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 6
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After the battle of Fredericksburg, Decem- ber 13, 1862, General Mintzer was detailed as provost marshal of the First Division, Second
Army Corps, then commanded by General Win -- field Scott Hancock, and had three companies of the regiment, A, B and K, with him on duty and at headquarters. When General Hancock took the command of the corps, Captain Mintzer went with him and served with him until April, 1864, when he returned to his regiment and was in all the movements of Grant's first campaign through the Wilderness, and was in every other engage- ment from that time to the close of the war. He- was in command of the picket line of his regi- ment when Lee surrendered at Appomattox, on the morning of April 9, 1865. General Mintzer was a brave soldier and few men among the thou- sands who enlisted from Pennsylvania saw as much active service as he.
On February 5, 1863, General Mintzer mar- ried Amelia Weand, daughter of David and Ma- tilda (Shuler) Weand. The couple had four children : George, Helen, John and Charles. Helen died at the age of twenty-five years ; John married Bessie Smith. They now live at Home- stead, where he is connected with the Carnegie Steel Company. Charles married Ida Weiler. They live in Pottstown.
General Mintzer is a Lutheran in religious- faith and his wife belongs to the Trinity Re- formed church. He is a member of Richards Post, No. 595, Grand Army of the Republic. He is also a member of the Union Veteran Legion and is present Commander of Camp 22, of Potts- town, and is a member of the Loyal Legion of the United States.
General Mintzer has been in the coal business for the past twenty-five years, representing the Berwind White Coal Mining Company. He has lived at his present home about twenty years. He was postmaster two terms under General Grant and was appointed the third time, but declined to hold the position longer. He was also a mem- ber of the school board some years. Politically he is a Republican.
Mrs. Mintzer's parents, David and Matilda (Shuler) Weand, were natives of New Hanover township, Montgomery county. They were the parents of seven children, three sons and four daughters, of whom five are now living: Amelia,
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wife of General Mintzer ; Milton, of Pottstown; John, of San Antonio, Texas; Mary, widow of Levi Prizer, of Norristown; and Emma, wife of William Shuler, of the Shuler House, Pottstown. David Weand was raised on a farm and in young manhood was a cigar manufacturer. Later he went into the grocery business in Pottstown for about twenty-five years. His death occurred May 12, 1885, at the age of seventy-two years. His wife died February 3, 1874, aged fifty-five years. She was a Lutheran in her young days, but after her marriage went with her husband to the German Reformed church. He was a mem- ber of the borough council a number of years when a young man. His father was Wendel Weand, a native of Pennsylvania, who owned a farm in New Hanover township, Montgomery county, where he resided all his life. He died before reaching an advanced age. His wife was Catharine Dotterer, who lived to be eighty years of age. They had seven sons and two daughters. He belonged to the branch of the Weand family from which Judge Weand of Norristown has descended.
The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Mintzer was Samuel Shuler, a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent. He was a farmer near Sun- neytown, Montgomery county, where he died in middle life. His wife was Elizabeth Zepp, who lived to be ninety-three years of age. She and her husband had five children.
HENRY A. GROFF, elected register of wills of Montgomery county in 1902, was born in Lower Salford township, December 16, 1860. He is the son of Jacob S. and Anna (Alderfer) Groff, of Lower Salford.
Jacob S. Groff (father) was born November 5, 1836. He was reared on a farm until he was sixteen years of age. His father was Abraham Groff. Jacob attended the schools of the vicinity and learned the trade of a miller with William Godshalk, of New Britain, Bucks county, Penn- sylvania, who afterwards represented the dis- trict in Congress for two terms. Having com- pleted his apprenticeship, he accepted a position in the mill of Benjamin S. Alderfer, in Lower
Salford, and married his oldest daughter, pur- chasing the mill in 1878. He married Anna Alderfer, daughter of Benjamin S. and Lena (Nyce) Alderfer, October 4, 1856. She was born October 6, 1834. The children of Jacob S. and Anna Groff: Abraham A., born March 4, 1858; Henry A., subject of this sketch; Benjamin A., born April 30, 1866; Ellwood A., born October 30, 1870. Abraham A. Goff, the eldest child of Jacob Groff, married Kate K., daughter of Abraham Moyer, of Franconia. Benjamin A. Groff maried Annie M., daughter of Rev. Jacob B. Booz, of Upper Salford township; Ellwood A. Groff married Minerva R., daughter of Jacob Ruckstool, also of Upper Salford.
The children of Abraham A. and Kate K. Groff, who were married December 8, 1883: Anna M., born June 6, 1885; Alice, born Septem- ber 2, 1887; Lizzie, born June 27, 1891 ; Jacob, born September 15, 1893 : Clayton, born June 26, 1899. Abraham A. resides in Lower Salford, near Lederachsville.
The children of Benjamin A. and Annie M. Groff, who were married October 2, 1886: Vin- cent; Eva, born June 27, 1891; Ellwood, born November 28, 1892; Martha, born May 17, 1894; Lydia, born October 2, 1896; William Irvin, born April 29, 1902. Benjamin A. Groff is the en- gineer at the Montgomery County Home. He resides in a tenement house belonging to the Home.
The children of Ellwood A. and Minerva R. Groff, who were married July 29, 1893: Jacob R., born November 27, 1894; Reinhart R., born September 16. 1897; Benjamin, born December 17, 1901. Ellwood A. Groff resides on the home- stead in Lower Salford.
Mr. and Mrs. Jacob S. Groff are both living. They are Mennonites in religious faith. Mr. Groff takes an active interest in politics, being an earnest Republican. He never missed an elec- tion since his maturity.
Abraham Groff (grandfather) had six chil- dren, as follows :
David, married Maria Fluck and resides in Sellersville, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. They have the following children : Henry F., married
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Kate Wagner; Abraham F., married Emma Deatz; Anna, married Harry Schlosser; Hetty (deceased) ; Hannah, married Irvin F. Baringer.
Hetty, married Levi Bleam, of Milford Square, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, who is de- ceased. He left a son Henry, who marrred Tilly, daughter of Daniel Reiff.
Mary, married Jacob Rosenberger, of Bridge- town, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, who is now deceased, leaving two daughters; Amanda, mar- ried Ephraim Leister ; and Mary.
Betsy, married Ezra Moore, of Bridgetown, now South Perkasie, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. She is deceased, leaving two daughters, Harriet, married John A. Freed, of Perkasie, and Hetty, married Milton Shelley, of Quakertown.
Jacob S. (father).
Isaac S., married Sarah Eisenberg, who died several years ago leaving one son, Harvey, who resides in Philadelphia.
The Groffs are descended from Jacob Groff, who emigrated from Holland about 1758 and came to Pennsylvania, settling in Bucks county, near where is now Sellersville. He brought with him four children: John, Peter, Mary, Henry, born on the ship coming to this country.
Henry Groff, last mentioned, is the ancestor of Register of Wills Henry A. Groff. His chil- dren : Jacob, Abraham (grandfather), Elizabeth, Polly, Susan, Hester. All of these lived in Bucks county.
Henry A. Groff, subject of this sketch, at- tended the public schools of the vicinity of his home in Lower Salford, being occupied at inter- vals on the farm and in the mill of his father. Later he became the proprietor of the coal, lum- ber and feed business of Salford Station, in which he is still engaged. He was postmaster for a number of years, beginning with Cleveland's first term, in 1885. In politics he is an active Re- publican, always laboring actively for the success of the principles and candidates of the party. His popularity was attested by the large vote he re- ceived on the Republican ticket in 1902. He has performed the duties of the office very success- fully. He married, in 1881, Emma K., daughter of Henry B. and Hannah (Kooker) Allebach,
of an old family in Hilltown, Bucks county. Their children: Jacob A., born December 29, 1881 ; Ella A., born July 10, 1883 ; Allen A., born Jan- uary 21, 1885 ; Hannah A., born January 6, 1887 ; Harvey A., born June 17, 1891; Anna A., born April 8, 1899; Lillie A., born November 12, 190I.
Mr. Groff is a typical representative of the Pennsylvania German race who form so large an element in the population of Montgomery county. In religious faith he is a Mennonite, as are all his family, attending the Lower Salford Mennonite meeting house. He is courteous and affable, giv- ing strict attention to business and performing every duty with fidelity and care.
HON. IRVING PRICE WANGER has been a prominent figure in Montgomery county politics from the time he attained his majority, and has the distinction of being its first Repub- lican district attorney, the first person to be elected to that office more than once and of serv- ing much longer in congress than any other rep- resentative of any district of which either of the counties forming the present district has been a part, except that lately represented by Hon. A. C. Harmer. He is descended from early settlers of Montgomery county, of the religious sect known as Mennonites and Brethren (Dunkards). He was born March 5, 1852, in North Coventry township, Chester county, and is the oldest son of George and Rebecca (Price) Wanger. His father, the late Geoerge Wanger, was a prom- inent citizen of northern Chester county, well known as a man of force of character, a strong advocate of the public-school system and the abolition of slavery, and active in the formation of the Republican party in Pennsylvania. In 1850 he married Rebecca, a daughter of Rev. John Price, and reared a family of four sons, all of whom survive. A daughter died when three years of age. His death occurred December 30, 1876, in the fifty-seventh year of his age.
Irving P. Wanger was reared on the old homestead in Chester county, and educated in the public schools of the district and at the Potts- town High and Hill schools. He taught school
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one year, and in 1870, became a clerk in the pro- thonotary's office at West Chester. In 1871 he was appointed deputy prothonotary and resigned the position at the end of the year to engage in the study of law at Norristown.
In January, 1872, he began his legal studies with Franklin March, Esq., and on December I, of that year was appointed deputy under Wil- liam F. Reed, the first Republican prothonotary elected in Montgomery county. He continued the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in December, 1875. Beginning the practice of law early in 1876 Mr. Wanger soon won the repu- tation of being an eloquent and forcible advocate and acquired a practice from all sections of Mont- gomery county. In 1889 he formed a partner- ship with Irvin P. Knipe, (who concluded his legal studies with Mr. Wanger as his preceptor ), under the firm name of Wanger & Knipe, which became one of the most prosperous legal firms in the country.
Mr. Wanger's talent for public speaking caused his services to be in demand at meetings in behalf of candidates of the Republican party, to which he was attached by inheritance as well as conviction, being an earnest advocate of its principles. In 1878 he was elected burgess of Norristown. He was also solicitor for the school board of Norristown for a number of years. He was elected district attorney of Mont- gomery county, in 1880. In this position he in- stituted several reforms, among them the practice of dividing the list for criminal court among several days, so that all the witnesses and others interested need not undergo the inconvenience of attending court the first day of the term and possibly the entire week, and thereby effecting a considerable saving to the county treasury. This practice has been uniformly followed since.
In 1880 Mr. Wanger was a delegate to the national convention and voted continuously therein against the unit rule, and for the nomin- ation of Mr. Blaine until the final ballot when requested by friends of the latter to vote for Gen- eral Garfield. In 1886 Mr. Wanger was again nominated for district attorney and was elected by a majority of one thousand one hundred and
eighty-seven votes, running several hundred ahead of his ticket, notwithstanding the fact that his opponent was one of the most capable candi- dates the Democracy ever nominated.
In 1889 Mr. Wanger was chairman of the Republican county committee, and in 1890 he was unanimously nominated for congress by the Republicans of the seventh district and made a vigorous canvass, being defeated by only one hundred and eighty-seven votes. This was the year of the Delamater campaign, when the Re- publican ticket in Montgomery county was de- feated as a rule by much larger majorities. Two years later Mr. Wanger was. again the nomince of his party for congress, and he won by a ma- jority nearly the same as, that against him in 1890, although there was a majority in the dis- trict for Cleveland. He was re-nominated in 1894 and re-elected by a majority of four thou- sand eight hundred and twenty-six. In 1896, 1898, 1900 and 1902, he was elected by large ma- jorities, showing that his course at Washington has been such as to commend him very strongly to the people of his district. His support has not been confined to Republicans alone, many Democrats and persons of other party affiliation at each election testifying their appreciation of his worth as representative by voting for him. As a congressman Mr. Wanger has taken an active part in debates on the tariff, the silver bill, Philippine legislation and other questions of national interest. He is very attentative to all matters affecting his constituants, doing ev- erything possible to promote the prosperity and welfare of the people of his district and of the country at large. He has always voted with his party upon questions involving its principles in every division that has taken place in the house of representatives, ably and earnestly seconding the administration of Mckinley and Roosevelt, and upholding their policy whenever it has been a matter for action in congress or elsewhere. It was upon the motion that the special committee was appointed which investigated the hazing of cadets at the United States Military Academy and suggested important legislation upon the subject, which was adopted. His principal com-
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mittee service has been as a member of the com- mittee on interstate and foreign commerce and as chairman of the committee on expenditures in the postoffice department. In every respect he has been a faithful and devoted exponent of the public wishes at Washington as his repeated re- elections show.
On June 25, 1884, Mr. Wanger married Emma C. Titlow, daughter of the late John Tit- low, of North Coventry. She had been a playmate and schoolmate of his youth. They have had five children, three of whom survive: George, Ruth and Marion. The other two, Lincoln and Rebecca, died in infancy. Mr. Wanger lives at the old Chain homestead, No. 827 West Main street, Norristown, which he has modernized, making it a very pleasing type of architecture. His mother, from whom he inherits many of his characteristics, also makes her home with him. She is the sister of the late Rev. Isaac Price, a noted and eloquent preacher of the Brethren, and the descendant of a long line of preachers of that church. Mr. Wanger himself is a member of St. John's Episcopal church of Norristown. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Improved Order of Red Men, and of nearly all of the Masonic bodies of this state, having been grand commander of Knights Templar in Pennsylvania in 1894-5.
As a public speaker, Mr. Wanger is argu- mentative, logical, clear and deliberate-appeal- ing to the reason and judgment of his hearers, rather than to their prejudices or personal feel- ings. He is a ready debater and parlimentarian -quick to perceive the weak point in his oppon- ents argument and always ready to take advant- age of such weakness. During his service in congress he has made many friends among the representation from other states, frequently se- curing their services when occasion requires it in his own district.
HON. HIRAM CONRAD HOOVER, ex- member of the Pennsylvania legislature, the last associate judge of the courts of Montgomery county, and for many years president of the Montgomery County Historical Society, is a son
of Hon. Philip and May Mary (Conrad) Hoover, and was born in Gwynedd township, Montgomery county, October 23, 1822.
Between 1727 and 1776, several immigrants by the name of Huber came from the Palatinate, and landed at Philadelphia. Of this number were four brothers, Christian, John, Martin and Jacob, who came in the ship Pink Plesance, commanded by Captain John Paret. These brothers landed on September 21, 1732, at which time Jacob was under sixteen years of age. Of all the immi- grant Hubers, these four brothers were among those that changed their name from Huber, the German form, to Hoover, the English spelling. One brother went to western Pennsylvania, an- other to Lancaster county, the third to Georgia, and Jacob, the youngest, seems to have been the Jacob Hoover who bought a farm in Plumstead township, Bucks county, in 1748. It has been established that Jacob Hoover was the father of Henry Hoover, who was born in 1751, in Bucks county. He married Margaret Kern, and in 1797 moved from Hilltown township, Bucks county, to Gwynedd township, Montgomery county, where he purchased a farm of two hundred acres. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religion a member of the Reformed church, in which he served as elder. When troops were ordered out to suppress the Fries Rebellion in eastern Penn- sylvania, one regiment of infantry sought to take his buildings as temporary quarters, but he re- fused with such determination that they went to an adjoining farm of William Foulk. Henry Hoover died April 9, 1809, aged fifty-seven years, and his widow survived him until November 27, 1813, dying at the age of sixty-two years. They had five children: Christian; Jacob; Philip; Elizabeth, who married John Rile; and Mary, wife of William Kneedler.
Hon. Philip Hoover, the father of Judge Hiram C. Hoover, was educated in his youth in the German language, but after his marriage he was taught to read and write English by his wife, who had received a good education in both lan- guages. He became a member of a volunteer organization when but eighteen years of age and rose from the ranks to the captaincy. He filled
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many offices in the township, such as assessor and collector of taxes, and in 1831-32-33 was -elected a member of the state legislature, where he served with credit and satisfaction to his con- stitutens-all positions having sought him, as he did not aspire to them. He was the executor, administrator and guardian of many estates, in all of which he rendered satisfactory accounts.
Philip Hoover was regularly catechised and received as a member of Boehm's Reformed church, at Blue Bell, by Rev. George Wack, its pastor. In 1810 he was elected a deacon, and served as such until 1823, when he was elected an elder, holding that position, with the exception of three years, until his death-a period of more than forty years. He held the office of presi- dent and treasurer of the consistory for some time. He was also frequently a delegate to classis and synod.
In the War of 1812 he served as lieutenant of another company (the organization to which he previously belonged having been disbanded), for three months, being practically its captain, as that officer had returned home soon after being mus- tered into service. He also provided a team to convey military stores from Philadelphia to Mar- cus Hook. Afterwards he was elected colonel of a regiment of militia.
Philip Hoover was born July 20, 1782, and was married to Mary Conrad, November 13, 1804. They were the parents of thirteen children but only six reached the age of maturity. Mary Con- rad Hoover, daughter of Hon. Frederick Con- rad (who was a member of congress for four years) was born August 23, 1785, and died Oc- tober 17, 1868, aged eighty-three years, one month and twenty-four days. Their children were: Frederick W., Julian, Susanna, Maria, Henry C., Ann Catharine, Judge Hiram C., Albert C., Ann Elizabeth, Andrew J., and two sons and one daughter that died in infancy.
Judge Hiram C. Hoover received his literary education in common and select schools and stud- ied surveying. Possessing fine musical talent, he began to teach music and to organize churchi choirs at an early age. While teaching music he engaged in farming, which he followed until
1872. In 1849 he bought a part of the St. Clair estate in Norriton township, and when, in 1872, the Stony Creek Railroad was built through part of his land, his neighbors suggested his building grain and mercantile stores where the railroad crossed Germantown turnpike. He thus founded Hooverton, which has absorbed Penn Square and gives promise of future importance. He soon re- tired from business, and the feed, coal and lum- ber business is now in the hands of his son Will- iam A., while the general mercantile establishment is conducted by his son-in-law, Albertus Hall- man. Judge Hoover lives a retired life except what time he gives to his interests as a stockholder in several industrial enterprises. He has served as guardian for the heirs of eighteen estates and not a single exception has ever been filed to any of his estate accounts. He has served many years as treasurer of Philadelphia classis, whose finan- cial matters include seven different accounts, which have been found correct by the finance committee each year.
In early life Judge Hoover took much interest in military affairs. He was a member of the First Troop of Montgomery Cavalry sixteen years, and in 1861 sought to reorganize the troop for active service in the war, but circumstances prevented. He has been active and useful in civil, educational and religious affairs, and has done much toward the development of his section. He is a Demo- crat in politics and has filled some of the most im- portant political offices of his county. He was a member of the Pennsylvania house of represen- tatives in 1862, 1863 and 1864, and during his three consecutive terms served on many leading committees, having been chairman of the commit- tee on agriculture in 1863. In 1865 he was elected associate judge of Montgomery county, and in 1870 was elected for a second term which would have ended in 1875, but the office was abolished by the state constitution of 1874. He served as jus- tice of the peace for four terms, nearly twenty years, and as school director for seventeen years, while in his party he was made chairman of the county committee for three successive years. Judge Hoover has served as trustee of Ursinus College for twenty-five years, and of Franklin and
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Marshall College five years. He was president of the Norristown and Centre Square Turnpike Company from its organization in 1868 until its dissolution a few years ago. In 1844, when the Philadelphia riots occurred, he served as an of- ficer in the First Troop of Montgomery county, one of the companies that suppressed the riots. He is an old and prominent Mason, being a mem- ber of Charity Lodge, No. 190, Free and Accepted Masons ; a life member of Chapter No. 190, Royal Arch Masons; also a charter member of Com- mandery No. 32, Knights Templar. Judge Hoover has been an elder in Boehm's Reformed church since 1856, has been president of the con- sistory during all the time except two years, and has frequently served as a delegate to various church bodies. Among his most important labors has been the instruction of different Bible classes and the efficient supervision of Sunday-schools, in which work he has spent many happy hours, dur- ing a period of over fifty years of continuous service.
On March 4, 1847, Judge Hoover married Margaret Dull, youngest daughter of Frederick and Sarah Dull, of Whitemarsh township. Judge and Mrs. Hoover had four children : William A .; Irvin W., now dead; Sarah D., who married James WV. Hercus, of Washington city, and died March 18, 1894; and Mary M., who married Al- bertus Hallman, a business man of Hooverton.
Judge Hoover was very active in the old Montgomery County Agricultural Society. At its organization at Springtown he was made a member of the executive committee and later its chairman. Subsequently the society divided and Judge Hoover became president of the Norris- town branch, and served as such for three years. At the one hundredth anniversary of Washington's evacuation of Valley Forge in 1778, the Judge presided and again in 1903 he attended the meet- ing, it being the one hundred and twenty-fifth an- niversary. He is a member of the Patriotic Order of Sons of America and was a charter member of Camp No. 322, at Penn Square, and also a charter member of an auxiliary camp, No. 38, of Patriotic Order of True Americans, which later was united with the Patriotic Daughters of
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