History: Local: Chapters XLIV-XLV: Boroughs of Hatboro' and Jenkintown: 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. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/montgomery/beantoc.htm URL of html Table of Contents and illustrations. ¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼ BEAN'S HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA ¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼ 721 (cont.) CHAPTER XLIV. BOROUGH OF HATBORO'. By Wm. J. Buck. THIS borough was incorporated August 26, 1871, and contains an area of about six hundred acres, taken wholly from Moreland township. Its extreme length from north to south is one and a half miles; greatest breadth, three-fourths of a mile; and extends on the Bucks County line nearly half said distance. The main part of the town is situated along the old York road, which is now called York Avenue, opened through from Philadelphia to the present Centre Bridge in the fall of 1711. The Hatboro' and Warminster turnpike was completed in 1850, and extends from the Willow Grove to the Street road, a distance of four and a half miles. This improvement is laid on the bed of the old York road, which extends through the whole length of the borough, dividing it very nearly into two equal portions. The Northeast Pennsylvania Railroad is a branch of the North Pennsylvania road, and commences at Abington Station and extends to Hartsville, a distance of nearly 722 ten miles. It was commenced in 1872 and opened for travel December 18th of that year to the county line, and in 1875 extended to Hartsville, its present terminus. The Hatboro' Station is six and four-fifths miles from Abington, throe from Hartsville and sixteen from Philadelphia. Fulmer Station, near its southern extremity, is also within the borough limits. Five passenger trains pass through here daily to Philadelphia. The place is progressing, and now contains two hotels two drug one boot and shoe one hardware one jewelry and clothing two confectionery one furniture and three general stores. There are, besides two carriage manufactories two blacksmith-shops one wheelwright two tin-shops two bakers one machine-shop two merchant flour-mills one livery stable one lumber two coal-yards. According to the census of 1880 contained five hundred and eighty-six inhabitants. The assessment for 1883 returned two hundred and twenty-four taxables and four hundred and sixteen thousand eight hundred and ninety- five dollars as the amount of taxable property. The means for education have not been neglected and in this respect it has enjoyed unusual advantage, for a long time. The library was founded in 1755, and now Contains over ten thousand volumes and has one hundred and forty-six members. The academy was built in 1811-12 from the proceeds of a bequest from Judge Loller. The public schools are held in this building, and for the year ending June 1, 1882, had an average attendance of seventy-nine pupils for ten months. Tho post-office now possesses two daily communications with Philadelphia. The national bank was established here shortly after the incorporation of the borough, with a capital of sixty thousand dollars. Its present officers, are Hon. I. N. Evans, president Jutice Mitchell, vice-president James Vanhorn, cashier Three public halls are in the place. Loller Lodge of Independent Order of Odd-Fellows own a three-story stone building, in which they told their meetings, which was erected in 1851 and dedicated October 9th of said year. The W. K. Bray Lodge of Masons meet in Jones' Hall. The Patriotic Sons of America also possess an organization. The name of the place is said to be derived from one of the first stone houses built here, which was about 1703, and in which, shortly after, John Dawson followed for many years, his occupation of making hats. This building likewise became a tavern, and had for its sign a crooked billet, suggested by a popular inn then kept in Water street, Philadelphia. It stood near the centre of the present town, on the old York road, where is now the dwelling-house of Oliver Watson, and into which, on being, modernized, it portion was incorporated. We know from records that John Dawson was still residing here in 1734 on a lot of three acres, and that a Daniel Dawson at that time owned four acres. The earliest mention of the name we have found is on Lewis Evans' map of Pennsylvania and the adjoining provinces, published in 1749 where it is called "Hatboro'," precisely as it is now written. In an advertisement in Franklin's "Pennsylvania Gazette" of October 12, 1752, it mentioned as the "Crooked Billet." The library records in 1755 call it "Hatborough," and the meetings are mentioned as being held at the house of "David Reese, at ye Crooked Billet." Our next authority in the order of time is Nicholas Scull's map of Pennsylvania, published in 1759, on which it is "Billet;" the same also on William Scull's map of 1770. Washington, in his letter to Congress from this vicinity, dated August 10, 1777 mentions therein the "Billet tavern." General Lacy, in his correspondence of 1778, calls the place "Crooked Billet," as also Majors Simcoe and Steadman, who were British officers in the skirmish here. Reading Howell, in his township map of 1792, calls it "Hatborough," and also Joseph Scott in his "Gazetteer" of 1795. Now, carefully considering these several authorities, we come to the conclusion that the proper name of the place or village from the beginning was Hatboro', and by the Billet or Crooked Billet was more particularly meant the tavern that had here this sign, which conclusion is sustained by the library records, and Washington's correspondence. A road was laid out from Byberry to Horsham in 1720 and passes through the central part of Hatboro'. That portion cast of York Avenue has been called Byberry Avenue, and that extending westward Moreland Avenue. The county line road, leading from the present toll-gate to Graeme Park, was laid out in 1722. As the York road was opened through here still earlier, it would denote that some settlement in and around here must then have been made. David Reese, whom we know kept the tavern here in 1759, had a daughter, Rebecca, married to John Hart, Warminster. Jacob Tomkins kept a store in 1761; the following year the library was removed to his house, and for sometime he performed the duties of librarian, secretary, and treasurer. In 1776 he was taxed for fifty-six acres, which would indicate that he also carried on farming. In the fall of 1786, William Todd purchased Tomkins' share in the library, when it is probable he removed from the neighborhood. Abraham Duffield, in 1784, kept a public-house in the lower part of the village, to which the library was soon after removed, and where it remained for some time. John J. Marple became the proprietor of this inn and kept it at least from 1814 to 1825. He was postmaster in 1816. This office is stated to have been established here about chiefly through the exertions of the Hon. N. B. Boileau. In an advertisement of Mr. Marple's property, in 1825, it is described as containing "a large two- story house, sixty by forty feet" two barns and sixty-one acres of land. In 1813 the polling places of Moreland and Horsham were removed here from Abington, and continued until after 1828. These were at the stand now known as Jones' Hotel. 723 Colonel John Lacy of Bucks County, was commissioned a brigadier-general January 8, 1778, and to him was given the command of the Militia between the rivers Schuylkill and Delaware. His orders were to watch the enemy, to protect the inhabitants and prevent further intercourse between the British and the country and cut off all supplies designed for their use. To carry out these measures he was stationed at Warwick about the middle of January, on the 23d at Graeme Park and next at the Cross-Roads (now Hartsville). From the latter place he proceeded to Hatboro', where he formed his camp on the Byberry road, about half a mile east, of the village. He received here four hundred men from York and Cumberland Counties, which made his forces about to about four hundred and fifty men, who were poorly supplied with arms and ammunition, suffering at times severely for provisions, and often only two day's allowance in camp. As he had been pretty active in cutting off supplies going to the city, as well as arresting the parties concerned therein, it was determined by the British to effect his capture in the night through information received from spies residence in the vicinity. Early on the morning of May 1, 1798, a detachment of the British army from Philadelphia, composed chiefly of American loyalists, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Abercrombie and Major Simcoe, made a sudden attack on the camp, in which about thirty Americans were killed and seventeen wounded. The British loss was trifling, some six or seven men were wounded, five horses found dead and three captured. During the skirmish some of the wounded were either conveyed to or sought shelter in a heap of buckwheat straw, to which the enemy set fire, and perished in the greatest agony. They soon after hastily retreated to the city, when the dead were collected and placed in one grave on the north side of the County Line road near what has been long known as Wood's Corner. A handsome white marble moment, twenty feet high, was erected on the east side of York Avenue, on an elevated site, by the citizens of the neighborhood in 1861, in commemoration of those who lost their lives in this attack. Mills must have been early established here on the Pennypack. Nicholas Schull mentions on his maps Dungworth's mill beside the York road in 1759. This property in 1787 was owned by Mordecai Thomas, who was taxed for one hundred and ninety-four acres of land, four dwellings and a grist-mill. In 1808 he had erected here a mill for carding wool, which was for some time extensively carried on. For a long period Hatboro' has been noted for its wagon and carriage-making establishments. John Paxson advertised in 1807 that he had a two-story stone coach-shop thirty by twenty feet, a blacksmith-shop, thirty by eighteen feet and a harness making shop, thirty- sixty sixteen feet with other building essential to the business. At a meeting in September, 1814, a company of fifty-two was raised here for the war with England, of which Alexander McClean was elected captain and Thomas L. Boileau first lieutenant. During the Revolution Hatboro' is stated to have contained about eighteen houses, one-half of which were built of logs, a tavern, store, a mill and blacksmith-shop. Scott, in his "Gazetteer" of 1795, mentions it as containing about twenty houses and a library of a thousand volumes. In 1850 it contained three hundred and four inhabitants, about fifty-six houses, three stores, two taverns, two merchant flour-mills, two churches, academy, library and several mechanic shops. About a quarter of a mile east of the town, on the north, side of the Byberry road, stood a small one-story stone school-house, supposed to have been built about 1730. Here, in 1768, N. B. Boileau first went to school. After the erection of the academy, in 1812, this was ordered to be sold, with the lot of ground belonging thereto. One-half the proceeds were given to the academy, and the balance towards the erection of a new school-house on the land of Isaac Pickering, about a mile distant on the county line, and near its intersection with the Newton Road. The venerable building alluded to, after being sold, was converted into a dwelling-house, and stood till about 1862, when it was torn own, and the spot is now under cultivation, with nothing to denote its former existence. From the report of the grand-jury in 1773 we learn that the York road passed over the Pennypack Creek by a bridge, which they state "is now very much out of repair and should be repaired at the expense of the county, in consequence of its being so public a road." It may have been at this time temporarily improved, but we doubt that much more was done to it. However, in 1789 the whole structure was torn away and a new one of stone erected in its place by the county, about twenty-four yards above the present bridge. The late George Kinderdine informed us that he remembered it well, and that it consisted of one arch of an exact semicircular form of twenty-four feet span, and that when built it was considered a marvel of workmanship. It possessed short abutments or wing-walls, making it high in the centre, and which made the travel over it difficult. When the stream became high the water would flow around it, thus rendering it at times extremely unpleasant to cross, especially for those afoot. It was only half the length of the present bridge and not of sufficient width to let wagons pass each other. The master-mason and probable architect was Stephen Love, who fancied its only arch the perfection of skill. An act was passed April 6, 1830, for James M. Porter, Samuel Hart and John H. Hill to view and lay out the York road down to the Willow Grove. When they came to the Pennypack they directed the road to be laid further down so as to materially straighten it in a distance of two hundred yards. It was on this route that the present substantial bridge was built in 1824, which possesses three arches, each of eighteen feet span. The date-stone of the former bridge having been inserted in this one has led persons to believe that the present structure was built in 1789. A tradition exists that just before the arch of the previous bridge was completed, a person residing in the vicinity ran his horse over it safely at one prodigious leap, for the honor, as he said, of being the first to pass over it. 724 There is reason to believe that the first newspaper published anywhere in the lower portion of Montgomery County, outside of Norristown, was "The Literary Chronicle," issued weekly by Oliver I. Search, at Hatboro', in the beginning of June, 1840. The size of its sheet was twenty-two by thirty-two inches, with six columns to a page. It was published on Tuesdays, at two dollars per annum, in a building adjoining the upper hotel. About April, 1842, or after it had existed one year and ten months, Mr. Search removed the establishment to Newtown, where it was continued under several names until 1848. The second attempt at newspaper publishing in Hatboro' was by Dr. Wm. T. Robinson, September 7, 1873, when the "Public Spirit" commenced its career on a sheet twenty-four by twenty-eight inches in size, and a few years thereafter it was enlarged to its present dimensions. It is published every Saturday, and has now attained its eleventh year with a good circulation. From a few numbers of "The Literary Chronicle" we ascertain that in 1841 the following persons were in business in Hatboro': Lukens Wakefield and David Titus, coach and house-painters Abraham Haslett, smith Hiram Reading, store Charles Wakefield, tailor G. W. Gilbert, wheelwright H. N. Smith, boot and shoemaker 0. I. Search, job printing. The Methodist Episcopal Church was the first erected in the place. The corner-stone was laid September 8, 1836, on which occasion Rev. David Bartine preached; it was dedicated May 22, 1837. It was a plain stone edifice, forty by fifty feet in dimensions, and the parsonage was built at the expense of Joseph and Deborah Lehman, and by them presented to the congregation. The church cost two thousand seven hundred dollars and the parsonage two thousand one hundred dollars. Mr. Lehman died November 11, 1845, aged eighty-one years and Deborah, his wife, April 4, 1841, aged seventy-four, both being interred tinder one large flat stone beside the church. In 1879 the congregation determined on rebuilding it after a Gothic design, to which a steeple is attached. The lot of ground contains about one and a half acres, is neatly inclosed and well-shaded. The building and grounds are kept in neat order and are an ornament to the town. It is called Lehman Chapel, and is situated on the West Side of York Avenue, but a short distance above the Pennypack Bridge. Rev. H. A. Day was appointed to this charge in March 1883, as successor to Rev. Peter Cox. On the tombstones in the graveyard are found the names of Wood Murray Wilson Bisbing Eisenbrey Meyers Moore Kenderdine Stitch Wakefield Cline Mottershead Stewart Beninghoff Arnold Fisher Coar Cilcott Tudor Emerson Perry King Bower Fesmire Torpin Bush, Sisty Beans Goentner Maxwell Christopher McDowell. The Baptist Church is located on the East Side of York Avenue, near the upper part of the town. It is of stone, forty by sixty feet in dimensions, and surmounted by a spire ninety feet high. The congregation was organized in September, 1835, and held worship in Loller Academy until the erection of the building, The corner-stone was laid September 5, 1839, and the church was dedicated January 16, 1840, and cost eleven hundred dollars. In 1855 it was deemed insufficient for the accommodation of the worshipers and the present more commodious edifice was at an expense of upwards of four thousand dollars. At the laying of the corner-stone, May 22nd of that year, the Rev. Daniel Dodd preached. The pastors in charge from the beginning have been Rev. William Maule J. P. Walton Mathew Semple J. J. Baker Samuel J. Creswell Lewis Smith Theophilus Jones George Hand from May, 1852, to January 1, 1862 Thomas R. Taylor, July, 1862, until his death, in April, 1863 William S. Wood, from the autumn of 1863 to about the close of 1867 Isaac C. Wynn, February 8, 1868, to June, 1870 George Bowman, September, 1870, to April, 1879 I. Blanchard Hutchinson, September 1879 to the present time. About one hundred and eighty members belong to the congregation, to which are also attached four Sunday-schools, with thirty teachers and two hundred and twenty scholars. The church premises comprise upwards of two acres of ground, on which are a two-story stone parsonage and a sexton's house. The entrance to the church is approached through a fine, shady avenue of maples. The graveyard is to the rear and is of ample size. On the numerous stones around are found the names of Fretz Bitting Martin Scott Lester Sutch Yerkes Craven Lukens Search Johnson Meredith Snyder Haslet Kimbell Vanartsdalen Booskirk Rover Margerum Stockdale Robbins Lower Dean Taylor Hill Beans Ashton Swartz McNair Baine Marple James Hay Hobensack Evans Morgan Humphreys Davis McDowell Mathew Eisenbrey. The cemetery is located on the north bank, of the Pennypack, to the east of York Avenue. The grounds comprise about twenty-one acres, In 1882 a two- story house was built for the residence of the superintendent, and it chapel and gateway erected of stone. The interments up to October 1, 1883 have numbered ninety. The cemetery association was organized in 1876 and incorporated March 17, 1877. A street has since been opened along its whole northern boundary rendering, it convenient of approach from several directions. The ground is elevated and ascends with sufficient slope from the stream to be of easy drainage. The whole has been inclosed and handsomely divided into sections and plot fronting on its several avenues and walks that extend in various directions. Though but a comparatively few years have elapsed since this cemetery was laid out, yet numbers have availed themselves of its privileges in purchasing lots, as may be seen by the graves of those since buried here, ornamented with flowers and neat tombstones and railings around. A stroll here affords a view of rich productive and improving country, diversified with beautiful scenery, adorned with comfortable homes and inhabited by an intelligent people. In sight is Huckleberry Hill, Edge Hill, Sampson's Hill, Horseheaven, the place of Lacey's defeat and the Pennypack which need only be mentioned to revive legendary and historical associations. 725 Robert Loller resided in the house now occupied by the principal of the academy. In early life he was a school-teacher, and followed subsequently the business of surveying and conveyancing. He was married to Mary, the daughter of Archibald McClean, of Horsham. In 1776 he was chosen one of the deputies of the county to frame and adopt a new State Constitution. He soon after joined the army of Washington, and was in the battles of Trenton, Princeton and Germantown. He became a colonel in the army, a member of the library in 1787, member of Assembly and associate judge of the county for many years. He died October 21, 1808, aged sixty-eight years. Through his bequest the academy was built in 1811-12 on his estate, and handsomely endowed. In the lower part of the present borough, adjoining Loller Academy, long resided Nathaniel B. Boileau, a native of the vicinity, and a son of Isaac Boileau. He was a graduate of Princeton College, a member of Assembly, in 1808 chosen Speaker of that body, and for nine years Secretary of State to Governor Simon Snyder. In 1836 he was appointed register of wills for the county. He was personally acquainted with John Fitch, the steamboat inventor, who was a frequent visitor to his father's house. He was also the executor of Judge Loller's estate, and superintended the erection of the academy. He died March 16, 1850, in his eighty-eighth-year. By a popular vote, in the spring of 1884, authorized by an act of Assembly passed the previous year, it was decided that a pavement seven feet wide be laid along each side of York Avenue. The borough paid the damages occasioned in carrying out this measure, in the removal of buildings, etc. We cannot leave this subject without expressing a regard for the memory of George Kenderdine, the first burgess of the town and a resident the third of a century. He was a native of Horsham, a millwright by profession and an ingenuous man, modest, unassuming and friendly in his intercourse and ever disposed for the advancement of the general good. He died February 8, 1883, at the close of an useful life. THE UNION LIBRARY. -An institution that was established one hundred and thirty years ago for the dissemination of useful knowledge in this county and has flourished ever since certainly merits some notice in a historical work of this nature. At the date of its origin there could not have been above eight or nine public libraries in the thirteen colonies, of which two had been established in Philadelphia. To show the enterprise of its projectors at this time and the sparseness of population, Hatboro' could not have then contained above a dozen houses, and it is probable that in this respect it was not surpassed by any village within a distance of ten miles. In a country so new and unsettled, and at a time when book publishing was almost unknown here and the people compelled to import most of the books they did get, and at high prices, it certainly required some effort and pecuniary sacrifice, to establish such a library. We should remember, too, that it was at a gloomy period in the history of Pennsylvania; war existed with the French and the Indians, and the latter were massacring hundreds of the inhabitants within a distance of sixty miles. Indeed, so intent were they on its establishment that the first meeting called for the purpose was only ten days after Braddock's defeat, which, with all the appalling results, did not deter or prevent them from prosecuting the matter so vigorously that it soon became a success. The circumstances under which the library was founded are thus set forth in its proceedings: "Whereas dark ignorance, with all the concomitants that flow from it, did about this time prevail in these parts, and no general scheme on foot for the promotion of knowledge and virtue, this, by some of the thinking part of the people, was looked upon with concern, and some proposals were made for executing a public library of select books as the most likely way to expel those gloomy clouds of ignorance and open profaneness so much abounding, and give the gentle reader an agreeable taste for learning. However, nothing was done towards the formation thereof until the beginning of the summer of 1755, when the same came to be seriously considered on the 19th of July, when a meeting of conference was held on the premises by the Rev. Charles Beatty, Rev. Joshua Potts, John Lukens and Joseph Hart, when a plan for establishing the same was unanimously agreed upon. Public notice was then given to all persons willing or desirous to promote said library that they, should meet at David Rees', at ye Crooked Billet, the' second day of August, for establishing the same," on which occasion the plan was read and approved and signed by the several members, who were required to meet the first Saturday in November to choose officers and make their first payment. The "Instrument of Partnership," as it was called, was signed by Charles Beatty Joshua Potts Jonathan DuBois Joseph Hart John Lukens Isaac Hough David Rees David Davis William Loufburrow John Thomas John Watts Joseph Dilworth Abel Dungan Peter Lukens Thomas Potts Samuel Swift Joseph Dugan Silas Yerkes John Jarret Daniel Thomas John Shoemaker Samuel Irwin Isaac Shoemaker Jacob Cadwallader Benjamin Powers James Vansant Peter Craven Job Lancaster Nathan Bewly Clement Dungan Samuel Shoemaker John Bartolet Alexander Edwards John Jones Joseph Gilbert who may therefore be considered the original members and founders of the same. The number is thirty-five, -certainly quite a favorable beginning, and the residence of each was probably within a distance of four miles of Hatboro'. There is no doubt that the aforesaid list composed the most intelligent and respectable persons of the neighborhood and, as far as we know, they were all holders of real estate. 726 The Instrument of Partnership states the title to be "the Union Library Company of Hatbourrough, in the Mannor of Moorland, in the county of Philadelphia, in the Province of Pennsylvania;" that it was agreed upon "The Second day of August, in the Twenty-ninth year of the Reign of our Sovereign, Lord George the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc." It was thereby ordered that they early meetings should be held on the first Saturday in November, the first payment for each member to be twenty shillings, and from thence forward at every annual meeting ten shillings, "and no less, it being for the purchasing a collection of books and defraying all other necessary charges of said library, and for no other use whatever," the directors to have the charge of all the company's effects, affairs and the buying of books and general management of the library, for which purpose they were to meet every three months. The library was to be open on every other Saturday afternoon, commencing with the yearly meeting, and no book wits permitted to be taken out if under a quarto in size longer than four weeks, if larger from eight to twelve weeks. Section 16th contains this provision: "Provided always that no supplement, addition or article whatsoever shall be made or become in force which may divide or alienate the books and effects of said library company aforesaid, but forever, and from time to time to be and remain the undistinguishable property of the members of the Union Library Company from time to time being, according to the true intent of this our present Instrument of Partnership." At the annual meeting held November 1, 1755, John Jarret, Samuel Erwin and Joseph Hart were elected directors, William Loofbourrow, secretary and Daniel Thomas, treasurer. At the directors' meeting held on December 19th the sum of £44 7s was given in charge to the Rev. Charles Beatty, who was directed to send the catalogue of books ordered to the stationer in London, who was to secure the same. At this meeting a gift of four pounds was received from Hon. Lawrence Growden, £1 7s. from John Lukens, and one pound from John Ross, Esq. At the meeting of the directors, held August 14, 1756, announcement was made that the books sent for had safely come to hand, and were placed in a room in Mr. Pott's house, where they would be delivered for the use of the members. In August 1757, John Lukens was authorized to make a purchase of books to the extent of ten pounds, which were bought on the following November 5th. On this occasion £19 19s. 6d. were given to Mr. Beatty for an additional purchase in London, which he was ordered to get insured." These were received October 24, 1758, and were found to be "much damaged on shipboard from water." At the meeting held February 10, 1759, the secretary was permitted to hire out books, the charge for large folios being eighteen pence, quartos one shilling, and all smaller volumes six pence. This year the yearly payments, loans and fines amounted to £13 10.s. The secretary, Joshua Potts, was allowed one pound for the use of the room and attendance. May 10, 1760, books were purchased of Charles Beatty to the amount of £6 7s. and as he was going to England, he was requested to make an additional purchase there. Labels were ordered to be printed and placed in the books. Joseph Galloway having presented four volumes through the hands of Joseph Hart, the directors, in return, sent him their thanks, wherein they say "you may depend not only on our endeavour to perpetuate the utility of this institution, but the memory of all its benefactors also." James Young, of Philadelphia, desired to know through his friend, John Erwin, the full value of a share in the library. This was rated at £3 10s. The payments, loans and fines November 7, 1761, amounted to £14 10s. 9d. David Rees made the generous offer that for ten shillings he would give a year's attendance as librarian and do the advertising, on condition that the directors speedily secure a bookcase for the books, which they consented to do. In the fall of 1762 a catalogue was prepared, from which we learn that the library contained one hundred and twenty-five works, comprised in two hundred and thirty-nine volumes, and had cost £124 13s. 2d. of which amount £3 8s. 1d. had been paid for freight and insurance from England. David Rees having died May 31st of this year, aged forty-nine years, the book, were removed in November to the house of Jacob Tomkins, the secretary. A handsome donation of books having been made in November 1763, by Dr. Thomas Graeme and Elizabeth, his daughter, of Graeme Park, thanks were returned therefor. The newly-printed catalogue was brought in by the directors August 4, 1768, from which we learn that the library low contained two hundred works, in four hundred and sixty-one volumes. Du Hamel's "Husbandry," the gift of Hon. Thomas Penn, was deposited in the library May, 5, 1770. February 22, 1771, the forfeited share of John Watts was sold at public sale, and purchased by Arthur Watts, of Southampton, three pounds, being equivalent to eight dollars of our present currency, David Hall, of Philadelphia, was paid £22 6s. 3d. for books purchased from him. November 2, 1776, the company met and chose for directors Isaac Cadwallader Daniel Longstreth Abraham Lukens Daniel Thomas, secretary Jacob Tomkins, treasurer. It was agreed to omit the annual payment, and as David Kennedy had generously offered the company the use of a room in his house for one year, the offer was thankfully accepted. May 3, 1777, a lock was secured to the room and given in charge of Isaac Longstreth. It appears from November 1778, for one year the directors held no quarterly meetings. In November of this year John Fitch became a member. November 6, 1779, the company taking into consideration the depreciation of the currency, think that the fines on delinquent members are too small and therefore appoint a committee to regulate and fix the same according to the currency. In the spring of 1780 the library was moved to the house of William Wilson and placed under his charge. The committee having neglected to regulate and fix the fines, it was ordered that they be paid in specie or in other money equivalent to the depreciation. June 14, 1783, Humphrey Waterman was employed to alter the shelves on purpose to accommodate the books. Mrs. Ferguson made a donation of fifty volumes to the company, valued at £18 18s., for which the secretary was directed to return thanks. 727 In 1787 the library was incorporated by an act of Assembly, and a second catalogue prepared, in which are mentioned two hundred and ninety-five works in six hundred and twenty volumes. The annual payments November 1, 1788 amounted to £136 8s. 11d. Up to February 3, 1787, eighty-five had been received as members, who had signed the Instrument of Partnership, and we herewith present a list of their names in the order they were received, omitting those mentioned as its founders Benjamin Lukens James Spencer John Bond Moses Cherry William Vansant Titus Yerkes John Johnson William Folwell Evan Lukens Thomas Hallowell Abraham Lukens James Scout Peter Lukens Abel Morgan Daniel Dungan Jonathan Jarret James Young Daniel Longstreth Josiah Hart John Longstreth Isaac Longstreth Jacob Tomkins Jesse Lukens Daniel Thomas Amos Watson John Hart Evan Lloyd Isaac Cadwallader Joseph Longstreth Arthur Watts John Folwell Mordecai Thomas Robert Anderson H. Hugh Ferguson Joseph Lukens Clement Dungan James Ogilbee Seneca Lukens Stephen Yerkes John Hough John Jarret John Fitch Isaac Hough, Jr. Joseph Folwell William Vanhorne Archibald McClean Nathaniel Irwin Abraham Duffield John Shoemaker Abel Marple Isaac Leech John Hough William Todd Thomas Hough William Crawford Robert Loller. Nathan Holt, a native and resident of Horsham, who died in 1848, in his eighty-fourth year, donated most of his property for the benefit of the library company. He had been a member since 1791, and stated, not long before his death, that for most of his knowledge he was indebted to this institution. The amount realized was five thousand eight hundred dollars, where of three thousand eight hundred dollars was applied to the erection of a new and more commodious building, completed in 1849, and the balance invested and the income applied to the purchase of books. It is a neat and classic stone structure of the Doric order, designed by John Sloan, of Philadelphia, and its erection was superintended by the late Joseph B. Yerkes, who was, appointed for the purpose. The lot of one acre on which it stands was purchased from Robert Radcliff in November, 1848, for the sum of four hundred dollars, and the books removed to the new building in March 1850, when the former one wits directed to be sold. In commemoration its centennial, in 1855, it committee was appointed, consisting of Charles H. Hill William J. Buck and David Newport, for its due observance, but, from the conditions imposed on them, their plan could not be carried into effect, and in consequence only a brief mention was made thereof in the minutes. The library contains at present upwards of ten thousand volumes and the association numbers one hundred and forty-six members. The directors are A. L. Phillips, Edward Reading and John B. Carrell, with Mrs. June E. Carr, librarian. The seventh and last catalogue was printed in 1874, a duodecimo of one hundred and eighty-eight pages. The annual income now amounts to about four hundred dollars. The membership in 1857 was ninety-eight; in 1861, one hundred and five; and in 1876, one hundred and thirty-six. By an act of Assembly, passed in 1852, the house and lot are exempt from taxation, except for State purposes. Among the rare and valuable works on its shelves may be mentioned forty-one volumes printed between the years 1593 and 1730, and one hundred and thirteen volumes relating to the history of America printed before 1800. The formation of a cabinet of curiosities was commenced in 1857, and it now numbers upwards of four hundred objects in the several departments of antiquities, mineralogy, botany, entomology and ichthyology, and which it is hoped will steadily keep increasing. It is considerably the oldest library in the county, and, with only one recent exception, is still the largest. That it has been the means for upwards of a century and a quarter of diffusing considerable information to those who have availed themselves or its advantages there can be no question. An institution of this nature flourishing so long through voluntary efforts speaks well for the intelligence of the neighborhood. LOLLER ACADEMY. -Robert Loller resided in the house that has so long been occupied by the principal of the academy. He was the son of Robert and Grace Loller, and was probably born in Horsham. In early life he was it school-teacher, and followed the business of surveying and conveyancing, which must have impressed him with the importance of education. During the Revolution he became a colonel in the army, a member of the library in 1787, it member of Assembly and an associate judge of Montgomery County for many years. In 1805 we find him 728 assessed for fourteen acres of land, a horse and a cow. Being afflicted with a painful malady, he was taken to Philadelphia, where he died under treatment October 21, 1809, aged sixty-eight years, his wife surviving him only a short time, leaving no children. He had made a will, dated June 4th of that year, in which after leaving small legacies to his brothers, sister and several nieces and nephews, twenty pounds were directed to be paid for the use of a room for the Hatboro' Library, fifty pounds to the Norristown Academy; the remainder of his estate he bequeathed "unto N. B. Boileau, his heirs, assigns, etc., forever in trust for the only use, intent and purpose o erect a suitable building for an academy or seminary of learning, which shall be called by my name, either on my own land or elsewhere, provided the same be within one mile of the centre of Hatboro', and on such place as he may think most suitable, and after defraying the expenses of erecting the said building, direct the residue of the incomes and profits of my estate, real and personal, for the purpose of keeping up said building in repair and paying the salaries of such teacher or teachers as the trustees of said institution may from time to time employ, and for no other use, intent or purpose whatsoever, and in order that the said bequest herein before made for the purpose of establishing the said academy or seminary of learning, may be secured and perpetuated, and for that purpose forever, I will order it to be incorporated as soon as convenient, and hereby nominate, constitute and appoint N. B. Boileau executor of this, my last will and testament, hereby giving and granting unto him full power and authority to execute the same." PICTURE OF LOLLER ACADEMY, APPEARS HERE. We see by the aforesaid extract that his near neighbor, the Hon. Nathaniel B. Boileau, was invested with full, authority in carrying out the requirements of the will. After this lapse of time there is not a doubt that he faithfully and honestly performed all the important duties assigned him as executor by his deceased friend, and who, in addition, was serving as Secretary of State under Governor Snyder. The building for the academy was commenced in 1811 and finished the following year. Nine trustees were assigned to the charge of it, to be elected annually in December by the patrons of the schools held therein. On March 14, 1812, they held their first meeting, appointing George Murray principal of the educational department. The academy was built, at a cost of upwards of eleven thousand dollars, on a portion of Judge Loller's estate, and within a hundred yards of his residence. It was incorporated by an act of Legislature February 12, 1812, and was at that time the thirty-fifth academy chartered since the settlement of Pennsylvania. It is a substantial two-story edifice, sixty-one by forty-two feet, standing on a commanding site, and from a distance its cupola attracts the attention of the traveler. The clock was made by Isaiah Lukens, an ingenious mechanic, of Horsham, but has been out of repair now for some time. On a final settlement of the estate, after the cost for building, there remained an annual income from the endowment for its support, amounting to two hundred and eighty-three dollars, -certainly a handsome sum for this period, calculated, if judiciously expended in the extension of knowledge, to greatly benefit the neighborhood. On the erection of the academy there may have been five school-houses in Moreland township, one near Hatboro' and another near the present Morgan's mill, also, within three miles, one at Horsham one in Warminster and another on the Welch road, by the Upper Dublin line. The one near Hatboro' stood on the north side of Byberry road, nearly half a mile east of the village. It was a small stone structure, supposed to have been built about 1730, where N. B. Boileau informed us he had first been to school in 1768. On account of the academy, it was now deemed unnecessary, and by an act of March 12, 1812, N. B. Boileau, Thomas Montanye and Gove Mitchell were authorized to sell it, with the lot of ground pertaining thereto. The proceeds were appropriated, one-half to the academy and the other to the erection of a new school-house on the land of Isaac Pickering, a mile cast of Hatboro', on the county line, near the intersection of the Newtown road. George Murray remained principal of the academy until March 27, 1814, when Jared Schofield was elected his successor, who was succeeded, August 15, 1815, by Giles McDowell, who retained the position into 1818, when the Rev. Robert Belville became his successor until July 12, 1819, when Nathaniel Furman received it, followed, April 4, 1825, by Caleb Frazier, then in October, by John McNair, who served until December 15, 1828, then Benjamin Shoemaker to May 5, 1833, thence by Walter Hibbs to December 13, 1834, then by William M. Hough to December 21, who was succeeded by Hugh Morrow. In addition to the ordinary branches, all the aforesaid taught the Greek and Latin languages and the higher mathematics. Instructions were also sometimes given in French and drawing. 729 Of the aforesaid principals, but three were personally known to the writer, George Murray was a Scotchman by birth, and we presume, not long after leaving, here settled in Doylestown, where he kept a boarding and day- school for boys in 1833 and, likely on down to about 1860. He was regarded as it good teacher, partly deaf, and spoke with it decided Scottish accent, he saved sufficient money to buy himself a farm in the vicinity of Doylestown, on which he removed and continued until his death, but a few years ago, having, attained nearly a century in years. John McNair, who was married to a sister of the late Captain John W. Yerkes, of Hatboro', afterwards removed to the present village of Abington, where he successfully established a boarding and day-school for boys, which, we believe, he continued there for some ten or fifteen years. He was afterwards elected clerk of the courts of Montgomery County, and twice a Member of Congress. About 1856 he removed to Virginia and settled upon a farm in the immediate vicinity of the Bull Run battle-ground, where he died somewhere about 1862, or in the midst of the war. An act was passed by the Assembly June 30, 1836, establishing public schools throughout the State, by which every township was made a school district. The provisions of this act left it to the voters of the township whether or not they would accept the common school system, by which the schools should receive an appropriation from the State, with power to raise by taxation a sum sufficient to make them free to all, and to be kept open as long as the directors thought proper. Moreland township, under its provisions, became a non-accepting district, and the old system was continued, by which the trustees of every school selected their own teachers and the parents paid the teachers so much per day or quarter for the schooling of their children, and a small sum was annually raised by taxation to pay for the education of those whose parents could not defray the expense. On the 11th of April, 1848, an act was passed extending that, school system over the entire State, and on the 3rd of July following the school directors, acting under the said law put the same into operation by the opening, of five schools for six months and ending by the close of the school year June 1, 1849. From arrangements thus made Mr. Morrow combined the public school with his which he taught for about six years, having on his list from eighty to one hundred and ten pupils, the former was separated and taught in another part of the academy under the superintendence of Edwin S. Ritchie. He continued to conduct the private and classical department successfully down to his resignation in 1865. As a teacher, few can be found who have had more experience than Hugh Morrow. At the early age of sixteen he became in assistant in the Milton Academy, under the charge of the Rev. David Kirkpatrick he has also taught at Alton, Ill., and other places. Of Loller academy he was the principal teacher in charge for almost a quarter of a century, in which period alone he probably here gave instruction to some two thousand pupils, the survivors of whom are now widely scattered, and no doubt will long hold in regard their now venerable preceptor. He has had the satisfaction of seeing some of those that he summoned to their studies with the old Academy bell advanced to honor in the army and navy, as well as in the legal, clerical and medical professions and in other pursuits of life. His fellow citizens have not been unmindful of his services, for on the incorporation of Hatboro', in 1871, he was elected a justice of the peace, and twice since made burgess. Although now in his seventy-seventh year, we are gratified to say age appears to have touched him lightly. The public schools for this borough continue to be held in the academy, and in 1875 were reported to have one hundred and sixty-seven pupils. For the school year ending June 1, 1882, the average daily attendance for ten months was stated to be seventy-nine. The present principal of the grammar department is A. R. Place, who is assisted in the secondary by Sue H. Fulmor and in the primary by Emma McIntosh, William H. Walker having been the previous principal. Few places of similar size, for nearly a century, have had such advantages of receiving and diffusing knowledge as Hatboro' - we mean through its Loller Academy and Library, and thus raising a higher intellectual standard of culture among its population than would have otherwise been expected. Reflecting, too, upon the numerous debating societies, lyceums, lectures and instructive exhibitions that have been so long held within its building, one can not calculate the extent of their influence upon the intelligence and morality of the people. Then let the source thereof, Judge Loller's bequest, be kept in grateful remembrance as a noble benefaction. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. WILLIAM KRIDER GOENTNER. William Krider Goentner, the oldest son of John L. and Maria Goentner, was born in Philadelphia October 24, 1814. His father was a native of Breslau Prussia, and his mother the daughter of Wm. Krider, who owned a farm on the north side of Market Street, the farm-house in which they resided being directly opposite to where John Wanamaker's store now stands. 730 Soon after his birth his father removed to South Carolina. The boy early evinced a fondness for study, and while quite small began his education in a log school-house. He made such progress that he was sent to a school in Charleston, where he was greatly praised by his teacher for his aptitude in acquiring a knowledge of language. After his father's death, from yellow fever, his mother returned to Philadelphia, where, at the age of fourteen, he became a member of St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church. At the age of eighteen he was licensed to exhort; during his boyhood his most intimate friend was Abel Stevens, who has since gained a world-wide reputation as preacher, writer and historian. Together they used to visit constantly and exhort at the House of Refuge, the Almshouse and the jails. On the day he was twenty-one he went to Norristown, where a little band were struggling to organize De Kalb Street Methodist Episcopal Church. Here he founded a Sunday-school, added to the small society nearly a hundred members and had the church built and dedicated. From there he went to Fairmount, where he spent a very successful year; the revival that repaid his efforts is still remembered and talked of by the older members of the church. He was then sent to Lehman's Chapel, Hatboro', where at that time there were five members. Mr. Lehman, a wealthy old gentleman, had built the church: Mr. Goentner dedicated it, and during his pastorate added fifty members. His next appointment was an old-fashioned Methodist circuit centering at Stroudsburg, but with twenty-four different preaching-points each month. During the year he traveled five thousand miles over the mountains on horseback, and his rather delicate health became wonderfully improved. He acquired the habit of reading while his horse was in motion, and during clear weather almost always rode with his open book in hand. He had now completed the four years' course of study required by the Conference. Just before going to Bristol Circuit, his next field of labor, he was married to Miss Sarah T. Beans, the daughter of John and Martha Beans. Wm. Penn found her father's ancestor settled in this region when he came to Pennsylvania, and on her mother's side she was directly descended from Governor John Carver, one of Massachusetts "Pilgrim Fathers." Bristol Circuit at that time included Doylestown and all the territory between and around. A number of years of arduous toil followed; after fifteen years' labor as a Methodist minister, he found, because of his rapidly-growing family, some more lucrative employment to be a necessity. He accordingly left the minister and although repeatedly urged in after years to do so, has never returned to the work. He then settled upon the farm near Hatboro', where now resides it being a part of the original "Beans tract." Of his family of twelve children, one son and one daughter died in infancy, and two daughters, one a remarkably precocious child, in early youth. His oldest son, after teaching, a few years, became a farmer; the other two are professional men, and his daughters are engaged in teaching. Mr. Goentner was one of the earliest movers in the temperance cause in the county, and has always been identified with it, having represented it for years in State and county conventions. He was one of the original founders of the Republican party of the county, and for many years a delegate to its convention. For thirty-four years he has never missed an election, though never a candidate for any office. On first coming, into the neighborhood he purchased a share in the Hatboro' Library, of which he has always remained an active member, and despite his cares and each day's labor, is an indefatigable reader. Owing to his efforts, the Revolutionary monument was erected on the "Crooked Billet" battle-field. He first proposed it, donated the lot for it and was elected president of the association, which office he has ever since held. Prior to 1860, during a number of years, an excellent lyceum flourished at Hatboro'; the debates were noted throughout the neighboring counties. Many of the men whose names are recorded in these pages crossed swords with him in wordy combat in Loller Hall, Hatboro'. Mr. Goentner adds another to the long list of names of men who have conquered their way through life by persevering efforts, having risen almost unaided from in orphan boy to be an honored, useful and beloved citizen. JOHN B. JONES. John B. Jones is a native of Worcester County Md., where he was born August 12, 1825. His parents, John and Nancy Bishop Jones, were both natives of Worcester County, Md., where they died when their son, John B., was about twelve years of age. At that tender age John B. was thrown upward the charity of a cold and heartless world, and apprenticed to learn the trade of a shoemaker, a trade not exactly in accordance with his taste, and after serving three years and having learned the rudiments of the art, he resolved (in his own mind) that shoemaking was not, to him at least, the road to future greatness therefore without the usual formalities forever dissolved his connection with shoemaking and between master and servant, at least as far as he was concerned and made his way up into the little State of Delaware. There he found employment at various kinds of work until he was nineteen years of age, when he took another step northward and landed in Philadelphia, Pa. At that place he soon found employment, and from 1845 to 1858 his occupation was that of a stage-driver. At first he drove on the route from Philadelphia to Easton, Pa., by way of Doylestown, and all along this route, o'er hill and dale, could be heard his "winging-horn" as he approached the wayside inns and post-offices. During this time he was employed by Jacob Peters, Sr., the old and, at that date, well-known mail contractor on many of the Pennsylvania routes. 731 In due time he was transferred from the Philadelphia and Easton route to the old Swiftsure Line, running between Philadelphia, Pa., and Flemington, N. J., where he remained the Jehu of the route till the palace-car superseded the old stage-coach and monopolized the passenger traffic. During his career in the staging business he owned, the Swiftsure Line, which he purchased in 1852, or soon after the death of Mr. Peters, and in June, 1860, sold the route, stock and fixtures. He has also been quite prominent among the mail contractors of the United States, owning several routes and parts of routes at the same time, and sub-letting when at a profit both to himself and the sub-contractor. His first contract for a mail route was from Georgetown, Del., to Northampton, Va., a distance of one hundred and thirty miles. In 1858 he located in Hatboro', then Moreland township, and purchased what is now the "Jones House," where he has for twenty-seven years acted well the part of "mine host" in one of the best- appointed hotels in Montgomery County. PICTURE OF JOHN B. JONES, APPEAR HERE. Upon his settlement in Hatboro' Mr. Jones became one of the substantial men of the town, and for his urbane and genial qualities, his honesty of purpose and uprightness of character and solid worth, is not surpassed by any in the community. He has been honored by his townsmen with the office of school director for five years; trustee of the Loller Academy for twenty years; member of the Town Council of the town of Hatboro', and treasurer of the same; also one of the originators of the Hatboro' Cemetery Association, and its treasurer since its organization. He was also one of the charter members of the W. K. Bray Lodge, No. 410, A. Y. M., of Hatboro' and its treasurer since its institution. He was married, in 1848, to Miss Harriet Shugard, of Philadelphia, Pa. They are the parents of nine children, eight of whom are living, viz. : John W., born February 6, 1850 Mary E , born October 3, 1852 Ella D., born March 21, 1855 Leonora, born March 17, 1857 Harriet, born January 30, 1859 Paul, born February 28, 1860 Emma L., born December 14, 1862 Angie B., born July 4, 1869. The four elder were born in Philadelphia, and the four younger in Hatboro', Montgomery Co., Pa. 732 JOHN VAN PELT. John Van Pelt is a descendant of the pioneer of that name who came from Holland as early as 1750, and settled in Midwont, or Flatbush, Long Island, and either himself or immediate descendants migrated to Bucks County, Pa., from whence sprang the numerous Van Pelt families in this part of Pennsylvania, and even throughout the United States. Isaac, the grandfather of John Van Pelt, was born in Holland, and soon after his arrival in this country located on a farm about half-way between Wrightstown and Penn's Park, Bucks Co., Pa. His children were Isaac John Thomas H. Jane Nellie Eliza. Of these children, Thomas H. was born in 1800 and married Alice, daughter of Joseph C. Campbell, of Bucks County, Pa. Alice Campbell was born in Solebury, Bucks Co., Pa., in 1804, and is still living. Thomas owned a small farm of twenty-six acres of land, and carried on the carpenter, cabinet, pump-making and undertaking business in connection with his little farm. PICTURE OF JOHN VAN PELT, APPEARS HERE. The children of Thomas H. and Alice Van Pelt were as follows: Joseph C., born in 1826; married Elizabeth Ray, of Bucks County. Samuel P., born in 1830; married Adelaide Lukens, and died in 1882. Sarah Jane, born in 1833; married Charles Willard, of Bucks County. Thomas H. Van Pelt, Jr., born in 1835; married Wilhelmina Selna, of Bucks County. Mary Ann, born in June, 1836; married John Everitt, of Bucks County. John, born December 18, 1837. William Henry, born in 1842 and died when fourteen years of age. Eliza Ellen, born June 14, 1845; married Major Joseph B. Roberts, of Newtown, Bucks Co. Louisa, born in 1848; unmarried. John Van Pelt, son of Thomas H. and Alice Van Pelt, was born in Buckingham township, Bucks Co., Pa., December, 1837, and at the age of seventeen years was apprenticed to learn the trade of a carriage-maker with Israel B. Matthew of Centreville, Bucks Co., and served five years. 733 He then worked as a journeyman for three years, then rented the shop in which he had learned his trade, and carried on the carriage-making business for two years, when he sold out and went to Philadelphia, where he worked as a journey-man for five years. He then went to Pineville, Bucks Co., Pa., where he built a large carriage-factory, and for five years conducted a large and successful business, at the end of which time he sold out and assumed the management of a carriage-factory at Centreville, which he subsequently purchased, and continued the business on his own account for two years, and again sold out. In the autumn of 1874 he, with his brother, Samuel P., came to Hatboro' and built the hardware-store and dwelling where he has since resided. After a copartnership of fifteen months be purchased his brother's interest in the property, and associated with himself his brother-in-law, Joseph B. Roberts, who, after fifteen months' partnership, purchased Mr. Van Pelt's interest in the property. Mr. Van Pelt was then in the dry-goods and notion trade for nearly two years, when he purchased of Mr. Roberts his interest in the hardware business, which he has since conducted with signal success. In the autumn of 1884, Mr. Van Pelt added a large stock of groceries to his hardware trade, which he has thus far found a profitable investment. Mr. Van Pelt has been honored by the voters of Hatboro' with the office of burgess of the borough for two terms, and in the spring of 1883 was elected a member of the Borough Council, which position he still holds. He is a member of Bristol Lodge, No. 25, Free Masons, and of Girard Mark Chapter 214. Mr. Van Pelt has in his possession a gold watch formerly owned by the Marquis de Lafayette, which is highly prized by its possessor, and connected with which is quite an interesting history. Mr. Van Pelt was married, in the autumn of 1882, to Mrs. Martha H. Sprogell, of Hatboro'. Mrs. Van Pelt was born in Virginia in 1842, and when but a few months old her parents moved to Delaware and subsequently to Maryland. She is of English-French parentage and a highly-educated and accomplished lady, endowed with a literary ability second to no lady in Montgomery County. Her maternal grandfather, Ralph Melbourne, descended directly from Lord Melbourne, of England. Her paternal grandfather was Benona de Hoziea, a noted Frenchman and bosom friend of the Marquis de Lafayette. Her father's name was also Benona de Hoziea and uncle of George Alfred Townsend (Gath). At the age of fifteen years she, with her cousin, George Alfred Townsend, edited a small paper, and since her residence in Hatboro' she has been the editress and life of the "Public Spirit," a large weekly published at that place. CHAPTER XLV. BOROUGH OF JENKINTOWN. By Wm. J. Buck. THIS borough was incorporated December 8, 1874, and all its territory, comprising an area of two hundred and forty-eight acres, taken from Abington township. Its extreme length from north to south is about three-fourths of a mile, and bounds Cheltenham township for over half of that distance. The main or business portion of the town is situated along York Avenue, opened through here as a highway from Philadelphia to the river Delaware in the fall of 1711, and turnpiked from the Rising Sun to Willow Grove in 1804. The station of the North Pennsylvania Railroad here, situated in the southwestern corner of the borough, close to the Cheltenham line, is eight and one-tenth miles from Philadelphia, twenty-three and four-fifths from Doylestown, forty-six from Bethlehem and eighty and three- tenths miles from New York. The road was opened for travel in 1856 and the branch to New York in May, 1876. A considerable amount of business is done here, as may be well supposed, it being the stopping-place for forty-four daily passenger-trains each way, and on Sundays nineteen. The scenery around this station is justly admired, the hills, woods and waters of the Tacony Creek giving it quite a romantic appearance. Upon arriving at the station the wonder of a stranger is justly excited as to the whereabouts of Jenkintown, as no such place is perceptible, it lying off nearly half a mile in an easterly direction. From its nearness to the city and unusual business facilities, as well as from its being surrounded by a fine. and fertile section of country, abounding with fine springs of water, the place is rapidly improving And its real estate enhancing in value. The census of 1880 gave it eight hundred and ten inhabitants and the assessment of 1883 returned three hundred and five taxables, possessing property valued at six hundred and four thousand one hundred and thirty dollars. It contains five churches, a bank, and two flour and feed, two stove, three drug, six merchandise, one notion, one tobacco, one confectionery and one shoe store. The public- school building is a one-story stone structure, standing in the centre of a commodious lot at the corner of West and Cedar Avenues. Three schools are kept in it, and for the school year ending June 3, 1883, they were open ten months, with an average daily attendance of one hundred and two scholars. Gordon, in his "Gazetteer of 1832," mentions Jenkintown as containing thirty dwellings, two hotels and two stores. According to Lake's map, published in 1860, it contained at that date fifty houses, two hotels, two stores and an Episcopal Church. For its size, Jenkintown may be regarded as a place of churches, there being within a distance of two miles around it, seven additional houses of worship, making in all twelve, belonging to seven different religious denominations. 734 The first built in the place was the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour, handsomely situated within a shady lawn on the East Side of York Avenue. The congregation was organized by the Rev. E. Y. Buchanan, of Oxford Church, who held services in Lyceum Hall in 1857. The church was opened for worship June 20, 1858, when the Rev. Orme B. Keith took charge as its first rector. The rectory was built in 1861, and the parish building in 1866, both of stone. Mr. Keith resigned in March, 1870, and in April of the same year Rev. R. Francis Colton became rector. He died suddenly in July 1880, and in the following December the Rev. Frederick Palmer, the present incumbent, received the charge. The present number of communicants is one hundred and twenty. The church is a neat and substantial one-story brown sandstone structure, in the Gothic style, surmounted by a stone belfry. The property is valued at thirty thousand dollars and is free from all debts. The Roman Catholic Church of the Immaculate, conception, of which the Rev. J. J. Mellon is present pastor, is built of stone in the Italian style, two stories high, and is located at the corner of West Avenue and Pleasant Street. It was erected in 1866; dimensions, fifty-three by ninety- eight feet; Christopher Lugar, builder. The congregation was formed and worship held for several years previously in Lyceum Hall. Services are held on Sunday at seven, eight and half-past ten A.M., and vespers at eight P.M. The Sunday-school meets at nine A.M. A two story stone parochial residence is attached to the church. The Methodist Episcopal Church property on West Avenue was originally the first public school-house built under the school law in Abington township. It was purchased by the congregation April 20, 1867, and after worshiping therein for several years was enlarged, in 1879, to thirty-six by thirty feet in dimensions. It is a plain one-story stone structure standing within a fair-sized lot. The pastors who have served the church are as follows: Revs. A. J. Collom, J. A. Cooper, J. R. Bailey, M. Barnhill, Robert McKay, E. C. Yerkes, A. J. Collom, E. I. Townsend, W. H. Pickop and Rev. J. Bickley Burns, the present pastor. The Sunday-school has an average attendance of seventy-five scholars. Grace Presbyterian Church is situated on the east side of York Avenue, and is a handsome one-story stone structure in the Gothic style. The lot of ground was purchased in the spring of 1871 for two thousand three hundred dollars, having a front of one hundred and twenty-six feet and a depth of upwards of three hundred feet. The church was erected thereon at the expense of Mr. John Wanamaker, and was dedicated in September, 1872. Its membership in July, 1874, was stated to be ninety-three, comprising thirty- four families. The Sabbath-school was revived in August 1869, in Lyceum Hall, and the congregation was soon after formed by the Rev. S. T. Lowrie, of the Abington Church, who continued in the charge until August, 1874. The Rev. L. W. Eckhard succeeded January 1, 1875, followed by the Rev. J. H. Dulles as "missionary assistant," April 17, 1877. Rev. Archibald Murphy was appointed in the spring of 1878 and remained for nearly two years, when be took charge of the Roxborough Church. The Sabbath-school contains at present about one hundred and sixty-five scholars. The Rev. Henry McKubbin has present charge. The Baptist Church is situated on a knoll at the corner of Walnut Avenue and Beechwood Street, commanding a magnificent view of the surrounding country. The lot of ground was presented for the purpose by William Pettit. It is a one-story stone building, in the Gothic style, thirty by sixty feet in dimensions. The congregation was organized in 1880 by the Rev. Josiah Williams, with twenty-five members, and in the summer of 1883, had increased to forty-five, with eighty children in the Sunday-school. The corner-stone was laid June 23d, 1883, and dedicated the 8th of November following, when the Rev. A. J. Shoemaker was ordained as pastor. The congregations of the five churches were all originally formed and held their worship in Lyceum Hall, on York Avenue, prior to the erection of their respective houses of worship. It is a plain one-story stone building of modern size, erected in 1839, and designed Chiefly for the promotion of useful knowledge. There is not a place of interment in the borough. The Jenkintown National Bank was authorized to commence business by the comptroller of the currency, April 17, 1875, the subscriptions therefore having commenced on the 25th of January previous. Its original capital was $50,000, increased July 6, 1876, to $70,000, and in January, 1884, to $100,000. The bank was opened for business in Masonic Hall, May 3, 1875, where it remained until the completion of the present building, March 14, 1880, which occupied a lot fifty-seven by two hundred and seven feet on York Avenue, the whole costing, with furniture, safes, etc., $10,700. The charter number of the bank is 2249. Samuel W. Noble is president and Andrew H. Baker cashier. The average individual deposits for 1883 exceeded $97,000. Masonic Hall is a large three-story stone building, the first story of which is designed for business purposes. The second story possesses a commodious concert and exhibition-room, to which is attached a stage, with drop-curtains, etc. Friendship Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, No. 400, meet in the upper story. Peace and Love Lodge, of I. 0. 0. F., No. 337; Jenkintown Lodge of Knights of Pythias, No. 476 and a division of the Sons of Temperance, No. 127, also hold meetings in the place. Besides possessing five churches and several public halls, the promotion of literary facilities and useful knowledge have not been neglected by the residents in and around Jenkintown. 735 Abington Library was founded here in 1803, and is now located in Masonic Hall, of which a history has been prepared to follow this article. In January, 1881 a lady of the neighborhood asked five gentlemen to serve as a board of directors for a reading-room in the place, in behalf of which she offered to pay the rent of a suitable room for three years and supply the following, periodicals: "Scribner's Magazine" "Nineteenth Century" "Harper's Weekly" "The Spectator" "The Contemporary Review" "Punch" "The Scientific American" "The Nation" and the "Fortnightly Review." Contributions in addition having been received from other persons, in February a room in Masonic Hall was rented, formerly occupied by the Jenkintown Bank, which was handsomely fitted up and opened to the public on the evening of February 24, 1881. To the original list a considerable number of magazines and newspapers have been added. Soon after its opening arrangements were made with the directors of Abington Library by which access was allowed to their books in the adjoining room. In connection with the same, and to extend its usefulness, several gentlemen and ladies residing in the vicinity gave a series of lectures on literary and scientific subjects. The directors of this laudable effort are Frederick Palmer, president A. H. Baker, treasurer Joseph W. Hunter, secretary J. W. Ridpath Charles Mather. The borough, as has been stated, was organized December 8, 1874. Marion Chalfan, the first burgess, served until March, 1876 Thomas P. Manypenny, second, served until March, 1879 John J. C. Harvey, third, served until March, 1884 M. L. Kohler, served until March, 1885 J. H. Wheeler is the present incumbent. The earliest mention yet found of the name of this borough is on Nicholas Scull's map of the province, published in 1759, whereon it is called "Jenkens' Town," William Scull, on his map of 1770, denoting it as "Jenkins." William Jenkins, the founder of the family, came from Wales, and we know that be at least resided in this vicinity in 1697, and took at that time an active part in promoting the erection of the Friends' Meeting-house. He purchased, June 17, 1698, from John Barnes a tract containing four hundred and thirty-seven acres, located on the present York road about half a mile north of the borough boundary. This property in 1712 was inhabited by his son Stephen, whom we know continued to reside thereon in 1734, and had a son Phineas Jenkins, at this date residing near by. In the assessment of Abington for 1780 we find mentioned Phineas Jenkins, Sr., undoubtedly the former person, William, Lydia, a widow, and John and Jesse Jenkins, the latter probably brothers. We know that in 1779, Sarah Jenkins was licensed by the Court of Quarter Sessions to keep here a public-house, and herein we undoubtedly see how the name got to be applied, as this public-house may have been in the family and kept even several years before 1759. On inquiry it has been ascertained that this inn stood a few yards below the present Cottman House. All the land comprised within the present limits of the borough, and surrounding it in Abington township, was originally taken up in 1684 by Sarah Fuller and John Barnes. The farmer's purchase contained two hundred and fifty and the latter's six hundred acres. It is probable that Sarah Fuller never resided in this vicinity. John Barnes and Joseph Phipps were among the earliest settlers. The first highway up into this section from Philadelphia wits the York road in 1711, beside which we know at said date Stephen Jenkins resided, who was one of the jurors that assisted in laying it out. The road front the present Fitzwatertown, by Weldon and through the borough to Abington Meeting-house, was laid out in 1725. Thomas Fitzwater at this date carried on lime-burning at the former place. The aforesaid road now forms East and West Avenues. The road known as Washington Lane was confirmed from Germantown to the meeting-house in 1735, and now forms the eastern boundary of the borough. From the laying out of these early roads, we can perceive that at this period this section must have been taken up and pretty well settled. The great centre, however, appears to have been the Friends' Meeting-house, originally completed in 1700 and situated nearly half a mile east of the borough limits. The inn kept here in 1779 by Sarah Jenkins may have been the stand licensed to Stephen Meshon in 1787-88. By an act of Assembly passed March 31, 1797, the Third Election District was composed of the townships of Abington, Cheltenham and Moreland, which were required to vote at the public-house of William McCalla, which then stood on the present Cottman House property. Mr. McCalla, in connection with John Brock, Joseph Hillman, James Burson, Charles Meredith, Charles Stewart, Alexander McCalla and Elijah Tyson, established a semi-weekly line of Stages from Philadelphia to Bethlehem, by way of Doylestown, in 1800, exchanging horses here, the fare through being $2.75. In January, 1807, Mr. McCalla advertised his property, from which we have obtained the following description: "For sale, that well-known tavern-stand, sign of the Barley Sheaf a large two-story stone house, four rooms on the front and seven on the second story, stabling sufficient for ninety-five horses, ice-house, new and convenient. The lot contains three acres, fronts on York road three hundred and sixty-six feet. A post-office is kept here, and two lines of stages stop at said inn." It appears that he rented out the stand from 1807 until 1813, in the mean- time keeping a store here. He now returned again to the inn, which be kept at least as late as 1818. Thomas Coughlin purchased the stand about this time. In the summer of 1825 be died, and it was offered at public sale the following October 25th, at which time mention is made of its sign being "the American Eagle," and that there was on the premises extensive sheds, stabling for sixty horses, a brick tenement and a blacksmith-shop. 736 As it was not sold, we know that the widow, Edith Coughlin, still kept it in the beginning of 1829. This stand was long owned and kept by the late William Cottman, under the aforesaid name, until a recent time. Mr. McCalla, we know, was postmaster here in 1806, and was succeeded, in 1808, by Charles T. Hallowell, store-keeper, who retired in the spring of 1812, when the former resumed the office and kept it to 1819, if not later, and was succeeded therein by Thomas Coughlin, and next by his widow. Mr. McCalla appears to have been an enterprising man. He was a member of Abington Presbyterian Church, where he lies buried, having died December 19, 1850, in his seventy-eighth year. His wife, Jane, had preceded him December 15, 1836, in her sixty-fifth year. A horse company, for the recovery of stolen horses and bringing thieves to justice, was organized at McCalla's house March 1, 1810, and is still in existence among the neighboring farmers, and holds its annual meetings at the same place. A public Meeting was also held at that place, September 6, 1814, to aid the people of Philadelphia in the defense of their city. Joshua Tyson was chairman and Jesse Dillon secretary. Another public-house was kept in Jenkintown in 1813 by Joseph Thomas, sign of the "Cross Keys." This stand was subsequently kept for some time by Jacob Buck as the "Green Tree," which was discontinued about 1842. Joseph Iredell, in December 1810, advertises a two-story house for sale, with a shop attached, in which he carried on saddle-making, a business that has now nearly disappeared in the county. Owing to the demand for houses in Philadelphia, in the spring of 1824 a number of weavers removed out here. A passing traveler at this time writes that "the pleasant little village is crowded with manufacturers from the city, who, with their noisy looms, have established themselves in every corner where a little elbow- room could be found. Through this sudden irruption on the quiet habits of the villagers twenty houses more could readily find tenants in Jenkintown." The extensive works of the Wharton Switch Company are located near the railroad station, a short distance from the borough line. A further account is given in the article on Abington Township. THE ABINGTON LIBRARY. -So little was actually done in book publishing before the Revolution that not even a copy of the English Bible was produced in any of the colonies, it having been alone printed by John Eliot, of Massachusetts, in the Indian language, and by Christopher Sour, of Germantown, in three editions in the German, the first in 1743. Books consequently had to be imported by order either for public or private use, as we find was alone by the records of the Union Library of Hatboro' till the Revolution checked intercourse abroad. It is stated as one reason that no English Bible was printed here in a population of nearly three millions, was that the British government would not have permitted it, this sole privilege having been vested in the University of Oxford. The principal inhabitants in and around the village of Jenkintown as early as February 19, 1803, assembled for the purpose of establishing a library there, and appointed John Morrison, Ebenezer Hickling and William Johnson a committee for the purpose or preparing a code of by-laws and reporting the same at a meeting to be held at the public-house of William McCalla on the 3d of March following at three P.M. As adopted the board of officers was to consist of five directors, a treasurer and librarian, to be chosen annually. Payments of seventy-five cents were to be made by each member every six months. According to Article 2d, "It shall be an unalterable rule in this constitution that no books of an atheistical, immoral or deistical tendency shall ever be admitted into this library, on any pretense whatever, and should at any time (notwithstanding this resolution) such books be introduced, it shall in that case be the duty of the librarian to stop their circulation, and give timely notice of the same to the society." The names of the original members were Ebenezer Hickling Morris Morris Thomas Fletcher Lewis Roberts Joseph Taylor John Michener Clement R. Shepherd Richard Martin Joseph Iredell William Johnson William McCalla Richard T. Leech John Morrison Isaac Hallowell William Lukens Margaret Morris Baker Barnes John Blake Jr. Thomas Mather Peter Johnson Charles T. Hallowell Ryner Tyson Isaac Mather Thomas Shoemaker John Moore Edward Potts Samuel Potts, -being thirty-three in number certainly sufficient for a promising beginning. Although more than three-fourths of a century have elapsed, we entertain no doubt that above half the number have descendants still living in this section, numbering among them some of our most respectable and prominent citizens. In the first book of "Minutes of the Directors of the Abington Library Company," under the date of March 21, 1803, we find mention that "This being the day appointed for the first meeting of the directors, they met accordingly at the library-room in the house of William Johnson. Present, John Michener, Thomas Shoemaker and Richard T. Leech. On examining the state of the funds, found them not yet sufficient to warrant a purchase of books. A member produced and offered for sale Goldsmith's 'Animated Nature,' in four volumes, which on consideration the directors agreed to purchase at $6.50. The treasurer was authorized to collect, if possible, the subscriptions that remain due by next meeting, and the librarian to receive and keep a list of all books that may come into the library, either by gift or purchase, and to consider them as under his care for the present." "On examining the report of the treasurer," the following 4th of April, "it appeared that the they had made a purchase of books to the amount of $143.70, which were produced and arranged on the shelves. 737 Ordered that the librarian number them immediately, when they may be given out to the members agreeably to the direction of the by-laws, and that he prepares lists of books for said use. Allowed the committee who attended in Philadelphia for the purchase of books $3.17 as a compensation in lieu of their expenses, January 2, 1804. The society, in conformity to the laws proceeded to the election of officers for the ensuing year, when John Morrison John Michener Thomas Shoemaker John Moore Richard T Leech were elected directors William Johnson treasurer Jesse Johnson librarian. One hundred copies of the constitution, by-laws and subscribers' names were ordered to be printed and delivered to the members at the expense of the society, and the librarian is requested to make out a copy for publication. The librarian to expedite as much as possible the collection of fines and dues in order to make an additional purchase of books, etc. Resolved unanimously, that the directors be and are hereby requested to apply with all convenient speed to the Legislature of the State, or an, competent authority, for the purpose of obtaining a charter in order to incorporate this society." The original charter, granted September 5, 1805, is now in possession of the secretary, Charles Mather, and is on parchment over two and a half feet square, and is very well written. The heading particularly is admirably done, the title thereon being "The Abington Society for the Promotion of Useful Knowledge." It contains the autographs of the incorporators, whose names are John Morrison William Johnson John Michener Ryner Tyson Richard T. Leech Clement R. Shepherd David Thomas Ebenezer Hickling James Oram William McCalla Isaac Clayton Peter Johnson Daniel Fletcher Charles T. Hallowell John Moore Joseph Phipps Thomas Fletcher Isaac Hallowell Joseph Iredell Thomas Shoemaker. The clause against immoral works was sustained. "This society shall never be dissolved unless by the unanimous consent of its members. No alteration or amendment shall be made to this constitution except by the consent of two-thirds of its members." It bears the signature of Thomas McKean as Governor, who was also one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The charter having fallen behind some of the books, eventually became lost and forgotten, when an attack was made on it by the mice, but fortunately they did not injure any of its writing. It was found on renovating the library, and is now kept within a tin case made on purpose for its better security. Mr. Mather, the efficient secretary, has kindly furnished the writer with interesting reminiscences of several of the original incorporators, to which are added a few additional facts. John Morrison was a justice of the peace of Abington Township for many years. Richard T. Leech, of Cheltenham, was a member of Assembly for several years, and afterwards surveyor-general of Pennsylvania. William Johnson kept the store now occupied by Charles Harper, at the corner of York and West Avenues. Clement R. Shepherd conducted the tannery on the York road, opposite the farm of Samuel W. Noble. David Thomas kept at this time the only store in the village of Abington. Ebenezer Hickling was a physician. William McCalla kept the public-house on the site of the late Eagle Hotel, and was for some time postmaster. Charles T. Hallowell erected the first buildings and kept store therein. This is now Smith & Reeder's Hotel. John Moore was a prominent physician, and resided in the house recently occupied and owned by John Wannamaker. Joseph Phipps, a descendant of one of the original land-holders of Abington, resided opposite the Friends' Meeting-house, on the place owned by the late J. Francis Fisher. Thomas Fletcher was a farmer, and resided on the place now belonging to the estate of Capt. Robinson. Isaac Hallowell resided on the farm now occupied by Thomas Buckman. Joseph Iredell was a saddler in Jenkintown. Thomas Shoemaker was a man of business habits, extensively given to settling estates, etc. We shall now resume the history of the library since its incorporation. It was determined, January 6, 1806, "that a compensation of ten dollars be allowed the librarian, with a commission of five per cent. on all moneys collected since the 11th of March last." The price of shares was fixed at six dollars each, which was increased January 2, 1809, to eight dollars, and in 1815 to ten dollars. Mention is made of several works missing between the years 1816 and 1821. At the meeting of the latter year David Thomas, John Michener, Isaac Hallowell, Joshua Taylor and William Grant were elected directors and Joseph Shaw treasurer and librarian. The librarian's fees were reduced to twelve dollars and the shares to six dollars, and the following year to five dollars. The annual dues at the meeting in 1823 were reduced to one dollar. Robert Steel was admitted a member in 1826. January 5, 1835, Isaac Mather, Oliver Paxson, Bartholomew Mather, William Grant and John R. Hallowell were elected directors, Isaac Mather treasurer, and D. J. Bent librarian. This year Jacob Dananhower was admitted a member, and is still residing in the vicinity. Isaac Mather was treasurer from 1835 to 1848, and president from 1850 to the present time, having been a member since 1827, S. W. Noble has been treasurer since 1848. Charles F. Wilson became a member in 1848, and continued librarian till 1878, when the library was removed from over his store to its present location in Masonic Hall. The first minute book comes down to 1836. In the "History of Montgomery County," published in "Scott's Atlas," in 1877, under the head of Jenkintown, the writer made the following remarks respecting this library: "In the catalogue published in 1855 we learn that it then contained twenty-nine members and ten hundred and twenty-two volumes. A resident of the borough lately informed us that it now numbered but sixteen members and fourteen hundred volumes. 738 It would be a pity, after so long a life, that it should meet the same fate as the libraries at Gwynedd, Horsham and Attleboro'. Knowing that there is considerable intelligence, enterprise and wealth in the place, we would here respectfully call attention to the subject before it is too late, and the collections of nearly three-fourths of a century become dispersed." We are gratified to state that since then there has been a renewed and greater interest taken in promoting its increase and usefulness. The library now contains about two thousand volumes, the price of a share is only three dollars and the yearly payment one dollar. The annual meeting for the election of officers, etc., is held the first Monday in January. Mr. John W. Ridpath is the present librarian, of whom the privilege of using the books can be rented at the rate of fifty cents for three months. Persons using the reading-room are permitted access to the library without charge. Among the recent purchases was the latest edition of the "Encyclopedia Britannica," "Webster's and Worcester's Unabridged Dictionaries," and other valuable works for reference. PICTURE OF JOSEPH HUNTER APPEARS HERE BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. JOSEPH W. HUNTER. Mr. Hunter is of Scotch-Irish parentage. Adam Hunter, his grandfather, resided near Londonderry, Ireland, where he cultivated a farm. His wife, a Miss Wray, of Glasgow, Scotland, was the mother of one son, Thomas, and a daughter, Martha, who became Mrs. Andrew Scanlan. Thomas, a native of Ireland, emigrated to the United States in 1842, settling first in Philadelphia and later in Delaware County, Pa., where he followed farming pursuits. He married Henrietta, daughter of Joseph Schwend, a military engineer and staff officer in the French army under Napoleon, who afterwards immigrated to America and was employed on the Raritan Canal. The surviving children of this marriage are Joseph W. Sarah W. (Mrs. Robert T. Love) Martha Mary A. Rebecca Henrietta. Joseph W. was born on the 23d of July, 1853, on the Pont Reading farm, in Haverford township, Delaware County, Pa., his youth having been spent at this point and in other portions of the same county. He later removed to Lower Merion township, Montgomery Co., meanwhile receiving his education at both private and public schools, and finally entering the Mantua Academy, in West Philadelphia, from which he graduated in 1870 as second in his class. 739 Immediately after he joined Samuel L. Smedley, surveyor of the Eleventh Survey District of Philadelphia, and studied surveying under him and under his successor, George W. Hancock. He was employed by Mr. Smedley to make topographical surveys in the city and also to engage in map surveying. In 1875 be made Jenkintown his home, and while continuing his Philadelphia pursuits also engaged in farm surveying. Mr. Hunter was, in 1878, elected justice of the peace, and re-elected in 1883 for a second term of five years. In 1882 he was made county surveyor and is still the incumbent of the office. He is to some extent active in the ranks of the Republican Party, but not to so great an extent as to be regarded a politician. Mr. Hunter was, in 1878, married to Miss Kate, daughter of Thomas Gentry, of Philadelphia. He is a director of the Cheltenham and Willow Grove Turnpike Company, and member of both the Abington, and Cheltenham Building and Loan Associations, of which he is secretary. He is still active in the Masonic ranks as member of Friendship Lodge, No. 400, of Jenkintown, is a member of Jenkintown Lodge, No. 476, Knights of Pythias, and of Peace and Love Lodge., No. 337, of I. 0. 0. F. His religious associations are with the Presbyterian Church, of Jenkintown, of which he is a member. PICTURE OF JOHN J. DAVIS, APPEARS HERE. JOHN J. DAVIS John J. Davis (originally written Davies) is a son of Evan (Davies) Davis, who was born April 22, 1803, and was baptized in the parish of Llanarth, in the county of Cardigan, South Wales. As was customary in South Wales, Evan Davis, being the oldest son, inherited the estate, Cil-l-l-leoeh, in the parish of Dihewid, county of Cardigan, South Wales. Evan's early years were spent in school, and later his time was occupied in the study of the cause and cure of all diseases of domestic animals, and more especially the horse, and in his mature years he became widely known as one of the most skillful veterinary surgeons on either side of the. Atlantic Ocean. In the early part of the summer of 1832, Mr. Davis chartered of Lewis Jones, a cousin of Mrs. Davis, the sailing-vessel "Wyoming," Captain Watkins, and set sail for America. Another family accompanied Mr. Davis, making in all twenty-one souls on board, besides the crew. The voyage was a long, rough and tedious one, consuming about three months time, and they finally landed at Halifax, N. S., in September of the same year. The party of emigrants remained at Halifax about two weeks, when they went by steamer to Alexandria, Va., where the family remained four weeks. Mr. Davis in the mean time visited Philadelphia, and secured a place for his family, where they remained till the spring of 1833, when Mr. Davis and family moved to Horsham township, Montgomery Co., Pa., and located on a place along the turnpike, a short distance above Horshamville, where he remained till the spring of 1842, when he moved to Hatboro', this county. 740 Mr. Davis married Mary Jones, who was born January 5, 1801, and baptized in the church of the parish Dihewid, in the county of Cardigan, South Wales. They united with the Baptist Church of Hatboro' in 1840, and Mr. Davis was senior deacon of that church for many years prior to his death, which occurred December 28, 1881. Mrs. Davis still survives, in the eighty-fifth year of her age. They were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom were born in Wales, as will be seen from the following extract from the family records: I. Eleanor, born July 16, 1821, and on the 17th day of this moon was baptized at Dihewid parish church, County Cardigan. II. David, born February 27, 1823, and baptized the 16th day of the moon at Dihewid parish church. III. Mary, born October 26, 1824, and baptized the 4th day of the moon at Dihewid parish church. IV. John J., born August 29, 1826, at five minutes after two o'clock in the morning. and baptized on the 26th day of the moon in the parish church at Dihewid. V. Griffith, born February 4, 1828, baptized on the 18th day of the moon at Dihewid parish church. VI. Margaret, born August 19, 1829, baptized on the 20th day of the moon at the parish church, Dihewid. VII. George, born June 3, 1831, baptized on the 22d day of the moon at Dihewid parish church. VIII. Pryce Pugh, born February 8, 1833, and was baptized by Evan Williams in Philadelphia, Pa. IX. Benjamin, born May 27, 1837, X. Victoria Rachel Amelia, born November 30, 1838. XI. Richard Lewis, born April 17, 1840. John J. Davis, the subject of this sketch, as has been stated, was born in Wales, and came to this country with his parents when be was but six years of age. His early years were spent during the summer seasons in working on the farm, and in winter seasons at the Friends' school at Horshamville, and lastly two terms at the Loller Academy, Hatboro'. When eighteen years of age he was apprenticed to Absalom Kearns, of Hatboro', to learn the trade of a blacksmith, and served three years and three months. After learning his trade he worked as a journeyman till the spring of 1853, when be commenced business for himself at a place called Babylon, in Horsham Township, where he remained two years. He then worked in Hatboro' one year, and in Prospectville five years, then in Hartsville one year, and in Jenkintown two years, and in the spring of 1863 removed to his present place of business, and in 1867 purchased the property of the heirs of Jesse Jenkins. When Mr. Davis located here, in 1863, be was without capital, except good health, a thorough knowledge of the business and a determination to make life a success, which latter object has thus far been accomplished to the fullest degree. Since he has owned the property where he now lives he has remodeled and enlarged his residence, built the large and commodious blacksmith and wheelwright-shops, and gives employment to several first-class mechanics, one of whom has been in his employ for over eleven years. He united with the Hatboro' Baptist Church when eighteen years of age, and was for many years one of its deacons, and when the Baptist Church at Jenkintown was constituted he was one of the constituent members, and has since then been its senior deacon. He was married, January 1, 1853, to Martha B., daughter of James B. and Mary Biddle Cadwallader Langdale, of Upper Dublin Township. Mrs. Davis was born July 16, 1831. They are the parents of Children as follows: Mary L., born November 27, 1853, died June 21, 1856 Mary A., born January 7, 1862, died October 21, 1864 Charles L., born November 10, 1864, died March 4, 1865 Alonzo C., born September 25, 1866, died July 22, 1868 Alonzo G., born May 17,1870, died September 23,1872 William Henry, born June 26, 1873. The father of Mrs. Davis, James B. Langdale, was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, April 1, 1793, and died in August 1861. He was in the war of 1812, under General Harrison, and participated in the battles of Tippecanoe, Thomas and Fort Meigs, and was wounded in the latter battle. A musket-ball that he carried in his leg from the battle of Fort Meigs to the date of his death is now in possession of Mr. Davis. Mrs. Langdale was born November 24, 1800, and is still living. They were the parents of Elizabeth B., born June 25, 1820 Lewis L., born July 12, 1822 Cynthia S., born October 5, 1824 Samuel, born October 22, 1826 Martha B., born July 16, 1831 Charles Ramsay, born November 1, 1833 Lydia W., born July 10, 1836. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Davis were of English-Irish descent, Samuel Langdale having been born in England, and his wife, Elizabeth Biddle, was born in Ireland. Elizabeth was a daughter of Thomas and Martha Biddle, and Martha was the daughter of _____ Heaton. Samuel Langdale was in the Revolutionary war, and at the battle of Paoli under General Anthony Wayne, and was one of the number selected by General Wayne as a "forlorn hope" in the attack on the enemy's works. 741 Mrs. Davis has in her possession several letters written by Margaret Langdale between 1710 and 1723, while in the Boston Prison, London, England, during the persecution of the Quakers merely-for opinion's sake. The letters are neatly and correctly written, and are held as valuable relics of British cruelty and hatred of a people who would think for themselves. PICTURE OF JOSEPH A. SHOEMAKER, APPEARS HERE. JOSEPH A. SHOEMAKER. Mr. Shoemaker's paternal ancestors, who were of German descent, came with William Penn to Pennsylvania in 1682, and settled in what is now Horsham Township, in Montgomery County. In the direct line of descent was Joseph Shoemaker, grandfather of the subject of this biographical sketch, who purchased and become a farmer in Gwynedd. He was united in marriage to Miss Tacy Ambler, a lady of Welsh parentage and a resident of the same county. Their children were Ezekiel John Joseph Jessie Ann Ellen Hannah. John of this number, whose birth occurred in 1790, in Gwynedd township, on the completion of his apprenticeship to the trade of a harness-maker, removed to Jenkintown and subsequently to other portions of the county, where he pursued his vocation during his life. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Mary Logan, of Abington Township, whose children are Hannah (Mrs. John Jones) Maria (Mrs. William Steel deceased) Tacy (Mrs. George Logan deceased) Jane (Mrs. George Logan deceased) [sic] Martha Joseph A Elizabeth John (deceased) Mr. Shoemaker died in Horsham Township, where he had latterly resided, in 1863. His son, Joseph A., was born on the 13th of May, 1826, in Gwynedd Township, and received early instruction at a Friends' school. At the age of thirteen he removed to Philadelphia County, and at sixteen became an apprentice to the trade of a blacksmith, remaining for the purpose in Upper Dublin Township. One year was spent as a journeyman in Montgomery County, after which he removed to the West. The East, however, offering superior advantages, he returned again to his native State and engaged in the purchase and sale of horses, meanwhile becoming for one year the tenant of a farm in Horsham township. Mr. Shoemaker, during the next three years, found employment in a saw-mill in the same township, and in 1853 made Jenkintown his residence. In connection with his brother-in-law, George Logan, he embarked in butchering, which business he has since continued with marked success, as the result of strict principles of honor carried into every transaction, combined with promptness and punctuality. 742 Mr. Shoemaker was married, on the 1st of January, 1857, to Miss Esther Ann, daughter of William Harper and Esther Smith Harper, of Abington. Their children are - Clara F. (wife of Dr. Henry Waas) William H. (who is associated with his father) Harry (deceased) Lizzie and Jennie. Mr. Shoemaker is a director in the Jenkintown National Bank, president of the North Cedar Hill Cemetery Company, and vice-president of the Philadelphia Drove-Yard. He is also president of the Borough Council of Jenkintown, and has filled various minor offices as a Republican. He is a birthright member of the Friends' Society and worships with the Abington Meeting.