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 11
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Dennis C. Martin, son of William J. and Anna M. (Kelly) Martin, received his early educational training at a private school situated at Haverford, and this was supplemented by a course at Mount St. Mary College, located at Emmitsburg, Mary- land. Shortly after the completion of his studies he accepted a clerical position, and later he as- sisted in engineering in both Delaware and Mont- gomgery counties, after which he retired from ac-
tive business pursuits. He is now living privately on the old homestead in Bryn Mawr, the house in which he resides having been erected in 1739 by the Miller estate, an addition being placed to the property in 1780 by the same family. In the early years of1700 and up to and including the year 1845, this old property was used as a public hos- telry known as the Old Buck Hotel, which name it retained until its purchase by Dennis Kelly, Sr., and it is still in the possession of the family. Dur- ing the Revolutionary war, just previous to the troops going to Valley Forge, a letter, which is on record, shows that General Washington wrote to Philadelphia requesting the government to fur- nish the soldiers with blankets, they being then on their way to camp. At that time General Washington was making the old hostelry his headquarters.
Dennis C. Martin was united in marriage to Mary Elizabeth Leary, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Duane) Leary, and their children are : William J., born September 23, 1901, died August 29, 1902; and Marie Gertrude, born January 7, 1904.
FRANCIS J. CLAMER, a leading citizen of Collegeville, and for some years its burgess, is descended from an honored family of Hamburg, in Germany, it having produced many statesmen and soldiers. He was born in that ancient city, July 4, 1841, and was there educated.
He was the son of George P. H. and Marie (Rush) Clamer, the wife also being descended from a distinguished German family. His fa- ther was the son of Christian J. Clamer, the most extensive planter in the vicinity of Ham- burg, being an influential and wealthy citizen. The family history dates back to the twelfth century. The country from which came the original Clamer is not known, but the dignity of the family began with the development of the city of Hamburg. There was born, September 13, 1706, Guilliam Clamer, whose father was Johannes Clamer, a prominent merchant of Ham- burg. Johannes' mother was Elizabeth, daugh- ter of the eminent family of Vegesack, who came
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Francis & Colames
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from Bremen and settled at Hamburg, having a civil and military record for five hundred years or more.
Guilliam, son of Johannes and Elizabeth Clamer, was named for his maternal grandfa- ther, his mother's grandfather, Conrad Vegesach, had the honor of being a senator of Hamburg. Guilliam Clamer was given a liberal education. When he was sixteen years of age he entered the office of Reynier Von Schoonhoven. The youth was exceedingly capable, and in ten years succeeded to the business, the former proprietor retiring. Having been honored with office, he set out on a tour of Europe, with the expectation that the knowledge thus gained would redound through him to the benefit of his native city. In 1734 he married Anna Maria Boon, daughter of Philip and Anna (Moelman) Boon. Philip was the son of Adrian Boon, a senator of Hamburg. The wife died at the birth of a daughter in 1737, and the husband again married, the second wife being Catharine Elizabeth Schluter, daughter of David Schluter, Doctor of Laws, and his wife Catharine, the bride being a cousin. of his first wife. Guilliam Clamer was a child of the second wife. He was born September 13, 1706. He was a man prominent in church councils and in the affairs of the city, and ultimately became sen- ator and administrator of Hamburg, and ad- miral of the fleet, protecting its commerce in the days of pirates and buccaneers. Guilliam and Jacob Clamer, who were brothers, were heirs- at-law of Senator Jacob Langerman, who died intestate in 1762. They were aware that it had been his great desire to present his various col- lections to his beloved city, and instead of en- riching themselves they gave his magnificent li- brary of seven thousand volumes to Hamburg, and a large donation from Guilliam Clamer, in the shape of historical books, guns and other relics. Louis XV. conferred valuable gifts on Guilliam by way of testifying his admiration for the man.
His son, Guilliam Clamer, Jr., was twenty- six years of age at the time of his father's death in 1774. In 1776 he married Miss Philipsen, by whom he had three sons, of whom Christian
Heinrich was the oldest. He studied at a agri- cultural college, and his father bought him the estate of Majenfeld, seven miles from Hamburg, paying for it 70,000 marks. He married Sophia, daughter of Johann George Hoffman, overseer of the castle of the King of Saxony at Dresden. He was the first to introduce orange culture into Saxony. Guilliam Clamer and his wife had six sons and three daughters. George P. H., father of Francis J. Clamer, was baptized June 12, 1802. He was born June I, of that year.
In 1808 the French fleet was stationed at Hamburg, which city was in 1810 incorporated with the French empire. The Russians came to its relief. The result of strife was the temporary ruin of the prosperity of Hamburg and of the wealth of the Clamers, their landed estates being devastated alike by friend and foe, as is usually the case during wars. The generations of the Clamers in the past two centuries are thus as fol- lows : Guilliam, senator of Hamburg ; Guilliam Jr., the illustrious merchant of the same city ; Chris- tian H., the country gentleman of Majenfeld ; George Heinrich (father), the greatest silver- smith and artist of his day ; Franz Julius, subject of this sketch, who is the inventor of the Ajax metal, now of Collegeville ; Guilliam H., his son, the young metallurgist, who is carrying forward what his father so well began. Back of these stretch away into the dim past many generations of Clamers, who were always known as patriotic and useful members of their communities. Their marriage alliances brought them into contact with some of the best blood of Germany.
The children of Christian J. Clamer : George P. H. (father) ; Francis J., Henry, William, Theodore, Nicholas, Johanness (Mrs. Arps), Wil- helmina (Mrs. Wilhelm Whitrock), Augusta (Mrs. Vanholm). At the diamond wedding of the parents, the emperor presented a diamond iron cross. He died at the age of ninety-two years, and his wife, who was a Hoffman, also lived to a great age.
George P. H. (father) received a liberal edu- cation and learned to he a silversmith. He was an artist in work of this kind, having been sum- moned to Mexico to fashion the ware for the
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Catholic churches of that country, and was the designer of all the work. His family remained in Hamburg, but he came and settled in Phila- delphia in 1852, after traveling over a great part of the United States, having selected that city for his residence. His family speedily joined him, and he secured employment at special art work in his line, at which he continued until he was eighty-three years of age. His last work was a bronze portrait of the late William L. El- kins, the traction millionaire. The portrait hangs at the Union League, in Philadelphia. He died on February 20, 1889, at the age of eighty-seven years. His wife died on March 11, 1886, at the age of seventy-seven years. Their children were: Francis J. (subject of this sketch) ; Augusta Maria, Mrs. Henry Buch (herself and her hus- band both being deceased) ; Louisa Henrietta (Mrs. Spicker), he being deceased, and she re- siding in Philadelphia.
Francis J. Clamer came to America with his mother in 1852, at the age of eleven years, they joining his father in Philadelphia as has been stated. He completed his education at Camden, studying chemistry and the natural sciences gen- erally under the best chemists of the country, after which he acquired under the tuition of his father a knowledge of the trade of goldsmith and silversmith. Later he engaged for five years in the merchandise, hardware and house-furnish- ing business. Then engaging in the manufacture of bronze hardware, he experimented in the pro- duction of anti-frictional metal, and in 1868 ac- complished the first practical results. By 1880, with hard study and hard labor, he made his discovery a complete success. About that time he made the acquaintance of the late William L. Elkins, William G. Warden and J. G. Hendrick- son, who had heard of his success, and advanced money to manufacture it on a large scale, and a corporation was formed known as the Ajax Metal Company, known the world over and hav- ing a large establishment in Philadelphia. In 1897 Mr. Clamer turned over the active work to his son. The officers of the company are: Presi- dent, J. G. Hendrickson; Vice President, Guil-
liam H. Clamer. The last-named is also man- ager.
Since he was fourteen years of age Mr. Clamer has accomplished successfully everything that he has undertaken to do. He had all his life resolved that he would retire at fifty-five years of age, which he was able to realize. In 1888 he purchased a small farm near Collegeville, which he rented out in 1889, and bought Pro- fessor J. Shelly Weinberger's farm. During the summer of 1890 he occupied the Weinberger farm, and spent the winter in Philadelphia, making the location which he calls "The Glen" his home. Mr. Clamer has built many houses, and owns twenty-two properties which he rents. In 1903 he built on Main street, Collegeville, of native stone, a palatial mansion in modern style, of beau- tiful design, and equipped with all conveniences, in which he now resides. It occupies a con- spicuous site, and is admired by all who see it. He makes frequent visits with his family to his native land.
In 1864 he married, at Philadelphia, Miss Margaret Diederich, born April 30, 1843, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Diederich, of Wurtemberg, Germany. Her family came to America in 1859. Mr. Diederich was a baker by trade, carrying on that business in Philadel- phia, but on account of his wife's ill-health he removed to Collegeville, where he bought a small farm and retired from active labor, residing there until his death. The couple were Luther- ons. Their children: Catharine, died at the age of twenty years; Warren, died at the age of twenty-two years; Margaret (wife of Mr. Clamer). The mother dying, Mr. Diederich married a second time and had two children, John, and Frederika, (Mrs. George Yeakle).
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Clamer : Guil- liam, who is highly educated and is manager of the Ajax Metal Company, and married Miss Florence Foulkes, of Philadelphia ; Marie, un- married ; Gertrude and Alma, also unmarried.
Mr. Clamer is fortunate in all his surround- ings, enjoying the respect and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact. He has been blessed
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abundantly in life, and enjoys the fruits of a well- spent life. He is a Republican in politics, and was unanimously elected burgess of Collegeville, succeeding Professor Weinberger. He is one of the board of trustees of Ursinus College.
ABRAHAM THEOPHILUS CLAYTON, the leading pharmacist of Cheltenham township, in Montgomery county, his place of business being located in Ogontz, is a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he was born January 15. 1862, being the son of Jehu (deceased) and Christianna ( Harris) Clayton.
The Clayton family are among the oldest in Bucks county. Jonathan Clayton was the earliest of the family to settle in that locality. He mar- ried Elizabeth Evans, their son Richard Evans Clayton being the grandfather of Abraham T. Clayton. Richard E. Clayton, grandfather, mar- ried Elizabeth Delve, daughter of Elias Delve, of Philadelphia, the family being of French ances- try. The children of Richard E. and Elizabeth (Delve) Clayton were: Rosanna, married Benja- min Hillborn (deceased) ; George S., married Annie Wipert ; Richard E., married Emma Bay- ley; Jehu; Frank, who died in defense of his country during the war for the Union, while he was confined in Andersonville prison ; Joel, died in 1868, unmarried; Elizabeth, wife of Andrew Roberts; Levin, married Mary Fetters; Mary Ann, deceased. Richard Clayton died in 18 -. His widow, Elizabeth Delve Clayton, died June 16, 1893, at the advanced age of eighty-five years.
The children of Jehu and Christianna Harris Clayton : Abraham T., subject of this sketch ; Ella Lizzie, wife of Maurice P. Horner, they hav- ing four daughters, Anna, Edith, Laura, Mildred, and one son who died in infancy ; Anna Mary, died in infancy. By a previous marriage of Mrs. Clayton with Mr. Town, she had one daughter, Mrs. Levina Prince.
Abraham T. Clayton acquired his elementary education in the public schools of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and completed it in the public schools of Philadelphia. He studied pharmacy in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, graduat- ing March 15, 1884. He soon afterwards engaged
in business in Ogontz, and has ever since effic- iently conducted the only drug store in the town.
Mr. Clayton married at Frankford, Pennsyl- vania, November 30, 1887, Anna F. Shallcross. They have had the following children : Ella May, born January 12, 1889; Abraham T., Jr., born October 17, 1890; Lottie Christine, born July 10, 1894.
Mr. Clayton is a member of the school board of Cheltenham township. Fraternally he affiliates with Friendship Lodge No. 400, of Jenkintown, Free and Accepted Masons; Abington Chapter, No. 245, Royal Arch Masons, of Jenkintown ; Philadelphia Consistory, thirty-second degree, A. A. S. R .; St. John's Commandery, No. 4, Knights Templar; Abington Lodge, No. 388, Knights of Pythias, Ogontz; Shekinalı Castle No. 26, Knights of the Golden Eagle, Ogontz ; Martha Washington Council. Junior Order United Amer- ican Mechanics, and Jenkintown Council, Royal Arcanum. In politics Mr. Clayton is an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party, and he has been a delegate on frequent occasions to party conventions. Mr. Clayton and his family attend St. Paul's Episcopal church at Ogontz.
The Harris family, maternal ancestors of Mr. Clayton, are old settlers of Bustleton, above Frankford, in Philadelphia. The grandparents were Theophilus and Eleanor, who passed their entire lives in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. The great-great-grandfather, also named Theophilus, was an eminent Baptist minister, and presented the Baptist church to the congregation in Bustle- ton. The Harris family owned large tracts of land in the vicinity, and gave the land used for the burial ground. The Harris family are supposed to be of Welsh ancestry, and settled in Bustleton at a very early date. The children of Theophilus and Eleanor Harris : Mary, wife of John B. Her- itage; Theophilus, married Miss Fletcher, now deceased; Christianna, (Mrs. Clayton) ; Ellen and Thomas. twins, Ellen being the wife of George W. Heritage.
Benjamin Shallcross, father of Mrs. Clayton, is a member of an old family in Frankford and vicinity. He was the son of Leonard and Eliza (Langcake) Shallcross, natives of Frankford,
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Pennsylvania. Benjamin Shallcross married Frances Corson, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Scull) Corson. Benjamin and Mary Shallcross' children : John, married Lucy W. Cottman, and have one child, John Burton ; Leonard Chapman, married Annie Cripps, and they have three chil- dren, Howard, Ethel and Elizabeth ; Lizzie May, married Charles Ford; Mrs. Clayton ; Anna F .; Sarah Chapman, wife of Clarence E. Hammond, their children being Clarence and Helen (died in infancy) ; Lettie M., wife of Lincoln Cartledge, their children being Lincoln, Jr., and Charlotte ; Catharine Finn, wife of Paul Craig, their children being Helen and Catharine.
MARY ROBERTS LIVEZEY, daughter of Hugh and Alice A. Roberts, is a native of Wil- mington, Delaware, where she was born Tenth- month (October) 25, 1847. Her earlier years were spent in that city, in Cecil county, Mary- land, and in Bucks, Philadelphia, and Montgom- ery counties of Pennsylvania, the family having changed their location from time to time. She attended the public schools in these various lo- calities, and also obtained such knowledge as was gained in the schoolrooms where she was engaged in the instruction of pupils of various ages and acquirements.
In 1861 Hugh Roberts, having sold the farm in Maryland which he had. owned for several years, removed to Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and thence after two years to Philadelphia, lo- cating in Gwynedd, Montgomery county, and still later to Norristown.
Mary Roberts became a teacher in the public schools at Franklinville, in Whitpain township, in the fall of 1866, it being located near the farm on which the family resided for nearly twenty years. Meeting with much success in her calling of teacher, she remained in that position six years, when she became principal of what was later the Audenried school, in Cheltenham town- ship, where she remained another six years. In this position one of her directors was Thomas Williams, for many years president of the Chel- tenham school board and an active friend of edu- cation, and a friendship was formed between the
two which lasted until his death, a few years ago.
In Eleventh-month, 1877, Mary Roberts be- came the wife of Samuel Livezey, son of Thomas and Rachel (Richardson) Livezey, of Plymouth Meeting. They have one child, Thomas Hugh Livezey, born Tenth-month 18, 1879, who is em- ployed in a responsible position at the Pencoya Iron Works. He married Tenth-month 1, 1902, Joanna M., daughter of William (deceased) and Caroline R. Miller, of Blue Bell.
Samuel Livezey was employed for many years in one or another of the great packing houses of Chicago, and thither he removed again with his family soon after the birth of their child, remaining there several years but returning again to Plymouth Meeting and locating finally in Nor- ristown, on Marshall street, above Stanbridge (No. 908), Norristown, Their son resides a few doors above, at No. 928 Marshall street. Samuel Livezey has been for some years retired from business.
Mary R. Livezey has taken a very active part in aiding the Montgomery County Historical Society to clear of debt its property on Penn street, adjoining the public scquare, having of- ficiated as chairman of five annual suppers held for that purpose on Washington's birthday, and having, with the aid of an organization of women whom she called around her, raised about two thousand and five hundred dollars in this way.
She has also been active in the Society of Friends, taking an active part in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and in First Day School and Philanthropic work generally, as well as in the movement for equal rights for women, of which she is an earnest advocate, holding that the an- tiquated idea that man is a superior being and woman is inferior is an error that should be ban- ished from the statute books of the state by ap- propriate legislation of a more liberal character than that now existing. The society of Friends has always recognized the equality of the sexes and its influence has been exerted for the two centuries and a half of its existence in favor of the enfranchisement of women.
Educated in such a school, Mary R. Livezey has profited by its lessons and is an able and
Mary R. Livezey
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fearless advocate of other reforms, including temperance, personal purity and kindred objects. She has been useful and effective in these and other channels, taking her stand with the pro- gressive and earnest men and women of the day in efforts to enlighten the public mind, break down the authority of tradition and superstition and point the way to a better era than any which the world has ever seen.
SAMUEL NOBLE, dealer in dairy products at Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, is a member of an old family long resident in that section of the state of Pennsylvania. He is the son of Samuel W. and Elizabeth H. (Mather) Noble. He is a na- tive of Abington township, having been born at the old homestead, now the grounds of the Golf Club, November 18, 1849.
William Noble and his wife Frances, who were the progenitors of the family, were natives of the city of Bristol, England, where, being con- sistent members of the Society of Friends, then proscribed on account of their religious faith, they suffered persecution. Their son Abel, in 1684, when he was not yet of age, emigrated to Amer- ica and settled in Philadelphia. He learned the trade of a cooper, and subsequently followed it for a time, but subsequently became the owner of an extensive tract of land in Bucks county, on which he settled. Among his children was Joseph, great-great-grandfather of Samuel Noble, the subject of this sketch. Joseph Noble married Mary, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Lov- ett) Smith, her father having been one of four brothers who emigrated from England and settled in Burlington county, New Jersey, where they founded the city of Burlington. They were long known as the "Burlington Smiths", the designa- tion attaching also to their descendants, the fam- ily being owners of the ground on which the city now stands, and also of much valuable property adjacent. Samuel and Mary Noble, the latter be- coming Mrs. Samuel Wetherill, were children of Joseph and Mary Noble. Samuel married Lydia, daughter of Isaac Cooper, of New Jersey, in 1746. Their children were eight in number, sev- eral of them dying young. Those who grew to
maturity were Hannah (Mrs. William Norton ), Samuel and Richard. Samuel was born in 1766. He married, in 1792, Elizabeth, daughter of Rob- ert Tompkins, of Philadelphia. Of their children, Joseph, born in 1799, died in 1854; Dr. Charles, born in 1801, died in 1873; Lydia, married Thomas Longstreth, died in 1876. Samuel Noble's first wife, Lydia, dying, he married a sec- ond time, in 1817, Sarah, daughter of Samuel Webster, of New Jersey. The children of the second marriage were Samuel W. and Richard.
Samuel W. Noble, father of Samuel Noble, was born August 15, 1818, in Philadelphia. His father was at that time engaged in business in that city as a tanner and currier. Samuel W. re- sided there until he was about seventeen years of age, meanwhile attending school and acquiring a good English education. Developing a fondness for agricultural pursuits, he removed to Byberry, where he became proficient in the occupation of farming. In 1838 the father purchased a farm of eighty acres in Abington township, Montgomery county, and subsequently an additional thirty-five acres immediately adjoining the other. In 1839 Samuel W. Noble removed to this farm, and upon it his entire life ever after was spent in agricul- tural pursuits and in the nursery business. He married, October 30, 1844, Elizabeth H., daugh- ter of John and Martha P. Mather, of Chelten- ham township. Their children : Henry A., born in 1845, now a resident of Philadelphia ; Sarah, died young ; John M., born in 1848, deceased; Samuel, born in 1849; Clara, deceased; Howard, born in 1852, teller of the Jenkintown National Bank ; Lydia L., deceased; Franklin, born in 1855, now residing in New York ; Thomas L., born in 1857, residing in Abington ; Charles M., born in 1859, now a resident of Idaho; Mary T., born in 1861, married Joseph Lippincott: Anna, born in 1862; Elizabeth, deceased.
Samuel W. Noble was an active man in his community, being a consistent member of the So- ciety of Friends, and ever attentive to his relig- ious, social and other duties. He devoted much attention to his chosen pursuits, farming and hor- ticulture. He was for many years a member of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. He was
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in 1875 elected president of the Jenkintown National Bank, of which he was one of the incor- porators. He was secretary and treasurer of the Cheltenham and Willow Grove Turnpike Com- pany, and at one time was president of the Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Montgomery county. He was for more than forty years treas- urer of the Abington Library Company, an insti- tution that was organized in 1804 and was very useful and popular. He was influential in every neighborhood enterprise that tended towards the advancement of the interests of the public. He was a Republican in politics, and served as a school director for a number of years, but was in no sense an office seeker. The family have been Friends for seven generations, and are now mem- bers of Abington Meeting, one of the oldest in the country. Samuel W. Noble died in 1887, at the age of sixty-nine years.
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