History: Local: Chapters XX - XXI: Montgomery County Established & Railroads: Bean's 1884 History of Montgomery Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Susan Walters USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. บบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบ BEAN'S HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA บบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบบ 317 (cont.) CHAPTER XX. MONTGOMERY COUNTY ESTABLISHED - MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT - THE "COUNTRY SQUIRE." MONTGOMERY COUNTY was established September 10, 1784, [Ante p. 1.] by act of the General Assembly of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The act was approved by the Supreme Executive Council. The following gentlemen composed the Council at that period: His Excellency John Dickinson, Esq, (president), the Honorable James Irvine, Stephen Balliot, George Wall, Jr., Barnard Dougherty, John McDowel, John Byers, Sebastian Levan, John Neville, Samuel J. Atlee, Isaac Mason. As public convenience [See NOTE 20-1.] in the administration of justice was a moving consideration in the formation of new counties, the following message from His Excellency John Dickinson, President of the Council, to the Assembly, delivered January 19, 1784, is of interest, as showing the responsibility devolving upon those who were charged with the execution of the laws: "GENTLEMEN, -It is much to be desired that the system of our jurisprudence may receive every improvement we can give it as soon as such a work can be accomplished. Constancy in the laws, the preservation of domestic concord, order, and tranquillity, and a strength sufficiently prepared for defense against injuries are essential to the happiness of a State. They are also the foundations of a reputation that invites an accession of ingenious and industrious people from other parts of the world to share in the blessings of which such a character offers them an assurance. Every citizen, therefore, who respects big own interests, the welfare of his family, or the prosperity of his country, will desire and endeavor that the vast importance of these subjects may be perfectly understood and religiously regarded." The first judges of the several courts of the county were appointed by the Supreme Executive Council, as follows: Frederick A. Muhlenberg, Esq., James Morris, Esq., John Richards, Esq., Henry Scheetz, Esq., William Dean, Esq. The first court [See NOTE 20-2.] was held December 28, 1784, in the barn on the premises owned by John Shannon, [See NOTE 20-3.] then known and licensed as the Barley Sheaf Hotel, situated in Norriton township, on what is now the Germantown turnpike, a short distance northwest of Hartranft Station, on the Stony Creek Railroad. PICTURE OF BARLEY SHEAF BARN APPEARS HERE. Zebulon Potts, the first sheriff of the county, was elected October 14, 1784, and commissioned by the Executive Council. Thomas Craig was appointed the first prothonotary September 10, 1784, and commissioned by John Dickinson, president of the Executive Council on the following day, September 11, 1784, [NOTE 20-1.] We believe the name Montgomery to have been given to the county in honor of the Montgomeryshire, in Wales. This name was given to a township prior to the fall of General Montgomery, and before the county was created. The number and influential character of the Welsh settlers and land-owners residing here at the time the county was formed, is a reason to induce this belief, while there can be but little doubt that the name and public services of General Montgomery conspired to make the selection a popular one. L. H. Davis, Esq., of Pottstown, a gentleman who has given the subject attention, has another possible derivation of the name, -i. e., that there were two members of the Legislature named Montgomery, in the session of 1784, Joseph Montgomery, of Lancaster, and William Montgomery, of North 11foberlind, both of whom Mr. Davis alleges, took an active part in supporting the bill creating the county. The original petition of the citizens, is said, was blank as to the name; this circumstance would seem to favor Mr. Davis view, while it is possible that the" Montgomery's of the Assembly anticipated the natural wishes of the Welsh, and utilized the name of General Montgomery with that of their own. [FINIS NOTE 20-1.] [NOTE 20-2.] MINUTES OF FIRST COURT HELD IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. "MONTGOMERY COUNTY, } ss. "Minutes of a Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace, in and for the County of Montgomery, held at the house of John Shannon, on Tuesday, the 20th day of December, 1784. "Present, Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, James Norris, John Richards, Henry Scheetz, William Dean, Esquires. "The Court opened at 12 o'clock. M. Proclamation being made enjoining all manner of persons to keep silence. Commissions from the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania were read appointing the following Gentlemen Justices of the peace, viz.: William Dean, Esquire, bearing date July 14, 1783; Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, Esq., March 19, 1784; John Richards and Henry Scheetz, June 24, 1784; and James Morris, Esq., September 20, 1784, and a commission to Thomas Craig, Esq., appointing him Clerk of the Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace. "Proclamation for the Sheriff of Montgomery County to return the Precept to him directed being made; the said Sheriff to wit, Zebulon Potts, Esquire, returns a Grand Jury, to wit: Thomas Rees, Henry Cunnard, James Wotmough, Linzey Coats, Robert Shannon, John Rutter, James Stroud, Lewelling Young, Henry Powling, Samuel Wheeler, Peter Muhlenberg, Archibald St. Clair, Samuel Holstein, William Lain, James Veaux, Robert Curry, John Edwards, Benjamin Markley, Jacob Auld, Anthony Carothers, Frederick Weise, Nathan Pawling, Abe Morgan, Francis Swain, who were all except Archibald St. Clair and Frederick Weise, severally sworn or affirmed. "Proclamation being made for silence, the President, Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, delivered the charge to the Grand Jury. "This proceeding was followed by a return of the Constables of the Several Townships. "The only cases adjudicated at this Court were the Overseers of the Poor of New Hanover Township, vs. The Overseers of the Poor of Providence Township, and the Overseers of the Poor of Whitemarsh Township vs. the Overseers of the Poor of Springfield Township." - Quarter Sessions, Docket, No. 1. p. 1. [FINIS NOTE 20-2.] [See NOTE 20-3.] The premises are now owned and occupied by Benjamin Baker, who rebuilt the barn some years since; the court-house barn was built in 1735. [FINIS NOTE 20-3.] 318 the same Thomas Craig was appointed clerk of courts, and duly commissioned by the same authority. The first recorder of deeds was Augustus Muhlenberg. He was appointed on the 21st of September 1784, by the Executive Council, and on the same day was appointed register of wills. The office of county commissioner appears to have been organized in 1790. No records can be found of an earlier date. The following-named persons constituted the board at that date: Christian Scheid, Nathan Potts, John Mann. The earliest county treasurer of which we find record was Isaac Markley. Directors of the poor were not county officers at the date Montgomery County was organized. At this period the State had no Governor, no State Senate. The several States were acting under the Articles of Confederation, adopted November 15, 1777. The Constitution of the United States had not then been adopted, and the first Congress did not assemble until 1789. The only representation the county had was in the General Assembly of Pennsylvania. The first members elected to represent Montgomery County in the General Assembly were Peter Richards, Robert Loller, George Smith, and Benjamin Rittenhouse. The first Senator elected under the revised Constitution of 1789 was Linsay Coates. CIVIL LIST OF LEGISLATIVE AND COUNTY OFFICERS. UNITED STATES SENATORS FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY. Peter Muhlenberg. Jonathan Roberts, 1815-21. MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, REPRESENTING MONTGOMERY COUNTY. First United States Congress, 1790-91 (Pennsylvania elected eight members at large).-Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg. Chester and Montgomery Counties. Second United States Congress, 1791-93. -Frederick A. Muhlenberg. Third United States Congress, 1793-95. -Frederick A. Muhlenberg. Fourth United States Congress, 1795-97. -Frederick A. Muhlenberg. Fifth United States Congress, 1797-99. Bucks, Montgomery, Northampton, Wayne and Luzerne Counties. Sixth United States Congress, 1799-1801 (elect three members). Peter Muhlenberg. Seventh United States Congress, 1801-3. -Peter Muhlenberg Eighth United States Congress 1803-5. -Frederick Conrad Ninth United States Congress, 1805-7. -Frederick Conrad Tenth United States Congress, 1807-9. Eleventh United States Congress, 1809-11. Chester and Montgomery Counties, Twelfth United States Congress, 1811-13 (elect two members) Thirteenth United States Congress, 1813-15. Fourteenth United States Congress, 1815-17. -John Hahn. Fifteenth United States Congress, 18l7-19. -John Hahn. Sixteenth United Stated Congress, 1819-21. -Samuel Gross. Montgomery County, District 5. Seventeenth United States Congress, 1821-23. -Samuel Gross. Eighteenth United States Congress, 1823-25. -Philip S. Markley. Nineteenth United States Congress, 1825-27. -Philip S. Markley. Twentieth United States Congress, 1827-29. -John B. Sterigere. Twenty-first United States Congress, 1829-31. -John B. Sterigere. Twenty-second United Stated Congress, 1831-33. -Joel K. Mann. Twenty-third United States Congress, 1833-35. -Joel K. Mann. Twenty-fourth United States Congress, 1835-37 -Jacob Fry, Jr. Twenty-fifth United States Congress, 1837-39. -Jacob Fry, Jr. Twenty-sixth United States Congress, 1839-41.-Joseph Fornance. Twenty-seventh United States Congress, 1841-43. -Joseph Fornance. Delaware and Montgomery Counties, District 5. Twenty-eighth United States Congress, 1843-45. -Jacob S. Yost. Twenty-ninth United States Congress, 1845-47. -Jacob S. Yost. Thirtieth United States Congress, 1847-49. -John Freedley. Thirty-first United States Congress, 1849-51. -John Freedley. Thirty-second United States Congress, 1851-53. -John McNair. Montgomery and Part of Philadelphia County, District 5. Thirty-third United Stated Congress, 1853-55. -John McNair. Thirty-fourth United States Congress, 1855-57. -John Cadwalader. Thirty-fifth United States Congress, 1857-59. -Owen Jones. Thirty-sixth United States Congress, 1859-61. -John Wood. Thirty-seventh United States Congress, 1861-63. -Wm. Morris Davis. Montgomery and Lehigh Counties, District 6. Thirty-eighth United Stated Congress 1863-65. -John D. Stilt. Thirty-ninth United States Congress, 1865-67. -B. Markley Boyer. Fortieth United States Congress, 1867-69. -B. Markley Boyer. Fort-first United States Congress, 1869-71. -John D. Stiles. Forty-second United States Congress 1871-73. -Ephraim L. Acker. Forty-third United states Congress, 1873-75. James S. Biery. Montgomery and Bucks Counties District 7. Forty-fourth United States Congress, 1875-77. -Allan Wood, Jr. Forty-fifth United States Congress, 1877-79. -L. Newton Evans. Forty-sixth United States Congress, 1879-81. -William Godshalk. Forty-seventh United Stated Congress, 1881-83.-William Godshalk. Forty-eighth United States Congress, 1883-85. -L. Newton Evans. STATE SENATORS. 1796. -Zebulon Potts. 1796-97. -Montgomery, Chester and Bucks comprised a Senatorial District, and was represented by William Chapman, of Bucks. 1797-98. -Joseph McClellan. 1798-99. -Dennis Wheeler. 1799-1801. -Zebulon Potts 1801-7. -John Richards. 1807-11. -Jonathan Roberts, Jr. 1811-15. -Samuel Gross. 1815-19. -George Weaver. 1819-24. -Philip S. Markley. 1824-29. Joel K. Mann. 1829-31. -Benjamin Reiff, Esq. 1832-35. -John Matthews. According to the provisions of the Apportionment Bill of June 16, 1836, the Third Senatorial District was composed of the counties of Montgomery, Chester and Delaware. 1836-40. -Henry Myers, of Chester. 1840-41. -John B. Sterigere. 1841-43. -Abraharn Brower. According to the provisions of the Apportionment Bill of April 14, 1843, the Third Senatorial District was composed of and represented by Montgomery alone. 1843-46. -John B. Sterigere. 1846-49. -George Richards. 1849-52. -Joshua Y. Jones. 1852-55. -Benjarnin Frick. 1855-58. -Thomse P. Knox. 1858-61. -John Thompson. 1861-64. -John C. Smith. According to the provisions of file Apportionment Bill of May 5, 1864, Montgomery, Chester and Delaware were called, the Fifth Senatorial District, and represented by Horace Royer, of Montgomery, and Wilmer Worthington, of Delaware, from 1864 to 1867. 1868-70. -Charles Stinson. 1871-73. -Henry S. Evans, of Chester. According to the provisions of the Constitution of 1873, Montgomery County is styled the Twelfth Senatorial District, and represented by William A. Yeakle, from 1873 to 1876. 1876-78. -Jones Detwiler. 1874-8l. -Lewis Rover. 1882 to present. -William Henry Sutton. MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE [See NOTE 20-4.] 1784. -Peter Richards, Robert Loller, George Smith, Benjamin Rittenhouse. [NOTE 20-4.] Prior to the adoption of the Constitution of 179O the Legislature of Pennsylvania consisted of one house, known as the General Assembly. [FINIS NOTE 20-4.] 319 1785. -Benjamin Rittenhouse, Robert Loller, Peter Richards, Thomas Rees. [See NOTE 20-5.] 1786. -Charles Moore, Samuel Wheeler, James Hockley, Jacob Bell. 1787. -Jacob Reiff, Robert Loller, Benjamin Rittenhouse, Peter Richards. 1788. -Robert Loller, Jacob Reiff, Peter Richards, John Roberts. 1789. -Jacob Reiff, John Roberts, Benjamin Markley, James Vaux. 1790. -Benjamin Markley, John Roberts, James Vaux, Cadwalader Evans. 1791. -Cadwalader Evans, Joseph Tyson, James Vaux, Isaiah Davis. 1792 -Isaiah Davis, Joseph Tyson, Cadwalader Evans, John Shoemaker 1793-95. -Cadwalader Evans, Joseph Tyson, John Shoemaker, Isaiah Davis. 1796. -Cadwalader Evans, Abm. Schultz, Joseph Tyson, John Shoemaker. 1797. -Cadwalader Evans, Benjamin Brooke, Peter Muhlenberg. Nathaniel Boileu. [NOTE 20-6.] 1798. -Benjamin Brooke, Nathaniel Boileau, Frederick Conrad, Cadwalader Evans. 1799. -Fredrick Conrad, Nathaniel Boileau, Jonathan Roberts, Isaiah Davis. 1800. -Nathaniel Boileau, Isaiah Davis, Frederick Conrad, Jonathan Roberts, Jr. 1802. -Samuel Henderson, William Hagy, Cadwalader Evans, Isaiah Davis. 1803-4. -Nathaniel Boileau, Henry Scheetz, Samuel Gross, John Mann. 1805. -Cadwalder Evans, Samuel Miles, Samuel Rees, William Hallman. 1807-8. -Natlianiel Boileau, Samuel Groff, Isaiah Davis, John Weber. 1809-10. -Richaid Leech, John Weber, Matthew Brooke, George Weaver. 1811. -Jesse Bean, Benjamin Reiff, George Weaver, Matthew Brooke. 1812. -Jesee, Bean, Benjamin Reiff, George Weaver, Philip Reed. 1813. -Jesse Bean, Benjamin Reiff, Philip Reed, William Powell. 1814. -William Powell, Benjamin Reiff, Samuel Baird, John Hughes. 1815-16. -William Powell, William M. White, Dr. Tobias Sellers, Dr. James Anderson. 1817. -Joel K. Mann, William M. White, Jacob Drinkhouse, Tobias Sellers. 1818. -Joel K. Mann, William M. White, Jacob Drinkhouse, Isaiah Wells. 1819-20. -Joel K. Mann, Peter Miller, Jacob Drinkhouse, Isaiah Wells. 1821-23. -Joseph Royer, Peter Miller, John B. Sterigere, William Powell. 1824. -Jonathan Roberts, Robert Hobart, John B. Sterigere, Michael Cope. 1825. -Jonathan Roberts, Michael Cope, Robert Hobart, John Stevens. 1826. -John Matheys, Michael Cope, James Evans, John Stevens. 1827-28. -John Matheys, James Evans, Adam Slemmer, John Stevens. 1829. -John Matheys, James Evans, Adam Slemmer. 1830. -John Shearer, Philip Hoover, Adam Slemmer. 1831-32. -John Shearer, Philip Hoover, John E. Gross. 1833-34. -Joseph Fornance, John M. Jones, Henry Schneider. 1835. -William Schall, Wright A. Bringhurst, Robert Stinson. 1836-38. -Jacob S. Yost, Henry Longaker, Samuel E. Leech. 1839. -Jacob S. Yost, Henry Longaker, Charles D. Jones. 1840. -Charles D. Jones, Enos Benner, George Snyder. 1841. -Ephraim Fenton, William B. Hahn, William Bean. 1842-43. -Charles Kugler, William B. Hahn, William Bean. 1844. -Charles Kugler, Henry Dotts, Jesse Weber. 1845-46. -Henry Dotts, Benjamin Hill, Benjamin F. Hallowell. 1847. -John S. Weiler, George Wertsner, James Thompson. 1848. -Benjamin Hill, Benjamin Hallowell, David Evans. 1849-50. -David Evans, William T. Morrison, William Henry. 1851. -William Henry, Curtis W. Gabe, Oliver H. Fretz. 1852-53. -Curtis W. Gabe, Oliver P. Fretz, Henry Beyer. 1854. -Henry Beyer, Charles H. Palmer, Jacob Fry, Jr. 1855. -Jacob Fry, Jr., Henry N. Wickersham, James Rittenhouse. 1856-58. -Josiah Hillegas, George Hamel, A. Brower Longaker. 1859-61. -David Stoneback, John Dismant, Charles H. Hill. 1862-64. -Joseph Rex, Hiram C. Hoover, George W. Wimley. 1865-67. -A. D. Markley, Edwin Satterthwait. 1868-69. -Janies Esbach, Henry McMiller. 1870. -John J. C. Harvey, James Esbach. 1871-72. -Oliver G. Morris, John J. C. Harvey 1873. -Oliver G. Morris, Samuel Nyce. 1874. -Thomas G. Rutter, Joseph B. Yerkes. 1875-76. -Thomas G. Rutter, Joseph B. Yerkes, Francis M. Knipe, John C. Richardson, James B. Law. 1877-78. -John C. Richardson, James B. Law, Francis M. Knipe, Edwin Hallowell, Montgomery Longaker. 1879. -Edwin Hallowell, John C. Dannehower, Mahlon Sellers, William B. Roberts, Isaac Rover. 1881. -William B. Roberts, Isaac Hoyer[sic], Josiah S. Pearce, D. H. Gehman, Harry R. Brown. 1883. -Theodore Harrar, Lewis H. Davis, John Lunderman, John C. Dannehower, Stephen Yerkes. 1885. -John H. Cunningham, Samuel Faust, William D. Heebner, William A. Redding, Thomas J. Stewart. [NOTE 20-5.] The judges who have signed the return for Montgomery County inform the House, by a Nota Bena written opposite to their signatures, that Thomas Rees and Samuel Wheeler had each a co-equal number ,of votes, and they transmit the request of Samuel Wheeler that his name may be not mentioned in the return. [FINIS NOTE 20-5.] [NOTE 20-6.] During the session of the House in 1797, Cadwalader Evans attended 122 days, at $3 per day . . . . . $366 00 20 miles mileage, at 20 cts . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 00 -------$370 00 Benjamin Brooke attended 122 days, at $3 per day $366 00 14 miles mileage, at 20 cts . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 80 -------$368 80 Peter Muhlenberg attended 122 days, at $3 per day $366 00 26 miles mileage, at 20 cts . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 20 -------$371 20 Nathaniel B. Boileau attended 116 days, at $3 per day $348 00 26 miles mileage, at 20 cts . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 20 -------$351 20 [FINIS NOTE 20-6.] PROTHONOTARIES. --The prothonotary is clerk of the Court of Common Pleas. He issues all writs for the commencement of actions or suits of law, as well as writs of execution for the sale of property, either personal or real. He must keep dockets in which is entered a complete history of every step taken by either party in any suit or execution. He also keeps a judgment docket, in which all judgments are entered, in their regular order. All these dockets are open to the inspection of the public. The prothonotary is elected for three years. This office was appointive till 1839. Thomas Craig, appointed under Executive Council, September 10, 1784, by J. Dickinson; reappointed July 11, 1791, by Thomas Mifflin. William R. Atlee, appointed March 5, 1799, by Thomas Mifflin, Governor under Constitution of 1790. Francis Swain, appointed January 6,1800, by Thomas McKean. Philip Hahn, appointed January 21, 1809, by Simon Snyder. William Powell, appointed March 25, 1818, by William Findlay. Frederick Conrad, appointed February 7, 1821, by Joseph Heister; reappointed January 8, 1824, by J. A. Schultz. Thomas Lowry appointed December 21, 1826, by J. A. Shultz. Jacob Fry, appointed February 12,1830, by George Wolf. Adam Slemmer, appointed April 1, 1833, by George Wolf. John Bean, appointed January 28, 1836, by Joseph Ritner. Josiah W. Evans, appointed February 7, 1839, by David R. Porter. Josiah W. Evans, elected in 1839 under the amended Constitution of1838; commissioned by David R. Porter, November 14th. Jones Davis, elected 1842. Mehelm McGlathery, elected 1845. J. B. Evans, elected 1848. N. Jacoby, elected 1851. Bowyer Brooke, elected 1854. Florence Sullivan, elected 1857. Jared Evans, elected 1860. John R. Grigg, elected 1863. Jesse H. Gery, elected 1866. 320 John B. Yerkes, elected 1869. William F. Reed, elected 1872. Philip Quillman, elected 1875. A. Franklin Hart, elected 1878. John McLean, elected 1881. William B. Woodward, elected 1884. DOCKETS IN PROTHONOTARY'S OFFICE. No. 1. Continuance Docket No. 2. Judgment Docket No. 3. Execution Docket No. 4. Sheriff's Deed Docket No. 5. Mechanics' Lien Docket No. 6. Equity Docket No. 7. Partition Common Pleas Docket No. 8. Assignees' Docket No. 9. Treasurer's Deed Docket No. 10. Medical Register Docket No. 11. Naturalization Docket No. 12. Insolvent Debtors' Docket No. 13. Common Pleas Miscellaneous Docket No. 14. Ejectment Docket No. 15. Attorneys' Docket No. 16. Minute Book. CLERK OF COURTS. -This officer is clerk of the Orphans' Court and Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace. Each of these courts has separate dockets, in which the proceedings of each are kept. The clerk of courts also keeps a record of the jurymen drawn, and certifies the time of attendance of each to the county commissioners. All matters relating to the opening, widening or vacating of roads are recorded and kept by him. He enters a record of the accounts of guardians of orphans, executors of wills and administrators of estates in the Orphans' Court docket after the court confirms them. The clerk of courts is elected for three years. This office was filled by appointment till 1839. Thomas Craig, appointed under Executive Council, September 11. 1784, by James Ewing; reappointed July 11, 1791, by Thomas Mifflin; and a third time March 14, 1792, by the same. Wm. R. Atlee, appointed March 5, 1799, by Thos. Mifflin, Governor under Constitution of 1790. Francis Swain, appointed January 6, 1800, by Thos. McKean. Philip Hahn, appointed January 21, 1800, by Simon Snyder. Wm. Powell, appointed March 25, 1818, by William Findlay. Frederick Conrad, appointed February 7, 1821, by Joseph Heister. Thos. Lowry, appointed January, 1824, by J. A. Shultz; reappointed December 21st by the same. Jacob Fry, appointed February 12,1830, by George Wolf. John H. Scheetz appointed February 23, 1830, by George Wolf Benj. Johnson, appointed February 17, 1839, by D. R. Porter. Geo. H. Pawling was elected 1839, and commissioned by D. R. Porter, November 14th of the same year William Rossiter, elected 1842. John McNair, elected 1845. Andrew H. Tippin, elected 1848. Washington Richards, elected 1851. Jesse B. Davis, elected 1854. E. B. Moore, elected 1857, James Burnsides, elected 1860. Daniel Fisher, elected 1863. Jacob F. Quillman, elected 1866. Samuel B. Helffenstein, elected 1869. Merrit M. Missimer, elected 1872. Franklin T. Beerer, elected 1875. Henry S. Smith, elected 1878. 0. N. Urner, appointed vice Henry Smith. Edward Schall, elected 1881. Edward Schall, elected 1884. COURT OF QUARTER SESSIONS AND ORPHANS COURT DOCKETS. No. 1. Quarter Sessions Docket No. 2. Orphans' Court Docket No. 3. Public Roads Docket No. 4. Decedents' Estates Docket No. 5 County Bridges Docket No. 6. Widows' Appraisements Docket No. 7. License Docket No. 8. Spring Elections - Township Officers Docket No. 9. Triennial Guardians' Accounts Docket No. 10. Register for Dogs Docket No. 11. Township and Independ6nt School Districts Dockets No. 12. Bond-Book Docket No. 13. Recognizance Orphans' Court Docket No. 14. Trustee Bond Docket No. 15. Administrators' Bond Docket No. 16. Minute Book. RECORDER OF DEEDS.-The recorder of deeds is elected for three years. Vacancies are filled by appointment by the Governor. It is the recorder's duty to record all deeds, mortgages and conveyances which shall be brought to him for that purpose. He must enter every deed or writing in the order of time it was made Mortgages should be recorded as soon as delivered, as they take precedence over each other in the order of time in which they are placed upon record. The recorder also certifies to any one ordering the same a complete search of all unsettled mortgages resting upon any particular property. This office was filled by appointment till 1839. Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg,appointed September 21, 1784, by Supreme Executive Council. Robert Loller, appointed September 10, 1789, by Thomas Mifflin, Governor. Robert Loller, appointed September 14, 1790, by Thomas Mifflin. James Morris, appointed June 24, 1791, by Thomas Mifflin. Thomas Craig, appointed August 8, 1795, by Thomas Mifflin. William R. Atlee, appointed March 5, 1799, by Thomas Mifflin. Thomas Potts, appointed January 6, 1800, by Thomas McKean. Archibald Darrah, appointed January 21, 1809, by Simon Snyder George Wack, appointed January 25, 1818, by William Findlay. Jesse Roberts, appointed January 7, 1821, by Joseph Heister. Jacob Hubley, appointed November 2, 1822, by Joseph Heister. John Markley, appointed January 8, 1824, by J. A. Shultz. John Markley, appointed December 21, 1826, by J. A. Shultz. William Powell, appointed February 12, 1830, by George Wolf. S. D. Patterson, appointed February 23, 1833, by George Wolf. James Wells, appointed June 11, 1834, by George Wolf. Robert Iredell, appointed January 28,1836, by Joseph Ritner Tobias Sellers. appointed February 17, I839, by D. R. Porter. Elected by the People and Commissioned by the Governor. Tobias Sellers, elected 1831. Daniel Fry, elected 1842 Henry Drake, elected 1845 H. G. Hart, elected 1848 R. B. Longaker, elected 1851 George Lower. elected 1874 William H. Hill, elected 1837 Thomas G. Rutter, elected 1860 Henry Unger, elected 1863 Christopher Wycoff, elected 1866 Henry Bernard Nase, elected 1869 George W. Neiman, elected 1872 John W. Schall, appointed March 28, 1865, vice George W Neiman, died John W. Schall, elected 1875 Jobn W. Schall. elected 1878 Henry W. Kratz, elected 1881 Aaron Weikel, elected 1884. 321 DOCKETS IN OFFICE OF RECORDER OF DEEDS No. 1. Deed Docket No. 2. Mortgage Dockets No. 3. Commission Docket. No. 4. Miscellaneous Docket. REGISTER OF WILLS. -The register of wills holds his office for a term of three years. He grants letters testamentary to executors and letters of administration to administrators. He examines and files the accounts of executors, guardians and trustees of life estates. Wills are admitted to probate, recorded and filed by him. This office was filled by appointment till 1839. Thomas Ewing, appointed by Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, September 21, 1784. Robert Loller, appointed September 14, 1789, by Thomas Mifflin was reappointed September 4, 1790, by the some. Appointed by the Governor. James Morris, appointed June 4, 1791, by Thomas Mifflin. William Richardson Atlee, appointed March 5,1799, by Thomas Mifflin. Thomas Potts, appointed January 6, 1800, by Thomas McKean. Archibald Darrah, appointed January 21, 1809, by Simon Snyder. George Wack, appointed March 25, 1818, by William Findlay. Jesse Roberts, appointed February 7, 1821, Thomas Heister. Jacob Hubley, appointed November 1, 1822, by John Heister. John Markley, appointed January 8, 1824, by J. H. Shultz; was reappointed September 24, 1826, by the same. William Powell, appointed February 12, 1830, by George Wolf; was reappointed February 23, 1833, by the same. Nathaniel H. Boileau, appointed January 28, 1836, by Joseph Ritner. Elected by the People and Commissioned by the Governor. John Shearer, elected 1839. William Earnest, elected 1842. R. F. Yost, elected 1845. William Fronefield, elected 1848. John M. Jones, elected 1851. Isaac Schneider, elected l854. Philip S. Gerhard, elected 1857. Charles Hurst, elected 1860. Isaiah B. Houpt, elected 1863. Christopher Lower, elected 1866. John J Nocton, elected 1869. Septimus Roberts, elected 1872. Solomon Snyder, elected 1875. Warren B. Barnes, elected 1878. J. Roberts Rambo, elected 1881. J. Roberts Rambo, elected 1884. DOCKETS IN THE OFFICE OF REGISTER OF WILLS. Index to Administrators. Index to Wills. Miscellaneous Dockets. Collateral Inheritance. SHERIFF. -The Sheriff is elected for three years. When a vacancy occurs in the office of the sheriff the coroner fills it until the expiration of the term. The sheriffs is the executive officer of the court. All writs directed to him by the court, must be executed by him and a return thereof made to the court. He, with the jury commissioners, draws the names of the jurors and file sheriff summons them to attend court. He gives notice of the time and place of general elections and the qualifications of voters. By the revised Constitution of 1874, art. xiv., sec. i., this officer was made ineligible for the next succeeding term. Elected by the people and commissioned by Executive Council. Zebulon Potts, elected October 14, 1784; re-elected October 15, 1785; commissioned by John Dickinson; elected a third time October 17, 1786; commissioned by Charles Riddle. Francis Swain, elected October, 1787; commissioned by Benjamin Franklin, October 12th; re-elected October, 1788; commissioned by David Reidick, October l6th; elected a third time, October, 1789; commissioned by George Ross, October 17th. Henry Kooken, elected October, 1790; commissioned by Thomas Mifflin, October 15th. Under the amended Constitution of 1790, the sheriff's term of office is having been extended to three years, the following have been elected: Nathan Pawling, 1793; commissioned by Thomas Mifflin, October 19th. Mr. Pawling dying whilst in office, Isaiah Wells was appointed by Governor Mifflin, April 8, 1795, to fill the residue of the term. John Pugh, elected 1795. John Markley elected 1798. Isaiah Wells, elected 1801. William Henderson, elected 1804. David Dewees, elected 1807. Isaiah Wells, elected 1810. Thomas Lowry, elected 1813. Justice Scheetz, elected 1816. Philip Sellers, elected 1819 Philip Boyer, elected l822. Christian Snyder, elected 1825 Jones Davis elected 1828. Henry Longaker, elected 1831. John Todd, elected 1834. Ardemus Stewart, elected 1837. Jacob Spoug, elected 1840. James Wells, elected 1843. John Boyer, elected 1846. Philip Hahn, elected 1849. M. C. Boyer, elected 1852. Samuel D. Rudy, elected 1855. John M. Stauffer, elected 1858. Francis Kile, elected 1861. E. N. Beysher, elected 1864. Philip Gerhart, elected 1867. William J. Bolton, appointed October 1868, vice Philip Gerhart, died. John W. Hunsicker, elected October, l868. Jeremiah B. Lazelere, elected October, 1871. John Linderman, elected October, 1874. Jacob Tyson, elected October, 1877. Joseph Frankenfield, elected October, 1880. Edwin S. Stahlnecker, elected October, 1883. DOCKETS IN SHERIFF'S OFFICE No. 1. Judicial Docket No. 2. Primary Docket. No. 3. Miscellaneous Docket. COUNTY TREASURER. -The county treasurer is elected for a term of three years. [See NOTE 20-7.] Vacancies are filled by the Governor. The treasurer, receives and holds all the money belonging to the county and pays the same on warrants drawn by the commissioners. He also receives taxes due the commonwealth, such as hotel and mercantile licenses, and pays the same to the State treasurer. It is also a part of his duty to collect the county and State taxes, and for that purpose sits in each district at a certain time and place designated by him. [NOTE 20-7.] From 1790 to 1841 the office was filled by Appointment by the county commissioner it being, the rule to appoint the retiring commissioner for the period of one year. From 1841 to 1874 the office was elective for the term of one year, and by a party rule the incumbent was re-elected for a second term. By the revised Constitution of 1874, article xiv., section 1, the term; was extended to three years and the incumbent was made ineligible for the next succeeding term. [FINIS NOTE 20-7.] 322 Isaac Markley, appointed 1813. George Heist, appointed 1814. Samuel Mann, appointed 1815. Owen Evans, appointed 1816. John McFarland, appointed 1817. Casper Schlater, appointed 1818. Michael Cope, appointed 1819. Samuel Wentz, appointed 1820. Samuel Wentz, appointed 1821. Henry Kerr, appointed 1822. Chris. Mattis, appointed 1823. William Ayres, appointed 1824. George Kline, appointed 1825. Wm. McGlathery, appointed 1826. Henry Doub, appointed 1827. Henry Doub, appointed 1828. David C. Kulp, appointed 1829. George Piper, appointed 1830. Henry Schneider, appointed. 1831. John Todd, appointed 1832. Christian Keisel, appointed 1833. John Geiger, appointed 1834. Ardemus Stewart, appointed 1835. Jacob Heighley, appointed 1836. Fred. Dallecker, appointed 1837. William Hamill, appointed 1838. Samuel E. Leech, appointed 1839. Benjamin B. Yost, appointed 1840. F. C. Burnside, appointed 1841. Jones Smith, elected 1841. Jones Smith, elected 1842. David Beard, elected 1843. David Beard, elected 1844. Moore Stevens, elected 1845. Moore Stevens, elected 1846. J. H. Steiner, elected 1847. J. H. Steiner, elected 1848. John Hines, elected 1849. John Hines, elected 1850. Jesse Gable, elected 1851. Jesse Gable, elected 1852. P. M. Hunter, elected 1853. P. M Hunter, elected 1854. John M. Fenton, elected 1855. John M. Fenton, elected 1856. Fred. Brendlinger, elected 1857. Fred. Brendlinger, elected 1858. Aaron Drake, elected 1859. Aaron Drake, elected 1860. George Sechler, elected 1861. George Sechler, elected 1862. R. B. Longaker, elected 1863. R. B. Longaker, elected 1864. Joseph Beerer, elected 1865. Joseph Beerer, elected 1866. G. W. Jacoby, elected 1867. G. W. Jacoby, elected 1868. Nath. Wagonhurst, elected 1869. Nath. Wagonhurst, elected 1870. George C. Reiff, elected 1871. Samuel F. Jarrett, elected 1872. Samuel F. Jarret, elected 1873. Samuel F. Jarrett, elected 1874. Evan G. Jones, elected 1877. J. R. Yost, elected 1880. Henry A. Cole, elected 1883. DOCKETS IN OFFICE OF COUNTY TREASURER. Tax Ledger Docket. License Docket. Order Book. Cash-Book and Ledger. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. - There are three commissioners elected in each county for a term of three years. [See NOTE 20-8.] Each elector votes for two persons, but the three having the highest vote are elected, thus always giving the minority party a representative. Vacancies are filled by appointment by the remaining members. It is the duty of the county commissioners to determine the tax-rate from statements of the assessors, and levy the county taxes. They must keep in repair the courthouse and prison, and build new ones when authorized to do so. They must also build county bridges and keep them in repair. Road damages assessed to property holders for land taken for new roads or streets within the county are paid by the county on warrants of the commissioners. All bills against the county must be proved by them before they are paid by the county treasurer. At the close of each fiscal year they publish a statement of the receipts and expenditures. [NOTE 20-8.] Three commissioners were elected in 1790; their terms of office expired in one, two and three years, respectively, and thereafter one commissioner was elected each year until the adoption of the revised Constitution of 1874, when three commissioners were elected for the period of three years, under the rule of minority representation. (See Constitution of 1874, article xiv., sect. 7). [FINIS NOTE 20-8.] Christian Scheid, elected 1790. Nathan Potts, elected 1790. John Mann, elected 1790. Conrad Boyer, elected 1791. John Wentz, elected 1792. John Jarrett, elected 1793. Morris Hobson, elected 1794. Fred. Conrad, elected 1793. Samuel Maulsby, elected 1796. Conrad Boyer, elected 1797. James Bean, elected 1798. Henry Sheetz, elected 1799. Philip Boyer, elected 1800. Christian Weber, elected 1801. Richard T. Leach, elected 1802. Philip Hahn, Jr., elected 1803. Thomas Humphries, elected 1804. John Markley, elected 1805. George Bucher, elected l806. John Lowery, elected 1807. Mahlon V. Booskirk, elected 1808. Isaac Markley, elected 1809. George Heist, elected 1810. Samuel Mann, elected 1810. Owen Evans, elected 1812. Samuel Patterson, appointed by court and commissioners. Jacob Yost, elected 1813. Samuel Patterson and Schlatter, elected 1814. J. McFarland and Cope, elected 1815. Dr. Hough, elected 1816. Andrew Gilkeson, elected 1817. Henry Kerr, elected 1818. Christian Mattis, elected 1819. William Ayers, elected 1820. George Kline, elected 1821. Wm. McGlathery, elected 1822. Henry Doub, elected 1823. Peter Bastras, Jr., elected 1824. David C. Kulp, elected 1825. George Piper, elected 1826. Henry Schneider, elected 1827. John Todd, elected 1828. Christian Keisel, elected 1829. John Geyer, elected 1830. William Hamill, elected 1831. Amos Addis, elected 1832. Samuel E. Leach and Benjamin B. Yost, elected 1833. F. C. Burnside (for three years), elected 1834. Jacob Fritz, elected 1833. John Scheffer, elected 1836. Abel Thomas, elected 1837. William Stevens, elected 1838. John Bechtel, elected 1839. Silas Yerkes, elected 1839. Mehelm McGlathery, elected 1840. Joseph Nettles, elected 1841. Isaac Burk, elected 1842. Daniel Yost, elected 1843. Samuel Shoemaker, elected 1844. Samuel H. Graff, elected 1845. John Smith, elected 1845. Charles Greger, elected 1846. John Katz, elected 1847. Daniel Quillman, elected 1848. Daniel Harp Major, elected 1849. William W. Dunn, elected 1850. Michael Hartzel, elected 1851. Archibald Bains, elected 1852. John Cowden, elected 1853. Isaac F. Yost, elected 1851. John Hoffman, elected 1852. Benjamin Fleck, elected 1856. Jacob Brant, elected 1857. John B. Adams, elected 1858. Daniel Carr, elected 1859. Isaac Huber, elected 1860. George Pennick, elected 1861. Jacob Slifer, elected 1862. Abraham C. Cole, elected 1863. Tobias G. Hauge, elected 1864. William G. Smith, elected 1865. Henry H. Hartman, elected 1866. Benjamin Tyson, 1867. Francis Kehr, elected 1868. John Y. Fritz. elected 1869. Dennis Dunne, elected 1870. John Stever, elected 1871. John T. Comly, elected 1872. Edward Johnson, elected 1873. Charles M. Soliday, elected 1874. George Erb, elected 1875. Amos D. Moser, elected 1875. Charles M. Soliday, elected 1875. Jesse B. Davis, elected 1878. Noah D. Frank, elected 1878. Amos D. Moser, elected 1878. James Burnett, elected 1881. Hiram Burdan, elected 1881. William L. Rittenhouse, elected 1881. James Burnett, elected 1884. Hiram Burdan, elected 1884. Thomas McCully, elected 1884. PUBLIC DOCKETS IN THE OFFICE OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. 1. County Commissioners' Tax Lien Docket. 2. Commissioners' Cash-Book Docket. 3. Contract Docket. 4. Bond Book Docket. 5. Register of Expenditures of County Docket. 6. Assessors' Valuation of Taxable Property Docket. 7 Tax Duplicate Docket. 8. Assessors' Return of Voters' Docket. 9. Registry of Jurors' Docket. 10. Militia Enrollment Docket. 11. Registry of Variations of Surveyors' Compasses Docket. 12. Minute Book. DIRECTORS OF THE POOR. -There are three directors of the poor in Montgomery County, elected for three years, one each year. Vacancies are filled by the remaining directors. They have the general supervision of the almshouse and of the poor of the county. They elect the steward and other officers, in whom is vested the management of the almshouse. The expenses are paid by the county treasurer by orders drawn by the director. They also make report of the receipts a expenditure at the close of 323 each year. The directors of the poor of Montgomery County act under a special law; other counties have different laws. Reinhard Keelor, elected 1839. Isaac Schnider, elected 1840. Reinhard Keelor, elected 1841. No return, 1842. Peter Hoxworth, elected 1843. Adam Lutz, elected 1844. Aaron Linderman, elected 1845. Peter Hoxworth, elected 1846. Adam Lutz, elected 1847. Henry Schuler, elected 1848. Samuel Miller, elected 1849. John B. Holland, elected 1850. Henry Schuler, elected 1851. Samuel Miller, elected 1852. John B. Holland, elected 1853. Christian Markley, elected 1854. William Macknet, elected 1855. Adam Kneedler, elected 1856. William Macknet, elected 1857. Christian Markley, elected 1858. Adam Kneedler, elected 1859. William Specht, elected 1860. Samuel Hendricks, elected 1861. Uriah B. Shade, elected 1862. William Specht, elected 1863. Samuel Hendricks, elected 1864. Uriah B. Shade, elected 1865. Jacob Kolb, elected 1866. Henry Kneedler, elected 1867. Daniel Haas, elected 1868. Joseph Kolb, elected 1869. Henry Kneedler, elected 1870. William R. Dettra, elected 1871. George Graber, elected 1872. Martin Ruth, elected 1873. William R. Dettra, elected 1874. Henry D. Wile, elected 1875. Martin Ruth, elected 1876. John Field, elected 1877. John 0. Clemens, elected 1879. Daniel Shuler, elected 1879. John A. Righter, elected 1880. John 0. Clemens, elected 1881. Daniel Shuler, elected 1882. Harry S. Lowery, elected 1883. Benjamin C. Kraus, elected 1884, died December 30, 1884. John U. Clemens, appointed to serve one year. AUDITORS.-There are three auditors in each county, elected for a term of three years. [See NOTE 20-9.] They are elected in the same manner as the county commissioners. They meet at the county seat on the first Monday in January of each year, and audit, adjust and settle the accounts of the commissioners, treasurer, directors of the poor and prison inspectors. [NOTE 20-9.] Prior to the amended Constitution of 1874 one was elected each year. [FINIS NOTE 20-9.] George S. Williams, elected 1839. David Evans, elected 1840. Thomas Bitting, elected 1841. No record, 1842. John Eidemiller, elected 1843. W. Richards, elected 1844. Francis Kehr, elected 1845. E. A. Schwenk, elected 1846. Jacob Prunner, Jr., elected 1847. George Lower, elected 1848. Jacob F. Yost, elected 1849. Jacob Prunner, elected 1850. Abraham Carn, elected 1851. Reuben Shively, elected 1852. Jacob M. Hurst, elected 1853. Abraham H. Carn, elected 1854. Reuben Shively, elected 1855. Jacob M. Hurst, elected 1856. William J. Buck, elected 1857. George Bulger, elected 1858. Jones Detwiler, elected 1859. William J. Buck, elected 1860. George Bulger, elected 1861. Jones Detwiler, elected 1862. Richard Young, elected 1863. Solomon K. Grimly, elected 1864. E. H. Shearer, elected 1865. Richard Young, elected 1866. Solomon K. Grimly, elected 1867. E. H. Shearer, elected 1868. George W. Shriver, elected 1869. William Gilbert, elected 1870. John S. Holloway, elected 1871. George W. Shriver, elected 1872. Allen W. Corson, elected 1873. John S. Holloway, elected 1874. William Gilbert, elected 1875. Frederick Wagner, elected 1875. E. S. Stahlnecker, elected 1875. Chas. Slingluff, elected 1878. William Davis, elected 1878. E. S. Stahlnecker, elected 1878. John H. Bergey, elected 1881. Isaac R. Cassel, elected 1881. Charles Slingluff, elected 1881. Isaac R. Cassell, elected 1884. Abraham M. Bergey, elected 1884. CORONER. -The coroner is elected every three years. The Governor fills vacancies. The duties of the coroner are almost exclusively confined to holding inquests upon persons who have died by violence or accident, or in a sudden or mysterious manner. He impanels a jury of six men who inquire into the cause of death, after which a verdict is rendered. In cases of crime the coroner as power to cause arrest and to commit to prison in other cases neither the coroner nor the jury have defined responsibility, and may only recommend. This office was filled by appointment till 1839. John Major, appointed by the Governor, 1816. William Bean, appointed by the Governor, 1820. George W. Coulston, appointed by the Governor, 1820. Jacob Ramsey, appointed by the Governor, 1823. John Brant, appointed by the Governor, 1829. Andrew Hess, elected 1840. George Sensenderfer, elected 1843. John Keesey, elected 1846. Samuel Hoffman, elected 1849. Samuel Hoffman, elected 1852. Daniel Jacobus, elected 1855. John C. Snyder, elected 1858. Daniel Jacobus, elected 1861. Jacob F. Weber, elected 1864. Joseph C. Beyer, elected 1865. Wm. H. McEwen, elected 18[68]. Jacob Straggly, elected 1871. Isaac Fry, elected 1874. Harry B. Long, elected 1877. Samuel Akins elected 1880. Samuel Akins, elected 1883. COUNTY SURVEYOR. -The county surveyor is elected for three years. He surveys all unclaimed land and adjusts the boundaries of townships. In this county his duties are little more than nominal. This offices made elective by act of Assembly, 1850. Elijah Beans, elected 1853. Abel Rambo, elected 1859. William Sable, elected 1862. John Eidemiller, elected 1865. John Eidemiller, elected 1868. John Eidemiller, elected 1871. Charles K. Aiman, elected 1876. Charles K. Aiman, elected 1878. Joseph W. Hunter, elected 1881. JURY COMMISSIONERS. -There is two jury commissioners elected for a term of one year. Each elector votes for one person, but the two having the highest number of votes are elected. They, with the judge of the courts and sheriff, fill the jury-wheel with names of citizens of the county to be drawn as jurors of the different courts. These names are drawn from time to time by the sheriff in the presence of the jury commissioners, as jurymen are needed for the different sessions of the courts. William Earnest, Edward D. Johnson, elected 1867. John L. Ogden, Isaac L. Shoemaker, elected 1870. Joseph Beerer, Henry S. Smith, elected 1873. Jonathan M. Hart, Linford S. Preston, elected 1876. William H. H. McCrea, Davis S. Sill, elected 1879. Francis Baxter, Charles L. Preston, 1882. ROSTER of PRISON OFFICERS 1851 To 1884. 1851. -Warden, Mehelm McGlathery; Matron, Henrietta McGlathery; Physician, Dr. William Corson. 1852-54. -Same. 1855. -Warden, John Boyer; Matron, Anna Boyer; Physician, Dr. William Corson. 1856-57. -Same. 1858. -Same warden and matron; Physician, Dr. J. B. Dunlap. 1859-60. -Same. 1861. -Warden, Mehelm McGlathery; Matron, Henrietta McGlathery; Physician, Dr. J. B. Dunlap. 1862-63.-Same. 1864. -Warden, Harry G. Hart; Matron, Elizabeth D. Haft; Physician, Dr. J. B. Dunlap. 1865-66. -Same. 1867. -Warden, John M. Hart; Matron, Elizabeth D. Hart; Physician, Dr. J. B. Dunlap. 324 1868. -Warden, John Cowden; Matron, Charlotte Cowden; Physician, Dr. J. B. Dunlap. 1869. -Same warden and matron; Physician, Dr. William H. McEwen. 1870. -Warden, John Getty; Matron, Ann E. Getty; Physician, Dr. William H. McEwen. 1871. -Same. 1872. -Same warden and matron; Physician, Dr. C. N. Houpt. 1873. -Same 1874. -Warden, Joseph C. Byer; Matron, Mary Byer; Physician, Dr. C. N. Houpt. 1875-77. -Same. 1878. -Warden, George Shall; Matron, Mary H. Schall; Physician, Dr. C. N. Houpt. 1879-80. -Same. 1881. -Same warden and matron; Physician, Dr. H. H. Drake. 1882-84. -Same. 1883. -Same. 1884. -Same. THIRTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INSPECTORS OF THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY PRISON, MADE TO THE COURT OF QUARTER SESSIONS, MARCH TERM, 1884. Board of Inspectors. -John Slingluff (president) James Tracy B. F Solly Edward A. Kite Samuel Rittenhouse David Schall. Office of the Prison. -George Schall, warden. Mrs. Mary H. Schall, matron. Bernard Fox, first assistant keeper. Hugh O'Farrell, second assistant keeper. John Bennett, watchman. Dr. H. H. Drake, physician. Secretary of the Board of Inspectors. -Nathaniel Jacoby. Treasurer. -Jacob R. Yost. "To the Honorable R. Markley Boyer, President Judge of the several Courts of Montgomery County, Pa. "In compliance with the Act of Assembly approved April 8, 1851, for the regulation and government of the Montgomery County Prison, the Inspectors thereof "Respectfully submit their 32d Annual Report for the approval of said Court: "Since their last Annual Report was presented to the Court, Mr. James Tracy was reappointed by said Court, and the Commissioners of the County appointed Mr. David Schall, the term of service of Abraham Schwenk having expired. "At their stated meeting in January 1884, the Board of Inspectors reelected Mr. George Schall, Warden; Mrs. Mary H. Schall, Matron, and Dr. H. H. Drake, Prison Physician, each for one year. "By the Act of Assembly it is made the duty of the Board of Inspectors to present with their Annual report their views and observations in regard to the efficiency of the Pennsylvania. system of separate and solitary confinement at labor. The Board reiterates what they have so often reported to the Court, that the system has been more successful in preventing the commission of crime, and exerts a more humane influence on the reformation of prisoners and convicts than any other system of punishment of which the Board has any knowledge. "The Board repeats their opinion expressed, in many of their former Reports, that the Prison is to small, and recommend an early enlargement of the same. When two or more prisoners most be confined in one cell, our System can not be faithfully and successfully carried out. The Board again recommends an early enlargement of the Prison. "The Annual Report of the Prison Physician is hereto annexed. It shows the Sanitary condition of the Prison is in a good condition. "From the statistical tables it appears that the whole number of commitments during the year 1883 was 1444; in the year 1882 there were 850, showing an increase of 594. "The contract for the manufacture of stockings with Messrs. D. M. Yost & Co. was renewed for another year, and upon the same conditions. The statement showing the receipts and expenditures for the year 1883 exhibit a profit in the stocking department amounting to $1294.16. "The average cost of keeping prisoners for the year has been 39 cents per day for each prisoner, which sum includes all the expenses of the Prison, and the actual cost of maintenance is 10 cents per day for each prisoner. " All of which is respectfully submitted. "JOHN SLINGLUFF, "JAMES TRACY, "B. F SOLLY, "SAMUEL RITTENHOUSE, "DAVID SCHALL, "EDMUND A. KITE, "Prison Inspectors." PHYSICIANS' REPORT. "To the President and Members of the Board of Prison Inspectors, Montgomery County Prison. "GENTLEMEN,-I respectfully submit the following as my official report for the year 1853 : "The number of cases treated was forty-one; of this number one requires special mention, as the majority were, with few exceptions, acute affections which own yielded to treatment. During the month of Nov I vaccinated all prisoners except those who bore marks of recent occurrence. "Two deaths occurred, -one Suicide by hanging, the other from paralysis. This patient, while intoxicated, sustained an injury to the spine by accidentally falling from a bridge. He was sent here rather for treatment, but died the day following his commitment. I annex a table showing the number and cases treated,- Bronchitis 3 Aural catarrh 1 Chronic ulcer 1 Scrofula 1 Dyspepsia 2 Cephalalgia 1 Diarrhea 3 Rheumatism 1 Tonsillitis 2 Neuralgia 2 Gonorrhea 2 Alcoholism 3 Acne 1 Intermittent fever 3 Caridac dropsey 1 Eczema 1 General debility 1 Pleurisy 2 Ringworm 1 Lumbago 1 Contused wounds 2 Conjunctivitis 1 Gleet 1 Paralysis 1 Gunshot wound 1 Syphilis 1 "Respectfully submitted, " H. H. DRAKE, M.D. NORRISTOWN, Pa., January 7, 1884." Showing the Receipts and Expenditures in the Manufacture of Stockings for the year 1883: Cash received for knitting 14,945 1/2 dozen pairs of stockings . $1525.49 Cash received for toeing 5,122 dozen pairs stockings . . . . 358.54 Cash received for spooling 605 pounds yarn . . . . . . . . 60.50 ________ $1944.53 Cash paid prisoners for over-work . . .. . . . . . . . . 650.37 ________ Profit . . . . . . . . . $1294.16 The total number of prisoners committed to Montgomery County Prison for the year 1883 was 1444. Of these 1428 were males and 16 females. The following table shows the number of commitments to the prison each year, from the beginning of the present system. Years Number of Commitments 1852 194 1853 129 1854 177 1855 169 1856 169 1857 238 1858 218 1859 276 1860 269 1861 224 1862 180 1863 207 1864 205 1865 182 1866 237 1867 258 1868 309 1869 277 1870 263 1871 492 1872 1126 1873 1334 1874 1851 1875 1838 1876 1293 1877 1379 1878 1207 1879 802 1880 756 1881 666 1882 850 1883 1444 The receipts from all sources, including $7700 appropriated by County Commissioners, were $9821.07; disbursements, $9665.54; and the actual net cost of maintaining institution, $7697.89. THE "COUNTRY SQUIRE." -The ancient and honorable office of justice of the peace has long been conspicuously associated with the forms of law necessary to preserve the quiet and good order of the people and the protection of property. The office was originally by appointment of royal authority, and the early commissioners [See NOTE 20-10.] emphasized with particularity the duties and responsibilities enjoined upon the incumbent, and illustrates the confidence reposed in the favored appointee. They were originally selected from "those most sufficient knights, esquires and gentlemen of law." They were "first given power to hear and determine "by statute the 18th Edward, 3d chap., see. 2. Subsequently their powers were extended, and they had jurisdiction over many cases now triable by juries. It has not been a hundred years ago since justices of the peace unlearned in the law as a profession were frequently designated to hold courts for jury trials and perform all the functions of the judicial office. [See NOTE 20-11.] [NOTE 20-10.] "George the third, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, king, defender of the faith, and so forth. To A, B, C, D, &c., greeting. 325 "Know ye that we have assigned you, jointly and severally and every one of you, our justices to keep out peace in our county of ______, and to keep and cause to be kept all ordinances and statutes, for the good of the peace, and for the preservation of the same, and for the quiet rule and government of our people, made, in all and singular their articles in our said county (as well within liberties as without) according to the force, form and effect of the same : and to chastise and punish all persons that offend against the form of those ordinances and statutes, or any one of them in the aforesaid county, as it ought to be done according to the form of those ordinances and statutes, and to cause to come before you, or any of you, all those who to any or more of our people concerning their bodies or the firing of their Houses have used threats, to find sufficient security for the peace, or their good behavior toward us and our people; and if they refuse to find such security to cause to be safely kept. We have also assigned you, and every two or more of you (of whom any one of you he aforesaid A, B, C, D, &c., we will shall be one, our justices o enquire the truth more fully, by the oath of good and lawful men of he aforesaid county, by whom the truth of the matter shall be the better known, of all and all manner of felonies, poisonings, inchantments, sorceries, art magick, trespasses, forestallings, regratings, ingrossings and extortions whatsoever; and of all and singular other crimes and offenses, of which the justices of out peace may or thought lawfully to inquire, by whomsoever and after what manner soever in the said county done or perpetrated, or which shall happen to be there done or attempted. And also of all those who, in the aforesaid county, in companies against our peace, in disturbance of our people; and also of all victuallers, and all and singular other persons, who, in the abuse or weights or measures, or in selling victuals against the form of the ordinances and statutes, or any one of them therefore made for the common benefit of England and our people thereof, have offended or attempted, or hereafter shall presume in the said county to offend or attempt, and also of all other sheriffs, bailiffs, stewards, constables, keeper of gaols and other officers who in the execution or their offices about the premises, or any of them have unduly behaved themselves or hereafter shall presume to behave themselves unduly, or have been, or shall happen hereafter to be careless, remiss, or negligent in out aforesaid county done or perpetrated, or which hereafter shall there happen to be done or attempted, in what manner soever. And to inspect all indictments whatsoever so before you or any of you taken or to be taken, or before others, late our justices of the peace, in the aforesaid county, made or taken, and not yet determined; and to make and continue processes thereupon, against all and singular the persons so indicted, or who before you hereafter shall happen to be indicted, until they can be taken, surrender themselves, or be outlawed; and to hear and determine all and singular the felonies, poisonings, inchantments, sorceries, art magick, trespasses, forestallings, regratings, ingrossings and extortions, unlawful assemblies, indictments aforesaid, and all and singular other the premisses, according to the laws and statutes of England, as in the like case it has been accustomed, or ought to be done. And the same offenders, and every of them, for their offences, by fines, ransoms, amerciaments, forfeitures and other means as according to the law and custom of England, of form of the ordinances and statutes aforesaid, it has been accustomed, or ought to be done, to chastise and punish. Provided always that if a case of difficulty, upon the determination of any of the premises before you, or any two or more of you, shall happen to arise; then let judgment in no wise be given thereon, before you or any two or more of you unless in the presence of one of our justices of the [?] or other bench or of one of our justices appointed to hold the office in the aforesaid county. And therefore we command you and every of you, that in keeping the peace, ordinances, statutes, and all and singular other the premisses you diligently apply yourselves; and that at certain days and places which you are any such two or more of you as is aforesaid, shall appoint for these purpose, into the premisses ye make inquiries, and all and singular the premisses hear and determine, and perform and fulfil them in the aforesaid form, doing therein what to justice appertains, according to the law and custom of England, saving to us the amerciaments and other things to us therefrom belonging. And we command, by the tenor of these presents, our sheriff of ______ that at certain days and places which you, or any two or more of you, as is aforesaid, shall make known unto him, he cause to come before you or such tow or more of you as aforesaid, so many and such good and lawful men of his bailiwick (as well within liberties as without) by whom the truth of the matter in the premises shall be the better known and inquired unto. "Lastly, we have assigned you, the aforesaid A, B, keeper of the rolls of our peace in our said county. And therefore you shall cause to be brought before you and your said fellows, at the days and places aforesaid, the writs, precepts, processes, and indictments aforesaid, that they may be inspected, and by a due course determined as aforesaid. "In witness whereof we have caused these, our letters, to be made patent. Witness our self at Westminster, &c." [FINIS NOTE 20-10.] [NOTE 20-11.] That the courts consist of justices of the peace, whereof three to make a quorum and to have the power of a Court of Sessions and decide all matters under twenty pounds without appeal, in which court the oldest justice to preside, unless agreed amongst themselves, and for crime extending to life, limbs or banishment to admit appeal to the Court of Assi[?]es. -Duke of York's Laws, p. 453. [FINIS NOTE 20-11.] Justices of the peace, under the old common law of England, were judges of record, appointed by the King, to be justices within certain limits for the conservation of the peace and for the execution of divers things comprehended by their commission and within divers statutes committed to their charge. A record or memorial made by a justice of things done before him judicially in the execution of his office was of such verity that it could not be gainsaid. One man could affirm a thing, and another may deny it; but if the record once said the word no man should be received to aver or speak against it; for if men should be admitted to deny the same, there would never be any end to controversies. And, therefore, to avoid all contention while one said one thing, and another said another thing, the law reposed itself wholly and solely in the report of the justice. Lord Coke says, "The whole Christian world hath not the like if it be duly executed." Justices of the peace in the reign of Henry the Eighth were of three-kinds; -first, by act of Parliament, as the bishops of Ely and York; by charter under the great seal as mayor of a town or city; and by commission. During our colonial existence, justices of the peace were appointed by the Governors, Lieutenant-Governors, and during the period between 1779 and 1788 they were appointed by the Supreme Executive Council of the State. Upon the election of the Governor under the Constitution of 1793 that officer commissioned this officer, when his election was duly certified, to the office of the secretary of the commonwealth. 326 PICTURE OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY COURTHOUSE, NORRISTOWN, PA., APPEARS HERE. The old-time "country squire" was a conspicuous character in the early days of Montgomery County. His influence was second only to the "country parson," and often the two dignitaries were hand and glove in their communities. The statute law imposed upon them some extraordinary duties, and gave them the exercise of very arbitrary power. [See NOTE 20-12.] The "country squire" was esteemed an oracle of the law, and his rules of practice were often suggestive of results greatly at variance with the pretensions of "members of the bar," who in former years frequently rode long distances to conduct important cases before them. It was no unusual experience for a country squire to be in commission for a quarter of a century, sometimes for life. Experience taught them wisdom, and they often adjudicated cases intent only upon doing even-handed justice, without reference to the well understood forms of law and with a seeming contempt for superior courts of review. These senior justices enjoyed the confidence and respect of a wide circle of acquaintances, and in many instances transacted the business of large communities. Many of them were, and still are, practical conveyancers, excellent penmen, correct orthographists, and from long experience were capable of drawing wills and instruments of writing that compare favorably with those of the legal profession. [NOTE 20-12.] " Whereas, it has been the practice of tavern-keepers, ale-house keepers, and inn-holders to exact excessive rates for their beer, cyder, and other liquors, and also provender for horses without regard to the plenty or cheapness thereof; Be it therefore enacted that the Justices of the Peace of the respective counties of this Province shall have full power four times in the year, to wit: at the general sessions of the peace, held for the said counties respectively, to set such reasonable prices in all liquors retailed in public-houses, and provender for horses in public stables from time to time as they shall see fit; which prices shall be proclaimed by the cryer at the conclusion of their said respective sessions and fixed upon the Court House doors for public view." -Smith's Laws, vol. i. p. 104. [FINIS NOTE 20-12.] Time has greatly modified their official duties. As late as 1819 they were required to examine all trappers of wolves and panthers, and certify their returns to the treasurer of the county in order that the reward of twelve dollars for each head could be collected. Prior to the revised Constitution of 1838 justices of the peace were appointed by the executive of the State, and for the term of good behavior. At that period they were commissioned for a certain district, embracing several townships. [George Wolf.] { SEAL } PENNSYLVANIA, SS. "In the name and by the authority of Pennsylvania, George Wolf, Governor of the said commonwealth, to John D. Apple, of the county of Montgomery, sends greeting. Know you that reposing especial trust and confidence in your integrity, judgment and abilities, I, the said George Wolf, have appointed and commissioned you, the said John D. Apple, to be a Justice of the Peace in and for the district numbered five, composed of Upper Hannover, Marlborough and Upper Salford in the county of Montgomery, hereby giving and granting with you full right and title 327 to have and execute all and singular the powers, jurisdictions, and authorities, and to receive and enjoy all and singular the lawful emoluments of a Justice of the Peace aforesaid, agreeable to the constitution and laws of the Commonwealth. To have and to hold this commission and the office hereby granted unto you, the said John D. Apple, so long as you shall behave yourself well. Given under my hand and the great seal of the State, at Harrisburg, the eleventh day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, and the Commonwealth the fifty-eighth. By the Governor. "JAMES FINDLAY "Secretary of the Commonwealth. "Recorded June 23, 1834." Montgomery County was divided into ten districts, for which justices of the peace were appointed, viz: No. 1. Norriton, Norristown, Worcester, Whitpain. No. 2. Upper Providence, Lower Providence, Skippack, Perkiomen. No. 3. Montgomery, Gwynedd, Hatfield. No. 4. Towamensing, Lower Salford. No. 5. Upper Hanover, Marlborough, Upper Salford. No. 6. Douglas, New Hanover, Frederick. No. 7. Upper Merion, Lower Merion. No. 8. Springfield, Whitemarsh, Plymouth. No. 9. Moreland, Horsham, Upper Dublin. No. 10. Abington, Cheltenham. The following gentlemen were duly commissioned prior to 1838: John D. Apple Philip Boyer. John Boyer David Beard John R. Conrad. Frederick W. Conrad Jacob Dewees. Jacob Drinkhouse. Frederick Dallacher John Eliot. Robert Evans. David N. Egbert Josiah W. Evans Jacob Fitzwater Jacob Fryer Bernard Gilbert Jacob Gerhard John Geyer William Henderson Philip Hahn Thomas Humphreys John Heist Jacob Highley Christian Keisel Isaac Linderman Henry Longaker Henry Loucks John S. Missimer Alexander Moor, Jr Morgan Morgan Peter Miller John Munshower William Moor George N. Pawling George Piper Samuel D. Patterson Samuel D. Rittenhouse Philip Reed Benjamin Reiff George Richards George Rex John Shellenberger John B. Sterigere Dillman Stauffer Joseph Sands Christian Snyder John Shearer Jonathan Shoemaker John Steiner John Supplee Robert Stinson Adam Slemmer John Shaffer Tobias Sellers Benjamin Tyson Joshua Taylor David Thomas John Todd John Thompson Jesse Umpstead Peter Wagonseller John G. Watmaugh Thomas J. Weber Benjamin Yost Samuel Young Jacob Yost The following is a list of the, first justices of the Montgomery County in, conformity with the revised Constitution of 1838, art. vi., sec. vii.: Abington. -Isaac Schofield, William Morris. Cheltenham. -Samuel E. Leech, John McMullen. Douglas. -Fredrick Dallacher, Amos. Schultz. Franconia. -Samuel Wambold, Jacob Schlop. Frederick. -John H. Steiner, Samuel H. Bertolet. Gwynedd. -John Griffen, Eli Griffith. Hatfield. -Martin Hocker, Peter Hoxworth. Horsham. -Charles Palmer, Amos L. Lukens. Limerick. -Isaac Linderman, Robert Evans. Lower Merion. -Samuel Young, Edward Harvey. Lower Providence. -Jacob Highley, Isaac S. Christman. Lower Salford. -Benjamin Reiff, Jacob Willower. Marlborough. -Philip Reed, John D. Apple. Montgomery. -Morgan Morgan, George Solliday. Moorland. -Jacob Fretz, Samuel Shoemaker. New Hanover. -Jacob Fryer, William H. Schneider. Norriton. -Christian Miller, William Z. Keesey. Norristown. -B. F. Hancock, Benjamin Powel. Plymouth. -Daniel Davis, William Moore. Pottstown. -Jacob Drinkhouse, John Thompson. Pottsgrove. -Benjamin B. Yost, Samuel Geiger. Perkiomen. -Frederick Koons, William Fox. Springfield. -Jacob Day, Samuel V. Rex. Towamensing. -David C. Kulp, Isaac W. Wampole. Upper Hanover. -Jacob Gerhart, Philip Super. Upper Dublin. -Christian Keisel, Jacob Fitzwater. Upper Merion. -Thomas Lowery, Jason Waters. Upper Providence. -John Dismant, Mathias Haldeman. Upper Salford. -Abraham Heanes, Frederick K. Smith. Whitemarsh. -George S. Williams, Daniel H. Dager. Whitpain. -John Shonenberger, John Styer. Worcester. -Michael Zilling, George Roberts. The following honorable record justly illustrates the office of the "country squire" in Montgomery County. The fact that the officer referred to resides at Pennsburg, in Upper Hanover township, distant some twenty-five miles from the county seat, has doubtless contributed in some measure to the results stated. PHILIP SUPER, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. Commissioned 3d day of August 1835, by George Wolf, as major of the First Battalion, One Hundred and Ninth Regiment of the militia of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the Second Brigade, second Division, composed of Bucks and Montgomery Counties, until the 3d day of August, A. D. 1842. Commissioned April 14, 1840, by David R. Porter, as justice of the peace, five years from date. Commissioned April 15, 1845, by Francis R. Shunk, as justice of the peace, five years from date. Commissioned April 9, 1850, by William F. Johnston, as justice of the peace, five years from date. Commissioned April 10, 1855, by James Pollock, as justice of the peace five years from date. Commissioned April 10, 1860, by William F. Packer, as justice of the peace, five years from date. Commissioned April 24, 1865, by Andrew G. Curtin, as justice of the peace, five years from the 11th day of April, 1865. Commissioned April 2, 1870, by John W. Geary, as justice of the peace, five years from the 11th day of April 1870. Commissioned May 13, 1879, by Henry M. Hoyt, as notary public, to reside in the town of Pennsburg for three years of date. Commissioned May 13, 1882, by Henry M. Hoyt, as notary public, to reside in the town of Pennsburg from date till the end of the next session of the Senate of Pennsylvania. Commissioned February 3, 1883, by Robert E. Pattison, as notary public, to reside in the village of Pennsburg three years, to compute from May 13th, A.D. 1882. Number of civil suits entered in docket . . . . . . . 1680 Number of criminal suits entered in docket . . . . . 150 Number of commitments to court . . . . . . . . . 44 Number of marriage ceremonies performed . . . . . 20 Number of estates settled . . . . . . . . . . 175 Approximate aggregate value of estates settled $125,000 Squire Super, in furnishing the author with the above data, adds- "You will see that I served 35 years as a Justice of the Peace, and during that time I never had a case in which counsel appeared to represent parties. I suppose that can be accounted for by our being more than 25 miles from the county-seat, and until of late years having no railroad communication; besides, our people being rather primitive, were 328 accustomed to take the Squire's word or decision as law. During all the time I served I believe there were not twenty appeals. You will also see that we had but little criminal business and that generally of a character that did not require the intervention of a Court. "You will also see that our people, a contented and happy people, are not very rich, as their estates do not average high." Not only historians gladly chronicle events associated with this ancient and honorable office, but poets pay their moralizing tributes as well,- "The old 'squire said, as he stood by his gate, And his neighbor, the deacon, went by, 'In Spite of my bank stock and real estate, You are better off, deacon, than I. "'We're both growing old, and the end's drawing near; You have less of this world to resign. But in Heaven's appraisal your assets, I fear, Will reckon up greater than mine. "'They say I am rich, but I'm feeling so poor, I wish I could swap with you even; The pounds I have lived for and laid up in store For the shillings and pence you have given.' "'Well, 'squire' said the deacon, with shrewd common sense, While his eye had a twinkle of fun, 'Let your pounds take the way of my shillings and pence, And the thing can be easily done!'" --Whittier. As an illustration of the present magnitude of Montgomery County and as showing, the great progress made in the first century of its existence, we append the following statistics, which are taken from the annual reports of the County Treasurer for the years 1883 and 1884: PICTURE OF TAX COLLECTION CHART OF 1883 APPEARS HERE. [QUALITY NOT VERY GOOD.] 329 PICTURE OF PAGE 329 IS AVAILABLE FROM THE TABLE OF CONTENTS [This page is a chart showing the 1884 taxables and other data of each Montgomery County ward, borough, and township. Totals are listed below. 140k jpg] CATEGORIES LISTED: TOTALS Number of taxables. 27702 Value of real estate. $59,741,547 Value of real estate exempted. 3,103,435 Aggregate value real estate taxable. 56,639,112 Value or all household furniture including gold and silver plate (exceeding $300). 137,130 Aggregate amount of money at interest (including bonds, stocks, &c.) 3,447,783 Am't State tax on [can not read] at 1 mil to the dollar. 24.49 Number of horses, mares, geldings 14,840 and mules over the age of 4 years. Value of horses, mares, geldings 1,041,473 and mules over the age of 4 years. Number of cows and meat cattle over 4 years. 28,242 Value of cows and meat cattle over 4 years. 846,304 Aggregate amount of money at interest taxable at the rate of 4 mills on the dollar. 3,442,783 Amount of State tax accessed at the rate of 4 mills on the dollar. 15,771.13 Aggregate value of all property taxable for State purposes, at the rate of 3 mills on the dollar. 147,512 Amount of State tax accessed at the rate of 3 mills on the dollar. 442.54 Aggregate number of all pleasure carriages and buggies. 4579 Value of all pleasure carriages and buggies. 248,500 Tax on all pleasure carriages and buggies. 2,485.00 Valuation of salaries, emoluments of office, posts of profit, trades, occupations and professions. 2,480,130 Aggregate value of all property taxable for county purposes, at the rate of 2 mills on the dollar. 61,645,297 Gold lever watches. 732 Silver lever watches. 550 Common watches. 124 Aggregate amount of tax on all watches. 1,206.50 Aggregate amount of State tax assessed. 17,906.18 Aggregate value of all county tax assessed at the rate of 2 mills on the dollar. 123,291.19 [NOTE] Debt of county $79,900. 330 CHART OF SUMMARY OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1884, APPEARS HERE. Total Receipts $173,700.91 Total Expenditures $173,700.91 CHAPTER XXI. RAILROADS. ON the 22d day of October 1834, there appeared the first timetable and railroad advertisement published in the newspapers of Montgomery County. The Norristown Register of the above date contains the following announcement: "PHILADELPHIA, GERMANTOWN AND NORRISTOWN RAILROAD [See NOTE 21-1.] "The managers have the pleasure to announce the opening of the road to Manayunk on Monday, October 20, 1834. The cars will leave the Depot, corner of Ninth and Green streets, as follows: "From Philadelphia. From Manayunk. At 7, 9 and 11 A.M. At 8, 10 and 12 M. And 1, 3 and 5 P.M. And 2, 4 and 5 P.M. Fare, 12 1/2 cents. "The line, to Germantown will be arranged on Monday, October 20th, as follows: "From Philadelphia. From Germantown. At 7, 10 and 12 M. At 8 and 11 A.M. And 2 and 4 P.M. And 1, 3 and 5 P.M. Fare, 12 1/2 cents. . "Arrangements are made for the Omnibus 'Benjamin Franklin' to leave the Exchange at half-past every hour during the day, up Third street to Market, up Market to Ninth, up Ninth to Green in time for the cars. By order of the Board. " Phila., Oct. 17, 1834, "J. M. WRIGHT, Secretary". [NOTE 21-1.] The first locomotive made by Matthias W. Baldwin, was run on the Germantown branch of the Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railway, November 23, 1832, and was called " Old Ironside." [FINIS NOTE 21-1.] NOTE --One of the greatest mechanical improvements in the first years of the nineteenth century was that of Oliver Evans, whose efforts were directed to the manufacture of steam engines. In September 1804, Evans had proposed to construct a road-carriage for freight. He thought the engine would cost one thousand five hundred dollars, the carriage five hundred dollars, and allowed five hundred dollars for unforeseen expenses. PICTURE OF OLIVER EVANS APPEARS HERE. He thought his carriage, when built, would carry one hundred barrels of flour at an average speed of two miles per hour, thus doing in two days (on the trip from Philadelphia to Columbia) the work that required the work of twenty-five horses and five wagons for three days at a cost of three thousand three hundred and four dollars. The turnpike company refused to enter into a contract with him. Evans then wagered three thousand dollars that he could make a carriage go by steam on a level road faster than any horse, but found no takers; he also announced that he could build carriages to "run on a railway at the rate of fifteen miles an hour. To show how well this shrewd genius, who fairly divides the honor of successful stream experiments with Fitch and Fulton, understood the entire subject, we have only to quote from a letter of his some years later in the "New York Commercial Advertiser." Parts of the passage have become almost classic because of their long-ago fulfilled prophecy. Said Mr. Evans: "The time will come when people will travel in stages 331 moved by steam engine at fifteen to miles an hour. A carriage will leave Washington in the morning, breakfast at Baltimore, dine at Philadelphia, and sup at New York on the same day. Railways will be laid of wood or iron, on smooth paths of broken stone or gravel, to travel by night well as day. A steam-engine will drive a carriage one hundred and eighty miles in twelve hours, or engines will drive boats ten or twelve miles an hour, and hundreds of boats will so run on the Mississippi and other waters as was prophesied thirty years ago by Fitch; but the velocity of boats can never be made equal to that of carriages upon rails, because the resistance in water is eight hundred times more than in air. Posterity will not be able to discover why the Legislature or Congress did not grant the inventor such protection as might have enabled him to put in operation those great improvements sooner, he having neither asked money nor a monopoly of any existing thing." -Scharf and Westcott, "Phila. History." It was not until August 14, 1835, that the road was completed to Norristown; meantime it was considered quite a business advantage to have a depot for freight and passengers as near as Manayunk. The following report of the event of the day on which the first engine and car came through to Norristown is thought worthy of record. "On Friday last (August 14, 1835) our citizens were gratified with the arrival of 'pioneer' Locomotive from Philadelphia, accompanied by the 'Victory' a splendid car, in which cattle a number of Gentlemen connected with the improvement to ascertain the state of the work and prepare for the formal opening of the road on the following day (Saturday, August 15, 1835.) PICTURE OF OLIVER EVANS' STEAM CARRIAGE, APPEARS HERE. "All having been found satisfactory, even exceeding the anticipation of its most anxious friends, the Locomotive returned to Philadelphia, taking in her train an additional car, the 'Norristown,' built at this place by the Messrs. Davis, which for beauty of workmanship is not excelled by any we have seen, except the 'Victory,' a car well worthy the name it bears. To relate all the proceedings of the opening day would require more time and space than we have at our command. "Between twelve and one o'clock P.M. the locomotive with its train was discovered about two and one-half miles distant; the signal was immediately given, the bells throughout the town commenced a general peal and our citizens sallied forth to view the interesting scene. In a few minutes the train came gliding along and as they approached the town was greeted by the heartfelt cheers of our citizens. Every place from the lower end of the borough to the extreme end of the road was filled with anxious spectators whose laughing eyes and smiling faces fully depicted tile gratification each enjoyed. Having reached the place designated as the depot, where extensive preparations were made for their accommodation and enjoyment, the company descended from the cars and received the individual congratulations of their friends and acquaintances. "About two o'clock P.M. the managers, stockholders and their invited guest, from the city and this place amounting in all to about three hundred, sat down to a sumptuous repast provide by our fellow-citizen, Messers. Webb, and Paxson. Two tables one hundred and fifty feet each closing in circle at one end were erected for the special purpose, the whole covered with canvas. The table were to overflowing and the enjoyment of the company was such as to fully satisfy our friends, Webb and Paxson that their efforts to please, were not unavailing. After the cloth, were removed several appropriate speeches were made and sentiments given, which elicited hearty applause from the company. Among the speakers were noticed Colonel McKinney, Mr. Chandler, editor of the United States Gazette, Mr. Lewis and several others, of Philadelphia, and Colonel Thomas M. Jolly and General John H. Scheetz, of this borough. The festivities of the day passed off with that degree of pleasure commensurate with the importance of the occasion. About five, o'clock the company arose from the table, and the train of cars being put in requisition, our friends departed, accompanied by many of our citizens, and the plaudits of the congregated multitude." The following is the first time-table as advertised August 26, 1835, between Norristown and Philadelphia: "The managers have directed that two trains between Norristown and Philadelphia shall run each day, for the present, leaving Norristown at 11 1/2 A.M. and 5 1/2 P.M., and from Philadelphia at 9 A.M. and 3 P.M. Stopping for passengers at Conshohocken, Spring Mill and Manayunk only. The fare is fixed as follows: From Norristown to Conshohocken or Spring Mill 12 1/2 cts From Norristown to Manayunk 25 1/2 cts From Norristown to Philadelphia 37 1/2 cts From Philadelphia to Manayunk 12 1/2 cts From Philadelphia to Conshohocken 25 1/2 cts From Philadelphia to Norristown 37 1/2 cts "Due notice will be given of any change of hours." The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad was formally opened in the winter of 1842. Parts of the road had been operated, however, as early as 1839. But few of the younger portion of our people are aware that the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad was not built from Philadelphia up the valley, but from Reading down; that the road was opened to travel and traffic between Pottstown and Reading for some time before it was opened farther down; and that portion between Bridgeport and Philadelphia was built last of all. For a time passengers from the city for Reading would come in the cars to Norristown on the Norristown road, then stage it to Pottstown, where they would take the cars again to Reading; or a little later, when the road was completed to Bridgeport, passengers would be carried in omnibuses from the Norristown depot to Bridgeport, and there take the cars for Reading or intermediate points. The first engine that ever run on this road was the "Neversink," which was brought to Pottstown on wagons and unloaded there and then put together on the track. Her first trip was to Reading for a load of iron to lay the tracks between Pottstown and Sanatoga. Before this time, however, the "Delaware" engine was landed at Reading in a canal-boat, and it was proposed to make a grand excursion to Pottstown with her; but it was found that her cylinder heads were too low to pass the coping on the bridges, and she could not be used until the bridges were changed. However, as the excursion had been determined upon, and it had to come off, a number of plain, flat-bottomed four-wheeled trucks, such as we use now for iron cars, were fitted up with seats, and a horse or 332 two hitched to each car. These brought the party, consisting of the railroad officials and prominent citizens of Reading, bankers, lawyers and merchants of that place, to Pottstown. As the horses could not get over the trestle bridges on the way, they were at such places detached from the cars, led around the obstruction, and the excursionists would get off and push their car over, adding much to the merriment and enjoyment of the trip. They reached Potts town in safety a little before noon, and after partaking of the hospitalities of the place, and being reinforced by several car-loads of railroad men and prominent citizens of Pottstown, the excursion party returned to Reading, where the evening was spent in drinking toasts, making speeches and general merrymaking until a late hour of the night. Among the teams from Pottstown was that of Mr. Charles F. Rapp, whom many of the citizens will remember as the German coal dealer at the West End of High Street. He insisted on driving himself. In going around the Sharp curve at Neversink the rails spread too much, and the car-wheels dropped between the tracks. The whole party was stopped until, with any amount of hallooing and a little lifting, the car was again put on the track. The Pottstown excursionists returned home next morning. The "Delaware" engine, the one that was to have been the first on the road, was built at Baltimore, and shipped in a steamboat from there to Philadelphia, where it was to be transferred to a canal-boat for transportation to Reading. Unfortunately, in making the transfer from one vessel to the other, the engine being too heavy, the boat careened and dropped its cargo into the Delaware, giving it a regular orthodox baptism by immersion, whence its name, the Delaware. It was raised from there and safely landed at its destination in time for the grand excursion, but could not be used for the reason before assigned. Among the early engines used on the road, many will be recalled by their peculiar names as indicative of great speed as the "Comet," the "Rocket," the "Planet," or of danger, as the "Spitfire," the "Dragon," the "Firefly." Some of these are still in use, though rebuilt, and given new names or numbers. The road as opened from Philadelphia to Pottsville is ninety-eight miles, and cost, when completed,$19,262,720. A grand military and civic display and an immense procession of seventy-five passenger-cars celebrated its opening, twelve hundred and fifty feet length, containing over two thousand passengers, with three bands of music. A train of coal-cars was laden with coal mined on the day of the celebration, and grim-visage miners paraded with the product of their labor. The occasion was deemed of great interest to the citizens of the entire Schuylkill Valley. The Chester Valley Railroad connects with the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad at Bridgeport. It is twenty-one miles in length, connecting with the Pennsylvania Railroad at Downingtown, in Chester County. The first train of cars passed over this road on the 12th day of September, 1853. THE NORTH PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD. -This railroad was chartered October 2, 1852, and extends from Philadelphia to Bethlehem. The line was opened July 7, 1857, and was leased by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company, May 1879, for the period of nine hundred and ninety-nine years. The road passes through the northeast townships of the County, entering Bucks County at a short distance north of Souderton village. It connects with the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad system of tracks and forms an important part of the network of railroads in Montgomery County, passing through Jenkintown, Fort Washington, Ambler, North Wales, Lansdale, Telford and Souderton. COLEBROOKDALE RAILROAD chartered March 23, 1865. The road was completed in 1869, and opened for purposes of transportation and public travel September 12th of that year. The line runs from Pottstown to Barto Station, in Berks County. It is operated by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company. THE NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD extends from Abington Station, in Montgomery County, to Hartsville, in Bucks County. It was opened December 18,1872. STONY CREEK RAILROAD. -This road was chartered April 14, 1868, and was opened for traffic and travel January 1, 1874. The line of the road commences at Main Street, Norristown, and extends to the borough of Lansdale, where it connects with the North Pennsylvania Railroad and also with a branch road to Pottstown. This road connects at Norristown with the Philadelphia and Norristown Railroad. THE PERKIOMEN RAILROAD. -This road was completed and put in operation in the year 1886. It extends from the Perkiomen Junction to Palm Station, a distance of twenty-six miles through Montgomery County, and thence north to Emails Station, a distance of twelve mile, and there connects with the East Pennsylvania Railroad in Lehigh County, the whole length of the railroad being thirty-eight miles. It follows the Perkiomen Valley, and passes through Collegeville, Schwenksville, Green Lane, Pennsburg and East Greenville, and enjoys a patronage, in local freights and travel of an encouraging character. Its present board of officers and directors are A. H. Seipt, president; James Boyd, assistant president and solicitor; Philip Super, secretary ; Howard Boyd, treasurer; George B. Boggs, chief engineer; D. B. Clark, superintendent; Directors. James Boyd, John Slingluff, Charles, T. Waage, George Grater, Jonathan Hillgas, Charles Schaerley, Noah D. Frank John S. Rohn, Jesse Zeigler, D. Morgan Casselberry, W. H. Seipt PLYMOUTH RAILROAD. -This road extends form the borough of Conshohocken to Oreland connecting with 333 the North Pennsylvania Railroad. The length of line is nine and one-quarter miles, and is important to the industrial interests of Plymouth Valley. THE PENNSYLVANIA SCHUYLKILL VALLEY RAILROAD. -This important line of railroad crosses the boundary line of the county on the eastern shore of the Schuylkill River, near the town of Manayunk, running parallel to the Philadelphia and Norristown Railroad Passing through Conshohocken and Norristown, and following the line of the Schuylkill River, it reaches to the western shore at Phoenixville, and from thence to Pottstown, having its projected terminus in Schuylkill County, at some point tapping the anthracite coal regions. The road went into operation in the summer of 1884. It is a part of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company's system, being constructed and operated under the, management of that company. It is a double-track road, constructed in the best manner, and fully equipped for the transportation travel and of freight. THE SCHUYLKILL CANAL. -Prior to the age of steam and railroad travel and transportation, commercial enterprise arid the erection and operation of manufacturing establishments were closely allied with the large rivers that fortunately find their way through our valleys. They were nature's highways, and, to the pioneers who pushed their way back from the seaport city were of great importance in furnishing motive-power and floating supplies to and from tidewater. To render these streams navigable at all seasons of the year, and connect them by canals, was deemed a matter of public interest, and it appears from our public records that the foremost men of the State were diligent in their efforts to promote canal improvements. [See NOTE 21-2.] [NOTE 21-2.] As late as 1834 we find the public-spirited citizens of Norristown urging through the columns of the local papers, Herald and Register, the propriety of opening a canal from Norristown to Doylestown, thence to the Delaware, River. Civil engineers must have been told in those days, for it would certainly take long and deep cuts to find a water level between the two towns named. [FINIS NOTE 21-2.] William Penn, in his proposals for a second settlement in the province of Pennsylvania, published in 1690, alludes to the practicability of effecting a communication by water between a branch of the Schuylkill and the Susquehanna. This was at a period when canals were unknown, even in Great Britain. However, nothing was done towards improving its navigation for a considerable length of time, though the matter was occasionally agitated. To promote the same an act was passed by the Assembly the 14th of March 1761, and from which we give the following extract: "Whereas, the river Schuylkill is navigable for rafts, boats, and other small craft in times of high freshets only, occasioned by the obstruction of rocks and bars of sand and gravel in divers parts of the same; And whereas, the improving the navigation of the said river, so as to make it passable at all times, will be very advantageous to the poor, greatly conducive to the promotion of industry, and beneficial to the inhabitants residing on or near said river, by enabling them to bring the produce of the country to the market of the city of Philadelphia, and thereby increase the trade, and commerce of the province : And whereas, divers of the inhabitants of this province, desirous to promote the welfare of the public, have subscribed large sums of money for the purpose aforesaid, and, by petition to the Assembly, have requested that commissioners may be appointed by law to take, receive and the collect the said subscription and such others as shall hereafter be given or subscribed, and to apply and appropriate the same for and towards the clearing, scouring rendering the said river navigable, as aforesaid." To carry out the measure, Joseph Fox, John Hughs, Samuel Rhoades, John Potts, William Palmer, David Davis, Mordecai Moore, Henry Pawling, James Coultas, Jonathan Coates, Joseph Millard, William Bird, Francis Parvin, Benjamin Lightfoot and Isaac Levan were appointed commissioners. This act had also for its object the preservation of fish, especially the shad, herring and rockfish, which ascended this stream annually in great shoals from the sea. For this purpose the commissioners were empowered not only to destroy, but also to prevent the erection of all wears, racks, fish-dams and baskets within the same. At this time it also appears that at the several ferries established along the Schuylkill for the transportation of passengers and freight there were ropes stretched across the same for the purpose of drawing the boats. These were frequently cut by some evil-minded persons who were either going up or down the stream, in consequence of which the ferrymen petitioned to the Assembly for protection from these outrages, when an act was passed the 8th of February 1766, making such offenses finable ten pounds each. Several of the commissioners mentioned having died, a new board was appointed by the Assembly in 1773 to carry out the measures contained it the act of 1761. For this purpose David Rittenhouse, Anthony Levering, John Roberts, William Dewees, Jr., David Davis, James Hockley, Thomas Potts, Mark Bird, James Star, Jacob Kern and John Pawling, Jr., were selected. In 1781 a change was made, when the board consisted of David Rittenhouse, Owen Biddle, Mark Bird, Baltzer Gehr, Thomas Potts, David Thomas, Patrick Anderson, John Mear, Isaac Hughs, Nathan Levering, George Douglass, John Heister and Christian Steer. An act was passed the 29th of September, 1791, to incorporate a company to connect the Schuylkill with the Susquehanna by a canal and slack-water navigation, and also to improve the navigable waters of the Schuylkill from the lower falls, a few miles above Philadelphia, to Reading, for which purpose the Assembly appropriated two thousand five hundred pounds as an encouragement, to the enterprise. By an act of the 10th of April, 1792, a company was incorporated to make a canal from Norristown to the river Delaware, at Philadelphia, a distance of seventeen miles. From the former place the Schuylkill was to be temporarily improved, and thus form, with the works of the Schuylkill and Susquehanna Company, an uninterrupted water communication with the interior of the State, and which it was expected would be eventually extended to connect with the waters of the Ohio and Lake Erie. 334 One of the objects, also, in constructing the canal from Norristown was by this means to furnish Philadelphia with water. The undertaking was commenced by the two companies, and at the close of 1794 they had expended four hundred and forty thousand dollars, and had nearly completed fifteen miles of the most difficult part of the two works. Some of the principal stockholders having become involved at the time in commercial difficulties, the consequence was the two companies were compelled to suspend operations. As an additional inducement to revive the companies, the State passed an act, the 17th of April, 1795, to empower them to raise, by way of lottery, the additional sum of four hundred thousand dollars for the purpose of completing their works, as mentioned in the acts of incorporation. But naught availed, though this offer induced several abortive attempts, which only tended to continue in these companies a languishing existence. Below Norristown, beginning at the Swedes' Ford bridge by the banks of the Schuylkill, may be seen the excavation made for this canal for some distance down the river. It remains there a monument of an undertaking commenced in 1792, but never finished. In the year 1811 the two companies were united as the Union Canal Company, and in 1819 and 1821 the State granted further aid by a guarantee of interest and a monopoly of the lottery privilege. In consequence of this legislative encouragement there were additional subscriptions obtained to the stock of the company to resume operations in 1821. The line was relocated, the dimensions of the canal changed, and the whole work finished in about six years from this period, -after thirty-seven years bad elapsed from the commencement of the work and sixty-five from the date of the first survey by David Rittenhouse and Rev. William Smith. This canal is eighty miles in length, extending from the Schuylkill four miles below Reading, where it connects with the works of the Schuylkill Navigation Company; thence up the Tulpehocken Creek to the Swatara, and thence down the same to Middletown, on the Susquehanna, thus connecting the two rivers, which idea William Penn conceived in 1690 but which required an interval of one hundred and thirty-seven years to put into practical operation. The Schuylkill Canal, as constructed and operated, extends from Fairmont, Philadelphia, to Port Carbon, in Schuylkill County. The projectors regarded the enterprise as unfinished until it tapped the anthracite coal regions, although coal at that day was but an inconsiderable article of commercial value. Public travel and transportation on the "packet line" of store goods, lumber, grain, fruits and all the general marketable product of the farm and the forge, furnished the bulk of revenue and tonnage when the improvement was first opened to the public use and for many years afterwards. It consists of a series of canals, sixty-three miles in length, and slack-water pools for forty-seven miles, produced by thirty-four dams, which feed the canals. This work in its whole length was made three and a half feet deep, with a width of no less than thirty-six feet at the top. There are one hundred and nine locks of six hundred and twenty feet ascent, each eighty feet long and seventeen feet broad, and one tunnel three hundred and eighty feet in length, -the first, it is said, attempted in the United States. The whole cost of the line was $2,966,180. It was commenced immediately after its incorporation, and finished in 1826. In 1818 it was sufficiently completed to allow the descent of a few boats, on which tolls were collected to the amount of $230, which comprised the total of its first year's receipts. Chiefly in consequence of the great increase of the coal trade, it was determined to enlarge the capacity of the canal for a greater amount of business, which was accordingly done in 1846. Hitherto it had only admitted the passage of boats of sixty-six tons, but, by the enlargement, boats of one hundred and eighty-six tons are enabled to pass through its whole length of one hundred and ten miles, being one of the grandest works of the kind in the Union. A great improvement was made. The locks were reduced in number from one hundred and nine to seventy-one, and enlarged to one hundred and ten by eighteen feet; the width of its canals to not less than sixty feet, with a depth of at least five and a half feet. To guard against the danger of a deficiency of water, to which the navigation is exposed in dry seasons, the company has erected several large dams upon tributary streams at the head of navigation, from which to draw supplies in cases of deficiency. The dam at Silver Creek covers nearly sixty acres, and is estimated to hold sufficient water of itself to float about one hundred and twenty thousand tons of coal, annually, to market. As may be expected, the business of this great work has increased wonderfully. In 1825 this line brought about 5000 tons of coal to market; in 1827, 31,360 tons; and in 1857 it was 1,275,988 tons. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company leased the canal in 1871, and have operated since that date. The tonnage for the year 1883 was: Coal, 866,440 tons; merchandise, 104,075 tons, -total, 970,475 tons. THE TELEGRAPH. -The telegraph was first introduced into Norristown by private enterprise. William E. Phillips, Esq., and the present superintendent of telegraphing in Philadelphia City formed A Company. Associated with Mr. Phillips was G. R. Fox, Esq., who was secretary and treasurer, Henry Freedley, Esq., the late Rev. J. Grier Ralston and others of Norristown and vicinity. Samuel Brown was the operator. By act of the General Assembly, approved March 9, 1855, a charter was granted incorporating the Philadelphia and Norristown Telegraph Company. The incorporators from Montgomery County named 335 are Henry Freedley, Thomas Saurman, John McDermott, John Wood, Patrick Flynn, Daniel R. Brower, Robert Iredell, G. R. Fox, John McKay, David Krause, B. E. Chain, George Shannon, Henry C. Hill and J. G. Ralston. The company was granted power to purchase the House Line of printing telegraph, then lately constructed from Philadelphia, through Manayunk and Conshohocken, to Norristown. The capital stock of the company was six thousand dollars, divided into shares of twenty-five dollars each. The charter authorized the company to extend the line, then terminating at Norristown, to Reading and Pottsville. Subsequently the Philadelphia, Reading and Pottsville Company was formed and was operated in the interest and for the use of the Philadelphia Railroad Company. It was established about 1871. The Western Union joined interests with it as a commercial line in 1879, and the principal office was, established at No. 77 East Main Street, Norristown. This line operates through fifty-five stations in Montgomery County, Telegraphic communication has become necessary to the successful transaction of commercial and manufacturing business, while no railroad is thoughtfully equipped without its line or private wires for its exclusive use. THE BANKERS' AND MERCHANTS' TELEGRAPH COMPANY. -This company's lines extend through Montgomery County, having eighteen stations within its limits. It connects with Philadelphia, Reading, Allentown and other places. President, J. B. Erdman; Superintendent, J. T. Maxwell. THE TELEPHONE. -The Norristown Telephone Exchange was established in Norristown, August 1883, at No. 52 East Main Street. The number of stations in Montgomery County connected with this exchange at the close of 1884 was one hundred and seventy-two. The president of the company is James Merrihew; General Superintendent, W. B. Gell; Assistant Superintendent, W. F. Westbrook. NOTE: By the census of 1880 there are 148 telephone companies operated in the United States, with 35,305 miles of wire, 54,319 receiving telephones and 3138 employees.