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 72
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A copper mine has recently been located on the property owned by Mr. Kepler, and great ex- pectations are being entertained as to the value of its products.
ELMER E. SAYLOR, an active business man of Pottstown, is a descendant of an old family in Montgomery county. He was born in Lower Pottsgrove township, May 9, 1861. Educated in the public schools of the neighborhood, he gained also a knowledge of farming. He is the son of Adam F. and Hannah (Hetzel) Saylor, he a
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native of Wittenburg, Germany, and she of New Jersey. Adam Saylor's father came to America with his family and settled in Pennsylvania. His children : J. C., who located in Chester county ; Marsit (Mrs. J. Miller) ; Margaret (Mrs. Shimerrer) ; Adam F. (father). The family were Lutherans, and were prominent in the community in which they lived.
Adam Saylor (father) was twelve years of age when the family came to America. He grew to manhood in Montgomery county. When a mere boy he commenced driving mules on the canal, and later secured a boat of his own, naming it the "J. C. Saylor". He followed boating for many years, being successful in that occupation, and thus obtaining a fair start in life. He then mar- ried and engaged in farming, which calling he pursued until he secured the appointment of steward of the Montgomery County Home, con- tinuing in this position seven years, after which he retired from active pursuits, and removed to Pottstown, where he resided the remainder of his life. He died July 3, 1898. Mr. Saylor was a Republican in politics, and used his influence in behalf of the success of the party and its candi- dates for office. During the rebellion he served as enrolling officer. He also filled the position of road supervisor in his township for several years, and held other minor offices. He was much respected in the community in which he lived, and his integrity was above question. His wife died November 27, 1901. Her brothers were: John; W. F., who was a captain in the Union army during the rebellion. The parents were Lutherans in religious faith.
The children of Adam F. and Hannah Say- lor : John C., a prominent farmer in Lower Pottsgrove; Catharine (Mrs. Ebert) ; Adam F., Jr., William H., B. F., Elmer E. (subject of this sketch) ; Rachel M. (Mrs. Sumner B. Frick) ; Lizzie (Mrs. John W. Stauffer) : Harry C.
Elmer E. Saylor remained with his parents until he was seventeen years of age, when he took a position as a clerk in the store of J. & H. K. Boyer, at Boyertown, Berks county. Hay- ing been thus employed for two years, he ac- cepted a similar situation with the firm of L.
& W. C. Beecher, of Pottstown. Later he went to Royersford, and became a clerk for Jones Rogers, remaining with him for five years, and then, in 1885, he married, and soon afterwards engaged in the grocery business for himself, in which he has been very successful and continues to the present time.
Mr. Saylor is a Republican in politics, al- though not an aspirant for public position. He served at one time in Royersford as borough auditor. He is a Lutheran in religious faith, and has been a member of the church council of that denomination in Royersford for three years.
Mr. Saylor married in 1885 Miss Annie E. Munshower, a native of Chester county, where she was born January 28, 1862, being the daugh- ter of Henry and Mary Munshower. Mrs. Say- lor's father was a prominent merchant of Royers- ford, but was cut off by death in the prime of life, passing away at the age of fifty-two years. His widow has since married Jacob Elliott, a blacksmith of Spring City, by whom she has three children, Joseph, Minnie and Hattie. Min- nie married George Davis, and, he dying, she married (second husband) John Rich. Hattie is the wife of John Greiner.
There was but one child by the first mar- riage, Miss Annie E. Munshower, who became the wife of Elmer E. Saylor.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Saylor : Eula, born March 17, 1886; Lizzie M., born 1887; Frank B., born in January, 1890. Mrs. Saylor died April 29, 1903. She was a member of the Lutheran church.
GEORGE McMAHON is a successful busi- ness man of Bethayres, where he is engaged in the blacksmith business. He is a son of Thomas and Mary McMahon, whose sketch appears else- where in this work.
He was born on the homestead farm in Abing- ton township, April 22, 1873. He acquired an education in the public schools of the township, and on leaving school entered upon the work which he has followed through life. He learned his trade under the instruction of John Barrett, of Bethayres, being employed with him as a
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journeyman for a year after completing his ap- prenticeship. Since 1895 he has been engaged in business for himself at Bethayres, and by industry and strict attention to the needs of his patrons, he has built up a profitable business.
Mr. McMahon married, at Newtown, Penn- sylvania, April 24, 1901, Joie F. Morris, daugh- ter of James and Julia (Hennessy) Morris. They have one daughter, Helen, born June 26, 1902. Mr. McMahon is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Santa Maria Council, Germantown, and also of the Masters' Horseshoeing Associa- tion. In politics he is a Democrat, taking an active interest in the success of the organization to which he belongs. He and his family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church in Jenkintown.
FRANK LESTER SMITH, for many years prominent in municipal management in Norris- town, is descended from an old family of Friends who settled in colonial days in Delaware county, this state. His ancestors were mostly farmers, although his maternal- grandfather, Dr. Joseph Blackfan, was a well-known physician of Rad- nor, who in his day had a very extensive prac- tice.
Joseph C. Smith (father) was born in East- town township, Chester county, in 1816, where he followed farming until 1874, when the fam- ily removed to Norristown. He lived retired until 1890, when he died in the seventy-fourth year of his age. He married Mary, daughter of Dr. Joseph Blackfan, whose wife was a member of the Evans family, also of Radnor. She died over twenty years ago. Dr. Joseph Blackfan had seven children.
John Smith (grandfather) was a native of Easttown township and a farmer by occupation. He lived near where Devon now stands. His family were all members of the Society of Friends. His children, Joseph C. (father), John, Sarah, Hattie, Jane, and Charlotte, are all now deceased.
Frank L. Smith was born February 13, 1856, in Easttown township. He was educated at the Easttown schools and in Norristown, attending
the high school but not graduating therefrom. On leaving school Mr. Smith went into the wholesale hardware house of Buehler, Bonbright & Company, in which occupation he remained for six years. He then went into the grocery busi- ness in Norristown, locating at DeKalb and Jacoby streets, Norristown, in which occupation he remained about four years. He then engaged in an extensive building operation at Devon, erect- ing water works and other improvements and a large number of houses. During a portion of this time he was engaged in the real-estate busi- ness in Philadelphia.
A need existing in Norristown for an abattoir, Mr. Smith, in conjunction, with John T. Dyer, John Metzer and others, organized the Merchant Ice Company, erecting extensive buildings for the manufacture of ice, the plate method being in use at the establishment, for slaughter houses and for carrying on the coal business. A charter was secured for the company with John T. Dyer as president and Mr. Smith as treasurer. The combination, from a business standpoint, has been very fortunate, the surplus ice, left after the de- livery of many thousand tons annually to cus- tomers at wholesale and retail, being used for refrigerating purposes in connection with the slaughtering of cattle, sheep, hogs, etc. A large part of the meat consumed in Norristown and adjacent territory is the output of this estab- lishment, of which Mr. Smith is the leading spirit, giving close attention to the business and making it a complete success, financially and oth- erwise. The plant includes, as a matter of course, ample provision for cold storage. Mr. Smith is also treasurer of the Montgomery Real Estate Company, formed several years ago, intended to operate in Norristown real estate. He is also a director in the Peerless Paper Company, of Philadelphia, an extensive establishment.
Mr. Smith was appointed by Governor Stone, in 1897, a trustee of the Norristown Hospital for the Insane, and he has been for several years treasurer of the board of trustees of that institu- tion, a position which previously had always been filled by a Philadelphia trustee.
It is, however, in connection with municipal
Frank L. Smith
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improvements in the borough of Norristown, his home since 1874, that Mr. Smith has especially distinguished himself. From the time he came of age, he took an active part in politics, being an earnest Republican, as was his father, and doing everything in his power to promote the success of the principles and policy of that or- ganization. He is serving his seventh term in the town council, having been its honored presi- dent for several years, and filled many important committee positions and other appointments therein. His membership in the town council, of twenty-one years, far exceeds the tenure of any other member of that body, and no one else has served so long a time continuously since the organization of the borough of Norristown, in 1812. Although a comparatively young man, Mr. Smith in thus the father of the town council and he fulfills this designation in more ways than one, having suggested or advocated every prom- inent measure before that body in the past twenty years. Recognizing the necessity of getting out of the old ruts and having municipal manage- ment in the county seat of Montgomery become more progressive, he commenced to advocate very early in his career as councilman the adoption of such measures as will place Norris- town in the first rank of cities of the state with reference to street, sewer and other improve- ments. It required some years to impress upon the older and more conservative element in the town council the importance of progressive methods of proceeding.
Mr. Smith was the author and earnest advo- cate of the first borough loan for street and sewer improvement. After the measure was adopted by the town council, the proposal to increase the indebtedness of the borough by two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for these purposes, was sub- mitted to the voters of Norristown and adopted by a large majority of them. The money was expended in paving and sewering about eighty squares, vitrified brick being largely used, Main street and other leading thoroughfares being per- manently paved with that material. The value of these improvements to Norristown real-estate owners can scarcely be estimated. Having been
the author of the project, Mr. Smith took a prom- inent part in the expenditure of the money, al- ways insisting that the work should be done in the best possible manner. A few years later, in 1902, another loan of one hundred and fifty thou- sand dollars was suggested by Mr. Smith 'and kindred spirits in the town council. This propo- sition, on being submitted to the voters of Nor- ristown, was overwhelmingly adopted like the other. This loan was expended largely in putting down the Warren bituminous, water- proof pavement, which has, up to the present time, given excellent satisfaction, there being about fifty squares permanently paved in this way in Norristown.
It is not only in the matter of street improve- ment that Mr. Smith has taken an active part during his membership in the town council. He has uniformly favored the grant of the streets to trolley companies and otherwise aided in mak- ing Norristown one of the most enterprising and progressive cities of the state, affording a very desirable location for those from other sections of Montgomery and of Pennsylvania who are looking for a desirable place of residence. Mr. Smith has taken an active interest in the fire department, the police department and other branches of the city government. He was prom- inently interested in the borough legislation which led to the erection of the munincipal build- ing, the City Hall, which occupies the site of the old borough market on DeKalb street, from Airy to Marshall. No member of the town council of Norristown has ever made such an impess on the municipal legislation of the place as Mr. Smith, and no one is entitled to greater credit for the creation of a new Norristown, in place of the overgrown village of former times.
In private life, as in public duty, Mr. Smith is a model of what every citizen should be. He is genial and affable in his deportment, practical and business-like in action, carnestly devoted to the interests of his town and county. In poli- tics he is a born leader, and probably no one else has done so much as he to make Norristown so strongly Republican that, at the recent elections, every district was carried by candidates by that
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party, and the party majority has frequently ex- ceeded a thousand. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity. While he is one of the busiest citi- zens of Norristown, he finds time for recreation, and is one who thoroughly enjoys life in all its phases. An acknowledged leader in borough, county and state politics, Mr. Smith finds time for the proper performance of every duty as a man, a citizen, and one who gives faithful at- tention to every business interest.
Mr. Smith married Miss Cora D., daughter of Benjamin F. and Rachel D. Hagey. They have one son, Frank Lester, born August 13, 1899. They live in a substantial residence on Powell street, in the Sixth ward of Norristown.
HENRY Y. WISE, of No. 33 East Third street, Pottstown, is a native of Earl, Earl town- ship, Berks county, Pennsylvania, where he was born May 19, 1839. He is the son of Samuel and Catharine (Yergey) Wise, both natives of Berks county. Their family included thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters, eleven of whom are now living: Henry Y., Urias, John, Ephraim, William, Harris, Mary Ann, widow of Henry Eagle; Ann Amanda, wife of Amos Rhodalmer ; Leah, widow of John Houck ; Catha- rine, wife of Jonathan Acker; Sophia, wife of Ephraim Hatfield.
Samuel Wise (father) was a teamster and farmer in early life, but later engaged in farm- ing, which occupation he followed all his life. He died at the age of seventy-two years. His wife survived him several years, and died at the age of seventy-nine years. In religious faith both of them were Lutherans, he being a deacon. In politics Mr. Wise was a Democrat, although he never sought or held office, being content to deposit his ballot on election day.
John Wise (grandfather) was a native of Pennsylvania, and, as the name indicates, was of German descent. He was a tailor by occupation. He spent most of his life in Berks county. His wife was Barbara (Rhoads) Wise. He died upwards of eighty years of age, leaving a large family. Henry Yergey (maternal grandfather) was also a native of Berks county. He was a
carpet weaver by trade. Removing to Mont- gomery county, he spent the last few years of his life in Pottstown, and died there at an ad- vanced age. He had several sons and daughters.
Henry Y. Wise, subject of this sketch, came to Montgomery county with his parents when he was little more than two years of age. He lived on the farm until the scarcity of volunteers made the first draft necessary during the war for the suppression of the rebellion. Mr. Wise then en- listed in the One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served nine months. He was engaged in a num- ber of skirmishes but in no important battle. He was a private in the ranks. On returning from the army Mr. Wise resumed his old occupation of working on the home farm, thus continuing for two years. At the expiration of that time he entered the employ of J. Fegely & Co., remaining there for five years. He was engaged in the lumber department. He then secured employ- ment in the planing mill of J. Mengel Fisher, and was thus engaged for a period of twenty-four years. Of recent years Mr. Wise has held a position with the Keystone Agricultural Works Company.
On May 26, 1866, Mr. Wise married Mary A. Davidheiser, daughter of Henry and Sarah (Reigner) Davidheiser, also of Pottstown. The couple have one son, Howard D. Wise, who mar- ried Miss Jennie Cavanaugh. They have two children, Mary and Annie. Mr. and Mrs. Wise are members of the Emanuel Lutheran church of Pottstown. In politics he is a Democrat, although not particularly active in party matters.
PARKER JENKINS is a native of Hatfield township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he was born at the old homestead near Colmar, June 15, 1847. He was educated in the public schools, and then devoted his attention to farming as an occupation. He was appointed station agent at Colmar by the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, a position which he has filled since 1876. He has served as post- master at Colmar since 1876, with the exception of four years during President Cleveland's sec-
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ond term. When the Republican administra- tion of Mr. Mckinley was inducted into power, Mr. Jenkins again received the appointment, and he still holds it. He is an earnest and active Republican in politics, and one of the workers in the county for party success. He is a charter member of Lansdale Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, and a member of the secret society known as the True Blues.
Mr. Jenkins married, in 1875, Miss Catherine Dungan, daughter of Martin and Caroline Dun- gan, farmers, of Hatfield township. She died January 16, 1901,
He is descended from members of the Society of Friends. Charles Todd Jenkins (father) was born April 13, 1812, on the tract of land now owned by Heebner's Agricultural Works at Lans- dale, which tract of land at that time formed part of the Jenkins homestead. He was reared in the regulation fashion in those days, working on the farm in summer and autumn, and attending school through the winter when there was no outdoor work to be done. He devoted time to study at home, in which he was assisted by his father, John Jenkins. At the age of eighteen years he commenced teaching school, and taught three winter terms, and afterwards for three full years in succession. In the spring of 1840 he en- gaged in farming, butchering, and dealing in country produce for the Philadelphia market, which he continued for a period of forty years. In the meantime the North Pennsylvania Rail- road was built, and a station located at Colmar. He established there a depot for coal, flour and feed, which he operated for fourteen years, when he retired and engaged in farming, which he followed until he died. His wife was Sarah, daughter of George and Esther Lukens, of Towa- mencin township. She was the mother of the following children: George L .; Anna, died in childhood; Ella, married Oliver M. Evans, of Lansdale: Comly L .; Parker, subject of this sketch ; Naomi ; J. P. Hale, a leading lawyer of Norristown, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Valeria, married George Chapin, of Philadelphia. The ancestor of the Jenkins family in this county (Montgomery) and adjoining
counties was Jenkin Jenkin, who came from Wales, and settled in the vicinity in which so many of the name still reside. He had a son and grandson, both named John. The last-named was the father of Charles Todd Jenkins.
Charles Todd Jenkins and Sarah Lukens were married March 26, 1840. She is also deceased.
SAMUEL STETTLE BRANT, the son of Washington R. and Sarah (Stettle) Brant, was born September 3, 1866, in Limerick township, Montgomery county.
Washington R. Brant ( father) was a miller for many years, also engaged in the produce business. He now resides on a farm in Limerick township, his farm adjoining that of his son, Samuel S. Brant, which is in Lower Pottsgrove township. He is a Democrat, and has been a school director for many years.
Samuel Brant (grandfather ) resided on the farm now occupied by his son Washington in Limerick township, which, however, Washington Brant has rebuilt, putting a handsome home on the place. Samuel Brant died many years ago, and is buried in Limerick township. His wife was Salome (Rahn) Brant and died several years later than her husband. She is also buried in Limerick township.
Washington R. Brant (father) had eight chil- dren, two of whom, Mary and Rebecca, died very young. The living are: Frank, married Helen Longacre of Pottstown, and they reside in Phila- delphia, where he is superintendent of circulation of the "North American" newspaper : Samuel S .; Annie, unmarried and resides with her parents ; Erwin, married Lizzie Geist, of Pottstown, and resides in Reading. Pennsylvania, he is engaged in the produce business, and is president of the Pasturized Milk Company of Reading: Emma Catharine, unmarried and resides at home ; Newton Cleveland, assists his father on the farm.
Samuel S. Brant attended school until he was eighteen years of age. He worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-five years of age. ex- cept one year spent in work on other farms. Ile married Miss Ella Rahn, daughter of H. G. and Sarah Ralın, of Lower Pottsgrove. Mr. and
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Mrs: Samuel Stettle Brant have two children : Louis Bickel and Sarah Rahn Brant.
Mr. Brant is a Democrat in politics. He started to farm for himself seven years ago, and now enjoys the reputation of being one of the most prosperous farmers in the neighborhood. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, and of the P. O. S. of A. of Pottstown.
H. G. Rahn, father of Mrs. Brant, is a farmer in Lower Pottsgrove township, and has been a lifelong resident of the township.
HORACE B. RIGHTER. The Righter family is of German origin, tracing the American ancestry to one of three brothers, who, with two sisters, came to Philadelphia. One of them lo- cated in Lower Merion township, settling on Mill creek, where he owned a grist mill. He was John, great-great-grandfather of Horace B. Righter. The Righters were Friends, the two sisters being preachers in the Society.
John Righter had a family of children, in- cluding Anthony Righter (great-grandfather). Anthony was a millwright by trade, residing in early life in Lower Merion, but living later in Whitemarsh township, on the property pur- chased by his son John. Anthony Righter mar- ried Catharine Taylor, the couple having nine children : John, Morris T., Isaac, Joseph, An- thony, Richard, Mary (Pontzler), Catharine and Elizabeth (Nuss). He died at the age of eighty-nine years.
John Righter (grandfather), was a native of Lower Merion, being a farmer and later en- gaged, near Spring Mill, in burning lime, hauling much of it to Philadelphia. After the construc- tion of the canal large quantities were shipped in that way, three hundred thousand bushels in one year. Later he retired from the lime busi- ness, and became a successful farmer at Spring Mill. Originally a Democrat, he became a Re- publican, was interested in the Uunderground Railroad and was generally active in neighbor- hood affairs. He died in 1869, aged eighty-three years, his remains being interred in Barren Hill cemetery. His wife was Elizabeth Le Gaux, and their children were: Peter L., Isaac (died
young), Joseph, Anthony P., John A., Charles C., Lindley V., George W., and Lucressa R. Mrs. Righter died in 1867, in the seventieth year of her age.
Peter Le Gaux (maternal great-grandfather), a native of France, came from the province of Lorraine to America in 1785. He was an attor- ney-at-law, having been admitted at Matz in his twentieth year, and at the supreme tribunal, Nantes, in 1768. He was a member of the Ma- sonic order, a member and correspondent of sev- eral academies of science and arts in Europe and America, a meteorologist and a man of con- siderable literary ability. In many respects Peter Le Gaux was a very remarkable character. He died at Spring Mill, September 27, 1827.
John A. Righter ( father), was born at Spring Mill, September 16, 1821. He attended neigh- borhood schools until seventeen years of age, re- maining with his father until 1847. Having mar- ried in 1845, he engaged in mercantile business until the war of the Rebellion, becoming inter- ested in the meantime in soapstone quarries in Lower Merion, which he operated for twelve years. Selling the farm and quarries to Howard Wood and Clement Griscom, he lived a retired life from 1876 to his death in 1900. Mr. Righter was a director in the Tradesmen's National Bank, in Conshohocken. An ardent Republican, he was poor director for three years, and for many years a school director in Whitemarsh. He was a member of Charity Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Norristown. Mr. Righter was mar- ried, December II, 1845, to Rebecco Kirkner, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Kirkner, of Barren Hill. They had four children : Daniel, Horace B., Joseph K., and Kate, now Mrs. Michael K. Wood, of Conshohocken, whose sons are Frank A. and John R. Wood, the last named being cashier in the Tradesmen's Bank of Con- shohocken.
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