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 19

Author: Roberts, Ellwood, 1846- ed
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: New York, N.Y. : T. S. Benham
Number of Pages: 826

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 19

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Cressman helped to build many of the finest edifices in Norristown, including Odd Fel- lows hall, the Montgomery county prison, the court house, the First Presbyterian church, the Lutheran Church of the Trinity, the Central Pres- byterian church, the Albertson Trust Building, the First National bank and Montgomery Na- tional bank, the Music Hall, Mr. Hooven's large mansion, adjoining the Montgomery bank, now the Masonic Temple, and many other of the finest residences in Norristown. After Mr. Derr's death, Mr. Cressman was employed by his son, Henry A. Derr, remaining with him until just before his death. About 1880 he built, on West Airy street, the house in which he now resides and the store property now owned by George W. Pifer, and conducted a grocery business therein, his wife and a hired boy managing it. This he kept up until about 1890, when he sold it to Mr. Pifer. On leaving Mr. Derr, he established a marble yard in the rear of his home and makes the business the means of keeping himself con- tented, working only when it suits him to do so, and doing only ordered work. He sends it

wherever it is ordered, some going as far west as Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Mr. Cressman's wages after completing his apprenticeship were one dol- lar and fifty cents per day, and that was the rate until the beginning of the Rebellion, after which wages advanced until Mr. Cressman carned three dollars per day.

Mr. Cressman has seen Norristown grow from a small village to a place of twenty-seven thousand inhabitants and has aided in building it up as well as adding to its prosperity. He has been a member of the Masonic order since 1863, and is now a member of Hutchinson Com- mandery, No. 32, Knights Templar. He is treas- urer of Charity Lodge, No. 190, and a member of the Temple committee. He is also a member of Montgomery Lodge, No. 57, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has never sought or held office in either lodge. He is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church at Norris- town.

Politically Mr. Cressman was reared an old- line Whig, and is now a Democrat. He was elected on the Democratic ticket a member of the town council of Norristown, serving three years, but would never again accept the office.

November 16, 1853. Mr. Cressman married Miss Susan S., daughter of George and Chris- tiana (Lowther) Gibbs. Mrs. Cressman was born March 17, 1831, in Norristown, within two blocks of where she now resides and she has never lived at a greater distance than that from her birth- place.

George Gibbs, her father, was born in New York city and went from there to Jersey City as a boy of sixteen years of age. On the breaking out of the war of 1812 he enlisted in the United States army and served under General Zebulon M. Pike. At the close of the war it is supposed he went to Delaware as he married there, his wife being of an old Delaware family, descending from early Swedish settlers. From Christiana Hun- dred, in the state of Delaware, he went to Norris- town with his family. He had learned the trade of a mule spinner and went to Norristown to find work at his trade. He secured employment in McCredy's Mill and worked there until his death,

104

MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

which occurred March 17, 1835. The couple had seven children: Lewis married Ophelia Fields ; Mary married John Fry and had four children, Maria, Sarah, Margaret and John; Margaret married Ahlum Cope and had five children, George, Howard, Warren, Levi and Ellen (both parents and daughter Ellen were drowned in the Johnstown flood and Mr. Cope's body was never found) ; George married Emma Winters, their children being George and Clara; Christiana married George Master and had one child, Charles ; Susan S. is the wife of Henry C. Cress- man; Maria died unmarried. Mrs. Fields, the eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs, had the fol- lowing children: John, William Elihu, Cath- arine and Mary.

Mrs. Gibbs died in Norristown in 1843 and with her husband lies buried in the Episcopal cemetery connected with St. John's church.

Mr. and Mrs. Cressman have had but two children : Franklin D., who was born September 4, 1854, and died in childhood; and Annie L., who was born June 3, 1862, and now resides with her parents. She has musical talent of a high order and has taught music since she was eleven years of age. She gives instruction in piano and organ music and has the remarkable record of having given musical instruction in her own home for thirty years without a break. She was organist thirteen years in the First Presbyterian church and three years at the Evangelical Luth- eran Church of the Trinity. Her first teacher was Professor Blaufuff from Saxony in Germany, and under the tuition of Constantine Von Stern- berg of Philadelphia she completed her musical education, except that she afterwards attended the Conservatory of Music in Philadelphia for a single term.

ADAM SCHEIDT, of Norristown, Pennsyl- vania, president and general manager of the Adam Scheidt Brewing Company, and one of the most enterprising and widely known of American brewers, comes from a family which dates back to the year 1700. His early paternal ancestor was Heinrich Scheidt, who was born at Schweiss- bacher Miihle (Landgericht Wolfstein Bezirk

Kusel), Bavaria, Germany, and there died, in 1792. His son, Nockolaus, who died April 15, 1831, was married to Katharina Ihrig, and their son, Johann Adam Scheidt, was father of Adam Scheidt, the immediate subject of this memoir.

Johann Adam Scheidt was born in the ances- tral village before named, September 23, 1809. He was educated in Bavaria and learned the trade of a miller, which he followed until he was twenty-two years of age. After his marriage, in 1831, he settled in Oberweiler in Thal, where he carried on a grain business, lime-burning and farming until about 1868, when he retired from active business life. He was a man of intelli- gence and strength of character, as is attested by the fact that he held a number of government appointments, and was elected for several terms to the office of adjunct, a position corresponding to that of burgess of a borough in this country. He was a Lutheran in religion, and was elder in his church. In politics he was allied with the Conservative party. He died April 29, 1894, at the advanced age of eighty-four years, seven months and six days.

Johann Adam Scheidt was married, December I, 1831, in Oberweiler in Thal, to Maria Katha- rina Pfleger, daughter of Philip and Maria Katlı- arina (Rheinheimer) Pfleger. Her father was born in 1779, in Jettenbach, and died in Ober- weiler, in 1836; his wife was born in 1782, and long survived her husband, dying in 1865, also at Oberweiler. They were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom were sons: I. Katha- rina, born December 6, 1832, died November 27, 1847; 2. Karolina, born November 14, 1834; 3. Jacob, born September 26, 1836; 4. Peter, born December 21, 1838; 5. Karl (Charles) born July 12, 1840; 6. Friedrich, born December 13, 1842; 7. Adolph, born June 23, 1844; 8. Ludwig, born May 28, 1846, died July 3, 1901 ; 9. Philippina, born June 15, 1849, now deceased ; 10. Katharina, born July 11, 1851 ; II. Adam, mentioned below.

Adam Scheidt, youngest child of the family last named, was born at the paternal home in Bavaria, February 14, 1854. He received his education in his native village and learned the trade of cooper and brewer, which he diligently

104

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Kvar Rawith: Corin of there died in We Fils jums Nociaus, who died April 1;

Time my kner torres, like burning and

auf koh 2 4 a man of intel-

jo thôngin this country.

Chal & Maria Kall-

/so ller foder wu

They Were The parents BE cievir

fanleaf center aml brewer, which he Miligure

٢٠٠٠١٢

+ 1'

105

MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

followed until about the time of attaining his majority. He then entered the German army (December 12, 1874), in the Eighth Regiment, Third Company, which was then stationed at the historic fortified city of Metz. In March follow- ing he entered the Officers' School for five months and then returned to his company, after which he was promoted and did active duty in his new grade. In September, 1876, he was assigned to a recruiting station at Zwybriiken, and promoted to a higher grade of non-commissioned office. where he performed various duties until the ex- piration of his term of service, when (in Septem- ber, 1877) he was honorably discharged with an unblemished soldierly record.

In March, 1878, Mr. Scheidt, then twenty- four years of age, came to the United Sattes to join his brother Charles, who had preceded him and was located at Norristown, Pennsylvania, where he was conducting a small brewery, and a saloon in connection, at 18 West Main street, which is now conducted as the Hotel Finley. Adam Scheidt reached that place in the evening of Monday, April 1, and at once accepted a posi- tion with his brother. He gave his evenings to study of the English language, under the tutor- ship of Mr. Bloomaker, under whom he soon attained a degree of proficiency which fitted him for a participation in the business. He then be- came a partner with his brother, and half-owner of the brewing plant, the business being con- ducted under the firm name of C. & A. Scheidt, and this association was pleasantly and profitably maintained until October 9, 1884, when Charles Scheidt died, after a short illness, following an operation for the removal of a cancer back of the left eye, performed at the Jefferson Hospital, Philadelphia. The deceased was in the prime of life, aged only forty-four years, two months and twenty-seven days, and was unmarried.

Adam Scheidt was now left with the entire responsibility of the business, nor could one have been better equipped for the task. As a practical brewer he had no superior and few equals in Amer- ica, having thoroughly learned his art in his native Bavaria, the model brewing region of the earth- and he was now entirely familiar with Ameri-

can business methods and had made an extensive acquaintance in business circles over a large terri- tory. He purchased his deceased partner's half- interest in the real estate at public sale, and the half-interest of the personal property at private sale, under the appraisement, from the father, who inherited from the son Charles, the latter named having died without issue. Mr. Scheidt retained the sole ownership until October 7, 1890, when he effected the incorporation of the Adam Scheidt Brewing Company, of which he at once became president and general manager, and in which two-fold capacity he has continued to the present time.

Under Mr. Scheidt's masterly management the business has been extended and the plant correspondingly enlarged. Through purchase from time to time, the ground occupied has been increased to about seven and one-half acres, the brewing plant occupying the east side of Stony creek, between Marshall and Elm streets, and the bottling plant the northwest side of the creek, and both provided with railroad sidings. To the brewing plant new buildings have been added at frequent intervals and the old ones have been remodeled and modernized. Obsolete wooden construction has been replaced by steel and iron, until every building is fireproof; the latest and most improved machinery has been installed, much of it having been specially constructed for this establishment ; and an efficient electric plant upon the premises is utilized not only for light- ing, but also for driving the major part of the machinery, the pumping apparatus included, to the displacement of steam. The equipment also includes three ice machines, with a daily refrig- erating capacity of two hundred and thirty tons ; a carbonic acid gas collecting plant ; and all other scientific appliances now applicable to the art of brewing. In every stage of manufacture, all malt liquors here made, of whatever description, are safeguarded through a strict regard to chemical laws effecting their fermenting, aging and keep- ing properties. Only filtered air is allowed to come into contact with the liquors, which are also cooled in closed rooms impervious to unfiltered and bacteria laden air.

106

MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

The bottling plant now in use is entirely new and contains every device which long experience has demanded, either of necessity or for conveni- ence. All the machinery is driven by electricity. The electric wires, steam pipes, water pipes, re- frigerating pipes, carbonic acid gas pipes and air pipes are carried to the bottling house from the brewing plant by a trunk line which crosses the mill race and Stony creek and is supported by the railroad trestle bridge crossing the creek. Malt and other supplies, and also coal, are brought to the plant in cars and put in proper places by means of elevators and conveyers.

The product of the Scheidt Brewing Company comprises various kinds of ale, porter, brown stout and lager beer, and includes the famous Lotos Export Beer and Twentieth Century Ale, of which the Scheidt Brewing Company is the sole manufacturer. The annual capacity of the plant is more than one hundred thousand barrels, and the output for the year ending January, 1904, was sixty-seven thousand seven hundred and fifty barrels. Shipment is made in refrig- erating cars, built for and owned by the Scheidt Brewing Company, and which are cooled by ice manufactured on the grounds of the Company. The company maintains branch houses in Phila- delphia, at 963-971 North Ninth street, and in Baltimore, at 312 South Eutaw street, and dis- tributing depots in Lansdale, at the Broadway House, and in Conshohocken, adjoining the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad freight station, besides many agencies both within and outside the state.

In 1891 the ale and porter brewing and bot- tling establishment of A. R. Cox, now deceased, at the corner of Main and Markley streets, ad- joining the Hartranft Hotel, in Norristown, was bought by the Adam Scheidt Brewing Company and the business removed from the Cox prop- erty to the Scheidt plant, with which it was con- solidated.

While giving constant and careful personal attention to the conduct of the extensive business of which he is the head, Mr. Scheidt is also con- nected with various other important corporations, being president of the Penn Trust Company, of

Norristown, Pennsylvania, and a stockholder in the Norristown Trust Company, the First Na- tional Bank of Norristown, the Central Trust Company of Philadelphia, and other manufac- turing corporations in Pennsylvania and other states. In religion he is a Lutheran, having been baptized in the church and confirmed in the place of his nativity, and received by certificate into Trinity Lutheran church of Norris- town. He has always been a liberal supporter of the church and of its various benevo- lences, as well as of other deserving charities. In politics he is a Republican. Being too much occupied with the cares of business to engage in party affairs he has never sought or held public office. He holds membership in a number of fraternal and social clubs and societies. His personal characteristics are those becoming to the well equipped man of affairs, who has through his own industry and intelligent efforts acquired means and an honorable position in life and stands secure in the respect and confidence of the com- munity in which he lives and the various circles, business and social, in which he moves. As a citi- zen he bears a full share in promoting the inter- ests of his city and in enhancing its importance and prestige. Habits of close observation and wide travel have afforded him a broad knowledge of men and affairs and aided in making him a congenial companion to those who are brought into association with him. While a thorough American in his tastes an habits, he at the same time cherishes a laudable affection for his native land and his kindred there. Before his father's death, the son Adam paid a visit to his father and relatives in 1891, and on that occasion made numerous off-trips to different parts of Germany to renew old acquaintances. In his youth, be- fore coming to America, in following his occupa- tion, he had been located in various parts of Ger- many and France.

Mr. Scheidt was married, January 30, 1883, at No. 144 West Marshall street, Norristown, to Miss Rosa Isabella Hindennach, who was edu- cated in the public schools of that city and is a member of Trinity Lutheran church. Her par- ents are Jacob Friedrich and Christina (Koel-

REV. J. A. STRAHAN

107

MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

blin) Hindennach, both natives of Germany. Mr. Hindennach is a cooper and brewer and yet fol- lows that occupation. He has been active in pro- moting the usefulness of St. Paul's German Lutheran church in Norristown, and has served as superintendent of its Sunday-school for many years.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Scheidt, all of whom are affiliated with Trinity Lutheran church, are: I. Adam Jacob, born April II, 1884; 2. Harry Adolph, born March 25, 1886, died July 19, 1886; 3. Anna Amelia, born April 4, 1888, died December 4, same year ; 4. Nina Rosa, born April 27, 1891 ; 5. Helen Christina, born Septem- ber 22, 1892; 6. Katharina Augusta, born July 25, 1894; 7. Karl Friedrich, born April 5, 1896; 8. Louis Paul, born February 4, 1898.

Adam Jacob, eldest son of Mr. Scheidt, has attended the Norristown high school, and is now in his third year at the Pennsylvania Military Academy, Chester, Pennsylvania.

REV. J. A. STRAHAN is the Rector of the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Jenkintown, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania.

This now flourishing parish was at its in- ception but an out-mission. It was ministered to by the Rev. John McGovern, at that time rector of St. Joachim Church, Frankford, Phila- delphia. The first baptism recorded by him was in May, 1864. The first regular pastor appointed for the parish was the Rev. Thomas Toner and the date of his appointment was January, 1866. Under his pastorate the present church property was purchased, and the present church erected. The corner-stone was laid in July, 1866, and the house now occupied by the Sisters, then used as a rectory, was built about the same time. Father Toner labored zealously and faithfully for the interests of the Catholic church and for the spir- itual needs of the parish until 1871. In Septem- ber of that year he was succeeded by Rev. Will- iam J. McKean, another efficient worker in the parish, who died ten years later from the effects of a fall. The next pastor was the Rev. John Mellon, who died in 1885, and was succeeded in March, 1886, by the Rev. Thomas W. Power, who died in 1892. For a few months the spiritual

needs of the parish were given attention by Father Garvey.

On September 8, 1892, the Rev. Joseph A. Strahan was appointed rector. Since taking charge of the parish Father Strahan has entirely renewed the whole interior of the church, built a new stone school house, and greatly improved the property. The church has now a seating ca- pacity of nine hundred. There is an attendance of 225 at the school, which is in charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Rev. Joseph A. Strahan is a native of Phila- delphia. He acquired his early education in the schools of St. Philip and St. Michael. He next took a classical course in St. Charles Preparatory College. He studied philosophy and theology. in St. Charles Seminary, at Eighteenth and Race streets, in Philadelphia. He was ordained to the priesthood October 18, 1872, in the Seminary Chapel, by the Rt. Rev. James F. Wood, D. D. His first appointment was that of assistant at St. James' church, Philadelphia, where he remained upwards of a year, and was then transferred to the Church of the Holy Innocents, at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Two years later he was trans- ferred to the Church of St. Cecelia, at Phila- delphia, now called the Church of the Visitation. There he labored faithfully as assistant for a period of nine years. His next appointment was to found a parish at Tacony, in the upper part of Philadelphia, made by Rev. Maurice Walsh, administrator. He purchased land and built a rectory, and also the basement of a church. Eight years later he was appointed to his present posi- tion. Under the ministrations of Father Strahan the parish has grown and prospered. He is ever to he found at his post of duty, laboring faithfully for the good of the flock. He is held in high esteem, not only by his own parishioners but also by members of all denominations. His present assistant is the Rev. M. A. Walsh, a graduate of St. Charles Seminary, formerly assistant at St. Clement's Church, near Darby, Pennsylvania.

CYRUS HICKMAN CALEY, secretary of the Upper Merion school board, is a native of Delaware county, Pennsylvania. He was born February 1I, 1842, near Radnor Friends' Meet-

108

MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

ing. He is the son of Samuel and Lucy C. (Hick- man) Caley. His mother was a daughter of Cyrus and Phebe ( Matlack) Hickman.

Samuel Caley (father) was born near New- town Square, Delaware county, and lived there most of his life. He married Lucy C. Hickman, born in Westtown township near the noted Friends' School. Samuel died in December, 1886, and his wife April 13, 1900. Of their children Cyrus H. is the eldest ; Samuel, born in June, 1844, died August 20, 1901, married Mary Yar- nall, having one child, Mary Frances ; Annie died in childhood; William, born December 6, 1850, married (first wife) Miriam Bowker, they having one child, Howard B. Caley (deceased) and mar- ried (second wife) Anna Mulford ; he is living now in Delaware county : Elizabeth, born in 1853, resides in Media : Hannah married Empson Gar- wood ; and Margaret resides at Media. Samuel Caley was born March 14, 1815, and at the time of his death was seventy-one years of age.

The grandparents of Cyrus Caley were Sam- tel and Ann ( Phillips) Caley. The great-grand- father, Samuel Caley, married a Miss Reese. His father was also named Samuel Caley. The family is of English origin and settled at Newtown Square nearly two hundred years ago.

Cyrus H. Caley was reared on the farm, at- tended the Friends and public schools of the neighborhood, also Gwynedd Friends' boarding- school, at that time under the charge of Hugh Foulke. He studied two terms at Millersville State Normal School. He farmed with his father until his marriage.

March 16, 1865, he married Annie L. Beidler and bought a farm near White Horse, Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he remained three years. He then purchased a farm near Newtown Square, remaining there eight years. He sold that farm and made several changes in the next five years, finally settling in Upper Merion about a mile and a half from Port Kennedy, where he has lived ever since. He is a prosperous farmer and attends Norristown market.

In February, 1891, he was elected to the school board of Upper Merion township and has been its

secretary almost from the beginning of his term of service. In politics he is a Republican and takes an active interest in the success of his party.

July 3, 1863, he enlisted in Company E, Forty- seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia. He re- mained at Harrisburg for three months, was sent to Hagerstown, Maryland, and after remaining there one month, the troops went to Minersville, Pennsylvania, to quell a riot. He was mustered out of service at Reading, September 10, 1863.

Annie L. (Beidler) Caley is a daughter of Abraham and Sarah W. (Stephens) Beidler, both deceased, of Upper Merion, near Valley Meeting. Abraham Beidler, son of Jacob Beidler, was born in 1810 at Diamond Rock, Chester county, and died in 1872, in his sixty-second year. His wife died in 1864. in her forty-second year. They were married in 1841 and lived on a farm which was part of the tract of land taken up by Stephen Stephens, the ancestor of Sarah W. Stephens. They are buried in Valley graveyard. Their chil- dren are: Hannah Mary, born April 30, 1842; Annie Landes, born March 5, 1844, wife of Cyrus Caley ; Margaret Currie, born January 4, 1846; Stephen Leslie, born December 2, 1848; William, born June 5, 1851, who died young : Ellen Pris- cilla, born May 5, 1853; Fannie Elizabeth, born in 1854; Harry P., born in 1856, and died in in- fancy ; Sarah Louisa, born June 25, 1857 ; Jacob Howard, born March 20, 1859 : Abraham Lincoln, born in 1861, and died in infancy ; Laura May, born in 1863, and died in infancy.

Hannah Mary Beidler married in 1871 Mor- decai Davis, son of Joseph and Eleanor (Ste- phens) Davis. Mordecai Davis is now deceased. They had one child, Ellen Stephens Davis, born August 28, 1872.

Margaret Currie Beidler married Abraham Metz and had three children: Sarah Eliza Metz, born May 13, 1870; Thomas Overton Metz, born August 10, 1874; and Frank Beidler Metz, born October 23, 1876, and died in 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Metz reside at Atlantic City.

Stephen Leslie Beidler married Emma Yarnall and they reside at Willistown. They had three children, as follows: Elizabeth Yarnall, married

109

MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Charles Worrilow and is living near Newtown Square ; Stephen Leslie, born April 12, 1882 ; and William M.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 19

Author: Roberts, Ellwood, 1846- ed Publication date: 1904 Publisher: New York, N.Y. : T. S. Benham Number of Pages: 826

Author: Roberts, Ellwood, 1846- ed
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: New York, N.Y. : T. S. Benham
Number of Pages: 826