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 5
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Samuel K. Anders was educated in the public schools of Norriton, and on reaching manhood engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own ac- count, following that occupation for twenty years. In 1888 he was elected a member of the board of county commissioners on the Republican ticket, having previously served as school director and in other minor positions. As a county commis- sioner, he was faithful, vigilant, and earnestly devoted to the public interests ; many improve- ments in the court house, rebuilding the county prison and other public institutions having been brought about largely through his instrumen-
tality. He is the only person who ever served in that position in Montgomery county for so long a period. In the discharge of his official duties he displayed the same integrity, ability and good judgment that that have characterized him in all business, public and private. On the death of Abraham A. Yeakle, president of the People's National Bank of Norristown, in 1888, he became his successor, and has held the position by suc- cessive re-election ever since, the success of the institution having been largely 'due to his care- ful and conservative management.
In 1860 Mr. Anders married Mary A. Heeb- ner, the daughter of the late David S. Heebner, of Lansdale. They had four children, two of whom died in infancy ; another, A. Laura, died at the age of sixteen years ; the only one now living being George H. Anders, who served for a num- ber of years as deputy in the county treasurer's. office. Mrs. Mary A. Anders died September 16, 1881.
Samuel K. Anders is a man of pleasing per- sonality, his manners being affable, his natural kindness of heart being tempered by a practical good sense and keen insight of human nature. As a politician, a financier, a business man and a citizen, he has been eminently successful and is universally esteemed.
George H. Anders, son of Samuel K. Anders, attended the neighboring school in Norriton town- ship, and, for a time, the Norristown high school. He was engaged in farming in Norriton until his removal to Norristown. In politics he is, like- his father, an active Republican, and served for some years in Norriton township as a school director, besides occasionally filling minor town- ship offices. He was frequently a delegate to county conventions. He married Eveline, daugh- ter of Nathan and Martha J. Schultz, of Norris- town. The father, for many years proprietor of a hotel at Marshall and DeKalb streets, Norris- town, has been deceased some years. Mrs. Eve- line Anders was born July 19, 1862. She was married January 16, 1883. Their children, all born in Norriton township: Laura S., born October 23, 1884; Stanley S., born October 12, 1886; Rebecca, born February 8, 1889, died April
A. Hobaker
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25, 1890; Samuel K., Jr., born September 25, 1891.
George H. Anders served six years as deputy county treasurer during the terms of Abraham C. Godshall, of Lansdale, and Henry W. Hallowell, of Bethayres.
On the death of ex-Judge Charles H. Stinson, Samuel K. Anders became a member of the board of trustees of the Norristown Hospital for the Insane, a position which he still holds. On the death of David Schall, he was appointed a mem- ber of the board of directors of the Montgomery county prison, which also he still holds.
ANDREW H. BAKER, son of Benjamin and Mary A. Baker, was born March 21, 1836, at Eagleville, Lower Providence township, Mont- gomery county. His father lived most of his later years on the Germantown Pike, near its intersection with the present Stony Creek Rail- road, where he died in 1885 at the age of seventy- seven years. His wife survived him some years. The children of Benjamin and Mary A. Baker were: Arnold, married Lucy Von Nieda, and lives in Norristown; Andrew H. Baker; Martha H., married William S. Finney, and removed to Kansas, where they have children ; Elizabeth, married Samuel Rittenhouse, of Norriton, who also has several children; Cornelia G., wife of John C., son of Andrew Morgan, of Worcester, who died two weeks after her father; Hannalı M., married Mark R., son of Alexander Supplee, first lieutenant of Captain Pechin's company dur- ing the war of the rebellion.
Andrew H. Baker, was educated in the dis- trict schools and at Treemount and Freeland seminaries, and in his eighteenth year took charge of the public school at Washington Square, where he taught for some time. He afterwards taught the school at Centre Square until 1861, for a period of six years, when he removed to Norristown, and was appointed clerk to the county commissioners. He held the clerkship for twelve years, evincing not only ability in clerical duties, but also public spirit, and in the absence of the county treasurer he frequently filled the latter's place as assistant deputy treas-
urer. He was also clerk of the military relief board during the war, and clerk of the board of jury commissioners during the first five years of the establishment of. said board. He studied surveying for a time with Elijah W. Beans, and practised some. Mr. Baker was a member of the Norristown school board for about ten years and was secretary thereof until he left Norris- town.
On the organization of the First National Bank of Conshohocken, in 1873, Mr. Baker was elected teller, which place he filled two years, un- til the founding of Jenkintown National Bank, 1875, when he was chosen cashier, which posi- tion he has now filled twenty-seven years. He was president of the Jenkintown school board for three terms. He has also been treasurer of the Jenkintown Building Association since its organization, member of the board of trustees for the state in behalf of Montgomery county of the State Normal School at West Chester ; a member of the board of directors of the Chelten- ham and Willow Grove turnpike company, and of the Abington Library for several years; is one of the managers of the Jenkintown Reading Room, and was for many years a choir leader and superintendent at St. John's church and Burr's Meeting house, and president of the board of health since its organization in 1893.
In December, 1857, Mr. Baker married Ma- tilda L., daughter of William Barton, of Nor- riton. They had one son, Frank H. Baker, born September 10, 1858, who studied law in the of- fice of B. E. Chain, and was admitted to the bar. He has filled many clerical and other positions, including executorships and other offices of trust and responsibility. He was for some time United States mail agent between New York City and Pittsburg. Mrs. Matilda Baker died in 1860 of typhoid fever. October 6. 1864 Andrew H. Baker married Emily J. McGonigle, principal of one of the Philadelphia public schools. They had two children, Walter C. and May A., both of whom died in childhood. An adopted daugh- ter, Alice G., died several years ago at the age of twenty-three years. Emily J. (McGonigle) Baker died January 13. 1904.
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Frank H. Baker is now employed at Broad Street station of the Pennsylvania Railroad. He has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Sarah T. Yost, of Norrisonville, who died about 1895, leaving one child, Andrew A. Baker. He married (second wife) Mrs. Anna L. Leip- heimer, widow of Richard Leipheimer, who died October 27, 1901. They are living on Noble street, Norristown.
Arnold Baker (grandfather) kept the Barley Sheaf hotel on Germantown Pike, where is now Hartranft Station. In a barn which once stood on this property, the first court in Montgomery county was held in 1784. It has not been occu- pied for thirty years or more as a hotel.
In early life while teaching at Centre Square, Andrew H. Baker became a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, near Belfry. On removing to Norristown he transferred his mem- bership to the Lutheran Church of the Trinity on DeKalb street. After removing to Jenkin- town he became a member of Abington Presby- terian church, the oldest organization of that de- nomination in that section of Pennsylvania. When Grace Memorial Presbyterian church at Jenkintown was founded, he became a member there, and has long been an elder and trustee. Mr. Baker is a man who stands very high in the community in which he lives, his long and hon- orable career inspirig the highest confidence in all with whom he comes in contact. In every relation of life he is an example to those around him, his sound judgment and keen sense of jus- tice causing his opinions to have much weight with those who know him.
J. ELLWOOD LEE. One of the most im- portant industrial enterprises of Montgomery county and at the same time one of the youngest is the plant of the J. Ellwood Lee Company at Conshohocken. This business was established by J. Ellwood Lee, who was born in Consho- hocken in 1860. He is the oldest son of Bradford Adams Lee, who has been a resident of Consho- hocken for more than a half century, and Sarah A. (Raysor) Lee, also a resident of the same town. Through his paternal grandmother, Mr.
Lee is connected with the family of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams, and through his paternal grandfather with the New Jersey and Virginia branches of the Lee family.
E. Bradford Adams Lee, father of J. Ellwood Lee, was born in New Castle county, in the state of Delaware, October 29, 1838. He is a son of Thomas and Ann N. (Adams) Lee. Ann Not- tingham (Adams) Lee, grandmother, was a daughter of Edmund and Jane Adams. Her father, Edmund Adams, was born May 20, 1769. His wife Jane, whom he married June 14, 1792, was born September 2, 1772. Their children were: James, born December 1, 1793 ; Elizabeth, born October 21, 1794; Mary, born March 24, 1797; Rebecca, born December 23, 1800; Jona- than, born July 26, 1803; Elisha, born November 26, 1805; Ann Nottingham Adams, who was the mother of Elisha Bradford Adams Lee, born February 16, 1808. Jane Adams died February 16, 1845. Her husband died January 28, 1817.
Elisha Bradford Adams Lee, father of Mr. Lee, came to Pennsylvania at the age of four years, his parents removing from Delaware in 1842 and establishing a home in Conshohocken. There he had but limited educational advantages, being employed from the age of eleven years in earning his own livelihood. For more than thirty- five years he was engaged in the rolling mills of J. Wood and Brother. For a time he entered into mercantile business. Later he became inter- ested in business with his son, and he has been employed with the J. Ellwood Lee Company in various responsible positions. Mr. Lee married July 3, 1859, at Conshohocken, Miss Sarah A. Raysor. She was the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Culp) Raysor, and was born March 8, 1841. Their children : John Ellwood, subject of this sketch ; Conard Berk, born April 23, 1862, who married, October 12, 1887, Anna May Hen- dren, and died May 8, 1897, leaving no children ; Mary Elizabeth, born January 20, 1865, married June 14, 1899, William Cleaver ; Maria B., born August 1, 1870; Harry Adams, born November 3. 1879. Mrs. Bradford Lee died July 8, 1886. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a woman whose consistent life and many
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Christian qualities endeared her to her family and friends.
Thomas Lee, grandfather, was born in Dela- ware county, Pennsylvania, in 1799. He mar- ried, June 11, 1829, Ann Nottingham Adams. Their children were as follows: Edmund Adams, born April 23, 1830; William, born October 21, 1831 ; Daniel W. Coxe, born February 12, 1834 ; Mary Jane, born July 5, 1836; Elisha B. Adams, father of J. Ellwood Lee. Mrs. Thomas Lee died October 24. 1844. Thomas Lee married a sec- ond wife, who was Rebecca N. Adams, a sister of his first wife. There were no children by the sec- ond marriage. Mrs. Rebecca Lee died July 18, 1848, and Mr. Lee married a third time, Septem- ber 8, 1849, Sarah Logue. By this marriage there was one daughter, Elizabeth Lee. The mother died July 29, 1854, her husband having died eight days previously, both being victims of cholera, which was then raging at Conshohocken.
J. Ellwood Lee was born November 15, 1860. He received his education at the Conshohocken High School, being a graduate of the class of 1879. Immediately after his graduation he en- tered the surgical instrument business in Phila- delphia, with William Snowden, remaining with him for nearly five years. On April 12, 1882, he married Miss Jennie W. Cleaver, youngest daugh- ter of Mrs. A. J. Cleaver. In November, 1883, Mr. Lee broke off his connections with Mr. Snowden in the Philadelphia business, and branched out for himself, starting in the attic of his home in Conshohocken, to make bandages, ligatures, and a few like surgical necessities. From this small beginning sprang the present great industrial enterprise of which Mr. Lee is now general manager and treasurer. The goods which are manufactured by this company are known throughout the entire civilized world. The capital originally invested by Mr. Lee in starting the enterprise was $29.85 (the company still owns the book in which this original entry was made). and the capital now employed to carry on the busi- ness is nearly a million of dollars. The annual sales now amount to more than the sum named, showing what can be done from a small begin- ning. The superior quality of the products of the
J. Ellwood Lee Company has created a wide de- mand for them. Soon after beginning the work in which it is now so extensively engaged, Mr. Lee erected a two-story shop, and fitted it with the appliances needed for the business. In 1887 a three-story mill of stone was erected, much larger than the older structure. In 1888 the rapidly ex- panding business requiring still more complete arrangements for its operations, Mr. Lee formed the J. Ellwood Lee Company, with a capital of $75,000, which has been increased from time to time as necessity required, until it has reached the figures already mentioned. The company owns many valuable patents, a large number of them the product of Mr. Lee's inventive genius, he being one who can very readily adapt the means at hand to the end required. He has been uni- formly successful in meeting the needs of sur- geons in any particular direction required, con- structing the article desired in such a manner that it is the best possible for the purpose for which it is to be employed. The perforated metal- lic splint is an illustration of this adaptation of means to ends. It has superseded almost entirely the old, ill-contrived wooden splint, being light, flexible and easily kept in place. One secret of the remarkable success which Mr. Lee has achieved is his ability to meet any and all emergencies that are likely to arise in connection with the science of modern surgery. Besides surgical instruments, the establishment manufactures also antiseptic preparations of all kinds and many appliances coming more properly under the head of surgical supplies for the use of hospitals, surgeons and the medical profession generally. The establishment has agencies in all the large cities of this country, in fact in all large cities throughout the world. Mr. Lee owes his success in life to his inventive genius, his persistency in his undertakings, and his capacity for business. The management of an establishment like the J. Ellwood Lee Company is a task that demands executive ability of a high order. He directs the operations that are in progress with consummate skill, and is thor- oughly at home in all the details of a business which he has built up from the small beginning already mentioned, until now it is one of the
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
largest and most flourishing of its kind in the world.
Mrs. J. Ellwood Lee is the daughter of Jona- than and Anna J. ( Wood) Cleaver. She was born October 8, 1860. Their children: Mary Cleaver, born July 29, 1884, died February 7, 1893; Elsie, born January 19, 1888; J. Ellwood, Jr., born August 13, 1891 ; Herbert B., born June II, 1900, and died February II, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Lee, with their two surviving children, re- side in Conshohocken.
Mr. Lee has been a member of the town coun- cil since 1898. He was chosen by acclamation a delegate to the national Republican convention for the renomination of President Roosevelt. Mr. Lee is a member of Calvary Protestant Episcopal church, Conshohocken, having been a vestryman since 1888. He is also a member of the Penn Club, and of the Pencoyd Club, of Wissahickon. He is of a very social temperament and fond of athletic sports.
As a Republican Mr. Lee has a deep interest in the success of the candidates and principles of the party. He has not sought or held office, aside from what has been mentioned, his business absorbing his attention to the exclusion of such matters. He is always alert to the interests of Conshohocken, and ever ready to do what he can to promote the welfare of the community of which he is an honored member.
HENRY MARCH BROWNBACK, post- master of Norristown and ex-district attorney of Montgomery county, is one of the best known of the younger members of the Norristown bar. He is the youngest son of James and Ellen (March) Brownback, and was born in West Vincent township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, December 17, 1860. The Brownback family, German in origin, has many branches in eastern Pennsylvania, and its members are influential in their different communities.
The immigrant was Gerhard Brumback (anglicized into Garrett Brownback), who sailed from Amsterdam in the ship Concord in 1683, landing at Philadelphia. Garrett Brownback
settled first at Germantown, and removed later to Chester county, where he became a large land- holder and the first hotel-keeper in his section. He was the founder of the Brownback Reformed church, still in existence. He lived to the age of ninety-six years, dying about 1757. He married Mary Pepen, youngest daughter of Howard Pepen, whose wife was Mary Rittenhouse. The couple had two sons : Benjamin and Henry, and four daughters. Benjamin Brownback married Mary Paul and had three sons : Henry, John and Edward. Henry married Magdalena Paul, and had five children : John, Peter, Benjamin, Annie and Susan. Many of the descendants of Garrett Brownback are useful citizens, filling positions of honor and trust in different sections of the state.
One of the great-grandsons of Garrett Brownback was William Brownback (grandfa- ther), a native of Chester county, who became a successful farmer. His wife was Eliza Wilson. She died in 1840 aged thirty-two years, leaving a family of four children ; her husband survived her for half a century, dying July 29, 1890, at the age of eighty-four years. He was an ex- emplary citizen, and a life-long member of the Reformed church, participating actively in its affairs. One of his sons was James Brownback (father), who was born March 4, 1833, in Chester county. After obtaining his education, he began life as a farmer, pursuing that occupa- tion successfully. He sold out his other inter- ests in 1865, and engaged in business as an iron founder, at Linfield, this county, where he still resides, although his firm, the March-Brownback Company, removed to Pottstown in 1891, he be- ing its president and its business being prosper- ous. Mr. Brownback is also interested in other enterprises in that vicinity. In 1857 he married Ellen March, at Lawrenceville, Chester county. The couple had three children, Ada E., died No- vember 13, 1899, wife of Henry G. Kulp, Potts- town; William M., married Annie Yocum, of Bryn Mawr, where the family reside; and Henry M. Brownback, of Norristown.
Henry M. Brownback became a resident of
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
Montgomery county when his parents removed from Chester county to Linfield. He was then but seven years of age. He attended private schools, and Ursinus College. Subsequently, he studied law in the office of his uncle, Franklin March, then in active practice at Norristown as a member of the Montgomery county bar. Hav- ing passed a most creditable examination, he was admitted to the bar December 4, 1882, be- ginning immediately the practice of his profes- sion, in partnership with Mr. March, the firm being March and Brownback. This arrange- ment continued in force successfully until Janu- ary 1, 1903, when it was dissolved, Mr. Brown- back continuing, however, to devote himself to the practice of law. He became the nominee of the Republican party for the position of district attorney in 1889, and was elected to the position in November of that year, serving the term of three years with credit to himself, and with fidel- ity to the interests of the public. He has filled the position of solictor for several county of- ficials, from time to time, and has achieved ex- ceptional success as a lawyer.
July 2, 1890, Mr. Brownback married Miss Augustine Marguerite Lowe, a daughter of Prof. T. S. C. Lowe, then a resident of Norristown but more recently of Pasadena, California, who has been largely interested in railway contruc- tion and other important business enterprises, and is the owner of many valuable inventions. Mr. and Mrs. Brownback have two sons, Henry Lowe and Russell James.
Early in July, 1899, Mr. Brownback was ap- pointed postmaster at Norristown by President Mckinley. In January, 1903, his term of four years having expired, he was re-appointed bv President Roosevelt to the position. As post- master Mr. Brownback has been faithful, ener- getic and progressive, always desiring to promote in every possible way the convenience and ac- comodation of the public. Under his supervis- ion free rural delivery has been instituted, the routes which branch out from Norristown ex- tending to various sections of the county. Dur- ing his administration. also, the movement for a public building in Norristown was carried to
a successful conclusion. Courteous, obliging and faithful in the discharge of his duties, Mr. Brownback is a model official.
GENERAL WILLIAM M. MINTZER, the son of Henry and Rebecca (Bechtel) Mintzer, was born in Chester county, June 7, 1837. He was one of nine children, five of whom are now living, as follows: General William M .; Eliza- beth, wife of John F. Reeser, of New Ringgold, Pennsylvania ; Rebecca, wife of Chaney Town- send, of Philadelphia ; Warren, of Pottstown, and Sallie, wife of Clayton Culp, of Philadelphia ; Joseph died in Philadelphia.
Henry Mintzer (father) lived all of his life on a farm which was a part of the present site of the borough of Pottstown. He was postmaster in Pottstown during Lincoln's administration and was a school director. His wife was Rebecca Bechtel, who died in 1896, aged eighty-six years. He died in 1883, aged seventy years. His wife was a member of the Lutheran church.
William Mintzer (grandfather) was of Ger- man descent, but was born in Pennsylvania. He operated a line of stages between Pottstown and Philadelphia and also conducted a general store in Pottstown. He was a member of the school board and borough council and took an active in- terest in the affairs of the borough. His wife was Sarah Missimer, and they had a family of nine children. He died at the age of fifty-six years.
Peter Bechtel (maternal grandfather) was a native of Pennsylvania of German descent. He owned a large farm and was the proprietor of a prominent hotel in Pottstown for a number of years. His wife was Catharine. He died at an advanced age.
General William M. Mintzer has lived in Pottstown nearly all his life. He attended the dis- trict schools and was a student for one term in the Hill school. He began learning the machinist trade at the age of nineteen and spent four years in this way. During the last six months of that time he was a member of the Madison Gnards, a militia company of Pottstown, and when Fort Sumter was fired on by the Confederate forces, he dropped the liammer and chisel and immedi-
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
ately left the machine shop. Upon receipt of tele- graphic orders sent by Colonel John Frederic Hartranft to Captain Strough, the commander of the company, to prepare for going to the front, Mr. Mintzer immediately went to the armory and arranged to recruit a company. He headed that enlistment roll, being the first man to enlist in the borough of Pottstown after the firing upon Fort Sumter. Captain Strough, by the advice of his family physician, tendered his resignation on Wednesday night and D. Webster Davis was elected captain, but owing to the severe illness of his wife, was obliged to resign. On Thursday morning, immediately after the resignation of Captain Davis, Mr. Mintzer suggested the name of John R. Brooke, formerly major-general in the regular army and now retired, as the proper per- son to command the company, and he was elected captain that same evening. At that same meeting, owing to the activity and interest of Mr. Mintzer in recruiting the company, he was elected by the company to the office of third lieutenant, an office not recognized in military affairs at that time, and was presented with a sword and sash by the citi- tens of Pottstown, as were also the other officers of the company. After the sword presentation that morning the company took the train and went to Harrisburg. Arriving at Harrisburg, the office of third lieutenant was not recognized and Mr. Mintzer shouldered a musket and went into the ranks as a private soldier. Soon afterwards he was appointed quartermaster sergeant on Colonel Hartranft's noncommissioned staff and served in that capacity until the expiration of the three month's service. The company was then reorganized under President Lincoln's call for three hundred thousand men, of which Quarter- master Mintzer was made first lieutenant. He served as first lieutenant from September 18, 1861, until June 2, 1862, when he was promoted to Captain of Company A, and promoted to lieu- tenant-colonel September 29, 1864: to colonel, October 30, 1864 ; and to brevet brigadier-general, March 13, 1865.
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