeth, born October 20, 1845; married, January 1, 1870, Thomas J. Rile, and resides at Blue Bell, Whitpain township.

9. Aaron, born October 26, 1848, married Eliza McOlish, and resides in Montgomery township. He is a farmer by occupation.

 

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JONATHAN L. LEINBACH, a well-known merchant of Gilbertsville, Douglass township, Berks county, was born in Muhlenberg township, Berks county, May 15, 1846. He is the son of Louis and Elizabeth (Schmahl) Leinbach.

Henry Leinbach (grandfather) was born in Muhlenberg township, Berks county, and lived there all his life. He was a farmer by occupation. He was a school director, and a prominent and progressive man. The family were members of the Reformed church. Henry Leinbach was born in 1794 and died in July, 1855, at the age of sixty-one years. He was buried in Alsace churchyard, near Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania. His children Louis, (father); Joseph, William, Henry, Thomas, Jonas, John, Mrs. Mary L. Heifert, Mrs. Harriet Wentzel, Mrs. Sarah VanReed, Mrs. Kate O'Reilly. His wife was Mary Magdalene Baum. She was also born in Muhlenberg township, and died in July, 1855.

Louis Leinbach (father) married Elizabeth Schmahl. The couple had ten children, of whom the following are living: Mrs. K. Rowe, Mrs. K. Reber, Mrs. Rosie Hake, Mrs. Annie Dolch, Mrs. Rebecca Prutzman, Samuel Leinbach (deceased); and Jonathan. Mrs. K. Reber, had seven children, of whom five are living: Ralph, John, Gertrude, Esther and Helen. Mrs. Rosie Hake had two children: Harry and Ruth., Mrs. Annie Dolch had three children: William, Ellen and Anna. Mrs. Rebecca Prutzman had one daughter. Samuel Leinbach had two children: Elizabeth and Mary, Louis and Elizabeth Leinbach had several children who died young. Louis Leinbach (father) was born in August, 1817. He was a farmer and a member of the Reformed church. In politics he was a Democrat. He died in 1891. His wife, Elizabeth, was born in Roscommon township, Berks county, in 1821. She is deceased. They are buried near Reading.

Jonathan L. Leinbach attended schools of the neighborhood until he was seventeen years of age. He removed to Gilbertsville in March, 1867. He built the house and store at that place and has since resided there. In politics he is a Democrat, although he has never sought or held office. He is a member of the Reformed church at Boyertown, Berks county, where he has been organist for more than thirty years.

Mr. Leinbach married in 1874, on May 2, Sarah Reigner. She is the daughter of Peter and Hettie Reigner. Her parents resided on the farm in Douglass township, but now live at Boyertown. Peter Reigner has held the office of school director.

Mr. and Mrs. Leinbach have had seven children, of whom four died young. The survivors are Harry R., of Boyertown; Mrs. Alice Lachman, of Gilbertsville, and Miss Katie Leinbach, residing with her parents,

 

 

ABRAHAM S. BEAN, a well-known farmer of Douglass township, was born May 4, 1860, in the township where he now lives. He is the son of John G. and Anna J. (Spear) Bean, who were born in Providence township, Montgomery county.

John Bean (grandfather), and his wife Elizabeth (Gotwals) Bean, lived in Skippack township, where he was a farmer, and a weaver by trade. He died many years ago, and was buried at the burial ground of the Mennonite meeting house, Skippack, They had nine children: Mary G., Abraham G., Henry, John G. (father); Louis, still living; Susanna, Elizabeth, Katie and Sarah.

Henry Bean (great-grandfather) lived in Skippack township. He built many of the buildings in that township, which are still standing. He was a farmer and is buried in the Mennonite burial ground. The family always belonged to the Mennonite church. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Bean lived at Trappe, where he was a farmer, owning the farm which is now a part of the Pennypacker estate. The Spears are a very old family in the township, but Mrs. Bean is the only surviving member. Mr. Spear married Miss Johnson.

 

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John G. Bean (father) was a farmer in Perkiomen township. By trade he was a wheelwright, but after following his trade for several years he removed to the farm in Douglass township where his son Abraham now lives. He died there seven years later, in 1891, at the age of seventy-one years, and is buried near his father and grandfather in the burial ground of the Mennonite church at Skippack. His widow is still living with her son, Abraham S. Bean. Mrs. John G. Bean was married (first husband) to Samuel Moyer, and had six children. By her last marriage with John G. Bean she had the following children: Elizabeth B., Anna Catharine, Hannah, Abraham S. and Martin (deceased).

Abraham S. Bean attended school until he was eighteen years of age, and then worked for his father for many years, until he removed to his present home. He married in 1883, Mary daughter of Jessie and Catharine (Alderfer) Whitman, who are still living in Montgomery county. Mr. Whitman is a farmer at Trappe.

The children of A. S. and Mary (Whitman) Bean; John (deceased); Flora, Bertha, Mary, Minerva, Annie, Irvin and Clarence (twins), both deceased; Walter, Clarence. All of these children reside with their parents,

Mr. Bean is a Republican in politics. He is a plain, honest farmer, honored and respected by all who know him. He has a good farm and manages it well. The family are members of the Reformed church,

 

 

JACOB E. BOWMAN, the well-known tanner of Douglass township where he was born in 18p, is the son of T. and Elizabeth (Bower) Bowman, who resided in Limerick township, they being farmers all their lives. The father died first, and both were buried at Churchville cemetery, in Douglass. They were Mennonites in religious faith.

They had eight children, of whom five are living, as follows: Catharine, married Edward Shanley, and (second husband) Isaac Moyer- all are deceased; Maria married Abraham Gottshall, they residing in Douglass township where he is a minister and farmer, they having eleven children: Jacob, subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, married Solomon Gateman, both being deceased; John living in Limerick township, on the homestead of his father- he was married, but his wife is deceased; Leona, married William Heister (deceased), she surviving and residing in Hereford township, Berks county, but having no children; Sarah married David Rosenberger, they living in Bucks county, where he is a farmer and miller; they have no children; Susanna, married William Stauffer (deceased), she residing in Allentown, where her husband was in business, and having two children.

Jacob Bowman (grandfather) married Madeline Latshaw. They resided in Douglass township, where he was a farmer. Both died there many years ago. They had several children. The maternal grandparents were residents of Douglas township. The grandfather was John Bower. He married an Oberholtzer. They were prominent citizens of the township, being farmers by occupation.

Jacob E. Bowman attended school until he was eighteen years of age, when he went to work for his father, and later engaged in farming for himself in Limerick township. He has resided at his present location for a period of twenty years or more. The property belonged to Mrs. Bowman's father for many years.

Mr. Bowman was married November 22, 1856, to Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel W. and Hannah Latshaw, also residents of Douglass township. They were farmers and prominent people. They had seven children in all, as follows: Catharine, Hannah, John, Susanna, Elizabeth, (wife of Mr. Bowman); Samuel and Henry. The father and mother of Mrs. Bowman died at an advanced age.

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob E. Bowman have had six children as follows: Diana, married Nathan Weller, they residing in Douglass township, where he is a farmer, and they have had ten children; John, married Kate Wenger, they residing in Douglass township where he is a miller, and having nine living children; Elizabeth, married Aaron Bower, she being deceased, and he, with six children, residing at the home of his father-in-law; Mary, married Edward Weller, they residing in Boyertown, where he is a farmer and trucker, they having no children; Jacob, unmarried and employed with his father on the home farm; Leona, married Irwin Cook, they living in Bucks county where he is a farmer, and they have six children.

Mr. Bowman is a Republican in political affiliations. He suffered a paralytic stroke in 1898 which partially disabled him. He and his wife are members of the Mennonite church at Churchville. Mrs. Bowman is several years younger than her husband, having been born August 19, 1836.

 

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WILLIAM H. EARNEST, the popular manager of the Main Street Hotel at North Wales, of which Mrs. Mary Heebner is the owner, is a native of Plymouth township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he was born February 2, 1857. He is the son of Charles and Isabella (Crawford) Earnest.

Charles Earnest (father) was the son of William and Lucy (Purcell) Earnest. He was born at Three Tuns, in Horsham township, Montgomery county, in November, 1829. He married Isabella Crawford.

Their children: William, Catharine, Sarah (deceased), John, Charles, Hannah. Charles Earnest spent his entire life in Montgomery county. In early life he was a farmer, but later in life was engaged in quarrying and burning lime.

William Earnest was educated in the public schools, and in early youth was initiated into the details of farm life. In 1890 he became the manager of the Black Horse Hotel, a short distance below Norristown. He also officiated in the same capacity at the Seven Stars Hotel in Plymouth township, near Norristown, for three years.

In 1900 he took charge of the Main Street Hotel, North Wales. He married at Norristown, November 18, 1875, Laura J., daughter of Isaac and Hettie Lewis. Their children: George, Stella, Annie, Harry.

Mrs. Mary Heebner, the owner of the Main Street Hotel, is the widow of George Heebner, son of Christopher Heebner, a well known miller, of Norristown, and she is a lifelong resident of Montgomery county. The Main Street Hotel is located in the central part of North Wales, the Lehigh Valley trolley cars passing in front of it. It is one of the leading hotels of the county, has many patrons in the town and its vicinity, and is popular also with the traveling public. Mr. Earnest gives the most careful attention to the comfort and welfare of his guests. Under his able management of the hotel, it receives a large share of the public patronage.

 

 

ROBERT C. LOWNES was born at Centre Square, in Whitpain township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, April 24, 1869. He was educated in the common schools of the neighborhood until he was sixteen years of age. He then learned the trade of blacksmithing, and after he was come to man's estate he followed blacksmithing at Skippackville for ten or eleven years. He then purchased the hotel at Centre Point, in Worcester township, conducting it for five years.

He next purchased the hotel at West Point, in Gwynedd township, conducting it very successfully for two years. At the end of that time he removed to Lansdale, and purchased the Norwood Hotel, which he has conducted ever since. He has, since purchasing the property, made many improvements, so that it will rank with the finest hotels of Montgomery county.

Mr. Lownes has been twice married. His first wife was Anna C. Bean, a daughter of Henry K. Bean, of Norristown. By this marriage there were two children- Clarence, who is living, and Harry, who died young. The second marriage of Mr. Lownes occurred in 1898 to Susan (Trumbower) Gotwals, widow of John Gotwals, of Lansdale, Pennsylvania. The couple have one child, Ruth.

 

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Mr. Lownes is a member of the Masonic order, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Improved Order of Red Men. In politics he is a stanch Republican, but has never sought or held office. He and his family are members of the Reformed church. Mr. Lownes is genial and companionable in disposition, and has made many friends in the community in which he now resides, as well as in the other neighborhoods in which his lot has been cast.

 

 

EDWIN R. THOMAS, cashier of the National Bank of Royersford, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, in the building up of which institution he was an active and prominent factor, and since 1890 an influential and esteemed citizen of Royersford, is a lineal descendant of John Thomas, one of three brothers who came to America from their native country, Wales, at an early date, becoming loyal citizens of the great commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

John Thomas, aforementioned, great-grandfather of Edwin R. Thomas, settled in Upper Providence township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and the active years of his long and useful career were devoted to the quiet but important calling of agriculture. He married and reared a family of children, among whom was a son, John M. Thomas.

John M. Thomas, grandfather of Edwin R. Thomas, was born in Upper Providence township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, in 1790. He acquired a practical education in the common schools of his native township, then served an apprenticeship at the trade of carpenter, which he followed successfully for a number of years, and later turned his attention to the tilling of the soil. He conducted his business affairs in a reliable and trustworthy manner, and therefore achieved a large degree of financial gain. He married a Miss Tyson, daughter of Jonas Tyson, of Upper Providence township, and four children were the issue of this marriage, namely: John, Wilson, Catherine and Abel Thomas. The father of these children died in 1864.

Abel Thomas, father of Edwin R. Thomas, was born on the old homestead in Upper Providence township, Montgomery county, in 1830. He was indebted to the common schools of the neighborhood for his educational advantages, and after completing his course of study learned the trade of carpenter, becoming a thorough and expert mechanic. He engaged in this line of work for several years, then turned his attention to the occupation of drover, after which he conducted a lumber yard near the Alms House in Montgomery county, from which he deprived a goodly income. In 1870 he removed to Mingo, Montgomery county, from which he derived a goodly infeed mill, both proving remunerative occupations, and he was a resident of this section of the state up to the time of his decease, in 1882. He was upright and conscientious in all his transactions, and the confidence reposed in him was evidenced by the fact that he was chosen to serve as director in the Farmers' Bank of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. He was an Independent Republican in politics, but never sought or held public office.

By his marriage to Mary M. Rittenhouse, deceased, a daughter of Henry Rittenhouse, a farmer of Upper Providence township, three children were born: Henry R., Malinda and Edwin R. Thomas.

Edwin R. Thomas was born August 2, 1870, in Upper Providence township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He obtained his elementary education in the township schools, later pursued advanced studies at Treemount Seminary, Norristown, and subsequently took a business course at Peirce's Business College, Philadelphia. He then took up his residence in Mingo, Montgomery county, and for a period of two years assisted his brother in the operation of a mill. In 1890 he came to Royersford, same county, and accepted a position as bookkeeper in the National Bank of Royersford, in which capacity he served for seven years. He was then elected teller of the same institution, and for the past three years has served as cashier. The bank, which is one of the most reliable in the county, is conducted along conservative lines, and the business has increased to large proportions under the excellent management of Mr. Thomas. He is a painstaking and conscientious worker and is esteemed accordingly. His religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Reformed church, of which he is a regular attendant, and his political affiliations are with the Republican party, the principles of which he has advocated since attaining his majority. He is a member of the Masonic order.

 

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In 1890 Mr. Thomas married Mary E. Kepler, a daughter of Edward and Mary Kepler, the former named being a miller of Sanatoga, Montgomery county. Their children are: Horace K., born October 5, 1890, and Edna K., born July 28, 1892.

 

 

DAVID THOMAS. Jonathan Thomas (grandfather) was a resident of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, living all his life in Upper Dublin township. Among his children was Isaac Thomas, father of the subject of this sketch, who was born in 1792 and died in 1874. The homestead farm on which he was born has been in the possession of the family from the time of William Penn.

Isaac Thomas married Tacy L. Lukens, who died in 1876. After farming for some years he opened a general store, and was, appointed postmaster, which position he held for many years. The children of Isaac and Tacy (Lukens) Thomas; Layman, deceased, born 2d mo. 11, 1818; Deborah L., deceased, born 12th mo. 9, 1819; Anna L., deceased, born 8th mo. 24, 1820; Hannah J., deceased, born 3d mo. 25, 1822; Joseph L., born 3d mo. 18, 1824; Susan P., born 12th mo. 15, 1826; Della G., born 7th mo. 6, 1827; George J., born 1st mo. 15, 1831; Jonathan, born 12th mo. 12, 1832, and David, born on the homestead, 8th mo. 6, 1838. Isaac Thomas was one of the leading business men of his neighborhood, and his counsel was sought in many matters of importance.

David Thomas was educated in the public schools and then entered a private school in Philadelphia. On leaving that institution he went into a wholesale dry goods store in Philadelphia as a clerk. After remaining several years in that capacity he opened a store on his own account, and conducted it very successfully for some years. He then removed to his present residence in Whitemarsh township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He has a very fine farm, stocked with fine horses and cattle, and lives a retired life. He was engaged for twenty-one years as assistant steward at what was known as Kirkbride's Hospital for the Insane, in Philadelphia.

Mr. Thomas married, in 1860, Miss Margaret G., daughter of William and Eliza (Scheetz) Acuff. William Acuff was a farmer of Upper Dublin township. Mrs. Thomas's mother was a member of the old Scheetz family of Revolutionary fame. Her great-grandfather was one of the first paper manufacturers in America.

Their children: James H. married Clara Roberts, they having three children; William A., married Florence Scheetz, they having three children. David Thomas inclines to the Society of Friends in his religious bias. He is a Republican in politics, but has declined township offices. He has all the qualifications that make a man esteemed in the community in which he lives.

 

 

JOHN G. ARMSTRONG, one of the best known citizens of Montgomery township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, who fills acceptably at the present time the office of supervisor, is a native of the city of Philadelphia, where he was born October 19, 1862. He is the son of William and Ann Jane Armstrong. The sketch of William Armstrong (father) appears elsewhere in this work.

John G. Armstrong was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia and those of Montgomery township. He has been engaged in farm pursuits from the time the was twelve years of age. Since 1892 he has resided upon the farm of 123 acres willed to him by his father. He is a Democrat in politics, and was elected to the office of supervisor on the party ticket.

Mr. Armstrong married in Lansdale, November 11, 1892, Elizabeth, daughter of William and Esther (Snyder) Garner. The couple have two children: Esther, born November 7, 1893, and Henry Dampman, born May 24, 1895. Mrs. Armstrong attends the Montgomery Square Methodist Episcopal church.

 

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Mr. Armstrong is a progressive man, and a prominent citizen of the township. He enjoys the respect and confidence of the community, and is greatly interested in whatever will benefit the people of the township. He is doing all that is possible in the way of road improvement, and is performing the duties of the position of supervisor in such a manner as commends him to citizens generally without regard to their partisan bias.