USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Biographical annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, containing genealogical records of representative families, including many of the early settlers and biographical sketches of prominent citizens, Vol. I > Part 1
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Gc 974.801 M74r v.1 1136168
M. L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01203 5488
Ellwood Roberts.
BIOGRAPHIC ANINALS
MONTGOMERY NTY
PENNSYLVAA
MENEALOGICHE RECORDS () REPRESENTE IVE MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLERS UND BLUMENPOLEAI SKETCHES OF PROME UNE FIFTIES
ELLWOOD ROBERTE LUI
ILLUSTRATED
VOL. I.
1
BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS
OF
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA
CONTAINING
GENEALOGICAL RECORDS OF REPRESENTATIVE FAMILIES, INCLUDING MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLERS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS
ELLWOOD ROBERTS, EDITOR
"Knowledge of kindred and the genealogiex of the ancient families deserveth the highest praise. Herin consisteth a part of the knowledge of a man's men xelf. It is a great spur to virtue to look back on the north of our line."-Lord Bacon.
.. There is no hervie poem in the world but is at the bott in the life of a man."-Sir Walter Scott.
ILLUSTRATED
VOL. I.
T. S. BENHAM & COMPANY AND THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY NEW YORK CHICAGO
1904
INTRODUCTORY 1136168
Beginning with the coming of the Swedes to the banks of the river Delaware, in the early part of the seventeenth century, down to the present day, the twentieth century of the great region known by the distinguishing name of Pennsylvania, at first a province and now a commonwealth of commanding importance, has held, at whatever stage in its develop- ment and progress, a conspicuous and highly important place in its relationship to the sis- terhood of states comprising the great and unbroken Federal Union. It was the central colony and the connecting link between the north and south for many years during the formative governmental epoch: its men of influence molded the political history of the American people during many years. Its principal city was long the seat of government of the United States, and has been, from the earliest days to the present, a principal centre of all that marks the progress of civilization-in the arts and sciences, in every product of human mind and hand. Not once in the almost two and a half centuries of its existence lias Pennsylvania retrograded. Its career has ever been a steadfast and unfaltering "for- ward."
The history of this great commonwealth and of many of its subdivisions has been written along civil, political and military lines by various authors and at different times. each succeeding writer adding a new chapter of annals, or giving a different coloring to a story already told. treating the subject from a different view point, or in the full glare of a light which to his predecessor was but din and uncertain. The splendid narrative affords an inspiration to the men and women of the present day. as it assuredly will to those who are soon to succeed them, and entirely justifies the pregnant words of Martin- eau : "To have had forefathers renowned for honorable deeds, to belong by nature to those who have bravely borne their part in life, and refreshed the world with mighty thoughts and healthy admiration, is a privilege which it were mean and self-willed to (lespise. It is a security given us of old, which it were false-hearted not to redeem, and in virtues bred of a noble stock, mellowed as they are by reverence, there is often a grace and ripeness wanting to self-made and brand-new excellence. Of like value to a people are heroic national traditions, giving them a determinate character to sustain among the tribes of men, making them familiar, with images of great and strenuous life, and kind- ling them with faith in glorious possibilities."
While Montgomery was not created as a separate county until 1784, its history is. until that time, identical with that of the three original counties organized by Penn- Chester. Bucks and Philadelphia-and at least a portion of its territory was the scene of some of the most important of the transactions which marked the formative period of the great commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and some of its people were actors in those stirring and momentous events. Here the foundations of civil and religious liberty were
iv
INTRODUCTORY
laid deep and strong. The individual was exalted in all his best attributes. Fenn had pro- claimed to all who would come that they should feel assured, for themselves and for all generations to come after them. of their freedom as men and christians, "that they may not be brought in bondage but by their own consent. for we put the power in the peo- ple." He made it his greatest care to frame a constitution "as near as may Le conven- iently to the primitive, ancient and fundamental laws of the Kingdom of England." but introducing the democratic method of making all offices elective, and a new principle of perfect religious freedom-"that no man nor number of men upon earth hath power or authority to rule over men's consciences in religious matters"-which stood in marked con- trast with the theocratical ideas of the Puritans in New England, and to the aristocrati- cal reign of Locke in Carolina.
In response to Penn's liberal scheme of government, his declaration of his intention to "try this holy experiment of a free colony for all mankind," there came a sturdy peo- ple -- men, and women, too, of brawn and brain and conscience, their hearts fervent in rev- erence of God and a desire for religious and civil liberty-who had voluntarily separated themselves from their native land in order to enjoy the privileges which had been denied them there. It would be worth much could we be afforded a glimpse of these pioneers. They were men of no ordinary mold. Great as was their strength of character, and broad ( for the times) as was their mental scope, they were building far better than they knew. Simple and clean in their lives, the homes which they builded were humble, but they were the seat of all the domestic virtues, and the children they reared inherited the athletic frame, rugged constitution and noble principles of their forbears.
Montgomery county affords a peculiarly interesting field for such research as has been required in the making of the volumes now presented to the reader. Her sons at home and abroad have shed lustre upon her name by deeds of gallantry on land and sea, by achievements in the arts and sciences, in the professions, in statesmanship, and in com- mercial affairs. Wherever they have dispersed. in the long-ago or, in more recent days. they have been a power for ideal citizenship and good government. Even in the colon- ial period, when its territory yet formed a portion of the county of Philadelphia. were men there of the highest attainments and of world-wide renown. Here lived the Muhlenbergs. David Rittenhouse, John Lukens, Benjamin Lay, and many others who, by natural ability. scholarly acquirements and, above all, by their intense patriotism, shed upon their age. a lustre which yet illumines our own, and will be transmitted to the latest generation. The Revolutionary era abounded in memorable events in Montgomery county. At Valley Forge the army under Washington endured with patience privations unparalleled in behalf of free- dom and independence. The valleys of the Schuylkill and Perkiomen were the scene of some of the most remarkable strategic movements of the heroic period. Washington. La- fayette, Wayne and other famous leaders were familiar figures to the forefathers of that day, and of whose own number were men who fought at Germantown, at Brandywine and at Monmouth. In the great Civil War, men of Montgomery County were among the most valiant and faithful defenders of the Union. It gave to the country Hartranft, Han- cock, Slemmer, Zook, and a host of others whose names are emblazoned upon the roll of fame. Three governors of the State-Porter, Shunk and Hartranft-were born within
INTRODUCTORY
the limits of this historic old county, and the home of Pennypacker, a descendant of one of its oldest families, is upon the bank of the Perkiomen.
Thus, in each succeeding generation, and at every stage of its progress, the pe ple of the county of Montgomery have had the service of men of the loftiest character and highest capability, in arms, in the arts of peace, in statesmanship, in affairs and in letters. It is to connect the active progressive men of the present generation with their illustrious ancestry that the present volumes have been undertaken, in the convection that
"It is indeed a blessing when the virtues Of noble races are hereditary, And do derive themselves from the imitation Of virtuous ancestors."
The publishers here take occasion to express their obligations to the editor, Mr. Ell- wood Roberts. "Native here, and to the manner born," he has given to his labors not only diligence and industry, but something of that enthusiasm which is praiseworthily be- coming in him who holds a proper appreciation of a noble people from whom he sprang and amidst whom he was reared. With reference to the biographical matter it is to be said that the utmost care has been exercised. Yet, in some cases, it may be that a sketch will be found incomplete or faulty, and such shortcoming is ascribable to the paucity of data furnished, many families being without exact records in their family line. In all cases the sketch has been submitted to the subject or to his representative for correction or revision, and upon him rests the final responsibility in case of omission or inaccuracy.
It is confidently believed that the present work will prove a real addition to the mass of literature concerning the people of the historic region under consideration, and that, without it, much valuable information therein contained would be irretrievably lost, owing to the passing away of many custodians of family records and the disappearance of such matter.
PUBLISHERS.
INDEX.
Alderfer, John B., 319 Allebach, D. Melvin, 172 Allebaugh, Elmer S., 255 Anders, Samuel K., 19 Anders, William S., 499 Anderson, John F .. 124 Argue, Andrew K., 63 Arnoldy, Henrie, 300 Arthur, Albanus C., 393 Ashton, Charles B., 95 Auchenbach. William. 525 Ayars, Matilda M., 419
Bach, William P., 215 Baker, Andrew H., 21 Barlow, Harvey, 199 Barlow, Joel, 394 Bate, Richard H., 487 Bate, William T., 484 Bauer, George, 195 Bean, Wilmer M .. 97 Beaver, Barnet K., 438 Beeber, Thomas R., 301 Beener, Christian, 219 Bellows, Horace MI .. 436 Benner, Milton B .. 307 Bergey, David H., 50 Berkhimer, Charles, 155 Berkhimer. George, 256 Berkhimer, John, 151 Binder, William J., 68 Bishop, Daniel M., 453 Blattner, John, 177 Block. Benjamin E., 541 Boorse, Elizabeth A .. 391 Boorse, John C., 251 Bosler, Joseph, 515 Bowman, George W .. 243 Boyd, James, I Boyer, Henry K., 240 Boyer, J. Frank, 304 Bradley. Andrew J .. 480 Brant, Samuel S .. 427 Brecht, John F., 364 Brooke, William. 205 Brophy. Joseph J., 365 Brownback. Henry M .. 24 Buckman, Thomas, 112 Buckwalter. I. N .. 232
Butcher. William, 138 Buzby, Thomas F., 528
Caley, Cyrus H., 107
Cameron. James S .. 355 Carey, Joseph H., 203 Cassel, Benjamin C .. 174
Cassel, Isaac R., 394 Casselberry, Clarence MI .. 181 Castner, George W .. 296 Chain, B. Percy, 89
Childs, Louis M., 42 Childs, S. Powell, 127
Clamer, Francis J .. 56
Clark, Isaac J., 528 Clayton, Abraham T., 59
Clayton, Hamilton, 65 Clayton, William L., 469
Cleaver, Chalkley K., 338 Cleaver, Jonathan. 540
Clemmer, Josiah. 247 Clymer, Frank MI .. 394
Colton, John MI .. 524 Comly, Harry, 380
Conard, Henry F., 155 Conrad, John M .. 159 Cooke, Jay, 62
Corson, Ellwood MI .. 292
Corson, Isabella F .. 471
Corson, Mary. 471
Corson, Joseph K .. 44
Coulston, Joseph P .. 524
Coulston, Walter. 74 Cox, B. Wilson, 513 Cox, Charles A., 510
Cozens, James A., 372 Crawford, Albert, 224 Cressman. Henry C., 102
Custer. Horace A., 210
Davidheiser, Franklin B. 43 Davidheiser, Milton R . 439 Davidheiser, William W .. 416
Davis, Jesse B., 93 Davis, Jesse M .. 322
Davis, John. 182
Davis. Mary A .. 463 Davis. The Family. 71 Dengler. Harry O .. 226
DePrefontaine, Charles, 147 DePrefontaine, Walter, 150 Detwiler, George MI., 358 Dingee, Albert H., 529 Dingee, Lester I., 529 Dotterrer. Augustus W .. 395 Dresher, Samuel, 460 Duddy, John. 448 Duffield. Frank W. 158 Dyer, John T .. 35
Ebert, Horace MI .. 9 Edwards, Jacob. 527 Egbert, Allan C., 257 Egolf. George L., 396 Ehst, Jacob M., 407 Ellis. David M., 328 Erb, Israel M., 381 Espenship, Matilda B., 347
Evans, Benjamin, 297
Evans, L. Kryder. 213
Evans, Miller D., 222 Evans, Montgomery. 4
Evans, Oliver M .. 336 Evans, William, 208
Famous. Benjamin F .. 164 Farrall. Frank P., 330 Feather. Hiram B., 187 Fegely, Calvin, 191 Fegely, W. O., 369
Fegley. Franklin G .. 273 Felty. L R .. 540 Finkbiner, U. S. G .. 238
Fisher, Adam. 452 Fisher, Harvey S., 384 Fisher, John F., 175 Fisher, Samuel R., 230 Fisher. S. Wilson, 264 Fleck, Byron M., 463 Fornance. Joseph, 37.3 Foulds. Thomas, 272 Freed, Elias K., 491 Freed. William G., 160 Fretz. Allen M., 245 Fritz, John S., 202 Fritz, John S .. 493 Fronhiser. Samuel, 183 Frorer. llenry. 350 Fryer. Josiah. 390
viii
Gable, Percival K., 77 Garber, Joseph S., 420 Gehman, Abner H., 277 Gehret, George W., 361 Geist, Howard W., 351 Gilbert, Elias H., 220 Gilbert, James W., 203 Gilbert, Jolın G., 132 Gilbert, Maurice E., 250 Gilbert, William, 404. Gillin, Robert H., 45I Gillin, Thomas S., 449 Glenn, Thomas A., 531 Godshalk, Frank S., 318
Godshalk, George D., 315 Godshalk. J. W., 493 Gordon, Samuel R., 252 Gotwals, Abraham G., 362 Gotwals, Joseph K., 312 Gotwalts, Jacob V., 8 Groff, Henry A .. 27 Groff, Joseph W .. 368
Hainer, Levi .W., 295 Hall, Joanna, 379 Hall, William M .. 379 Hallman, Harry F., 265 Hallman, James M., 25.3
Hallowell, Alfred P., 66
Hallowell, Jacob L., 435 Hallowell, Joseph W., 1,36 Hallowell, William J., 481 Hamel, George, Sr., 539 Hampton, John, 52 Harry, Edwin M., 203 Hart, Andrew L., 458 Hart, Elwood L., 14I Hart, Zieber, 220 Hartenstine. Samuel. 406 Hartranft, Caroline K., 266 Hartranft, John F., 517 Harvey, David G., 67 Hawkins, Charles G .. 413 Heckler, Isaac R., 382 Heebner, Jacob W., 337 Helffenstein, Albert, 118 Hendricks, Abraham H., 186
Hendricks, Joseph H., 333 Herner, Henry H., 447 Herner, John R., 475 High, David K., 328 High, Samuel H., 530 Hillegass, Mahlon, 475 Hillegass. Warren S., 308 Hinderberger, Franz A., 489 Historical Society of Montgomery County. 341 Hobart, William M., 189 Hobson, Freeland G., 12 Iloffecker. Reuben F., 16 Holcomb, Mrs. Charles, 96 Hollenhoch, George C., 197 Holly, Theodore. 470 Hoot, Ellwood. 5.3.3 Hoover, Francis C., 162 Hoover, Hiram C., 20 Hower. Frank A., 165 Hughes, The Family, 282
INDEX.
Jarrett, John H., 354 Jarrett, Samuel F., 444
Jenkins, Earl A., II Jenkins, Howard M., 38 Jenkins, Parker, 426
Johnson, Jacob S., 237 Jones, George W., 289
Jones, Jonathan R., 542
Kane, Edward F., 388
Kane, James J., 538
Keeler, Henry A., IOI
Kehl, Albert G., 542
Kennedy, David R., 119
Kepler, Furman, 422
Kepler, Levi F., 453
Keyser, Esther W., 308
Keyser, Milton T., 114
Kibblehouse, Ralph K .. 268
Kirk. Jesse J .. 73
Knipe, Irvin P., 92 Kratz, Henry W .. 432
Krause, Anna J., 267
Kriebel, Abraham, 421
Krieble, Jesse S. 290
Krieble. John K., . 178
Kulp. Samuel N. 86
Kurtz, Irwin B., 196
Landis, J. Horace, 81 Landis, Jonas M., 364
Laros, Jesse S., 478 Larzelere, Nicholas H., 6
Latch, Edward B., 12I
Leaf, Henry P., 195
Lee, J. Ellwood, 22 Leitenberger, John, 316
Lenhart, John E., 446 Levengood. Peter Y., 260
Lewin, T. Milton. 482
Pifer, George W., 228
Porter. J. Elmer. 400
Potts, William W., 326
Rambo, Charles W .. 231
Ramey, Charles. 227
Ramsey. Ellen D .. 343
Rapp. Peter S .. 429
Raudenbush. Owen. 135
Reifsnyder, Horace F., 514 Reigner. Jesse B .. 350
Rex, John H., 64 Richards, Anna E. 190
1
Richards, William B., 321 Richardson. David D., 10
Lukens, Charles. 505 Lukens, George W., 317 Lukens, George T., 506
Lukens, Jawood, 506
Lukens, The Family. 502 Lukens, William E., 521
Manr. Charles H . 476
March, Thomas J .. 324
Martin, William J., 54 Mather, Charles. 53 Mather, Isaac. 184 Mathews. Edrar. 236 Mauck, The Family. 500 McCam, Josooh W ... 754 McFarland, The Family, 433
McGinley, Joseph J., 225 McHarg, John S., 446 Me Harg, William, 367
Mckinlay, John, 348 McMahon, George, 423 Meschter, George K., 306
Messinger, S. L., 216 Metz, Abraham K., 445
Metz, John K .. 309 Mills, Ellis, 353
Mintzer, William M., 25 Moore, Herbert U., 459 Moore, M. Anna. 497
Morgan. George C., 109
Morris, John R., 139
Morris, Oliver G., 409
Morton, The Farm, 419
Moyer, Tobias E., 470
Murphy, Andrew J., 479
Murphy, Benjamin F., 163 Murphy, George D., 14I
Nash, Daniel, 502 Nash, Harry L., 228
Nash, Joseph Y .. 125
Neiman, Howard Y., 214
Newlin. Franklin. 271
Newport. David, 129
Nipp. s. William D., 331
Noble. Samuel. 61
Nyce, Edwin S., 404
Nyce, Jacob P .. 315
Oberholtzer. Morris B .. 360
O'Brien. Michael P .. 76
Ortt, Rowley K., 83
Penrose, Benjamin F., 383
Phillips. Thomas W .. 140
Lewis, Effie M., 494 Linde. Catharine, 279 Linde, Christian, 279 Lindsay, Andrew, 69 Livezey, Mary R .. 65 Livezey, T. Ellwood, 32
Livezey. Thomas H .. 510 Lodge, John W .. 176 Longstreth. Sarah H., 454 Loomis. John. 251 Loughlin. Alexander, 472 Lovett, Robert, 190 Lowery, Harry S. 531
Righter, Horace B., 428
Roberts, Algernon B., 512
Roberts, Charles H., 274 Roberts, Ellwood. 342 Roberts, Hugh, 88 Roberts. Willis R .. 160 Rodenbangh, William H., 116 Rogers, The Family, 536 Root. R Morgan, 45I Royer. John D .. 393 Rupert. William W., 207 Ruth, Jacob K., 310
Sands, Horatio, 206 Sassaman, Henry S., 179
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ix
INDEX.
Saylor, Albert G., 198 Saylor, Elmer E., 422 Schall, John W., 90 Scheidt, Adam, 104 Schirmer, John, 157 Schneider, Henry W., 269 Schrack, John, 398 Schreiber, John S., 138 Schreiber, Theodore, 133 Schwab, George M., 152 Schwenk, Samuel Z., 399 Schweyer, Henry A., 346 Seiple, Samuel C., 344 Seipt, George A., 31I Shade, Jacob, 414 Shade, John M., 208
Shaner, Harry A., 413 Shellenberger, Edwin M., 170 Shelly. Daniel W., 543 Shelmire, John S., 401
Sheppard. William, 261 Shoemaker, Jesse C., 164 Shoemaker, Joseph A., 144 Shoemaker, Louis R., 378 Shocmaker. Mary S., 148 Shoemaker. William H., 146 Shuler, William R, 357 Simpson, Charles, 417 Slingluff, Henry G., 142 Slingluff. William H., 280 Slough, Ephraim F., 303 Smith, Frank L., 424 Smith, Newberry A., 46 Smith, O. P., 212 Smith, Thomas V., 258 Snell, William C., 392 Snyder, John C., 294 Snyder, Stephen, 319 Sommer, Henry J., 499 Sonder, Elmer N .. 476 Souder, Harvey, 352
Spang, Joseph, 204 Springer, Daniel J., 239
Stager, John, 544 Stahlnecker, Henry W., 467
Stannard, Edward J., 153 Stannard, Lewis J., 323 Steele, Thomas C., 211 Stinson, Charles H., 87 Stong, Lewis B., 133 Stout, Amanda, 492
Stout, John D., 420
Stover, Christian, 401
Strahan, J. A., 107
Strasser, Ernest W., 461
Streeper, Thomas' S., 332
Strehle, August, 474
Styer, Freas. 320
Summers, The Family, 534
Summers, William, 536
Supplee, J. Henderson, 506
Supplee, Joel, 249
Swavely, Samuel B., 412
Taft, Eugene L., 254 Taggart, William, 235 Taubel, Louis E., 223 Templeton, Charles. 85 Thomas, Benjamin, 36 Thomson, James K., 49 Thomson, Thomas, 522 Titlow, Jacob R., 234
Todd, John, 188
Townsend, Edward Y., 46
Townsend, Henry T., 48 Townsend, John W., 48
Twaddell, John H., 200
Tyson, John H .. 99
Tyson, Joseph H., 310
Updegrove, Francis B., 349 Vanderslice, John M., 192
VanHorn, James, 167 Voorhees, J. Frank, 396
Wagner, John T., 221
Walt. Abram, 370
Walt, Andrew, 462
Walton, Amos, 149
Walton, William E., 143
Wanger, Irving P., 28
Wanner, Ellwood J., 509
Watt, George W., 299
Weber. J. Howard, 173
Weigner, John K., 314
Weinberger, J. Shelly, 402
Wells, Mary M .. 270
Wells, William J., 440
Wentz, Abram, 70
Werkiser, Adam, 135
West, William, 168
White, Daniel H., 483
Wiand, William H., 457
Wickersham, Frank, 466
Wieand, Charles S., 408
Willauer, William, 384 Williams, Irvin C., 229 Williard, Philip, 456 WVise, Henry Y., 426 Withers, M. Augustus, 185 Wolford, Benjamin D., 380
Wood, Charles S .. 513
Wood, David E., 430
Wood, Horace C., 159
Wood, John. 532
Wood, Richard F., 464 Woodward, S. B., 542
Yeager, Samuel S., 171 Yerger, Samuel M., 415
Ziegler, Elmer B., 5.37
James Boydy
MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
COLONEL JAMES BOYD. The bar of every county in Pennsylvania has its oldest mem- ber, the honor being handed down from one to another as each in turn departs from the scene of his earthly labors and triumphs. Colonel James Boyd enjoys special distinction in this respect. He is not only the nestor of the bar of Montgom- ery county but he is the oldest attorney in active practice at this time in the state of Pennsylvania.
James Boyd, grandfather of Colonel Boyd, was a native of County Tyrone, Ireland. Emi- grating to this country, he settled at Connellsville, in the coke region of Pennsylvania.
Colonel Boyd is the son of Jeremiah and Eliz- abeth (Long) Boyd. He was born in the old homestead in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1821. He was educated in the com- mon schools of that vicinity in his earlier boy- . made the suggestion that he enter the legal pro- hood days, and when he was eighteen years of age his father and the family removed to Ger- mantown, in Philadelphia county, where the son completed his education at the old academy con- ducted by Professors Green, Smith and Collum. The family then removed to Norristown, where the question of a profession for the son arose, he being upon the threshold of manhood. It was the father's wish that his son should become a druggist, and, without consulting with him, the elder Boyd purchased a drugstore in Norristown at the corner of Main and Cherry streets then owned by Dr. Huddleson, an early practitioner of medicine who is long since deceased. The son entered the store and, after a trial of business for
three months, came to the conclusion that he was not fitted by nature for that occupation, and so disposed of it to another person. He then went to his father, who was greatly displeased at the turn of affairs, and informed him that he had decided to go west. The mother of Colonel Boyd pre- vailed on him, however, to remain at home.
At that time debates in the public school- houses were very common, and young Boyd soon became talked about for the forcible arguments which he advanced for the side which he hap- pened to take, whatever might be the subject of dispute. Being six feet three inches in height and endowed with a clear voice and pleasing mode of address, he invariably commanded atten- tion when he spoke. The father, hearing of the success of his son's efforts in this line, at once fession through the usual course of preliminary study. The idea was acceptable to the young man and he acted upon it at once, entering the office of Daniel H. Mulvany, a Norristown law- yer of great learning and ability. In response to a request of the elder Boyd, Mr. Mulvany en- gaged in conversation with the son, the result of the conference being that Mr. Mulvany accepted him as a student, and he immediately started in to read law.
Mr. Boyd applied himself to his legal studies with his habitual earnestness and diligence and he soon mastered the intricacies of the law, being admitted to the bar August 16, 1842, by Judge Fox. He then opened an office for himself in the
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
same building in which he is now located, and waited, as is the custom, for his first client. Mr. Boyd made a success for himself in his profes- :sion from the start. Attorney Freedley, who soon gained a lucrative practice, was thought to have .done exceedingly well by securing four hundred dollars in fees for his first year's work, but Mr. Boyd outstripped all his competitors by his per- severance and attention to business. His fees for the year in which he began practice, amounted in the aggregate to seven hundred and sixty dol- lars, a sum which has never before or since been equaled by a beginner in the course of his first year.
The successes of Attorney Boyd rapidly in- creased and he soon became known far and near as a prosperous and popular lawyer. His busi- ness grew rapidly and he was generally recog- nized as one of the most prominent members of the Montgomery bar, which then, as now, had a high reputation among the legal fraternity of the state.
In railway management Colonel Boyd has long held a very prominent place. In 1845 he was appointed counsel in Montgomery county for the Philadelphia, Germantown & Norristown Railroad Company. In 1852 he received a sim- ilar appointment for the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, which he still holds, although Montgomery Evans is associated with him. He still travels frequently to Philadelphia where he "is summoned to confer with the president and other officials of the Reading Railway Company, · who have the greatest confidence in his judgment. · which in matters of legal business, is unequaled. In 1884 he was elected president of the Perkio- men Railroad Company, a few years later of the Stony Creek Railroad Company, and a short time afterwards of the Philadelphia, Newtown & New York Railroad Company, all of which positions he still holds. He has been a director of the Montgomery National Bank of Norristown since its organization, and also counsel for the institu- tion. He is a director of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company and also of the Plymouth Railroad Company. He was one of the organizers of the Norristown Insurance &
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