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 66
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was completed in 1815, and consecrated by the first Bishop of Pennsylvania, the Rt. Rev. William White, D. D. The autograph letter of consecra- tion from Bishop White is one of the most highly valned treasures of the parish. The rectors of S. John's from its organization to the present time have been : The Rev. Jehu Curtis Clay, 1815- 1817; Rev. Thomas P. May, 1817-1819; Rev. Bird Wilson, 1819-1822; Rev. Jehu Curtis Clay, 1822-1832 ; Rey. John Reynolds, 1832-1838; Rev. Nathan Stem, 1839-1859; Rev. John Woart, 1860-1863: Rev. Eaton W. Maxcy, 1864-1867; Rev. George W. Brown, 1867-1869: Rev. Charles E. Mellvaine, 1869-1872; Rev. Isaac Gibson, 1872-1898; Rev. Harvey S. Fisher, 1898. The Rev. Mr. Fisher is therefore the twelfth rector of this historic parish.
Mr. Fisher was born in Pottsville, Pennsyl- vania, September 2, 1865. and received his early education in the private and public schools of that borough, until he entered a military school at Reading, Pennsylvania, then known as Selwyn Hall. Here he was prepared for the classical course at the Lehigh University, which he en- tered in 1883, and from which he was graduated with honors in 1887, receiving the degree of A. B. During his college course Mr. Fisher became a member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity, and at graduation he was also elected to the Phi Beta Kappa. He also won in his sophomore year the Wilbur Scholarship awarded annually to the stu- dent of highest rank in the sophomore class.
Upon leaving the university, Mr. Fisher pur- sued his studies at the General Theological Sem- inary of the Episcopal Church in New York City, from which he was graduated in 1890. The de- gree of Bachelor of Sacred Theology was given to Mr. Fisher by this institution of sacred learn- ing in 1892, in recognition of his high standing during his seminary course. Mr. Fisher, while a student in New York, was also the successful competitor for the Seymour Prize for proficiency in extempore speaking.
Ordained to the liaconate in 1890 at Trinity Church, Pottsville, Pennsylvania, by the then Bishop of Central Pennsylvania, the Rt. Rev. Nelson Somerville Rulison, D. D., LL. D., Mr.
Fisher began his active ministry as curate of the Parish of the Nativity, South Bethlehemn, Penn- sylvania, of which the present Bishop of Georgia, the Rt. Rey. C. K. Nelson, D. D., was then the rector. In the spring of 1891 Mr. Fisher was ad- vanced to the priesthood by Bishop Rulisou, at the Pro-Cathedral in South Bethlehem, where he remained as curate until the fall of the same year. He then accepted a call to the curacy of S. Luke's church, Germantown, Pennsylvania, where he was largely instrumental in building up at im- portant mission at Olney, now known s S. Alban's. In 1895 Mr. Fisher accepted a call to the rectorship of S. Andrew's Parish, Buffalo, New York. His incumbency of three years in Buffalo was notable chiefly for two things-the enlargement of S. Andrew's church edifi e, and the appointment of its rector as chaplain of the Sixty-fifth Regiment New York National Guard, at the time that it was preparing to enlist for serv- ice in the Spanish-American war. During the spring of 1898 Mr. Fisher was with the regiment at Camp Black, Long Island, and there enlisted for service in the volunteer army with the regi- ment on May 3. 1898. The regiment was soon removed to Camp Alger, Virginia, where it re- mained until its return to Buffalo in the fall. The Rev. Mr. Fisher was the first of the volunteer chaplains invited to act as chaplain of the House of Representatives at one of the regular sessions. Mr. Fisher was mustered out of service with his regiment on October 6, 1898. On November 27th of the same year he accepted the call of S. John's Parish, Norristown, to became its rector.
The Rev. Mr. Fisher is descended from a distinguished line of ancestry both on his father's and mother's side. Judge Michael Fisher, the founder of the family in this country, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, 1702 (o. s.) and came to this country in 1720 (o. s.) settling in Gloucester county, New Jersey. On November 3. 1730 (o. s.), he married, in the old Presbyterian church of Philadelphia, the Rev. Jedidiah Andrews offic- iating. Charity Chew, daughter of John Chew, the son of Richard Chew, who at one time owned large tracts of land at Flushing. Long Island, then known as Nassau. To Michael and Charity
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Fisher were born four sons and three daughters. court of common pleas (Gloucester county, New The son Joel of their eldest daughter, Christiana, Jersey) for a number of years. who was married to Abraham Roe, was killed in the battle of Long Island. The eldest son of Judge Michael Fisher and his wife Charity, born February 20 (o. s.), 1736, was named Charles and married Anna Flaningham, May 30, 1770, at Philadelphia, the Rev. John Ewing, minister of the Old Presbyterian church, officiating.
Anna Flaningham, according to tradition, was a beautiful woman, of superior intellectual attain- ments, vivacious manner, and a charming person- ality which created for her a wide circle of de- voted friends. When a youth Charles Fisher was accustomed to call frequently at the house of Mrs. Flaningham, the mother of Anna. On one such occasion, Mrs. Flaningham, pointing to the child in the cradle, said to him : "Charles, you may have Anna for your wife." When Anna had reached the age of sixteen years, Charles offered himself, but found that she was already betrothed to James Jaggard, to whom she was shortly married. In the course of a few years Mr. Jaggard died, and after a suitable interval Charles again offered him- self to Anna. His answer was: "Charles, you are again too late." Anna then was married to Samuel Pierce. When Mr. Pierce died, Charles attended his funeral, and on the way home, hav- ing entered the carriage of the widowed Anna, so it is said, made his third proposal, and was gra- ciously accepted. His former experiences justified his apparently unseemly haste to secure the charming Anna.
The result of this union was two sons, Michael Chew, born September 30, 1772, and William, born June 17, 1776. William died in boyhood. Michael Chew Fisher (the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch) and Rebecca, daughter of Samuel and Abagail Blackwood, were married by the Rev. Andrew Hunter, October 1, 1795. Abagail died in 1804. His second wife was Ann, daughter of Joseph and Ann Clement. Ann died in 1814. In 1818 he married his third wife, Mary, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Reeves. Michael Chew Fisher died August 15, 1862, near niety years of age. He had been a judge of the
The eldest son of Judge Michael C. Fisher and Rebecca Blackwood, Samuel Blackwood Fisher, was born in Woodbury, New Jersey, September 21, 1796. He married Eliza Hinchman, daugh- ter of James and Sarah Hinchman, on February 23, 1820, at Salem, New Jersey. Samuel Black- wood Fisher (the grandfather of the Rev. Mr. Fisher) moved to Orwigsburg and thence to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and became the pioneer engineer and geologist of the anthracite coal re- gions. His eldest son, born at Woodbury, No- vember 8, 1824, was educated in the excellent private schools at Pottsville. He married Char- lotte Ann Lord Sheafe on August 25, 1853.
Howell Fisher was admitted to the Schuylkill county bar in 1846, at the age of twenty-two. Mr. Fisher was a man of great versatility. In addi- tion to the practice of the law he was an expert civil and mining engineer, skilled geologist, ex- tensive coal operator and practical iron manufac- turer. In 1859 he was nominated for district at- torney on the Republican ticket, and elected by a handsome majority over his opponent, Mr. George De B. Keim. Again nominated for the same office in 1862, he was defeated by the op- posing nominee, Mr. Franklin B. Gowen. During the time of the rebel invasion of Pennsylvania, Mr. Fisher, who was then operating a 'furnace at St. Clair, "at once stopped the works, and taking most of the men and horses, and receiving horses from others, organized a cavalry company of over one hundred men and horses, and, being sworn in at Pottsville, left for service." "Besides the horses, etc., furnished, incidental expenses of raising this company and the support of many of the men were furnished by Mr. Fisher, and cost him several thousand dollars. This, with loss of three months' work at the furnace in the best season, which also amounted to a large sum, made him a money contributor to the war probably far heavier than any single individual in the county."
In 1864 Mr. Fisher was the regular Republi- can nominee for congress. and again in 1878. Im- mediately after the war Mr. Fisher was em-
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ployed by eastern capitalists to investigate the coal fields of Nova Scotia. Upon his recommenda- tion two collieries were open, one in Cape Breton and the other at New Glascow, both of which were successful operations. In 1870 he published a valuable paper on "Agricultural and Mineral Resources of Virginia and West Virginia." He was the pioneer in the opening and working of coal mines and the building of coke ovens and furnaces at Lynchburg, Virginia, and was also placed in charge of the establishment of a rolling mill at that place. The town of Quinnimont, Fayette county, West Virginia, was founded and named by him. During the latter years of his life the Hon. Howell Fisher resumed the prac- tice of the law at Pottsville, where he died on July 2, 1879. when his son, the Rev. Harvey S. Fisher, was fourteen years old.
Charlotte L. Fisher, the mother of the Rev. Mr. Fisher, was the youngest daughter of Jacob Sheafe and Mary Haven, both of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Both the Sheafe and Haven families have been prominent in New England for many generations. Jacob Sheafe, who died in 1848, went to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, as the agent for the Girard estate. He was born in 1784. His father, Jacob Shcafe, of Portsmouth, was born in 1745, and died in 1829. He married Mary Quincy, sister of Dorothy Quincy, the wife of John Hancock, the signer of the Declaration of Independence. The distinction of the Quincy family is too well known to need more than refer- ence. It was the above of whom mention is made in the following extract from "Rambles about Portsmouth" (page 333). "At a meeting of freeholders of the town of Portsmouth, Decem- ber 16, 1773, it was resolved to resist the impor- tation of tea. Six resolutions were drawn up, and it was therefore voted that the Hon. John Sher- burn, John Pickering, Esq., George Ganes, Jacob Sheafe, Samuel Cutts, Esq., Samuel Hale, Esq., and Captain John Langdon, or any three of them, be a committee for the purpose aforesaid." The said Jacob Sheafe was one of the signers of the following: "In consequence of the resolution (March 14, 1776) of the Honorable Continental Congress, and to show our determination in
joining our American Brethren in defending the lives, Liberties and Properties of the inhabitants of the United Colonies, we the subscribers do hereby solemnly engage and promise that we will do the utmost of our power at the risque of our lives and Fortune with arms to oppose the hos- tile proceedings of the British fleets and armies against the United American Colonies" (Rambles about Portsmouth, p. 215).
This Jacob Sheafe was the great-grandfather of the Rev. Mr. Fisher. His father was also Jacob Sheafe, born 1715, died 1791, the son of Sampson Sheafe, born 1684, died 1772, and Saralı Walton. Sampson Sheafe's father, Sampson Sheafe, born 1650, married his second cousin, Mehitable Sheafe. This Sampson's father, Ed- mund Sheafe, born 1605, married Elizabeth Cot- ton, daughter of Sampson Cotton, of London, England. Edmund was son of the Rev. Thomas Sheafe, canon of S. George's, Windsor, where his brass is still to be seen, and Maria Willson, daugh- ter of another canon. Edmund's cousin Jacob was the father of the above mentioned Mehitable. It is this Jacob Sheafe who died in 1658 and whose name is now inscribed on the bronze tab- let on the Tremont street gate of the King's Chapel Burying Ground, Boston, Massachusetts. He married Margaret Webb, only child of the richest man then in Boston, and thus laid the foundation of the family fortune always since then considerable. The father of Jacob was Edmund Sheafe, born 1559, of Cranebrook, County Kent, England, who married, May 30, 1586, Elizabeth Taylor, of London, and then Joan Jordan, the mother of Jacob, who migrated with him. There are several tombs of the Sheafe family in Roches- ter Cathedral, and the Sheafe coat-of-arms is there to be seen, carved on a ledger stone.
Edmund Sheafe and the Rev. Thomas Sheafe, were sons of Thomas and Mary Sheafe, and he of Richard (born 1510, died 1557), and Eliza- beth. In the pavement of the nave of the old church at Cranebrooke, England, is the record of Mary's death at the age of seventy-three in 1609. "Mary Sheafe the wife of Thomas Sheafe, who lived together near XLV years and had issue be- tween them IN sons and XI daughters, she a
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grave and charitable matron dyed LXXIII years of age, Nov. 1609. Imposuit E. S." The family were all of Cranebrooke, Kent, for generations. Thus the Sheafe family is readily traced back to the beginning of the sixteenth century.
The Rev. Mr. Fisher's maternal grandmother, Mary Haven, was the daughter of the Rev. Sam- uel Haven, D. D., of Portsmouth. Of him the "Rambles about Portsmouth" says: (p. 325-6) "Dr. Haven during the Revolutionary war was a genuine son of liberty, giving the whole weight of his character, influence and exertions to the American cause. When the news of the battle of Lexington reached Portsmouth, he sat up a good part of the night with his family making bullets, and when in the next year an alarm was given in the night that the enemy was approaching, he shouldered his fowling-piece, and with his parish- ioners went to share in the toils and dangers to which they might be exposed." He also made saltpetre for the army, which explains the fol- lowing certificate signed by two physicians of Porthmouth given two months before the Declar- ation of Independence. "This is to certify that we the subscribers, by the request of the Rev. Dr. Haven, have examined a quantity of saltpetre made by him, and have weighed off three hundred and eight pounds, which we judge to be suffic- iently pure and dry. Portsmouth, May 13, 1776." Signed by J. Brackett, M. D., and Hall Jackson, M. D.
The Haven genealogy has been compiled and published, and is to be found in the libraries of Portsmouth and other New England towns. Two interesting documents in the possession of the Rev. Mr. Fisher are the old family Bible of the Fishers, containing the family record, the original property of Charles Fisher, the son of the founder of the family in America (the Bible was published in 1760) and the elaborate chart of the Sheafe family and its branches in the United States.
Through the Quincys, a distinct Dutch strain enters the family, Mary Quincy's grandmother, Eliza Wendel, being of pure Dutch extraction. Other distinguished ancestors of the Rev. Mr. Fisher of the seventeenth century are Philippe du Trieux, marshal of New Netherlands ; Thomas
Willett, first mayor of New York under the Eng- lish : Major-General Daniel Gookin. the friend of "Apostle" Elliot and of the Indians, tolerant in an intolerant age, "the noblest Roman of them all."
EDWARD F. KANE, deceased, was, during a brief but exceedingly active career, one of the most useful citizens of Norristown-a leader at its bar, a man of affairs, whose service and influ- ence were exercised with intelligence and ability in behalf of the community, and a prominent but unselfish factor in politics.
He was a native of the city which was the scene of his diversified labors, and was born Sep- tember 17. 1864. His parents were Daniel and Alice (Conway) Kane, both natives of Ireland. The father has been many years deceased, and the mother is yet living, at the venerable age of nearly ninety years. Besides Edward, their children were Bridget, who is the wife of Patrick Marr, and Alice, unmarried, who lives with her mother at No. 345 East Airy street, Norristown.
From his early youth Edward F. Kane gave evidence of those qualities which he displayed at their best in his mature life. He was an eager seeker after knowledge, and, rightly measuring his capabilities, devoted himself industriously to the carving out of an honorable and useful career. Educated at St. Patrick's parochial school, he was one of its brightest pupils, thoroughly learning the various branches of a liberal curriculum, to Latin and the higher mathematics and subse- quently took a course in a Philadelphia business college. He was an adept in figures, and early in life was known as an accomplished bookkeeper and accountant. After his graduation he entered the drug store of John Wyeth & Company, in Philadelphia, where he rendered highly satisfac- tory service for several years. He left this em- ployment to accept the position of commissioners" transcriber, and this marked his entrance to the field of politics. While engaged in the duties of his office, he also read law under the preceptorship of the late Charles Hunsicker, Esq., a leading member of the Norristown bar, who took a deep interest in him and gave him most careful in-
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struction. He passed the examination most cred- itably and on March 3. 1890, was admitted to practice. Almost on the instant his position in the profession was assured, and in a short time he was in the enjoyment of an extensive and remun- erative business. In the preparation and conduct of his cases he was the peer of the most capable lawyers to whom he was opposed, and con- fessedly the superior of the most of their number. He was a persuasive speaker and an eloquent ad- vocate before a jury, earnest and impetuous in his oratory, yet ever entirely self-possessed, never permitting his fervor to detract from his logic in argument or lower his dignity of manner. He won many memorable triumphs not only in civil practice, but also in the criminal courts. Among the former was his successful litigation in behalf of the Valley Forge park commission in the con- ‹lemnation of land for a public park at that place. In the field of criminal law, he was counsel for the defendant in a cause celebre,-the trial of James A. Clemmer, brought to trial for the alleged murder of Mrs. Charles Kaiser. He conducted this case with masterly skill, devoting himself to it with such industry and intense interest that he never completely recovered from the severe nerv- ous strain which it imposed. At the outset he secured the discharge of the panel of jurors on the ground of informality in their drawing, thus gain- ing a continuance to the ensuing term of court. He exhausted every legal resource, and pleaded for his client with matchless eloquence, running the entire gamut of oratory from pathos to per- suasive appeal and fiery invective, in the effort to save the life of his client, who was, however, des- pite all his labors, convicted upon the testimony of an accessory to the crime, Lizzie DeKalb.
During the last few years of his life Mr. Kane was deeply interested in various business enter- prises which, to some extent, engaged his atten- tion to the exclusion of his law practice. He be- came, through a series of transactions, a part owner in the McCoy lime business in Upper Merion, and after the death of Robert McCoy he was owner of a one-third interest. This he sub- sequently relinquished, and became a half-owner
in the fine Cedar Hollow lime quarries in Chester county.
A Democrat in politics, Mr. Kane advocated the principles of his party with all the fervor of his nature, and almost from his first public appear- ance he was recognized as one of the most influ- ential and resourceful in leadership. He was pos- sessed of great executive and organizing abilities, and these gifts enabled him to achieve brilliant results in various important campaigns and polit- ical movements. As an orator he was at his best before the people, or in conventions, and he swayed such bodies almost at his will. He be- came chairman of the Democratic county commit- tee in 1891, and served in that capacity until 1895, when his absorption in his business concerns made it necessary for him to retire from the posi- tion. In 1892, as the Democratic candidate for district attorney, he made a brilliant contest against James B. Holland, one of the strongest men in the Republican party, and, despite the pop- ularity of his opponent, and the large adverse ma- jority, he was defeated by only a little more than two hundred votes. Mr. Kane was for six years a member of the Norristown town council, and was one of the most industrious and sagacious who ever sat in that body. He was chairman of the committee on law, and a member of other leading committees, and took a leading part in formulat- ing and securing the enactment of much salu- tary borough legislation. During the three years that his party had control of the poor board. he was its solicitor and clerk. He was a delegate to various state and congressional district conven- tions of his party, and in all was recognized as a potent factor in political affairs. He arranged the joint debate between Hastings and Singerly, the gubernatorial candidates in the campaign of 1894-an event of remarkable local interest as well as throughout the state, Singerly's model farms being situated in Montgomery county.
True to the religion of his forebears, Mr. Kane was a devout Catholic, as was his wife, and their children were reared in the same faith. He was perhaps the most active and munificent in the building up of the local church, and was exceed-
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ingly liberal in sustaining its various charities and benevolences. The parochial school had in him one of its staunchest friends, and he afforded his aid and encouragement to many a youth strug- gling for an education, or whose inexperience placed him in need of a friend at a time when he could not discern the road to honor and success in life.
Mr. Kane married, in 1896, Miss Alice Mc- Dermott, and to them were born four children: Mary, Edward F., Alice (deceased), and Francis B. Kane. Mrs. Kane was a daughter of John and Mary (Clayton) McDermott. Mr. McDer- mott emigrated from Ireland in 1841, and estab- lished a grocery store on West Main street, which he conducted successfully until his death in 1900. His widow, who was Miss Mary Clay- ton, of Norristown, survives him.
Mr. Kane died December 14, 1903, from pneu- monia. Notwithstanding he had been in declin- ing health for a year or two previous, his deatlı was unlooked for and created a profound sensa- tion throughout the community. Among the ex- pressions of regret and esteem, those expressed at a called meeting of the Montgomery county bar were as touching as they were sincere. Many of his fellow lawyers bore testimony to his high professional attainments and his excellence of personal character. Dwelt upon with peculiar appreciation was the fact that he was indeed the architect of his own fortunes; that he had made his own preparation for the duties of life; that he had ever borne himself with courage and dig- nity ; and that the success which he achieved was due to his own unaided effort. While thus recog- nizing his sterling qualities of mind and personal worth, the conviction was also expressed by his eulogists, in public utterance and through the press, that had his life been prolonged high and well merited honors would undoubtedly have come to him. To his family he left a rich com- petence, and the more precious legacy of an un- blemished and honored name.
JOSIAH FRYER, a leading blacksmith of Pottstown, who resides at No. 534 Chestnut street, Pottstown, was born in Washington town-
ship, near Bechtelsville, Berks county, Pennsyl- vania, November 3, 1843. He is the son of Reuben B. and Maria (Fegeley) Fryer.
Reuben B. Fryer (father) was born in Berks county, but lived nearly all his life in Montgomery county. By trade he was a cooper. He kept a store on Charlotte street, Pottstown, for many years, living in Pottstown from 1846 until his death in 1899. He was past eighty years of age when he died. His wife died in 1866, aged more than fifty-one years. She was also born in Berks county. He was a member of the German Re- formed church, while she was a Lutheran. He was a staunch Democrat. Reuben B. Fryer mar- ried (second wife) Mary Beidman. They had one daughter Catharine, married Ernest Orr, who came from Canada. Reuben B. and Maria (Fegeley) Fryer had nine children, all of whom died in early childhood execept two, Josiah, and Jacob, died in 1896, aged fifty-one years.
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