History: Local: CHAPTER LXIII: Montgomery Township : 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. 技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技 BEAN'S HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技技 959 (cont.) CHAPTER LXIII. MONTGOMERY. By Wm J. Buck. THIS township is regular in form, being nearly square, and is bounded on the northeast by Bucks County, southwest by Gwynedd, southeast by Horsham, and northwest by Hatfield and west by the borough of Lansdale. Its length is about three and a half miles and width three, with an area of seven thousand one hundred and seventy acres. Its surface is elevated and slightly rolling. The soil is composed of loam and red shale, with the rock near the surface, and it consequently is not well adapted to the growth of wheat and corn. It is drained by the Wissahickon, which has its source near Montgomeryville and the west branch of Neshaminy creek. The former stream flows south to the Schuylkill and the latter towards the cost, and near the Horsham line propels a grist and saw-mill. The villages are Montgomeryville and Montgomery Square. There is a post- office at the latter place and another, called Eureka, in the east corner, on the county line, but better known as Pleasantville. The population of the township in 1800 was 546 in 1840 it attained to 1009, and has since gradually decreased to 876 in 1880. What is remarkably strange in connection with this subject, is that its boundaries have not been lessened since its organization, like its neighbors, through borough incorporation while several railroads are almost contiguous for a distance of nearly four miles, with no less than three stations thereon in this distance. The real estate, for taxable purposes in 1883 was valued at $713,280, including the personal property $768,705, with 247 taxables, of whom 137 are reported subject to military duty. The average per head taxable is $3150, making it the ninth in order of wealth, and thus all but the equal per capita of Lower Merion, in which it is $3212. It contains three public schools, open eight months, with an average attendance of eighty-four scholars for the year ending June 1, 1882, one hundred being the reported number in 1856 in four schools for five months. One hotel and three stores are returned for 1883. The census of 1850 exhibits 163 houses, 179 families and 112 farms. In 1785, it had one inn, one saw-mill and two tanneries. Three churches are within its limits, -the old Montgomery Baptist Church, organized in 1719, a Methodist Episcopal Church and a Catholic Church, built in 1876 on half an acre of ground, near the Lansdale borough line, mention of which is made in the borough. Montgomery has now decidedly the smallest population of any township in the county, the next approaching it being Marlborough, with twelve hundred and twelve inhabitants in 1880. As a name, Montgomery has been taken from a county in North Wales. It originated from Roger de Montgomery, a Norman knight who, in 1067, was made Earl of Arundel, Sussex and Shrewsbury, and built a castle which was destroyed by the Welsh in 1095, but afterwards rebuilt by Henry III., who granted it the privileges of a borough. From this came the name of this township through its early Welsh settlers, and fully three-quarters of a century later it was applied to our present county. The earliest mention we have found of the name here is in a letter from the Rev. Evan Evans to the Bishop of London, in 1707, wherein he mentions a "Welsh settlement called Montgomery, in the county of Philadelphia, twenty miles distant from the city, where there are considerable numbers of Welsh people." From what has been stated we may justly conclude that it was called by its present name quite early and we know from the records the township was so-called in March, 1717, and may have been thus organized several years before, though the population must have been sparse. 960 The earliest survey made in the present township was September 3, 1684, by Thomas Fairman, for William Stanley, of two thousand five hundred acres purchased of William Penn. This was conveyed February 25, 1688, to Isaac Jacobs, who sold eleven hundred acres of the same which lay in the vicinity of Montgomeryville, to Alexander Edwards, of Wales. In this neighborhood Thomas Fairman, the surveyor-general, had also taken up a large tract, as well as Job Bates and Thomas Evans, before 1702. Alexander Edwards, Jr., in 1707, became owner of a considerable part of his father's land. David Hugh Griffith, at this date, made a purchase of one hundred acres. John Bartholomew purchased one hundred and fifty acres at the present Montgomery Square in 1716, where he established the first inn and resided until his death in 1756. John Evans and wife settled in or near this township in 1710, and in the following year John James and wife, the ancestors of a numerous family of this name in Bucks County. James Davis arrived from Wales in 1719, and was a useful man in the settlement. There is extant a list of land-holders and tenants of this township prepared in 1734 by order of John and Thomas Penn, being twenty-eight in number, copied from the original, and now, for the first time, published in full,- Robert Thomas, 200 acres John Starkey, 200 Joseph Naylor, 189 Joseph Ambler, 90 John Bartholomew, 300 Joseph Eaton, 150 William Williams, 200 William Morgan, 100 Samuel Thomas, 100 John Williams, 100 Joseph Bate, Thomas Bartholomew, 30 Griffith Hugh, 100 John Jones (carpenter), 300 John Roberts, 90 Garret Peters, 150 Rowland Roberts, 100 Francis Daws, Thomas Williams, 100 William Storey, 100 Richard Lewis, 150 Isaac Jones, 100 John Roberts, 200 James Davis, 100 David Evans, 100 Isaac James, 200 Jenkin Evans, 50 Jenkin Jones. The Bartholomew family represent themselves of Hugenot origin, and descended from the celebrated Barthelemi family of France, and that they came hither from England. John Bartholomew, the settler here, who died October 30, 1756, aged seventy-one years, had eleven children. The sons were Joseph Thomas John Andrew Benjamin Augustine Edward. Annie married Thomas Walters Elizabeth, Isaac Davis Rachel, Benjamin Davis Mary, ____ Thomas. The widow, Mary Bartholomew, died about 1762. John Bartholomew, Jr., died January 17, 1758, aged thirty-nine years. Edward is assessed here in 1776 for one hundred acres, two negroes, four horses and three cattle. George Bartholomew and wife Jane, who owned and kept the Blue Anchor inn, in Philadelphia, 1683, it is supposed was related to this Montgomery family. Joseph Bate or Bates may have been a son of Job Bates, and he was probably a tenant, who died September 24, 1741, aged sixty-nine years. His tract lay to the west of the Baptist Church, adjoining the Hatfield line, and was purchased from the executors by Humphrey Bates in 1749, from whom it descended to his daughter Sarah, the wife of John Pugh, who sold it, in 1792 to John Harman, who had been also a resident and land-holder of the township for some time previous. We find here also in 1776, Thomas Bates with one hundred and fifty acres. Isaac James was the son of John, the early settler, and survived until July 14, 1791, having attained the great age of ninety-one years. His brothers, Thomas and William, moved into New Britain, where they became extensive landholders. In 1776, as may be noticed, he still retained his two hundred acres. Joseph Ambler was a Friend, and in 1776 we find him still living and taxed here for two hundred acres, Joseph Ambler, Jr., one hundred and ninety, and John Ambler one hundred and seventy-five acres. In 1794 there were five taxables here of this surname. Descendants of the family still hold land here. David Evans died September 18, 1763, aged seventy-three years, and Mathusela Evans in 1779, aged eighty-three years. Dr. Peter Evans in 1776 is taxed for two hundred acres, two negroes, four horses and eight cattle; Jenkin Evans, one hundred acres; and Walter Evans is mentioned as a single man. John Roberts, Jr., in 1776, is taxed for one hundred and fifty acres; he was subsequently long a justice of the peace. John Morris, while engaged in clearing land in this township in the spring of 1731, was approached unexpectedly by his wife who was struck by a branch of a falling tree, which caused her death in a few hours. Among those who held township offices here may be mentioned Humphrey Bate, supervisor Henry McGowen, constable in 1767 Samuel Hines, supervisor, 1773 Henry Johnson, constable, 1774 Evan Jones, assessor Ezekiel Shoemaker, collector, 1776 Jacob Kneedler and John Gordon, supervisors, 1810. Respecting the nationality of the early settlers, the documents before us give much information of an interesting character. 961 Of the twenty-eight names in the list of 1734, three-fourths denote a Welsh origin and probably not one a German. In the assessment of 1776 we find the following names which we take to be German: John Weber or Weaver Mary Weber George Doraker John Drake Benjamin Drake John Hartle Ezekiel Shoemaker Andrew Cramer John Ramberger William Fry John Harman David Bruner Felix Worsinger George Geary, -nearly one-fourth of the entire number. According to a late township map, they now comprise about half the land-holders. According to a well known tradition, the early Welsh settlers, sought out the lands in Gwynedd and Montgomery in preference to those in the townships below, because they were not so densely timbered, and would therefore in clearing require much less labor, not imagining its lesser productiveness. The earliest road laid out in this section was no doubt that beginning at Theophilus Williams' plantation, on the banks of the Neshaminy Creek, near the present Line Lexington, and passing through the full length of the township down to John Humphrey's bridge, above the Spring House, in 1717, being the present Bethlehem road. To this same bridge a road had been laid out six years previously, down to the Pennypack Creek, at the present Huntingdon Valley, forming the line between Gwynedd and Horsham, and almost touching the southern corner of the township. From the people of this section going so much to mill there for flour at this early time it received the name of Welsh road, which it still retains. A road was laid out in 1731 from David's Corner, on the Bucks County line, to the present - Montgomery Square, commencing at Buckingham Meeting-house. This was the old Swedes' Ford or present State road, widened in 1830 to forty feet. David's Corner very likely received its name from James David or Davis, who is mentioned in the list of 1734. The Horsham road was laid out from John Bartholomew's to Peter Lukens', near Horsham Meeting-house, in 1735. The same year the Bethlehem road was resurveyed from the Spring House, and extended up to Peter Trexler's, in the present Lehigh County. The County Line road was extended up from Horsham to Line Lexington in 1752. The Spring House and Hilltown turnpike was constructed on the Bethlehem road in 1814, terminating three miles above Line Lexington. In its day this was in important work, and drew to the road an immense amount of travel down to the general introduction of railroads. The Revolution did not pass away without some excitement attending it, even in this small township. General McDougal was encamped with his command, for a brief period, near the present Montgomeryville a short time before the battle of Germantown. A raid was made by some British mercenaries on the property of Jacob Reed and Isaac Wisler, in the neighboring township of Hatfield, for which they were afterwards allowed seventy pounds for damages. But the capture at or near Montgomery Square of a drove of one hundred and thirty cattle, collected in New York and the Eastern States, and then on the way to our starving soldiers at Valley Forge, by a detachment of British troops from Philadelphia, on the morning of February 24, 1778, was a pretty serious matter at the time, one which Washington, in his correspondence, greatly deplored, though kept very quiet. It is presumed that as soon as the cattle had crossed the Delaware River and their destination was ascertained, spies informed the British; hence their sudden dash out here and return in safety with their prize and several prisoners to the city. From an advertisement of December 10, 1778, we ascertain that Hugh Evans, of this township, offered a reward of thirty dollars for the arrest of an English deserter calling himself William Newton, who had been in his employ, as a journeyman shoemaker, four days, and leaving had stolen a watch and a lot of clothing from the premises. Montgomeryville is the largest village in the township, containing one store, one hotel and twenty-seven houses. It has a high location, and from the upper portion on the turnpike a fine view is offered, looking in a northern direction. Gordon, in his "Gazetteer," mentions this place in 1832 as containing ten houses, two taverns and two stores. A post-office was established here in 1851, which was removed, in the fall of 1869, to Montgomery Square. Nicholas Scull, on his map of 1759, denotes the road leading from here to Butler's mill, now Whitehallville. The hotel was opened here, soon after the completion of the turnpike, by Charles Humphreys, who was succeeded by Thomas Lunn and John Hough. Henry Slight, a noted stagedriver over the turnpike, purchased it in 1822 and kept it for some time. Francis Kile, who was elected sheriff of the county in the fall of 1860, afterwards became its proprietor. Montgomery Square contains seven or eight houses, two stores, post- office, and a wheelwright and blacksmith-shop. The post-office has been a movable one, having been originally established here before 1827 and after an interval was removed about three-fourths of a mile to Montgomeryville, and in 1869 again brought back to its present place. The Methodist Episcopal Church at the place was built of stone, in 1842, on a lot of ground containing two acres, which is also used for burial purposes. It is situated on the west side of the turnpike. The first mention of regular pastors is found-in 1856. The appointee in that year was the Rev. J. Carlisle. The pastors from that time are as follows: Levi B. Hughes J. N. King George D. Miles Samuel T. Kemble J. Brandeth N. B. Durell J. C. Gregg D. W. Gordon J. S. Taft L. Dobson H. F. Isett Philip P. Reese H. U. Sebring J. W. Bradley J. Bawdin 0. E. Stogden G. E. Kleinhenn. Gordon mention, here, in 1832, a "post- 962 office, four dwellings, one store, two taverns and a boarding-school for boys, in which the classics are taught. This place in the long past has been famous for its inns, but with the great diminution of travel they, several years since, ceased business; yet a few facts concerning their history survive. At this point there was an intersection of two important roads in 1735 and, no doubt, not a great while after this date an inn was established here. John Bartholomew kept one here before his death, in 1756, which his widow, Mary Bartholomew, sold, with one hundred and fifty acres, in 1760, to Blaize Weaver, who we know in 1774 had a license for the same. About this time he died, and was succeeded by his widow, Mary Weaver, who kept it through the Revolutionary war, and in 1785, sold it to her son, George Weaver, who continued the stand for perhaps half a century. At this house books were opened, in 1805-6, to receive subscriptions for stock for making the turnpike. The post-office here was called Montgomery. John Weaver was postmaster in 1819 and Henry Slight in 1830. Theophilus Shannon was licensed to keep an inn here on the opposite corner in 1774, and we find him taxed in 1776 for two negroes. William Collum, an accomplished scholar, who resided at this place and taught school from 1805 to 1819, if not longer, calculated the almanacs printed by Asher Miner, at Doylestown. John Selser, residing in the vicinity, aged upwards of ninety, was one of his pupils. A flourishing debating society was maintained here during this period. There is in the lower part of Montgomery Square, on the east side of the pike, a two-story stone schoolhouse, with a dwelling attached, (which was enlarged in 1876), that possesses an interest. The late Benjamin F. Hancock, Esq., of Norristown, kept school in it during his married life with Elizabeth, daughter of Edward and Mary Hoxworth, of Hatfield township, and while residing in the dwelling part his twin-sons, Winfield Scott and Hilary, were born February 14, 1824, the former being now Major-General Hancock, of the United States army, and late Democratic candidate for the Presidency. In the spring of the following year the father removed from here to Norristown, where he soon after entered on the study of the law, to which he was admitted to practice in September, 1828. In the list of 1734, Arnold Hancock is taxed or one hundred acres in Perkiomen township, and William Hancock, in Moreland, for a house and lot of one acre. Among the pupils attending here were Samuel Medary, a native of the vicinity, afterwards Governor of Ohio, and Samuel Aaron, subsequently of Norristown. THE MONTGOMERY BAPTIST CHURCH. -This church is situated on the west side of the Bethlehem turnpike, but little over half a mile above Montgomeryville, and nearly the same distance south of Colmar Station, on the Doylestown Branch of the North Pennsylvania Railroad. In order of time, it was the fourth church built by the Baptists in Pennsylvania, and the first in the county. For its origin we have to go back to 1710, when John Evans and wife, and the next year John James and wife, all members of Baptist Churches in Wales, arrived and settled in the township. Abel Morgan, the minister of Pennypack Church, near the present Holmesburg, in 1712, began to visit them, and in 1718 baptized William James, Thomas James, Josiah James, James Lewis and David Williams. James David, or Davis, arrived in 1719, which increased their number to ten, who, on the 20th of June of this year, constituted themselves into an organization. Several more emigrants having arrived in 1720 from Wales, and joining them, induced them now to build a log meetinghouse on a lot of one acre, donated for this purpose by John Evans. This rude structure was torn down in 1731 and a stone edifice erected, twenty-four by forty-two feet, with a gallery. The first pastor of the church was Benjamin Griffith, who was born, October 16, 1688, in Cardigan, Wales; came to this country in 1710; settled at Montgomery 1720; called to the ministry in 1722, and was ordained October 23, 1725, continued faithfully in his charge till his death, which took place October 4, 1768, in his eightieth year, and forty-sixth in the ministry. He was buried here in the graveyard, where a stone, duly inscribed, has been erected to his memory. He was tendered the office of justice of the peace, which he declined to accept. He had a literary turn, and is the author of several pamphlets on the doctrines of his faith. The successor of Mr. Griffith was the Rev. John Thomas, who had been for several years his assistant, a son of Rev. William Thomas, founder of the Hilltown Church. He was a native of Radnor, Chester Co.; was called to the ministry here in 1749; and ordained in 1751. He married Sarah James, by whom he had four daughters. Both Mr. Griffith and Thomas preached here in English and Welsh, as best suited their hearers. The latter having resigned, the church was supplied for some time by Abel Griffith, David Loofborough and Joshua Jones. The latter had come from Wales, and was stationed at the New Britain Church. The Rev. Abel Morgan, in his history, describes the Montgomery Church in 1770 as possessing "a stove and two fire-places," and on the lot of ground "convenient stables" had been erected "and a school-house." Two branches had now sprung from the "Perquesey" or Hilltown Church, erected in 1737, and the New Britain Church, erected in 1754, and only four miles distant. Through a religious dispute, the New Britain congregation seceded and formed a separate organization, followed by the Hilltown Church. November 10, 1781, the latter brought out in part by political feelings engendered by the war. The result was that the membership of the Montgomery Church from ninety, in 1762, diminished to twenty-eight in 1788 but by 1800 had increased to fifty-seven, and now it is over two hundred, thus requiring some time before it fully recovered from so severe a shock. 963 This church was incorporated by an act of the Legislature passed September 26, 1783, the trustees being the pastor, Rev. David Loofborough, Isaac James, Peter Evans, Jenken Evans and George Smith. The Rev. Joshua Jones, after serving, the church eight years, died December 26, 1802, aged eighty-two years. Silas Hough, M.D., was the fifth minister, and attended to the duties of his position, as well as those of physician, for about eighteen years. During a period of Mr. Hughes illness the church was partially supplied by the Rev. Joseph Mathias, of Hilltown, Samuel Smith and Henry Nightingale. Thomas P. Robinson, after a six years' pastorate, died May 27, 1838. Rev. William H. Mathews, of England, filled the station for about nine years, and was succeeded, May 1, 1850, by Rev. George Higgins, who maintained this relation until his death, March 9, 1869. During his ministry of nineteen years here he did much to recover and strengthen the congregation, baptizing one hundred and ninety-two persons. His successor was the present pastor, Rev. N. B. Baldwin, formerly of Philadelphia, who resides near by on a farm. Besides the lot of ground mentioned, the church has also in possession about thirty acres, with a dwelling-house erected thereon and Kome other buildings. Dr. John N. Thomas left by will for the benefit of the society the sum of fifteen hundred dollars. In 1816 the second church was taken down, and in its place another erected of stone, fifty by fifty-five feet, also with a gallery. In the summer of 1883 the edifice was remodeled and somewhat enlarged, its exterior neatly plastered, pointed arched windows, and a slate roof being introduced, and the interior improved, at a cost of four thousand dollars. Its surroundings are shady and attractive, with ample shedding for horses and wagons. The graveyard extends over several acres, is neatly kept, and, as may be well expected after being used over one hundred and sixty years, for this purpose, contain., numerous interments. It is not likely that they will soon be restricted here in space, for the entire tract contains eight or ten acres. In September, 1883, the writer spent several hours in this graveyard examining the various inscriptions. The earliest stone found has on it "M. P., 1719," the next that of "Walter Evans, who died Jan. 17, 1729, aged 6 years," then "I. D., 1739, 14" followed by one of 1740 and another of 1741. Four pastors of the church are buried here,-namely Benjamin Griffith Joshua Jones Silas Hough George Higgins. Mr. Hough died May 14, 1822, aged fifty-eight years. Two deacon have attained to a goodly age, -Joseph Lunn, who died May 31, 1847, in his ninety-first year and Amos Griffiths, November 17, 1863, age nearly ninety- three years. The following, family names are copied from the tombstones, and are inserted here for the benefit of genealogists who may desire to secure information in this direction: King Reiner Pennington Trewig Vansant Cadwallader Collum Griffith Jenkins Stratton Cozens Walker Stitch Hough Lunn Drake Vanneman Heaton Otter Evans Morgan Broug Detweiler Harrar Rhoades Harris Hood Gulick Stagner Halderman Hoxworth Mallet Leech Kile Mathias Streper Rockafellow Stewart Bates Whitcom Lowry Stuckert Gordon Slight Barthe Sellers Haas Davis Swallow Kenderdine Bartlett Evans Huggett Higgins Hartman Pearson Ewing Knight Swank Hartel Rentz Davison Young Wright Sims Roberts Solliday Fry Yothers Todd Hoffman Bush Boyd Hughs Wanklin Reaver Banes Lukens Milligan Yocum Stagner Medary Bartleson Beam Guy Brady Howell Rosenberger Dunn Owen Humphrey Bryan Rees. Over one-third of these can now be safely set down as of German origin. Among the notable occurrences, we learn from the journal of the Rev. George Whitefield that he came here from the Neshaminy Church April 24, 1740, and "was hospitably entertained." NOTE. -The Rev. Joseph Mathias, of Hilltown, who died March 11, 1851, aged nearly seventy-three, and in the ministry over forty-four years, was long an assiduous collector of materials for a history of the Baptist Churches of the surrounding section. Through the kindness of his son, the late John N. Mathias, of Carversville, his manuscripts were loaned us in 1857, and from them we made copious extracts, a portion of which are incorporated in the above sketch. We must also acknowledge some aid from Edward Mathews' article on this church published in the "North Miles Record" of April 6, 1868. MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP ASSESSMENT, 1776. Evans Jones, assessor, and Ezekiel Shoemaker, collector. Peter Evans, doctor, 200 acres, 2 negroes, 4 horses, 8 cattle George Smith, 175 a., 2 negroes, 3 h., 4 c Mathias Hines, 1 servant 4 h., 6 c John Ambler, 8 children, 175 a., 4 h., 5 c Samuel Thomas, 100 a., 2 h., 4 c George Borland, 50 a., 2 h., 3 c Mary Weber, 150 a., 1 h., 2 c John Weber, 2 h., 3 c Theophilus Shannon, 2 negroes, 1h., 1c George Donaker, 1 h Joseph Butler, 3 h., 6 c Eldad Roberts, bedridden John Drake, 60 a., 2 h., 2 c Philip March Benjamin Drake, 1 h., 2 c Isaac James, 200 a., 1 h., 2 c Charles Humphreys, 90 a., 3 h., 5 c John Gill, 2 h., 4 c Jacob Humphreys, 30 a Edward Bartholomew, 100 a., 2 negroes, 4 h., 3 c Jenken Evans, 100 a., 4 c John Hartle, potter, 50 a., 2 h., 2 c Edward Morgan, 1 h., 2 c Joseph Ambler, Sr., 200 a., 1 h Ezekiel Shoemaker, 3 h., 5 c Jacob Stoneburner, 1 h., 1 c Peter Martin, 130 a., 2 h., 3 c Joseph Ambler, Jr., 190 a., 3 h., 6c Joseph Roberts, 50 a., 2 h., 3 c John Thomas, 150 a., 4 h., 5 c George Gordon, 50 a., 2 h., 3 c Joshua Jones, 189 a., 3 h., 6 c Cadwallader Roberts, 50 a., 2 h., 3 c, saw-mill Henry Stilfield, 100 a., 2 h., 4 c Samuel Hines, 3 h., 4 c John Hickman, 8 children, 100 a., 3 h., 3 c John Harry, 100a., 2 h., 3 c Andrew Cramer, 1 h., 3 c John Roberts, Jr., 150 a., 2 h., 4 c Daniel Jones, 6 children, 288 a., 2 h., 7 c Isaac Jones, 200 a., 3 h., 4 c Henry Johnson, 100 a., 2 h., 5 c Henry Bartle, 2 h., 3 c Christopher Wells, 7 children, 2 h., 3 c John Ramberger, 50 a., 2 h., 1 c Humphrey Bates, 110 a., 3 h., 3 c Thomas Bates, 130 a., 3 h., 5 c William Fry, 50 a., 1 h., 2 c John Harman, 100 a., 2 h., 4 c David Bruner, 7 children, 100 a., 2 h., 4 c John Jones, weaver, 100a 2 h., 4 c Felix Worsinger, 3 h., 5 c George Geary, 100 a., 2 h., 3 c Nicholas Charles, 1 c Mordecai Moore, 170 a., 3 h., 4 c Mary Dickinson, single, 40 a., 1 h., 1 c Jacob Johnson, 1 c Richard Davis, 40 a., I h., 2 c Robert Gordon, 70 a., 1 b., 2 c Samuel Dunlap, 100 a., 1 h., 2 c William Rea, 40 a., 1 h., 2 c SINGLE MEN.- Richard Moore Isaac Jones Walter Evans Joseph Davis Enoch Beam Robert Parker Edward Penington Mordecai Roberts James Shields Alexander Scott Theophilus Williams John Kidney. 964 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. CHARLES TODD JENKINS. John Jenkins, the great-grandfather of Charles Todd, was a native of Wales, came to America and settled on the plantation now covered by the borough of Lansdale, Montgomery Co., and Pa. He had a son, John, who inherited the landed estate, and reared sons, -Edward, Levi and John, the father of Charles Todd Jenkins, who was born April 13, 1812, on the lot now owned by Heebner & Sons, in the town of Lansdale. The early years of Charles Todd were spent upon the farm of his father, performing such work upon the farm as was usual for boys during the summer seasons and attending school in winter. His father being possessed of a good common-school education, assisted Charles in his studies, thereby keeping him in advance of his class, and at the age of eighteen years he commenced teaching school, and taught three winter terms, and afterwards for three full years in succession. In the spring of 1840 he engaged in farming, butchering and dealing in country produce for the Philadelphia market, which he continued for thirty- nine years. In the meantime the North Pennsylvania Railroad was built and a station located at Colmar, near his farm, where he established a depot for coal, flour and feed, which he carried on for fourteen years, when he retired from the produce, coal and feed business, and now devotes his time to the tilling of his beautifully-located and very productive farm of one hundred and eighty-nine acres, half a mile from Colmar Station, on the North Pennsylvania Railroad. PICTURE OF CHARLES TODD JENKINS, APPEARS HERE. Mr. Jenkins has always been one of the wide-awake, progressive men of the age, assisting with his time and means every progressive movement, and especially in educational matters, knowing full well the value of knowledge derived from books. He has served as school director and auditor of the township in which he lives, and has been president of the Line Lexington Mutual Fire Insurance Company for twelve years, and one of the managers of the company for a much longer period. He has also been one of the managers of the Spring House and Hilltown Turnpike Company for twenty-five years, and its treasurer for eighteen years. He was married, March 26, 1840, to Miss Sarah, daughter of George and Esther Lukens, of Towamencin township. 965 They are the parents of children as follows: I. George L., born May 11, 1841, married Josephine Stout, of Philadelphia. He now resides in Germantown, and is chief clerk in Bergen & Sons' glassworks, Philadelphia. They have four children, - Earl Wheeler Laura Maude Marian G. Chapin. II. Anna, born April 1, 1843, died when sixteen months of age. III. Ella, born January 19,1845, married Oliver M. Evans, of Lansdale, where Mr. Evans is the teller in the Lansdale National Bank. Their children are Jane, Eveline and Oliver Morris. IV. Comly L., born March 13, 1846, now engaged in the freight department of the Lake Shore Railroad. V. Parker, born June 15, 1847, married Miss Catharine Dungan, of Colmar Station. VI. Naomi, born January 1, 1849, died at the age of sixteen months and twenty-eight days. VII. John P. Hale, born January 13, 1851, married Miss Ella Sleight, of Montgomeryville, and is now one of the prominent lawyers of Norristown. Their children are Leila and Helen. VIII. Valeria, born April 7, 1853, married George Chapin, of Philadelphia. They have one child, Edith. PICTURE OF REV. NORMAN BRISTOL BALDWIN, APPEARS HERE. REV. NORMAN BRISTOL BALDWIN. In the ancestral line between Rev. Norman B. Baldwin and the progenitor of that name in this country, was Rev. Thomas Baldwin, D.D., who was born December 23, 1753, in Bozrah, Conn. The early life of Thomas developed a desire for books, and, as an indication of the regard in. which he was held by his fellow-townsmen, it may be stated that when a young man he was chosen to represent the village of Canaan, N. H., to which he had removed, in the Legislature of the State. But the Master had another work for him to do, and in 1780 he was brought to see his condition as a sinner, and to accept Christ as his personal Lord and Redeemer. He then decided to spend his life in the work of winning souls to Christ, and in due time he was set apart to the work of the ministry, and for seven years performed the duties of pastor of the Baptist Church in Canaan. His next field was the Baldwin Place Church, now the Warren Avenue Church, Boston, Mass. During his life he filled many highly important positions, and on the night of August 29, 1826, entered into rest. 966 Rev. N. B. Baldwin, a lineal descendant of Thomas Baldwin through the paternal branch of the family, was born in New Milford, Litchfield Co. Conn., and August 23, 1824. His father, Rev. Daniel Baldwin, was an esteemed and highly useful Baptist minister. Norman was educated at Hamilton Literary and Theological Institute, now Madison University, from which he graduated in 1846. It is proper to state in this connection that he was a classmate with Rev. George C. Baldwin, D.D., who graduated in 1844, and in the same year accepted the call of the First Baptist Church in Troy, N. Y., where he has, from that time to the present, been a successful and highly-honored pastor. In October, 1846, Norman B. Baldwin became pastor of the Baptist Church at Monticello, Sullivan Co., N. Y. After a most prosperous service he accepted the unanimous call of the Bethesda Baptist Church, New York City, June 1, 1849, in which God greatly blessed him, but disease compelled him to leave New York, and he accepted the call of the Second Southwark (now Calvary) Baptist Church, Philadelphia, and entered on his labors February 1, 1854. From this body he went out with a colony of two hundred and twenty members, and organized the Olivet Baptist Church, October 7, 1856. They built the fine edifice at the southeast corner of Sixth and Federal Streets. Extensive revivals, in which hundreds were converted and immersed, together with the other labors of his office, so impaired his health that in September, 1864, he closed his eleven years' pastorate in Philadelphia, and retired to his farm near Colmar, Montgomery Co. As his health soon began to improve he gave short periods of service to New Britain Baptist Church, Bucks County, Bristol Church, and the Gwynedd Baptist Church. In November, 1869, he entered upon his labors as pastor of the Montgomery Baptist Church, near Colmar Station, and since that time God has also blessed his ministry among that people. He has baptized over five hundred persons during his ministry. He is now (1885) the oldest pastor, both in age and time of service, in this part of the State, in the Baptist or any other denomination. His sister, Caroline, married Rev. E. N. Jenks, and went as a missionary to Burmah in 1846, and died on her return voyage in 1848. Mr. Baldwin was married, September 16, 1846, to Miss Caroline Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Edward C. Ambler, of Danbury, Conn. She was born October 14, 1826. The children from this union have been as follows: Edward Furman, born October 22, 1847, in Monticello, Sullivan Co., N. Y., married Ella Amelia, daughter of Rev. Abijah Collins Wheat and Priscilla Pettengill Wheat, June 4, 1865, at Gwynedd Baptist Church, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Morris Gibson, pastor of the church. Ella Amelia was born October 24, 1813, in Clinton, Conn. The children of Edward Furman and Ella Amelia Baldwin are Carrie Wheat, born September 4, 1866 Edward, born January 8, 1868, lived but twelve hours Rebecca Leslie, born April 12,1869 Priscilla Edna, born January 23, 1871 Gertrude Josephine, born July 13, 1873 Frank Ambler, born March 15, 1875. Edward Furman Baldwin graduated from college, and October 8, 1884, sailed from Philadelphia as a missionary to the Berbers, Tangiers, Morocco, Africa, where he is now very pleasantly located. Oscar Erasmus, born November 24, 1848, died in New York, April 12, 1852. William Flandrau, born April 30, 1851, now a farmer in Michigan. Norman Bristol, Jr., born June 3, 1853. Eva Caroline, born August 30,1854, now the wife of B. F. Moyer, of Norristown Spencer Cone, born July 7, 1856. Charles Jacot, born November 5, 1858 Frank Remington, born January 17, 1860, died January 28, 1863. L. Hornberger, born April 30, 1865. Almira Amelia, born June 1, 1866. Leander Wilbur, born May 19, 1870. RICHARD KENDERDENE ROBERTS. The progenitor of the Roberts family in Montgomery County was John Roberts, a native of Pennychlawd, Denbighshire, North Wales, who emigrated to America in or near the year 1682, and settled in that part of the county now known as Lower Merion township. His occupation was that of a millwright, and he purchased from Thomas Wynne and John Ap John two hundred and fifty acres of land, upon which he built a mill, the third one in the province of Pennsylvania. He was unmarried until nearly or quite sixty years of age, when he married Elizabeth Owen, aged eighteen years. She died early, leaving her husband two sons and a daughter. From this small beginning has grown the numerous Roberts family in this part of the State. We have been unable to trace the ancestral line direct down to Richard K. Roberts. However, his grandfather, Joseph, owned at one time the property known as "Stever's Mills." Where he was born, or which is the direct line back to John, is not known at this time. His children were Agnes, Charles, Mary and Richard. Charles Roberts, the second son of Joseph, was born January 21, 1807, and died August 11, 1867. His wife was Sarah Ann, daughter of Richard Kenderdine, of Horsham Township, He owned the farm now occupied by Jesse Ambler, and better known as the Jonathan Jarrett place. Sarah Ann Roberts died September 12, 1871. The children of Charles and Sarah Ann Roberts were : 967 I. -Elizabeth, born Eleventh Month 10, 1832, died Second Month 9, 1862. II. -Gulia Elma, born Tenth Month 3, 1834, married, Eleventh Month 8, 1864, to Edwin Thomas, and died Third Month 31, 1865. At the age of sixteen she commenced teaching school, and taught for nearly sixteen years. III. -Jesse, born Second Month 13, 1837, married Sarah Emma Skirving, of Germantown. Her father was John Skirving, Esq. Jesse owned the old homestead in Upper Dublin Township IV. -George K., born Fifth Month 5, 1841, married Elizabeth Shay, of Horsham township. George is a banker and merchant in Phoenixville, Pa. He served three years as a sergeant in Company A, First New Jersey Cavalry, during the late slave-holder's rebellion V. -Richard Kenderdine Roberts, born Second Month 5, 1843, in Upper Dublin township, this county. He married, Third Month 12, 1879, Ruth Anna, daughter of Hugh B. and Sarah B. Michener, of Plumstead township, Bucks Co., Pa. She was born Third Month 7, 1851. They are parents of children as follows: David Foulke, born Second Month 26, 1880, died Seventh Month 8, 1884; William Ely, born Fifth Month 10, 1881 VI. -Anna Jane, born Tenth Month 7,1845, died First Month 31, 1866, unmarried VII. -Joseph, born Ninth Month 11, 1848, married Mary W., daughter of William R. Evans, of Carverville, Bucks Co., Pa. Joseph was a graduate from Millersville Normal School, Lancaster Co., Pa.; also a graduate from Bryant & Stratton's Business College, Philadelphia, and for several years was a successful teacher. PICTURE OF RICHARD K. ROBERTS, APPEARS HERE. Richard K. Roberts was reared upon the farm of his father in Upper Dublin township, and during the summer months he performed such duties as were incumbent upon a youth of his age, and during the winter seasons attended the neighboring schools, and attended the Normal Institute at Carversville, Bucks Co., Pa., during the winter terms of 1861 and 1863, and by strict attention to his studies obtained it good academic education, and subsequently taught school two winters in Schuylkill County, this State. During the war his patriotism led him to join the Union Army in defense of his home and fireside, and he became a member of Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Hazlett, and performed well the duties of a soldier, returning to his home when the war was ended. In 1869 he purchased the David Jones farm of one hundred acres, upon which he now resides, surrounded by his little family, and happy in the enjoyment of one of the most honorable and independent vocations of life. He is a member of Gwynedd Monthly Meeting, Society of Friends, and is a member of that society. 968 JOHN SELSER. John Selser, the oldest living Dative of Montgomery Township, was born on the farm. and in the house where he now lives December 28, 1793. Mr. Selser has for three-quarters of a century and more been one of the sturdy, hard- working, honest, industrious yeomen of the township. PICTURE OF JOHN SELSER, APPEARS HERE. As the name indicates, he is of German ancestry, his grandfather, Nicholas Selser, having been born in the Fatherland, and emigrated to this country about the middle of the last century, and purchased the farm where his grandson has thus far spent ninety-one years of his life. The property was inherited by John, son of Nicholas, who married Catharine Schlater, daughter of Casper Schlater. Their children were Isaac Mary John (the subject of this sketch) Elizabeth Jesse Rachael. The father of these children died April 3, 1815, leaving the homestead to his son John. He married, December 14, 1820, Miss Hannah Grove, who was born June 14, 1795. The parents of Mrs. Selser were David and Hannah (Keeley) Grove, who were also the parents of Elizabeth Susan Catharine Henry David. Mrs. Selser is still living the solace and comfort of her aged husband. Their children are six in number, as follows: David G., born June 28, 1822, married, June 13, 1867, Miss Mary Ellen Field, daughter of Thomas T. and Elizabeth Field, of Northampton township, Bucks Co., Pa. She was born December 15, 1831. Her father, Thomas T. Field, was born July 30, 1803, and her mother, Elizabeth (Larue) Field, was born December 12, 1807. David G. Selser, the great-grandson of Nicholas, is now (1885) with his parents and sister, Lydia A., in occupation of the old homestead where three generations have been born, and where he has lived for sixty-three years. Lydia A., the second child of John and Hannah Selser, was born October 7, 1824, is unmarried, and the comfort of her aged parents. Elizabeth Selser, born September 27, 1827, married Emanuel Jacoby, of New Britain township, Bucks Co., Pa., where she spent her married life, She died March 7, 1861, leaving two sons, Frank P., now living in Philadelphia, and Charles S., who died October 30, 1884, at the residence of his grandfather, John Selser, in Montgomery township. Frank P. married Miss Kate Shugard. William Selser, born October 28, 1830, married Margaretta, daughter of John D. Wentz, of Cheltenham, township, and died August 4, 1872, leaving three children, -John W., William A. and Hannah Louisa, John W., eldest son of William, married, May 8, 1878, Ella Maria, daughter of Charles and Ruth Ann Heller. John A. Selser, born June 14, 1832; is unmarried. Charles N. Selser, born August 28, 1835; married Sarah, only child of Jacob and Mary Sthase. She died March 10, 1884. 969 ROBERT SHAW. John Shaw, the father of Robert, was a native of Bucks County, where he successfully cultivated a farm. He was married to Miss Martha Brown, whose children were Elias, Robert, Sarah (Mrs. Moses Gibson) and Rachel (Mrs. James Sands). Robert, the second son in order of birth, is a native of Buckingham township, in Bucks County, where he was born on the 14th of April, 1801. Here his youth was passed amid scene peculiar to the life of a farmer, and with such meagre advantages of education as the neighborhood afforded. He assisted his father for years in his daily routine of labor, and on the 15th of October, 1826, was married to Miss Catherine Shamel, daughter of Conrad and Mollie Shamel, of Montgomery township and county, whose birth occurred August 28, 1797. Their children are Anna Maria (Mrs. Nathan Allen), Sarah Wilhelmina (deceased), and John (married to Anna M., daughter of Adam Moore, of Gwynedd, who has one son, Walter M., a student in the University of Pennsylvania). Soon after his marriage Robert Shaw removed to a farm in Montgomery township, which his wife inherited, where he continued actively engaged until 1881. He meanwhile erected a spacious residence and otherwise greatly improved the property, but in 1884, having retired from active labor, removed to Norristown and became a member of the family of his son. Mr. Shaw has been in politics either a Whig or a Republican, but found little time to devote to matters apart from his legitimate vocation. He is by birth a Friend, and worshiped for years with the Gwynedd Friends Meeting. His recent change of residence renders the Norristown Friends Meeting more convenient, and with this he has latterly been associated. The death of Mrs. Catherine Shaw occurred February 19, 1876. PICTURE OF ROBERT SHAW, APPEARS HERE. JOSEPH MITCHELL, JR. Abel Mitchell, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in England, and, with a brother came to America, as nearly as can be ascertained, in 1774, and located in Philadelphia. The brother who came with Abel subsequently returned to England, while Abel remained in his adopted country, married, reared a family and died at the advanced age of eighty-four years, six months and four days. His wife, Sarah, died at the age of seventy-six years, three months and nine days. Their children were Joseph, Abel and William. Of these sons, Joseph, father of Joseph, Jr., was born in Philadelphia, November 19, 1798, and is still living, an honored and respected citizen of Montgomery township. 970 At an early age he was apprenticed to Jacob Coons, of Philadelphia, to learn the trade of a gunsmith. After serving his time he went to Valley Forge, where ha worked as a journeyman gunsmith for a time with Brooks Ivins, and subsequently returned to Philadelphia, where he established, and for several years carried on, an extensive business in the manufacture of small fire-arms. In 1841 he removed to Montgomery township, where he commenced farming on one hundred and thirty acres of land adjoining the farm now owned and occupied by his son Joseph. PICTURE OF JOSEPH MITCHELL, JR., APPEARS HERE. His wife, Dorothy Mitchell, was born September 14, 1801, and died September 10, 1879, and was buried on her seventy-eighth birthday. They were the parents of the following-named children : George, born in Philadelphia August 19, 1823, married Miss Catharine Ann Phipps, who was born September 30,1831. Sarah, born in Philadelphia July :30, 1825, married John Hoffman, who died February 19, 1884, and was buried on the 23d of same month. Mary, born in Philadelphia May 27, 1828, married John Schutt. Joseph, Jr., born in Philadelphia September 6, 1830. Annie, born in Philadelphia. August 6 1833. She married, for her first husband, Samuel Barr, and for her second husband, Joseph Hughes, also deceased. She now lives in Germantown, Pa. Emily, born in Philadelphia August 26,1839, married Thomas Moore, and now lives in Germantown. Elizabeth, born January 15, 1843, in Montgomery township, Montgomery Co., Pa., unmarried, and lives at home. Joseph Mitchell, Jr., married, March 8, 1852, Miss Emeline, daughter of William and Hannah Moore, of Montgomery township. She was born January 3, 1829. The Moores were a Chester County family. However, William lived subsequently to his marriage in Montgomery County. The children of Joseph and Emeline have been as follows: I. Samuel, born January 29, 1853, married Miss Willimina Clymer, who was born in Bucks County, Pa., May 17, 1858. They have two children,- Julia Elizabeth, born June 261 1877, Arthur Ivin, born May 29, 1883. II. Joseph M., born September 15, 1856, married Miss Laura G., daughter of John and Catharine White, of Montgomery County. Laura G. was born March 18, 1860. Their children are Bessie May, born February 16, 1879 Howard Leon, born July 30, 1881 Owen, born September 28, 1883. III. William Henry, born October 29, 1858, died July 25, 1859. IV. Charles Edward, born July 25, 1860. V. Francis, born July 16, 1862. VI. Elias, born December 13, 1864. VII. Hannah Ellen, born December 4, 1866. VIII. Mary Elizabeth, born January 6, 1869. IX. Howard, born June 17, 1871. 971 The children of William and Hannah Moore, parents of Mrs. Mitchell, were Emeline, Mary Ann, Oliver and Elias (born October 30, 1836). The last named lives at Sellersville, Bucks Co., Pa., is a blacksmith by occupation, and is now engaged in the butchering business for the Philadelphia market. His wife was Margaret Fry, of Montgomery Township. Joseph Mitchell, Jr., at the age of sixteen years, was apprentice to Thomas Warnup, of Montgomery Square, to learn the trade of a wheelwright, and served four years, after which he Worked as a journeyman for one year, then carried on business for himself for a short time, when he abandoned the slow and tedious method of earning a livelihood by repairing old sleds and wagons, and engaged heartily in the butchering and farming business for the Philadelphia market, which he still continues. April 2, 1866, he purchased the farm where he now resides, containing twenty-two acres, and erected thereon the large and commodious buildings and the beautiful residence he now occupies. He has also added to his possessions the old and well-known Shaw farm, adjoining his first, purchase, containing seventy-six acres. Upon this farm stands a natural curiosity in the form of a huge poplar- tree, the admiration of all that have seen it. Its height is one hundred and sixty feet, as nearly as can be ascertained, one hundred feet to the first limbs, and three feet from the ground it measures eighteen feet in circumference. He also owns a farm of forty-two acres in New Britain township, Bucks Co., Pa. Mr. Mitchell is well and favorably known throughout the county, and his thorough business habits, his honesty and uprightness of character and fair dealing with his fellowmen place him high in the estimation of his neighbors, who have honored him with several official positions. He was elected constable and collector of the township in 1861 and served for seven years, when he resigned his official position. He is a liberal contributor to the various religious organizations in Montgomery Township. THOMAS WILSON. The great-grandfather of Thomas Wilson, of Montgomery township, whose name was also Thomas, came from Ireland near the middle of the last century, and located at what was known as Milestown, then in Philadelphia, now Montgomery County. From there he moved to the farm now owned by Elliott Thomas, adjoining the farm now owned by his great-grandson, Thomas Wilson, whose farm was also a part of the original Wilson plantation. He purchased this farm, then containing one hundred and ten acres of land, in 1781 or '82, and paid for it in Continental money. He was a captain in a militia regiment in the Continental army, and often related incidents of his experience, many of which are still remembered by the older people of the community, who knew him in his old age. The sword and belt worn by him during that struggle are now in possession of Charles S. Rorer, of Horsham Township, and are highly valued as relics of the Revolutionary war. He had a son Thomas, born in Milestown, who came with his father to Montgomery, married and became the father of children as follows, and died in 1816: Margaret, who married Gabriel Boyer, and lived near Germantown Elizabeth married Joseph Wright, of Horsham Township William, died unmarried Hannah, died unmarried Thomas, father of the present Thomas, born where Elliott Thomas now lives, married Sarah, daughter of Peter Wentz, of Montgomery Township, and died in December 1856. His wife, Sarah, died in December 1870. They had children, - I. Mary Ann, born January 6, 1815, married Benjamin Davis, of Montgomery Square. He died in 1840. Their children are Sarah, born in 1836, deceased, and John, born in 1839, now living in Ambler. II. Margaret, born in 1817, married Henry Detwiler, of Horsham Township. He died in 1870. They had children, - Abraham Arabella Clara William John. III. Euphoria, born in 1819, married John Denenhower, of Hilltown, Bucks Co., Pa. They have two children, Harrison and Clara. IV. Thomas, born September 23, 1821, on the old plantation, married, October 23, 1847, Ann Delp, born June 8, 1829, daughter of Isaac and Ann Delp, of Franconia Township. They are the parents of children as follows: 1. Harrison, born October 8, 1948, married Emma Berrell, of Willow Grove. They have three children, - Carrie Warren Maggie. 2. Abner, born November 26, 1849, married Mary Buckley, of Philadelphia. Abner was killed September 18, 1880, by an accident in a stone-quarry on the Horsham road. Their children are Abner and Joseph 3. Thomas, Jr., born August 22, 1851, married Miss Kate, daughter of Charles Bennett, of Horsham township, and now resides near Lansdale. Their children are Beatrice and Thomas. 4. John, born January 4, 1855, died April 5, 1855. 5. William, born September 25, 1857 unmarried. 6. Lincoln, born August 2, 1860 unmarried. 7. Ella, born April 12, 1862, married Andrew Fry, of Lumberville, Bucks Co., Pa. Their children are Anna and Mabel. 972 8. Anna, born May 31, 1865, died April 22, 1866. 9. Katie, born March 19, 1868. 10. Emma, born September 28, 1871. Mr. Wilson is one of the conservative, honest and industrious farmers of the township, and has always lived upon the original plantation purchased by his great-grandfather, it having passed by inheritance from father to son down to the present Thomas Wilson, who erected substantial and convenient farm buildings in 1856, the year previous to his taking full possession of the property. PICTURE OF THOMAS WILSON, APPEARS HERE. Although Mr. Wilson's life has been spent upon his beautiful farm, he has been somewhat active in municipal affairs, and his townsmen have upon several occasions honored him with official positions, of trust, He has been supervisor of roads for six years, also one of the election board for several years and for the past few years a member of the board of school directors of the township. Mr. Wilson is also one of the most extensive contractors and builders in the northern part of Montgomery County, and has built a larger number of farm-barns and first-class farmhouses than any one man in the county.