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 59
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On his father's side Ellwood Roberts is of Welsh-Quaker ancestry. On his mother's side he is of Scotch-Irish and Pennsylvania-German extraction.
Hugh Roberts ( father ) was born near Branch- town, August 5, 1821, in the old Roberts mansion, recently torn down. His father, also Hugh Rob- erts, a miller by occupation, had died several months previously, and his widow married a sec-
WM. H. ROBERTS
H. C. ROBERTS
MARY C. ROBERTS
ALICE R. ROBERTS
MRS. MARY L. ROBERTS
ELLWOOD ROBERTS
THE ELLWOOD ROBERTS FAMILY
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ond time. The infant Hugh became an object of the most tender care and solicitude to his maiden aunt, Mary Roberts, who reared him until he was placed, at the age of eight years, with a maternal uncle, Thomas P. Spencer, on a farm in Lower Makefield township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. Here he grew to manhood, or nearly so, and learn- ing the trade of a miller, became employed at Brandywine Mills, Wilmington, where he re- mained a dozen years, marrying, August 8, 1842, Alice Anna Gallagher, born August 28, 1819. The couple had seven children, of whom four died in infancy, the survivors being Charles H., now a resident of Norristown like the others ; Ellwood; and Mary, wife of Samuel Livezey. Hugh Roberts in 1852 became a farmer, following that occupation with varying success in Delaware, and in Bucks and Montgomery counties, until his removal to Norristown in 1882, where he was oc- cupied with his son Ellwood in building until his death on August 23, 1894. His widow made her home with her son, surviving nearly eight years. She died April 10, 1902. The family ancestors in regular order were Hugh ( 1821-1894) ; Hugh (1782-1821) ; Amos (1758-1835) ; David (1722- 1804) ; Edward, the immigrant, ( 1687-1768). All were members of the Society of Friends and Ed- ward was an earnest minister therein for the last forty years of his life. Edward's son David married the daughter of another well-known min- ister, Thomas Lancaster, who died while on a religious mission to Barbadoes Island in the West Indies.
Ellwood Roberts married, September 12, 1878, Mary Long Carter, daughter of Job and Rachel (Owen) Carter, of Upper Greenwich, New Jer- sey, both members of the Society of Friends, and interested in the maintenance of its principles. Their children : Howard C., born July 6, 1879 ; Charles A., born May 30, 1881, and died March 14, 1888; Alice R., born June 15, 1886; William H., born February 12, 1888; and Mary C., born January 31, 1892.
Ellwood Roberts is an active worker in the Montgomery County Historical Society, of which he is a life member, and has rendered much as- sistance in editing the two volumes of historical
sketches which it has published. He purchased for it the building which it occupies on Penn street, Norristown, when many of its members feared that the undertaking was too great. He and his sister, Mary R. Livezey, have labored steadily to diminish the debt, many hundreds of dollars being realized through their exertions, aided by their many friends. He is strongly at- tached to the principles of the Society of Friends, and has written and spoken in behalf of them for many years. He is and has been deeply inter- ested in the growth and prosperity of Norristown. A Republican in politics, he has cast his influ- ence on the side of good government without re- gard to mere partisanship. In everything relating to the welfare of the community, he is active and earnest and ever ready to lend a hand in righting any wrong that exists.
Mr. Roberts is one of the most extensive real- estate owners in Norristown, having been en- gaged in several enterprises of note, first, in con- junction with his father, and, more recently, with his son Howard. All his properties are kept in the best repair, nothing being allowed to depre- ciate because of neglect. He believes thoroughly in Norristown as the place to make investment, and prefers real estate to stocks or bonds, regard- ing it as having a permanent value, especially in a good location.
Few men at his age are so active and so cap- able of continued exertion in anything which en- lists his interest. He is satisfied with having im- pressed his personality on the community with which he has been so long and so honorably identified, and he has no other desire than to serve the interests of those around him by contributing his share to the general progress of Norristown.
ELLEN D. RAMSEY. William W. Ramsey was born on a farm in Chester county, Pennsyl- vania, near the corner of three states. The farm was owned by his maternal grandfather, who was among the first settlers of the locality. William W. Ramsey was born January 29, 1847, and when he was six years of age his father removed to Philadelphia and engaged in butchering. Before the removal to Philadelphia William had attended
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a private school kept by his maternal great-uncle, Alexander Terrell, who was a noted educator of that day and fitted young men for college in his Chester county school. William W. Ramsey afterward attended the Philadelphia public schools.
His mother subsequently removed with her family to Upper Merion and located near Abrams Station, where William grew to manhood. He attended the public schools of the neighborhood for a time and later obtained employment on a farm of Moses Walker who became his father-in- law. He had charge of this farm until 1870, when Mr. Walker died and he took the place in the Norristown market which Mr. Walker had held for many years. He was an enterprising man and took a deep interest in everything pertain- ing to the advancement of education in his town- ship. He was a school director in Upper Merion for several years. He was elected anditor of Upper Merion and held the office until his death. He was an ardent Republican and was frequently a delegate to the county conventions. He never missed a vote and was in fact one of those who were never questioned as to their political beliefs. He was one of the most popular men in Upper Merion and had no enemies. Mr. Ramsey died January 28, 1903. He belonged to the Patrons of Husbandry and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
March 27, 1877, William W. Ramsey married Ellen D., daughter of Moses and Sarah S. (Davis) Walker. Ellen D. (Walker) Ramsey was born in the house where she now resides, on April 19, 1850. They had four children.
Joseph D., the eldest, born April 3, 1878, re- sides at home. He returned, in November, 1902, after a year spent in Irondale, Washington. He enlisted in June, 1898, in Company F, of a Regi- ment of Pennsylvania, serving in the Spanish- American war. He was in Camp Mead and Camp Alger.
Sarah E., born December 29, 1879, died July 9, 1880.
Harold A., born September 3, 1882, is now in the engineer corps of the Pennsylvania Railway Company at Pittsburg. He was garduated from
the Norristown high school in 1900, and then at- tended Drexel Institute for two years, taking a course in mechanical arts.
Charles Dana, born October 4, 1884, was graduated from the Norristown high school and now works on the farm.
Mrs. Sarah Walker, mother of Mrs. Ellen Ramsey, is the daughter of Joseph Davis of Chester county, who married Miss Eleanor Stephens, of an old Chester county family. Their great-grandfather was a surgeon in the Revolu- tionary war.
Moses Walker, father of Mrs. Ramsey, was the son of Joseph and Priscilla (Robinson) Walker, and was born in Delaware county. He removed to Montgomery county in 1849 and set- tled on a farm now owned by Mrs. Sarah Walker, where he died on February 4, 1870. He was a school director for several terms. He was a member of the Society of Friends and attended Valley Friends' Meeting. They had three chil- dren : Ellen D .; Lewis, who was born November 25, 1855, and died in boyhood ; and Sarah R., who was born May 29, 1864, and died early in 1873.
Mrs. Sarah Walker was born September 16, 1825, and her husband in December, 1819. He died in 1870.
DR. SAMUEL C. SEIPLE. The Seiple (original form Seibel) family were among the earliest settlers of Bucks county, Pennsylvania. They are of German origin, and possess in a great degree the hardy virtues of the race from which they sprang.
John Seiple (grandfather) was a native of Hilltown township, Bucks county. He was edu- cated in the schools of the vicinity, and on leav- ing school became interested in agricultural pur- suits, which he followed through life. He mar- ried Miss Bryan, the couple having twelve chil- dren, among them Enos B., father of Dr. Sam- uel C. Seiple, the subject of this sketch.
Enos B. Seiple was born on the Hilltown homestead in 1805, and died March 23, 1848. He was a teacher by occupation, and engaged very successfully for several years in that pur- snit. Later in life he was employed at the car-
Ile Seiple M 2
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penter trade, which he had learned in the inter- vals of teaching. In politics Mr. Seiple was a Democrat, and held the positions of assessor, col- lector of taxes and other minor offices. In his later years he resided in New Britain township, Bucks county. Mr. Seiple married Miss Louisa Cressman, also of Bucks county. The couple had three children : Hannah, E. Monroe and Samuel Clinton, the subject of this sketch.
Dr. Samuel C. Seiple was born in New Britain township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, April 10, 1842. He was educated in the public schools of the township, and also took a course in the normal and classical school of Rev. A. R. Horne, at Quakertown, in Bucks county. He then engaged in the occupation of teaching, which he followed for five years. He entered, in the autumn of 1865, the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating from that institution in 1867 with honors. In the autumn of 1867 he located at Centre Square, in Whitpain township, opening an office there, and has practiced very successfully ever since, his patrons residing in adjoining townships as well as in the village and its vicinity. He has the reputation of a safe, careful, practical and thoroughly alert medical man. In the course of his practice extending over nearly forty years, he has had wide experience, and has given eminent satisfaction to his patrons. It may be said of Dr. Seiple that he as a man and a physician en- joys to the fullest possible extent the confidence of the people with whom he comes in contact. He is not only an excellent physician but a wise counselor in matters of business, and a progres- sive member of the community, always interested in whatever promises to benefit those around him. He is now looking forward to retiring from active labor in his profession and leaving his practice entirely to his son. He has built up an extensive and lucrative practice which Dr. J. Howard Seiple, from long association with his father, is perfectly capable of holding and in- creasing if need be.
Dr. S. C. Seiple married, in 1867, Miss Mary A. Haenge, daughter of ex-County Commissioner Tobias G. Haenge, of Hatfield township, Mont-
gomery county, Pennsylvania. Their children are : Dr. J. Howard Seiple, who married, in 1892, Miss Mattie Magee; Mary Algemine, wife of Dr. George F. Sieberling, a well known phy- sician of Allentown, Pennsylvania ; Lillian M., who died at the age of twenty-one years; Blanche, who died in infancy ; Margie Alma, re- siding with her parents, who is a graduate of the high school of Whitpain township, and at- tended Maryland College, near Baltimore.
Dr. S. C. Seiple, like his forefathers, is an ardent Democrat in politics. He is a member of the Medical Society of Pennsylvania, of the Montgomery County Medical Society, and of the American Medical Society. He is also a member of the Alumni Society of the University of Penn- sylvania. He stands deservedly high among the members of the medical profession everywhere, and is regarded by his professional brethren as one of their most progressive members.
His qualifications as a financier led to his selection a number of years ago as a member of the board of directors of the Montgomery Na- tional Bank of Norristown, and in addition to his extensive medical practice he has transacted much business in the way of settling estates. He and his family are Lutherans in religious faith, and they attend St. John's Evangelical church, near Belfry station, on the Stony Creek Railroad. He is a member of Charity Lodge, No. 190, Free and Accepted Masons, of Norristown.
Dr. Seiple is also a member of Norristown Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Norristown, and of Hutchinson Commandery, No. 32, Knights Templar, of that borough. He is a member of Quakertown Council, Junior Order of American Mechanics, and of Centre Square Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1863, when the state was menaced by the army of General Lee, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Vol- unteers, and served three months during the emergency. He is in every sense of the word a selfmade man, his parents dying when he was but a mere child, fifteen years of age, and he being obliged to depend almost entirely on his own resources. He was left to make liis
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own way in the world as best he could. After completing his studies in order to become a physician, he found himself about a thousand dollars in debt, but he had his profession to depend upon, and he has been all his life an excellent financier, his thrift and enterprise securing him an independent and in- fluential position in the community.
Dr. J. Howard Seiple is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, of the class of 1891. He located after his graduation at Conshohocken for a short time, and then at Pleasantville, in Bucks county, remaining there until the spring of 1894, when he formed an equal partnership with his father at Centre Square, and has ever since been engaged in practice very successfully at that place. He is a member of the Montgomery County Medical Society and of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. He is a Democrat also in poli- tics, and is a member of the school board of Whitpain township. Dr. J. Howard and Mrs. Mattie Seiple have two children : Howell Lock- hart and Frances Margaret.
HENRY A. SCHWEYER, of the firm of Schweyer & Liess, marble dealers at King-of- Prussia, was born at Bower's Station, Berks county, Pennsylvania, February 6, 1865. He is the son of Daniel H. and Katherine (Landis) Schweyer.
Daniel H. Schweyer (father) was born in Berks county and spent all the active years of his life at Bowers Station, where he is still engaged in the wholesale marble and lumber business. He is an active Democrat, has served three terms as justice of the peace and one term as prothono- tary of Berks county, and also has been a dele- gate to state and county conventions. He is a member of DeLong's Lutheran church and has held every office in the church. He is president of the Laurel Hill Lumber Company. He is a member of DeMolay Commandery, No. 9, K. T., of Reading, Berks county.
In 1862 Daniel H. Schweyer married Kathe- rine Landis, daughter of Samuel Landis of Berks county. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel H. Schweyer had the following children: Henry A. ; Harvey L.,
who was born March 13, 1867, and died March, 1892; Norah L., who was born 1869, and resides with her parents; Katie L., who was born in 1871, and resides with her parents; and Solon L., who was born in 1874, and died in 1901.
John Schweyer (grandfather) was born in Berks county in 1802. During the first years of his life he was a farmer and a teamster and re- sided at Maxatawney from 1802 to 1896. In politics he was a Democrat and was an influential man in his community. He was a deacon in the Lutheran church for many years. He died in Maxatawney township in 1896. He was twice married, and by his first wife, Mrs. (Helfrich) Schweyer, he had seven children, as follows: James, Henry, Jacob, Allen, Alfred, Daniel H. and Francis.
Henry A. Schweyer was reared at Bowers Station and attended the public schools and the Kutztown State Normal School until he was seventeen years of age. He then entered his father's marble works at Bowers Station, where he remained three years, from 1882 to 1885. After leaving Bowers Station he became a member of the firm of Schweyer & Liess. The firm have opened two new quarries, bought of John Derr in 1882, and called the Reeseville marble quar- ries. They put in railroad siding, built a new mill with all the latest improvements, also a finishing shop equipped with planers, lathes, rub- bing machines, pneumatic tools, overhead travel- lers and quadrupled its capacity. The firm ships marble to nearly every state in the Union and also to Canada and Nova Scotia for monumental purposes. They have also furnished the marble for thousands of small houses within a radius of fifty miles and have supplied the marble for the erection of many large buildings. Among the buildings constructed of Pennsylvania blue marble are Montgomery county courthouse, Nor- ristown, built in 1854. Addition to Montgomery county courthouse, Norristown, built in 1902; United States courthouse, postoffice, Williams- port ; United States postoffice, Reading ; Bomber- ger Memorial Hall, Collegeville; Chester high school, Chester ; Girl's high school, Reading ; Cen- tral grammar school, Chester; Bryn Mawr high
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school, Bryn Mawr; St. Patrick's parochial school, Norristown; State Asylum for Chronic Insane, Wernersville; John A. Crozer's Home for Incurables, Upland; Allentown Hospital, Allentown; St. Mark's Reformed church, Leba- non; Calvary Baptist church, Norristown; St. Paul's Reformed church, Sellersville; Grace United Evangelical church, Reading; and Ger- man Reformed church, Pennsburg. In politics Mr. Schweyer is a Democrat and both he and his family are Lutherans.
In 1885 Henry A. Schweyer married Miss Maria, daughter of Daniel Y. and Eliza ( Biernig) Bittenbender. The Bittenbenders are an old family of Herford township, Berks county, Pennsylvania, where they were among the first settlers. They were always active members of the Lutheran church. The Biernigs were an old family of Upper Macungie township, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, and have representatives of the family in that section of the state. They were also Lutherans. Daniel Y. Bittenbender and wife had the following children: Annie, who married William Koch and has children : Estella, Herbert (deceased), Freddie, Oscar, Howard, Helen and Clarence; Laura, who married Austin Weiler ; Maria, who married Henry A. Schweyer ; Eliza, deceased ; Victoria, deceased, who married William Hensinger and had one child, Nevin ; Oscar, who married Ada Butz and has one child, Lillian.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. Schweyer have three children, as follows: Daniel Herbert, born May 15, 1886; John Leroy, born December 18, 1889; and Katharine M., born January 8, 1895.
Katherine Landis, Henry A. Schweyer's mother, was a member of a family who settled in District township, Berks county, at an early day and have always been prominent in church and township as well as county matters. Many of the family still reside in that locality. They are members of the Reformed church.
Henry A. Schweyer is a member of Fritz Lodge, No. 420, A. F. & A. M., of Conshohocken ; also Royal Arch Chapter, No. 190, and Hutchin- son Commandery, No. 32, both of Norristown;
and the Elks Lodge of Norristown. He is a member of the Trinity Lutheran church on De- Kalb street, Norristown.
MRS. MATILDA B. ESPENSHIP is a de- scendant of a family long resident in Montgom- ery county. She was born November 29, 1839.
James K. Espenship, her husband, was born at Trappe, March 4, 1840, and was accustomed to farm pursuits in his youth. He was educated in the public schools in the neighborhood and in Freeland Seminary. He was the son of John and Sarah (Koons) Espenship. The father of John Espenship was Henry, also of that vicinity. Henry's father came from Germany and settled in Bucks county, where his son Henry was born, and when married located in Montgomery county.
Henry Espenship was a prominent farmer of his day. He was a member of the Reformed church. His children were: Abraham; John; Henry; Mary, who died unmarried; Catharine, Mrs. Cole; and Jacob, who died at Trappe.
John. Espenship (father) grew to manhood on the farm, remaining on the homestead until his marriage and then settling on a farm in Perkiomen township. He later retired to Nor- ristown, where he died. He was a good business man and attended to conveyancing, writing wills, settling estates and transacting other business. He was a Democrat in politics but never sought or held office. His children were: James K. (husband) ; Maria, wife of James Schlichter ; Abraham ; John ; and Sarah, unmarried. All were reared in the Reformed church.
James K. Espenship assisted on the homestead until 1863, when he enlisted in a nine months' regiment, becoming a member of Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment, Penn- sylvania Volunteers. He served his full time with the Army of the Potomac, and returning to Harrisburg, was mustered out and honorably dis- charged. He returned to Montgomery county, was married in 1864, engaged in farming, which he continued near Evansburg until 1875, when he removed to Norristown and went to work at the carpenter's trade, which he yet continues. He
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was formerly a Democrat, but later became a Republican, never aspiring to office. He resides on Airy street and is a member of the Reformed church.
He married Miss Matilda Boyer, born at Evansburg, the daughter of Ephraim D. and Re- becca (Kline) Boyer.
Ephraim Boyer (father) was born in Lime- rick township, being the son of Henry and Eliza- beth (Doll) Boyer. His father was Jacob Boyer, of Chester county. The family of Boyers are of French Huguenot descent, as are also the Doll family. The ancestors of both settled in Penn- sylvania in colonial days and for many genera- tions the Boyers were blacksmiths.
Henry Boyer (grandfather) followed the fam- ily occupation of blacksmithing during his active days, and later in life went to Mont Clare, where he made his home with one of his children and died there.
Christian Doll (grandfather of Mrs. Henry Boyer) served in the Revolutionary war and was killed at the battle of Germantown. Mrs. Henry Boyer's father was a gentleman farmer, taking much pride in keeping his farm in the best pos- sible condition, having one of the neatest and most ornamental farms in the county. He was located near Mont Clare, where he owned his farm and cultivated it on scientific principles. He was affiliated with the Lutheran church. His children were: Mary, Margaret, and Catharine, unmarried; Elizabeth (Mrs. Henry Boyer) ; Sarah (Mrs. E. Coates) ; Hannah, wife of Rev. John Davis, a Presbyterian minister; Theresa (Mrs. Samuel Custer) ; and Charles, engaged in the stationery and paper business in Philadelphia.
The children of Henry Boyer are: Manasses, a blacksmith ; Charles ; and Ephraim D., father of Mrs. Espenship.
Ephraim D. Boyer was born and reared in Montgomery county, being a descendant of two prominent early families, Boyer and Doll, both of French extraction. He was reared to farm pur- suits, but kept in line with the old tradition of the family and chose the trade of blacksmithing. After his marriage he located permanently at Evansburg, where he was the village blacksmith
many years. He married Miss Rebecca Kline, also of an old family in this section of Pennsyl- vania. She was the daughter of Gabriel Kline, who married a Miss Krull. In addition to being a farmer, Gabriel Kline was a well known inn- keeper at Trappe, his hotel being the resort for many years of persons in all stations of life. It was the most popular stopping place between Phil- adelphia and Reading. He entertained many peo- ple of prominence in his day. His children were: Sarah (Mrs. Jacob Espenship) ; Sophia, died un- married ; Henry, a bachelor ; Kitty (Mrs. Long- streth) ; and Rebecca (mother of Mrs Espenship).
The children of Ephraim D. and Rebecca Boyer are : Matilda (Mrs. J. K. Espenship) ; and Henry K., prominent in Pennsylvania politics.
Mr. and Mrs. James K. Espenship had three children : Rebecca Grace, unmarried, received a liberal education, and has occupied a position at Harrisburg for fourteen years; Henry Stanley holds a position in the United States mint at Philadelphia; and Clarence B. is also in the mint. Both sons were soldiers in the Spanish- American war. The former was a volunteer private of Company M, Second United States Cavalry and served six months, while Clarence was in Company D, Sixth Pennsylvania Infantry.
Mrs. Espenship is a member of the Episcopal church.
JOHN McKINLAY, one of the best known residents of Lansdale, is a native of Venango county, Pennsylvania, where he was born Feb- ruary 14, 1848. He is the son of John and Mar- garet (Smith) Mckinlay.
John McKinlay, subject of this sketch, was educated in public and private schools in that county. The family removed to Philadelphia, where he took private lessons. About 1868 the family settled near Line Lexington, where Mr. Mckinlay purchased a small farm, remaining there until 1886, when he removed to Lansdale, where he erected one of the prettiest and most substantial homes in that borough. He has en- gaged in the raising of mushrooms, and has pro- vided very extensive facilities for that purpose, and is prosecuting the business very successfully.
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