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 53
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ial, but which aroused the bitterest feeling at the time and subjected him and his adherents to per- secution. The Schwenkfelders were stanch in their faith, and being unable to uphold it in Silesia, a band of about forty families under the leadership of the Rev. George Weiss, sought homes in America, settling in the southeastern counties of Pennsylvania. Weiss was the first Schwenkfelder pastor in America, and among his flock were three brothers by the name of Meschter.
Melchoir Meschter was the name of the immi- grant from whom the line here traced is de- scended. He lived for many years in Towamen- sing township on a little brookside farm. He died October 5, 1776, and is probably buried in the Towamensing Schwenkfelder cemetery half a mile away, as it was the only burying-ground in that section at the time. A number of the graves there are unmarked and others are marked only by a common field stone with no inscription, so it is impossible to identify his burial place. This is a matter of regret to his descendants, who cherish the memory of these early fathers and who know where the succeeding generations lie. Melchoir Meschter had a son Christopher, who was a farmer of the township and who died at the age of fifty years and ten months. His son Christopher died on the same farm, March 7, 1853, aged seventy-three years, six months, and twenty-four days. These two are buried in the Schwenkfelder cemetery, close by the church of that denomination in Lower Salford. Here, too, lie the remains of the Rev. George Weiss. A small, plain, marble headstone marks his grave, bearing the inscription in German: "Zum An- denken an George Weiss, var geboren in Schlesien, und erster Lehrer du Schwenkfelder Gemeinde in Pennsylvania. Storb IIten Marz 1740. Alt 53 Jahr."
The second Christopher Meschter had one child, George, who succeeded him on the home- stead. George Meschter was a Schwenkfelder pastor as well as a farmer, and he possessed the earnestness and zeal that characterized the early ministers of the church. He died June 29, 1887, aged seventy-nine years, three months, and one
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day. He is buried in the Schwenkfelder cemetery in Lower Salford, where his father and grand- father lie.
George K. Meschter, son of the Rev. George Meschter, was born on the ancestral farm in Towamensing township, May 2, 1840. The farm was a large one and the son grew up in its activities, taking his part in such work as would fall to a boy and youth. His early education was gained mostly through home study, though he was sometimes a pupil in the public schools. He attended the Kulpsville Academy in Towamen- sing township and later was a student in the Quakertown Normal School, and in the Tree- mount Seminary at Norristown. In the Tree- mount Seminary he acquired a good knowledge of Greek, Latin and chemistry, thoroughly pre- paring himself for the study of medicine, which was the aim he had long had in view. In the course of his preparatory work he taught school for two terms in Montgomery county. The medi- cal course as then laid down, required only two years, but the young student gave four years to the work, one year before he regularly matricu- lated and one year of post-graduate study, in addition to the usual two years. He found, more- over, that it was time well spent, for when he took up active practice after he was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, March 14, 1867, the experience that he had gained brought him immediate success. He has remained all his life in the place where he opened his first office and he is highly regarded as a man and valued as a citizen, for he has ever realized that life is broader than any profession. Soon after he began practice he became a member of the Mont- gomery County Medical Society and for one year was its president. In 1875 he was the delegate from that organization to the meeting of the State Medical Society. He is now an honorary member of the County Medical Society and a member of the board of trustees as well as vice- president of Perkiomen Seminary. In politics he is a Republican.
In the fall of 1867 Dr. Meschter married Mary, daughter of Charles Y. Kriebel of Frank- linville, Pennsylvania. They have three chil-
dren living: Cyrus K., who is married to Ella B. Cassel and has two children, Ada and George; Charles K., who is a teacher in the Perkiomen Seminary at Pennsburg, Pennsylvania, and mar- ried Laura Isenbery; Nora, wife of Dr. L. G. Kriebel, they have one daughter, Mildred. Dr. Kriebel was born in Bucks county, Hereford township, is a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia and has succeeded Dr. Meschter in practice in this field.
MILTON BERGEY BENNER, farmer and dealer in live stock, is a native of Lower Salford township, Montgomery county, where he was born, March 20, 1862. He was educated in the public schools of the vicinity, leaving school at the age of eighteen years. He engaged in the occupation of farming in Lower Salford, re- maining there until he was about twenty-five years of age, when he married. He removed to Wor- cester township in 1890, and purchased the Rev. David Krieble farm, upon which still stands the dwelling house erected in 1827. Mr. Benner owns about sixty-five acres on this farm, and it is very fertile and productive. Besides farming, he deals quite extensively in live stock, as has been stated. He is a Republican in his political views and is a member of the Schwenkfelder church.
Mr. Benner married December 24, 1887, Min- nie, daughter of Milholn H. Cassel. They have five children as follows: Essie, fourteen years of age; Robert, twelve years of age; Carrie, ten years old; Mamie, eight years old; and Henry, three years old.
Abraham Benner (father) was born March 28, 1827, and died October 25, 1889, and is buried in Lower Salford township. He was a tailor by trade, and worked for many years in Limerick township.
Caroline (Bergey) Benner, was born March 19, 1831, and is still living in Limerick town- ship. Their children were, seven in all : the eldest died in infancy ; Mary Amanda, died when abont six years old; Sarah Ann, wife of Abraham Slemmer, lives in Lower Salford : Caroline, died when nine years of age : Katic is the wife of John
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Peterman ; Addie is the wife of George Seyer, of Limerick township.
Abraham Benner (grandfather) married Sarah Markley. Both lived to an advanced age and are long since deceased.
The grandfather on the mother's side was Christian Bergey, of a well known Montgomery county family. He married Mary Souder and both are long since deceased. The brothers and sisters of Mr. Benner's mother were Henry; Bergey; Mahlon; Aaron; Maggie; Mary, who lives in Michigan ; and Kate, who died unmarried.
The brothers and sisters of Mr. Benner's father were: Charles, deceased; Elias, deceased ; Maria, deceased ; Sarah, living, at nearly ninety years of age, married to Jacob Markley; and Deborah, deceased.
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MRS. ESTHER WILE (ZEPP) KEYSER, widow of Ephraini B. Keyser, is a native of Lower Salford township, Montgomery county, where she was born September 8, 1852. Her father was Jacob B. Zepp, who was born in 1826, and died August 11, 1891. He was a mason by trade and also followed farming. The mother of Mrs. Keyser was Elizabeth Wile, who was born in 1827 and died April 25, 1893.
Mrs. Esther W. Z. Keyser married Ephraim B. Keyser, March 13, 1875. They had three children: Lizzie, born in 1875, died at the age of seven months ; Emma Jane, born Feb- ruary 26, 1881, is the wife of William Smith; Elmer Z., born February 7, 1890, resides with his mother.
Ephraim B. Keyser, Mrs. Keyser's husband, was killed by an accident on the railroad, Decem- ber 24, 1899.
The sisters of Mrs. Keyser are: Sarah, wife of Benjamin Nyce, born June 12, 1854; Mary, born in 1856, died in infancy; Matilda, wife of William Kinsey, born July 29, 1858; Anna, born in September, 1859; Sophia, born in October, 1864; Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Nyce, born in May, 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Nyce have had the follow- ing children : Katie, thirteen years of age; Min- erva, eleven years old; Jacob, nine years old;
Idella, eight years of age; Clara, five years old ; and Clement, who died in infancy.
The parents of Ephraim B. Keyser were John Keyser, who was born December 31, 1816, and died July 27, 1883, and Sophia Bechtel, daughter of Isaac and Mary Bechtel. She was born Octo- ber 6, 1818, and died May 28, 1881. Their chil- dren (the brothers and sisters of Ephraim B. Keyser) were: Susanna, born October 12, 1844; David B., born February 28, 1848; and one sister who died in infancy.
The grandparents of Ephraim B. Keyser were: Paul Keyser, born in September, 1773, and died March 30, 1826, and Elizabeth Keyser, who was born in 1776 and lived to be ninety-four years old.
The father of Esther W. Z. Keyser was Jacob Zepp. His wife was Elizabeth Wile. Jacob was born August 12, 1826. His wife was born Jan- uary 29, 1827. They were married in August, 1851. Their children are: Esther W. (subject of this sketch), born September 8, 1852 ; Sarah, born June 12, 1854; Maria, born February 7, 1856, and died May 3, 1856; Matilda, born June 29, 1858; Anna, born September 24, 1859; Sophia, born October 18, 1864, and died August 10, 1902 ; and Elizabeth, born May 24, 1871. The last named was the wife of Jacob P. Nyce.
WARREN SHULTZ HILLEGASS, a farmer by occupation, was born in Worcester township, June 22, 1873. He received his educa- tion in the public schools of the vicinity. After leaving school he worked as a farm laborer and lived on what is known as the Anthony Shultz farm for six or seven years. He was employed on several farms from the time he left school, at about the age of fifteen years, until he purchased the farm known as the Jacob Vanfossen place, where he and his family now reside. The farm contains sixty-seven acres of productive land. There are substantial out-buildings and a neat and comfortable dwelling house on the place that denote thrift and prosperity.
In 1899 Warren S. Hillegass, married Ella Schlossen, daughter of Valentine Schlossen.
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They have two children : Florence, now five years of age, and Blanche about three years old.
Oswin S. Hillegass (father) was born in Bucks county, June 5, 1849, and attended the public schools in that county until he was about eighteen years of age, when he left school and engaged in farming. He remained there until he was about twenty-one years of age, afterwards continuing at farm labor and carpenter work else- where, until he was about twenty-six years of age, when he located at Centre Point, in Worcester township, devoting his time and attention almost exclusively to his trade as a carpenter and general contractor, residing there for about a dozen years. Mr. Hillegass then went to Norristown, where he has resided ever since, engaged in carpenter work, making his home for about fourteen years at No. 535 Astor street.
He is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, and also a member in good standing of the Carpenter's Union, with both of which organizations he actively affiliates. Heis a Democrat in politics, and belongs to the German Reformed church.
The first wife of Oswin S. Hillegass was Sarah Schultz (deceased). They had only one child, Warren S. Hillegass. Mrs. Hillegass was a member of a family of seven children, only two of whom are living. Her brothers and sisters were: James, Isaac, Anthony, Emaline, Hannah and Mary. Hannah is the wife of Allan Heist, Anthony Schultz lives at Belfry, on the Stony Creek Railroad. The second wife of Oswin S. Hillegass, Lydia Kratz, daughter of William Kratz, is still living. She was born February 25, 1852. She and Mr. Hillegass were married in June, 1879, at the Methodist Episcopal parson- age in Worcester township. They have had no children.
William Hillegass (grandfather) was born in Bucks county, in 1821. He was a tailor by trade and died in Maryland, September 7, 1903. His wife was Louisa Shantz, born in Bucks county, about 1821, and died there about 1862.
Michael Hillegass (great-grandfather) mar- ried Rebecca Schlichter.
Henry Shantz (maternal grandfather) mar- ried Elizabeth Stahl.
The brothers and sisters of Oswin S. Hille- gass (father) were : Ambrose, Sarah and Elmira, all deceased; Calvin, a carpenter, now living in Nebraska; and Reading, a farmer, residing in . Maryland.
The brothers and sisters of William Hille- gass (grandfather) were: Joel and Reuben, both deceased; Sophia, wife of David Levy; and Amelia, deceased, wife of Reuben Shantz.
The brothers and sister of Louisa (Shantz) Hillegass (grandmother), were Charles Shantz, Reuben Shantz, Jesse Shantz and Amanda Shantz, all now deceased.
JOHN K. METZ is a native of Worcester township, where he was born August 26, 1857. After leaving the township schools he engaged in farming near Wentz's church, on the home- stead. He left there when nineteen years old and worked at ordinary labor for four years. At the end of this time he married Mary A. Reiff, daugh- ter of George O. Reiff, of near Skippackville. They have had the following children: Mattie, born August II, 1885; Laura Agnes, born Sep- tember 7, 1887; Howard, born November 12, 1888, and died February 28, 1889; Linwood, born February 20, 1892; and Ella May, born May 1, 1893.
(For ancestral history of this subject, see sketch of his brother, William K. Metz.)
George O. Reiff, the father of Mrs. J. K. Metz, was born December 25, 1825, and died in 1888. He was a farmer by occupation. Mr. Reiff was buried in Wentz's churchyard. He mar- ried Sophia, the daughter of Peter S. Renninger. She was born November 19, 1833, and is still living.
The sisters and brothers of Mrs. Metz are: Jacob; Irvin, who was born January 14, 1858, and died September 17, 1861 ; Benjamin Frank- lin, born May 9, 1859: Peter Ellwood, born No- vember 25, 1860, and died December 6, 1861; Martha Ann, born March 24, 1862, wife of E. M. Geyer ; Samuel, born October 27, 1863 ; Susanna,
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born January 30, 1866, wife of John F. M. Yerger ; Elizabeth, born August 24. 1868, and died December 2, 1891 : Milton R., born Febru- ary 14, 1870; Howard, born August 31, 1873, residing at Collegeville ; and John Addison, born October 30, 1875.
Jacob Reiff (grandfather of Mrs. Metz) mar- ried Elizabeth Overholtzer.
Mrs. Metz's maternal grandparents were Peter Renninger, who was born about 1798 and (lied at the age of ninety-two, and Anna Mary Stauffer, born about 1815 and died at seventy- two years of age.
The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Metz's father were : Jacob, and Benjamin, both deceased ; John O., who lives in Norristown : James and Abraham, deceased. One sister is 'Elizabeth, widow of Abraham Detwiler, and another. Susan, died in infancy.
The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Metz's mother were: Augustus Peter William, Samuel, Jonah, all now deceased; Lucy Ann, wife of John O. Reiff : and Susan, who died at eleven years of age.
John K. Metz is a Republican in politics. He was for seven years tax collector for Worcester township, was out of office for two years, was then elected again and still holds the position. He is one of the best known citizens of that sec- tion .of the county.
JOSEPH H. TYSON, one of the progres- sive farmers of Worcester township, was born July 8. 1837, in Skippack township. He at- tended the public schools of the neighborhood, after leaving which, he learned the trade of a shoemaker, as was the custom at that time, which he followed for about two years. He then en- gaged in work as a farmer, which he continued to follow until he located on the farm where he re- sided until April 5. 1904, when he sold out. On this property all his children were born and reared.
November 12, 1864, he married Christianna Suyder, daughter of Isaac Snyder. They were married by the Rev. William G. Hockman, pas- tor at Kulpsville. Mrs. Tyson died July 11.
1903, of cancer of the stomach, and was buried at the Schwenkfelder graveyard in that vicinity. The children of this marriage were: Elizabeth S., born October 26, 1866, is unmarried; Susan S., born April 21, 1872, married Milton Bean; Hannah S., born August 31, 1877, died May 10, 1882; Christianna, born November 20, 1881, is unmarried. Two other children were born dead.
John Tyson ( father) was born in Worcester township, August 27, 1787, and died February 28, 1883. Ile was buried in Fairview church- yard. He was a farmer by occupation. Eliza- beth (Henning) Tyson (mother) was born April 28, 1797, and died February 6, 1870, and was also buried in Fairview cemetery.
The children of this marriage, besides Joseph H. Tyson, were: Mary, born January 29, 1817 (deceased) : William, born October 20, 1818 (deceased) : Margaret, born February 20, 1820 (deceased) ; Matthias, born December 25, 1823 (deceased) ; Susan, born August 31, 1825 (dle- ceased : Henry, born April 7, 1828 (deceased ) : John, born April 28, 1830, engaged in farming in Skippack township; David, born January 30, 1833. a farmer in Salford township; Jesse, born January 23, 1835, residing in Norristown, Penn- sylvania.
The father of Joseph H. Tyson had two brothers, Josiah and Joseph. A large branch of the family is now found in Chester county.
Joseph H. Tyson is a member of the Schwenk- felder church. He is a Republican in politics and is a highly respected citizen of the com- munity.
JACOB KULP RUTH, a well known farmer of Worcester township, was born at Elroy, Mont- gomery county, November 22, 1871. He attended the public schools of Skippack township until nearly twenty-one years of age, and then worked on the farm until 1895. At that time he mar- ried Mary Ann, daughter of David Kriebel. The couple have four children : Ella May, who is about eight years old : Melinda, six years of age ; Mel- vin, two years of age: and Walter, an infant.
Mr. Ruth is now engaged in farming on a tract of land adjoining the home of his wife's
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father. Ile is a Republican in politics. He at- tends the Schwenkfelder church, but his parents were Mennonites.
The parents of Mr. Ruth are natives of Montgomery county, are about fifty years of age, are farmers and live near Kulpsville. Mr. Ruth's mother, Mary Ann Ruth, is the daughter of David Kulp. The couple had four children, of whom Jacob K. Kulp is the eldest; the next in order is David, who died at about twenty-two years of age ; Harriett is the wife of Irvin Clem- mer, they living near Kulpsville, and having no children ; William Franklin Ruth, the youngest of the family, resides with his parents. He is now about twenty-one years of age and is en- gaged in teaching school.
The paternal grandfather, Jacob Ruth, is now over eighty years of age and resides with his son near Kulpsville. The paternal grandmother, Mary Boorse, died at an advanced age. Mr. Ruth's father had two brothers and sisters : Dan- iel Ruth, a farmer, and Mary, who married Frank Hakel. Mr. Hakel is living near Skippackville ; his wife is deceased. They have no children.
The maternal grandfather of Mr. Ruth was David Gulick, deceased.
The brother and sister of Jacob K. Ruth's mother are: Oliver Kulp, deceased; and Eliza Kulp, who died unmarried about four years ago, at the age of thirty years.
David D. Kriebel, born November 30, 1844. father of Mrs. Jacob K. Ruth, is the son of Jacob Kriebel. He married Susanna, daughter of Sam- uel Schultz, January 23, 1869. Their eldest child, a son, born April 25, 1870, died the same day; Mary Ann (Mrs. Ruth), the second child, was born April 28, 1871; Harrison, born July 4, 1872, died July 18, 1872; Laura, born April 14, 1874, died August 18, 1874: Wilson, born Sep- tember 6, 1875, died October 15, 1875; Ellena, born March 13, 1877, died August 8, 1877. Jane Kriebel, born January 20, 1879, married George S. Kratz and has one child, Vidia; Susanna is deceased; Salina married Clinton Felty and has one child, Arthur ; Ida Kriebel was born Decem- ber 9, 1882; Lydia K. died when eight years of age.
Jacob Kriebel (grandfather of Mrs. Ruth) was the son of Rev. David Kriebel, who married Susanna, daughter of Jacob Dresher.
The Kriebels belong to the Schwenkfelder church and several of the ancestors were preachers of that faith.
The founders of the family on the paternal side were Susannah Schultz, maiden name Deuterich, and her husband, Balthasar Schultz, who came to Pennsylvania in 1734. Their chil- dren were: George, born 1710; Susanna; Maria; and Barbara.
Susanna Schultz, widow, died February 23, 1805. Balthasar died in Saxony, Germany, in 1727, at the age of forty-seven years. He was a son of Mathias Schultz.
GEORGE ANDERS SEIP'T, of Worcester township, Montgomery county, l'ennsylvania, is the third George Seipt born on the farm he now occupies, and identified with the agricultural in- terests and public life of the township.
George Seipt, grandfather, was a well-to-do and respected farmer, and a lifelong resident of Montgomery county, as well as a lifelong occu- pant of the farm which was his birthplace. He was the father of nine children, as follows: I. Anthony, born October 2, 1825, who became wealthy as a hotel proprietor and who was presi- dent of the Perkiomen railroad, died in Septem- ber, 1902. 2. Susanna, born November 20, 1826, now deceased, was the wife of Samuel Drescher of Norriton township. 3. Mary, born March 29, 1828, died in Kankakee county, Illinois, the wife of Jonas Kribel. 4. Abraham II., born Septem- ber 4, 1829, married Elizabeth Anders, daughter of George Anders, and is now living at Wayne Junction, Philadelphia. 5. Anna, born April 14, 1832, is the wife of Charles E. Boyer and lives in Reddick, Kankakee county, Illinois. 6. The sixth child is deceased. 7. George H. is the father of George Anders. 8. William, born February 6. 1843, married Amanda, daughter of Samuel Schultz. 9. The youngest is also deceased.
George H. Seipt, father, was born April 3, 1837. He spent his life on the homestead, where his father had lived before him, and was one of
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the substantial men of the township. He brought the farm, enriched by the labor of his forefathers, to a high state of cultivation. He married Sarah Anders, and six children were born of the union, as follows : I. Mary A., born July 10, 1867, lives with her mother. 2. Samuel A., born September 19, 1869, who is employed by the City Trust Com- pany, 927 Chestnut street, Philadelphia, married May M., daughter of Hiram A. Kriele and has one child, Wilbur. 3. George Anders is men- tioned at more length elsewhere. 4. Allen A., born October 23, 1874, is now taking a post- graduate course in the University of Pennsyl- vania. 5. Howard A., born April 29, 1878, now at Lafayette College at Easton, is a graduate of the State Normal School at West Chester, where he also took a post graduate course, a part of his preparatory work having been done at Perkio- men Seminary. 6. Emma, born August 10, 1880, was educated in the public schools of the town- ship, and in the Normal School at West Chester, and has been a teacher for three years.
George Anders Seipt, third child and second son of George H. and Sarah ( Anders) Seipt, was born on the family homestead, July 6, 1871. He attended Cassel's school in the township during his boyhood, and in September, 1890, he entered Pierce's Business College in Philadelphia. He was graduated from there in May, 1891, and accepted a position as bookkeeper with Lippin- cott, Johnson & Company, 1021 Walnut street. He held this position for about three years, when he was called home by the death of his father, which occurred January 1, 1894. The care of the homestead fell upon him and since that time he has been carrying on the farm. The place com- prises sixty-two acres of land, which is made to support a dairy herd that averages sixteen head. He is one of the most progressive of the younger farmers of the section and makes a careful study of the nature of the soil on his farm and its adap- tability. He is a member of the Schwenkfelder church and a Republican in politics.
August 22, 1895, Mr. Seipt married Joanna M. Hoffman, born May 6, 1874, a daughter of James Hoffman of Montgomery county. One
child, Sarah Frances, was born September 16, 1896.
Through his mother, Sarah (Anders) Seipt, Mr. Seipt is descended from members of the early colony of Schwenkfelders who came to Philadelphia in 1734. They were a persecuted sect of Silesia, followers of Caspar Schwenk- felder, one of the leaders of the Protestant Re- formation who differed from Luther in some minor points of doctrine. In common with the persecuted of all lands and all religions, they sought freedom in America. Balthasar Anders, great-grandfather of Mrs. Seipt, was one of this band of colonists. He brought with him one son, George, born in Germany in 1733, and a daugh- ter Anna, born April 8, 1736. His son Abraham, born in Pennsylvania, April 1, 1739, was the father of Samuel Anders. Samuel Anders was born March 8, 1812, in Lower Provi- dence township, and lived for forty-two years near the place of his birth. He died in 1888. He married Christina Mesch- ter, who was herself a direct descendant of one of the early Schwenkfelder families. Melchoir Meschter and his wife, Regina, were of the colony already mentioned which came to Philadelphia in 1734. They had a son Christopher, born De- cember 17, 1746, who was the father of Jeremiah. Jeremiah Meschter, who was born August 27, 1777, and died at the age of seventy, married Susanna Dresher, who was born July 29, 1781, and died October 26, 1831, a descendant of George and Maria Dresher, members of the Schwenkfelder colony. Christina, daughter of Jeremiah and Susanna (Dresher) Meschter, who was born August II, 1821, and died April 22, 1887, became the wife of Samuel Anders. Sarah M. Anders, a daughter of this marriage, was the wife of George H. Seipt and the mother of George Anders Seipt.
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