USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Historical sketches : a collection of papers prepared for the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1921-1925, Volume VII > Part 1
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M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
L
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02219 8607
JOSEPH FORNANCE 1841-1923
Historical Sketches
A COLLECTION OF PAPERS PREPARED
FOR THE
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
-
OF
MONTGOMERY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
Period 1921-1925
PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY
VOLUME VII
1921-1925
JOHN HARTENSTINE NORRISTOWN, PA. 1935
DT21H
1666474
Officers of the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pa. (Elected February 21, 1925)
President IRVIN P. KNIPE, EsQ.
Vice-Presidents H. SEVERN REGAR EDWARD W. HOCKER SAMUEL YEAKLE
Recording Secretary GEORGE K. BRECHT, EsQ.
Corresponding Secretary MISS LILLIAN CHILDS
*
Financial Secretary MRS. WILLIAM M. GEARHART
Treasurer DR. W. H. REED
Librarian WILLIAM M. GEARHART
Annalist EDWARD W. HOCKER
Curator WILLIAM M. GEARHART
Trustees FRANKLIN A. STICKLER HERBERT H. GANSER MRS. A. CONRAD JONES MISS KATHARINE PRESTON LYMAN A. KRATZ
£
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Table of Contents
PAGE
IN MEMORIAM: Joseph Fornance 1
IN MEMORIAM: J. P. Hale Jenkins 4
A REVIEW OF THE HISTORY OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONT- GOMERY COUNTY. H. W. Kratz 6 ON THE TRAIL OF WASHINGTON. Fred Perry Powers 15 SOME UNSOLVED ENIGMAS IN THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON. George Nox McCain 35
REPORT OF ANNALIST FOR 1921. Clara A. Beck
47
EARLY FRIENDS' SCHOOLS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. Helen E. Richards 52
THE BRUNNER ACADEMY OF NORTH WALES. Mrs. John M. Willis 63 MORRIS LLEWELLYN OF HAVERFORD. Morris Llewellyn Cooke 68
WILLIAM SUMMERS. LATE LIBRARIAN OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY. Walter Ross McShea
85
OLD ROADS OF NORRISTOWN. S. Cameron Corson 93
REPORT OF ANNALIST FOR 1922. Clara A. Beck 106
"ERDENHEIM" AND JOHN GEORGE HOCKER. Samuel Yeakle 108
THE LUTHERAN MISSIONS AND MINISTRY OF THE TWO STOEVERS. S. Gordon Smyth 116
REPORT OF ANNALIST FOR 1923. Clara A. Beck
129
MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN THE CAMPAIGN OF 1777-78.
W. H. Richardson 132
OUR CURIOS. Katharine Preston 165
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF FLOURTOWN. Samuel Yeakle
170
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE UNION CHURCH OF WHITEMARSH, MONT- GOMERY COUNTY, PA. Samuel Yeakle 178
PHILADELPHIA SILVERSMITHS. Samuel W. Woodhouse, Jr. 184
REPORT OF ANNALIST FOR 1924. Gilbert S. Jones 188
THE HARRY FAMILY. Mrs. John W. Harry
201
POW-WOW, AND OTHER SUPERSTITIONS. Sylvester H. Orr 211
HISTORY OF HATBORO. Mrs. Penrose Robinson 215
SUPPLEMENTARY PAPER ON THE HISTORY OF HATBORO. S. Gordon Smyth 222
SOME HISTORICAL DATA ON HORSHAM MEETING. Anna Jarrett 230
GRAEME PARK. Charles S. Mann 232
VALLEY FORGE-A RETROSPECT. S. Gordon Smyth 237
LUSTRE POTTERY. Anna Jarrett
243
REPORT OF ANNALIST FOR 1925. Sarah E. Fry
254
TEXTILE EXHIBIT 260
THE BOYERTOWN ORE MINES. Hon. L. P. G. Fegley
265
HISTORY OF EXETER MEETING. Charles Lee
271
CONSHOHOCKEN'S SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY. Mary T. and Elizabeth S. Collins 273
A FEW THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS RESPECTING THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY WAS FORMED. H. W. Kriebel 281
MEMBERSHIP OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, DECEMBER, 1925 288 GENERAL INDEX 301
List of Illustrations
JOSEPH FORNANCE
Frontispiece
J. P. HALE JENKINS
4
BIRMINGHAM MEETING-HOUSE 24
THE PENNYPACKER HOUSE 26
HORSHAM SCHOOL HOUSE 60
BRUNNER ACADEMY 63
PEMBROKESHIRE IN XVII CENTURY 68
WILLIAM PENN'S WARRANT TO MORRIS LLEWELLYN 73
THE ORIGINAL LLEWELLYN HOMESTEAD 74
THE OLDEST LINE STONE IN HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP 76
SURVEY BY DAVID LLEWELLYN
78
OLD HAVERFORD MEETING-HOUSE
80
INTERIOR OF HAVERFORD MEETING
82
THE BURIAL GROUND AT OLD HAVERFORD MEETING
84
THE RED ROCK OR HANCOCK'S LANE (map)
95
OLD RIVER ROAD (map)
96
OLD SWEDESFORD ROAD (map)
97
OLD PAPER MILL ROAD AND SCHEETZ MILL ROAD (map) 98
OLD GREEN ALLEY ROAD (map) 99
OLD KEESEY ROAD (map)
100
"ERDENHEIM"
112
SAMUEL GORDON SMYTH
116
LAFAYETTE'S HEADQUARTERS AT BRANDYWINE
137
NORRITON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 142
WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS AT VALLEY FORGE 150
UNION CHURCH OF WHITEMARSH-ORIGINAL BUILDING 180
UNION CHURCH OF WHITEMARSH-PRESENT BUILDING 182
185
LOG COLLEGE
224
HORSHAM MEETING-HOUSE
230
"GRAEME PARK" 233
WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS, VALLEY FORGE, IN 1887 241
EXETER MEETING-HOUSE 272
GROUP FROM HISTORICAL PAGEANT-CONSHOHOCKEN CENTENNIAL 274
HOME OF PHILIP SYNG
Introductory
"Peace! and no longer from its brazen portals The blast of War's great organ shakes the skies! But beautiful as songs of the immortals, The holy melodies of love arise."
(Longfellow: The Arsenal at Springfield.)
In the introduction to Volume VI of these Historical Sketches, much was necessarily said about the World War, which began and ended (so far as concerns the United States) during the period to which that volume applies.
The World War was fought, ostensibly, "to end war." But, unfortunately, although the machinery designed to fur- ther that purpose has been assembled, the hoped-for result has not, at this writing, been achieved.
Happily, however, our own country is not now among either those torn by internal conflict, or those convulsed by foreign war. The "status quo ante bellum" has been, as nearly as possible, restored, and with the return to civil occupation of a countless army of citizens, the old interests -even cultural interests-may, with fair hope, be resumed.
The responsibility placed upon this Society, of fulfilling the purpose for which it was formed, is now greater than before. Not only has another war-the most devastating war known to history-added immeasurably to the catalog of events to be chronicled ; but also, it is only too likely that its bulk has altogether eclipsed many all-but-forgotten facts of earlier history. For although the writing and teaching of history have changed much in the past half-century, it must be admitted that, in the popular mind, War still holds cen- ter-stage, ready to force into the background many less spectacular, though more important, events.
The collection and preservation of local historical data have therefore taken on, for every one of us, a new mean- ing, which we must not be slow in grasping. By an historical
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INTRODUCTORY
perspective too simple to need explaining, the figures of the Present threaten to overshadow those of the Past, and will do so, unless a light more searching than any yet brought to bear, is turned upon the vanishing background. There should be an active group in every township of the county, having for its purpose, not only the collecting of original family papers and local lore, but also the systematic making of abstracts of public documents, which, through incessant use and abuse, and storage in damp and dusty places, are continually facing destruction. It is often said of a place, "The history of this region is lost in the mist of ages," when, as a matter of fact, it is only the broom of the investi- gator that is wanting, to make the past live again. Let us collect what nobody seems interested in, for that is the most likely to be lost.
Like charity, the recording of events should begin at home. So it is well to say here, that the passage of another five-year period has brought significant changes in the lead- ership of our Society. Dr. Thomas R. Beeber, who so fittingly headed the list of officers in our last volume of Historical Sketches, was, in 1921, made President Emeritus of the Society. His successor as President, elected in 1921, was Mr. Samuel Gordon Smyth, senior vice-president of the Society, editor of its most recent volume of Historical Sketches, and a noted contributor to the Sketches themselves. Mr. Smyth served the office of President until 1923, when, on his retire- ment, Irvin P. Knipe, Esq., a noted member of the Mont- gomery County Bar, was elected to fill the vacancy, which he has since done to the full satisfaction of the Society.
The Society mourns the loss, during this period, of two valuable and faithful officers-Joseph Fornance, Esq., and J. P. Hale Jenkins, Esq. Mr. Fornance died in 1923, having been retired for some years from the office of President of the Society, which he had filled for twenty-one years. Mr. Jenkins died in 1921, while holding the office of Vice-Presi- dent. Memoirs of both will be found elsewhere in this volume.
The activities of the Society have continued to draw full attendance, not only to its regular meetings, but also to
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INTRODUCTORY
those special ones held, from time to time, in the evening. Of the papers read at these meetings, the greater number are presented in this volume; but it is to be regretted that several, because they were delivered extempore, and were never reduced to writing by their authors, have had to be omitted.
The annual outing of the Society has been, as ever, a popular event. In 1921, a pilgrimage was made to old Abington Friends' Meeting, Abington Presbyterian Church, and the Bryn Athyn Cathedral. That of 1922 took the Society and its friends into the Upper Perkiomen Valley, where the churches of Old and New Goshenhoppen were visited, and a view afforded of the collections of the Schwenkfelder Historical Museum and Library, at Penns- burg. The excursion of 1923 was to the townships of Spring- field and Whitemarsh, with stops at the historic Spring Mill, the Stotesbury mansion, Zion Lutheran Church and Hope Lodge. In 1924, the outing included Horsham, with visits to Graeme Park and the Friends' Meeting-house; and Hat- boro; while that of 1925 covered a number of historic points in the Oley Valley.
It is significant of the change in transportation methods, that while the Outing program of 1921 states, "The trip will be made by automobile 'buses," that of 1925 says, "The Society would like to avoid having an autobus for this trip"; indicating that nearly all will come, either as owners or guests, in private cars.
The Society continues its flourishing condition, and the number of new members proposed at each meeting shows the sustained interest of the history-lovers of the county. Visitors from twenty other states registered at Historical Hall, 1921-25, inclusive, the most populous states sending the greatest number of visitors; there were also a few from abroad. The accessions to the Society's collections numbered more than eight hundred individual donations, while the number of books, documents and articles actually com- prised in this list naturally reached a far higher figure.
In Memoriam
The Society records, with sincere sense of loss, the death of the following members:
ADELA BARNSLEY
DR. JOSEPH E. BLANCK
HENRY A. BOORSE
MRS. MARY ANN BUCKMAN
JAMES HARRISON CLARK
DR. P. Y. EISENBERG
DAVID H. ELLIS
REV. L. K. EVANS .
MONTGOMERY EVANS
JOSEPH FITZWATER
JOHN H. GEHRET
B. F. GOUGHLER
MARY HARRY
SAMUEL S. HARTRANFT
E. WHEELER JENKINS
MRS. HARRY J. KRATZ
DR. E. A. KRUSEN
J. HORACE LANDIS
JAMES M. LANDIS
N. H. LARZELERE
OLIVER F. LENHARDT
MRS. CHARLES MAJOR
JANE MILLER
WILLIAM E. MONTAGUE
M. ANNA MOORE
REV. ROBERT H. NASSAU
JOHN E. OBERHOLTZER ELWOOD ROBERTS SAMUEL ROBERTS REMANDUS SCHEETZ
MRS. JOHN F. SHEPPARD
WILLIAM SUMMERS ELLEN L. THOMAS
NEVILLE B. TYSON DR. J. K. WEAVER
REV. C. F. WILLIAMS HENRY S. WILLIAMS I. C. WILLIAMS
B. F. WONSETLER
MRS. JAMES W. WOOD
MRS. AMANDA YEAKLE
In Memoriam: Joseph Fornance
Joseph Fornance was president of the Historical Society of Montgomery County for twenty-one years - a term of much greater length than any of his predecessors or succes- sors in that office served. Moreover, his presidency was con- spicuous for progress and prosperity in the Society. His fine tact and culture and his wide knowledge of the county's his- tory made him an admirable leader for the Society. When he became president, in 1896, the Society had about sixty members. Within five years the list had grown to three hun- dred. The annual supper on Washington's Birthday was a delightful social feature of that time, and also added mater- ially to the Society's income. The Society marked numerous historic sites; the custom of having an annual outing came into vogue, and the publication of papers read before the Society was begun, Mr. Fornance himself serving as chair- man of the publication committee. The most outstanding achievement in those years, however, was the acquisition of a building for the Society's use, the former Norristown Bor- ough Hall having been purchased a few months after Mr. Fornance assumed the presidency.
Mr. Fornance possessed the prestige of lineage in a dis- · tinguished family and of honorable service at the bar, as well as enthusiasm for historical inquiry. His father, also named Joseph Fornance, had been prominent at the bar, and, after a term in the Pennsylvania House of Representa- tives, was elected to the National House of Representatives in 1838, and re-elected two years later. His mother was Anne Butcher McKnight, of Alexandria, Virginia, a de- scendant of the Piercy and McKnight families of Virginia, .and of the Roberts family of Lower Merion township, Mont- gomery county. The son, Joseph Fornance, was born in Washington, D. C., April 24, 1841. He was educated in Norristown in the private schools of Dr. John W. Loch and the Rev. Dr. Samuel Aaron, and, after teaching school for a
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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
time, he studied law with Gilbert R. Fox, in Norristown, and in the department of law at the University of Pennsyl- vania, being admitted to the Montgomery county bar in 1866.
In 1877 Mr. Fornance went to St. Louis, Mo., and opened a law office. But he returned to Norristown two years later, and thereafter was actively engaged at his profession in Norristown until within a few years before his death. His was not a spectacular career. He was never combative, but he achieved his ends through mild, courteous persistence. While, like his father, he was a Democrat in politics, he never held either elective or appointive office, but he took an active part in some political campaigns, particularly when General Winfield Scott Hancock was the Democratic nominee for the Presidency in 1880, for Mr. Fornance maintained cordial friendship with General Hancock by reason of the fact that his father, while a member of Con- gress, had appointed Hancock a cadet at West Point Military Academy.
At the organization of the Montgomery County Bar Association, in 1885, Mr. Fornance was appointed a mem- ber of its important committee of censors, and he remained a member until 1914, when he was elected vice-president of the association. In 1915, being the senior member of the association, he became president. The association prepared to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Mr. Fornance's ad- mission to the bar, in 1916, but, because of wartime con- ditions, at his own request the commemoration was post- poned until after the war. Accordingly, on May 17, 1919, the Bar Association tendered a dinner at the Bellevue- Stratford, Philadelphia, both to Mr. Fornance and to Joseph V. Gotwalts, who in the meantime had likewise attained his fiftieth anniversary.
Following the organization of the Montgomery County Centennial Association for the observance of the county's centennial, in September, 1884, Mr. Fornance was elected president, when Judge B. Markley Boyer, the first president, resigned, and his capable leadership counted materially in making the four-day observance the great success that it was.
3
IN MEMORIAM: JOSEPH FORNANCE
Mr. Fornance became a member of the Historical Society of Montgomery County in its early years, and preceding his election to the presidency, in 1896, he was a vice-president, while former Judge Hiram C. Hoover was president. In 1917 Mr. Fornance insisted upon relinquishing the presidency.
Other offices that Mr. Fornance held were those of trust officer of the Montgomery Trust Company, of Norristown, 1901 to 1903; member of the board of directors of the Mont- gomery Trust Company, and member of the board of man- agers of the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revo- lution. He also was a member of the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati, the Colonial Society of Pennsylvania, Charity Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Norristown, and Hancock Fire Company, of Norristown.
Mr. Fornance was married on February 22, 1881, to Ellen Knox, daughter of Colonel Thomas Pope Knox and Sarah Ann Leedom Knox. They were the parents of Joseph Knox Fornance, a member of the Montgomery County bar; Eleanor Fornance, deceased, and Lois Fornance Wallace, deceased. The family lived in the historic Porter-Knox homestead, known as Selma, on West Main street, Norris- town. There Mr. Fornance died on December 16, 1923.
In Memoriam: J. P. Hale Jenkins .
J. P. Hale Jenkins, son of Charles Todd and Sarah (Lukens) Jenkins, was born in Hatfield township, Mont- gomery county, January 13, 1851. He attended the public schools and Lexington Seminary, and later took a course at Crittenden's Business College, Philadelphia. He then began reading law with George N. Corson, Esq., of Norristown.
On April 30, 1874, he was admitted to the Montgomery County Bar, of which he remained an active member for forty-seven years. During this period of his law practice, he served the Borough of Norristown for several years as its solicitor, and also acted as solicitor of its poor board, and of its school board, of which he was a member. Later, he be- came Special Deputy Attorney General of Pennsylvania for Montgomery County.
Mr. Jenkins filled, for long periods of years, the offices of director of the Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company, of the Norristown Trust Company, of the Philadelphia Cas- ualty Trust Company, and of the Stony Creek Railroad Company. He was a member, for many years, of the Valley Forge Park Commission.
He was actively interested, as organizer and officer, in the work of volunteer fire departments, both borough and state. He was a member of numerous lodges.
In 1918, Mr. Jenkins was elected a vice-president of the Historical Society of Montgomery County, which office he held at the time of his death. During the brief period of his service, he was frequently called upon, during the illness of the president, Dr. Beeber, to preside over meetings of the Society, and he ably attended to this and to other duties of the presidential office, as well. He was the author of two papers, "Pennsylvania's Relationship to Washington," and "The Congressional Election of 1794," both of which were read before the Society, and have since been published in Volume VI of these Historical Sketches.
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J. P. HALE JENKINS
1851-1921
. . hi> ¥.
5
IN MEMORIAM : J. P. HALE JENKINS
He was also the author of a book, "Valley Forge."
Mr. Jenkins married, on December 30, 1875, Miss Ella C. Slight.
He died at his home, 510 Swede Street, Norristown, Jan- uary 19, 1921, leaving to survive him his widow, and two daughters.
A Review of the History of the Historical Society of Montgomery County
By H. W. KRATZ
In the effort to gather inspiration from the past history of the Historical Society of Montgomery County, we may not find as much as desired to justify enthusiasm, or as much historical matter enrolled upon its tablet, or as many books stored in its archives as might have been collected under a more active and aggressive effort. Greater interest might have been aroused under more pronounced effort on the part of the membership. A larger yield of historic fruit- age might have been plucked if the field of history had been traversed, and more laborers had appeared on the scene to help gather material. But notwithstanding that more satisfactory results might have been achieved, it is nevertheless encouraging to realize that our Society has been fully established and maintained with as much success as generally crowns the labors of such organizations. The burdens created by the establishment of such societies are universally imposed upon and borne by the few, while the many who should be interested in promoting and develop- ing its purposes, stand back in wonderful expectancy of great things to occur: and because something remarkable fails to happen, their interest and help is withheld, and their sense of duty remains unquickened. It is marvelous, and at the same time humiliating, to realize the fact that so few people are disposed to aid in the development of an organization having in view the production of information and facts which would educate its members as well as the community in local as well as general history. Such a cause so susceptiblbe of expansive thought and extended research should not be permitted to exist as a mere sentiment, but should be developed into a telling reality. It should form a
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REVIEW OF HISTORY OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY CO.
nucleus around which many should not only be glad, but anxious, to gather by the constraining force of duty, and the conviction of moral obligation under which we are bound to each other, in promoting the welfare of the community in which we live. There is much information of a local char- acter to be found in every community that may be utilized by historical societies. It is too often thought, however, that such matter is too antiquated or insignificant for men of this progressive age to notice or investigate-that matters of greater significance, and comprehending loftier themes, are of paramount importance and concern, and that the past with its memories and incidents should pass into oblivion, and rest forever in the shades of forgetfulness. And this mistaken but yet very prevalent tendency would be fully consummated were it not for historical societies. A spirit of indifference, approximating well nigh to opposition, was displayed when the wisdom and propriety of celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of the establishment of Montgomery County was first conceived by this Society. This step, which resulted in a most important and laudable achievement, was first taken on the 25th day of May, 1882. The project of a suitable celebration of the centennial of the county's organization, to be observed in 1884, was then discussed, and a committee of conference appointed, which resulted in a joint organization of the county officials and membership of this Society. It was then determined that a general committee to consist of one person from each elec- tion district in the county, to take charge of the work, should be appointed. After this committee was constituted, co-operative effort was started. To this call it was hoped and expected many would respond. It was thought that men of different professions and callings in life would be aroused to enlist in this cause, and from patriotic motives would join the movement. Pride and interest in local enterprise should have been such an incentive to earnest co-operation that many of the foremost citizens of Norristown should have promptly met the occasion with warm hearts and willing hands in such a praiseworthy undertaking. Notwithstanding that the cause was meritorious and patriotic, there were
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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
comparatively few who were in real sympathy with the en- terprise. The apparent indifference, however, did not dis- hearten those already in line; but, inflated with the true spirit, they prosecuted their labors with zeal, feeling assured that they would come out victorious. Interest in the movement increased, and business accumulated to such a degree that monthly meetings were soon held.
At a meeting held November 22, 1883, the general nature of the celebration was discussed, and the Memorial Committee instructed to have prepared and erected a gran- ite monolith to the memory of David Rittenhouse, the astronomer, to be placed in front of the Court House, mark- ing a continuation of the surveyor's meridian line. At the meeting held December 27, 1883, it was believed that the work had progressed sufficiently well to warrant the deter- mination to hold the proposed celebration, and continue the same four days, during which period an antiquarian exposi- tion should be opened for the display of antique relics or articles of any kind connected with the early history of Montgomery County; ingenious devices or articles of more modern construction; specimens of art illustrative of local subjects, or executed by local artists; collections of min- erals, fossils, botanical and geological specimens, and Indian relics, etc.
The arrangements being completed, the Celebration opened on Tuesday, September 9, 1884. With the opening exercises was connected the dedication of the Rittenhouse Memorial Stone. A bright and clear day dawned upon the imposing scene. A large concourse of people had assembled to witness the ceremonies of the day. At the appointed time, Joseph Fornance, Esq., President of the Centennial Asso- ciation, stepped forward upon the Court House porch, and introduced Dr. J. H. A. Bomberger, President of Ursinus College, who, after making some very appropriate remarks, led the large audience in a most fervent and eloquent prayer. After the address of welcome by the Solicitor of Town Council, J. P. Hale Jenkins, Esq., and the dedication of the Rittenhouse Memorial Stone, Colonel Bean replied to the delivery of the report of the Memorial Committee as
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