History: Local: CHAPTERS LXIX - LXXI: Pottsgrove, Providence and Lower Providence 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. ¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼ BEAN'S HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA ¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼¼ 1041 CHAPTER LXIX. POTTSGROVE TOWNSHIP. THIS township is situated in the extreme western corner of the county, Find the uppermost on the river, and is bounded northeast by Douglas and New Hanover, southeast by Limerick, south by the Schuylkill and the borough of Pottstown and west and northwest by Berks County. Its length is five miles, average breadth three and a half miles, with an area of eleven thousand six hundred square acres, or about eighteen square miles. The entire southern portion of the township, especially that portion which lies between the Reading turnpike and the river, is fertile and well cultivated. The eastern part is more rolling, and towards the Douglas, New Hanover and Limerick line is quite hilly. Among the most prominent elevations can be named Ringing Hill, Stone Hill, Prospect Hill and the Fox Hills. The soil on these elevations is generally thin and very stony. Pottsgrove is pretty well watered by the Manatawny and Sprogel's Creeks, Sanatoga and Goose Runs and their various branches. The Manatawny is the largest stream, which rises in Rockland Township, Berks Co., and after a general southeast course of about eighteen miles empties into the Schuylkill at the borough of Pottstown. Of its length, two miles are in this township, in which distance it propels three grist-mills. The earliest mention we have found of this stream is from a visit of Governor Gordon in its vicinity in 1728. He calls it the "Mahanatawny." It is an Indian name, and Heckewelder says in their language it signified "where we drank." Sprogel's Run is wholly in this township, rising in the Fox Hill, and after a southeast course of four miles empties, into the Schuylkill. It propels only a clover and chopping- mill It is called by this name on Scull's map of 1770. Formerly, on its banks, near the centre of the township, a copper-mine was worked. Sanatoga Run, though only about three and a half miles in length, furnishes valuable water-power. It rises by two branches in New Hanover Township with a general southwest course, and propels in Pottsgrove four grist and three saw-mills. This stream has an Indian name, and we find it variously spelled, --on Scull's map of 1770, Sanatoga; on Howell's map of 1792, Sanatoga; and the same on the county maps of 1849 and 1857. Among the natural curiosities of Montgomery County may be mentioned the Ringing Rocks, as they are called, on Stone Hill, which are situated about three miles northeast of Pottstown. They consist of a bed of trap rocks; exceedingly hard and compact, which, on being struck with a hammer ring like iron. The rocks are piled on one another and cover about one and a half acres of ground, within which space no trees or bushes are found growing. It is supposed that the largest rocks would weigh from five to twenty-five tons each, and some of the apertures are visible to the depth of twenty-five feet. A number of impressions can be seen on them, among which are three closely resembling the human foot, from three to six inches in depth, and also a number resembling the tracks of horses, elephants, and cannon-balls of from six to twelve inches in diameter. The sounds emitted by these rocks are various, depending on their size and shape. Some, when struck, resemble the ringing of anvils, others of church-bells, with all the intermediate tones. In fact, there is not a note in music that has not here a corresponding key. As Aristotle has stated that in every block of marble there is a statue, but it took a sculptor to find it, so it might be said of these rocks, in every one there is some note in music, but it would still require the aid of a musician to verify it. The German inhabitants of the neighborhood from an early period have given this hill the name of Kiingleberg, signifying Ringing Hill. On the west end of Stone Hill, about two miles from Pottstown, a fine view is obtained of the surrounding country. The hills of the Schuylkill can be traced in Chester and Berks Counties for thirty or forty miles. Pottsgrove was erected into a township in 1807, and its territory was taken from the townships of Douglas and New Hanover. William Penn, the 25th of October, 1701, conveyed to his son, John Penn, a tract of twelve thousand acres of land, which the latter, the 20th of June, 1735, sold to George McCall, a merchant of Philadelphia, for the sum of two thousand guineas, or, in our present currency, nine thousand three hundred and thirty-three dollars. On a resurvey it was found to contain fourteen thousand and sixty acres. This, purchase comprised all of the present township of Douglas; and the upper half of Pottsgrove and the whole of Pottstown to the Schuylkill. According to the records, it was commonly called "McCall's Manor" down to 1753. George McCall was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and after his arrival here became a successful merchant in Philadelphia. There is reason to believe that he first built the iron-works in this township, which he called after the place of his nativity, and which has been retained to this day. Judging by the extensive purchase he made here, he must have been a man of some means. In 1722 he was elected a member of the City Council, and died in 1740. Among the first settlers of the township was John Henry Sprogel, who, with his brother Lodwick Christian Sprogel, by invitation of William Penn, came to this country from Holland. They were both naturalized in 1705, and John Henry purchased here about six hundred acres, on which he settled with his family. The present Sprogel's Run was called after him and flows through this tract. From the dates upon different stones in the ancient burial-ground, east of the borough line, it is inferred that he must have been amongst the first that resided in the township. John Potts, in 1753, lived in Pottsgrove (now called Pottstown), after whom both the borough and this township have been named. 1042 By the act of April 11, 1807, it was enacted "That the Sixth Election District shall be composed of the township of Pottsgrove, lately erected from a part of New Hanover and a part of Douglas, and shall hold their elections at the house of Wm. Lesher, Pottstown, and the electors of the remainder of the township of Douglas and New Hanover at the house of Henry Kreps, New Hanover." The Court of Quarter Sessions, June 10, 1875, divided the present township into what is called the Upper and Lower Election Districts. Pottsgrove, according to the census of 1810, contained 1571 inhabitants; in 1820, 1882 in 1830, 1302 in 1840, 1361 in 1850, 1689 in 1880, 3985. The number of taxables in 1828 was 252 in 1849, 351 in 1858, 406 in 1875, 937 in 1884, 1225. By the triennial assessment of 1858 the real estate was valued at $348,511, and the horses and meat cattle at $15,136. In 1884 the value of improved lands was $1,588,830 value of unimproved lands, $116,535 value of 443 horses, $26,125 value of 950 cattle, $24,000 value of all property taxable for county purposes, $1,884,510. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad passes through the whole length of the township, a distance of five miles, with a station at Sanatoga; the Colebrookdale has a course of more than two miles, with a station at Glasgow, and connects with the main fine at Pottstown. The villages are Crooked Hill, Glasgow, Grosstown and Half-Way. Glasgow is a small manufacturing village about one and a half miles north from Pottstown, and is the site of the Glasgow Iron-Works and Rolling- Mills. George McCall, by his will, dated September 21, 1739, bequeathed five hundred acres of what was known as McCall's Manor to his son, Alexander McCall, and which subsequently became known as the Forge Tract. Alexander McCall sold the Forge property to Joseph and John Potts and James Hackley. In 1789 it was sold at sheriff's sale to David Rutter and Joseph Potts, Jr. Rutter, in the same year, sold his share to Samuel Potts, who, by will, in 1793, authorized his sons to sell his interest, and February 13, 1797, it was conveyed to Joseph Potts, Jr., who was the owner of the other half. It was continued by Joseph Potts, Jr., and his family until March 12, 1832; when it was sold to Jacob Weaver, Jr. In 1820 there were at the place a small sheet-iron mill, two bloomeries, a grist-mill, a saw- mill, two mansion-houses, ten log tenant-houses and two stone tenant- houses. After the purchase by Weaver ten stone tenant-houses in one row were erected and the other houses were abandoned. Weaver assigned the property September 2, 1846, and on April 5, 1847, the assignee conveyed it to James Rittenhouse, David and William Schall. About this time a stone school-house was erected, which is still used. Jacob Weaver also built a furnace, which was, however, not successful. The Forge property passed, in 1864, to James Hamilton and in 1873 to Joseph I. Bailey and Comley B. Shoemaker. About 1874 a brick school-house was erected, which is used by the Methodists, who are supplied with preaching mostly by the Methodist pastors of Pottstown. Glasgow at present contains the iron-works of the Glasgow Iron Company, several fine residences of the proprietors and about eighteen other dwellings. Grosstown is a small settlement about two miles west of Pottstown, on the Philadelphia, Reading and Perkiomen turnpike. It contains at present a half dozen houses, school-house and blacksmith-shop. It derived its name from a family by the name of Gross, who lived there seventy or eighty years ago, and who disappeared from that neighborhood over fifty years since. Crooked Hill is a hamlet containing fifteen or twenty houses, a post- office, hotel, store, school-house and grist-mill. It is situated on Crooked Hill Run, northerly from Sanatoga Station, on the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, and three miles east from Pottstown on the old Philadelphia, Reading and Perkiomen turnpike. Sixty years ago the tavern was kept by Levi Windermuth. The grist-mill, and, later the post-office, were kept by one of the family. It was a favorite stopping-place for teamsters on the turnpike, which was one of the great routes of travel. It derived its name from the peculiar formation of bills in the vicinity. There are eighteen public schools in the township, with nine hundred and twenty pupils. Twenty teachers (ten males and ten females) are employed, at a salary of thirty-two dollars per month. The school term is six months. For the school year ending with June 1, 1857, the schools were open only four months and attended by four hundred and eighty-five pupils. The sum of fourteen hundred and fifty dollars was levied to defray the expenses of the same. 1043 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. WILLIAM BROOKE. Thomas Brooke, the father of the subject of this biographical sketch, resided on the Brooke homestead, in Pottsgrove township, still in possession of the family, where he was both a successful farmer and an iron-master. He was married to Miss Anna Grant, whose youngest son, William, was born at the homestead on the 8th of January 1792. After securing such rudimentary education as was obtainable at that early day, he was attracted to the congenial life of the agriculturist, first as assistant to his father and later as general superintendent of his farming interests. On the death of the latter, he became the owner, by inheritance, of the estate, where the whole of his life was spent in the cultivation of its productive land. He in early life entered the service during the war of 1812, though his command did not participate in any important engagements. Major Brooke was in 1837, married to Miss Martha, daughter of David Rutter, of Pine Forge Works, in Berks County. PICTURE OF WILLIAM BROOKE, APPEARS HERE. Their children are John R., who won distinguished laurels and the rank of major-general during the war of the Rebellion, and subsequently entered the regular army and was, made commandant of Fort Shaw, Mont. Caroline (Mrs. Samuel S. Campbell) Mary (Mrs. William Hopkins). Major Brooke affiliated with the Old-Line Whig party during its existence, and was subsequently a stanch supporter of the Republican party, its platform and principles. Though public-spirited and well-informed in all questions of the day, he was averse to the excitements and indifferent to the honors attending a political career. His sympathies during the late war were manifested not only in expressions of loyalty to the Union cause, but also in more practical form when substantial aid was needed. He was educated in the faith of the Society of Friends, to which he adhered through life, worshiping with the Friends' Meeting at Pottstown. Major Brooke bore a reputation for scrupulous honor and the most unquestionable integrity both his social and business relations, having been in his character and bearing a fine example of the old-school gentleman. His death occurred at Pottstown on the 7th of October 1872, in his eighty-first year. 1044 CHAPTER LXX. PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP. By F. G. Hobson. WHEN William Penn, as the true and absolute proprietary of the province, sold the lands of the commonwealth, he reserved for himself a large tract of the land on the east side of the Schuylkill River. It embraced the whole of the present townships of Upper Providence and Lower Providence and parts of the townships of Perkiomen and Worcester. The tract was named by him "The Manor of Gilberts," and was so known for many years. The name was in honor of Penn's mother, who was of the family of Gilberts. One of the early purchasers of land in this manor was Jacob Tellner, one of the founders of "Germantown", who owned a largo tract along the Skippack Creek, which now constitutes the northwest corner of the present township of Lower Providence. For many years, from about the year 1700, the land lying along the Skippack Creek was known as Tellner township, while that between the Skippack and Perkiomen, was called " Perkoming," the present township of Perkiomen being then known as "Van Bebber's township." At the March term of court, 1725, the petition of divers inhabitants along the Perquomin Creek was presented, praying the court to establish a township of the territory upon which they resided. This petition was signed by William Lane Samuel Lane James Lane Peter Rambo John Morris James Shatlick Richard Jones Thomas Diewer ____ Casselberry Thomas Loch John Bull Rienard Adams Thomas Potts Daniel Philips Lewis Rees. At that time nothing was done. At the March Sessions, 1729, a new petition of the same persons was presented, accompanied by a draft of the proposed township, and setting forth the bounds and limits thereof as follows: "Beginning at a hickory, marked for a corner, standing in the line of Isaac Norris's land; thence extending by the same southwest twelve hundred perches to a Gum tree standing by Schuylkill side; thence up the same the several courses twenty-two hundred and ninety-one perches to a Hickory at a corner of Limerick Township; thence by the same northeast thirteen hundred perches to a Hickory, a corner of Bebber's land; thence by the line of called Bebber's land on Skippack southwest and New Bristol township (so called) twenty-two hundred and ninety perches, to the place of beginning. containing by computation, 17,892 acres and 30 perches." On the 2d of March 1729, the court decreed that the territory just specified be erected into a township, and the same be called by the name of "Providence township." The origin of the name of "Providence" is not certainly known. Tradition says it was settled by some of the followers of Roger Williams, of Rhode Island. Nearly a century before this time the settlement in Rhode Island had been named "Providence." Hence his followers coming here called this region "New Providence." In most of the old documents it is called New Providence. Another more plausible theory is that it received its name from one of the West Indies Island, viz., "New Providence." Craig, an early settler, came from that place, while the Lanes and Richardsons, two of the foremost families of the township, came from the neighboring Island of Jamaica. After a time the township lost the "New" and retained as its name simply "Providence." This township, or, as it is now, townships of Upper Providence and Lower Providence, face the Schuylkill River, and constitute the central townships of the county. They are bounded on the west by Limerick, on the north by Perkiomen and Worcester, on the east by Norriton and on the south by the Schuylkill River. The surface of both townships is rolling, the soil is mostly red shale and very productive, especially along the rivers Schuylkill and Perkiomen. There is very little waste land. The Perkiomen Creek, which forms the natural division line between the two townships, is the largest stream in Montgomery County. It is about thirty miles in length, following its meanderings. The name Perkiomen is of Indian origin, and means "the place where grow the cranberries." The spelling of this name has undergone many changes. In Penn's deed of purchase it is called "Pah- he-homa." In Nicholas Scull's map it is spelled "Perquamink." Afterwards we find it known as "Perquoming" "Perkiomino" "Perkoming" "Perkionan" "Perquoning" "Perquonum" "Perquomin", and later as "Perkiomen". The Mingo Creek rises in Limerick township and runs through the western part of Upper Providence, where it empties itself into the Schuylkill. Its stream is weak. Another small stream, known as Zimmerman's Run, rises near Trappe and empties into the Perkiomen, near Yerkes. In Lower Providence there are two streams of water, -the Skippack and Mine Run. The Skippack is about seventeen miles in length and empties into the Perkiomen, at Arcola. Its name, which is of Indian origin, and means "a stagnant stream" or "pool of water," symbolized its nature. Mine Run rises in the township and is about three miles in length, and it empties into the Perkiomen, at Oaks. It would be impossible to give the history of the roads of the township. The Great road from Philadelphia to the Perkiomen is a very ancient one. In 1709 this road was extended towards Reading. The petition therefor is signed by John Henry Sprogell Morris Jones John Newman Matthew Brooks Robert Belling and Henry Paukor, and recites that they have "plantations lying very remote in the county, and on the edge or outskirts of any inhabitants of the country and no public road; they therefore pray for a road from the late house of Edward Lane deceased, being in the Queen's highway, unto Maunitauns, etc." In 1734 a jury consisting of Richard Jones Christopher Zimmerman John Umstat Joseph Armstrong John Bull Samuel Evans laid out a road from Henry Pawling's plantation to the road or cartway leading to Norriton Mills, and thence, by or near the mill formly belonging to Edward Lane, to St. James' Church on Manatawny road in Providence. 1045 In 1736 a public road was laid out which now constitutes the Ridge turnpike road. In public improvements Providence has its full share. The Perkiomen and Reading turnpike road was completed in 1815. It runs from the Perkiomen Bridge to Reading. It passes three and one-half miles through the township. The Perkiomen and Sumneytown turnpike road was incorporated in 1845. PICTURE OF PERKIOMEN BRIDGE, BUILT 1798, APPEARS HERE. This road is eleven miles in length, one mile of which is in the township, where it terminates at Perkiomen Bridge. In Lower Providence there are two turnpike roads, both beginning at the eastern end of Perkiomen Bridge at Collegeville. Both the Germantown and Perkiomen road and the Ridge Turnpike road have been neglected for many years, and no tolls are collected for travel thereon. The burden of keeping them in repair has thus fallen on the townships. There are three railroads. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad runs about two miles through Upper Providence, with one station, "Mingo." The Perkiomen Railroad, running from Perkiomen to Allentown, Lehigh Co., passes through the whole length of the township along the Perkiomen Creek. There are four stations in the township, viz.: Oaks, Arcola, Yerkes and Collegeville, the last being the most important. The road was opened to travel as far as Collegeville on May 8, 1868, and was gradually extended to Allentown. The Pennsylvania Schuylkill Valley Railroad passes along the east side of the Schuylkill the entire length of both townships. It was completed in 1884, and has four stations Port Kennedy Perkiomen Port Providence Mont Clare. There are four bridges spanning the Perkiomen, connecting Upper Providence with Lower Providence, viz.: at Collegeville, Yerkes, Arcola, and Oaks. The latter three are wooden superstructures erected upon stone piers and abutments, while the one at Collegeville is a fine stone structure, and known as "The Perkiomen Bridge." In addition, there is a county bridge over the Mingo, and one near the almshouse over a small stream. In Lower Providence there are two county bridges over the Skippack, one on each of the turnpikes. In addition, there are two pay, bridges over the Schuylkill, one at Port Kennedy and the other at Pawling. In Upper Providence there are also two pay bridges across the Schuylkill. The bridge at Quineyville was incorporated in 1844, and built shortly thereafter. 1046 The one at Black Rock was built in 1860, and cost nineteen thousand dollars. There are also four fine railroad bridges in the township, -an iron one over the Perkiomen, on the line of the Pennsylvania Schuylkill Valley Railroad; a frame one over the Schuylkill, on the Perkiomen Railroad; a stone bridge over the same river on the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad; and an iron structure over the Schuylkill at Mount Clare, on the Pennsylvania Schuylkill Valley Railroad, erected in 1884. The present bridge structure at Collegeville is the oldest in the township. The place where the bridge now stands was known before this time as "Philip's Ford." It was a very dangerous one, Henry Buckwalter having drowned there, April 14, 1737, by reason of his horse stumbling. Many unsuccessful attempts were made to procure a bridge at this place. In the year 1794 the Legislature appropriated money to this object on condition that the county would furnish the balance. A petition was presented to the Montgomery County court, at May Sessions, 1795, asking for two thousand pounds towards building this bridge, which was allowed. This sum was seen to be so insufficient that the commissioners refused to proceed. Another petition was therefore presented at the May term, 1796, asking, for an additional appropriation of a sum sufficient to warrant the completion of the work. The grand jury unanimously recommended an additional two thousand pounds. On August 10, 1796, the court (Robert Loller judge) refused to concur. The people then again had recourse to the General Assembly of the State. On the 21st of February 1797, the Legislature passed "An Act for raising, by way of lottery, the sum of twenty thousand dollars, to be applied to the erection of a stone-arched bridge over the Perkioming Creek, in Montgomery County, on the road leading from Philadelphia to the borough of Reading." The following persons were named as commissioners to superintend the drawings of this lottery, viz., Peter Muhlenberg John Richards Samuel Baird Francis Swaine Moses Hobson Frederick Conrad Samuel Markley Francis Nicholas William Smith Philip Boyer Elisha Evan James Bean John Markley Robert Kennedy John Elliot nearly all of whom lived in this vicinity. There were two drawings of ten thousand tickets each. The first was commenced July 17, 1797, and continued twenty-one days. The capital prize of $3000 was drawn by No. 8252 No. 1268 drew $1000 No. 6785, $500. The second-class was drawn November 1, 1798, and continued twenty-five days. The $1000 prize was drawn by No. 2376. No. 9823 drew $500. On July 24, 1797, the county commissioners, -Frederick Conrad, Moses Hobson, Samuel Maulsby, -together with the judges of the court, -Messrs. Loller, Rittenhouse and Markley, met at the public-house of Elisha Evans. They there decided that the bridge should consist of arches, -three of fifty feet, two of forty-five feet, two of thirty-five feet, two of thirty feet, and two of twenty feet. This was afterwards changed, and the bridge was built with but six arches. The contracts for the various works at the mill were given out March 23, 1798. At the end of the year the county had expended the sum of $34,683.12, and the bridge was only one-half completed. On March 28, 1799, an act was passed in the General Assembly which gave the commissioners power to complete the bridge and charge toll for persons passing over the same. This was to be charged until the tolls so received were sufficient to pay the whole cost of building the same, together with the costs for collecting the toll. As soon as this was accomplished the court was to declare the same a free bridge. The bridge was finished in 1799 in the style it now stands. It cost the county about sixty thousand dollars. The formal dedication took place on the 4th of November. Samuel Bard was toll-gatherer. It was declared free by the court some five years later, and became a county bridge. The Legislature in chartering the Perkiomen and Reading Turnpike Road Company, March 20, 1819, gave the custody of this bridge into the hands of the company, in whose hands it has been ever since. A toll-house was erected at the west end of the bridge in July, 1867. Before its completion the house was burned by incendiaries, and the gate removed and thrown into the Perkiomen Creek. In October, 1872, the Turnpike Company again erected a toll-house at the east end. This led to litigation, and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania decided that the company, under their charter, could not maintain a gate within one mile of said bridge. January 30, 1873, the decision of the court of last resort was announced. That same evening the old toll-house shared the fate of its predecessor, being burned down. The bridge stands to-day as it was built, an everlasting monument to the memory of the men who built the same, and a splendid model for bridge-builders of the present time to take pattern of. The bridge over the Skippack, below the village of Evansburg, is on the site of the first bridge built in the township. The predecessor of the one now standing was built by lottery, as was the bridge over the Perkiomen, but we have very little data as to the circumstances. The Legislature, by act of September 20, 1765, created certain commissioners, who were empowered to receive such sums of money as were due by the managers of a lottery, and to receive voluntary subscriptions and donations towards the better perfecting of a bridge over the Skippack Creek, in the county of Philadelphia. This old bridge has long since been destroyed and the present structure erected in its place. Near the village of Shannonville is Pawling's bridge, over the Schuylkill. There was a bridge here in 1778, as Colonel John Bull made a report to the Executive Committee, on August 31, 1778, as to the condition of "the Bridge over Schuylkill at ye Fattlandford, near the Valley Forge;" in consequence of which report the same was then repaired. This bridge was, no doubt, built for military purposes, and was subsequently washed away. Near its site was a bridge erected about the year 1809, as on April 3d of that year the company was chartered. The bridge was destroyed in 1820 by ice, in a high freshet, but was shortly afterwards rebuilt. 1047 Of the early settlers in Providence Township quite a number are worthy of special mention. Edward Lane, an Englishman, came from Jamaica in 1684. On the 9th of Twelfth Month, 1698-9, he purchased two thousand five hundred acres of land from Thomas Fairman, which was confirmed to him by patent, in 1701, by William Penn. This tract was situated on both sides of the Perkioman, upon which now stand the villages of Collegeville and Evansburg. He erected a grist-mill on the Skippack in 1708. He married Ann Richardson, and left seven children viz.: James Elizabeth William Samuel Christiana Ellinor Ann. He died in March 1710. He kept the first hotel, where now stands the Perkiomen Bridge Hotel. At his death Samuel Lane became owner of that part of his plantation lying west of the Perkiomen, and William Lane of that to the east of the same stream. Samuel Lane kept the hotel, and was elected assessor of Philadelphia County from 1737 to 1740. His son, Edward Lane, [Archivist's Note: In error, this Edward is a son of William Lane] was constable in 1767, and cried sales. He was in Braddock's expedition against Fort Duquesne, in 1755. At his death, in 1798, he left seven children,- Mary Kendel Abigail Couch Jane Davis Ann Church Eleanor Evans Ann Bean William Lane. Many of his descendants are still living in the county of Montgomery, among whom are the Davises, Beans, Evans, Crawfords, Chains and Shannons. Among his distinguished descendants may be mentioned Joseph E. Lane, a candidate for Vice President of the United States in 1860. The Lanes were Episcopalians, and were chiefly instrumental in the establishment of St. James' Episcopal Church, Lower Providence. [NOTE: There are errors in the family of Edward Lane above. See Pews 18 and 19 http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/montgomery/stjamesperkiomen/sjpewchart.html for a documented description of the Lane family.] Joseph Richardson was one of the early settlers of Providence. In 1696 he married Elizabeth Bevan. In 1710 he purchased of his brother-in-law, Abraham Bickley, one thousand acres of land situated on the west side of the Perkiomen, upon the Schuylkill. Here he lived for many years and his children after him. He left eight children,- Samuel John Edward Aubrey Richard Ellinor Barbara Elizabeth, of whom Samuel, John and Edward were educated at the Pastorius school, in Germantown. His grandson, Captain Joseph Richardson, was a man of fine attainments and wonderful physical strength. Just before the Revolution he was accused of counterfeiting, but escaped arrest. A price was put upon his bead. For many years he eluded capture and became the terror of the country as the leader of a gang of outlaws. He was finally captured, tried and acquitted of the crime charged. An early settler was John Jacob Schrack, who, with his wife Eva Rosina, and four children, came from Germany in 1717. He purchased two hundred and fifty acres of land lying in the lower end of the present village of Trappe. He was a man of influence and an elder of the Lutheran congregation of Providence in which he took a deep interest. He was one of the most active in writing at different times to London and Halle for a preacher. It was in answer to these repeated requests that Muhlenberg was sent. But Schrack did not live to see the pastor he had been instrumental in securing. He died in 1742, a few months before the arrival of Muhlenberg. He was buried in the Lutheran Churchyard, his tombstone being the oldest there bearing an inscription. His widow died in 1756. His sons, John and Christian, lived on the homestead for many years, keeping a public-house called "The Trap." Many of the descendants of John Jacob Schrack still live in the neighborhood. The Pawling family was a large and influential one. "Pawling's Ford" was named after them. Henry Pawling, of Padsbury, England, purchased of William Penn, in England, one thousand acres in 1681. On his arrival in Pennsylvania he located his land in Providence. One tract of five hundred acres lay opposite Valley Forge, on which he resided. His son Henry owned at the same time twelve hundred acres in Perkiomen township. The latter was captain of a company of Associates in 1747, and a member of the Assembly in 1754. By the act establishing the county in 1784, Henry Pawling, Jr., was appointed one of the commissioners to lay out the county seat. He was, appointed associate judge in 1789. Isaac Pawling was a warden of St. James' Church, Evansburg, and, Levi and Lewis Pawling were the first vestrymen of the Episcopal Church of Norristown, and Levi Pawling was Congressman from the district for one term (1817-19), and for a time was president of the Montgomery National Bank, of Norristown. Fredick Ludwig Marsteller arrived from Darmstadt, Germany, in 1729, and settled on the banks of the Skippack Creek, in New Providence township. Here he bought land of David Williams and Richard, Jones. He was an officer of the Providence Lutheran Church, and was first to welcome Pastor Muhlenberg to his new charge. He was active in the building of the Lutheran Church, and is named, over its doorway, as one of its founders. He died in 1758, on the 14th of October. His remains he near the old church he loved so well. Patrick Gordon settled in Providence; along the Schuylkill, at Mont Clare. He was a man of mark, and from June 22, 1726, to August 4, 1736, filled the position of Deputy-Governor of the province with credit to himself and honor to the county. 1048 Captain John Diemer settled along the Skippack. He was a celebrated physician, and in 1746 was elected captain of a company of German Associates, raised in the neighborhood for protection against the French and Indians. Thomas Lewis, as early as 1752, advertises for sale a farm in Providence, and a grist-mill near the mouth of the Mingo, and says that "loaded canoes can come to the mill-door." John Bull, in 1716, purchased a farm of four hundred acres in Providence, near the Limerick line, where he lived for many years. His son, Colonel John Bull, was famous in his day as a colonel in the Revolutionary army and in civil life. Francis Shunk, the grandfather of Governor Francis R. Shunk, came from the Palatinate, in Germany, in 1715, and settled in Providence township. Hon. Samuel Gross, of Providence, in 1803, was elected to the Assembly, and reelected in 1805 and 1807. In 1811 he was elected State Senator, and in 1818 to Congress. James and Adam Hamer were brothers, had settled near the present village of Port Providence in 1713, James purchasing three hundred acres and Adam two hundred and fifty acres. James Hamer, M.D., of the fourth, and James H. Hamer, M.D., of the fifth generation, are still living in the township. David Todd settled near Mont Clare. His descendants are still living in the township, whilst one lately occupied the position of Secretary of War under President Arthur, -namely, Robert Todd Lincoln. The following persons served as Justices of the Peace for Providence township from the earliest times to the adoption of the Constitution of 1838, viz.: Frederick A. Muhlenberg, 1784 and January 14, 1789 Anthony Crothers, February 7, 1789 and 1791 Henry Pawling, January 20, 1789 and 1792 John Pugh, January 20, 1789 and April 13, 1807 Benj. Dismant, 1792 Francis Swaine 1793 Andrew Todd, May 22, 1800 Samuel Gross, January 2, 1802 Isaiah Davis, April 2, 1804 James Harris, January 1, 1807 Abel Thomas, April 13, 1807 and February 29, 1820 James Evans, February 3, 1814 Samnel Byrd, April 9, 1816 Peter Waggonseller, December 4, 1816 Benj. Tyson, June 30, 1817 Issac Liderman, December 16, 1819 John Shearer, December 15, 1820 John S. Missimer, November 15, 1822 Henry Longacre, July 5, 1825 Robert Evans, April 4, 1827 Jacob Dewees, April 20, 1829 Joseph Henry, November 16, 1829 Jacob Highly, October 3, 1831 Henry Loucks, December 10, 1831 John Todd, July 15, 1833 David Baird, January 5, 1835 John Dismant, April 4, 1835 John Razor, May 28, 1835 Henry De Haven, December 7, 1836. The settlement of Perkiomen township was begun in 1702 by the Mennonists of Germantown, under the lead of Matthias Van Bebber. This is not the place to trace the interesting history which belongs to the township of Perkiomen. Suffice it to say that this Mennonist settlement extended into the township of Providence. Jacob Tellner, Leonard Arets and William Streeper, all related to each other by marriage, were three of the leaders in the movement that effected the settlement of Germantown and afterwards spread into Perkiomen. Each of these three selected and purchased a tract of land in Providence township. Tellner selected his on the Skippack, just east of the Lane tract, while Arets, in 1707, purchased five hundred acres just west of the Lane tract, bordering on Perkiomen, and Streeper secured the next five hundred acres, west of Arets, in 1705, these last two parcels including all the land now embraced in the village of Trappe. In addition to those mentioned, George Bunson bought three hundred and forty-five acres in 1728 James Steel, two hundred and fifty acres in 1734 Philip Ashenfelter Jonathan Cox Benjamin Rees Thomas Derringer George Essig Nicholas Robinson George Painter Roger North Henry Desmond Colder Royer Benedict Garber John Ewalt John Jacobs Caspar Rahn were all original purchasers from the Penns. In 1734 we find John Beidler owning 100 acres of land Aubrey Richardson 460 Edward Richardson, 200 James Hamer, 300 Samuel Lane, 500 Adam Hamer, 250 Arnold Hancock, 100 John Diemer, 150 Peter Rambo, 200 Matthias Koplin, 148 Jacob Schrack, 250 Hans Chrisman, 200 Adam Vanderslice, 100 Roger North, 69 Daniel Desmond, 100 Thomas Morgan, 100 Henry Pawling, 500 Harman Indehoffen, 200 Thomas How, 100 Richard Adams, 148 William Adams, 200. One of the most important factors in the settling of Providence township was 1he Pennsylvania Land Company. An act of Parliament, passed thirty- third year of George II., No. 112, vesting certain estates in Pennsylvania in a partnership called "The Pennsylvania Land Company in London," William Penn, in 1699, August 11 and 12, conveyed to Thomas Collet and others, who constituted this company, five thousand acres in Gilbert's Manor, adjoining the Schuylkill and Perkiomen, including nearly all the western half of the present township of Lower Providence. Many plantations were sold prior to 1761. On the 2d of April, 1761 the remaining twenty-two plantations in New Providence township, aggregating about four thousand acres, bounded by lands of Henry Pawling, James Morgan, Norriton township and the rivers Schuylkill and Perkiomen, "were sold at public vendue. At this sale 151 acres were sold to Samuel Bell 145 to James Skeen 113 to Valentine Shambough 120 to Thomas Grahagen 161 to Christian Recup 147 to William Thomas 117 to Thomas Francis 172 to Thomas Rossiter 336 to Arnold Vanfossen 156 to John Taney 147 to Benjamin Chesnut 175 to Nathan Davis 125 to Barney Pawling, etc. The people of Providence, from the earliest times until 1777, were compelled to go to Philadelphia to cast their votes. The elections were then held at the inn opposite the State-House. From 1777 to 1784 they voted at the public-house of Jacob Wentz in Worcester township; from 1784 to 1785 at the public-house of Hannah Thompson, Norriton, then the seat of county government; from 1785 to 1802 at the court-house, Norristown. From 1802 until the division of the township, in 1810, those living east of the Skippack Creek voted at Norristown, whilst those living to the west of said creek exercised that privilege at the public-house of David Dewees, Trappe. The township of Providence in 1734 had seventy-four land-owners and tenants, and in 1741 the township contained one hundred and forty-six. taxables, a considerable increase in so short a time. In 1785 the township contained twenty slaves and six hotels. 1049 CHAPTER LXXI. LOWER PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP. By F. G. Hobson. THE township of Lower Providence, as at present constituted, is bounded on the west by Upper Providence, on the northeast by Perkiomen and Worcester, on the southeast by Norriton, and on the south by the Schuylkill River. Its area embraces nine thousand one hundred and forty-three acres, its greatest length being five and a half miles and greatest width five miles. The only elevation in the township is Methacton Hill, which commences in the eastern portion and extends through Worcester township to the Wissahickon Creek. On Scull's map, of 1770 it is called Matateken, and in 1777 Metuchen, and is still often known by the name of Methatchen. That it is an Indian name there is no doubt. It is about six miles long and mostly under cultivation, although the soil is not very fertile. The balance of the township is undulating and fertile, especially along the rivers. The greater portion of the township is occupied by the red shales and sandstones of the middle secondary formation, among which are found a variety of minerals. Near the Perkiomen, at Oaks, lead-mines have been worked in the past, but never with much profit. These mines were opened before 1800, and worked by Mr. Wetherill in 1818. Through working these lead mines, copper was discovered. In January, 1848, the Perkiomen Mining Association was organized, which purchased a considerable quantity of land between Shannonville and Oaks for the purpose of digging copper. The land cost about ten thousand dollars, and a great quantity of valuable machinery was erected. The shaft here sunk has a perpendicular depth of five hundred and eighty-five feet, with side-drills of fourteen hundred and one feet, making the entire length of work in the mine over one-third of a mile. A great many thousand tons of copper ore have been taken out for market. The mines are now abandoned, and the valuable machinery going to ruin. The elections in Lower Providence from its organization, in 1805, to date were held at the following places: From 1805 to 1841 those living east of the Skippack were still compelled to go to Norristown and vote at the court-house, while those to the east of the Skippack went to Trappe, in Upper Providence. On March 5, 1841, the township of Lower Providence was made a separate election district, and the act provides for holding the "general elections at the Shamo's school-house." This should read Shambo or Shambough's school-house, now known as the Hollow school-house. Here the elections were held until 1849, when, by act of April 5th, the place was changed to the public-school of Christian Detwiler. This was the present Eagleville Hotel. To this day all the elections of this township are held at this hotel. Since the organization of the township the following have served as justices of the peace: 1840, 1845, 1850 and 1855, Isaac S. Christman 1840, Jamb Highly (died) 1840 and 1853, Alan Corson (appointed) 1852, Henry Loucks 1859 and 1864, John Getty 1860, George D. Fronefield 1863 and 1868, William M. De Haven 1869, 1874 and 1885, D. M. Casselberry 1872, 1877 and 1882, Aaron Weikel 1879, Benjamin F. Whitby 1884 Laurence E. Corson. The following have served as constables, viz.: 1807, Andrew Jack 1808-9, John Readheffer 1810, Andrew Campbell 1811-13, Samuel Kugler 1814, Christ. Rosenberger 1815, John Young 1816, George Reinhart 1817-19, Stephen Rush 1820-21, William Moore 1822-24, John Roberts 1825-26, Arnold Baker 1827-29, Daniel Morgan 1830, John Munshower 1831-36, William Moore 1837, William Shambough 1838-42, John Coulston 1843-45, John Slough 1846, Jacob Nungesser 1847-49, John Nungesser 1850, John Slough 1851-52, John Getty 1853-58, Jeremiah Deeds 1859-63, Abraham Carroll 1864, Samuel Hiser 1865-67, John Williams 1868-69, George Casselberry 1870-71, Joseph Walters 1872-85, John C. Johnson. Lower Providence in 1810 had a population of 904 in 1820, 1146 in 1850, 1961 in 1880, 1856. It now contains 444 taxables. By the last assessment the real estate in the township is assessed at $1,195,00, and the personal property at $104,505. The public schools are eight in number and are kept open for eight months, at a salary of forty-five dollars per month. A regular graded course of study is established, at the completion of which the pupil is given a common-school diploma. In this regard Lower Providence leads all her sister townships. There are six mills in the township, three upon the Perkiomen and three upon the Skippack, all of which do a good business. Shannonville and Evansburg each possess a creamery. D. Morgan Casselberry is the proprietor of a large steam tannery in Evansburg. In 1882, William H. Blanchford erected a large building for the manufacture of carriages at the intersection of the Ridge and the Germantown turnpike roads. He has built up a large trade in the short time he has been there. There are but two public-houses in the township, one at Shannonville and the other at Eagleville. Seven general stores for the sale of dry-goods, groceries, etc., are also found within its borders. 1050 The villages of Lower Providence are Evansburg, Shannonville, Eagleville and Providence Square, at each of which there exists a post-office. The largest of these villages is Evansburg. It has been so called from the beginning of the century. The land upon which the village stands was part of the Lane tract, and was called by them "Perkoming" for many years. In 1721 the St. James' Episcopal Church of Perkoming was built. In 1825 the post-office was established here and called "Perkiomen," and Edward Evans was postmaster. This Edward Evans was a son of Owen Evans, born 1769, died in 1812, who was an extensive laid-owner, and was engaged in making guns for he United States army at what has lately became known as Pechin's Mill. He was married to Eleanor, daughter of Edward Lane (the younger). In honor of this man the village took its name, Evansburg. In 1827 the post-office was kept by Isaac Casselberry in a shop that then stood on the public school-house lot. In 1829 it was moved to the Ridge turnpike, and William Fronefield was postmaster. In 1832, Edward Evans, who then kept store where Henry G. Schwenks is now his successor, was reappointed postmaster. In a short time Mr. Evans resigned and Perkiomen post-office was abolished. The people then had to depend on the Trappe office, then kept by Matthias Halderman. When the Trappe office was removed to the upper end of that village a post-office was again established, and Edward Evans, for the third time, appointed postmaster, and the office called "Perkiomen Bridge." Here it remained until 1861, when it was removed to Freeland. At the same time a new office was established in the village, with William B. Shupe as postmaster. As the name Evansburg was already utilized as the name of a post-office in Crawford County, Pa., this office was named "Lower Providence". The office still retains this name, and has as its postmaster Samuel D. Shupe, the son of the first official. In 1832 Evansburg contained nineteen houses; in 1858, an inn, two stores, church, two mechanic shops and twenty-four houses. At present it contains two churches, two stores, an extensive steam tannery, operated by D. Morgan Casselberry, several mechanic shops and about thirty-five houses. This village was at one time known by the nickname of "Hustletown", which name clung to the village for many years. The origin of that name, tradition says was in this wise: Two young bloods, none the better for frequent libations, as they journeyed, at every village gave cheers for the name of the village. As they passed through Evansburg, they look in vain for some clew to the name of the village. A short distance from the road they saw two persons "hustling," a method of "raffling," when one proposed "Three cheers for Hustletown!" Hence the name. While this is the commonly received version as to how this name was applied, the author accidentally came across another that to his mind seems more probable. In a deed of Edward Lane to Dietrick Welker for land in the present village of Evansburg, made May 31, 1777, the property is described as adjoining lands of Hussel Town, thus showing conclusively that at that time a man of that name lived there. It is certainly a remarkable coincidence and seems very probably to have been the origin of the name of the town. Shannonville was first so called about 1823, when the first post-office was established here. This village derives its name from the Shannons, a large, influential and widely-known family of colonial days. Robert Shannon was a native of Norriton in 1731, and was one of the commissioners named by the act of 1784, establishing the county of Montgomery, to purchase ground, erect the court-house, etc., for the new county. James Shannon was one of the wardens of St. James' Episcopal Church, Evansburg, in 1721. Both of these persons are buried in the Episcopal Cemetery, Evansburg. John Shannon, Sr., who was one of the largest land-owners of the township, and owned nearly, if not all, the land upon which the present village stands, was a man of more than ordinary attainments, and it was in honor of his sterling worth that the village that now stands upon his land was named. His grandson, Charles P. Shannon, still resides upon the old homestead. Before the village took its present name the place was known as "Jack's Tavern," besides which there were then but two other houses at that time. In 1858 the village contained twenty-four houses. This village, like its neighbor, was also dishonored by a nick-name, and was known as "Hogtown". In his extensive farming operations, Mr. Shannon raised large herds of swine, from which fact the nickname was applied. While the reputable and intelligent portion of community recognized the post-name it now bears, yet outside the vicinity, either from ignorance or for the humor of it, the bogus name for a time partially obscured the real. In those days the establishment of a post-office was not, as in these, heralded to every part of the State the next morning There seems to have been at that day quite a mania in Lower Providence for nicknames; for, in addition to "Hustletown" and "Hogtown", they had other localities of the townships nicknamed with such choice titles as "Frog Hollow", "Shitepoke Level", "Hardscrabble" and kindred names; but they have gradually died out; the march of civilization has obliterated them, and there is no reason why these vulgar and outlandish misnomers should ever again be revived. Two of Lower Providences school-houses are to this day named, respectively, the Hollow School-house and the Level School-house, which is certainly a great improvement over retaining their rather vulgar qualifying description. 1051 In this connection a good story is told by Mr. R. R. Corson, of Norristown, concerning some of his army experience. It seems that Captain Corson had been sent on a foraging expedition by General Francis. While so engaged General Patrick met him, and as there seemed to be some dispute in relation to the corn, General Patrick asked him his name and where he came from. My name is Corson; I came from Pennsylvania," said the captain. "Whereabouts in Pennsylvania?" asked the general. "Hogtown," said Richard, who always wears his humorous side uppermost. Next morning Mr. Corson was summoned before a court-martial for indecorous language to a superior officer. The charges were read and proved, and Mr. Corson was given an opportunity to defend himself. Richard said that he had only told the truth. He was born at a place that was known for miles around as "Hogtown," and further enlightened the court that he was educated at Shitepoke Level. Major-General Hancock, late candidate for President, was present, and substantiated Mr. Corson's statement. It is needless to say that the captain was acquitted amidst the laughter of the court. Some time since, at an army reunion, held at New York, General Hancock related this incident as one of the most amusing of his army experience. Eagleville is a large village situate on the Ridge turnpike road, it the top of Skippack Hill, and nearly in the centre of the township. Here are held the township elections. It contains at present a hotel, store, carriage-works and a large number of private residences. Silas Rittenhouse purchased land here, and erected a large building for the manufacture of carriages, after which other buildings were put up. The name of the village is taken from an incident that happened about the time the citizens were searching for a name. A large eagle was shot in the vicinity and nailed to one of the buildings. From this incident the village received its name. About 1855, Thomas Miller erected a large shop for the manufacture of all kinds of vehicles on the Germantown turnpike road, at the twenty-second milestone from Philadelphia. A village sprung up around this small beginning, which now contains a store, post-office and several residences. It is known as Providence Square. About 1865, Dr. William Wetherill erected several buildings at the corner of Egypt road and another public road, about one half mile south of Shannonville. The village is known as Wetherill's Corner. The churches of Lower Providence are four in number, viz.: the St. James' Episcopal, the Providence Presbyterian, the Lower Providence Baptist, and the Methodist Episcopal Church; in addition to which a Baptist Chapel has recently been built at Shannonville. THE ST. JAMES' EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF PERKIOMEN, that being the chartered name, is located at Evansburg. PICTURE OF ST. JAMES' EPISCOPAL CHURCH, APPEARS HERE. The time of founding this congregation is uncertain, but it was evidently founded by the Lanes, of whom we have spoken among the early settlers of Providence. The best authorities place the date about 1708, founded by the Rev. Evan Evans, a native of Wales, who came to this county in 1699. In 1721 the first church building was erected, of logs, which stood in the burial-ground opposite the present building. The date-stone of this building, 1721, is still preserved. There are no records preserved earlier than 1730, with the exception that we know that James Shannon and Isaac Pawling were church wardens at the building of the first church, in 1721. In 1732 the congregation received a bequest from William Lane, which reads as follows: "I will and bequeath for the use of the minister that shall serve successively at St. James' Church, situate in Providence, forty-two acres of land adjoining thereunto, which land shall be laid out as commodious a settlement as conveniently it may be without causing much damage to the remainder. And the said forty-two acres of land, messauge and improvements, shall be and continue by virtue hereof to and for the use above said. I will and bequeath to the present minister of said place of worship (to wit) Rev. Alexander Howey, £5 lawful money, three months after my decease." 1052 The land here bequeathed constitutes a great part of the lower end of the village of Evansburg, which to this day pays an annual ground-rent toward the support of the minister of the congregation. On the night of the 6th of May, 1738, the church building was broken into by thieves, who carried with them the pulpit-cloth and cushion of purple- colored plush, with black silk fringe, and some valuable pewter communion service. For the arrest of the miscreants William Moore and Henry Pawling the church wardens, offered a reward of five pounds. On June 9, 1760, a resolution was passed allowing any member of St. James' Church to erect a pew in said church. Very early a parsonage was erected, for on the 12th of November, 1764, it was determined to put the parsonage in proper order and repair. During the Revolutionary war the church building was used as a hospital, and especially so after the battle of Germantown. Very many of the wounded of that battle died there, and about one hundred and fifty Continental soldiers are buried in the cemetery, with no stone to mark their resting-place. There is a stone which contains the following brief epitaph: "In memory of Captain Vachel D. Howard, of Maryland Light Dragoons, who departed this life March 15, 1778, aged thirty years, in defense of American Liberty." Many years after this, when Washington was President, he drove up the turnpike from Philadelphia, and alighted at the cemetery and asked the old sexton to show him the grave of Howard. He stood there with uncovered head, and said, "The grave of brave man, a brave man; I knew him well." What tribute from so great and good a leader as Washington! Captain James Bean who served in the patriot army, is buried in this old churchyard. The church was incorporated under an act of Assembly passed October 3, 1788. In 1843 the present church edifice was erected, of stone, upon the opposite side of the turnpike, and the old church, on the east side of the road, was torn down. It is impossible to give a complete list of the rectors of this church. The first one of whom we have any knowledge was the Rev. Alexander Howey, who preached along about 1734. After him came Rev. William Currie, who preached until the breaking out of the Revolutionary war. This clergyman sympathized so strongly with the British that he was compelled to leave the country and return to England. There is also a tradition that he was treated to a dress of tar and feathers before his departure. The following letter from pasted in the minute-book of the congregation: "May 20th, 1776 "GENTLEMEN : "Age and infirmities having rendered me unable to officiate in publick at this time, you are not to expect me at church any more till circumstances are altered, and when it shall please God to a better state, and I can again with safety return to ye exercise of my functions. I will confine myself to your church if ye congregation will make ye Glebe House fit for me to live in. "From your loving Pastor, "WM. CURRIE" During and immediately after the Revolutionary war it was impossible to have a clergyman of the Episcopal Church ordained; so this church was without a rector for several years. In 1787, August 14th, at a meeting held at Norristown by two delegates each, from St. James', St. David's, Radnor, and St. Peter's, Great Valley, -it was agreed to apply to Bishop White [See NOTE.] for an Episcopal minister to officiate at the above churches. In consequence of this invitation, the Rev. Slaton Clay was assigned to that field. He took up his residence at the parsonage of St. James', where he continued to live and served as rector for thirty-four years. He was followed by Rev. John Reynolds, who came in 1832. In 1839, Rev. N. Peck was elected pastor of the church, and in 1843 the Rev. George Mintzer. It was during his charge that the present large and commodious church building was erected on the west side of the Germantown turnpike road. From that time to the present the names of the rectors and the time of their election are as follows: Rev. Robert Paul, August 7, 1857 Rev. M. R. Stockton, October 25, 1858 Rev. Mr. Allen, March 16, 1863 Rev. Mr. Tays, June 25, 1865 Rev. Mr. Ireland, April 2,1868 Rev. Peter Russel, April 19,1869 Rev. Mr. Karcher, July 1, 1873 Rev. E. P. Brown, April 27, 1874 Rev. J. L. Heysinger, April 1, 1876. Rev. Mr. Heysinger resigned the charge November 1, 1884, so that the church is now without a rector. [NOTE: Bishop William White, D.D. born Philadelphia March 26, 1748, died Philadelphia July 17, 1836 in the eighty-ninth year of his age, "Father of the American church." Bishop White frequently officiated at the St. James' Episcopal Church, Perkiomen (Evansburg). PICTURE OF BISHOP WILLIAM WHITE, D. D., APPEARS HERE. Minute, book No. 2 of the vestry of the parish records that Slayton Clay was confirmed by this distinguished Divine in the year 1787. Mr. Clay subsequently became Rector of the perish. Of a class confirmed by Bishop White in this church 1816 there are two survivors, Mrs. William Bean, and Mrs. Charlotte Weber, both over ninety years of age and residing in Norristown. End NOTE.] 1053 The cemetery connected with the church contains many ancient tombstones; the oldest is that of a person who died November 24, 1723. Among those buried here the principal family names are Asheton Burr Boyce Bean Bringhurst Casselberry Christman Custer Coates Church Deeds Davis Dill Dewees Evans Fry Force Fronfield Fox Gray Gouldy Hallman High Holson Harwood Jacobs Jones Keel Lewis Lane Markley Munshower Newberry Morton Pugh Pawling Prizer Prevost Rhodes Rambo Reed Robeson Shannon Skeen Saylor St. Clair Shupe Tyson Vanderslide Wilson Wolmer Yerke A handsome granite monument marks the grave of Wright A. Bringhurst. THE PROVIDENCE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH stands on the west side of the Ridge turnpike road, on a high ridge of land, just below the village of Eagleville. The origin of this church is to be found in the Norriton Church, which still stands in Norriton township, where services were held as early as 1678. The deed for the land is dated 1704, purchased of the ancestors of David Rittenhouse. The first church built in Providence was in 1730, although the time of its organization is not known. The families prominent in its organization were Scotch-Irish, and include the names of Stewart, Armstrong, McFarland, Patterson, Bryan and Porter. The two churches stood separate until 1758 when they united and took the name of Norriton and Lower Providence Presbyterian Church. Among the families at this time are found the names of McCrea, McGlathery, Todd, Hamill, White, Getty, Stinson, etc. The present church edifice was built in 1844, is a large and imposing structure, and was greatly beautified and enlarged in 1875, by building a new front of dressed stone. The following persons have served as pastors of this congregation, viz. Malachi Jones David Evans Richard Treat Samuel Evans John Rowland John Campbell Benjamin Chestnut David McCalla William M. Tennent, D.D. Joseph Barr John Smith Charles W. Nassau, D.D. William Woolcott Joshua Moore Thomas Eustis R. W. Landis, D.D. Sylvanus Haight Henry S. Rodenbough. John Campbell was struck with palsy, in the pulpit he had just read the Psalm, "Dear in thy sight thy saints' death Thy servant, Lord, am I." On his tombstone, in the cemetery adjoining the church, is written, "In yonder sacred House I spent my breath, Now silent mouldering here I lie in death; These silent lips shall wake, and yet declare A dread Amen, to truths they uttered there." The pastorate of William M. Tennent, D.D., continued for thirty years-, while the present incumbent enjoys the distinguished honor of being the oldest pastor in continuous service at his present church in the county. He was called to this field of labor on January 29, 1845, and on January 29, 1885, the fortieth anniversary of his pastorate was very appropriately celebrated by his members and many ministers and friends from the surrounding community. THE LOWER PROVIDENCE BAPTIST CHURCH was established about the year 1809, and in the summer of that year the first church edifice was erected on the site of the present building. This structure was of stone, twenty-eight feet by thirty-five feet, and its entire cost was: $951.98. The land upon which it stood was donated to the congregation by Benjamin Davis. The building was dedicated and opened for divine service on the first day of June, 1810. The formal institution of the church organization took place August 5, 1810, at which time a constitution was adopted, and William Johnson and Daniel Morgan chosen and ordained to the deaconship. Rev. Daniel James, formerly of the Third Baptist Church of Philadelphia, was ordained as the first pastor of the congregation on December 20, 1812. As the congregation grew in numbers it was found that their building was too small, and on the 6th of June, 1835, a committee was appointed to devise a remedy, and upon its report a building committee was appointed, consisting of Daniel Morgan, David Allebach and I. Kurtz, to superintend the erection of it new house, forty by fifty feet. This second house was dedicated, with interesting ceremonies, on the 19th of November, 1836, the dedicatory sermon being preached by Rev. Simeon Seigfried, Sr. This building stood for seven years, until on the evening of February 21, 1843, when it was burned down. The congregation decided to rebuild at once, and appointed John Sisler Nathan Davis John Reese Isaac Johnson David Allebach and Theodore Morgan a committee for that purpose. This building was dedicated August 6, 1843, Rev. Samuel Aaron. In a few years this third building was found too small for the continually increasing membership, whereupon, on August 5, 1876, the congregation decided to erect a larger house of worship. A building committee, consisting of William J. Reese, I. Johnson H. C. Harley E. C. Keelor J. C. Saylor Jos. Miller Samuel 0. Perry, was appointed, and under their supervision the present edifice of pointed stonework, seventy-two feet by forty-eight feet, was erected. The dedicatory service took place December 13, 1877, making four church buildings in less than three-fourths of a century. The church has it membership of over two hundred, sustains two Sunday-schools and maintains regular services in a neat chapel, owned by the church and located in the village of Shannonville. 1054 THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF EVANSBURG is a substantial stone structure, with a seating capacity of about two hundred and fifty. It stands upon the east side of the Perkiomen and Germantown turnpike road, and was erected in the year 1841. It has been used as a house of public worship from that time until the present. At the lower end of Evansburg is a Mennonist cemetery. Quite a number of old tombstones mark the last resting-place of the Funks Gutwals Detwilers Crolls and others. The most distinguished of the dead here buried is John Funk, who was very well known in the time of the Revolution as the author of "The Mirror of All Mankind," in which the rights of the colonies to resist British oppression were ably advocated. The oldest tombstone bears date 1815. Among the eminent men of Lower Providence may be mentioned the Lanes, Shannons and Pawlings, also Marsteller and Diemer already spoken of among the early settlers of Providence. In addition are several deserving of mention. Perhaps the most distinguished citizen that ever lived within the limits of the township was John James Audubon. JOHN JAMES AUDUBON, the celebrated American ornithologist, was a son of John Auduban and Anne Moynette, his wife, both natives of the commune of Coucron, near the city of Nantes, in France. He had been an officer in the naval service of his country, but in consequence of Louisiana being then a French possession, he removed there, and settled on a plantation near New Orleans, where his son was born the 4th of May, 1780. Under the instruction of his father, who was a man of education, he was early taught a love of natural objects, to which he afterwards attributed his inclinations to those pursuits. While quite young he was sent to Paris to pursue his education. While there he attended the school of natural history and arts, and in drawing took lessons from the celebrated David. He returned in his eighteenth year, when his father resided in Philadelphia, and who had, as early as March 28, 1780 as we learn from the county records, purchased of Augustin Prevost, in Providence township, at the mouth of the Perkiomen Creek, a tract of two hundred and eighty-five acres of land, with a grist and saw-mill. Mr. Audubon, the younger, about the beginning of the present century, resided on this plantation, and in the charming preface to his "Birds of America," gives the following account of it: "In Pennsylvania, a beautiful State almost the center line of our Atlantic shores, my father, in his desire of proving my friend through life, gave me what Americans call a beautiful 'plantation,' refreshed during the summer heats by the waters of the Schuylkill River and traversed by a creek named Perkioming. Its fine woodlands, its extensive fields, its hills crowned with evergreens, offered many subject to agreeable studies, with as little concern about the future as if the world had been made for me. My rambles invariably commenced at break of day; and to return wet with dew and bearing feathered prize was, and ever will be, the highest enjoyment for which I have been fitted." It was here where he conceived the plan of his great work, and, in reality, laid its first foundation; it was here, too, where he married his wife and his eldest son was born. On an adjoining farm lived William Bakewell, an Englishman by birth, a gentleman of a highly refined mind and cultivated manners. He had a valuable library and extensive philosophical apparatus. To his house, as may be well supposed from congeniality of taste and dispositions, Mr. Audubon was a frequent visitor, which resulted in an intimacy with Lucy, Mr. Bakewell's eldest daughter by a first wife, and which resulted in a marriage about 1806. Some time in the following year Mr. Audubon and Ferdinand Rozier entered into partnership as merchants, in Philadelphia, where he resided a portion of his time, till the summer of 1809, when he and his partner removed to Louisville, Ky., to continue in the same business. He sold the farm given him by his father to Joseph Williams in the spring of 1810. As a merchant he confesses that he was not successful, and that his love for the field, the flowers, the forests and their winged inhabitants unfitted for trade. We find mention made of his visiting his father-in-law, in Lower Providence, in 1810 and 1812, in pursuit of rare and curious birds. Indeed, he several times mentions in his great work the discovery of new species of birds in this county, which had heretofore remained undescribed. While at Louisville, in March, 1810, he was visited by the celebrated Alexander Wilson. He says he entered his counting-room and asked him to subscribe to his work on American ornithology. By his own statement, Mr. Audubon appears to have received him rather coolly, perhaps, at that time, having formed the idea of becoming his rival. Shortly after this period of his life, Mr. Blake, in his "Biographical Dictionary," thus speaks of Audubon,- "His life was one of bold and fearless adventure, of romantic incident, and constantly varying fortune. Hardly a region in the United States was left unvisited by him, and the most inaccessible haunts of nature were disturbed by this adventurous and indefatigable ornithologist, to whom a new discovery or a fresh experience was only the incentive to greater ardor and futher efforts in his favorite department of science." In April, 1824, he sought patronage in Philadelphia for the publication of his work, but he appears to have been unsuccessful, for he at least relinquished it. He says- "America being my country, and the principal pleasures of my life having been obtained there, I prepared to leave it with deep sorrow, after in vain trying to publish my illustrations in the United States. In Philadelphia, Wilson's principal engraver, amongst others, gave it as his opinion to my friends that my drawings could not be engraved. In New York other difficulties present." In August of this year, while fifteen hundred miles front home, in Upper Canada, on one occasion he mentions that big money was stolen from him, when he took to painting portraits, by which he got plenty to carry him home. To meet with better encouragement he at last sailed for England, where he arrived in 1826. He commenced the publication of his work at Edinburgh in 1827, but afterwards transferred it to London, where the first volume was completed in 1830, containing one hundred plates. 1055 William Swainson, Esq., in a review of this work, published in the "Natural History Magazine" for May 1828, says,- "The size of the plates exceeds anything of the kind I have ever seen or heard of; they are no less than three feet three inches long by two feet two inches broad. On this vast surface every bird is represented in its full dimensions. Urge as in the paper, it in sometimes (as in the male wild turkey) barely sufficient for the purpose. In other cases, it enables the painter to group his figures in the most beautiful and varied attitudes, on the trees and plants they frequent. Some are feeding, others darting, pursuing or capturing their prey: all have life and animation. The plants, fruits and flowers which enrich the scene are alone still. These latter, from their critical accuracy, are as valuable to the botanist as the birds to the ornithologist." The applause with which it was received was enthusiastic and universal. The Kings of England and France had placed their names at the head of his subscription-list; he was made a Fellow of the Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh, and a member of the Natural History Society of Paris. With the first volume he obtained one hundred and eighty subscribers at eight hundred dollars each for the work, of which only six were in the United States. The second volume was finished in 1834. This edition contained in all about eight volumes, of which there is a copy in the library of the American Philosophical Society, in Philadelphia. Mr. Audubon in 1839 returned to his native country and established himself with his family on the banks of the Hudson, near the city of New York. The following year he commenced the publication of his "Birds of America", in seven imperial volumes, of which the last was issued in 1844. The plates in this edition, reduced from his larger illustrations, were engraved and colored in a most elegant manner by Mr. Bowen, of Philadelphia, under the direction of the author. His labors as a naturalist did not cease here, for, with the assistance of the Rev. John Bachman, he prepared for the press "The Quadrupeds of America," in three large octavo volumes, illustrated by fine colored drawings, which was published the year of his death by his son, V. G. Audubon. The last years of his life were spent in his country-seat, in a quiet and retired manner, mingling little with the world at large. The celebrated naturalist Cuvier, in speaking of his great work, said it was "the most splendid monument which art has erected in honor of ornithology." His death took place the 27th of January, 1851, at the age of seventy-one years. It is a singular fact that Wilson and Audubon, the two greatest writers on American birds, both caught their first inspirations on the banks of the Schuylkill. On this stream, too, Dr. Godman, the zoologist, and Say, the entomologist, also pursued their favorite studies. 1056 William Bakewell owned a fine farm in this township, where he died in 1822. He was a wealthy English gentleman of very extensive scientific acquirements. He had a very fine library and many philosophical apparatus. His daughter Lucy became the wife of the ornithologist, Audubon. Bakewell's plantation was formerly in possession of a friend named Vaux, who kept open house during the Revolution when the American army was encamped at Valley Forge. One day he had the honor of having Lord Howe to breakfast and Washington to tea. Samuel D. Patterson was a native, of this township. He became an eminent author poet and journalist. For several years he edited "Graham's Magazine," with great credit. His widow yet survives him and lives in Evansburg. PICTURE OF JACOB G. CUSTER, APPEAR HERE. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. JACOB G. CUSTER Mr. Custer is the grandson of Jacob Kishter, who emigrated from Holland at an early date, and purchased a tract of land in Worcester Township, Montgomery Co. He had four sons and four daughters, among whom Jacob, the father of Jacob G., married Mary Gouldy, of Norriton Township, and had children,- Jacob G. David Samuel G. Mary (Mrs. Jesse Davis) Barbara (Mrs. Abram Detwiler) Rebecca (Mrs. Andrew Heiser) Charlotte (Mrs. Samuel Tyson) Elizabeth (Mrs. William Getty). Jacob G. was born April 2, 1814, on the homestead in Worcester Township, where the days of his boyhood were spent. His delicate health precluded a thorough education, and rendered it desirable to engage in active out-of- door employments. He was, therefore, early made familiar with the labor peculiar to the life of a farmer. He was, on the 23d of February, 1841, married to Miss Rebecca, daughter of Colonel John Getty, of Lower Providence township, their only child being Anne, wife of Benjamin F. Whitby, of Eagleville. Mrs. Custer's death occurred in September, 1867. Six years after his marriage Mr. Custer purchased a farm in Lower Providence Township, which he cultivated for many years, dairying being made a specialty. His son-in-law, Mr. Whitby, subsequently managed it for twelve years, after which it was rented, Mr. Custer and his family having meanwhile removed to Eagleville, his present home. In politics the subject of this biographical sketch is a Republican, having formerly seen allied with the Whig party. His business pursuits have, however, left no leisure for participation in matters of a political character. He is one of the managers of the Montgomery Mutual Insurance Company, of Norristown, and has frequently been solicited to exercise the office of guardian. He is a member of the Lower Providence Presbyterian Church, in which he has for thirty years held the office of trustee.