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 63
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school. He married, August 2, 1898, Alberta Williams, of Rushford, New York. Their chil- dren are Harold Walton, born December 23, 1899, at Rushford, New York, and Arthur Mal- colm, born December 1, 1902, at Norristown.
Catharine, born October 19, 1874, in Worces- ter township, also attended the State Normal School at West Chester. She married, June 9, 1903, John A. Longacre, son of David and Helena Longacre, of Norriton township. They reside in Elmira, New York, where Mr. Longacre is em- ployed by the Empire Bridge Company, a branch of the American Bridge Company. They have one child, Ruth, born in Elmira, March 23, 1904.
WILLIAM McHARG is a descendant of an old Montgomery county family. He was born in Lower Providence township, December 18, 1842, and was reared on the farm. He received his edu- cation from the common schools of the neighbor- hood. He is a son of William and Rachel (Plush) McHarg ; she was born in Montgomery county, and he came to this country when a boy, from Scotland. William McHarg was a son of William McHarg, a merchant on the Island of Jamaica. He made trips to London yearly and purchased his goods, and when on one of these trips he died, and his estate was lost to his heirs. He reared two sons, John and William (father). John was a sea captain and died on the Island of St. Domingo. He left a family of two children.
William McHarg (grandfather) had a brother John who came to America and purchased a tract of land on which he built a log house and a barn. This tract was near Audubon, in Lower Provi- dence township, at which place he remained dur- ing his lifetime, tilling the soil. At his death the farm was willed to his nephew William (the father of subject). John came to this country and, after settling, he sent for this nephew Will- iam, who was quite a boy, and he remained with his uncle until he grew to manhood, and inherited the farm by his uncle's will. He remained on this farm until his death, which occurred about 1877. He was seventy-seven years old at the time of his death. He was one of the leading members of the Lower Providence Presbyterian church and
was an elder there for forty-five years. In politics Mr. McHarg was a Whig and Republican and filled several township offices. His wife survived him and died in 1884 at the old homestead. She was also a member of the Presbyterian church. She was the daughter of Lawrence Plush, of Ger- many, who settled in this county. At one time he owned the Perkiomen Copper Mines, and during the excitement in copper he sold the same at a good price. He then returned to Germany to stay and proceeded to collect his share of his father's estate, which he received. He then determined to retrace his steps to America, and on the voyage over was lost at sea, money and all, and his fam- ily remained in America. His children were: Catharine (Mrs. J. Mullen) ; Elizabeth (Mrs. H. Keiser) ; Rebecca (Mrs. J. Keiser) ; Rachel (Mrs. William McHarg) ; Christian (father of Dr. Plush) ; Samuel, a farmer ; Lara, a miller by trade.
The children of Mr. William McHarg and wife : Mary, still single; Isabelle, wife of William F. Mason, a retired merchant of Saint Paul, Min- nesota ; John, a farmer of Lower Providence; Rebecca, single, deceased; Anna, single and re- sides at home; William.
William McHarg was born and reared in Lower Providence township and remained at the old homestead until he was twenty-five years of age. He was married in 1869 and remained on the farm for five years, in Lower Providence town- ship, and then removed to Trappe, where he en- gaged in general merchandising, which trade he followed for five years. In March he lost his wife and then returned to his old home in Lower Prov- idence township and settled there. In 1884 he remarried and purchased a farm in the same township at which place he remained for thirteen years. He then sold the farm and removed to Trappe in 1898. He purchased the home where he now resides, which was built by Muhlenberg and which was known as the old Muhlenberg homestead. It was erected in 1743, and built of stone, and is still in a fine state of preservation. In this house Muhlenberg entertained George Washington three days during the Revolutionary war. There is five acres of ground around the
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honie, and he carries on trucking, but has retired from active labor. Politically he is a Republican and has filled the office of school director for six years ; he has also filled other minor offices. He is a member of the Lower Providence Presby- terian church and has been a deacon in that church for many years. He is one of the trustees of the Bringhurst estate. He has a great deal of property to look after ; he and his brother were the administrators of his father's estate; he is also guardian for the estate of Daniel Kendall, who resided with Mr. McHarg for over two years. Mr. Kendall died September 22, 1903.
Mr. McHarg married Miss Louisa P. Ruth- erford (first wife), who was born in Philadelphia, and was the daughter of James and Eliza Ruther- ford, of Philadelphia, who was a carpenter and building contractor. He died at Norristown. He was a prominent man and a good business man, and was highly respected by all with whom he came in contact. He was a member of the Episco- pal church of Philadelphia. His children : Louisa P. (wife of William McHarg) ; Fanny (Mrs. Jo- seph Hunsicker), who had one son, James R., a farmer in Worcester township. Fanny died in 1877. William McHarg was again married in 1884, to Sally Hunsberger, born in Limerick township. She was born December 14, 1851. She was a daughter of Abram and Catherine (Kendall) Hunsberger, both of Montgomery county. He was a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Keelor) Hunsberger, and his father also was a resident of this county. He came to this country from Germany.
Isaac Hunsberger was a prominent farmer, and in his early days was a school teacher ; he also taught music and was a skilled musician. He was a thorough business man. He resided in Lim- erick for a number of years and still resided there at the time of his death. He was a member of the Reformed church, and was the choir leader. Their children were: Catherine (Mrs. P. Shafer) ; Susan (Mrs. Bechtel) ; Abram (father of Mrs. McHarg) ; Anna (Mrs. Judge Evans) ; Mary (Mrs. Jacob Isett) ; Elizabeth (Mrs. D. Hunsicker) ; Isaac, went west and his where- abouts not known. Abram remained under the
parental roof until he was twenty-five years old ; he married and settled in Limerick township. In 1865 he moved to Trappe and retired from farm- ing. He purchased the old Muhlenberg house, which is now in possession of William McHarg. He attended to his farm of five acres and died in April, 1887. He was a member of the Reformed church and was prominent in church work. In politics he was a Republican, although he did not aspire to public office. His wife survived for six years. She was a daughter of Joseph Kendall, and he a son of Henry Kendall, and he a son of Jeseph Kendall, all of English descent. Henry Kendall married Mary Lane, daughter of Edward Lane, of England. He purchased a large tract of land in Montgom- ery county, and it was he who presented the ground for the erection of the Episcopal church at Evansburg. He was greatly interested in church work. He owned over twenty-five hun- dred acres of land. Henry Kendall had but one child : Joseph, who was a farmer and a prom- inent man. Joseph Kendall's children were: Mary, died single; Catherine (mother of Mrs. McHarg) ; Elizabeth (Mrs. D. Miller) ; Henry, a farmer; Joseph, a farmer and wheelwright ; Daniel, farmer, whom Mr. and Mrs. McHarg took care of for two years; Anna, unmarried.
Mr. and Mrs. William McHarg had one son, John S., born December 31, 1884. Mr. McHarg has given his son the advantages of a good edu- cation, sending him to Ursinus College, and pre- pared him for the business world.
The children born to Abram Hunsberger : Anna, yet single, who resides with Mr. and Mrs. McHarg ; Isaac, a farmer ; Mary (Mrs. F. Peter- man) ; Catharine (Mrs. Abram Isett, residing near Royersford) ; Joseph, a minister of the Con- gregational church ; Sally ( wife of Mr. McHarg).
JOSEPH W. GROFF. Jacob Groff (grand- father) was an early settler in Salford township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He was all his life a farmer. He was a man of good busi- ness ability and stood high in the community. He married a Miss Heebner. One of his children was Joseph, the father of Joseph W. Groff, who
Joseph Groff
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was born in the old homestead in Salford town- ship. Educated in the ordinary schools, he be- came a farmer, and later took up the manufacture of linseed oil, in which he was very successful, and accumulated considerable money. In poli- tics he was an earnest Republican, and very active in support of the principles and policy of the party. He married Catharine Wagner, of Upper Salford township, and the couple had twelve chil- dren. Joseph W. Groff was one of them.
Joseph W. Groff was born on the farm occu- pied at the time by his parents in Upper Salford township, November 19, 1821. He was educated in the neighboring schools, and after leaving school engaged in agricultural pursuits, and still later continued the business of his father-the manufacture of linseed oil, and was even more successful in this line of work than was his father. He continued the oil making business until 1867, when he removed to his present home in Souderton, where he has since resided, living a retired life. He married, in 1848, Hannah Dim- mig, daughter of Peter Dimmig, a farmer of Frederick township .. She is also living and en- joys good health. The couple had two children, both of whom are deceased-Amelia, who married Jacib Leidy, they having one son ; and Diana, who died young. In politics Mr. Groff is a Republi- can, although he never sought or held office. He and his wife attend the Reformed church. He is the oldest man in the borough of Souderton, and is highly honored by all who know him.
REV. W. O. FEGELY, pastor of the Trappe Lutheran church, the old historic Muhlenberg church, was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, January 8, 1867. He is the son of Benjamin and Mary A. (Danker) Fegely.
Benjamin Fegely was born in Berks county and his wife was a native of Lehigh county, where they were married. He was reared in Berks county, and after learning the carpenter trade fol- lowed it for many years until he purchased a tract of land in Lehigh county. He erected all the buildings and made many improvements during the remainder of his life, which he spent on the farm, and did general farming. He was a man
of limited education, but a good conversationalist. In politics he was a Democrat. He was a man of exceptionally strong constitution and athletic build. He was a kind father and charitable to the. needy. He died June 6, 1894, and his wife Au- gust 13, 1898. Their children were: Hiram C., a graduate of a normal school, a teacher for eigh- teen years and later a farmer ; Matilda, still un- married, who lives with her brother, Rev. W. O .. Fegely ; Susan, died at the age of twenty years ; and W. O. Fegely, the subject of this sketch.
Christian Fegely (grandfather) and Cath- arine Fegely, his wife, were also born in Berks county. He was the third generation of Fegelys since the immigrant came from Germany. Like most of his ancestors he was a farmer and a member of the Lutheran church. Their children were: Peter, John, George, Henry, Benjamin (father), Samuel, Maria, Elizabeth, Anna, Leah.
Charles Danker (maternal grandfather) was born in Berks county and belonged to an old es- tablished family, originally from Germany. He was a farmer and a weaver of fine linen and cloth. He was a member of the Reform church. In politics he was a Democrat and held the offices of supervisor and tax collector. He died at the age of sixty-five years. His children were: Mary A. (mother) ; Caroline (Mrs. Hiram Becker) ; Isa- bella (Mrs. Willoughby Fegcly). The two last named are still living.
W. O. Fegely was reared on the farm and at- tended the common school until he was sent to the Kutztown State Normal School at Kutztown, Pennsylvania, in the year 1886-7 to prepare for college. He entered Muhlenberg College at Al- lentown, Pennsylvania, in September, 1887, and was graduated in 1890 with the third honor in the class, delivering the German oration at the com- mencement exercises. He was a member of the Sophronian Literary Society and of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He became a student at Mount Airy Theological Seminary, Mount Airy, Philadelphia, was graduated in 1893, later passed all the examinations and was ordained a Lutheran minister in June, 1893. He was called to the Lutheran mission at Sayer, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and remained there until 1898,
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when he went to Trappe to take charge of Au- gustus church.
This church does not take its name from St. Augustus, but is so called in honor of its founder, Herman Augustus Francke. His son, Gotthelf Augustus Francke, was especially influential in securing the acceptance of Henry Melchior Muh- lenberg to his call to America. Rev. Muhlenberg was the first regularly ordained pastor in America and preached in Philadelphia, November 25, 1742. After a short time he removed to Trappe, bought a tract of land, and December 12, 1742, preached his first sermon on the floor of a barn. There were a great many members of the Lutheran church who resided in the vicinity, but there was no regularly organized congregation. He estab- lished the church and remained as pastor until 1765, when Rev. Voigt was called and Rev. Muh- lenberg went to Philadelphia. He saw all the hor- rors of the Revolutionary war while a pastor at Trappe. He returned to Trappe at a later per- iod and preached his last sermon there December 26, 1784. He died October 7, 1787. The church has always had a good congregation, and at pres- ent there are about three hundred and fifty mem- bers. Rev. Fegely takes an active part in the Sabbath school work, does much missionary work and belongs to the Lutheran League and the Pas- tors' Aid Society.
Rev. Fegely has given some attention to lec- turing on different subjects, particularly on "Ways and Means," at the different Lutheran churches, and has entertained large audiences. He is a logical writer and gives much attention to education. He is now filling the position of school director for the second term. He was reared a Democrat and still holds those principles.
In 1893 Rev. W. O. Fegely married Miss Anna M. Snyder, born in Bucks county, Penn- sylvania, in 1870, being the daughter of Henry H. and Amanda (Reiff). Snyder. Both of her parents were natives of Bucks county, and be- longed to an old family of that county. Henry H. Snyder is a farmer and attends market in Philadelphia, as he has done since he was seven- teen years of age. He is an active member of the Lutheran church and resides on the homestead
where his father was born and where he has always lived. In politics he is a Democrat. His father was George Snyder, a prominent farmer and miller. George Snyder had the following children : Francis, Henry (father of Mrs. Feg- ely), Jacob, Mary A. (Mrs. A. Bean), Sarah (Mrs. H. Cressman), and Ephraim, died at the age of ten years. Henry H. Snyder married Amanda Reiff, daughter of Abraham and Sarah Reiff, both natives of Montgomery county, who removed to Bucks county early in life. Abraham Reiff was a shoemaker by trade and later became a merchant. He died in Bucks county in 1884. They were Mennonites. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Reiff were : Abraham, William, Sarah (Mrs. Brant), Lavina (Mrs. Kober), and Amanda (Mrs. Snyder). Henry H. and Amanda (Reiff) Snyder had the following children : Elmer R., a physician who died in 1898 at the age of thirty- one years ; Sally E. married Rev. Charles C. Sny- der, a Lutheran minister ; and Anna M., the wife of Rev. W. O. Fegely.
Rev. W. O. and Anna M. Fegely have chil- dren as follows: Byron S., born July 11, 1895 ; Grace, born January 25, 1897, died in April, 1897 ; Alma, born in March, 1899; and Florence E., born August 6, 1902.
ABRAM WALT, a descendant of one of the best known families of the early settlers of Mont- gomery county, and a veteran of the war for the Union, is a native of Limerick township, where he was born November 23, 1843. He was reared to farm pursuits and received such an education as the ordinary schools of the vicinity afforded at that time. He is the son of Henry S. and Elizabeth (Stauffer) Walt, both his parents be- ing of German descent.
Henry S. Walt (father) was born in Upper Salford township, December 6, 1806. He re- mained there until his removal to Limerick, at the age of fourteen years. His father died when he was a mere lad, so that his educational facili- ties were very limited, being confined to a few months each year in early boyhood at neighbor- hood schools. His presence on the farm was a necessity, winter and summer, as he grew older,
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he being the chief dependence of a widowed inother. After renting the homestead farm for two years as he grew older, he removed to an- other belonging to his grandfather Schwenk in Skippack, which he cultivated for ten years. In 1842 he purchased a farm in Limerick, removing to it, and there his son Abram, subject of this sketch, was born. This farm he cultivated and greatly improved, devoting a period of thirty years more to its tillage and retiring in 1872. He married, March 26, 1829, Elizabeth, daughter of Abram Stauffer, of Limerick township, by whom he had the following children : Esther Ann (Mrs. Josiah Evans), Elizabeth (Mrs. Augustus Kehl), Matthew, Ann Jemima (Mrs. Jeremiah Krause), Henry, Andrew, Sarah Ann, Abram, Mary M. (Mrs. B. F. Dismant, and J. Warren. Mr. H. S. Walt was a Republican in politics, serving for several years as a school director of his township. For more than a half-century he was identified with St. James Lutheran church as elder, deacon and treasurer. He died in 1888, aged eighty-two years. His wife died two years earlier, passing away in 1886, at the age of eighty- five years. A few years prior to the death of the couple they made their home with their daughter, Mrs. Dismant, where they both died.
Andrew Walt (grandfather ) resided in Upper Salford township, where the greater part of his life was spent in the occupation of farming. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Abram Schwenk. Their children were: Catharine (Mrs. Jacob Smith), Elizabeth (Mrs. D. Reifsnyder ), Abram, Mary (Mrs. George Brandt), Henry S., Samuel, Fanny (Mrs. Abram Anderson), Jacob.
Henry Walt (great-grandfather ) was the im- migrant. His wife was named Catharine. The couple had several children.
Mrs. Henry S. Walt was the daughter of Abram Stauffer, of Limerick. Mr. Stauffer's children were: Abram, of Hatfield; Elizabeth (mother) ; Henry (deceased), of Ohio; Hannalı (Mrs. H. G. Hunsicker) ; Mary (Mrs. B. Schlichter) ; Jemima ( Mrs. John Markley).
Of the children of Henry S. Walt, who have been mentioned. Matthew is a farmer in Limerick ; Henry is a retired coal dealer and merchant at
Batavia, Illinois; Andrew is a farmer of Lower Pottsgrove township; Sarah is unmarried ; Jacob W. resides at Parkerford. All are yet living and Henry is very near the old homestead.
Abram Walt was reared in Limerick township, remaining under the parental roof until 1861, when he enlisted in Company C, Fifty-first Penn- sylvania Volunteers, going into camp at Harris- burg. On November 16 and 17, the regiment moved to Annapolis, Maryland, and thence sailed for Hatteras, North Carolina, going through that arduous campaign, and, returning, were incor- porated with the Army of the Potomac. The regiment was at the battle of Antietam on Sep- tember 17, 1862, encountering very severe losses. Mr. Walt was wounded in the right leg, but, when he had recovered from his injuries, he went with the regiment to Knoxville, Tennessee, where, the terms of the men having in the mean- time expired, the entire regiment re-enlisted for three years or during the war. All came home for a time on furlough. On their return, they became again a part of the Army of the Potomac, serv- ing through the memorable campaign of General Grant, which led up to the capture of Richmond, and the complete overthrow of the Confederacy. Mr. Walt was again wounded in the battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia, June 3, 1864, this time in the hip and groin on the left side. He was also shot through the body. He was discharged from the Carver Hospital, at Washington, D. C., August 12, 1865. Thus his career in the army ended honorably. He retains as souvenirs of the service he rendered to his country the two minie balls by which he was wounded, one of them having been cut out of his leg, the other having passed through his body and lodged in his haver- sack. Mr. Walt saw some exceedingly hard serv- ice, being in no less than thirty engagements in all, during the time for which he enlisted. He underwent the hardship and exposure which be- long to a soldier's life, and while he has never entirely recovered from the effects of the wounds which he suffered and the privations he endured, and has, therefore, never been able to perform hard manual labor, he has not lacked for employ- ment at any time. He was employed for ten
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years by the Philadelphia and Reading Railway Company, in looking after telegraph poles along its lines.
Mr. Walt married in 1877, and later settled on a farm, conducting that for five years, and then selling it and removing to Royersford, where he has been constable and tax collector for a num- ber of years. He engaged in the restaurant busi- ness for three years, but his physical condition compelled him to abandon that employment. He served as burgess of Royersford three years, and was a member of the town council six years. In 1896 he built the commodious residence in which he lives. In addition he owns a double tenant house, and Rockford Hall block, a stone building four stories in height, erected in 1884, renting it for a printing office and stores. He is an active Republican, and takes an interest in all the public questions of the day, as becomes a good citizen. He is a member of Grand Army Post, No. 45, of Phoenixville.
Mr. Walt married Miss Caroline Rambo. She was born May 28, 1844. Mrs. Walt is a daughter of Benjamin and Louisa (Eastburn) Rambo her father being the son of Aaron Rambo, of Swedish descent. The children of Aaron Rambo: Benjamin (father of Mrs. Abram Walt), Maryann (Mrs. Rogers), Walter, Ross. Louisa Eastburn was a daughter of Samuel East- burn, the family being originally Friends, The Rambos were members of the Episcopal church. The children of Benjamin and Louisa Rambo: Mary, who died young, Eliza J. (Mrs. Linsen- bigler ), Caroline (wife of Mr. Walt), Samuel A., a farmer, Benjamin F., a farmer.
Mr. Walt draws a small pension from the government, but it is not in proportion to his in- juries incurred in the service of his country. Mr. and Mrs. Walt have no children. Mrs. Walt is a member of the Episcopal church.
JAMES A. COZENS, residing near Davis Grove, in Horsham township, is a native of Hor- sham township, where he was born October II, 1850. He was reared in farm pursuits, and re- ceived an education above the average at the public schools of the vicinity and under the
tutelage of Professor Hugh Morrow at Hatboro. He is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Long) Cozens, she of Bucks county and he of Chester county Penn- sylvania. Samuel's father was also Samuel, of Chester county, and belonged to a family which located early in that county. Later in life he removed to Bucks county, where he died. He was of Welsh descent, and an industrious and suc- cessful farmer. Politically he was a Democrat, but never aspired to more important positions. His children : John, who learned the trade of a stone mason, and became a contractor on public and private buildings, constructed bridges and erected the Bucks County Almshouse ; Ann, Mrs. John Thoman; Samuel, father of the subject of this sketch ; Elizabeth, Mrs. T. McCombs ; Joshua and Benjamin, stone masons; Margaret, Mrs. George Arnold; Mary, Mrs. H. Brooks ; James, a stone mason and contractor on public works.
Samuel Cozens, father of James A. Cozens, was reared to farm pursuits, but became later a stone mason, which occupation he followed for some time, but when he married he settled on a farm in Horsham township, giving his en- tire attention to that pursuit for the rest of his- life. His first location was near the Bucks county line. In 1862 he removed to his Uncle Jonathan. Jarrett, Sr.'s farm, and in 1877 he purchase:l the- farm on which his son James now resides. He did not long survive the change, however, as he died October 23, 1878. He was a very active and sucessful farmer. In politics he was a Democrat,. using his influence in behalf of the candidates of that party. He filled many township positions. In religious faith he affiliated with the Presby- terian church. His wife survived him and died November 29, 1884. She was a daughter of Andrew Long, of Warwick township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, of an old family in that section of the state. He was a member of the- Neshaminy Presbyterian church. His children : Isabella (Mrs. Ewers) ; Hannah, died unmar- ried ; Sarah (Mrs. R. C. Bennett) ; Rebecca (Mrs. F. Rhoads), who died in early womanhood ; Henry, by occupation a farmer, but served in the Union army during the rebellion, and died soon.
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