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 13
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Dr. Harvey married, April 24, 1891, Jane T., daughter of ex-county treasurer Henry W., and Margaret (Thomson) Hallowell, well known Friends of that vicinity. The couple have two children, Elizabeth, born June 1, 1902, and Henry W. Hallowell, born February 23, 1904. (For a full account of the Hallowell family, see the sketch of Henry W. Hallowell, elsewhere in this work.)
WILLIAM J. BINDER, editor and pro- prietor of the Daily Pottstown Ledger and the Montgomery Ledger of Pottstown, was born in East Nantmeal township, Chester county, Penn- sylvania, September 30, 1843. He is the son of John and Anna Mary (Steltz) Binder.
John Binder (father) was born at Yellow Springs, Chester county. He learned the car- penter trade, following it to some extent. He also farmed for a few years. The greater part of his life, however, was spent in teaching school. He was reared mostly in Montgomery county and in 1835 returned to Chester county where he remained until 1856, when he removed to Pottstown, where he died. He taught in the schools of both counties and after going to Potts- town conducted a private school there. During his residence in Chester county he taught school and farmed at the same time, spending his winters in the former occupation and his sum- mers in the latter. He owned a farm in East Nantmeal township. He died in 1866, at the age of fifty-eight years. His wife died in 1878, at the age of seventy-six years. Both were mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he took an active part. He was a Democrat un- til the time of the Civil war when he became a Republican and remained so until his death.
John Binder married Anna Mary Steltz, daughter of Valentine Steltz, of New Hanover township, Montgomery county. She was born at Falckner's Swamp, New Hanover township,
Montgomery county. They had four children : Aaron M. (deceased), a soldier in the Civil war, of Company A, Second Minnesota Veteran In- fantry, Fourteenth Corps; Elizabeth, wife of David Herst, of Easton, Pennsylvania; Tamsen, widow of Jeremiah H. Binder, of Pottstown; and William J. Binder.
Jacob Binder (grandfather) was born in Pennsylvania 'and was a farmer. He died well advanced in years. His wife was Susanna Bin- der, who lived to a very great age. They had a large family.
The father of Jacob Binder was Jacob Bin- der, Sr., (great-grandfather). His father was Moses Binder (great-great-grandfather). His father was Casper Binder (great-great-great- grandfather), and his father was Rohland Binder (great-great-great-great-grandfather). Moses Binder was the emigrant and the founder of the family in America. He came from Wur- temberg, Germany, in the ship Francis and Eliz- abeth, and landed at Philadelphia, September 21, 1742. He located near Sassamansville, New Hanover township, where he died and was buried in the Lutheran cemetery at Falckner Swamp. He was an active member of that church.
The maternal grandfather of William J. Bin- der was Valentine Steltz, a native of Pennsyl- vania. He had eight children. He married the second time and had other children. He was a farmer and died at an advanced age. He was buried at Sassamansville.
William J. Binder lived in Chester county until he had reached the age of thirteen years, when he removed with his father's family to Pottstown and has lived there ever since. He at- tended the country schools while living in Chester county and graduated at the Pottstown high school, afterward entering the Hill school at Pottstown, then conducted by its founder, Professor Matthew Meigs, LL. D.
At the age of seventeen years he began to learn the printing trade in the office of the Mont- gomery Ledger, founded October 1, 1843, and served an apprenticeship of four and a half years. In 1863, Mr. Binder enlisted in the Twenty-sixth Emergency Regiment, Pennsyl-
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vania Volunteers, Colonel Jennings command- ing. He also saw service in the One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment in 1864, and early in 1865 was a private in Com- pany. E, One Hundred and Fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Miller com- manding. Altogether he served eleven months. He was at Petersburg and participated in the operations culminating in the surrender of the army of northern Virginia, under General Lee at Appomattox Court House. He was honor- ably discharged in June, 1865.
After the war he returned to the printer's trade in Indianapolis, Indiana, and in April, 1866, purchased a half interest in the Montgom- ery Ledger, of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, from William L. Williamson, and thirteen years later, in Septembr, 1879, bcame the sole proprietor of the paper, and has conducted the business ever since. October 1, 1873, he established the Pottstown Ledger, in partnership with Lewis H. Davis.
December 26, 1867, William J. Binder mar- ried Mary A. Hilton, daughter of James and Margaret (Walmsly) Hilton. They had nine children, as follows: Hilton S., assistant editor of the Ledger; Mary E., a stenographer ; Ella M., a clerk in the Ledger counting room ; Bessie A., at home; Edith H., a teacher in the public schools of Pottstown ; Laura D,. who died at the age of six years; John K., a reporter on the Ledger; Florence M., at home; and Chester M., a printer in the Ledger office.
Mr. and Mrs. Binder belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, where he is an official member and has local deacon's orders. In politics Mr. Binder is a Republican.
He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, and also of M. Edgar Richards Post, No. 595, Grand Army of the Republic. He resides at No. 267 King street, in his own residence, and also owns the property at the corner of High and Charlotte streets, where his printing office is established. He published a "History of Methodism in Potts- town and in the neighboring regions," in 1902.
James Hilton, Mrs. Binder's father, came here from England when he was twenty-one years of
age and was a woolen manufacturer at Mana- yunk, Philadelphia, and afterwards at Glasgow, Pennsylvania. His wife, Margaret Walmsly, was brought here a babe in arms. They had six children who are living : William ; Mrs. Binder : Joseph, of Philadelphia; Elizabeth, wife of A. W. Shick, of Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania ; James, of Philadelphia ; and Ella M., widow of Colonel H. A. Shenton, of Pottstown. Mrs. Binder's father died in Glasgow, this county, in 1872, at the age of fifty-six years. Her mother died in 1900, at the age of eighty-three years.
ANDREW LINDSAY, M. D., of Bryn Mawr, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, is a lineal descendant of a family of Scotch-Irish or- igin whose residence in the state of Pennsylvania antedates the arrival of William Penn. The pio- neer members of the family located in the region now known as Aston, Delaware county, and for more than two centuries their descendants have also made their home in the territory included in that boundary.
John Lindsay, father of Dr. Lindsay, was born and reared in Haverford township, Delaware county, the birthplace of his father, although the latter subsequently removed to Philadelphia county. He received a good common school ed- ucation, and his business career was devoted to agricultural pursuits which he followed until his advanced years forced him to retire from the ac- tivities of life. He was a strong advocate of the old Whig party, and frequently spoke in public on the issues of the day. He was chosen to rep- resent Delaware county in the state legislature during the years 1830 and 1831, and these duties were performed with great credit to himself and his constituents. He married Miss Sarah Brooke, daughter of General William Brooke, of Dela- ware county, who won distinction in the Revolu- tionary war, and his ancestors were natives of England, who emigrated to America early in the seventeenth century, and several of the members served as officers and soldiers in the war of 1812. Their children were: William, James, Eliza, Jolin, Sarah, Margaret and Andrew. John Lindsay, father of these children, died at his home
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in Haverford in 1860, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years.
Andrew Lindsay was born on the old home- stead in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, June II, 1829. He was educated in the private schools of Norristown, Pennsylvania, at Delaware College, Newark, Delaware, and Union College, graduat- ing from the latter named institution in 1852, and during his term there was a classmate of the late Governor Hartranft. His tastes and inclinations led him to adopt the profession of medicine as his life work, and accordingly he matriculated at Jef- ferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, graduating therefrom in 1856. After eight years active practice in the city of Philadelphia he made an extended tour of Europe, whereby lie gained a fund of practical and valuable informa- tion and experience, and upon his return to his native country in 1865 he located in Radnor, Montgomery county. Subsequently he removed to Bryn Mawr, in which town he has made his home for the past twenty years, and where he is regarded as a model citizen, having taken a keen and active interest in professional, political and social life. He is a staunch adherent of the prin- ciples of Republicanism, but has never sought or desired political office. He is affiliated with the Masonic Order.
Dr. Andrew Lindsay was married, December 15, 1859, to Miss Hannah L. Fox, daughter of Charles Fox, a manufacturer of brick in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania. Their child, Catherine F. Lindsay, died at the age of six years. Mrs. Lind- say died at her home in Bryn Mawr on March 18, 1903.
ABRAM WENTZ. The progenitors of the Wentz family of Whitpain and adjoining town- ships of Montgomery county were among the early settlers of that section of Pennsylvania. They were of German origin. They located in Whitpain township long prior to the Revolution- ary war. Abram Wentz was born on the old homestead, a short distance below Centre Square, February 14, 1827. He is the son of Abraham and Charlotte (Tyson) Wentz, daughter of
Joseph Tyson, of Worcester township, well- known residents of Whitpain.
Abraham Wentz (father) was born in the building known as Wentz's, or the Rising Sun, tavern, a Revolutionary inn dating back to 1764. He was a man of great worth, respected by all who knew him. The house in which the hotel was kept until 1867, when it was closed to the public, is still standing. It is in good condition, having been built with heavy brick walls, two- stories in height. In the days of wagon travel from the interior to Philadelphia it was an im- portant stopping-place for teams, and was known as "the wheat market," because the millers from along Wissahickon and elsewhere would meet the farmers there and purchase their grain. At the Wentz hotel the general elections were held from 1831 to 1867. Abraham Wentz was mentioned as an innkeeper in the list of taxables in Whitepain in 1762, indicating that a public house was kept prior to the erection of the brick building. Abra- ham Wentz was a Democrat in politics, and held several minor township offices. He died in Sep- tember, 1870, at the age of eighty-four years. His wife, Charlotte, died in December, 1881, in her ninety-third year. Her family was one of the oldest in Montgomery county, she being the daughter of Joseph Tyson. The Tysons were also of German origin, settling at or near Ger- mantown, and spreading over the lower end of Montgomery county, where they are still quite numerous. The children of Abraham and Char- lotte Wentz: Joseph Tyson, who engaged in the lumber business in his younger days, and lived re- tired the latter part of his life in Norristown, where he died a few years ago at an advanced age; Hannah and Mary (deceased) ; Elizabeth, who is a resident of Norristown; Barbara and John (deceased) ; Abram, subject of this sketch ; and Henry, also deceased.
Colonel John Wentz (grandfather) was a leading citizen of Whitpain township. He com- manded a regiment under the old militia laws of the state, and was ever afterwards known by that title. He not only stood high in military mat- ters, but in civil office as well. He was for many
William Davisfr
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years a justice of the peace, and his docket con- taining the record of the business which came be- fore him is still in a good state of preservation, and is now in the possession of the Montgomery County Historical Society. His books were kept in the neatest and most businesslike manner, be- ing a model of accuracy in every respect. He married many couples, as was the custom with leading justices of the peace in his day. His in- fluence was exerted in the direction of discourag- ing unnecessary and trivial litigation.
Abraham Wentz (great-grandfather) is the person of that name who was assessed as an inn- keeper in Whitpain township in 1762. He then owned 150 acres of land. The ancestral home- stead continued in the possession of the family for nearly a century and a half. The Skippack road, on which the Wentz tract is situated, was laid out in 1713. The Wentz family belonged to Boehm's Reformed church, at Blue Bell.
Abram Wentz grew to manhood on the home- stead, attending neighborhood schools, and assist- ing his father in farm work in the intervals of study. He followed the occupation of farming until he was about fifty years of age, when he re- moved to Norristown, where he now resides, having since lived retired. He is a Democrat in politics, but never sought or held office, preferring a quiet life to the excitement of political strife, except that he filled for a number of years the po- sition of township auditor. He has been for many years a member of the board of directors of the Montgomery National Bank of Norristown. In religious faith he adheres to the Reformed church, like his ancestors. He married, April 30, 1858, Miss Louisa Castner, daughter of Jesse and Parthena Castner, well-known residents of Gwynedd township. Their children were: I. Tyson, who died in his tenth year. 2. Walter, who died in his fifth year. 3. Chester, who died in in- fancy. 4. Earl C., still surviving, who was born October 27, 1885.
The Castners are an old Montgomery county family, also of German descent though long dom- iciled in this country, Mrs. Wentz's father, Jesse Castner, lived near Gwynedd station, and followed all his life the occupation of farming. He died
September 9, 1883, in his seventy-second year. Mrs. Wentz's grandfather, also Jesse Castner, was in his ninety-second year at the time of his. death. Her great-grandfather, Samuel Castner, died in his ninety-eighth year. Her mother died May 15, 1881.
THE DAVIS FAMILY. The first ancestor of whom we have any authentic information was Samuel Davis, born in Wales in 1710, who with three brothers came to America and settled in Plymouth township, where he purchased a large tract of land. May 24, 1736, he married Jane Rees, daughter of John and Hannah Rees, and their children were: David, born February 4, 1737; John, born September 6, 1738; Stephen, born October 3, 1740 ; Hannah, born July 1, 1743; Katherine, born July 3, 1744; Samuel, born Jan- uary 1, 1747 ; Mary, born October 19, 1750; and Daniel, born May 3, 1751. The mother of these children died in giving birth to her youngest child. In 1753 Samuel Davis married Susannah Hughes, a widow, and their children were: William, born March 25, 1754, died in infancy; and Thomas, born August 9, 1756.
Stephen Davis, son of Samuel and Jane Davis, married Mary Shafer, and their children were: Susan, born June 18, 1766; Rees, born October 13, 1769; Stephen, born July 18, 1777 ; Catherine, born 1767; Daniel, born June 6, 1772; Betsey, born 1775: Samuel, born 1782; Mary, born 1784; and Hannah, born 1785. Stephen Davis, father of these children, died November 11, 1808, survived by his widow, who passed away September 21, 1825.
Rees Davis, son of Stephen and Mary Davis, married Rebecca Roberts, and their children were : Thomas, Rebecca, William, mentioned herein- after, and Daniel.
William Davis, son of Rees and Rebecca Davis, was born in Plymouth township, Mont- gomery county, Pennsylvania, February 25, 1793. He was reared and educated in his native county, and during his active years of life was extensively engaged in wagoning and hauling freight to and from Philadelphia during the erection of the buildings of Girard College, and he hauled much
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of the marble building stone from Upper Merion township to the college grounds. The latter years of his life were spent in West Conshohocken, where he was regarded as an exemplary citizen. He married Phobe Supplee, born March 13, 1791, daughter of John and Rachel Supplee, and their children were: Jane, born January 6, 1812, died young ; Rachel, born September 7, 1814, died young ; Rebecca, born September 21, 1816, be- came the wife of Godfrey M. Young ; Evan, born September 13, 1818, died young; Mary, born June 4, 1820, became the wife of David Horton ; Catherine, born April 11, 1823, died young ; Mark, born May 3, 1825, died young; William, born September 13, 1826; Charles, born December 2, 1828; Rees, born October 23, 1830, died young ; George W., born July 13, 1832 ; and Andrew, born May 7, 1835, died young. The mother of these children died November 24, 1862. Mr. Davis chose for his second wife Lydia Supplee, born February 28, 1797. There was no issue of this marriage. Mr. Davis died August 15, 1878, aged eighty-four years. Mr. Davis and also his son, William Davis, Jr., were instrumental and ren- dered important service in the organization of and procuring the franchise for the erection of the Matsonsford bridge across the Schuylkill river at West Conshohocken.
William Davis, Jr., son of William and Phœbe Davis, was born near the old Swede church in Upper Merion township, Montgomery county, September 13, 1826. When about the age of three years he came with his parents to West Consho- hocken, where he was reared to manhood and at- tended the schools of the neighborhood. He re- mained under the parental roof until about the age of twenty, when he began business on his own ac- count in the anthracite coal trade. In 1850 Mr. Davis engaged in mercantile business at West Conshohocken in partnership with his brother, Charles Davis, and his brother-in-law, David Horton, under the firm name of William Davis, Jr. & Co. This business arrangement was suc- cessfully continued up to 1860, when the firm was reorganized, William Davis, Jr., and his brother, George Davis, constituting the firm, which then engaged in the lumber and coal trade
in addition to the mercantile department, at West Conshohocken, and continued up to 1870. In that year George Davis withdrew from the firm, and William Davis, Jr., conducted the business alone up to 1877, when he admitted his two sons-Will- iam Egbert and Reese P .- into partnership. This arrangement was successfully continued by the father and sons, and under their united and well- directed efforts the business was developed to one of the most important enterprises in West Con- shohocken, the firm name of William Davis, Jr. & Co. becoming well and favorably known for their straightforward and honorable business methods. In 1902 the firm relinquished the mer- cantile department of their business and has since entirely confined their efforts to their lumber and coal trade, which has now attained to considerable magnitude.
William Davis, Jr., has proved himself worthy of commendation, and by his enterprise and pro- gressiveness has contributed to the material ad- vancement of the neighborhood in which his ac- tive years of life have been spent. He was one of the charter members of the First National Bank of Conshohocken, and served as a member of the board of directors for many years ; he also served for many years as treasurer of the Merion Build- ing and Loan Association. For about a quarter of a century he was a member of the school board, taking an active interest in the advancement and improvement of the educational system, and in fact it can be truthfully said that Mr. Davis gave liberally of his time and substance for every en- terprise that had for its object the advancement of the material and moral welfare of the com- munity. During recent years, owing to the im- pairment of his hearing, he partially relinquished active business pursuits, leaving the details of his business interests to others.
On June 1, 1853, Mr. Davis was married to Emily Yocum Egbert, daughter of David N. and Maria (Yocum) Egbert, of Lower Merion town- ship, and her birth occurred May 13, 1826. Their children were: Julia D., born April 7, 1854, died April 2, 1863; William Egbert, born July 7, 1855; Reese P., born August 30, 1857; Francis M., born August 17, 1859, died April 3, 1863;
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Emily Yocum, born November 27, 1866; and Clarence H., born September 16, 1869; died in 1874.
Reese P. Davis, son of William and Emily Y. Davis, was married October 6, 1887, to Jennie J. Henderson, born November 16, 1861, died August 10, 1895, daughter of Charles and Mary Emily (Rambo) Henderson, of Upper Merion township, Montgomery county. To this marriage were born two children : John Kersey, born February 24, 1891 ; and Emily Mary, born December 19, 1894. On September 13. 1898, Reese P. Davis married Virginia N. Dunglison, who was born March 15, 1860, daughter of J. Robley and Bella (Wallace) Dunglison, and granddaughter of the celebrated Dr. Robley Dunglison, who came from England by request of Thomas Jefferson to take charge of the Medical Department of the University of Vir- ginia, and who later became dean of the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. Dr. Dunglison became famous as a writer and lecturer, and was the author of the "Dunglison Medical Diction- ary," which has become known the world over. Two children were the issue of the marriage of Reese P. and Vrginia Norris (Dunglison) Davis, namely : Norris Dunglison, born July 5, 1899 ; and William, born March II, 1901.
JESSE JARRETT KIRK, a well known farmer of Whitemarsh township, for many years one of its supervisors, was born in Horsham town- ship. He is the son of James and Tacy (Jarrett) Kirk, and was born January 6, 1827.
The Kirks are one of the oldest families in Montgomery county. The ancestor of the family came from Scotland in 1687, and settled in what is now Delaware county, Pennsylvania. In the line of descent from him was the grandfather of the subject, Jesse Kirk, who was a native of Hor- sham township, in Montgomery county. He was educated at the schools in the vicinity of his home, and after spending a few years in the occupation of a farmer engaged in the hotel business in con- nection with his farming interests. He was a successful business man, and accumulated a com- petence, leaving considerable wealth. Among his children was James (father), who was born on
the homestead in Horsham township. He obtained a good education at the neighborhood schools, and after farming for a time decided, like his father, to engage in the hotel business. He located at what was known as the old Haymarket Hotel, on Sixth street, between Coates and Green streets in Philadelphia. He conducted that establishment for some time, was very successful, and became widely known and popular. In politics he was a Republican, doing all that was possible to promote the success of its candidates. He married Tacy Jarrett, daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth Jarrett, of the same township. Their children were: J. Edwin, Elizabeth, Hymen, Mary, John, Jacob, William H., Ellwood, Harry and Jesse J., the last named the subject of this sketch.
Jesse J. Kirk was educated in the neighbor- hood schools, including what was known as the Eight Square School, in Whitemarsh township, where he studied under Margaret Farou, a teacher of some note. On leaving school he en- gaged in farming, but did not long continue in that occupation. When he was quite young his father removed to Upper Providence township. At the age of fifteen years Jesse entered the Plymouth Meeting store in Whitemarsh township, remain- ing there for five years in the position of clerk and general manager. He then engaged in similar pursuits at Spring Mill, in the same township, remaining there a year. On account of ill-health he was advised by his physician to engage if pos- sible in some outdoor employment. He therefore purchased a team and engaged in hauling for some time. He next engaged in the digging of iron ore in Plymouth and Whitemarsh townships, there being an immense quantity near the surface in that vicinity. He so continued until the fur- naces ceased operations and there was no further demand for the product. He then betook himself to farming as a healthy outdoor occupation, and has followed it ever since. In 1872 he removed to his present home in Whitemarsh township.
On November 9, 1849, Mr. Kirk married Miss Margaret Freas, born February 11, 1825, dangh- ter of George and Rachel Freas, of Whitemarsh township. They had the following children : Emma, born January 6, 1851 who married
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