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CENTENNIAL
CELEBRATION OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNA.
1784-1884.
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 03154 4635
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The Centennial celebration of Montgomery County
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Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
This Edition, consisting of two hundred and six copies on Tileston Plate paper, was printed from type in the month of December, 1884.
This Copy is No. 65.
This Copy of the Official Record of the Centen- nial Celebration Montgomery County, Pa., was printed for
C. TYSON KRATZ, Lower Providence, Pa.
THE
Centennial Celebration OF
MONTGOMERY COUNTY,
AT NORRISTOWN, PA.,
SEPTEMBER 9, 10, 11, 12, 1884.
AN OFFICIAL RECORD OF ITS PROCEEDINGS.
EDITED BY F. G. HOBSON, WILLIAM J. BUCK AND HENRY S. DOTTERER, Committee on Publication of Official Record.
NORRISTOWN, PA. :
PUBLISHED BY THE CENTENNIAL ASSOCIATION OF MONTGOMERY CO. 1884.
COPYRIGHT, 1884. The Centennial Association of Montgomery County, Pa.
STENOGRAPHICALLY REPORTED BY WILLIAM M. CLIFT.
PRINTED BY MORGAN R. WILLS, NORRISTOWN, PA.
CERTIFICATE.
The following constitutes a correct Record of the proceedings connected with the Centennial Celebration of Montgomery county, Pa., with a list of exhibits and exhibitors, compiled from the original Entry Books, under the direction of the Centennial Association of Montgomery County, Penna.
Joseph Formano ance
President.
Attest:
G Hobson .
Recording Secretary. Meuscon No. Librow.
Corresponding Secretary.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CERTIFICATE.
PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS, 1
FIRST DAY .- OPENING EXERCISES, 16
Prayer, Rev. J. H. A. Bomberger, D. D., 17
Address, J. P. Hale Jenkins, 21 . Address, Joseph Fornance, 23
DEDICATION OF RITTENHOUSE MERIDIAN STONE, 27
Report of Memorial Committee, 28
Address, Hon. B. Markley Boyer, 31
Benediction, Rev. Isaac Gibson, 37
SECOND DAY .- MEMORIAL EXERCISES,
39
Prayer, Rev. H. S. Rodenbough, 41
Address, Joseph Fornance, 43
Historical Oration, William J. Buck, 45
Poem, Hon. George N. Corson, 69
Oration, Rev. C. Z. Weiser, D. D., 75
THIRD DAY .- THE PARADE, 96
Route of Parade and General Order, 97
First Division, 99
Second Division, 100
Third Division, . 101 Fourth Division, 102
THE INDIAN CHILDREN, 105
Address, Col. Theo. W. Bean, 105
FOURTH DAY. 108 .
THE ANTIQUARIAN EXPOSITION, .
110
LIST OF EXHIBITS AND EXHIBITORS.
Indian Relics and Antiquities, . 112 Antiquities of the First Settlers and Early Purchasers, 118 Relics and Records of the Colonial Period, 120 ·
Relics of the Revolutionary War, .
121
x
Relics of the War of 1812, 128
Relics of the Mexican War, 129
Relics of the War for the Union, 130
Implements of Early Husbandry, . 132
Implements and Articles of Household Use in Early Times, 134
Kitchen Furniture and Pewter Ware, 142
Antique Furniture and Clocks, . 158
Home-Manufactured Articles, old, 172
Silver, Silver-Plated, Glass, and China Ware, .
183
Antique Wearing Apparel and Jewelry, 221
Antique Handiwork in Silk, Floss, or Wool, and Laces,
243
Antique Handiwork of Our Own Times, .
259
School Books, Old and New,
267
Books, Papers, and Manuscripts,
275
Maps,
356
Oil Paintings, Engravings, Etc., 359
Portraits,
368
Views of Churches and School Houses, 377
Rittenhouse Clocks and Scientific Instruments, 381
Arms and Equipments,
383
Early Surgical and Dental Instruments, . 385
Coins and Paper Money, 386
Herbarium of Ferns and Flora of County, 400
Minerals and Fossils,
404
Miscellaneous Articles, .
405
ACTION OF THE COURT AND GRAND JURY,
421
FINANCIAL EXHIBIT.
Treasurer's Report, 424
Auditors' Report, 428
Disposal of Fund,
429
OFFICERS OF ASSOCIATION, 430
COMMITTEES,
431
THE GENERAL COMMITTEE,
436
Assistants to Township Committeemen, 438
VOCALISTS, .
445
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS,
447
INDEX TO EXHIBITORS,
455
xi
INDEX TO AUTOGRAPHS.
Bean, Col. Theo. W.,
107
Bickel, John W.,
423
Bomberger, Rev. J. H. A., 20
Boyer, Hon. B. M., 36
Buck, William J., .
67
Corson, Hon. George N.,
73
Detwiler, Hon. Jones,
29
Dotterer, Henry S.,
112
Fornance, Joseph, .
viii
Gibson, Rev. Isaac,
37
Gibson, Muscoe M.,
viii
Hobson, F. G., .
viii
Jenkins, J. P. Hale,
22
Rodenbough, Rev. H. S ,
42
Schall, Edward,
423
Schall, Col. John W.,
98
Strassburger, Jacob A.,
427
Weiser, Rev. C. Z.,
94
PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS.
On the tenth day of September, 1784, the Legislature of Pennsylvania passed an act for the establishment of the county of Montgomery, which reads as follows :
Section I. Whereas a great number of the inhabitants of the county of Philadelphia, by their petition, have humbly represented to the Assembly of this State the great inconvenience they labor under, by reason of their distance from the seat of judicature in said county : for remedy whereof,
Section II. Be it enacted, and it is hereby enacted by the representatives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in Gen- eral Assembly met, and by the authority of the same, That all and singular the lands lying within that part of Philadelphia county, bounded as herein after described, beginning on the line of Byberry township, and the township of the
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY
manor of Moreland, where it intersects the line of Bucks county, thence westward along the northern lines of Byberry, Lower Dublin, and Oxford townships, to the line dividing the town- ships of Cheltenham and Bristol; and thence along the said line, dividing Germantown town- ship from the township of Springfield ; and thence along said line, to the line dividing the township of Springfield aforesaid from the township of Roxborough, to the river Schuylkill; thence down the said river, to the line dividing the townships of Blockley and Lower Merion; and thence along said line, to the line of the county of Chester; thence by the line of Chester county, to the line of Berks county ; thence by the line of Berks county, to the line of Northampton county ; thence by part of the line of Northampton county, and the line of Bucks county ; thence along the said line of Bucks county, to the place of beginning; be, and hereby are, erected into a county, named, and hereafter to be called, "Montgomery" county.
To celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the establishment of Montgomery county, was thought eminently wise and proper.
The first movement looking to that end was made by the Montgomery County Historical Society. At a regular meeting of that body, held May 25th, 1882, Col. Theo. W. Bean,
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
President, in the chair, "The project of a suita- ble celebration of the centennial of the county's organization in 1884 was discussed at some length, and the chair, on motion, appointed a committee, to confer with a similar committee of the county officials, to consider the proper obser- vance of that occasion ; said committee consists of F. G. Hobson, Esq., Hon. Jones Detwiler and A. K. Thomas." [Extract of minutes.]
On the same day, the county officials met at the office of Irving P. Wanger, Esq., District Attorney, to take similar action. At that meet- ing a committee, consisting of Henry W. Kratz, Recorder of Deeds, J. Roberts Rambo, Register of Wills, and Jacob R. Yost, County Treasurer, was appointed to act in conjunction with the committee of the Historical Society.
On the afternoon of the same day the two above committees met in the rooms of the Histor- ical Society, and effected a joint organization. At the same time it was determined that a general committee be appointed, consisting of one per- son from each election district in the county, into whose hands the whole work of the cele- bration be placed.
That general committee was gradually se- lected, but it was not announced until the an- nual meeting of the Historical Society, February 22d, 1883, when the names of its members were made public.
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Here the matter was again left to rest until Monday, the Ioth day of September, 1883, when, on the call of the chairman, the General Committee came together in the room of the Historical Society, at the Court House. Here the real work began. Though few responded to the first call, yet those that did assemble were imbued with the idea that the matter was worthy of considerable effort, and could be made a pronounced success. The following persons were present at this first meeting, viz : Dr. J E. Bauman, of Franconia; the Rev. C. Z. Weiser, D. D., of East Greenville; Dr. C. H. Mann, of Bridgeport; Isaac R. Rosenber- ger, Hatfield; John Walton, Horsham ; William J. Buck, Jenkintown; J. J. Morrison, More- land; Hon. Isaac F. Yost, New Hanover ; Joseph Fornance, Esq., First Ward, Norristown ; John W. Bickel, Esq., Second Ward, Norristown ; Hon. George N. Corson, Sixth Ward, Norris- town; Dr. Samuel Wolfe, East Perkiomen ; Al- bert Bromer, West Perkiomen; D. Morgan Casselberry, Lower Providence; and Joseph Fitzwater, Upper Providence; in addition to Col. Theo. W. Bean, F. G. Hobson, Esq., and Hon. Jones Detwiler, of the Historical Society, and J. Roberts Rambo, of the county officials. The chairman of the joint committee called the body to order, and stated the object of the
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
assembling, after which Hon. Jones Detwiler was unanimously chosen temporary President.
After considerable discussion, a committee on Permanent Organization was appointed, to report at the afternoon session. Col. Theo. W. Bean, J. Roberts Rambo, Hon. Jones Det- wiler, William J. Buck, F. G. Hobson, Esq., Hon. George N. Corson and Hon. Isaac F. Yost constituted that committee.
On reassembling, the following officers were, on suggestion of the committee, unanimously elected :
President, Hon. B. Markley Boyer.
Vice Presidents, Joseph Fornance, Esq., Wharton Barker, Hon. Isaac F. Yost, Philip Super, Warner Roberts, Robert Iredell, Dr. Hiram Corson, Abraham H. Cassel, Rev. J. H. A. Bomberger, D. D., George Lower and Daniel Foulke.
Recording Secretary, F. G. Hobson, Esq.
Corresponding Secretary, Muscoe M. Gib- son, Esq.
Treasurer, Lewis Styer.
At the same time, the following chairmen of the various committees were appointed, and authority was given each to appoint a number of members on each committee.
Executive, F. G. Hobson, Esq.
Finance, David H. Ross, Esq.
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Antiquarian, William J. Buck.
Literary Exercises, Hon. George N. Cor- son.
Music, Prof. Thomas O'Neill.
Parades, Col. John W. Schall.
Programme, Col. Theo. W. Bean.
Memorial, Hon. Jones Detwiler.
The next meeting of the Association was held at the same place, on the 15th of Novem- ber, 1883. In the absence of the President, Hon. Isaac F. Yost occupied the chair.
Prof. Thomas O'Neill, declining to serve as chairman of the Music Committee, Henry W. Kratz was appointed in his stead and place. At this meeting the several chairmen of com- mittees announced their associates. . As all these committees are named hereafter, it is un- necessary to mention them at this place. As the business to be brought before the Associa- tion accumulated, it was resolved to meet each month, on the Thursday next following the 22d of the month.
At this time the general nature of the celebration was discussed at length, resulting substantially in the plan afterwards successfully carried out.
The Memorial Committee was instructed to have prepared and erected a granite monolith to the memory of David Rittenhouse, the as-
7
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
tronomer, to be placed in front of the Court House, marking a continuation of the survey- or's meridian line.
At the meeting held December 27th, 1883, it was determined that the celebration be held four days, during the whole of which time an antiquarian exposition should be opened, for the display of antique relics, or articles of any kind in connection with the early history of our county, ingenious devices, or articles of more modern construction, specimens of art, illus- trative of local subjects or executed by local artists, objects of curious interest and bric-a-brac, collections of minerals, fossils, botanical and geol- ogical specimens, and Indian relics. All these were subsequently enlarged upon and properly classified.
Tuesday, September 9th, was designated to be the day for the opening exercises, to be fol- lowed by the dedication of the Rittenhouse memorial stone.
Wednesday, September 10th, being actually the centennial day, was set apart for memorial literary exercises in Music Hall.
Thursday, September 11th, was selected as parade day.
There seemed to be no question as to the pro- per part of the county, in which the celebration should be held. It was conceded that the county
8
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
town, Norristown, was pre-eminently the appro- priate place, and it was directed to be held there. But the place where the antiquarian exposition could be held in the borough of Norristown was a matter of grave concern. Different places were named, only to find insuperable objections to each of them, until the happy thought suggested itself, to hold it in the Court House building, provided the same could be obtained. A com- mittee, consisting of Hon. B. Markley Boyer, Hon. W. A. Yeakle, Dr. Samuel Wolfe, Col. Theo. W. Bean, Hon. Jones Detwiler, Thomas G. Rutter, and Philip Super, was appointed to confer with the County Commissioners, with a view to procure the use of the Court Room, and the four jury rooms on the second floor, as well as the adjoining Court House lot, for the purposes of the antiquarian exposition.
Between the time of their appointment and the next meeting of the Association, this com- mittee called upon the Messrs. James Burnett, Hiram Burdan and William C. Rittenhouse, County Commissioners, and found them willing to permit the Association to use the parts of the Court House asked for, during the time neces- sary, for the observance of the occasion.
At the meeting on January 24th, 1884, the above committee reported the result of their conference with the County Commissioners, and
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
it was then and there accepted. At the same time a Building Committee was appointed, con- sisting of Messrs. Samuel F. Jarrett, G. Dallas Bolton, Justus P. Leaver and Joseph Fitzwater, with instructions to prepare a plan and make estimates of the cost thereof.
The next meeting of the Association was held on February 22d, 1884, Hon. B. Markley Boyer presiding ..
Plans were discussed at considerable length for raising money, to defray the necessary ex- penses of the celebration, and were referred to the Finance Committee.
Col. Theo. W. Bean was appointed chairman of a committee, to invite the different civic and fraternal organizations of the county to parade. The other members of that committee will be found under the complete list of committees as, Committee on Invitation.
Mrs. Sarah S. Rex was appointed chairman of a committee, to prepare and issue a circular to the householders of the county, suggesting the kinds of articles desired for the exposition, and requesting their loan for the same, with the power to appoint committees of ladies in each township and ward, who were to make a com- plete canvass of their several districts, and re- port to this association their success. How well these instructions were carried out, will be at-
IO
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
tested by the complete list of ladies reporting from nearly every district in the county, and to these committees is due the credit of canvassing for, reporting, and actually collecting, most of the exhibits placed in the antiquarian exposition.
On April 10th, 1884, an adjourned meeting of the Association was held, at which the im- portant question of finance was discussed at length and finally decided. Upon suggestion of the Finance Committee, a season ticket, good for four admissions to the antiquarian exposi- tion, was ordered to be issued at once, to be sold at one dollar each, with which was to be presented a memorial certificate of membership of the Association. A communication from the Hon. B. Markley Boyer was read, asking to be excused from further services as President of the Association, on account of the press of his judicial duties, but still extending to the Asso- ciation his best wishes for success, and promise of hearty cooperation. It was with great regret that this resignation was accepted by the As- sociation.
At the following meeting, May 15th, 1884, George W. Rogers, Esq., was unanimously elected to fill the vacancy, caused by the resig- nation of Hon. B. Markley Boyer as President.
Mrs. Sarah S. Rex reported to the Association a draft of a circular, which she was authorized to have printed and circulated.
II
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
This circular was shortly followed by another, issued by the Executive Committee, giving gen- eral direction as to all matters pertaining to the celebration.
The meeting of May 29th, 1884, was largely attended. . At this time it was determined, formally, that this committee be known as "THE CENTENNIAL ASSOCIATION OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA."
George W. Rogers, Esq., who had been elected as President of the Association, com- municated the fact that as he would sail for Eu- rope within a week, to be absent until the close of the Centennial, it would be impossible for him to accept the Presidency of the Association.
Joseph Fornance, Esq., was then unanimously elected to that position. Subsequent develop- ments have demonstrated the wisdom of this choice. His careful supervision and incessant labors largely promoted the success of the en- terprise. Under his direction the cause which had languished, took new life, and from this time the real work of the undertaking progressed rapidly.
Of first importance, were the finances. Money had to be raised in sufficient amount to assure success. But the Finance Committee was equal to the occasion, and organizing with J. A. Strassburger, Esq., as its Secretary and
I 2
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Treasurer, it soon had a plan matured. It pressed the sale of season tickets and memorial certificates vigorously, and popularized this plan of raising the needed funds. Each election dis- trict was asked to subscribe one hundred dol- lars. Within four days of sending out the sup- plies to the different committeemen, the Upper District of Upper Providence, under the can- vass of Prof. J. Shelly Weinberger, had subscribed and paid its full quota. Other townships rapid- ly followed, until the total amount realized from advance sale of tickets and memorial certificates, amounted to the sum of $3,550.00.
Too much praise cannot be given to Mr. Strassburger, for his active, energetic and sys- tematic work in raising the necessary funds, and in arousing public interest. He placed 8,500 tickets and memorial certificates on sale with seventy persons in all parts of the county. He gave his whole time to the cause and converted his office and that of the President, into the business office of the Centennial Association. About five thousand letters, circulars and postal cards relating to the scheme were mailed from there, and many items were furnished to the newspapers. The financial exhibit shows the result of his labors.
At the meeting of June 24th the original plan of a wooden building in the Court House
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
.
yard was abandoned, and in its stead, the Build- ing Committee was authorized to hire tents, to be used in the Court House yard, as an annex to the main exposition.
The next meeting of the Association was held on July 24th, and was one of its largest gatherings, some thirty members being present. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Com- pany announced their willingness to return free of charge all articles shipped over their line, by express, consigned to the exposition, and also to give the Association a liberal rebate on tickets sold to and from Norristown during the centen- nial. The full committees on parade, antiqua- rian and memorial were announced: also a committee, composed of persons identified with the county, but residing in Philadelphia at the present time, said committee being known as the "Auxiliary Committee in Philadelphia," of which James B. Harvey was chairman.
At the meeting of 6th of August, a great amount of detail work was attended to, and from that time the Executive committee met al- most daily, to pass upon the various questions as they arose.
The Building Committee had a space one hundred feet square floored over in the Court House lot, upon which were erected four large tents. The court room was floored over the
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY
tops of the seats, and glass cases arranged around the sides of the room, and upon three large tables running its entire length. The Grand Jury room was prepared as the Art Gallery, and placed in proper shape under the special direction of Mr. J. W. Ridpath, of Jen- kintown, who is deserving of special mention, as giving invaluable assistance in fitting up the room, and arranging the pictures in proper place. He was assisted in this by Miss Sophia S. Freed- ley, of Norristown, a teacher in the Philadelphia School of Design for Women. The two arbi- tration rooms were fitted up with tables, upon which were exhibited the old and rare books of the county. When the exhibition opened every- thing was in readiness.
The committee on vocal music met soon after their appointment, and invited about two hund- red persons to assist in singing, on September ioth. About half of that number assembled in response to the invitation, and selecting Prof. J. V. Bean as their leader, soon became an effi- cient chorus. How well they did their part on the occasion of the memorial exercises, none present will ever forget. A complete list of all the vocalists follows.
An immense amount of work was necessary to get everything in running order. But so well was it managed, that when Tuesday morn- ing, the 9th of September, A. D. 1884, came, it
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
found everything in place. But in this history of the movement before the formal opening, there is another matter that must not be over- looked, and that is the matter of decorations. A committee of ladies and gentlemen, having this in charge, had put the Court House and Music Hall in such a dress, that the places would hardly have been recognized, so wonderful was the transformation. The Court House tower presented a pleasing sight, covered as it was with bunting and flags tastefully arranged, while the interior, under the skillful fingers of the ladies, was resplendent with American flags and red, white and blue bunting.
The work of the committee on parade, the antiquarian committee, memorial, and literary exercises, was most complete and satisfactory, as will appear from the results of their labors.
On Monday, September 8th, the staid old town of Norristown, began to put on her holiday attire. In almost every window on the princi- pal streets were displayed flags and bunting. Every train brought scores of persons to town ; the streets presented a lively spectacle, and the people of Norristown began to realize the fact that the County Centennial celebration would be a complete success. The only drawback seemed to be the excessive heat, the 8th, 9th and Ioth of September being the hottest days of the season.
FIRST DAY.
OPENING EXERCISES.
The morning of Tuesday, September 9th, was bright and clear. The crowd early gath- ered at the County Court House. Here, upon the Court House porch and steps, were the officers of the Centennial Association and in- vited guests. The Norristown Cornet Band discoursed sweet music to the assembled mul- titude.
Shortly after nine o'clock, Joseph Fornance, Esq., President of the Centennial Association, came forward and said:
Citizens of Montgomery County, we have met here to hold the opening exercises of the celebration of our County's Centennial. I present to you the Rev. Dr. Bomberger, Presi- dent of Ursinus College.
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
Dr. Bomberger then spoke as follows :
I have been asked, my friends, to open these commemorative festivities with prayer; with prayer to Almighty God. It is eminently fitting that an occasion like this should be so begun. We owe to Him the blessings we enjoy from the first establishment of our Fathers in this country, and especially in this section of it. We owe to Him all that we possess to-day in the way of real prosperity and progress. Let us therefore endeavor, not with the ceremonial formality of a merely decorous prelude to this interesting occasion, but with devout reverence for Him to whom our heartiest adoration be- longs, to engage sincerely and heartily, in sup- plication, thanksgiving and prayer. Let us pray.
PRAYER.
Almighty God, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, and Our Creator, gathered here under Thine own Heaven, and surrounded by the works of Thy hands, and realizing that we are Thy creatures, we would come at the beginning of these interesting solemnities and festivities, and look to Thee with de- voutly worshipful and thankful hearts, to praise Thy name as we ought to praise Thee for all
18
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Thou art, glorious in Holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders, and for all Thou art pleased to be to us, and thus worthily magnify Thy Great and Excellent Name. Help us in these festivities thankfully to call to mind all Thou hast done for us, all Thou didst for our fathers in generations past. Although we have proved unworthy of Thy many mer- cies, grant us grace most heartily to feel, deplore and confess our unworthiness, and yet penitently rely on Thy forgiving grace in Jesus Christ Thy Son. We desire heartily to thank Thee for all Thou hast done for us as a people in days gone by; that Thou didst bring our fathers to a land rich and richly furnished in all things needful for their bodily comfort. We praise Thee for the temporal prosperity that has attended their efforts, and the rich inherit- ance we have received from them and through them in the earthly gifts which so abundantly surround us; for a rich and fertile land; for a healthful country, and for all the resources of it, the wealth and temporal comforts which abound on every side. But above all do we praise Thy Name that Thou wast pleased to bring to this land a people that feared God and loved righteousness; that brought with them not only desires for worldly prosperity, but prin- ciples founded on Thy Holy Word, derived
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