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 51
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John C. Snyder was reared on a farm in Bucks county until he was seventeen years of age and attended the district schools in the winter season. He learned the trade of blacksmithing, which he followed eight years. He then met with a misfor-
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tune, having lost a part of his right hand by a premature discharge of a cannon while he with others was engaged in celebrating Washington's birthday. This interfering with his usefulness in an occupation involving manual labor, he engaged in the grocery business, which he has followed ever since, being located for many years on Main street opposite Walnut. About 1851 he came to Norristown, where he learned his trade, and where he has lived ever since.
He married Miss Mary Rittenhouse, daughter of Christopher Rittenhouse and Catharine (Markle) Rittenhouse. They had four children : Winfield W., Anna Kate, Mary Helen and John Harry. Winfield W. died at the age of twenty- four years. Anna Kate married Robert Edmunds. They live in Norristown and have one child, Mabel Christine Edmunds. Mary Helen keeps house for her father. John Harry is in the store with his father.
Mrs. Snyder died in March, 1898. She was a member of the Lutheran church of the Trinity. Notwithstanding the loss of his hand, Mr. Snyder felt the fires of patriotism burning within him so strongly that he volunteered in the defense of the Union in the Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania Regi- ment, as lieutenant. It was an emergency organ- ization at the time of the first Confederate raid in Pennsylvania. Lieutenant Snyder's second en- listment was in the Forty-third Regiment in the three months' service. He enlisted for the thir-1 time in the One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Regiment in the hundred-day service, and was captain of Company G. He left the service of his state and country with three honorable dis- charges, and since then he has confined his atten- tion strictly to the grocery store, and has made an excellent reputation as a reliable and success- ful business man.
Mr. Snyder is a Democrat in politics. He served as assessor in the fifth ward three terms. He was appointed under Andrew Johnson's ad- 'ministration, government cigar inspector, which office he filled until it was abolished. He was elected coroner of Montgomery county on the Democratic ticket in 1858, serving three years in the position. He was elected justice of the peace
in the fifth ward in 1869 and consecutively every five years since that time, so that he has filled the position for thirty-five years and was elected February 16, 1904, for five more years. He has performed his duties with rare fidelity, his de- cisions being generally accepted as just and fair.
In 1894 he was a candidate for councilman from the fifth ward. He has now served nine years in the council and in February, 1904, was elected for his fourth term. He has belonged to the Independent Order Odd Fellows of Norris- town many years, is a member of the encampment and is a past grand.
By strict integrity, fairness and honorable dealing, Justice Snyder has won the esteem and respect of all with whom he has come in contact in a business, social or judicial capacity, and there are none who stand higher in the good will or kindly regard of the community.
REV. LEVI WESLEY HAINER, of Cal- vary Baptist church, who belongs to a family of ministers and is one of the best known and most popular pastors of Norristown, was born in Brant county, Ontario, Canada, July 1, 1863. He was the son of the Rev. Charles Hainer and Jane ( MacCormick) Hainer, both natives of Can- ada. They had seven children, six sons and one daughter, as follows: Charles D., Edwin A., Levi W., John A., William H., Mary E. and Whitfield. All the sons are ministers and the daughter is the wife of Gilford Mann, of New Market, Ontario.
Rev. Charles Hainer (father) went from the farm into the ministry and is now one of the leading clergymen of the Baptist faith in Canada, where he is still preaching and where he has spent his life in that calling. His wife died in 1873, aged thirty-eight years. He married (second wife) Miss Grace Terry and they had two children,-Frederick, who is a Baptist min- ister, a graduate from Kingston University, On- tario; and Herbert, who is now studying for the ministry.
Rev. L. W. Hainer's paternal grandfather was a farmer. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, on the British side, under the lamented
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General Brock, and was in the charge at Queens- ton Heights, in which the commander was killed. He died at an advanced age. He was of German descent and had a large family.
John MacCormick (maternal grandfather) was a native of Canada and of Scotch descent. He was a farmer and lived to a very advanced age, leaving a large family.
Rev. Levi W. Hainer left Canada when twelve years old and came to this country, locating in Michigan and later in other western states. He attended Williams College in Massachusetts, graduating in 1883, and entered the Christian Biblical Institute at Stanfordville, New York, graduating in 1886. His first pastorate was at Irvington, New Jersey, a suburb of Newark. Thence he went into the city and became pastor of the First Congregational church, which pas- torate he held for nine years. Resigning he spent six months in England, where he attended lectures at the University of Oxford, and then traveled over the continent, and through Egypt and the Holy Land, his wife and son accompanying him. visiting the principal cities. Returning to the United States, he accepted a call from the Cal- vary Baptist church, Norristown, in April, 1898. which charge he still retains. The membership of Calvary Baptist church is four hundred and eighty, and he has taken into it over two hundred persons in that time. The congregation has recently erected one of the finest church buildings in the city, at a cost of something over forty thousand dollars.
On the 22d day of March, 1884, Mr. Hainer married Miss Celia Mann, daughter of Silas and Zilpah Mann. They had one son, Levi Mer- rill Hainer. Mrs. Celia Hainer died in 1894. aged thirty-two years. On September 1, 1896, Mr. Hainer married Miss Margaret Matlack, daughter of David J. and Margaret Matlack, of Philadelphia. Mr. Hainer belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and Knights of Pythias. Politically he is independent.
His son is now in his Junior year in Buck- nell University at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, studying for the ministry. Rev. Mr. Hainer has devoted himself with particular interest to Sun-
day-school work, in which he has been eminently successful, having received considerable mention from the press in various parts of the coun- try, showing his marked ability as a Sunday- school worker. He has delivered numerous lec- tures upon the Sunday-school work, and in these lectures uses the stereoptican with good effect, by way of illustration and entertainment as well as edification. His work in Norristown, which has been of steady growth, attests his qualification as a preacher and pastor. He is an eloquent and pleasing speaker, active in pastoral work and very successful as a minister.
GEORGE WASHINGTON CASTNER, one of the ablest and most enterprising farmers of Gwynedd is the son of Jesse and Parthena (Sheive) Castner, both deceased many years ago. He is descended from an old family of German ori- gin the name having been at one time spelled Kast- ner. He was born December 20, 1840, on the farm in Lower Gwynedd, near Gwynedd station, owned by his grandfather and occupied by his father. He attended the public school at Gwynedd until his eighteenth year, giving some attention also to assisting in the work of the farm. One of his teachers was 'Squire Andrew Jackson Lewis, who lived on an adjoining farm, and was an instructor of the old school, specimens of whom are now comparatively rare in the profession in Montgom- ery county. On leaving school at Gwynedd, Mr. Castner entered Washington Hall Collegiate In- stitute at Trappe, conducted for many years by Professor Abel Rambo, who was for a long period county superintendent of schools in Montgomery. After a time spent in that institution Mr. Castner returned to the homestead farm to enter upon the more active duties of life, remaining there until his marriage which occurred October 27, 1868. He married Sarah, daughter of Jacob B. and Ann (Jenkins) Rhoads, both long since deceased. Jacob B. Rhoads was a widely known farmer of Gwynedd township, near North Wales, who at -. tended the Philadelphia market for many years, handling meat as well as farm produce. Mrs. Castner was born and reared at the Rhoads homestead, on which she now resides. She at-
Growlastned Dania Q. Cashier
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tended the Friends' School at Gwynedd as well as the public school at that place, and also the Academy at North Wales. Still later she was a resident student at Lewisburg Institute, now com- bined with Bucknell University, then a flourish- ing school for girls and young women, and grad- uated with the class of 1866.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs Castner located on a farm in Lower Gwynedd (then Gwynedd) township, adjacent to the farm of her father, where they remained for more than twenty years. In 1888 Mr. Castner purchased the Rhoads homestead, containing 137 acres, in Upper Gwynedd township, which they operated as a dairy farm, maintaining a herd of twenty-five cows thereon, the milk being shipped from Gwynedd station to Philadelphia by way of the North Pennsylvania Railroad. During 1863 Mr. Castner served in the Wishahickon Cavalry in the state service, and was stationed at Harris- burg for a short time, but owing to their services not being required the regiment returned home.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Castner: J. Arthur, born October 27, 1870, attended Friends' School at Gwynedd, and also the Brunner Acad- emy and School of Business at North Wales, after which he entered as a student at the Peirce College of Business in Philadelphia, resides with his parents on the home farm, and assists in its management : Mary Parthenia, born July 27, 1872. educated at the Friends' School at Gwynedd, and also Sunnyside Academy, at Ambler, married Linford, son of James and Mary (Johnson) Christian, and has one child, Arthur Castner, and resides at North Wales ; Ann Jenkins, born Sep- tember 12, 1877, attended the Gwynedd public schools and also the Brunner Academy at North Wales, graduating from the Gwynedd schools, from the North Wales institution in the class of 1891, and from the Friends' Central School, Phil- adelphia, in the class of 1894, married, September 24. 1901, Andrew Heckler, son of William and Sarah (Heckler) Tyson, of Lansdale, residing there with her parents: Elizabeth Grace, born 1884, died 1889.
Jesse Castner (father) was the son of Jesse and Elizabeth Castner, of Gwynedd. He was
born on the Castner homestead, where he spent his life, May 5, 1812. He attended such schools as were available in his childhood and youth, and married Parthena Sheive. Their children : Parthena Louisa, born September 29, 1836, married. April 30, 1868, Abram Wentz, son of Abram and Charlotte (Tyson) Wentz, of an old Whitpain family, long resident in the vicinity of Centre Square where they kept a hotel in Revolu- tionary times and subsequently, until 1867, a member of the family, Col. John Wentz, having been a justice of the peace in Whitpain township for many years ; and now resides on Swede street, Norristown : Elizabeth, born December 7, 1837. unmarried; Conard, born August 12. 1839; George W., subject of this sketch.
Jesse Castner (grandfather) was the son of Samuel and Mary (Linderman) Castner. He was born July 16, 1770, and married Margaret Rhoads, their children being : Malinda, born May 8, 1796, married William Coulston, of Gwynedd : Charles, born October 25, 1798, died May 12. 1862, married Martha Christy; Mary, born De- cember 5. 1800, died in 1852, and was married ; Rachel, born November 7, 1803, married: Mar- garet, born November 19, 1805: Anna, born Oc- tober 19. 1806. Jesse Castner, who died Sep- tember 15. 1883, was a son by a second wife, Elizabeth Smick.
BENJAMIN EVANS, senior partner in the firm of B. Evans & Brother, coal dealers at Norristown, located at George street and Stony Creek Railroad and at Main Street Station, was born in Lykens, Pennsylvania, October 3, 1866. He is the son of Benjamin (deceased), and Mary Ann ( Thomas) Evans, both of whom were born in southern Wales, he at Blanavon and she at Tredeger. The couple had seven children, four sons and three daughters, four of whom are now living, as follows : Margaret, wife of Isaac Jervis, Miss Catharine Evans. Benjamin and William, all of Norristown.
Benjamin Evans (father) was a coal miner in Wales, who came to America in 1855, and lo- cated in Virginia, near the Maryland line, engag- ing in the occupation of coal-mining there for
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about two years. He then came to Conshohocken where resided his uncle, William Davis, who operated the blast furnace there. Benjamin Evans married at Conshohocken, a few months after his arrival, he having known Miss Thomas, who became his wife, in the old country. He afterwards worked in Harrisburg and various places, and the last twenty-five years of his life were spent in Norristown, where he established a coal-yard, and in conjunction with his two sons, built a number of houses. He died in Norristown, April 25, 1899, aged sixty-six years. His wife survives him and is now seventy-five years of age. She is an Episcopalian and he was a Baptist. He was a lifelong Republican and was an active worker in its behalf.
Evan Evans (grandfather) was a native of Wales. He was a coal miner and came to Amer- ica in 1857, living in Lykens, Pennsylvania, where he died in his seventy-seventh year. His wife was Kitty Davis. They had a large family of children.
William Thomas (maternal grandfather), was a native of Wales. He came to the United States in 1853, and instructed his son-in-law, William Davis, in the blast-furnace business at Conshohocken. He first settled at Farnsville when the country was very wild and was infested with wolves and bears. He died at Conshohocken, aged ninety-one years, and was buried at Merion Square. He was a large man, six feet, two inches in height. His wife was Katie Powell, daughter of Thomas Powell, a tanner in Breckon, South Wales.
William Thomas and wife had ten or eleven children. The oldest son's name was John. He went to London and died there of cholera. Will- iam Powell's wife was buried at Trededwyn churchyard. She died at the age of fifty-two years.
Benjamin Evans, born at Lykens, was six years old when his parents left that place. He came from Lykens, to Matsunk, now Swedeland, and lived there from 1871 to 1873, his parents re- moving from Swedeland to Mahanoy City in Schuylkill county. Benjamin Evans attended the public schools there until ten years of age and
then went to work, picking slate from the coal in the breaker. On February 22, 1879, he came with his father's family to Norristown, where he worked in a cotton factory until 1882. On reaching early manhood, he began work as a con- tractor, digging cellars, quarrying stone, and do- ing other work of that kind. His father's health failed and Mr. Evans and his father engaged in the coal business at the corner of Marshall and Kohn streets, and for the past eight years ne and his brother William have been together in business as partners. The firm are builders as well as coal dealers and own several valuable properties in Norristown. They have erected many handsome residences in West Norristown, and are among the most prosperous business men of the county.
He is not identified with any church but is a Baptist in religious faith. Politically he is a Republican and occupied the position of council- man from the seventh ward. Mr. Evans resides in a substantial brick residence, No. 719 George street, built in 1866.
WILLIAM EVANS, junior partner in the firm of B. Evans & Brother, who are engaged in business as coal dealers and dealers in build- ers' supplies, Norristown, Pennsylvania, was born in Wisconisco township, Dauphin county, Penn- sylvania, March 11, 1867. He is the son of Benjamin and Mary Ann (Thomas) Evans, al- ready mentioned in the sketch of Benjamin Evans, immediately preceding this.
William Evans has lived since the age of ten years in Norristown, attending the public schools of the borough, and after' completing the course in them, entering as a student at Schissler's Business College. When he reached the age of eighteen years, he became an apprentice to the trade of a bricklayer, and after completing his apprenticeship at that occupation, worked as a journeyman for five years. After the death of his father he and his brother, Benjamin, entered into partnership as dealers in coal and in builders' supplies.
The firm of Benjamin Evans & Brother has been in existence since 1895 the senior partner
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confining his attention more especially to the yard at George street and Stony Creek Railroad, and the junior partner to that opposite Main Street Station. In addition to achieving success in this line, Evans & Brother have been engaged in the business of builders for a number of years. They have erected many dwelling houses in that part of Norristown west of Stony creek, they own considerable property, and are generally recognized as being among the most progressive and public-spirited citizens of Norristown. On February 6, 1902, Mr. Evans married Miss Annie M. Keene, daughter of John and Mary (Mace) Keene. Mrs. Evans is a member of Haws Avenue Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Evans is a member of Norristown Lodge, No. 620, Free and Accepted Masons. He also belongs to the John F. Hartranft Conclave of Heptasophs. His residence is at 704 Stanbridge street, a substantial home which he owns. Poli- tically he is a Republican, taking an active in- terest in everything relating to the management of local affairs.
Mrs. Evans' father is a native of Elizabeth- ville, Dauphin county, he having been born within a dozen miles of where he now resides. He was married at the age of seventeen years. Mrs. Keene is also a native of Dauphin county, she and her husband having been born on adjoining farms. Mr. and Mrs. Keene had five sons and one daughter. Mrs. Evans is a graduate of Shippensburg State Normal School. Previous to her marriage, she was engaged in the occupation of teaching. Her father has been employed with the Lykens Valley Coal Company ever since it came into existence, a period of forty-nine years. Mr. Keene and- his wife are members of the Methodist church, and have been from their tenderest years. Their son, H. Clay Keene, has been superintendent of the Sunday school at Wiconisco for twenty-four years. He was a member of the Pennsylvania legislature for two years. The family are all members of the Metho- dist church.
The Evans brothers are the type of men, endowed with energy and good business ability, who have been largely instrumental in building
up Norristown, making it a centre of industrial and mechanical development, and contributing to that prosperity which it has enjoyed in recent years to a greater extent, perhaps, than any other city of its size in Pennsylvania. Mr. Evans has one daughter, Mary Catherine, born February 26, 1903.
GEORGE W. WATT. The Watt family are of Scotch-Irish origin, William Watt (father) having come to this country with his parents when he was but ten years of age. He was born in County Derry, Ireland, May 12, 1808, and reached Philadelphia in 1818. On leaving school he en- tered the establishment of his uncles, David and William Watt, who were extensive woolen manu- facturers in that city. On completing his ap- prenticeship with them he worked at his trade for several years, eventually engaging in the manu- facture of cotton and woolen fabrics in Phila- delphia. In 1867 he removed to Norristown, and a year or two later purchased the site yet occupied by Watt's Mills at the foot of Buttonwood street, and continued the same business in which he had been engaged in Philadelphia, making woolen goods principally. The establishment has grown steadily from the beginning made by William Watt in 1869, many improvements having been added from time to time. In 1876 a large addi- tion was built to the mill, increasing its pro- ductive capacity nearly one-half in comparison with what is was when erected in 1849 by Will- iam Hamill & Son. That firm retired in 1851, and S. Porter Hamill and Joshua Batty became the proprietors, but at the end of two years, Mr. Batty drew out of the firm and Mr. Hamill operated the mill until 1856, when he took in J. Lee as a partner. In 1857 Hunter & DeHaven bought the establishment, operating it some time and selling it to Mr. DeHaven, who in turn sold it to Mr. Watt in 1869, as has been stated. Will- iam Watt was a man of excellent business qualifi- cations, as was manifested in his successful opera- tion of his Norristown manufactory, which was run almost steadily, even in so-called "hard times", when other establishments of the kind were idle or running on half time. During the latter years
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of his life, Mr. Watt, yielding to the infirmities of age, allowed its management to devolve largely upon his son, George W. Watt, the subject of this sketch. William Watt was married January 9, 1834, to Miss Catherine, daughter of William McKay, of Scotch descent, and one of the oldest residents of Philadelphia. Their children were: George W. Watt ; David Watt; Amelia D., widow of Henry S. Hughes; Emily Watt; Mrs. Kate W., widow of Cyrus S. Poley, M. D .; and Dr. J. Bond Watt, long a resident of Allentown. William Watt was a lifelong Whig and Republi- can. He always felt much interest in politics generally and in public affairs, seldom missing an opportunity of casting his ballot, even at municipal elections which are so apt to be neglected by the average voter. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. He had long been connected with the Central Presbyterian church, and for many years held the position of trustee. Mr. and Mrs. Watt celebrated their golden wedding on January 9, 1884. A large assemblage of descendants, rela- tives and friends were present on that occasion. He died December 2, 1893, after an illness of about ten days.
John Watt (great-grandfather) emigrated to this country prior to the war of 1812, bringing his family with him, except Robert (grandfather) who was engaged in the English naval service and came to Philadelphia, as has been stated, a few years later.
George W. Watt was born in Philadelphia, August 10, 1860. He was eight years old when he came with his parents to Norristown and this has been his home ever since. He attended the public schools and Treemount Seminary, and when seventeen years old entered his father's mill as an apprentice, and later became a partner in the business. At his father's death in 1893 he became his successor and the sole owner of the business and property.
He married Miss Sarah A. Kneedler, daugh- ter of Joseph and Elizabeth Kneedler. They have three children: William, Mary Elizabeth and Howard R. Watt. Mr. and Mrs. Watt are Pres- byterians in religious faith, being members of the Central church.
Mr. Watt belongs to Charity Lodge, No. 190, Free and Accepted Masons, Norristown Chapter, No. 190, Royal Arch Masons; Hutchinson Com- mandery, No. 32, Knights Templar, of which he is past commander; and the Philadelphia Con- sistory. He is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason.
Politically he is, like his father, a Republican. He has served as a member of town council one term, representing the seventh ward. He is now a member of the school board from the tenth ward.
Mr. and Mrs. Watt reside at 919 West Main street, where he built an elegant and modern home of dressed graystone. Watt's mill, under the management of its present owner, is one of the most prosperous manufactories of the Schuylkill valley. It is adjacent to the Pennsyl- vania Railroad, which furnishes excellent ship- ping facilities. Its product has a wide reputa- tion which has been fully maintained under the management of the present proprietor. A ready market awaits all the goods that Mr. Watt can `make. That part of Norristown in which the mill is located was very sparsely settled until within a few years, and it has been a prominent factor in the very rapid development and growth of that portion of the borough, because of the many persons who find steady and profitable em- ployment there. He has commenced the erection of a large addition thirty-two by eighty feet, four stories high, increasing the works some twenty- five per cent.
HENRIE ARNOLDY, the well known East Main street hotel proprietor, is the son of Henrie Arnoldy, a farmer in France. He was born in that country, July 7, 1846. He was educated there in the excellent schools that have been established in the course of a century past. On reaching the age of twenty years, he was mustered into the French army, the Emperor Napoleon Third being then the dictator of France. He served in the Franco-Prussian war, was twice wounded, and conducted himself in all the engagements in which he participated with the greatest courage and daring.
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