History: Local: CHAPTERS LXVII - LXVIII: Perkiomen and Plymouth Townships : 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 1019 (cont.) CHAPTER LXVII. PERKIOMEN TOWNSHIP. Wm J. Buck. ONE of the central townships of the county, and bounded north by Upper and Lower Salford, east by Towamencin, south by Lower Providence, southeast by Worcester, west by Upper Providence and northwest by Frederick and Limerick. Its greatest length is six miles, greatest breadth three and a quarter miles, with an area of eleven thousand four hundred and forty acres, it being the seventh in territorial extent. The general surface is rolling, and in some portions might be denominated hilly, with a red shale soil, well cultivated and productive in wheat and grass, but containing few springs of unfailing water; consequently the spring-house, so common in some of the lower districts, is not often seen. The Perkiomen Creek flows in a southerly course through the township upwards of four miles, and propels two grist-mills and a saw-mill. Skippack Creek crosses the full breadth of the southeastern section, and furnishes power to two grist-mills and a saw-mill. The Northeast Branch, Landis and Lodle Runs empty into the Perkiomen in this township. 1020 The name Perkiomen is of Indian origin, and the earliest mention yet found of it is in a deed of June 3, 1684, for the purchase of lands on this stream, wherein, it is called Pahkehoma. The next mention is on the Holme's map of about 1704 as Perquamink; in 1734, Parkiomen; and on Lewis Evans' map of 1749, Perkiomy, by which latter name it is called to this day by the Germans. Oldmixon, in the second edition of his "British Empire in America," published in 1741, says that the Perkiomen Creek is also called Perkasie, thus proving that the latter is a derivation or corruption of the former. So the township and Thomas Penn's manor, in Bucks County, owe their names to this large and interesting stream. The Rev. David Zeisberger, the Indian missionary, says that in the Delaware or Lenape language the name signifies the place "where the cranberries grow." Skippack is also an Indian name, and, according to Heckewelder signifies a stagnant stream or pool of water. In a map published at London in 1698 the Perkiomen and its several branches are represented thereon with tolerable correctness, thus showing that this section of country wits explored earlier than has generally been supposed. It is much the largest stream in the county, being nearly thirty miles in length and, with its tributaries watering half its area. The Perkiomen and Sumneytown turnpike, completed in 1849, follows the west side of this stream through the township for four miles. Parallel and close to the same for this distance is also the Perkiomen Railroad, with stations at Iron Bridge, Grater's Ford and Schwenksville, the latter place being thirty-six miles by railroad from Philadelphia. The villages are Skippack, Schwenksville, Grater's Ford, Iron Bridge, Amityville and Harmony Square, the first four having post-offices. According to the census of 1800, the population of the township was 781 in 1840, 1485 1880, 2515. The real estate for taxable purposes was valued in 1882 at $1,716,195, and including the personal, $1,890,300, making the average per taxable $2851, as high as the townships of Norriton, Plymouth, Whitemarsh and Upper Providence. In May, 1883, twenty-three stores received licenses, including one hardware one furniture one confectioner one clothing two boot and shoes two stove two tobacco and segar, besides six hotels one lumber yard two coal-yards four dealers in flour and feed. In 1858 the township contained only three stores, and in 1876, seventeen. The public schools are twelve in number, open six months and averaging four hundred and ninety-one pupils for the school year ending June 1, 1882. In 1856 the schools were open five months The houses of worship now number eight, - two Mennonite two Dunkard one each Lutheran and Reformed one Evangelical one Union one Trinity Christian. The assessment for 1883 mentions 669 taxables. The census of 1850 returned 263 houses, 298 families and 189 farms in the township. There is every reason to believe that at this distance from Philadelphia no township within the limit of the present county was settled so early. This was owing to the remarkable enterprise exhibited by Mathias Van Bebber, formerly a merchant, who arrived in this in country and settled for a brief period at Germantown, but afterwards removed to Cecil County, Md. A patent was granted him from William Penn, dated February 22, 1702, for a tract of six thousand one hundred and sixty-six acres, recorded in book A, vol. ii. p. 463, and which comprised the entire southeastern half of the township. He soon after invited settlement here by selling it off at small profit in reasonably sized lots. His purchasers were generally Mennonites. Among the first who settled here may be mentioned John Umstat Claus Janson John Kuster and John Jacobs, who, it is supposed, came before the close of 1704 Edward Beer Gerhard Indehoffen Herman Indehoffen Derick Rosenberg William Rosenberg John Newberry and Thomas Wiseman before 1707; and within two years, Herman Kuster Henry Pannebeeker Cornelius Dewees William Dewees John Scholl Daniel Dismant and Christopher Zimmerman. In 1709 came John, Jacob and Martin Kolb, followed by Solomon Dubois in 1716, Valentine Hansicker in 1720, Paul Fried in 1727 and Valentine Keely in 1728. John Kolb's purchase was made December 15, 1709, and contained one hundred and fifty acres. Peter Beller made a purchase in 1712, and Peter Cleaver, of Bristol township, in 1717. In a petition for a road from here to Farmar's Mill, in 1713, we find among the names Derick Rosenberg, Henry Frey, Gerhard Indehoffen, Claus Janson, Gerhard Clements, Henry Pennypacker, John Umstat, John Kolb, Jacob Gotschalk, Mathias Tyson, Jacob Kolb, William Rosenberg, Herman Kuster, Martin Kolb, John Scholl, Henry Kolb, Jacob Opdegraff, Peter Sellen, Herman Indehoffen, John Newberry and Daniel Dismant, probably all residents in the township before said date. In the list of 1734 this township is called "Parkiomen and Skippake," and by which it is generally called to this day, from its location on both sides of those streams. The land-holders were forty-two in number, who. then respectively held the following number of acres: John Umstead, 150 Herman Umstead, 100 Henry Pennebaker, 150 Henry Umstead, 100 Peter Bunn, 100 Herman Kuster, 150 Claus Johnson, 150 Mathias Tyson, 200 Anthony Hallman, 100 John Newberry, 500 Hupert Cassel, 60 Yillus Cassel, 90 George Merkle, 150 Garret Indehoffen, 200 Abraham Swartz, 100 Jacob Updegraff, 100 Jacob Shimer, 100 Paul Fried, 100 Peter Janson, 150 Michael Ziegler, 100 Jacob Kolb, 150 Peter Kolb, 100 Martin Kolb, 200 John Fried, 100 Henry Dentlinger, 100 Jacob Merkle, 200 Benjamin Fry, 100 Henry Pawling, Jr., 1200 Paul Fried, Jr., 100 Hans Detwiler, 100 Mathias Janson, 50 Dubois estate, 400 Richard Jacobs, 400 Nicholas Hicks, 100 Valentine Hunsicker, 100 William Wierman, 125 Johannes Vanfussen 50 Leonard Vanfussen, 25 Peter Pennebaker, 100 Arnold Vanfussen, 50 Hans Hyzer, 100 John Zibbers, 150. 1021 Henry Pennypacker is stated to have made a purchase on Skippack Creek, December 25, 1702, upon which he settled, and in 1708 purchased two hundred and four acres more in the vicinity. About 1705 he married Eve, the sister of his neighbor, John Umstead, and the daughter of John Peter Umstead, of Germantown. He was naturalized in 1731, and prior to 1746 resided for a while in Limerick, where his wife died. He shortly afterward returned to this township, when he divided the greater portion of his estate among his children. He died April 4, 1754, aged upwards of eighty years. He had eight children, among whom were Martha, born about 1706 Adolph, 1708, and died in May, 1789 Peter, 1710, died 1770 John, 1713, died 1784 Jacob, 1715, died 1752 Henry, 1717, died 1792. Peter married Elizabeth Keyser, and Martha became the wife of Anthony Vanderslice. The Pennypackers have now become a numerous family in Montgomery and Chester Counties, and, as will be observed in the lists of Perkiomen for 1734, 1756 and 1776, became substantial land-holders. Herman Kuster settled as a farmer at Germantown before 1703, and removed to this township probably in 1708. He was made one of the first trustees of the Mennonite meeting-house in 1725. He was naturalized in 1731 and died about February, 1760. His wife, Isabella, and children- Peter Paul Gertrude Margaret Magdalena Rebecca -survived him. Mathias Tyson was naturalized in 1709, and was married to Barbara Sellen; and died about July, 1766. He had eight children,- Cornelius Henry Margaret Peter William John Benjamin Joseph. John Newberry, who settled here on a purchase of five hundred acres, in 1706, died August 30, 1759, aged eighty-two years, and was buried at the Episcopal Church at Evansburg. Conrad Janson, Peter Janson and Claus Janson, and his sons, John and William, were naturalized in 1709. Peter, John and William Janson had settled at Germantown prior to 1700. Claus Janson probably settled here in 1703, was tax collector of the township in 1718, and in 1725 was one of the first trustee of the Mennonite Meeting. Descendants of the family still reside in the township, and the name has became changed to Johnson. Martin, Jacob and John Kolb came from Wolfsheim in the Palatinate, in 1807. [sic] Valentine Hunsicker, Michael Zeigler, Anthony Hallman and George Markle were naturalized in 1731. Valentine Hunsicker came front Switzerland in 1717, and about 1720 settled in this township as a farmer and weaver. He is probably the ancestor of this family, now numerous in the county. In 1776 we find here Henry and Isaac Hunsicker, both extensive land-holders and probably sons of Valentine. Solomon Dubois came from Ulster County, N. Y., in 1716, and died some time before 1734, leaving an estate here of four hundred acres. The Markleys are another influential family in the county that originated from George and Jacob Merkle, or Merckley, who settled here sometime prior to 1734. In 1756 there resided as taxables in Perkiomen, Jacob, George, Isaac, Philip and Abraham Markley. The Kolbs, Jansons, Seilens, Zeiglers and Kusters were early and prominent members of the old Mennonite Meeting, founded in 1725. In the records of the Court of Quarter Sessions, in Philadelphia, in 1712, we find it variously called Perkiomen, Skippack and Bebber's township. In the petition of June 2, 1713, mention is made of its being from "the inhabitants of Skippack and several adjacent plantations in said county. That in the aforesaid township and neighborhood thereof many families are already settled, and probably not a few more to settle in and about the same. And as yet no road being laid out and established to accommodate your petitioners, both for the public good and their convenience, humbly desire an order for the laying out and establishing a road or cartway from the upper end of the said township down to the wide marsh, or Farmer's Mill, which will greatly tend to the satisfaction of your petitioners, who shall thankfully acknowledge the favor." Although in this petition it is also called a township, no evidence exists that it had been thus legally organized. From the sparseness of its population the time had probably not arrived for township organization. It was not until September Sessions, 1725, that "Skippack and Perkioming" was erected, and Jacob Taylor ordered to make a return of the boundaries of the township, which was entered on record and thus given,- "Beginning at a Hickory, being on a corner of the tract of land commonly called Bebber's township ; thence northwest 1672 perches to Limerick township; thence by that and other lands northeast 1000 perches thence southeast by divers tracts of land 752 perches to a post in line of the said Bebber's Tract, thence by the same northeast 40 perches; thence by the same 1000 perches to a White Oak, a corner of said Bebber's Tract; thence by the same southwest 1040 perches to the place of beginning." Mr. Taylor states that he has compared said return with a draft of the upper part of Philadelphia County, and that it is agreeable to the same. It would be interesting if the draft here mentioned could be found and examined, which has certainly heretofore escaped antiquarian research. According, to present maps of Perkiomen apart of the north west boundary, adjacent to Frederick and Upper Salford has become changed, the line proceeding northwest from the corner of Limerick and Upper Providence, in a direct or straight course, the whole distance according to Taylor's survey. This would deprive the township of nearly the whole of Schwenksville. The change may have possibly been made through the erection of Frederick Township in 1730. 1022 Henry Pawling, the ancestor of the family, came from Padsbury, Buckinghamshire, and settled in Lower Providence Township on a tract of five hundred acres, which lay on the Schuylkill, below the mouth of the Perkiomen. Henry Pawling, Jr., son of the above, purchased twelve hundred acres in Perkiomen township some time before 1734, on which he settled He was elected a captain of a company of Associators in 1747 and a member of the Assembly in 1754. In the census of Perkiomen, taken in 1756, we find the names of Joseph Pawling, having 4 children, owning 400 acres of land and 1 negro; John Pawling, 5 children, 400 acres and 2 negroes. In the assessment of 1776 John Pawling is returned for 475 acres, 4 negroes, 4 horses and 4 cows; Joseph Pawling, 300 acres, 2 negroes, 4 horses and 6 cows Benjamin Pawling, 100 acres, 2 horses and 2 cows. The latter died in 1800, aged forty-nine years. John Pawling resided on the Skippack road, near the present Amityville, and died in the beginning of this century. There is a family burying-ground situated in quite a retired place adjoining the farm of Enos Schwenk, about a mile and a quarter northeast of Grater's Ford, only a few stories of which contain inscriptions. A portion of the same was also used as a place of interment for their negroes. On the consecration of the Trappe Church October 6, 1745, the Rev. H. M. Muhlenberg baptized three negroes belonging to a Mr. Pawling which it is probable, belonged here, as the distance does not exceed four miles, about half as far as Pawling's Ford, on the Schuylkill. On the northeast side of Skippack road, and about half a mile northwest of Amityville, is a private graveyard, inclosed by a stone wall; its dimensions are twenty-two by thirty feet. It appears to be filled with graves, but only a few stones bear inscriptions. The earliest date observed is that of 1776, but no doubt it existed much earlier. This was the burying-ground of the Kemper family and their relatives, the Markleys. The wall has now become greatly dilapidated, and long neglect is apparent. John Kemper, who is mentioned as holding one hundred acres in Salford, in 1734, was a deacon in the Dunkard Church. John and Jacob Kemper are mentioned in 1756 as residing in Perkiomen, the former owning eighty and the latter fifty acres and having one child. The name of the former is mentioned in the assessment of 1776 holding eighty-five acres, two horses and three cows. The child mentioned was probably Gertrude Kemper who died at a very advanced age about 1830, and who said to have been the last of the family. Through the existence of this graveyard attention was directed to this brief mention of the Kempers. The earliest highway opened up into this section was undoubtedly what has been so long known as the Skippack road, on which Washington and his army had occasion to march several times upon very important occasions. This road was petitioned for by the inhabitants June 2, 1713, surveyed in August, confirmed the following March by the court, and the supervisors directed to have it speedily opened. It commenced at a stake on the upper line of Van Bebber's purchase, about half a mile above the present Amityville, and meeting the road from Gwynedd at Edward Farmar's mill on, the Wissahicken, at Whitemarsh, from whence there was a continuous road through Chestnut Hill and Germantown to the city. This road was extended and in use through New Hanover into the present Berks County before 1742, and has, therefore, since been known as the Swamp road. The road from Skippack, through Lederachsville and Salfordville, to Sumneytown was opened in June, 1728. Along the northeastern side of the Skippack road in this township may still be seen the milestones, with the distances thereon to the city. In 1845 a company was incorporated by an act of Assembly to construct a turnpike from Whitemarsh to Skippack, but, after several fruitless efforts, the project was abandoned. In March 1853, a second charter was granted and the turnpike completed to near the Worcester line, which was finished in September, 1855, approaching the township within a distance of four and a half miles. What was known as Pennypacker's Mill during the Revolution, in the vicinity of which Washington's Army encamped, is now owned by John Z. Hunsberzer, and situated on the east bank of the Perkiomen Creek, opposite the lower end of Schwenkville. In 1717 six hundred acres were conveyed to Hans Yost Heijt who sold it, January 9, 1730, to John Pawling for five hundred and forty pounds, at which time the grist-mill is mentioned. His heirs sold it in 1747 to Peter Pennypacker, who built to it a fulling-mill in 1755. He was for several years assessor of the township, and died in 1770, devising the property to his son Samuel, in whose possession it remained for some time. The latter was rated as holding here, in 1776, one hundred and eighty-five acres, three horses and seven cows. This was a noted business-stand, being situated on a main road leading from the upper country to Philadelphia, from which it was distant twenty-nine miles. It has passed out of the Pennypacker family for some time, as has also much the greater portion of their other real estate in Perkiomen. The Revolutionary history of this vicinity is very interesting, and to it a brief reference will be made. The battle of Brandywine was fought September 11, 1777, and resulted, disastrously to the Americans. On the 23d, Washington arrived near the present Pottstown, while the day before the British crossed below Valley Forge to this side of the Schuylkill, proceeding leisurely or their march to Philadelphia. The American army came from near Pottsgrove into this township on the afternoon of September 26th, and encamped on the hills of both sides of the Perkiomen. Washington made his headquarters at the house of Henry Keely, about three-quarters of a mile southwest of Pennypacker's Mill, using, however, "Camp Perkioming," as well as the latter name, in his orders to designate the vicinity. On the 28th he congratulates the army on the news of the defeat of General Burgoyne at Stillwater, on the 19th, and, in honor of the event, at four o'clock in the afternoon had all the troops paraded and a salute fired from thirteen pieces of artillery, which the Rev. H. M Muhlenberg, in his journal, says he heard distinctly at the Trappe. The next day, in a letter from here to Congress, Washington thus expresses himself in sanguine spirits- 1023 "I shall move the army four or five miles lower down to-day, from whence we may reconnoitre and fix upon a proper situation, at such a distance from the enemy as will enable us to make an attack, should we see a proper opening, or stand upon the defensive till we obtain further reinforcements. This was the opinion of a majority of a council of the general officers, which I called yesterday. I congratulate you upon the success of our arms to the northward, and if some, accident does not put them out of their present train, I think we may count upon the total ruin of Burgoyne." The army at this time was in a wretched condition, particularly as respects clothing, and over one thousand men were actually barefooted, and performed their marches in this condition. After receiving reinforcements, on the morning of October 4th, Washington made an attack on the British at Germantown, and the result was disastrous. On the next day he again brought the entire army, according to the journal of Adjutant-General Timothy Pickering, on the west side of the Perkiomen, crossing at Pennypacker's Mill, and here they remained encamped till the 8th. Thomas Paine, who was in the retreat, also states, in his letter to Dr. Franklin, dated May 16, 1778, that the orders were given at Germantown that all connected with the army should "assemble that night on the back of Perkiomen Creek, about seven miles above camp, which had orders to move. The army had marched the preceding night fourteen miles, and having full twenty to march back, were exceedingly fatigued." The object being then to rest, refresh and recruit the men after the severe and exhausting campaign of the past four weeks. It will thus be seen that the first encampment here lasted from September 26th to the 29th, and the second from October 5th to the 8th, making in all six days, a shorter time than has been generally allowed. It is a popular tradition in the vicinity that the property of suspected persons only was taken by the soldiers. Valentine Keely, the founder of the family, arrived from Germany, August 24, 1728, and was accompanied in the voyage by John Baer one of the early settlers of Upper Salford. On his death his son, Henry Keely, became the owner of the property, containing one hundred and fifty acres. The house thereon, used by Washington for his headquarters, had been built some time previously by his father. It was a substantial two-story stone house, torn down in 1834. The site is still discernible, and is surrounded by venerable pear and walnut trees. It is on an elevated situation and presents a fine view of many miles of the surrounding country and of the valley of the Perkiomen. The place is still in the possession of the family, the present owner being John S. Keely, whose residence is about fifty yards, from the former site. Keely's church is distant about a quarter of a mile in a northeasterly direction, and derives its name from having been built on a portion of the original tract, which had been used for a burying-ground before 1760. Not a mile in a direct line from Schwenksville, on the North East Branch is a secluded valley, bounded in the southeast side of the stream by a bluff of high and steep rocks rising directly from the stream, on which the hemlock spruce is still found growing. Near the upper part of this hill, and about eighty feet above the stream, a hole was discovered in the rock, nearly four feet square, by Solomon Grimly, Sr., and his son, about 1795, which, on examination, was found to be filled with a considerable number of deer-horns, that had evidently been placed there for security by the Indians. Solomon K. Grimly, Esq., the present owner of the land, has lately recovered one of those horns, which possesses now the unusual interest of having belonged to one of our native deer; the rest have disappeared long ago, either being sold or converted into knife handles. At this place, in 1815 and the following year, Isaac Grimly, now in his eighty-seventh year, caught eight foxes in a trap, and his father succeeded in shooting several more. They still abound here, as well as minks, raccoons and opossums. Probably the last otter captured in Montgomery County was in the stream at this place about the year 1858, by William, Henry and Jacob Ellinger, aided by two dogs. It was a large animal for its kind, and made a desperate resistance, but was finally dispatched with clubs. Isaac Grimly, who is still vigorous and possesses a good memory for one of his age, relates seeing numbers of shad in the stream here in 1806, the property being then owned by his father. At the intersection of a cross-roads in the southern part of the township is a meeting-house belonging to the Dunkards or German Baptists. It is built of stone, thirty-three by fifty-two feet, with a kitchen basement containing a fire-place. The congregation had existed some time previously, worshiping in the commodious dwelling near by, owned by John Detweiler. The present preachers are Abraham Cassel and Isaac Kulp. It was long a branch of the Indian Creek congregation, but since the erection of the present meeting-house they have been placed on an equality with the rest in the denomination. Although it is a little over a mile northwest of the Skippack Creek, yet their baptisms are performed there. They have also a house of worship at Grater's Ford, two miles distant. 1024 The ancient village of Skippack, though better known as Skippackville, is situated near the northeast part of the township, within half a mile of the Lower Salford line. It contains two hotels three stores post-office printing-office school shirt-factory four or five mechanic shops and about fifty-four houses, standing principally along Skippack road for the distance of nearly a mile. A map in 1860 contains but twenty-nine houses, showing that the place has since improved. The road through here towards the city, was opened in 1714, at which time there must have been some settlement. In 1742 Garrett Indehaven kept the only licensed inn, there being then none above it nearer than the present Hanover Square. In 1766, Dietrich Welker kept an inn here, which may have been the same stand, Nicholas Nichum in 1779 and Gabriel Kline in 1785, the sign being a weeping willow, which was retained into the beginning of this century. The post-office was established here before 1827, of which Abraham Everhart, in 1830, was postmaster. In 1828 the mail was carried weekly through here to the city by the Kutztown stage. "Der Neutralist und Allgemeine Neuiakeits-Bote" is a weekly paper in German, started here in August, 1844, of which Mr. A. E. Dambly is editor and proprietor. The Trinity Christians have a two-story stone church in charge of the Rev. Joseph H. Hendricks, to which a graveyard is attached. The Enterprise Shirt-Factory is a large three-story brick building erected in 1881, giving considerable employment to the neighborhood. The elections for the eastern part of the township have been held in this village for many years. Iron Bridge is the name bestowed on Rahn's Station about three years ago at the establishment of the post-office. The village is situated on the west side of the Perkiomen, about a mile below Grater's Ford, the railroad having a station here and the turnpike passing through the place. It contains a store, hotel, foundry, brick, coal and lumber-yard, two hat factories and some thirty houses. The Union Chapel is a one-story brick edifice erected in 1851, chiefly by the Trinity Christians, and is also used by other denominations. The iron bridge here over the Perkiomen was built by the county in 1873, and is six hundred and forty-four feet in length with the abutments, resting on eight piers. Its cost was nearly forty thousand dollars. The census of 1880 gives one hundred and ninety-one inhabitants. The village of Grater's Ford is situated on the west side of the Perkiomen, on the turnpike and railroad, two miles below Schwenksville, the latter having a station here. It contains a store hotel post-office planing-mill several mechanic-shops and about twenty-five houses. According to the census of 1880, it has one hundred and forty-eight inhabitants. The Dunkards have a small chapel or meeting-house. An iron bridge also crosses the Perkiomen here, built in 1881 by the county. In 1847 there were but one or two houses here and a saw-mill, but the construction of the turnpike and railroad since has contributed to its prosperity. On its completion H. J. Ashenfelter erected a grain, coal and lime depot and a dry-goods, grocery and feed-store that helped to give the village a start. The post-office was established in the spring of 1869, and Isaac Kulp appointed postmaster. Jacob Kreater owned here, in 1756, two hundred and twenty acres of land, from whence originated the name of the old crossing-place. Harmony Square is near the centre of the township and in the midst of a fine, productive country. Here is a creamery, post-office, store, a merchant tailor and thirteen houses. The creamery was built about 1878, and belongs to an association of farmers in the vicinity. Amityville is but little over half a mile above Skippack, contains a store several mechanic shops above a dozen of houses. A long-established and well-conducted agricultural township like Perkiomen, as might be expected, contains a number of descendants of the early settlers. Among the land-holders mentioned in 1734 we find still here the names of Kolb, Hunsicker, Markley, Tyson, Hallman, Johnson, Kuster, Detweiler, Cassel, Ziegler, Pennypacker and Wierman. SCHWENKSVILLE. -This flourishing village is situated on the west side of the Perkiomen Creek, and in the northwest portion of the township. It contains two hotels four stores a bank printing-office bakery clothing manufactory railroad-station lumber, coal and marble-yards church school creamery and sixty-three houses. The census of 1880 gives three hundred and three inhabitants, of which about one-seventh reside in Frederick township. Isaac Grimly, living in the vicinity at the advanced age of eighty-seven, remembers when there was not a house in the place, which was a little prior to 1815. The greater portion of the land here was left, in 1770, by Peter Pennypacker to his son, William, who was rated in 1776 as possessing two hundred and twenty-five acres. In the census of Perkiomen, taken in 1756, mention is made of George Schwenk, blacksmith, having two children and owning one hundred acres of land, which was probably in this vicinity. So small was this place in 1849 that on William E. Morris' county map there was then only denoted here Schwenck's inn and store, the house of J. Steiner and a blacksmith-shop. About this date the post-office was established, through the efforts of Jacob G. Schwenk, as "Schwenk's Store," and so remained until about 1872, when, through the growth of the place, it was changed to its present name. The lower bridge over the Perkiomen was built by the county in 1832, the contractors being Samuel Pennypacker and Solomon Bustard. The next material improvement was the completion of the turnpike through here, from Collegeville to Sumneytown, in 1846. In 1868 the Perkiomen Railroad was completed from the Schuylkill to Skippack Station, as it was then called, about three-fourths of a mile below the present Schwenksville depot; the following year to Mine Run, at the upper end of the village, and not until September, 1874, to the Lehigh Valley. Of all the several improvements, this, of course, promoted its greatest prosperity. The railroad depot was built here in 1869, being ninety-six feet long by twenty-four wide, containing a ticket and telegraph-office, waiting rooms and storage for freight. 1025 The first school-house was built in 1849, but proving, too small, a larger one, of stone, was built in 1869, On the hill beside the road to Keely's church. The meeting-house here belongs to the Evangelical denomination, is a one-story building, erected in 1661, and is now in charge of Rev. J. G. Sands. There is a graveyard attached, in which as yet but few have been buried. The National Bank was established in 1875, and moved into their new building in the fall of 1878, Jacob G. Schwenk being president and John G. Prizer cashier. The "Weekly Item" which commenced publication here September 7, 1877, by N. B. Grubb, has since been enlarged, and is now conducted by Irwin H. Bardman. Albert Bromer, an enterprising citizen of the place, and extensively engaged in the manufacture of clothing, erected here, in 1874, Industrial Hall, the first story of which he occupies in his business; the second contains a commodious hall for entertainments and public worship. The third is used by the Improved Order of Red Men and Brotherhood of the Union. The Pennypacker reunion was held here October 4, 1877, and brought together a considerable number of the family from widely-scattered portions of the country. By the banks of the Perkiomen are several large icehouses for the storage of ice, taken from the stream. One of these was erected by Mr. Bromer in 1874, and is one hundred feet long by forty-five feet wide, to which was added, in 1876, in inclined plane and a steam-engine for elevating the ice, and which can also be used for loading it into the cars. A creamery was built here in 1881, and is conducted by an association of dairymen residing in the surrounding section. If will be observed from this brief mention that there is considerable enterprise here, and that it bids fair ere long to increase the member of boroughs within the county. To a stranger from the city this section presents attractions, particularly to lovers of the natural sciences and diversified scenery. THE OLD MENNONITE MEETING-HOUSE. Mathias Van Bebber, who did so much among, his countrymen to promote settlement here, conveyed, by deed of trust, June, 8, 1717, one hundred acres of land to Henry Sellen, Claus Janson, Henry Kolb, Martin Kolb, Jacob Kolb, Michael Zeilgler and Herman Kuster, as trustees for the use of a Mennonite congregation. The meeting-house built on this tract about 1725, is supposed to be the second erected by this denomination in Pennsylvania, a previous one having been built in Germantown in 1708. The old building stood in the northwest part of the graveyard. The present edifice is of stone, one story high, fifty by sixty- five feet in dimensions, and was erected in 1844. The building committee consisted of Garrett Hunsicker Abraham Tyson and Abraham Hallman. Whether this, was the second or third house of worship built has not been satisfactorily determined. The Bible used was printed by Christopher Saur at Germantown in 1743, a quarto of twelve hundred and seventy-two pages, and is in excellent preservation. Amos Bean is present bishop Henry Johnson, Jr., minister Elias Greater, deacon of the congregation. Worship is held every two weeks, The graveyard is opposite the present meetinghouse, and contains about four acres of ground, and, as may be well supposed, contains a large number of interments. The inscriptions of some of the oldest stones have become illegible. The earliest observed was to the memory of Paul Engle, aged seven years, who died in 1723. The Indehavens [DeHavens] have also some early tombstones here. It is evident from the dates that this ground must have been used for burial purposes soon after the grant in 1717. It also appears from what exists here that the Mennonites had not interdicted the use of memorial inscriptions to their members on tombstones, like several other sects, until some time after the colonial period. The surnames transcribed here are Hilman Boyer Roller Hallman Godshalk Linderman Fry Scholl Christman Vanfossen Oberholtzer Custer Cassel Sorver Johnson Kolb Zollers Fackler Rosenberger Underkoffler Bean Keyser Keeler Jones Pannebecker Smith Merekley Hendricks Bilger Kooker Tyson Reiff Allabach Umstead Grater Kratz Swartley Hunsicker Wanner Hyser Croll Spare Updegrave Fretz Hamer Grotwals Horning Seisholtz Zeigler Crater Bergy Freyer Wonsitler Mattis Harley Shoemaker Clemens Steiner Heckler Rase Leatherach Young Ritter Disc Dotterer Kelseh Gehringer Wurtz Steigner Ruth Drake Fuss Wasser Wierman Bergstresser Indehaven and Freed. Like all old congregations, this, too, has had its trials and burdens to bear in an existence of over a century and a half. Schisms, though not of modern origin, still exist to help weaken and to scatter denominations. First came the Funkites, as they have been termed, about 1780, who were not opposed to paying a war tax; second, the Herrites, about 1820; then the much more serious and extensive division of 1846; and several years later, again, that of the Trinity Christians. All of these schisms have at the time led to the erection of additional houses of worship either in this or the adjoining townships. The sect holding possession of the present premises is denominated the new school of Mennonites, who do not so rigidly enforce the wearing of plain apparel, and are less disposed towards innovation. 1026 THE NEW MENNONITE MEETING-HOUSE. -This house of worship is located near Harmony Square, and about a mile and a quarter northwest of the old meeting-house. It originated in a schism and was, built about 1848-49. It is a one-story edifice, thirty-six by forty-five feet in size. John Hunsberger being bishop John Mench, minister and Henry Wisiner and Christian Hunsburger deacons. Worship is held every two weeks, and the services are confined to the German. The graveyard occupies about half an acre of ground, and we find, on the tombstones the names of Detweiler Kulp Croll Lechtel Godshalk Reiff Markley Zeigler Tyson Landis Benner Williams Moyer Kriebel Meyer Goshow Wismer Hallman Gouldy Fitzgerald Keer Bean Gander Stauffer Smith Cassel Brecht Sparr. This belongs to the old school of Mennonites, who, on the dispute that arose respecting minor points of doctrines, rather than have litigation or retain forcible possession of the old meeting-house and grounds, voluntarily withdrew, (though it is said they numbered over half the entire congregation) to worship here in a building erected at their own charge. For so commendable an act they certainly deserve praise, for it could not be done without considerable self-sacrifice, to thus sever all connection with a place where their ancestors had worshiped and been buried for several preceding generations. As the bishops hold considerable power in the Mennonite Church, the inquiry was instituted as to the mode of there appointment or election. Whenever a bishop is desired in a diocese or district, which may arise through death, inability or infirmity, the ministers unite in a petition to the Conference, which meets semi-annually, to whom they also apply for ministers and deacons. If granted, all the ministers within the diocese convene to hold an election, but permit no candidates. A record is kept of all the ministers who received votes for the office, which occasion must be presided over by several bishops. The latter now appoint a public meeting, which is generally held within a month, at which they are required to be present. All who had received votes are then considered candidates. The bishops on this occasion take as many hymn-books as there were candidates named, in a single one of which is placed a slip of paper having written on it legibly "Bishop," when they are all clasped and well intermixed. A prayer is now invoked that the man the Lord has designed for the office may become the bishop. The books are now all placed in a row on the pulpit before the bishops, and every candidate advances and takes a book. A bishop now arises to receive back the book which respectively examined, and the minister who hands in the book, that contains said slip is declared the bishop whom they ordain by laying of hands in prayer. Their ministers and deacons are made nearly in the same manner, ordination being omitted. The bishops alone receive membership, administer communion and perform the marriage rite. Marriages are not permitted outside of the denomination. NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH. -What is known as Keely's church, belonging jointly to the Lutherans and German Reformed, is situated in the extreme western part of the township, within a few yards of the Limerick line and but a short distance from Frederick township. A deed was prepared and dated February 14, 1756, for one acre of ground to be used here for a German school and burying-place. It was made by Valentine Keely and his wife Susanna, to Heronius Haas and John Kepler, miller. Shortly after this Mr. Keely died, followed by his wife within a few years, and the deed was not executed. In November, 1761, a purchase was effected on the part of the Lutherans by George Michael Bastian, John Kepler and Valentine Krause, and for the German Reformed by Martin Keeler, Henry Keely and Valentine Sheelich as trustees. In addition, mention was made that if a house of worship was erected thereon, it was to be held equally by the two denominations. A building, it was known, was in use here in 1733 for a school, in which worship was occasionally held. When the army came here immediately after the battle of Germantown it was used for a brief time as a hospital for the sick and wounded soldiers. After the war the building was enlarged and provided with folding doors, a portion thereof being held exclusively for worship. Isaac Grimly went to school here in 1810, and was a teacher in 1818. He also at that period attended religious worship here. It was a log structure, and in 1834 was torn down and from a portion of the material, another school-house was erected in the neighborhood the following year. The present church was built in 1835. It is a two-story stone edifice, with an interior gallery on three of its sides. It was consecrated in the fall of 1836; the Rev. Jacob Wampole was then the Lutheran pastor and Rev. J. A. Strassberger the Reformed. Mr. Wampole continued in the charge until his death, January 3, 1838, succeeded by the Rev. Henry S. Miller, from April, 1838, to May, 1852 Rev. G. A. Wenzel to October, 1854 Rev. A. Link, from December, 1856, to February 1859 Rev. G. Sells, from March, 1859, to 1864 Rev John Kohler to 1874 Rev. 0. P. Smith, from that date until the present time. The Reformed pastors have been Rev. Henry S Bassler, Rev. Gulden, Rev. Andrew Hoffman, Rev. Robert Vancourt and the Rev. S. M. K. Huber. The name given it by the denominations in charge is New Jerusalem Church. It is four miles distant from the Trappe, one mile from Schwenksville and 1027 three miles from Keeler's church, at Roseville, Frederick township, which was built two years before for a union congregation, and with which it is often confounded from the similarity of names. The graveyard opposite the church contains about five acres of ground, and from its elevated situation affords a fine view of the surrounding country. On the tombstones we find the names of Keely Grimly Schwenk Pennypacker Willauer Kieler Schillich Fox Druckenmiller Bromer Anderson Miller Markley Bechtel Grater Hunsicker Batz Cooke Puhl Hallman Winterstein Groff Souder Paul. Valentine Keely, ancestor of the family and an early settler in the vicinity, was buried here, a vigorous-growing apple tree above a foot in diameter, denoting the spot. CENSUS OF PERKIOMEN, 1756. -The following census was taken of this township in June, 1756, by Walter Johnson, resident constable and collector by order of the provincial government. Forty-one bound servants and five negroes are omitted. Of the latter John Pawling owned two, aged seventeen and twenty years; Joseph Pawling one, aged fourteen; and Abraham Sealer two aged forty and fifty years. No occupation has been assigned to farmers. This list was copied from the original document, and has not been heretofore published. Peter Panabacker, miller, 8 children, 500 acres, 100 cleared Henry Baringer, 1 ch., rents of Peter Panabacker Abraham Sealer, miller, 5 ch., 450 a., 100 cl Richard Jacobs, 7 ch., 500 a., 100 cl Michael Zeigler, Jr., tanner, 3 ch., 77 a., 40 cl William Zeigler, weaver, 2 ch.. 120 a., 50 cl Jacob Kreater, weaver, 7 ch., 220 a., 80 cl Elizabeth Kolb, 6 ch., 100 a., 30 cl Dilman Kolb, 3 ch., 100 a., 40 cl Henry Kolb, 5 ch., 100 a., 50 cl Isaac Kolb, weaver, 5 ch., 220 a., 80 cl John Fried, 3 ch., 120 a., 50 cl George Clauser, mason, 1 ch., rents of Isaac Kolb Adam Gotwals, 6 ch., 100 a., 40 cl Joseph Detweiler, 4 ch., 180 a., 70 cl John Barrens, mason, 3 ch Henry Detweiler, 1 ch., 100 a., 60 cl Abraham Opdegrave, 6 ch., 125 a., 60 cl Edward Opdegrave, 2 ch John Butterwack, tailor, 2 ch., 200a., 100cl Barbara Smith, 3 ch Jacob Messenheimer, carpenter, 5 ch John Cugh 2 ch Nicholas Selzer, 4 ch John Kyter, 5 ch., 170 a., 80 cl Philip Gans, shoemaker, rents of John Kyter Adam Sower, carpenter, 2 ch Dietrich Welker, innkeeper, 1 ch. 170 a. 94 cl Henry Schlichter, shoemaker, 5 ch William Johnson, carpenter Jacob Markley, 4 ch., 150 a., 50 cl Isaac Markley, 2 ch. rents of Jacob Markley John Kemper, 80 a. 40 cl Jacob Kemper, I ch. 50 a., 25 cl Joseph Pawling, 4 ch., 400 a., 60 cl George Walker, carpenter, 3 ch., rents of Joseph Pawling Michael Zeigler, weaver Jones Rudrofe, weaver, 1 ch John Detweiler, weaver, 8 ch Bastian Houpt, 3 ch., 125 a., 60 cl John Wierman, 5 ch., 80a., 40 cl Solomon Grimly, 150 a., 10 cl Philip Sheelich, 3 ch, 151 a., 80 cl George Schwenck, blacksmith, 2 ch., 100a., 40 cl John Pawling, 5 ch., 400 a., 100 cl Henry Miller, 3 ch., rents of John Pawling Philip Markley, shoemaker, 3 ch., 70a., 30 cl Christian Doll, 7 ch., rents of Solomon Dubois, 1000 a., 200cl Michael Bauer, 2 ch Arnt Rosen, locksmith, rents of Abraham Sealer Valentine Hunsecker, weaver, 5 ch., 225a., 100 cl Ludwig Horning, 7ch., 130a., 70 cl Leonard Vanfossen, tanner, 80a., 40 cl John Vanfossen Christian Moser, 7 ch., 100a., 55cl William Burk, 1 ch., 260 a., 60 cl Andrew Heiser, 150 a., 60 cl Walter Johnson, shoemaker, 4 ch., 50 a., 30 cl George Markley, 18 a., 6 cl Jacob Umstead, 7 ch., 100 a., 30 cl Henry Umstead, 5 ch., 200 a., 60 cl Margaret Panabacker, 6 ch., 180 a., 70 cl Abraham Markley, blacksmith, 5 ch., 100 a., 70 cl Henry Panabacker, miller, 3 ch., 100a., 70 cl Joseph Smith, tailor, 3 ch., 125 a., 60 cl Henry Kasel, weaver, 2 ch., 90 a., 60 cl Henry Kassel, weaver, 60 a., 40 cl Richard Newberry, 2 ch., 250 a., 150 cl Henry Newberry, farmer, 1 ch., 150 a. 40 cl Benjamin Tyson, 100 a., 40 cl Peter Johnson, 125 a., 70 cl Mathias Tyson, 280 a., 100 cl Herman Custer, 150 a., 50 cl Paul Custer, 2 ch., rents of Herman Custer Derick Rinker, mason, 3 ch., 50 a., 20 cl John Custer, fuller, 1 ch., rents of Herman Custer Herman Umstead, 5 ch., 150 a., 60 cl Henry Hallman, 7 ch., 150 a., 70 cl Henry Keely, 1 ch., 120 a., 50 cl Peter Henckenius, schoolmaster, 1 ch John Bamer. ASSESSMENT OF PERKIOMEN FOR 1766. Henry Pennebacker, assessor and John Detweiler, collector. William Bull, sadler, 50 acres, 2 horses and 3 cows Samuel Buckman, 2 h., 2 c George Buch, 2 c Mathew Blockley, 1 c John Benner, 1 c Issac Cassel, weaver, 100 a. 2 h. 5 c Henry Cassel, 60 a. 2 h. 2 c John Crater, 120 a., 2 h. 3 c Jacob Clemens Patrick Campbell John Dull, 1 c John Detweiler, weaver, 200 a. 4 h. 6 c Henry Detweiler, 270 a. 4 h. 9 c John Detweiler, Jr., 320 a. 3 h. 5 c John Treat, 123 a. 3 h. 4 c John Fronefield, 174 a. 3 h. 4 c Jacob Godshalk, 22a 2 c Solomon Grimly, 150 a. 1 servant, 2 h. 5 c Henry Hallman, 170 a Henry Hass, 100 a. 2 h. 3 c Andrew Heiser, 300 a., 1 servant, 3 h, 5 c Ludwig Horning, 160 a. 3 h. 5 c Henry Hunsecker, 115 a. 2 h. 5 c Isaac Hunsecker, 8 children, 210a. 3 h. 5 c Peter Johnson, 150 a. 2 h. 4 c John Jacobs, 1 servent, 150 a. 2 h. 7 c Samuel Jacobs, 2 servants 150 a. 2 h. 6 c Walter Johnson 50 a. 2 h. 3 c John Koster, joiner, 2 c Peter Keiter, 8 children, 170 a. 3 h., 4 c John Kuster, fuller, 200 a. 2 h. 7 c. and a fulling mill William Kuster, 1 c Paul Kuster, 100 a. 2 h. 4 c Henry Kelp, weaver, 113 a. 2 h. 3 c Dilman Kolp, 113 a. 1 h. 3 c Henry Kolp, Jr., 100 a. 2 h. 4 c Martin Kolp, 223 a. 3 h. 7 c John Kemper, 85 a. 2 h. 3 c Henry Keeler, 1 servant 150 a. 3 h. 4 c Bernard Kepler, 80 a., 3 h., 6 c Yillus Kolp, 160 a. 2 h., 5 c George Lehman, 1 c Jacob Markley, 150 a., 2 c Jacob Markley, shoemaker, 75 a. 2 h. 4 c Abrabam Markley, 100a 3 h. 1 c Henry Newberry, 226 a. 2 h. 5 c Israel Newberry, 215 a. 2 h. 4 c Nicholas Nikom, 2 h. 3 c Henry Pennebacker, miller, 104 a. 3 h. 7 c. and a grist and saw-mill Henry Pennebacker, smith, 71 a 2 h. 5 c William Pennebacker, 225 a. 4 h. 4 c Samuel Pennebacker, 185a., 3 h. 7 c Joseph Pawling, 2 negroes, 300 a. 4 h. 6 c Benjamin Pawling, 100 a. 2 h. 2 c John Pawling, 4 negroes, 475 a. 1h 4 c Herman Pennebacker, 165a., 3 h. 6 c Peter Reimer, 80 a. 3 h. 5 c Ludwig Reinbolt, 1 c John Smith, 8 children 100 a. 2 h. 4 c Jost Smith, tailor, 125 a. 1 c Jacob Smith, 2 h. 4 c George Snell, shoemaker, 1 h. 1 c Valentine Shelich, 6 children, 125 a. 2 h. 3 c Isaac Saler 2 b. 4 c Abraham Saler, 1 servant, 2 negroes, 929 a. 4 h. 8c Adam Sower, tailor, 70 a. 2 h. 3 c George Shut, 2 h. 2 c Casper Steinmetz, 1 c David Stripe, 27 a. 1h 1c Joseph Tyson, Sr., has a blind son, 130 a. 2 h. 3 c Mathias Tyson, 110 a., 2 h. 3 c William Tyson, 100 a. 3 h. 3 c Joseph Tyson, Jr., 50 a. 2 h. 1 c Lewis Truckenmiller, tailor Jacob Umstead, 166 a., 2 h. 2 c Henry Umstead, 300 a. 3 b. 5 c Harman Umstead Jacob Urwiler, 1 h. 1 c Edward Updegrave, 124 a., 3 h. 3 c Abraham Updegrave, 98 a. 1h. 4 c John Wierman, 230 a. 6 h. 9 c Michael Zeigler, 160 a. 3 h. 4 c William Zeigler, 130 a. 2 h. 5 c David Allibach, 1 c Jacob Prutzman, 1 h. 2 c Casper Moyer. SINGLE MEN- Bernard Haines Benjamin Johnson William Johnson Isaac Kolp Henry Showitzer Jacob Zeigler Christian Allebach. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. PHILIP M. HUNSICKER. The progenitor of the family in America was Valentine Hunsicker, a native of Switzerland, who came to the United States in 1717, and about three years later settled in the present Perkiomen township. His son, Henry Hunsicker, married Mary, daughter of John Detwiler, whose children were Henry C. John D. Daniel D. William D. Elizabeth Mary Catharine Susanne. Henry C. Hunsicker was born in Perkiomen township, where his early life was spent. He married, in 1833, Lydia, daughter of Philip Markley of the same township, and had children- Philip M. Charles M. Daniel M Henry M., Henry M (2d) Mary M. (Mrs. Henry Yelles) Ann M. (Mrs. James Koons) Deborah (Mrs H. T. Johnson) Lydia (Mrs. Benjamin Saylor) Kate M. On the occasion of his marriage Mr. Hunsicker removed to Franconia township, and carried on farming until his return, in 1850, to his native township, where he combined milling with the pursuits of a farmer until a few years prior to his death, when he retired from business. 1028 His son Philip M. was born November 18, 1836, in Franconia township, where his youth was spent, meanwhile becoming a pupil of a day-school and afterwards attending the Freeland Academy, at Collegeville. He removed, with his father, in 1850, to Perkiomen township, and on the completion of his studies entered his father's mill, situated on the Perkiomen stream, opposite Rahn's Station, for the purpose of learning the trade of a miller. For a while he assisted his father, and later rented the mill, which he operated until 1875, when he embarked in the lumber, coal and feed business at Rahn's Station, continuing thus engaged until 1884, when his sons succeeded him. Mr. Hunsicker was married, on the 18th of September, 1858 to Lizzie R., daughter of John Z. Tyson, of Perkiomen township. Their children are Melvin T., born in 1859 Henry T., in 1861 Clayton, in 1863 Norwood Penrose, in 1869 (deceased) Elmer Ellsworth, in 1873 Addie T., in 1875 (deceased). Mrs. Hunsicker died May 4, 1881, and he again married, October 26, 1882, Mrs. Ella C. Kulp, daughter of John H. Custer, of Worcester township. Mr. Hunsicker is in politics a stanch Republican, and though much interested in local political issues, has never sought nor accepted office. He is identified with the Iron Bridge Hat Association as a director. In his religious views he is a Christian, and member of Trinity Christian Church, of Collegeville. PICTURE OF PHILIP M. HUNSICKER, APPEARS HERE. CHAPTER LXVIII. PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP. By Wm. J. Buck. THIS township is bounded on the north by Whitpain, east by Whitemarsh south by the Schuylkill and the borough of Conshohocken, and west by the borough of Norristown and Norriton. Its greatest length is three and a half miles; its width two and a half, with an area of five thousand one hundred and fifty- three acres. 1029 It formerly contained five thousand six hundred and thirty-one acres but by the erection of Conshohocken into a borough in 1850, three hundred and twenty acres were taken off; also in 1853 a long, wedge shaped strip of one hundred and twenty-eight perches wide on the Schuylkill, containing about one hundred and fifty-eight acres, by the enlargement of the borough of Norristown, thus leaving, its area as mentioned. It is next to Springfield, the smallest township in the county. In the long interval from 1686 to 1850, it had not undergone any change in territorial extent. The surface is gently undulating, and there are no elevations deserving the name of hills. Along the Schuylkill at several places the limestone assumes a rocky appearance, but nowhere rises above fifty feet perpendicularly. In proportion to its size, we have no hesitation in saying that no township in the county surpasses it in the natural fertility of its soil. On the other hand it is not well watered, for it contains no streams that afford valuable water-power. The largest is Plymouth Creek, which rises, in two small branches in the east corner of the township, and after a course of four miles empties into the Schuylkill at Conshohocken. Saw-Mill Run rises in Whitpain and after a course of over a mile through Plymouth, turns into Norriton. A small stream empties into the Schuylkill a short distance below Mogeetown. About two-thirds of Plymouth is underlaid with limestone, which, at some places, is on or near the surface, and again at other places lies at some depth. Nearly its whole front on the Schuylkill is a bluff of limestone, and few places are more favored for burning it, both from the convenience of the material and the advantages of sending it to market either by railroad or navigation. The census of 1840 gave the value of lime manufactured in Plymouth at forty-five thousand two hundred and eighteen dollars. In 1858 seventy-five kilns were personally visited that on an average would produce fifteen hundred bushels of the article, and thus this number, at one burning, could yield considerably over one hundred thousand bushels. The number of kilns has since been increased and the extent of the business enlarged. Hence we may well judge the extent of this production, giving investment to capital and employment to a number of hands. Iron ore which seventy years ago was almost unknown, is obtained now in abundance. In that part of the township which lies between the Plymouth Railroad and the Whitemarsh line there appears to be one vast bed of ore from the borough of Conshohocken. The Ridge turnpike traverses the township two and a half miles and the Germantown and Perkiomen pike about three miles. The turnpike leading from Conshohocken to the Broad Axe forms the entire southeast boundary of Plymouth, a distance of three and one-fourth miles, and separates it from Whitemarsh. The Norristown Railroad passes along the southwest by the Schuylkill over two miles, and on it are Potts Landing and Mogee Stations. The Plymouth Railroad has a course of over three and a half miles, and extends from Conshohocken to Oreland, on the North Pennsylvania Railroad. This company was incorporated in 1836, and the road completed shortly afterwards to the Whitemarsh line; in 1870 it was extended to its junction at Oreland. The stations in the township are Ridge, Plymouth and Corson. The villages are Plymouth Meeting, Hickorytown, Mogeetown and Harmanville. According to the census of 1800, the population was 572 in 1840, 1417 in 1880, 1916 showing a decrease of 109 since 1870. The taxable real estate in 1882 was valued at $1,146,089, and the total amount of property at $1,225,881, making the average per taxable $2804. In May, 1883, licenses were granted to four hotels five stores five coal-yards The public schools are five in number, open ten months, with an average of One hundred and fifty-seven pupils. In the census of 1850, 220 houses, 234 families and 91 farms were returned for said year. The township contains about eight square miles, and, according to the census of 1880, 237 inhabitants to the square mile, In the assessment for 1883 the aggregate number of taxables is 498. Plymouth was surveyed, laid out and settled at quite an early period,- "By virtue of a Warrant from the Commissioners of Property dated 7th of 4th mouth, 1690, a tract of land in Philadelphia County was granted unto the Plymouth Purchasers, and also together with 600 acres adjoining the southeast part thereof, which was intended by the Proprietary for a town, containing in the whole 500 acres, was surveyed and laid out 14th of 5th month, 1686, beginning at a corner beech-tree standing by the Skoolkill, being also a corner of Major Jasper Farmer's land; thence northeast by a line of trees 1342 perches to a corner-post; thence northwest by a line of trees 696 perches to a corner-post of Benjamin Chambers and Company's land; thence southwest by the same 956 perches to a corner-tree standing by the aforesaid Skoolkill; thence down the several courses thereof to the place of beginning, containing in both the aforesaid tracts, as above said 5000 acres. Returned to the Proprietary Secretary office 20th of 4th month, 1690." [See NOTE.] From the preceding interesting pieces of history, now for the first time published, the important question arises as to who were the Plymouth purchasers. One account mentions that they were James Fox Richard Gove Francis Rawle John Chelson and some other Friends who came from Plymouth, in Devonshire, England. [NOTE: In connection with the subject the following has been recently secured : "L S. By the Commissioners empowered to grant lots and land in the Province of Pennsylvania and Territories thereunto belonging. At the request of Jonas Fox, Francis Rawle, Nicholas Pearce and Richard Grove, in behalf of themselves and other Friends of Plymouth, joynt purchasers with them of five thousand acres of land, that we would grant the said five thousand acres of land together for a township in like most convenient place for water for the encouragement of the woolen manufacture, intended to be set up by them; these we therefore, in the Proprietary's name do will and require thee forthwith to survey, or cause to be surveyed unto them the said number of acres in the aforesaid County, where not already taken up, according to the method of Townships appointed by the Governor, the seating and improving the same within six months after the date of survey, and make return hereof to the Secretary's office, at Philadelphia, the 5th of 5th month, 1686. "JAMES CLAYPOOLE, "ROBERT TURNER. TO CAPT. THO. HOLME, Surveyor-General." Finis NOTE.] 1030 From an early record of arrivals at Philadelphia, it is ascertained that in the ship "Desire," James Cock, commander, which arrived June 23, 1686, were Francis Rawle, Sen. Francis Rawle, Jr., and servants Thomas Janvers Francis Jervis John Marshall Samuel Rennell Isaac Garnier Elizabeth Saries James Fox and Elizabeth, his wife, children George, James, Elizabeth and Sarah, servants Richard Fox, Stephen Nowell, Christopher Lobb, Richard Davis, Nathaniel Christopher, Abraham Rowe, Mary Rowe, Mary Lucas and Sarah Jeffries. These were all from Plymouth and hence the origin of the name of their settlement here and of the township. It will be seen from the preceding list that Francis Rawle and James Fox must have been persons of some note and means to be at least the principal purchasers of the Plymouth tract and undertake its improvement accompanied, as they were, by so many servants. The survey was made only three weeks after their arrival. There is no doubt they settled here immediately after purchase, though published account, have heretofore made it a year earlier, which the registry of arrivals proves to be an error. After remaining here several years and making considerable improvements, they became tired of their isolated life in the woods, and removed to Philadelphia, abandoning the settlement. In 1701 a resurvey was made of the tract, which was somewhat different from the former one. It was then mentioned as "Plymouth township" and as containing five thousand three hundred and twenty-seven acres. "Beginning at a beech-tree, marked, standing by the river Schuylkill, being near a corner dividing it from the land first laid out to Jasper Farmer; thence by an old line of marked trees northeast 1296 perches to a marked white-oak standing in the Whitpain township; thence by an old line of marked trees northwest 643 perches; thence by marked trees dividing this from reputed lands of Benjamin Chambers; thence by an old line of marked trees southwest 840 perches thereof to the place of beginning." It would be interesting to know on which of those, surveys the existing, boundaries of the township have been formed or the most closely followed. It is most probably the first, because the latter width is too narrow to conform with its present dimensions. After the latter survey, Francis Rawle and Elizabeth Fox, the widow of James, commenced selling off tract after tract to purchasers, who became actual settlers. Among these were David Meredith Thomas Owen Isaac Price Ellis Pugh Hugh Jones and Edmund Cartlege, all from Wales. David Meredith purchased his tract of nine hundred and eighty acres in 1701, adjoining the Whitpain line, and lying on both sides of the present Reading turnpike. He settled on his purchase we know before 1703, and consequently must have made the first improvements thereon. He died in January, 1727, aged eighty-nine years. He left a widow, Eleanor, and several children, whose surviving descendants of the name are landholders in the township, and still retain a portion of the original tract. John Maulsby made a purchase, in 1690, in the vicinity of Cold Point. Isaac Schaffer purchased, in 1702, of Rawle and Fox, four hundred and seventy-two acres. The latter sold off nearly half of his tract soon after to Lumly Williams. Benjamin and Joshua Dickinson, sons-in-law of the aforesaid, came in possession of part of said purchase which lay in the immediate vicinity of the Friends' Meeting-house. In the list of 1734 the following are given as the names of residents and landholders in Plymouth: Eleanor Meredith, widow, 500 acres Rees Williams, 250 Benjamin Dickinson, 100 John Hamer, 200 John Davis Joshua Dickinson, 100 John Redwitzer, 900 Peter Croll, 100 Thomas Davis, 150 Isaac Price, 328 Joseph Jones, 200 Mary Davis' estate, 400 Jonathan Rumford, 200 Henry Bell, 100 Philip John, 200 John Holton, 100 In this list of sixteen names about half are Welsh. John Redwitzer and Peter Croll came from Germany, the former having settled at Germantown before 1700. In 1709 he was naturalized, with the privilege to hold or enjoy lands. The names of Jones and Davis still exist in the township as land-holders. Among the early settlers of Plymouth may be mentioned Ellis Pugh, a native of Dolgelle, in Wales, where he was born in 1656. In his eighteenth year he been a member of the Society of Friends, and at the age of twenty- four, came forth in the ministry. He arrived in Pennsylvania in 1687, and not long after settled in Plymouth. He died in the year 1718, at the age of sixty-two years. In the year 1707 he went on a religious visit to the inhabitants of his native country and shortly after returned. About this time he wrote a religious work in the Welsh language, with the following curious title: "A Salutation to the Britains, to call them from many things to the one thing needful, for the saving of their souls; especially to the poor unarmed Traveler, Plowmen Shepherds and those that are of low degree like myself. This is in order to direct you to know God and Christ, the only wise God, which is life eternal, and to learn of Him, that you may become wiser than their teachers." This work was translated by his friend, Rowland Ellis, and revised by David Lloyd, of Philadelphia, where it was printed by S. Keimer, in 1727. It is a small octave volume of two hundred and twenty-two pages, and, of course, rare. It is particularly interesting as an early specimen of Pennsylvania typography. Rowland Ellis the translator mentioned was an early settler in Merion, where he was for some time a justice of the peace. In 1720 he removed either into this township or near by in Whitemarsh, where he resided until 1729, in which year he died, while on a visit to his son-in-law, John Evans, of Gwynedd. Among the notable men of Plymouth was Zebulon Potts, who was appointed a constable of the township in 1774. During the Revolution, and while the British held possession of Philadelphia, he resided about half a mile from Conshohocken. He was an ardent Whig, and through spies the British became informed of his opposition to their cause. 1031 They several times sent parties out to his house to capture him. and once they prosecuted their search so close as to almost find him. In 1777 he was appointed one of the justices of the Court of Quarter Sessions and Common Pleas. In the assessors list of 1780 he is represented as having one hundred acres of land, five horses, three cows and an "aged mother to maintain." In October, 1784, he was elected (the first) sheriff of the county, and continued in the office until 1787. He died in March, 1801. From his will, made the previous 27th of February, we learn that he appointed his wife, Martha, son Joseph, and son-in-law, Joseph Thomas, executors. His children were Robert T. Joseph William Daniel Ann Alice Esther and Martha. Robert T., died at Swedesburg in 1873, in his eighty-third year. William was the last survivor of the family, and died at the residence of his son- in-law, Evan D. Jones, at Conshohocken, January 31, 1881, in his ninety- fourth year. Zebulon Potts died while a member of the State Senate, and the sheriff, John Markley, in the fall of 1801, ordered an election to supply the vacancy. In March 1803, his personal effects and farm of eighty-two acres, including a tan-yard, was ordered to be sold for the benefits of his creditors. Jacob Ritter, a noted minister of Plymouth Meeting, was born in Springfield Township. His father and mother had come from Germany, and to pay their passage hither had bound themselves to serve respectively, three and four years. The Revolution breaking out, he joined as a soldier, and at the battle of the Brandywine was made a prisoner by a body of Hessians, and confined, with nine hundred others, in the prison at Philadelphia. Through the influence of his cousin and Joseph Galloway, the superintendent of police, he was discharged from confinement. In the spring of 1778 he married Dorothy Smith, and moved to the city. After a residence there of several years he lost his wife, and, in the spring of 1794, he moved with his children to Springfield. In 1802 he married Ann Williams, of Buckingham. Having sold his farm and purchased one in Plymouth, he moved on it in 1812, and continued to reside there for the remainder of his life. He was a minister among Friends for fifty years, and of Plymouth Meeting nearly twenty-nine. He died December 15, 1841, aged eighty-five years, and was interred in the Friends' burying-ground. Though he never received more than a very ordinary education, yet he wrote a journal and a memoir of his life, which was published in 1844, with a preface, additions and notes, by Joseph Foulke, of Gwynedd, in a small duodecimo of one hundred and eleven pages, from which chiefly this sketch has been prepared. Through the petition of James Fox and other early settlers, the Provincial Council gave a permit, the 5th day of the second Month, 1687, to lay out a "cart-road," from Philadelphia here, which was not long after accomplished. This is the road leading from Plymouth Meeting to the city, and now better known as the Germantown and Perkiomen turnpike, which was laid on its bed and finished in 1804, at a cost of eleven thousand two hundred and eighty-seven dollars per mile. A road was granted from Plymouth Meeting-house to Gwynedd in December, 1705, but, it appears from the records was not open until 1751. Philip Thomas petitioned, in December 1759, that he had built anew grist-mill on Plymouth Creek, and desired a road opened from the same. This is very probably the road following the stream to the present Plymouth Station. The "Seven Stars" inn ranks among the oldest stands in the county. In 1754, Benjamin Davis received a license to keep it, and Nicholas Scull on his map of the province, published In 1759, mentioned it by this name and which it has ever since borne. Soldiers gazed on its sign in the French and Indian war, and also, later again, the British army as they passed by it on their march to take possession of Philadelphia, and yet the sign of the "Seven Stars" has been perpetuated and still exists amidst the numerous changes of so long a period. The Davis family were early settlers in this immediate vicinity, of whom Samuel Davis was a captain in the American army during the Revolution. William Lawrence kept an inn in Plymouth in 1767 John Hamilton, in 1773 Mathew Henderson, in 1774 James Hamilton, Hannah Koller and Daniel Neill, in 1778 Samuel Caughlin, Elizabeth Bartleson and Daniel Deal, in 1785. Some of these must have kept the present "Black Horse," for this is also an old stand. Of early township officers, we find Rees Mana a constable David Morris supervisor in 1767 Frederick Dull and Joseph Levering, supervisors in 1785 John Shoemaker and Henry Clare, supervisors in 1810. In the assessment of 1780 mention is made of Martin Whiteman, possessing a grist and saw-mill and 64 acres John Pringle's estate, a gristmill and 130 acres John Bayard, merchant, 50 acres and 4 slaves Joseph Fitzwater, wheelwright, 44 acres Jacob Peterman and Nathan Potts, smiths Peter Arnold John Dickinson John Davis, shoemaker Nathaniel Van Winkle, turner Samuel Cowdon, weaver. One of the aforesaid mills must have been near the mouth of Plymouth Creek, and within the present limits of Conshohocken. The village of Plymouth Meeting is situated at the intersection of the Perkiomen and Plymouth turnpikes, on the township line. On this side are the Friends and Orthodox Meeting-houses, a school-house, some eight or ten dwellings and a station of the railroad, much the larger portion of the place being situated in Whitemarsh. It was here that the original settlement of Plymouth was made, and where William Penn, according to the survey of 1686, had previously ordered six hundred acres to be laid out for a town. It was thus that the first house of worship throughout all this section came to be located here. In the map accompanying Gabriel Thomas "Account of Pennsylvania," published in London in 1698, the settlement here is denoted, being the only one so mentioned within the present limits of the county. Lewis Evans also noted it on his map of 1749. The post-office was located here before 1827. Considerable lime is burned in this vicinity and sent off by railroad. It was from the kilns here that the county commissioners requested proposals, in the spring of 1804, for hauling a quantity of lime by the bushel to complete the bridge then building over the Manatawny at Pottstown, twenty-three miles distant. 1032 Hickorytown is situated on the Germantown and Perkiomen turnpike, three miles southeast of Norristown and fourteen from Philadelphia. It contains an inn, store, school-house, a blacksmith and wheelwright-shop and about thirty houses. The post-office was established here in May, 1857. The elections of the township are held here. In 1832 Gordon's "Gazetteer" mentions it as containing ten houses. Captain Robert Kennedy, an officer of the Revolution, kept the inn here in 1801; Frederick Dull, in 1806; and Jacob Hart, in 1825. In the beginning of the century this was a noted training-place for the Thirty-sixth Regiment of Pennsylvania militia and the Second Battalion of Montgomery County. The Friendship Company, for protection against horse-stealing, was organized here in the fall of 1807, and in the following year numbered sixty-four members. Near by is the Plymouth Valley Creamery, belonging to an association of farmers, which went into operation in August, 1882. Harmanville is situated on the line of Whitemarsh Township, at the intersection of the Ridge and Plymouth turnpike one and a half miles from Conshohocken. It contains a store, several mechanic shops and about thirty houses in the two townships. It has chiefly grown since 1850. The ore and marble production in the vicinity has given an impulse to its prosperity. Where the Ridge turnpike crosses Plymouth Creek and Railroad is Ridge Station. Here are four or five houses, the Seven Stars Hotel and a coal- yard. The venerable stone bridge over which the turnpike passes was built in 1796. About a quarter of a mile below this on the turnpike a considerable quantity of clay has been dug in the past seven years, which is manufactured into fire-brick for the linings of furnaces, especially those used in the manufacture of glass. PLYMOUTH MEETING. -The Friends were undoubtedly the earliest settlers of Plymouth and of the contiguous portion of Whitemarsh. It appears that William Penn had conceived the plan for a town to be laid out of about one mile square where is now the site of the present meeting-house. In the summer of 1686 the township was purchased and settled by James Fox, Francis Rawle, Richard Gove, John Chelson and some other Friends, who lived here for a time and held meetings for worship at the house of James Fox. Being tradesmen, and not accustomed to a country life, they afterwards removed to Philadelphia. Not long afterwards, however, the land was repurchased and settled. Among a number of others were David Meredith, Edmund Cartlege, Thomas Owen, Isaac Price Ellis Pugh and Hugh Jones, all Friends. It seems they had become sufficiently numerous here to receive the consideration of William Penn, who, in a letter to Thomas Lloyd, from England dated the 14th of Fourth Month, 1691, among other things, said: "Salute me to the Welsh Friends and the Plymouth Friends -indeed to all of them." The members, with the consent of Haverford Monthly Meeting in 1703, continued their worship at the same, house that had then come in possession of Hugh Jones, and remained there for several years, after which it was held at the house of John Cartlege for some time. Through the increase of population, it was agreed to build a meeting-house for their better accommodation, which was accordingly done at the present site, which for some time previous bad been used as a burying-ground. With the consent of Haverford Monthly meeting and the Philadelphia quarterly Meeting, the Friends of Plymouth and Gwynedd were permitted to hold the first monthly Meeting for themselves the 22d of Twelfth Month, 1714-15. It cannot be ascertained, from the records at what exact time this meeting-house was built, but there is reason to believe that it could not have been long previous to that date. John Rees was appointed, the 25th of Twelfth Month, 1723, to keep the records of the births and burials which had been commenced in 1690. A school was kept from the beginning in connection with the meeting, and was the only one in the township down to the Revolution. Pupils came to it from miles around on horseback, in consequence of which a log stable was built on the premises. In his visit to America, the celebrated John Fothergill, an English Friend, preached on two different occasions at this place, -the first time on the 15th of Twelfth Month, 1721, and again the 27th of Tenth Month, 1736. Thomas Chalkley, in a visit here in Fourth Month, 1726, mentions David Meredith as one of the elders, who was then nearly eighty-nine years old, but who died in the following Eleventh Month. A short time before the revolution the Yearly Meeting at Philadelphia adopted a minute that the members do not hold negroes in bondage," and "that they shall not buy or sell any slaves." Eight incurred the censure, when a committee was appointed, in 1775, to ascertain the exact number held by the members of the meeting, which was ascertained to be sixteen negroes and one mulatto. Thomas Lancaster, Sr., was among those prevailed on, who emancipated his man, Cato, aged forty-six years, 6th of Sixth Month, 1774. The Revolution was also a trial to its members, several being disowned for entering the army or bearing arms, contrary to their precepts. The meeting- house was also used as a hospital for the sick or wounded from the battle of Germantown. In 1827 and the following year a division took place among the members on points of doctrine, and the result was that a portion separated and built not long afterwards a two story stone meeting-house near by, which is known as the Orthodox congregation, who have retained for their use a portion of the ancient graveyard. The present meeting-house is an ancient stone structure, one story high, situated in the west angle of the intersection of the Germantown and Plymouth turnpikes. Having been injured by fire, it was repaired in the summer of 1858 and a gallery placed in the east end. The graveyard has but one stone that bears an early inscription, and that is to the memory of Mathew Colly, who died March 3, 1722, aged fifty-five years. As he was not a Friend, that portion of the ground has since been incorporated with the rest, the meeting-house standing on its eastern portion. 1033 ASSESSMENT OF PLYMOUTH, 1780. Frederick Dull, assessor, and James Shepherd, collector. Zebulon Potts, 100 acres, 5 horses, 3 cows, and aged mother to maintain James Robinson, 106 a Henry Grubb, 3 h., 4 c Martin Whiteman, grist and saw-mill, 64 a., 2 h., 2 c Widow Leake's estate, 105 a John Davis, shoemaker, 2 h., 4 c Jacob Wager, 95 a., 2 h., 2 c Wigard Levering, 200 a., 4 h., 8 c., aged Michael Wills, 225 a, 6 h., 4 c., aged Barnabas Coulston, 100 a., 1 h, 2 c., aged Andrew Lisinger, 2 h., 2 c James Stroud, 111 a., 2 h., 4 c Frederick Dull, 120 a., 4 h., 4 c Jacob Peterman, smith, 92 a., 3 h., 3 c Christian Steer's estate, 40 a.; Andrew De Haven, 2 h., 2 c John Ettridge Sr's, estate, 50a James Shepherd, 100 a., 4 h., 2 c Henry Hence, 2 h., 3 c John Woods, 62 a., 2 h., 3 c James Wood, 96 a., 2 h., 4 c., maintains an aged mother Moses Meredith's estate, 150 a Charles Linensheat, 2 h., 2 c Moses Meredith's estate. 250 a. [two entries.] John Timberman, 2 h., 1 c David David, 96a., 2 h., 2 c Nathan Potts, smith, 36 a., 2 h., 3 c. Michael Trump's estate, 11 a Jacob Brown, 1 c Elizabeth Meredith, 198 a., 2 h., 2 c., William Ellis 1 h., 1 c John Campbell, 148 a., 2 h., 3 c John Sisler, 126 a., 2 h, 1 c Simon Armstrong, 137 a., 2 h., 2 c Ludwig Sharer, 50 a., 2 h., 2 c John Halman, 126 a., 4 c., an aged mother to maintain William Ryan, 100 a., 1 h., 2 c Samuel Brooke's estate, 186 a., 2 h., 3 c Peter Arnold, shoemaker, 1 h., 1 c John Davis, 166 a., 3 h., 2 c Thomas Whorlon, I c William Gregory, 60 a., I c., 2 h Alexander Loyal, 50 a., 2 h., 2 c., aged Samuel Caughlin, Innkeeper, 18 a., 2 h., 1 c Sarah Wagstaff's estate, 10 a John Dickinson, shoemaker, 1 h, 1 c Rebecca Lloyd, 21 a., 1 c., aged Philip Lloyd, 2 h., 1 c John Coulston, inn-keeper, 130 a., 3 h., 2 c Rudolph Bartle, 2 h. 3 c Nathaniel Van Winkle, turner, 5 a., 2 c Levi Trump, 3 a Joseph Buttler, innkeeper, 2 h., 2 c Israel Dickinson's estate, 47 a Jesse Rex, 1 h., 2 c Nicholas Knight, 6 a., 2 h., 2 c Joseph Jones, 250 a., 3 h., 3 c Reese Bell, 2 c Thomas Davis, 130 a, 4 h., 2 c Mercy Davis, 100 a., 2 h., 2 c Archibald McCall's estate, 75 a Daniel 0. Neal, inn-keeper 2 h., 1 c Joseph Levering, 70 a., 2 h., 2 c John Pringle's estate, 130 a., and grist-mill John Whiteman, 5 h., 3 c. Alexander Colley, 250 a., 4 h., 6 c Philip Sidney, 1 c Joseph Fitzwater, wheelwright, 44 a., 2 h., 2 c Daniel Deal, inn-keeper, 52 a, 2 h., 1 c Andrew Crawford, 180 a., 3 h. 4 c Samuel Cowden, weaver, 2 c John Bayard, merchant, 50a., 3 h., 4 c., 4 slaves, 1 chariot, 1 chair, plate 130 oz. Stephen Potts, 70 a John Yetter, 1 c Jonathan Tomkins, 1 h., 1 c SINGLE MEN. Patrick McConnel Hugh McKnowles William Samuel George Wolf William Tippen Anion Pharoah Joseph Levering Benjamin Levering John Colton Michael Wills Jacob Whiteman John Whiteman Jesse Wager John Loyal Andrew Norney David Jones Jonathan Colley. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. THE CORSON FAMILY. For sketches of Drs. Hiram, William and Elwood Corson, see chapter on The Medical Profession. The Corson family trace their descent from the Huguenots who fled from France in 1675 on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, which drove nearly all Protestants from that kingdom. The historical fact is that two French ships sailed with families for Charleston, S. C., one of them landing its exiles at the place of destination and the other being either cast away on the shores of Staten Island or making of harbor in distress and discharging its passengers there. On this vessel, as we are informed by Weiss, in the appendix to his "History of the Persecution of the French Huguenots, by Louis XIV," came the Corsons, Kreusons, Lefferts, Larzaleres, Du Bois' and other French families, who, about 1726, pressed their way westward and settled in Northampton township, Bucks Co., Pa., where, to the present day, their descendants are quite numerous. There is documentary proof that Benjamin Corson, of Staten Island, on the 19th of May, 1726, bought two hundred and fifty acres of land half a mile below the present Addesiville, Bucks Co., for three hundred and fifty pounds. This was the original home of the family in Bucks County, and remained in its hands until 1823. This Benjamin Corson was the great grandfather of Joseph Corson, a merchant and farmer, who in 1786 came from Bucks County and located near Plymouth Meeting, Montgomery Co. The litter married Hannah, daughter of William Dickinson, whose ancestor, Walter Dickinson, of the Church of England, received a patent for four hundred and twenty acres of land on the Patapsco River, in Maryland, in 1658. From this ancestor descended William Dickinson, who became a Friend, moved to Pennsylvania and settled at Plymouth Meeting shortly after Penn founded his colony, in 1683. He was the great grandfather of Hannah Dickinson, who married Joseph Corson, and became the mother of the children mentioned in this sketch. The mother of Joseph Corson was a Dungan, a lineal descendant of Rev. Thomas Dungan, a Baptist preacher, who came from Rhode Island and settled at Cold Spring, near Bristol, Bucks Co., in 1684. This minister was the founder of the Baptist Church in Pennsylvania. He had left England to escape the persecutions against his sect, but finding New England no better, came to Pennsylvania to share the religious liberty of the Quakers. In the graveyard of the church to which he ministered he buried the remains of Dr. Benjamin Rush, of Revolutionary fame. The zeal of the Corson family for liberty of conscience, therefore, is derived from Huguenot, Baptist and Quaker sources, certainly forming a strong pedigree in that direction. 1034 ALAN W. CORSON. "Let the mind be great and glorious, and all other things are despicable in comparison" -Seneca. Without doubt, the best known and most justly celebrated scholar and scientist in Montgomery County was Alan W. Corson (son of Joseph and Hannah Corson), of Whitemarsh Township. We have others whose general scholastic attainments are more classical, but in the higher mathematics, botany, geology, mineralogy, conchology, entomology and astronomy -he was distinguished in our county. Born in Whitemarsh township, Second Month 21, 1788, he continued on the farm of his father and attended Friends' school until twelve years of age, when his father having entered the store business and needing his services be entered on his duties there, at which he continued until grown to adult age. That business in the country ofttimes affords much opportunity for study; and, with an ambition to learn, a good memory and great mental capacity, he soon made rapid progress in knowledge. The libraries were visited for volumes of history, science and general literature, and he rapidly took place among the brightest young men of the time, "He possessed such decided mathematical capacity," says Mr. Auge, "that he was able to master these studies nearly unaided by teachers. By the time he was grown, therefore, he was capable of teaching all the common mathematical branches, as well as the other studies usual in high schools. He was thus early a self-taught scholar and teacher also, a profession to which he devoted himself. For many years, in addition to carrying on a farm of about fifty acres, he taught Friends' school at Plymouth Meeting, and afterwards for many years a boarding-school in his own home, in Whitemarsh, his reputation as a teacher being so high that he drew many pupils from Norristown and other places. "About middle life, however, he abandoned teaching as a profession, and having a large farm and a nursery of trees and shrubs, he divided his time between these and land-surveying, an art in which he was regarded as the most accomplished in the county. His reputation in that department was so eminent that he was often called to distant places and employed wherever there were difficult lines to run that required extra skill and accuracy to determine true boundaries. "In this calling he was not relieved from service until he was nearly, if not quite, eighty years of age, when he deemed it prudent to decline further labor. "He was also, during nearly all his adult life, because of accuracy in accounts, excellence of judgment and high character for integrity, employed by neighbors and acquaintances to write wills, deeds and agreements for them; he was frequently, also, appointed executor by testators or chosen administrator by those dying intestate." Quite early in life Alan W. Corson was married to Mary, daughter of Lawrence Egbert, of Plymouth, and they had born to them the following children: I. Hannah, who married James Richie, and lives in Philadelphia. II. Sarah, married to Isaac Garretson, of Whitemarsh III. Martha, wife of Isaac Styer, of Plymouth. IV. Elias H. Corson, whose life and family history appear elsewhere in this volume. V. Lawrence E., who married Mary, daughter of Dr. Benjamin Johnson, of Norristown. VI. Joseph, who studied medicine with his uncle, Dr. Hiram, graduated at the University of Pennsylvania, and till the breaking out of the Rebellion practiced at Portsmouth, Ohio; was surgeon of an Ohio regiment during the war, and died soon after his return. He was married to Martha Cutler, of that place, and his widow and two sons still reside there. VII. Luke is a farmer in Nebraska; has two sons. Alan W. Corson's eldest daughter, Mrs. Richie, inherited her father's love of natural science, and more than thirty years ago furnished to the Montgomery County Cabinet of Natural Science, which her father had been mainly instrumental in forming, a valuable herbarium. She stands high as a botanist, and the vast collection of rare specimens which she has gathered and cultivated, as also her museum of salt and freshwater shells, have made her justly celebrated among her acquaintances. She has two daughters living in Philadelphia, one the wife of Dr. John Graham, the other married to Mr. George Perkins. No man could be more careful than Alan Corson to so deport himself as to give no offense, go sensitive and unobtrusive as to refuse to be put forward in places above his friends, or more ready to discover the appearance of neglect and quick to refuse to receive a favor bestowed with a shade of reluctance. He became a member of the Society of Friends at a very early age, and attended the meetings very regularly. Once, after an attendance at Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, he was returning on foot (at that time there was not even a stage), when, as he reached the hill at "Robin Hood" (now Laurel Hill), he saw a neighbor coming behind him in a two-horse carriage, with some of his family in it, but yet a vacant seat. He felt that now he could have a ride home. As they neared he turned and spoke to them, and instinctively held up his hand just as they seemed to be passing. They stopped and took him in. He had scarcely been seated before the conviction seized him that but for the gesture he made they would have passed without inviting him in. At once he said he desired to get out. They endeavored to detain him, but he sprang out and afterwards walked home with a very light step. This little incident was most characteristic of the man. Mr. Auge, in his biography, already alluded to, thus sums up his history,- "A notice of Alan W. Corson would not be complete without further reference to his brothers and sisters, the other children of Joseph Corson, who left a large family, nearly all of whom were well educated and possessed commanding talents and marked moral characteristics. 1035 The author will be pardoned for saying that they exhibit marked peculiarities, reminding him of some of the time-honored clans of Scotland. The Corsons will arraign each other, sometimes, sharply, but to the outside world they are a unit. This results from the very commendable and warranted pride of family, or esprit de corps, as the French phrase it. Almost all the race possess a keen, jocular turn of mind, and some of them a talent for mimicry and critical badinage peculiarly French. The author may also add that he has no knowledge of any man of the county from whom are descended so large a number of cultivated and distinguished offspring, both in the male and female branches, as are descended from Joseph Corson. "With few exceptions, the whole Corson race have been cultivated in mind and are notorious for their love of free thought. True to free Huguenot origin, they have been outspoken for freedom -the deadly foes of slavery, and most of them life-long teetotalers. As the phrenologists say, the moral instincts have predominated over those strictly religious, Alan W. being the only one of the male members of the family who assumed the strict garb and life of Friends, although most of them adhere to the society's teachings. Alan W. is justly noted for his doctrinal unity with those who hold the views of Elias Hicks, and for the conscientious fulfillment of every precept of Christian morals. "Alan W. Corson's mind received a strong religious bent at a very early age, and his conscientiousness and truthfulness have been controlling characteristics during his long life. Many years ago, with his cousin, John Evans, [See NOTE.] he used to make annual excursions to the lowlands of Delaware, Maryland, the, sandy pinewoods of New Jersey, and even to the Adirondacks, for specimens of botany, geology , mineralogy and entomology, and in search of other scientific matters." He died June 21, 1882, in his ninety-fifth year, and was buried in Friends' burying-ground at Plymouth, where he had been accustomed to attend meeting for nearly ninety years, the last seventy years, almost invariably, when well, twice a week. [NOTE: An incident in the life of Alan W. Corson and John Evans may be mentioned here which, though commonplace, doubtless exerted a great influence on their after-movements. Alan, on returning from a visit to his daughter (present Mrs. Richie), at Westtown School, felt that he ought to call on this cousin, John Evans, whose house was but little out of the direct road home. The Corson and Evans families, though so closely related, had lived in different counties, and those two cousins had but slight acquaintance with each other. John was a miller and farmer, living in a most romantic place among the hills of Radnor, and kept hounds, and among his horses always had one famous for following the dogs as they sped miles and miles away after foxes in winter-time. Fox-hunting was a grand pastime with the Radnor boys and men, in those days when foxes were plenty. Alan reached his home in the evening, and early next morning was along the creek and on the hill-side looking for plants. He was delighted with the variety and luxuriance of the flora of that hornblende region, and returned before breakfast bringing with him several plants. John inquired of him what he was going to do with them. Alan then explained to him the botanical systems of Jussieu and Linnaeus, and pulling to pieces the plants he had gathered, showed him how to analyze them. The quick mind of John Evans saw before him a new field to explore. The flowering plants, the weeds and briars, the evergreens and other trees growing around him, were seen in a new light: where before there ofttimes seemed to be deformity and confusion, he then saw the order of nature. From that day the foxes were no longer molested by him; the hunting-horses and the hounds were forgotten, and instead of dashing at breakneck speed over hills, he became, with his cousin, an explorer of nature. Together they often traveled over the same hills on which he had followed the foxes, but it was now to study geology, mineralogy and botany. From that time until his death, nearly forty years, they made their excursions. From his "sand-garden," his "winter-garden" and his green- house, he sent many rare and valuable plants, to the "Kew Gardens" of Queen Victoria. His home was a center to which lovers of nature delighted to come; his generosity to them had no bounds. Mrs. Elizabeth Abrams, of Norristown, and Mrs. Daniel Paxson, at the old home in Delaware County, are his only living children. End NOTE] Mary Corson, the second child of Joseph and Hannah Corson, married Charles Adamson, of this county. They, soon after manage, moved to Chester County. Their children now living are Hannah, who married the widely-known philanthropist, the faithful antislavery and temperance advocate, one of the pure-stand best of men; they have several children . Mary's second child was Sarah, who, either inheriting or being taught the woman's rights principles so ardently cherished and advocated by her mother, and yearning for known gift and work beyond the narrow bounds at that time accorded to woman, commenced the study of medicine, under the instruction of her uncle, Dr. Hiram Corson. At that time (1851) the medical schools of Philadelphia, New York, Boston and other places refused her admission to the lectures, as they had refused Elizabeth Blackwell, who finally succeeded in graduating at Geneva, in the State of New York -the first woman physician who obtained the degree of M.D. in the United States. Even the Geneva College had then, through fear of losing students, shut their doors against women; but fortunately a medical college was established at Syracuse, N. Y., which expressed a willingness to receive females. Thither she went, and in due time graduated. She then spent one year as an assistant to the physician in the Blockley Hospital, in Philadelphia; subsequently married Lester C. Dolley, M.D., a former professor in the medical school in which she had graduated. They both practiced in Rochester, N. Y., until his death very successfully. She still resides there, and enjoys a high place in the profession in that city. Her only child, Dr. Charles Lester Dolley, occupies in the great Marine Laboratory at Naples the chair of biology accorded the University of Pennsylvania, -the only chair occupied by an American. He is there as the representative of the university. He is yet scarcely twenty-five years of age. Nearly every nation in Europe is represented in this great laboratory, some of them filling from six to twelve chairs, with the most skillful biologists known to the world. It will be no light work to cope with these scientists. 1036 The third child of Mary Corson is Thomas, who for nearly twenty years or more has been consul at Rio Janeiro, Pernambuco, Sandwich Islands, and consul-general in Australia, and is at present in Panama. He married Sarah Wright. They have two sons. Charles, the youngest son of Mary Corson, lives at Phoenixville, and is engaged in railroad business. Though long an invalid, suffering from bronchial disease, Mrs. Adamson had her sitting-room and her bed-chamber always crowded with flowering plants, -a measure in direct opposition to the prevailing medical opinion of the time; but the pleasurable enjoyment of their presence, and her long life of eighty-five years, and the conviction in the minds of physicians of the present day prove the wisdom of her course. Her love of flowers, and her enjoyment of poetry, that essence of literature, were marked characteristics of her quiet, beautiful life. Sarah Corson (third of Joseph Corson's children), born ____, married Thomas Read. With but a brief interval of two years, they always lived in the county. For many years he kept store at Hickorytown; afterwards owned and managed the mill in Upper Merion, near to Catfish dam. They had several children,- Sarah, married to Charles Jones, who resides in Conshohocken. Her son Joseph served through the war. Hannah, married to George Schultz, whose two sons were both killed in the war of the Rebellion, one at Antietam, the other at Gettysburg, Mary (married to John Roberts, now deceased), who still resides in Norristown. Lewis W. Read, M.D., whose history appears elsewhere. Joseph, who is a lumber merchant in Florida, and who bore an active part in the late war. Alan Corson Read, a dentist, who has resided for more than twenty years in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their mother died of consumption _____. To her and her sister (Mary Adamson) were entrusted the care of their brothers (when William was yet only four years old) when their mother passed from them. For their loving care, their wise counsel and, shall I say, to their daily aspirations for protection from all that brings sorrow, these children have ever been grateful. George Corson, the fourth of the six sons of Joseph and Hannah (Dickinson) Corson, was born First Month 4, 1803, in Plymouth township. He was an apt scholar, with a remarkable mathematical talent, a branch of learning in which his father had marked ability. In his brother Alan's school, where were congregated some of the brightest boys from different parts of the country, he led them all in that branch of study, while in some other studies some of them surpassed him. In early manhood he engaged in store-keeping at Plymouth Meeting with Jonathan Maulsby, and soon after married Martha, daughter of Samuel Maulsby (whose grandfather had come to America with William Penn,) and who then resided at Plymouth. Here George Corson continued in business for several years, until the death of his father-in-law, when he purchased the homestead and farm and lime-kilns, and then dropped the mercantile business to engage in farming and manufacturing lime. Here he continued in active and successful business until his death from consumption, November 18, 1880. Moses Auge, in his "Biography of Men of Montgomery County," said of him, "He was justly distinguished for high moral qualities, being a most untiring anti-slavery man and temperance advocate." Few men have exerted a better influence in a neighborhood than the subject of this sketch. Though never a member of Friends' Meeting, he was a frequent attendant there, and his family were brought up in accord with the principles of the society. On engaging in the lime business, where the men employed had been in the habit of whipping and abusing the horses, he exercised a marked influence for good. Not a man was allowed to strike or maltreat a horse; even drivers in the employ of other people were often stopped in their abuse of animals by his fearless interference. No threat of injury from the driver for a moment checked him. Often were whips and even clubs raised to strike, but those who raised them quailed before the courage and demands of the friend of the noble animal. At this time, too, every workman in the quarries and at the kilns had to be supplied with whisky, as much as he chose to have. He at once announced that no liquor would be furnished; none allowed at the works. The skilled workmen at once left. In present parlance, there was a strike. Nothing daunted, he called raw hands to the work, supervised the parts which demanded skill in management and succeeded in his purpose. No kiln of lime had been burned before that time but by the aid of whisky. In 1830, Benjamin Sundy, the little, meek New Jersey Quaker, the first of American Abolitionists, came to Plymouth to speak about slavery, to show that Southern slave-holders were contriving to embroil us with Mexico, in order that we could then have a pretense to sever Texas from that country, so that slavery could be spread over a new and fertile country of great extent. He had traveled through that then sparsely-settled region, had mingled with Southern slave-holders and had become cognizant of their schemes. His visit North was to get subscribers to the "Genius of Universal Emancipation," which he was then publishing in Baltimore occasionally, and to awaken here an anti-slavery sentiment. He came to George Corson's. A meeting was called; only a few persons came. Alan, George and Hiram Corson, Jonathan Maulsby and two or three others. This was the beginning of George Corson's giving a home and entertainment to anti-slavery lecturers, -the beginning of a generous hospitality which was continued to them for thirty years. 1037 From that time George Corson and his wife threw open their house to all the anti-slavery speakers. It was there that Garrison, McKim, Lucretia Mott, Mary Grew, Abbie Foster (nee Kelly), Charles and Cyrus Burleigh and many others were welcomed and entertained. This will seem a trifling thing to many to speak of now, but to those who know how Abolitionists were denounced by nearly the whole people, even by the ministers in their pulpits, who called them infidels, and that even Friends treated their members who joined the Abolitionists with extreme coldness, how the vulgar people cursed and threatened them, -those who know these things, know that no faint-hearted, cowardly man was then an Abolitionist. While every brother and sister of George Corson was an outspoken Abolitionist and warm in the cause, there was not one of them that entertained the despised members of the Anti-Slavery Society so much as his family did. But this was partly owing to the fact of its greater convenience to the lecturers to stay with them. And this brings me to another event worth naming. Even the Friends at Plymouth, after the anti-slavery crusade got fairly started, refused the meeting-house to the anti-slavery people. Every church and school-house, with rare exceptions, was shut against them; and even when granted, the meetings were disturbed, not only by men sometimes drunk and noisy, but often by "persons of property and standing," as was the "Boston mob." The subject of our sketch therefore determined to build a hall, over which he could have control. He made quite a large one and furnished it well with seats, warmed and lighted it at his own expense. And now we can see how convenient it was for the lecturers to make his house their temporary home. As time wore on more and more neighbors and friends were attracted to the meetings to hear the eloquent and earnest men and women who pictured the atrocities of slavery. Many, too, were the fugitives fleeing from slavery whom his family entertained, by night and by day, in his home and in the hall. Time flew along. George Corson, worn down with consumption, died in ____. The war, which sunk slavery forever and gave freedom to four million human beings, was brought on by John Brown in 1861. Before his death George had sent his young daughter to the School of Design, in Philadelphia. After completing her studies there she spent several years studying art in Paris, then returned and made the old hall her studio. A few years later she was married to Thomas Hovenden, an artist, whose beautiful picture entitled "Elaine" had attracted much attention. Mr. Hovenden was sought by a gentleman in New York to paint him a picture of John Brown. The most liberal offer was made, and Mr. Hovenden undertook the work, on a design of his own. The old hall then became the studio of Mr. Hovenden, and there was designed and completed the great painting, now on exhibition in New York, "John Brown coming from the Charleston Jail with a rope about his neck, on his way to execution." It may not be deemed inappropriate to introduce here a brief extract from a published criticism of Mr. Hovenden's picture, just as it was about being sent from the studio, - "George Corson, one of the fathers of the present generation (of Corsons), was an earnest Abolitionist, and dwelt in an ancient homestead immediately opposite the Hicksite Plymouth Meeting. His home was a centre of the active agitation which friends and foes united in regarding an a harbinger of war. To furnish accommodations elsewhere denied for the gatherings of the faithful, he erected on his premise good-sized hall where many notable meetings, conferences and conventions were held and much weighty business transacted. His place too, become an important Underground Railroad station, and the entertainment of unexpected guests of dusty hue at breakfast is one of the memories of the family. The old homestead is to-day the residence of Thomas Hovenden, the historic painter, and his wife also a distinguished artist, Helen Corson Hovenden, the daughter of George Corson. "That old anti-slavery centre is now a centre of artistic interests, and the gatherings of fleeing slaves and their Abolition friends have been succeeded by weekly levees attended by painters, sculptors, literary folk and lovers of art, the traditional hospitality of the household being delightfully maintained. By one of those coincidences which cannot fail to excite interest, whether regarded as significant or not, it was to this home that Thomas Hovenden came, two years ago, when he received a commission for a picture of John Brown. Amid the association and memories which cling about this Underground Railroad station the picture has been painted. The 'Anti-Slavery Hall' was converted into a studio, and there the first sketches and drafts were made. Mr. Hovenden built a studio especially adapted to his purpose when he had determined what, conditions would be required, but the tentative work, deciding on the subject, composition and treatment, was done in the Abolitionists' meeting-room." That room is still the studio of Mrs. Hovenden. There is another incident which shows the zeal and courage of him of whom we write, which we may mention here. As he was one day coming home from his brother's, Charles Corson's, on the back road east of Shannonville, he overtook a man riding on horseback, while behind him walked a black man with a rope around his neck, one end of it being first to the saddle of the rider. Mr. Corson was also on horseback, and on coming alongside the stranger asked him why the man was thus tied. He replied that he had been his slave, had run away and that he had found him and was taking him home. After some more talk George hurried on to Norristown, and when the master and slave arrived had them arrested and taken before a magistrate. The slave-holder procured a lawyer; the magistrate's office was filled with people indignant that a "Southern gentleman" (?) should be thus insulted and Norristown disgraced by such an unwarrantable proceeding. The magistrate decided that "the master had a right to his property," and the prosecutor had to pay the costs. "The master has a right to his property," - "You want to rob him of his property," -was the battle-cry of the opponents of the Abolitionists at that time. George Corson was a small man, and in his latter years a weak one, but a braver, truer man never stood by a friend in his hour of peril. Of the children of George and Martha Maulsby Corson a few brief words. Mary died in infancy. Susan died in her fifteenth year. 1038 Dr. Marcus H. died in his twenty-third year, of consumption. This son was a youth of remarkable talents, but fell a victim to disease soon after his graduation at the University of Pennsylvania. Possessed of a remarkable memory, and having a great craving for knowledge, he gave promise of eminence in his profession, but the hopes of his friends were soon blighted by his early death. Samuel M. graduated in the Literary Department of the University of Pennsylvania, afterwards studied law in ____, and began practice in Philadelphia. Like his brother, Marcus H., he was a brilliant scholar, but was not fitted for the law; it was distasteful to him. Literature was his delight. He was a book-worm. For several years he taught school in Whitemarsh township, near to his old home, with great success, and while so engaged wrote many interesting articles for the public papers. A modest, kind gentleman and scholar, he died in 1883, and was buried, as were all his father's family then deceased, in the Friends' burying-ground near his birth-place. There are of George Corson's children still living only Ellwood, Helen and Ida. Dr. Ellwood M. Corson is the only surviving son of George and Martha Corson. A sketch of his life appears in the chapter upon the Medical Profession. Helen Corson, the oldest living daughter, now wife of Thomas Hovenden, has already been sufficiently referred to in this history of her father and mother. She and her husband occupy the old homestead, and both are earnest and aspiring in their profession. They have two children. Miss Ida Corson is a graduate of Vassar College, and quite remarkable for her mathematical ability. She resides at Washington, D. C., with her uncle, Dr. George Maulsby, surgeon in the United States navy. THOMAS LIVEZEY. His father, Samuel Livezey, was of Welsh origin, a minister of the Society of Friends, and with his wife, Mary, settled in Plymouth township, Montgomery Co., in 1788, where he reared his family and died. The children of Samuel and Mary Livezey were Thomas, Martha (married Jacob Albertson), Rachel (married Jonathan Maulsby), Samuel, Mary (married Lewis Jones), Joseph, and Ann (who married William Ely). PICTURE OF THOMAS LIVEZEY, APPEARS HERE. Thomas Livezey, born the 27th of Fourth Month, 1803, died in his Native township, Plymouth, on the 2d of Tenth Month, 1879. A friend of Thomas Livezey paid him the following tribute at his death: "His brothers selecting other business, he became a farmer and store- keeper. The estate left him by his father he kept intact, having died on the farm on which he was born, and he leaves a good estate besides. He was a director in the Bank of Montgomery County during its controversy with the late David M. Conkey, in which the bank came off victorious, also a director in the First National Bank of Norristown, and for many years he was a school director. 1039 "He was a member of Friends' Meeting at Plymouth, and though he did not have a gift in the ministry, as his father had, yet he wielded a large influence in the meeting, and his opinions were always respected. As a business man he lacked nothing in ability or integrity. He lived to see the flail, the rake, the scythe and the pitch-fork, which he had wielded on many a weary day, give place to the threshing-machine, the horse-rake, the mowing-machine and the horse-fork. He saw the dirt road substituted by the turnpike road, and it, in turn, give way to the railroad; his leather and wooden springs supplanted by the steel springs under his carriage, and they, in turn, by the passenger car; the mail-bags on horseback by express trains; and the special messenger by the telegraph. Finally, he lived to see his country redeem herself from the sin of slavery, and re-enter upon a new career of business prosperity." His wife, Rachel, born at Attleboro, Bucks Co., Pa., on the 27th of Eighth Month, 1808, whom he married on the 18th day of the Tenth Month, 1832, was the daughter of Joseph and Mary Richardson, who came from England about 1784, and settled at Peale Hall, in Philadelphia. She survives in 1885. Their children are seven sons, viz.: Dr. Edward Livezey (1833 to 1876), studied medicine with Dr. Hiram Corson, was graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in the spring of 1859, served one and one-half years in Wills' Eye Hospital, one year in the Pennsylvania Hospital, afterward in the Government Hospital at Broad and Cherry Streets, and subsequently located at 507 North Sixth Street, Philadelphia, where he continued to enjoy a large practice until his death. Samuel, in the packing business, Chicago. Joseph R. engaged in the real estate business in Philadelphia. John R. (1842-1867) studied conveyancing with Nathan R. Potts, of Philadelphia, where he had a lucrative business. Henry (1843-1846). Henry, 2d. (1847-1873) read law with Judge F. C. Brewster, of Philadelphia, and D. H. Mulvany, of Norristown; was admitted to practice at the Montgomery County bar, November 10, 1869, and at the time of his death he was associated with the present Judge Boyer. Thomas Ellwood, a farmer on the home-stead. JONATHAN JONES. Isaac Jones, the father of the subject of this biographical sketch, resided at Conshohocken, where he cultivated a productive farm. He was three times PICTURE OF JONATHAN JONES, APPEARS HERE. 1040 married, his first wife, the mother of Jonathan Jones, being Elizabeth Yerkes, whose children were John, William, Jonathan, Ann, Susan (Mrs. Thomas Hopkins), Charles, Elizabeth (Mrs. Charles Sheppard). Jonathan was born on the 10th of January 1800, in Whitemarsh Township, and in youth received a common school education after which his time and skill were devoted to the farm which his father owned and cultivated. At the age of twenty-five he married Eliza, daughter of John and Anna Davis, of Plymouth, and had children, - Anne J. (Mrs. Samuel Foulke), Evan D., Elwood (deceased), Esther, Elizabeth J. (Mrs. William Webster), J. Davis (deceased) and Rachel (deceased). Mr. Jones, on his marriage, removed to a farm located in Plymouth, owned by his father-in-law, Mr. Davis, which for twenty-one years he cultivated, and on the death of the latter removed to the Davis homestead, where he resided during the remainder of his life, his widow and two daughters being now the occupants of the farm. Mr. Jones possessed excellent business qualifications, combining much judgment and sagacity with the most absolute integrity. In connection with his farm, he conducted a successful lumber trade at Conshohocken. Mr. Jones was a man of benevolent and kindly instincts, with a keen sense of justice and liberal in his estimate of the character and motives of others. These qualities caused him frequently to be made arbiter in the adjustment of differences among his neighbors, and rendered his services invaluable as guardian and trustee. He was a Whig, and later a Republican in politics, but not active as a politician. He was by birthright a Friend, and one of the most useful representatives of that denomination at the time of his death, which occurred October 5, 1867. JESSE SHEPARD. The Shepard family are of English descent. Thomas Shepard, the father of the subject of this biographical sketch, resided in Whitemarsh township, where he followed his trade of carpenter, combined with which were the frequent duties of an undertaker. He married Miss Sarah Streaper, whose children were Deborah (Mrs. Henry Zern, of Indiana) John Thomas Charles Jesse. PICTURE OF JESSE SHEPARD, APPEARS HERE. The death of Mr. Shepard occurred on the 4th of October, 1821, in his fifty-fourth year, and Mrs. Shepard died on the 20th of the same month during the year following. Their youngest son, Jesse, was born September 30, 1814, in Whitemarsh township, and during his youth attended the paid schools of the neighborhood, after which he learned the trade of a cabinet- maker, under the direction of his brother John. While still pursuing his trade he, at the age of twenty-one, removed to the farm, which is his present residence, and combined the labor of the farmer with that of a cabinet-maker. In 1866 be retired from the latter occupation, and has since devoted his time exclusively to the superintendence of his farming interests. Mr. Shepard was married to Harriet Y. Schultz, granddaughter of Christopher Yeakle, of Chestnut Hill, and daughter of Henry W. Schultz, of Whitemarsh Township. Their children are Sarah Anna E. (Mrs. Abram A. Yeakle) Henry W. S. Charles E. John S. Mr. Shepard votes the Republican ticket most frequently, but reserves to him the right to cast an independent ballot where party measures or candidates challenge his approval. Though the incumbent of various minor township offices in the past, he usually declines such distinctions. In religion he worships with the Friends at Plymouth Meeting.