History: Local: Chapter XXXV - Part II : Past and Present Politics : 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 512 (cont.) CHAPTER XXXV. - PART II THE PAST AND PRESENT POLITICS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY. No reference is made in this official report of the candidacy of John Getty (Democrat) and Anthony Vanderslice (Whig), both of whom were nominated by their respective parties, and whose names appear on the tickets as published in the papers of that campaign. The campaign of 1835 was one of unusual interest in the county, resulting from the divisions in the Democratic Party. George Wolf was then Governor of the State, and desired to be elected for the third term. Personal friends and partisans warmly supported him, and opposed by a strong faction, who placed in nomination against him Henry A. 513 Muhlenberg. Joseph Ritner was nominated by the Whigs and so called Anti-Masons of that period. The result was the election of Ritner and the entire Whig and Anti-Mason ticket in Montgomery County. The following is an extract of the official vote of the county: GOVERNOR Joseph Ritner 3014 George Wolf 1747 Henry A. Muhlenberg 1599 SENATE James Paul (Whig) 2848 John B. Sterigere (Wolf Dem.) 1731 T. Sellers (Muhl. Dem.) 1710 ASSEMBLY William Schall (Whig) 2959 W. A. Bringhurst (Whig) 3056 Robert Stinson (Whig) 2892 W. Hamill (Wolf Dem.) 1504 Jacob S. Yost (Wolf Dem.) 1651 Charles Kugler (Wolf Dem.) 1613 J. M. Jones (Wolf Dem.) 1779 ASSEMBLY J. Fornance (Wolf Dem.) 1823 H. Schnieder (Wolf Dem.) 1742 COMMISSIONER Jacob Fretz (Whig) 2882 Daniel Davis (Wolf Dem.) 1625 Samuel Leech (Wolf Dem.) 1767 DIRECTOR Jonathan Adamson (Whig) 2877 P. Hoxworth (Wolf Dem.) 1655 H. Scheetz, Jr. (Wolf Dem.) 1740 AUDITOR Alan W. Corson (Whig) 2892 W. Fronfield (Wolf Dem.) 1637 B. Conrad (Wolf Dem.) 1740 The Norristown "Register" supported the candidacy of Henry A. Muhlenberg throughout the canvass, and in its issue of October 21, 1835, comments as follows: "We this day present the official returns of the general election held in this county on the 13th inst., by which it will be observed that the unfortunate misunderstanding which existed in the Democratic party has been the cause of our defeat and the election of the entire Anti-Masonic and Whig ticket. Our friends will also perceive that the entire Democratic vote exceeds the Anti-Masonic by a considerable majority. The vote polled this year was 453 less than that of last year, several of the Democratic townships in the upper end of the county not polling much more than two-thirds of their strength, and several townships below did not attain to their vote of last year." Joseph Ritner was duly inaugurated Governor, and among the first appointments to public office in Montgomery County were the following: John Bean, prothonotary Benjamin Johnson, clerk of the courts Nathaniel B. Boileau, register of wills Robert Iredell, recorder of deeds. The last-named appointee still survives and is the present postmaster at Norristown. Daniel H. Mulvany, Esq., was appointed deputy-attorney-general for Montgomery County about the same time as the nomination of Governor Ritner's attorney-general, January, 1836. The appointments of Governor Ritner quickened the sense of loss of political power in "Old Montgomery," then deemed a Democratic stronghold, and, in the exercise of a sagacity that was creditable to partisan leaders, the Democrats promptly took steps to recover their control of public affairs in the county. The young men stepped to the front, and its early as April 23, 1836, a "Democratic Young Men's meeting " was held at the public house of Henry Kerr, in Norristown. William B. Thomas, of Lower Merion, presided. Benjamin Hill and Isaiah Davis were appointed secretaries, B. Powell, J. M. Pawling, John H. Scheetz, J. H. Hobart, John D. Apple, Charles W. Brook and Enos C. Fry were selected to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting. It was resolved to unite with the young men of the State in holding a convention on the 4th of July, 1836 and that the following delegates be authorized to represent the county in the proposed convention: James H. Webb John D. Apple Charles Kugler Thomas J. Gross Joseph Fornance, Esq. William H. Thomas Charles W. Brook, Esq. Benjamin Hill Charles D. Jones Henry Magee Benjamin Powel, Esq. Colonel James Bush Isaiah W. Davis Enoch C. Fry John H. Hobart William Z. Matheys Benjamin Conrad Thomas J. Weber Daniel Fry William Sellers Jonas Smith William Snyder John S. Wiler George S. Mann James M. Moore George B. Reiff Mehelm McGlathery Solomon Steitz Enos L. Reiff Jacob S. Yost George L. Williams Jacob Hillegas James Scheetz Samuel Ashenfelter John Highley. It was declared, as the sense of the meeting, "That we consider the primary objects of the convention to be the restoration of harmony in the Democratic party of Pennsylvania and the promotion of the election of Martin Van Buren to the Presidency of the United States." It was further resolved to issue an address to the young men of the county, and B. F. Hancock, J. M. Pawling, Charles W. Brook, John D. Apple and Charles Kugler were appointed a committee to prepare the same. The address was prepared, and appears in full in the Norristown "Register" of June 8, 1836, directed To the Democratic Young Men of Montgomery County. The "Democratic Young Men" became a powerful factor in the politics of the county; similar associations in other counties in the State were organized and the breach was healed over. They were further utilized in securing successive victories for the dominant party for nine years afterward. As late as 1840, in the famous "Tippecanoe and Tyler too" campaign, these "Democratic Young Men" of the State held a popular convention at Lancaster City, to which were duly accredited four hundred and ninety-six Democratic young men, appointed to represent the several townships and boroughs of Montgomery County. The names of this famous delegation all appear in the Norristown "Register" published July 20, 1840. Among those who still survive we note Samuel Slemmer, William H. Holstein, Oliver R. Shearer, Nathaniel Jacob and Jesse B. Davis. Among others identified with the organization and still living are Mehelm McGlathery and Samuel Ashenfelter. The Young Democrats were enthusiastic supporters of Andrew Jackson, alias "Old Hickory," many of them having cast their first vote for him, and were, as a matter of course warmly attached to Martin Van Buren, who was the political residuary legatee of the hero of New Orleans. Few men in public life had more devoted followers than Andrew Jackson. Looking back through the lapse of half a century and more, it is interesting to see the estimation in which his contemporaries held him in political life. When President James Monroe asked Thomas Jefferson, in 1818, if it would not be well to give Jackson the embassy to Russia, Jefferson utterly disapproved it, And said in reply, "He would breed you a quarrel before he would be there three months." At a later period Jefferson said to Daniel Webster,- 514 "I feel much alarmed at the prospect of seeing General Jackson President. He is one of the most unfit men I know of for such a place. He has had very little respect for laws or constitution, and is, in fact, an able military chief. His passions are terrible. When I was President of the Senate he was a Senator, and he could never speak on account of the rashness of his feelings, I have seen him attempt it repeatedly, and as often choke with rage. His passions are no doubt cooler now. He has been much tried since I knew him, but he is a dangerous man." Daniel Webster, while in Philadelphia, in 1827, spoke as follows in reference to the possible Presidency of General Jackson: "If he is elected, the government of our people will be overthrown, the judiciary will be destroyed, Mr. Justice Johnson will be made chief justice in the place of Mr. Marshall, who must soon retire, and then, in half an hour, Mr. Justice Washington and Mr. Justice Story will resign. A majority will be left with Mr. Johnson, and every constitutional decision hitherto made will be overthrown." It is due to truth and history to say that none of Mr. Webster's predictions were verified by subsequent events, and but for the fact that his over-zealous prophecy was carefully preserved in the diary of Samuel Week, it would have long since been forgotten as the frenzied utterance of a partisan orator. The campaign of 1840 was one of great popular interest. The Democratic Party nominated Martin Van Buren for a second term, and the Whigs nominated General William Henry Harrison. Hickory poles were raised in all parts of the county by the Democrats, all of them flying the national flag, while the Whigs raised white-oak poles, on almost all of which there could be seen in miniature the log-cabin and barrel of hard cider. Popular day-meetings characterized the canvass, and the voters were thoroughly aroused. The exciting spirit of the canvass reached the school children in some localities. The pupils of the public school at Jeffersonville raised a Harrison pole; but it excited the indignation of the Democratic men of the neighborhood, and persons unknown cut down the pole in the night-time to the patriotic Harrison boys. The following was one of the sixty-six resolutions and sentiments proposed as toasts, and published as a part of the proceedings of a public meeting held at Flourtown on the 17th of September, 1840, showing the temper of the men and times: "Resolved, That we view with contempt the plan of electioneering carried on by the Federal Whigs of the day. Instead of arguments in favor of Harrison, they amuse their followers with log cabin shows. Instead of discussing the principles of their candidate, they administer hard cider to their partisans and exhibit coon-skins in order to fool the people." At this meeting the Hon. John B. Sterigere, then State Senator, was gravely criticized by his constituents for his official conduct. We quote again from one of the nine toasts of censure proposed at the meeting. John L. Garren offered it: "John B. Sterigere, Senatorial Representative from Montgomery; with the question of dividends by the bank at this time on the one hand and the Democracy of his county on the other, it was pull Dick, pull devil, but the devil being the stronger, Dick had to yield to the devil, and he, devil, pocketed the dividends." The following, gentlemen were nominated by their respective parties for public office in 1840: DEMOCRAT. -Congress, Fifth Congressional District Joseph Fornance, Esq. Senate John B. Sterigere John L. Pearson (Montgomery, Chester and Delaware constituting the Senatorial district). Assembly Ephraim Fenton William B. Hahn William Bean Sheriff Jacob Spang Commissioner Mehelm McGlathery Director Isaac Schneider Auditor David Evans Coroner Andrew Hess. WHIG. Congress Robert T. Potts Senate Abraham Brower John T. Huddleson Assembly Amos Schultz James A. Pennypacker Abraham Slifer Sheriff Adam Stetler Commissioner Evan Jones Director Abraham Hunsicker Auditor Jonas Boorse Coroner Eli G. McCarter. The aggregate vote polled was 8301, and majorities in the county of elected the whole Democratic ticket from five to eight hundred. The Senatorial district being Whig, Abraham Brower and John T. Huddleson were elected Senators, the majority, in Chester and Delaware for them exceeding that of Montgomery for Mr. Sterigere and Mr. Pearson. Daniel Jacoby was the Democratic Presidential elector and Robert Stinson the Whig Presidential elector, the aggregate vote polled being 8937, there being 626 more votes polled than at the October election of the same year. The official returns show that the Abolition ticket polled 11 votes in the county, making the total vote 8948. The population of the county by the census of 1840 was 47,241. The relative condition of political parties in Montgomery County seem to have been unaffected by the victory of the Whigs in the election of General Harrison to the Presidency in 1840. The reorganization of the Democratic party after the election of Governor Ritner and the defeat of Wolf and Muhlenberg placing young and active men in the lead, gave them a strong hold upon public confidence, and for many years afterward they retained control in a large measure of public affairs in the county. The highest majority of the Democratic party for a State officer polled in the county was for Francis R. Shunk, in 1847, being 1918, -total vote, 8864. This majority was exceeded in 1856 for James Buchanan, being 2029 on a total vote in the county of 12,244, divided as follows: Buchanan, 7134 Fremont, 2845 Fillmore, 2845. The Whigs elected their candidate for sheriff twice during the period from 1850 to 1860. At the election held October 12, 1852, Michael C. Boyer was elected sheriff over Jacob Fisher by a majority of 467. At the election held October 12, 1858, John H. Stauffer was elected sheriff over Samuel E. Hartranft by a majority of 432. 515 The period from 1850 to 1860 was characterized by political agitations of the most serious nature. The repeal of the compromise measures in reference to the extension of human slavery filled the North with the gravest apprehensions and hastened the culmination events ending in a long and sanguinary war for the preservation of the Union. The story of the national conflict, although a part of the history of the people in every part of the Union, cannot be told in these chapters. Partisanship became fierce and the creation of a new political party, the Republican party, based upon hostility to the extension of slavery and its ultimate extinction in the United States, brought forth the strongest efforts of the Democratic party to defeat the men and measures of the new organization. Public sentiment ripened by 1860. The State election resulted in the choice of Andrew G. Curtin for Governor by a majority of 32,164 in a total vote of 492,642. The revolution in Pennsylvania was an accomplished fact. The Presidential election, which occurred a month later the same year, exhibits the following results: Lincoln (Republican), 268,030 Fusion ticket (Democratic), 178,871 Douglas (Democratic), 16,765 Bell (Union), 12,776, total vote, 476,442. Lincoln majority over all, 59,681. The total vote was 16,200 less at the Presidential election than at the election for Governor, while Lincoln's majority over all opposition was 27,517 greater than that given Andrew G. Curtin for Governor, indicating a defeat in the Democratic vote. The result of the election Montgomery County was: Lincoln (Republican), 5826 Fusion (Democratic), 5590 Douglas (Democratic), 509 Bell (Union), 609, -total votes polled 12,615. Lincoln's majority over the Democratic Fusion ticket, 236. Four years later, when all the political elements hostile to the Republican party had crystallized and were united in support of General McClellan against Mr. Lincoln for a second term, the vote in Montgomery County was as follows: For McClellan, 7772 soldier vote for McClellan, 171, total 7943 For Lincoln, 6504 soldier vote for Lincoln, 368, total, 6872 McClellan's majority, 1071. A large number of Democrats who voted for Stephen A. Douglas for President in 1860 gave a prompt and hearty support to the administration of President Lincoln, and subsequently united with the Republican party, while on the other hand the Whigs and Native Americans, who supported Bell, largely united with the Democratic party, thus enabling it to maintain its control of public affairs. In 1870 the vote for county officers was as follows: ASSOCIATE JUDGE Hiram C. Hoover (Dem.) 7,424 Charles Rutter (Rep.) 6,448 STATE SENATOR Benjamin W. Jones (Dem.) 7,471 Henry S. Evans (Rep.) 6,214 ASSEMBLY John J. C. Harvey (Dem.) 7,480 Oliver G. Morris (Dem.) 7,446 John W. Shall (Rep.) 6,497 Robert Gray (Rep.) 6,440 COMMISSIONER Dennis Dunne (Dem.) 6,931 William F. Reed (Rep.) 6,800 DIRECTOR Henry Kneedler (Dem.) 7,470 John Jarrett, Jr. (Rep.) 6,441 TREASURER Nathan Wagonhurst (Dem.) 7,480 C. Todd Jenkins (Rep.) 7,474 JURY COMISSIONER Stanley L. Ogden (Dem.) 7,475 Isaac L. Shoemaker (Rep.) 6,465 AUDITOR William Gilbert (Dem.) 7,477 Isaac T. Dunnet (Rep.) 6,445 SURVEYOR D. F. Reinhart (Dem.) 7,433 Alan W. Corson (Rep.) 6,476 Total vote polled 14,280 In the election of 1871 the Democratic majority fell to about eight hundred, and in 1872 the Republicans carried their ticket with the exception of one of the Assembly. The official vote was as follows for the State and county election 1872: GOVERNOR Charles Buckalew (Dem.) 8,463 John F. Hartranft 8,453 Simon B. Chase 100 Aggregate Vote 16,076 JUDGE OF SUPREME COURT James Thompson (Dem.) 8,467 Ulyssess Mercur (Rep.) 8,453 Joseph Henderson (Temp.) 56 AUDITOR-GENERAL William Hartley (Dem.) 8,484 Harrison Allen (Rep.) 8,411 Barr Spangler (Temp.) 65 CONGRESSMEN-AT-LARGE Richard Vaux (Dem.) 8,416 James H. Hopkins (Dem.) 8,416 Herrick B. Wright(Dem.) 8,417 Glenn W. Schofield (Rep.) 8,498 Charles Albright (Rep.) 8,495 Lemuel Todd (Rep.) 8,494 G. F. McFarland (Temp.) 64 A. C. Clark (Temp.) 64 R. Rush 64 MEMBERS OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, 1873-74 James Boyd (Dem.) 8,313 Charles Hunsicker (Dem.) 8,287 George N. Corson (Dem.) 8,332 Henry A. Hunsicker (Temp.) 352 Wm. P. Cuthbertson (Temp.) 93 Joseph Rex (Dem.) 166 David Mulvany (Rep.) 2 ASSEMBLY Oliver G. Morris (Dem.) 8,433 John A. Andrew (Dem.) 8,205 William B. Roberts (Rep.) 8,326 Samuel E. Nyce (Rep.) 8,469 J. C. Michner (Temp.) 193 Samuel B. Davis (Temp.) 67 PROTHONOTARY Philip Quillman (Dem.) 8,423 William F. Reed (Rep.) 8,441 Samuel R. Fisher(Temp.) 66 REGISTER OF WILLS Joseph C. Beyer (Dem.) 8,301 Septimus Roberts (Rep.) 8,496 John Harely 66 RECORDER OF DEEDS Charles H. Palmer (Dem.) 8,413 George W. Neiman (Rep.) 8,434 William M. Gorden (Temp.) 84 CLERK OF COURTS Augustus Dettra (Dem.) 8,362 Merrit M. Missimer (Rep.) 8,504 Joseph R. Powell(Temp.) 67 COUNTY TREASURER George C. Reiff (Dem.) 8,440 Samuel F. Jarrett (Rep.) 8,461 Amos Ely (Temp.) 67 COUNTY COMMISSIONER Michael B. Sholl (Dem.) 8,406 John T. Comley (Rep.) 8,479 Thomas Graham (Temp.) 68 DIRECTOR OF POOR George Grater (Dem.) 8,329 Henry R. Bertolet (Rep.) 8,501 William H. Wampole (Temp.) 72 COUNTY AUDITOR George W. Shiver (Dem.) 8,401 Benjamin B. Hughes (Rep.) 8,472 William H. Wampole (Temp.) 72 CONGRESS Sixth Congressional District, including Montgomery and Lehigh Counties James S. Biery (Rep.) 8,478 William H. Wittie (Dem.) 4,840 Ephraim L. Acker (Dem.) 3,573 ADDITIONAL LAW JUDGE Seventh Judicial District, Montgomery and Bucks Counties Charles T. Miller (Rep.) 15,626 Stokes L. Roberts (Dem.) 15,374 Elijah Thomas (Temp.) 56 In the Fifth Judicial District Charles T. Miller received 234 votes; Stokes L. Roberts, 560; and Elijah Thomas, 1. Public interest in the subject of national legislation was evidently deemed of more importance than State or municipal affairs, the vote for Republican Congressman-at-large was the largest polled, and having a majority of 71 votes in the county. 516 At the Presidential election November 5, 1872, U. S. Grant (Republican electors) received 8080 votes, and Horace Greeley Democratic electors) 5113. 1873. -Williarn A. Yeakle, Republican, was elected State Senator by thirty majority; total vote, 13,848. Thomas Rutter and Joseph B. Yerkes, Democrats, were elected Assemblymen by majorities of 197 and 139 votes. Samuel F. Jarrett, Republican, was elected county treasurer by a majority of 158 votes. Edward D. Johnson, Republican, was elected county commissioner by a majority of 405 votes. William Gilbert, Democrat, was elected auditor by a majority of 1 vote. Total vote polled, 13,946. 1874. -The Democrats elected their Assemblymen, district Attorney, sheriff, commissioner, director of the poor, coroner and auditor by majorities ranging from two to eight hundred votes. Jacob V. Gotwals, the Democratic candidate for district attorney had a majority of 810. Samuel F. Jarrett, Republican, was for the third time elected county treasurer by a majority of 12 votes. 1875. -John F. Hartranft, Republican candidate for Governor, carried the county by a majority of 25 votes on a total vote polled of 16,947. Philip Quillman, Democrat, was elected prothonotary by a majority of 756 votes. Franklin T. Beerer, Democrat, was elected clerk of the courts by a majority of 234 votes. Colonel John W. Schall, Republican, was elected recorder of deeds by a majority of 10 votes. Solomon Snyder, Democrat, was elected register of wills by a majority of 160 votes. Under the provisions of the Constitution of 1874 the principle of minority representation in the board of county commissioners became operative. The Democratic and Republican parties each placed two candidates in nomination, the highest three to be elected. The following is the official vote, November 2, 1875: Charles M. Soliday, Democrat, 8367 George Erb, Democrat, 8385 Amos D. Moser, Republican, 8365 Edwin Moore, Republican, 8234 William Gilbert and Frederick Wagoner, Democrats, were elected county auditors Henry D. Wile, Democrat, was elected director of the poor Charles K. Aiman, Democrat; was elected county surveyor by majorities ranging from 8 to 236 Total vote, 16,819. The total vote polled in 1876 was 19,039. The Democratic majority for presidential electors was 269. Jones Detwiler, Democrat, was elected State Senator by a majority of 168 votes. Montgomery S. Longaker Francis M. Knipe John C. Richardson James B. Law and Edwin Hallowell, Democrats, were elected Assemblymen by majorities ranging from 158 to 276. Martin Ruth, Republican, was elected director of the poor by a majority of 175 votes. 1877. -The aggregate vote polled in the county was 15,660. The Democrats elected J. Wright Apple, district attorney Jacob Tyson, sheriff Evan G. Jones, county treasurer John Field, director of the poor Harry B. Long coroner, by majorities ranging from 231 to 851. 1878. -The aggregate vote polled was 18,598. The local canvass was thoroughly made by both parties. Lewis Royer, Republican, was elected State Senator by a majority of 113. The vote for Assemblymen was as follows, Democratic Montgomery S. Longaker, 8839 Edwin Hallowell, 9153 John C. Dannehower, 9152 Mahlon S. Sellers, 9202 Matthew O'Brien, 8851 Republican John W. Fair, 8772 C. Tyson Kratz, 8848 William F. Hallman, 9051 William B. Roberts, 9119 Isaac Hoyer, 9110. Hallowell, Dannehower Sellers, Roberts and Hover were elected. A. Franklin Hart, Democrat, was elected prothonotary John W. Schall, Republican, was elected recorder of deeds Henry S. Smith, Republican, was elected clerk of the courts Warren B Barnes, Democrat, was elected register of wills Jesse B. Davis and Noah D. Frank, Democrats, were elected commissioners John 0. Clemens, Republican, was elected director of the poor Charles Slingluff and William Davis, Democrats, were elected auditors; and Charles K. Aiman, Democrat, was elected surveyor Judge Henry P. Ross was a Democratic candidate for justice of the Supreme Court, and carried the county by a majority of 782. 1879. -The only county officers elected for 1879 were director of the poor and jury commissioner. The vote was as follows, Director of the Poor: Daniel Shuler, Democrat, 6986; Abraham K. Anders, Republican, 6713. Jury Commissioner: William H. H. McCrea, Democrat, 6862; Davis S. Sill, Republican, 6820. 188O. -The total vote polled was as follows: Republican electors, 11,026 Democratic, 11,025 Greenback, 75 Temperance, 37 total, 22,163. James A. Garfield carried the county by 1 vote. The canvass was conducted with great zeal, and the vote polled was unprecedentedly large. The following was the result: Irving P. Wanger, Republican, was elected district attorney by a majority of 50 votes; Joseph Frankenfield, Republican, was elected sheriff by a majority of 154 votes; Jacob R. Yost, Democrat, was elected county treasurer by a majority of 1 vote; John A. Righter, Republican, was elected director of the poor by a majority of 36 votes; Samuel Aikens, Republican, was elected coroner by a majority of 143 votes. 1881. -The aggregate vote was 18,388. Henry P. Ross, Democrat, was elected president judge for a second term by a majority of 1126; John McLean, Democrat, was elected prothonotary by a majority of 43; Henry W. Kratz, Republican, was elected recorder of deeds by a majority of 429 votes; Edwin Schall, Democrat, was elected clerk of the courts by a majority of 756; J. Roberts Rambo, Republican, was elected register of wills by a majority of 7 votes; James Burnett and Hiram Burdan, Republicans, were elected county commissioners; John 0. Clemens, Republican, was elected director of the poor by a majority of 373; John H. Bergey, Isaac Cassel, 517 Republicans, were elected county auditors; and Joseph W. Hunter, Republican, was elected county surveyor by a majority of 294 votes. 1882. -Aggregate vote polled 20,507. GOVERNOR. Robert E. Pattison (Dem.) 10,578 James A. Beaver (Rep.) 9,288 John Stewart (Ind.) 622 T. Armstrong (Greenback) 87 A. C. Pettit (Temp.) 51 PRESIDENT JUDGE. B. Markley Moyer (Dem.) 10,604 Charles H. Stinson (Rep.) 9,903 STATE SENATOR. W. Harley Sutton (Dem.) 10,532 William R. Rambo (Rep.) 9,999 ASSEMBLY. Theodore M. Harrar (Dem.) 10,784 Stephen D. Yerkes (Dem.) 10,624 Lewis H. Davis (Dem.) 10,598 John Liderman (Dem.) 10,575 John C. Dannehower (Dem.) 10,503 Ezeikel Shoemaker (Rep.) 10,019 J. M. Cunningham (Rep.) 9,868 Henry R. Brown (Rep.) 9,843 Francis Houston (Rep.) 9,702 Richard Markley (Rep.) 9,658 Daniel Shuler, Democrat, was elected director of the poor by a majority of 709. 1883. -The aggregate vote polled was 19,386. John H. Bickel, Democrat, was elected district attorney by a majority of 206 votes; Edwin Stahlnecker, Republican, was elected sheriff by a majority of 247; Henry A. Cole, Democrat, was elected county treasurer by a majority of 93; Henry S. Lowry, Republican, was elected director of the poor by a majority of 144 votes; Samuel Aikens, Republican, was elected coroner by a majority of 148 votes. HON. W. HENRY SUTTON, the present Representative from Montgomery County in the State Senate, was born in Haddonfield, Camden Co., N. J., September 11, 1835. He comes of a worthy line of ancestors, the first of whom came to this country from England about the time of William Penn. His father, Rev. Henry Sutton, was for many years a faithful minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and acceptably served at a number of places in the New Jersey and Philadelphia Conferences. In 1832 he married Miss Ann Craig, daughter of James Craig who came from Ireland and settled in Philadelphia. She was a noble woman, a true wife a devoted mother and a Christian of great influence in all the places of her residence. She rendered her husband valuable services in his holy calling until his demise, in the year 1876, after which she resided with her son, Senator Sutton, until her decease, in May 1883, when her remains were laid to rest beside those of her husband, in West Laurel Hill Cemetery. The issue of the above union was three sons, George Howard, who died in the eleventh year of his age; William Henry, the subject of this article; John Wesley, who found an early grave. Senator Sutton, from the time of his birth until be entered college, resided with his parents in the following places Haddonfield, N. J. Coventry and Marshalton, Chester Co., Marietta, and Safe Harbor, Lancaster Co., Pa. Smyrna and Dover, in the State of Delaware; Centreville, Sudlersville, Md. Dauphin, Pa., and Philadelphia City, at which places his father was appointed to preach the gospel. He received his preliminary education in the public Schools and the preparatory school at Carlisle, Pa. In 1851 he entered Dickinson College, where he studied for two years; then, after teaching for two years in Delaware County, Pa., he matriculated at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., and after completing the classical course, graduated in 1857. While in college he became a member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity. After filling a term of three years as instructor in the American Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, Hartford, Conn., he studied law at the Law School of the University, Albany, N. Y.; then went to Philadelphia, Pa., read law with the Hon. William M. Meredith, formerly Secretary of the Treasury and attorney- general of Pennsylvania, and was admitted to the bar in 1863, and has ever since been in active practice. He has been concerned in many important cases tried in the courts of Philadelphia, and was the counsel for citizens of this county in a number of cases against the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for damages on account of the right of way. In the celebrated Elm Station murder case he won great distinction for the able manner in which, at the solicitation of the citizens of Lower Merion, he assisted the district attorney, J. V. Gotwalt, Esq., in conducting the prosecution. This remarkable case occurred in the fall of the centennial year, and on account of the mystery, which for a long time surrounded it, attracted universal attention not only in this country, but also in Europe. Some boys from Philadelphia while walking along the embankments of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Elm Station, discovered the toes of a human foot protruding front the ground, and upon the earth being removed, a body was found in a good state of preservation, clothed in a shirt and undershirt of peculiar texture. A birthmark and a malformation of one of the thumbs were also noticeable. The head of the corpse had been beaten in by some sharp instrument, but by whom or when was unknown. The body had apparently lain there for several months. Advertisements were placed in the newspapers giving the above description, and these were copied in the newspapers of Germany, where they were seen by old Mr. Hoehne, who kept a saloon in one of the towns of that country, and he, coming to this country at time of the trial, identified the body as that of his son, Max Hugo Hoehne. Through detectives it was discovered that after the young man had landed in this country, at New York, he had come to Philadelphia with a Swede, with whom he had become acquainted on the voyage, and that while in the Quaker City they had stopped at a saloon overnight, where they became acquainted with Henri Wahlen. In the morning the Swede and Hoehne left together, but soon afterwards parted, when Wahlen and another man joined Hoehne, and after accompanying him as far as Elm Station, Wahlen fell upon Hoehne and killed him in the presence of the other man. They stripped the body of its clothing, buried it and then returned to Philadelphia and plundered the trunk of Hoehne. 518 It was with great difficulty that these facts were brought out and the murderer discovered. The evidence was purely circumstantial, but so skillfully had it been worked up and so ably was it presented to the jury that there was left no room for doubt and a verdict of guilty was rendered against the prisoner. The able manner in which Senator Sutton acquitted himself in this case gained him great renown, and at the close of his speech he received not only the hearty congratulations of the many citizens and members of the bar who crowded the court-house, but also the sincere praise of the court. The guilty man committed suicide, and thus escaped the ignominious death of the gallows, which he so richly deserved. His accomplice was also discovered, tried, condemned and served a term of imprisonment. PICTURE OF W. HENRY SUTTON, APPEARS HERE. On the 25th of June 1872, Senator Sutton was united in wedlock to Hannah C. Anderson, the only daughter of Dr. Isaac W. Anderson and Martha Yocum Crawford, of Lower Merion. The Anderson family is one of the oldest and most influential in Lower Merion Township. Patrick Anderson, one of their early American ancestors, was an officer of distinction in the Revolutionary war. The family is famous for the number of physicians it has produced; not only was Dr. Isaac W. Anderson, son of the well known Dr. James Anderson, a physician, but also two of his brothers Dr. J. Rush Anderson and Dr. Joseph W. Anderson, as well as his uncle, Dr. Isaac Anderson, and from some of these have descended a number of physicians, who today are in active practice in Montgomery, Delaware and Philadelphia Counties. In St. Luke Methodist Episcopal Church at Bryn Mawr is a beautiful memorial window representing St. Luke, the beloved physician, and other appropriate emblems, to the memory of Dr. James Anderson and his two sons, Dr. Isaac W. and Dr. J. Rush Anderson. Dr. Joseph W. Anderson is a bachelor, and resides at Ardmore, on the old homestead. After his marriage Senator Sutton settled at Haverford College Station, in Lower Merion township, in this county; there he built himself an elegant home, and, amidst the most agreeable surroundings, has been blessed with a happy family of eight children, viz.: Howard A. William Henry, Jr., (who died in infancy) Helen Isaac C. Grace Corona Lucy and Henry Craig. The mother of these children is a lady of culture and refinement, a model wife and earnest church worker. Her home is made attractive by her pleasing manners, and open hospitality, while her tender regard for the poor and tile interest she takes in all good works endears her to the hearts of the community, and adds 519 to the popularity of her husband, to whom she is a most devoted and worthy help-meet. [sic] The Senator has taken an active part in public affairs, and, besides the office he now holds has repeatedly been elected in the township as auditor, school director, etc. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church a one of the Board of Managers of the Methodist Episcopal Church Extension Society; Tract Society; Home Missionary Society; and American Sunday-school Union. During the last General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, held in Philadelphia during the month of May 1894, he was president of the Lay Delegate Conference. It was mainly through his efforts that the beautiful St. Luke Methodist Episcopal Chapel was erected at Bryn Mawr, and within these walls he has placed two fine memorial windows to the memory of his father and mother. He has been the treasurer of the board of trustees ever since the organization of the church, and was for years the superintendent of the Sunday-school. Although he takes so active a part in all that pertains to the welfare of the church of his choice, he is very liberal and tolerant in his religious views, and has a kind regard for Christians of all shades of opinion, from those of the Roman Catholic Church to those of the Society of Friends. He also stands high in Masonry, being a Past Master of George W. Bartram Lodge, No. 298, of Media, a Past H. P. of Jerusalem Chapter, No. 3, H. R. A., and the projector and first H. P. of Montgomery Chapter, No. 262, of Ardmore, Pa. He was elected to the State Senate in 1882 as the nominee of the Democratic party, having a majority of five hundred and thirty-five votes over his competitor, William B. Rambo, one of the most accomplished and popular Republicans in the county, and succeeded Dr. Lewis Royer, a Republican. Since be has been in the Senate he has so acted as to win the approbation of his constituents, irrespective of party. He is a progressive Democrat, in sympathy with all genuine reform, has served on a number of important committees and been connected with many prominent bills. He was the author of the following bills, viz.: "To abolish the office of sealer of weights and measures;" "Selling by false weights declared a misdemeanor;" "Authorizing the laying of foot-walks along turnpike roads in boroughs;" "Computation of time under statutes, rules, orders and decrees of court, etc.;" "Authorizing Courts of Common Pleas to decree the satisfaction of mortgages in certain cases, upon payment of amount due in court;" and he also took an active part in promoting the passage of the following acts, viz.: "To exempt mutual loan and building associations from taxation for State purposes;" "Fixing the compensation of the judges of the Courts of Common Pleas," and "To make the salaries of Orphans' Court judges the same as judge of Common Pleas." For the leading part he took in the building and loan association bill he received from the Building and Loan Association League, of Pennsylvania, a handsomely framed and engrossed set of resolutions of thanks. During the session of 1884-85 he introduced, among others, bills to "Create a Circuit Court of Appeals," to "Prevent the creation of irredeemable ground-rents", to "Facilitate the trials of actions of ejectments," and a bill "Creating a civil service," etc. From his youth up the Senator had to work his own way. With energy and perseverance lie succeeded in preparing himself for his profession, and since then, by the continuance of those methods which characterized his youth, success has crowned his labor and now he enjoys the fruits of his own industry. A member of the Montgomery County bar says: "Mr. Sutton's characteristics as a member of the legal profession are found in his methodical habits of industry, thoroughness in preparation, clear perception as the result or studious application, with a forcible delivery of speech when directed to a jury. In public life, as Senator from this district, he has moved to the front line or his associates in all important matters of debate, maintaining a strict integrity ; and while Democratic in politics, has uniformly exhibited in a marked degree the courtesies of official life towards those differing with him in theories of political economy." JACOB S. YOST. -The progenitor of the Yost family in Pennsylvania was Philip Yost, grandfather of Jacob S., who was born in Nassau, West Germany, in 1718, and emigrated to America about the year 1740, having married Vronicci Dotterer. He settled near Pottstown, and died in 1804, leaving, among other children, a son, John, who followed the life of a farmer and, resided in Pottstown. The children of the latter by a first marriage were: Henry Philip Samuel Polly Betsey By a second marriage, to Anna-Maria Siewel, were children, John Catherine Rachel Jacob S. Sarah Jacob S. was born in Pottsgrove Township, Montgomery Co. He became a pupil of the old Fourth Street Academy, in Philadelphia, and after mastering the rudiments became proficient in the higher branches of mathematics and surveying. For a brief period he engaged in teaching, but soon embarked in journalistic work, publishing and editing the Lafayette Aurora. He, however, eventually abandoned this enterprise, and, while employing his skill as a surveyor in adjacent portions of the State, followed the congenial pursuits of a farmer on the ancestral land, as had his father before him. He was in 1826, married to Ann M. Childe, of Pottstown, whose four children were Anna Maria Thomas W Jacob A Annie R (Mrs. George H. Gillet) He was again married, December 26, 1844, to Mary A., daughter of J. L. and Mary Wood Harrington, of Troy, N. Y., a lady of brilliant intellectual gifts, who survives him. The intelligence and activity of Mr. Yost soon brought him 520 prominently before the people, his kindly nature and courtly manners enabling him to win favor with his party. The Democracy of his district, therefore, in 1836, nominated and elected him to the Assembly, to which office he was three times reelected. Closing his services in the State Legislature in 1839, he was, in 1842, nominated and elected to Congress, and after his congressional service continued an active promoter of the interests of his party, with which he wielded no little influence. On the accession of James Buchanan (his warm personal friend) to the Presidency, he was, in 1857, appointed United States marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, which office he held until the breaking out of the Rebellion, in 1861. PICTURE OF J. S. YOST, APPEARS HERE. He then retired from public life, and devoted his abilities to the care of his landed estate and his various business interests. He was president of the West Buck Mountain Coal and Iron Company, of the Pottstown Gas Company, and director of the Philadelphia and Perkiomen Turnpike Company and the Edgewood Cemetery Company. Mr. Yost was a man of wide information, clear judgment, a judicious manager of business, and domestic in his tastes, regarding home as the most attractive spot on earth. He was religiously inclined by nature, and in early life connected himself with the German Reformed Church. He later withdrew from it, and, with others, in 1849, organized the First Presbyterian Church of Pottstown, of which he was the first ruling elder. His death occurred at his residence in Pottstown in 1872, in his seventy-first year. WILLIAM A. YEAKLE, the grandson of Christopher and Susannah Kriebel Yeakle and the son of Samuel and Lydia Anders Yeakle, was born in Whitemarsh township on the 20th of October, 1821, his ancestors on both sides, from the eve of the Reformation, having belonged to the evangelical sect known as Schwenkfelders. The father of Mr. Yeakle gave his son a common-school education, such as was usual many years ago, consisting mainly of the rudimentary branches, to which he more recently added by intelligent reading and study. He was early instructed in the various pursuits peculiar to the life of an agriculturist, and in the spring of 1850 began an independent career of farming on the attractive spot known as the family homestead, where he still resides. He was married, on the 25th of January 1849, to Caroline, daughter of John Hocker, of Whitemarsh Township, and has children Annie H. and Samuel. In 1850 his neighbors elected him a director in the school board of the township, which office he continued to fill for eighteen consecutive years. He declined reelection, though still remaining one of the auditors of the board. He was, in the summer of 1870, nom- 521 inated by the Republican convention of the county for the office of State Senator. He, however, magnanimously withdrew from the contest in favor of Hon. Henry S. Evans, and three years later was again nominated and elected in a strong Democratic district. He served his term of three years, but declined a re-election. Mr. Yeakle has always manifested a deep interest in everything pertaining to agriculture, and has been for many years a member of the Montgomery County Agricultural Society. In 1877 he was chosen to represent that body as a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and on taking his seat drew the one-year term. On its expiration he was chosen for the succeeding term of three years, and again for the third term of equal duration. He enjoys in a high degree the confidence and esteem of his constituents, having frequently represented them in county conventions of his party and presided over the annual gatherings. PICTURE OF W. A. YEAKLE, APPEARS HERE. As a legislator Mr. Yeakle represented the most elevated sentiment and feeling of the Republican Party, his vote indicating the high moral principle which has actuated both his business and social life. LEWIS ROYER, M.D., the third son of Judge Joseph Royer, who is elsewhere noticed in this volume, was born March 31, 1822, at Trappe, Montgomery Co., and received during his youth a thorough English education, first at school and later under a private tutor. He then engaged for three years in teaching in Berks County, at the expiration of which period he entered the office of Dr. Jacob Treon, of Rehrersburg, in that county, as a student of medicine. He subsequently attended lectures at the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in the spring of 1843. He began the practice of his profession at Rehrersburg, and some years later removed to Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where he remained ten years, making Philadelphia his residence in 1859, and embarking in the wholesale drug business. In 1867, Dr. Royer returned to Trappe, where he continued to reside until 1884, when Norristown offered advantages which made him a citizen of that borough. He had meanwhile become largely interested in the manufacture of iron and the mining of coal in Huntingdon County, Pa., in connection with the Rock Hill Iron and Coal Company, and still gives his personal attention to this enterprise. Dr. Rover married, in 1841, Miss Isabella, daughter of Dr. Jacob Treon, of Berks County and has children,- Emma (wife of William Jansen, of Cincinnati, Ohio) Bella (Mrs. William Ashenfelter, of Pottstown) Ettie (Mrs. Jacob V. Gotwalts, of Norristown) Horace T. (married to Kate, daughter of Henry W. Kratz) Louis C. (who married Lille, daughter of the Rev. Mr. Graybill, of Lancaster County, Pa.) Dr. Royer's political affiliations were formerly with the old- line Whig party, his first vote having been cast for Henry Clay. Later he became a Republican, was for a term coroner of Schuylkill County, and was in 1878 elected to the State Senate, where lie served on various important committees. The doctor is director of the Tradesman's National Bank of Conshohocken. His religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the German Reformed Church, at Trappe, of which he is a member. PICTURE OF LEWIS ROYER, APPEARS HERE. 522 JOHN CHRISTMAN SMITH, of Pottstown, the subject of this sketch, was prominently identified with the business and political affairs of Montgomery County for nearly forty years. His father, Abraham Smith, was born in Frederick Township March 18, 1794, and was the son of Jacob and Margaret Smith, whose ancestors came from Germany and were early settlers in Pennsylvania. The mother of Abraham Smith was left a widow when he was thirteen months old, and at the tender age of four years he was "bound out" to Jacob Fryer, where he was bought up in a Christian family. He served an apprenticeship to shoemaking with Michael Sensenderfer of Limerick County. He was married September 20, 1816, to Sarah Elizabeth Christman, of Limerick County and afterwards moved to Deep Creek in Frederick Township following his trade. He subsequently engaged in huckstering and farming, and moving to Pottstown about 1836 commenced the store-keeping business. Mr. Smith enlisted during the war of 1812 in the company of Captain Peter Hanley, of Pottstown. He became a widower, and was married again, in 1845, to Mrs. Mary Malsberger. By his first marriage there were six children,- Mary (Mrs. Levi Wildermuth) John C. Elizabeth (Mrs. Rufus B. Longaker) Jacob C. Sarah (Mr. William Wamback) and Abraham C. Smith. By the second marriage there were no children, Abraham Smith died April 6, 1878, in his eighty-fifth year. John C. Smith was born at Deep Creek, Frederick Township December 1, 1818. His youth was spent in Limerick Township, on a farm, with the limited opportunities for education which the schools of those days afforded. He came to Pottstown in 1836, and entered into the business of a merchant with his father. The firm prospered for several years, and then Abraham Smith retired therefrom. John C. Smith continued the business and that of boating for a long time. He alluded frequently and proudly, in his later days, to, the towpath, and to the time when be arose to the dignity of a canal-boat captain and owner. The question of forming a new county, to be called Madison, with Pottstown as the county seat, and, was an exciting one for years, strongly advocated and as bitterly opposed in portions of Montgomery, 523 Chester and Berks Counties. John C. Smith became a leader in this movement, contesting the ground inch by inch, with many other friends of the measure, for many years. Mr. Smith was a stanch Democrat of the Jacksonian school, and soon became a "war-horse" in his party in Montgomery County. In the fall of 1852 be was nominated for State Senator but after a most exciting struggle, in which politics was almost lost sight of and the friends and enemies of "Madison County " were arraigned against each other in the contest, Mr. Smith was defeated by thirty-two votes, by Benjamin Frick, Whig. In 1861 he was again nominated for State Senator and elected by seven hundred and sixty-seven majority over Henry W. Bonsall, a prominent member of the Montgomery County bar. He served in the sessions of 1862, 1863 and 1864, with much eminent men as Heister Clymer, Henry S. Mott, W. W. Ketcham, A. K. McClure, Morrow B. Lowrey, William A. Wallace, Harry White, William Hopkins, Benjamin Champneys and others. His term in the Senate was during the most trying period of the war for the Union. He participated in the election of Hon. Charles R. Buckalew as United States Senator in 1863, when the Democrats bad but one majority on joint ballot in the Legislature. He was also a member during the famous deadlock session of 1864, when General Harry White, a Republican member, was absent, being held a prisoner by the Confederates at Richmond, and which left the Senate with sixteen Republican and sixteen Democratic members. PICTURE OF JOHN C. SMITH, APPEARS HERE. Mr. Smith served on several important committees and was an active, attentive and influential Senator. For the third time, in 1872, be received his party nomination for Senator; but the district was then composed of Montgomery, Chester and Delaware Counties although his popularity ran him largely ahead in his own county, be could not overcome the strong majorities of the other counties, and William B. Waddell, Republican, of West Chester, was elected. John C. Smith was chief burgess of Pottstown in 1851, 1852 and 1853. He also served two or more terms in the Town Council, and field various other honorable positions in the borough. He was for several years present of the Perkiomen and Reading Turnpike Company, also of the Schuylkill Bridge Company at Pottstown and the Pottstown Gas Company, also a director of the Colebrookdale Railroad, holding these four positions up to the time of his death. As a business man Mr. Smith was careful and far-sighted, investing chiefly in real estate. He was for a considerable period prior to his decease the largest property holder in Pottstown. As a political leader he was untiring, making hosts of friends who stood by him in every political struggle. He was connected with various enterprises having for their object the benefit of the town and community. When Trinity Reformed Church, of Pottstown, of which be was a member, was built, he gave a very liberal sum to aid in its erection, and continued a generous contributor to the different benevolent enterprises of the church up to the time of his decease. He was widely known among the leading men in business and State affairs in Pennsylvania. John C. Smith was married to Rebecca Maria, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Pennypacker, of New Hanover Township, Montgomery Co. To them four children were born,- Sarah E. (Mrs. William H. Rhoads) Mary Ann (Mrs. Henry G. Kulp) Henry (deceased) Audora P. (Mrs. Charles F. Sisler) His wife survives him. He died on tbe 21st day of July 1882, in his sixty-fourth year. ELECTION DISTRICTS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. -Prior to the year 1777 the entire city and county of Philadelphia (a portion now Montgomery) held their general elections at the State House, in the city of Philadelphia. At an election held at the State House in Philadelphia October 3, 1775 the following is the vote of the entire county and city for sheriffs, coroners and representatives,- Representatives: John Dickinson, Esq., had 3122 votes; Michael Hillegas, 3111 votes George Gray, 3107 votes Thomas Potts, 3103 votes Samuel Miles, 3098 votes Joseph Parker, 3077 votes Robert Morris 1882 votes Jonathan Roberts, 1700 Sheriffs: William De Wees, 2985 votes John Bull, 1338 votes Coroners: Robert Jewell, 2213 votes William Moulder, 1602 votes. At a general election held for Governor in November, 1875, one hundred years later, on the same territory, Philadelphia City and Montgomery County, the vote stands as follows, Philadelphia: Hartranft had 65,262 votes; Pershing had 47,980 votes; Brown had 647 votes. Montgomery County: Hartranft had 8364 votes; Pershing had 8339 votes; Brown had 647 votes. Total vote in the two districts, 120,836. An act of the General Assembly was passed June 14, 1777, dividing the city and county of Philadelphia into three election districts. The freemen of the townships of Cheltenham, Abington, Moreland, Upper Dublin, Horsham, Whitemarsh, Springfield, Plymouth and Lower Merion were to constitute the Second Election District, and were ordered to hold their general elections at the public-house formerly kept by Jacob Coleman, Germantown. The freemen of the townships of Douglas, New Hanover, Limerick, Frederick, Marlborough, Upper Hanover, Upper Safford, Worcester, Providence, Perkiomen, Skippack, Lower Safford, Franconia, Hatfield, Towamencin, Whitpain, Norriton, Upper Merion, Montgomery and Gwynedd were to constitute the Third Election District, and were ordered to bold their general elections at the house of Jacob Wentz, in Worcester township. By an act of the Legislature passed September 10, 1784, Montgomery County was taken off of a part of Philadelphia, and is the same to-day as when first laid out. The new county was now formed, and it became necessary to change the places of holding the general elections. An act of the Legislature was passed September 13, 1785, which divided the county into three election districts, as follows: 524 The freemen of the townships of Norriton Plymouth Whitpain Upper Merion Lower Merion New Providence (now Upper and Lower Providence) Worcester Skippack Perkiomen, being the First District, were ordered to hold their general elections at the court-house, in the borough of Norristown The freemen of the townships of Whitemarsh Springfield Cheltenham Abington Moreland Horsham Upper Dublin Gwynedd Montgomery Hatfield Towamencin Lower Salford Franconia, being the Second District, was ordered to hold their general elections at George Eckhart's tavern, in the township of Whitemarsh. The freemen of the townships of Limerick New Hanover Douglas Upper Hanover Marlborough and Upper Salford, being the Third District, were ordered to hold their general elections at Michael Krepse's tavern, in New Hanover Township. By the act passed March 31, 1797, the county was again divided into five election districts, as follows: First District, composed of the townships of Norriton Providence Worcester Plymouth Whitpain Upper Merion Lower Merion, were ordered to bold their general elections at the court-house, in the borough of Norristown. Second District, composed of the townships of Whitemarsh Springfield Upper Dublin Horsham, were ordered to hold their general elections at the house of Philip Riffert, in Whitemarsh township. Third District, composed of the townships of Abington Cheltenham Moreland, were ordered to hold their general election., at the house of William McCalla, in Abington township. Fourth District, composed of the townships of Gwynedd Montgomery Towamenin Hatfield Franconia Lower Salford Upper Salford Skippack, were ordered to hold their general elections at the house of Christian Weber, in Towamenscin township. Fifth District, composed of the townships of Limerick New Hanover Upper Hanover Douglas Marlborough Frederick, were ordered to hold their general elections at the house of Catharine Snyder, in New Hanover township. By act of April 8, 1799, the Sixth District was thus formed: "That the township of Limerick, and such parts of the townships of Douglas and New Hanover as lies out-west of a line beginning where the line of Berks County crosses the Fox Hill, in Douglas township aforesaid; thence extending along the summit of said hill until it intersects the road leading through Falkner's Swamp to Philadelphia, near the house now occupied by the Rev. Frederick Wyereland; then extending down the same road to the line of Limerick township aforesaid, being a part of the Fifth Election District in Montgomery County and shall hold their general elections at the house now occupied by George Pfleiger, in Pott's town, in the township of Douglas. And the township of Upper Hanover, Marlborough and Frederick, and so much of the townships of Douglas and New Hanover as lie northeast of the line of the Sixth Election District, being a part of the Fifth Election District, shall hold their general elections at the house of Henry Creps, in New Hanover township." By the act of January 19, 1802, the Seventh Election District was formed as follows: "The townships of Limerick, Skippack and Perkiomen, and that part of Providence which lies west of Skippack and Perkiomen Creeks shall be called the Seventh District, and shall hold their general elections at the house now occupied by David Dewees, in the township of Providence. And the townships of Upper Hanover. Marlborough, Upper Salford and Franconia shall be called the Eighth District, and shall hold their general elections at the house now occupied by John Scheid, in Summenytown, in Marlborough Township." Act of March 31,1806: "That the township of Lower Merion be formed into a separate election district, to be called the Ninth, and shall hold the elections at the house of Titus Yerkes, in said township." The township now (1883) is divided into four separate election districts, and at the election held in November last polled in the aggregate 1136 votes for Governor. "That the township of Franconia be annexed to the Fourth Election District, and bold their general elections at the house of John Hughs, in Towamensing (now Kulpsville)." By the act of April 11, 1807, it was ordered that the Sixth Election District should be composed of the township of Pottsgrove, lately erected front a part of New Hanover, and a part of Douglas, and should told their elections at the house of William Lesher, Pottstown, and the electors of the remainder of the township of Douglas and New Hanover at the house of Henry Kreps, New Hanover. The act of March 19, 1816, changed the place of holding the general elections in the Sixth District to the house of Michael Colp, corner of High and Hanover Streets, in the borough of Pottstown. By the act of April 2, 1850, the township of Pottsgrove was formed into a separate election district, and the elections were ordered to be held at the house of Jacob Bussart. The act of March 29, 1813, provided that the townships of Montgomery and Gwynedd should be a separate election district; and that the general elections should be held at the house of George Heist inn-keeper, in Gwynedd township; that the township of Horsham and Moreland should be a separate election district, and should hold their general election at the house of John Kerr, in Moreland township. By the act of March 24, 1818, the township of Hatfield was formed into a separate district, and 525 the elections were ordered to be held at the house of John Buchamer, and by the act of April 11, 1825, the place of holding the elections was changed to the house of Peter Conver; again, by the act of April 23, 1829, the general elections were to be held at the house of Jacob C. Bachman. By the act of April 11, 1825, the township of Limerick was formed into a separate election district, and the general elections were to be held at the house of Jacob R. Bright. By this act the township of Douglas was first formed into a separate election district, and the general elections were ordered to be held at the house of Abrm. Stetler. The act of April 16, 1827, provided that the townships of Worcester and that part of Skippack and Perkiomen which lies east of the Perkiomen Creek should be erected into a separate election district, and should hold their general elections at the house of Abrm. Everhard, Skippack. By the act of April 14,1828, it was ordered that the township of Worcester be formed into a separate election district, and hold their general elections at the house of Cornelius Tyson; also, that the township of Frederick be formed into a separate election district, and hold their elections at the house of Joseph Keeler. By the act of April 23, 1829, the township of Montgomery was first formed into a separate election district, and the elections were held at the house of Henry Slight (now Montgomeryville). By the act of April 6, 1830, the township of Upper Salford was first formed into a separate election district, and the elections were held at the public house of Philip Rudy (Mechanicsville). By the act of April 9, 1849, the place of holding elections was changed to the house of George W. Reed. The township is now (1883) divided into two election districts, and polled at the late election (1882) 426 votes. By the act of April 4, 1831, the township of Whitpain was first formed into a separate election district, and the elections were held at Wentz's tavern, then kept by Henry Kerr. Prior to that time, from the first formation of Montgomery County, they voted in the courthouse Norristown. The elections were held at Wentz's until the public house at that place was abandoned, which was in the spring of 1867. At an election held that spring it was decided, by a majority of 27 votes, to hereafter hold the general elections at the house of Albert Kater, Centre Square, and they have been held there since that time. By the act of May 3, 1832, it was directed that the electors of the Trappe Election District-composed of the townships of Upper Providence, part of the township of Lower Providence, Skippack and Perkiomen should hold their general elections at the public-house of Jacob Heebner, in the village of the Trappe. By the act of April 11, 1884, the election district was to be composed of the township of Upper Providence, all that part of the townships of Skippack and Perkiomen lying west of the Perkiomen Creek, and the elections were to be held at the public-house of William Goodwin, Trappe. By the act of April 9, 1833, the township of Marlborough was formed into a separate election district, and the general elections were held at the public-house of Jacob Dimming. By the act of April 15, 1835, the township of Gwynedd was formed into a separate election district, and the general elections were held at the public-house of David Acuff. The township is now divided into two. Districts, -Upper and Lower Gwynedd. By the act of April 1, 1886, the township of Horsham was formed into a separate election district, and the general elections were ordered to be held at the house of Jacob Kirk. By the same act Moreland was formed into a separate election district and the general elections were to be held at the house commonly known as the "Sorrel Horse." By the act of April 14, 1840, the general elections in Montgomery County were ordered to be opened between the hours of nine and eleven in the forenoon and kept open until nine in the evening. By the act of May 5, 1841, the township of Lower Providence was formed into a separate election district, and the general elections were ordered to be held at Shambough's school-house. By the act of April 5, 1849, the place was changed to the house of Christian Detwiler. By the act of March 4,1842, the township of Lower Salford was formed into a separate election district, and the general elections were held at the house of Jonas Boorse, inn-keeper. By the act of March 11, 1852, the places of holding the elections were changed to the house of John Heines. By the act of March 7, 1843, Pottstown was first formed into an election district, and the elections were ordered to be held at the Farmers' Hotel, at present occupied by Peter Fritz. By the act of March 16, 1847, the borough was divided into two election districts. The borough is now (1883) divided into three wards, with election polls in each ward. At the election for Governor held in 1882 the total vote of each was as follows: Pattison, 710 Beaver, 601 Total, 1311 votes. By the act of May 8,1844, the township of Plymouth was first formed into a separate election district, and the general elections were ordered to be held at the public-house of George K. Ritter, Hickorytown, where they are still held. From the time that the county was first divided into election districts to this date the electors went to the court-house at Norristown to deposit their ballots. By the act of April 11, 1844, the township of Towamencin was first formed into a separate election district, and the general elections were ordered to be held at the house of Benjamin Hendricks, Kulpsville. By the act of March 14 1845 the township of Upper Hanover was formed into a separate election district, and the elections were ordered to be held at the house of Jacob Hillegas. 526 By the act of April 16, 1845, the qualified voters; of said township were authorized to hold an election at "the public-house late of Samuel McNulty, deceased, on Saturday, May 24th, next, between the hours of ten o'clock A.M. and six P.M., to determine by ballot at what place the general elections in said township shall be held." By the act of April 12, 1851, the elections were ordered to be held at the house of Abner Croll. By the act of March 7, 1846, the township of Springfield was first formed into a separate election district, and the elections were ordered to be held at the public-house of Samuel Rader, known as the "Black Horse Hotel," Flourtown. By the act of March 16, 1847, the township of Franconia was first formed into a separate election district, and the elections were ordered to be held at the store-house of Daniel L. Moyer. By the act of April 26, 1850, the elections were ordered to be held at the public-house of Tobias Gerhart. By the act of February 8, 1847, the borough of Norristown was divided into two election districts. At present (1883) there are six election districts. At the late election for Governor (1882) the following vote was polled: Pattison, 1072; Beaver, 1157, -total, 2229. By the act of March 16, 1847, the township of Upper Dublin was first formed into an separate election district, and the elections were ordered to be he), at the public house of Benj. Foster, "Three Tuns." From 1785 to this date the general elections for the township were held in Whitemarsh, at the public-house known as the " Blue House." By the act of February 28, 1850, the place of holding the elections was changed to the public-house of Henry Barrett. By the act of June 14, 1777, the electors of the township of Whitemarsh held their general elections at the public-house of Jacob Coleman, Germantown. By the act of September 13, 1785, the place of holding elections was changed to the public-house of George Echart, Farmerstown, or the house known as the "Blue House," latterly kept by Jacob Haines, which stood near Farmers' Mill, at the intersection of Skippack and Chestnut Hill turnpike. By the act of March 16, 1847, the place of holding elections was changed to the public-house of Samuel Kulp, Barren Hill. By the act of April 13, 1852, it was changed to the public-house of Jos. Bush, "Blue House." By the act of April 18, 1853, it was again changed to the public-house of Samuel Kulp, Barren Hill, where the elections are still held. The township is now (1883) divided into two, election districts, East and west Whitemarsh, the former holding their elections at Sandy Run Hotel and the latter at Barren Hill. By the act of April 7, 1848, the qualified voters living on the West Side of the Perkiomen Creek, in Skippack Township, were ordered to form an election district, to be called the Perkiomen District, and to hold their township and general elections at the public-house of Jacob Schwenk. By the act of February 6, 1852, the qualified electors living on the East Side of Perkiomen Creek, in the townships of Skippack and Perkiomen, were ordered to be formed into an election district, and to hold their elections at the public house of Abrm. G. Burger, Skippackville. By the act of April 8, 1850, the township of Cheltenham was first formed into a separate election district, and the elections were ordered to be held at the public house of Albert Magargee, in Shoemakertown. By the act of April 12, 1851, it was ordered that thereafter all the general and special elections for the township of Upper Merion should be held at the King of Prussia. By the act of May 3, 1852, the township of Norriton was first formed into a separate election district, and for that year the election was ordered to be held at the public-house of Rynard Marsh, Jeffersonville, and for future years to hold their general and township elections alternately, year about, at the public-house of Jesse Fisher, Penn Square. Prior to this act the general elections were held at the courthouse, Norristown. In 1882 there were sixty-two section districts in Montgomery County, which polled a total of 20,488 votes for the different candidates for Governor. The First Ward in the borough of Norristown, being the largest voting district, polled 668 votes Green Lane, being the smallest, polled 48 votes; Franconia, being the largest Republican district, polled 396 votes for Beaver; Green Lane, being the smallest, gave Beaver 8 votes; Limerick, being the largest Democratic-polling district, polled 380 votes for Pattison; Green Lane, the smallest, gave Pattison 40 votes. In 1822 [sic] there were thirteen places of holding the general elections in Montgomery County. The vote polled was as follows: CONGRESS Philip Markley, 2056 votes John Hughs, 1829 votes. ASSEMBLY Joseph Royer, 2278 John B. Sterigere, 2264 William Powell, 2242 Peter Miller, 2211 William Mintzer, 1680 John Iredell, 1659 George Richards, 1658 Henry Hallman, 1653. SHERIFF Philip Boyer, 1703 Isaiah Wells, 444 Wendle Fisher, 56 David Acuff, 1510 George M. Potts, 962 William Towers, 744. COMMISSIONER William McGlathery, 2020 Cornelius Tyson, 1900. DIRECTOR Joseph Henry, 2215 John Tyson, 1692. AUDITOR. David C. Kolp, 2296 John S. Messimer, 1581. CORONER Jacob Ramsey, 1666 Peter Bechtel, 1104. RULES FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY. - These rules were adopted September 2, 1878, and amended July 15, 1879, and September 7, 1880. They are as follows: 527 Rule 1. A convention, to be composed of delegates from each of the election district shall be held in Norristown at such time as the County Committee shall direct. Such convention shall be held on Tuesday to nominate a county ticket each election district shall be entitled to three delegates. General nominations for county offices shall be made at the nominating convention. Rule 2. On the Saturday previous to the little of holding county conventions the Republicans of the various election district and all other persons who are qualified voters in such election districts who will make a declaration to support the party, shall assemble at their visual place of holding delegate elections, or at such place as shall be directed by the members of the County Committee for the district, and elect the delegates to represent them in said nominating convention. At the same time and place they shall elect a person to be a member of the County Committee for such election district for one year from the first Monday of December next ensuing. The delegate elections shall be held between the hours of 6 and 8 P.M. in the boroughs and between the hours of 7 and 9 P.M. in the townships, and the person the highest number of votes shall be elected. Rule 3. Vacancies in the list of delegates of any district shall be filled by the remaining delegate or delegates of the district. Delegates so substituted shall be citizens of the district they represent. This rule shall apply to joint as well as county conventions. Rule 4. The delegate elections shall be organized by selecting a president and two tellers, who shall conduct the elections, decide who is entitled to vote, and at the close thereof count the votes and declare the result. The tellers shall write down the name of each person when he votes, the name to be announced by the president. The said officers shall make out certificates of election and deliver them to one of the delegates elected. Rule 5. It shall be the duty of the chairman and secretaries of the County Committee to meet at Norristown at 9 o'clock on the morning of the meeting of the county convention and prepare an alphabetical list of the delegates for the use of said convention. Rule 6. The County Committeeman of each election district shall be the executive officer of his election district, and shall organize it in such away as to get out the largest vote of the party at the election. He shall put up notices of the delegate elections at least five days before the time of holding them, stating time and place for holding the same, and the number of delegates to be elected, and shall preside at the delegate elections until a president is chosen. Rule 7. The affairs of the party shall be managed by a County Committee elected as aforesaid; seven members of which shall constitute a quorum to transact business. The County Committee shall meet in Norristown for organization at 10 o'clock A.M. on the first Monday of December of each year. They shall elect a president, who shall be styled chairman of the County Committee and two persons as secretaries. Persons not members of the committee may be elected as president or chairman or secretaries. The chairman and secretaries of the previous year shall act until others are elected. The chairman of the County Committee shall appoint a Finance Committee of not less than five persons, the chairman of which committee shall be ex-officio treasurer of the County Committee. He shall also appoint all Executive Committee of not less than five persons, and he shall be ex- officio a member of both committees. Persons not members of the County Committee may be appointed on said committees. Rule 8. The chairman of the County Committee shall be the executive officer of the party in the county, and as such shall put in to operation these rules, the resolutions and actions of the County Committee, the Executive and Finance Committees and of the nominating convention. He shall call the nominating convention to order and preside at all county conventions of the party. The secretaries of the County shall act as secretary of the conventions. Rule 9. The County Committee shall fix the time and place for holding county conventions of delegates to elect delegates to represent the county in State and National convention, and also to procure room in which to hold the same. Rule 10. The County Committee shall have power to fill vacancies in said committee, provided the district in which such vacancy shall occur fail to elect a successor prior to the next meeting of the committee, and also to fill vacancies on the county ticket. Rule 11. All contested seats of delegates shall be heard and decided by the Convention. Rule 12. It shall require a majority of the delegates present in the nominating convention to nominate for any office. The voting shall be "vica voce," the names of the delegates to be called by boroughs, wards, townships and election districts in alphabetical order, when the delegate shall name the person he votes for, and the secretaries shall record the same. Rule 13. When this county shall be entitled to nominate candidates for office in conjunction with any other county or counties, the same shall be done by a joint convention of delegates, who shall make the nominations for said office, prided this rule be agreed to by such other counties. Rule 14. These rules shall be subject to change or amendment only at the annual county nominating convention. ORGANIZATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. -The rules governing the Democratic party of Montgomery County are a growth, having been adopted from time to time, as emergencies demanded, and having never been adopted and published in their entirety. The following appears to be the plan of organization and system of management: 1. Membership. -The Standing Committee is composed of one member from every election district in the county, who is elected for the term of one year by the Democratic voters, at the time and place the delegates to the County Convention for the nomination of county officers are selected. They meet and organize on the first Tuesday of December of every year by the selection of a chairman, vice-chairman, three secretaries and a treasurer. The chairman and one secretary may be selected from outside the committee. At the next meeting of the committee after the candidates for county offices are nominated the nominees meet and select a special executive committee of nine, who have general charge of the campaign. The chairman of the Standing Committee in ex-officio the member of the State Central Committee for the county. 2. Powers. -The Standing Committee is vested with very ample powers. It calls all conventions, settles all disputes as; to nominations and prepares and distributes the tickets. The chairman and secretaries are ex-officio the officers of all conventions and meetings of the Democracy 3. Preparatory Meetings. -The annual preparatory meeting, at the call of the Standing Committee, is held in the courthouse at Norristown. At this meeting resolutions are adopted, general nominations am made and the business relating to the general interests of the party transacted Persons placed in general nomination must enroll themselves regularly by the following Saturday, or they cannot be voted for in the nominating convention unless the consent of two-thirds of the convention. 4. Delegates. -Every four years after the gubernatorial election delegates are apportioned for the ensuing four years to the several election districts upon the following basis to wit: "Every election district polling two hundred Democratic votes or less, two delegates, and one additional delegate for each one hundred additional Democratic votes, or a fractional part thereof. The delegates to the several conventions are selected in each district on the Saturday evening proceeding the Tuesday upon which the Convention is called. The Democratic inspector of elections for the district acts as judge, and the rival candidates for delegates select a secretary. In case the Democratic inspector fails to attend, or there be a vacancy, the Standing Committeeman shall act as judge, or substitute some person to act for him it absent. 5. Balloting. -In voting, the districts are alphabetically arranged, and delegates, as their names are called, vote to the several candidates for all the offices on each ballot until nominations am effected. 6. State and National Delegates. -The county is entitled to one State delegate for every one thousand Democratic votes cast, and three delegates are selected at a convention called for the purpose. Delegates to the national convention are selected by the delegates to the State convention in the year when a national convention is held. The following is a list of the chairmen of the Democratic Standing Committee since 1862: 1862, Dr. John A. Martin 1863, Dr. E. L. Acker 1864, Hiram C. Hoover 1865, Dr. S. R. S. Smith 1866, Dr. S. R. S. Smith 1867, Hiram C. Hoover 1868, Hiram C. Hoover 1869, Charles Earnest 1870, Charles Earnest 1871, Charles Earnest 1872, Oliver G. Morris 1873, Oliver G. Morris 1874, Jones Detweiler 1875, Jones Detweiler 1876, Jones Detweiler 1877, John W. Bickel 1878, Oliver G. Morris 1879, John W. Bickel 1880, John C. Richardson 1881, J. Wright Apple 528 1882, John W. Bickel 1883, John W. Bickel 1884, John W. Bickel 1885, John W. Bickel. COMPARATIVE PRESIDENTIAL VOTE, 1880 AND 1884 OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY. -The total number of votes cast in 1880 was 22,051, of which 11,026 were cast for James A. Garfield, 11,025 Winfield S. Hancock. In 1884 the vote was James Grover Cleveland, 11,622; S. Grover Cleveland, 11,087. Net increase in total vote, 658; Republican gain, 799; Democratic gain, 265; Republican gain over Democratic gain, 534. ELECTION FIGURES FOR NOVEMBER 4, 1884, FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY PRESIDENT James G. Blaine, 11,622 S. Grover Cleveland, 11,087 Blaine's majority, 535. CONGRESS-AT-LARGE Gen. Edwin S. Osborne, 11,651 Gen. W. W. H. Davis, 11,142 Osborne's majority, 509. CONGRESS Hon. I. Newton Evans, 11,440 George Ross 11360 Evans' majority, 80 ASSEMBLY Thomas J. Stewart, 11,765 John M. Cunningham 11,822 William A. Redding, 11,702 William D. Heebner, 11,557 Samuel Faust, 11,669 William H. Buck, 11,011 John S. Jenkins, 11,098 Horace J. Subers, 11,063 Duross O'Bryan, 10,955 Daniel K. Graber, 10,965. PROTHONOTARY William B. Woodward, 11,556 John McLean 11,229 Woodward's majority, 327 RECORDER Aaron Weikel, 11,677 Charles T. Durham 11,099 Weikel's majority, 578. CLERK George G. McNeill, 11,243 Col. Edward Schall, 11,589 Schall's majority, 346. REGISTER J. R. Rambo, 11,539 Jeremiah W. Guldin 11,165 Rambo's majority, 374. COMMISSIONERS Hiram Burdan, 11,540 James Barnett 11,684 Thomas McCully, 11,295 Martin Kulp, 11,086. DIRECTOR Benjamin C. Kraus, 11,653 William Gilbert 11,214 Kraus' majority, 439. AUDITORS. Isaac R. Cassel, 11,874 A. M. Bergey, 11,820 John Espenship, 10,070 Philip Super, 11,119 Cassel's majority, 1804 Bergey's majority, 1750 Super's majority, 1149. SURVEYORS. Frank H. Conrad, 11,697 Daniel Kinzie, 11,159 Conrad's majority 538. ______________