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 83
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Seven children, four sons and three daugh- ters, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Bate : I. Tillie E., born March 9, 1868. 2. Alice Estella, born December 14, 1869, who married H. A. Pennington, October 23, 1889, and had one child, Alice M. Pennington. 3. Howard Middle- ton, born April 25, 1872; married, February II, 1902, Amelia Leitenburger. 4. Richard H., Jr., born February 8, 1875, married, May 30, 1900, Annie M. Wafer, and their children are: Helen Wilmer, and Richard H., 3d. 5. Annie E., born August 28, 1877. 6. Wilmer Middleton, born No- vember 19, 1879. died January 10, 1896. 7. John S., born November 24. 1881, died April 12, 1887. Alice Estella (Bate) Pennington, wife of H. A. Pennington and mother of Alice M. Pennington, died one year after her marriage. She had been the assistant librarian of the Sunday school con- nected with the Methodist Episcopal church of
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Conshohocken, was an ardent Sunday school worker, and a zealous Christian woman. The members of her class attended her funeral services in a body and assisted in the last rites of laying to rest one who had been beloved by all who knew her. The following are the resolutions passed at a special meeting of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday School Association of Con- shohocken, and presented to the family :
The sad tidings have come to us that Mrs. Alice (Bate) Pennington has passed away from earth. For years she was a scholar in our Sab- bath school, and afterwards was one of our li- brarians. She was uniformly faithful, cheerful, and kindly, never refusing any work assigned to her, and performing all duties with a glad and loving heart. We are grieved to think we shall see her face no more. We weep with her husband and bereaved family, and a large circle of friends who mourn her loss; we lament that the happy home so soon be darkened, that one so young and lovely in life should receive the summons of death; we cherish her memory, we emulate her virtues, and we lay this humble tribute of affec- tion upon her untimely grave.
Resolved, That a copy of the above expres- sion of sympathy be given to the family, and sent to the Norristown Herald and Conshohocken Record for publication.
Signed: Rev. T. M. Griffith, J. W. Drum- mond, Fannie Herron, Clara Ulrick, Sallie E. Keys.
The funeral of Wilmer Middleton Bate oc- curred January 13, 1896, from the home of his parents in Conshohocken. The services were con- ducted in the Presbyterian church by Rev. Mr. Miller, of the Methodist Episcopal church, Nine- teenth and Christian streets, Philadelphia ; Rev. J. W. Bradley, pastor of the Conshohocken Methodist Episcopal church, and Rev. J. T. Sheppard, pastor of the Conshohocken Presby- terian church of which the deceased was a mem- ber. The pall bearers were : Harry Buckle, Fred- erick Eickfeldt, Bertram Caine, George Glen- zinger, James Machonachy, and Lewis Dunlap, all friends of the deceased. The floral tributes from relatives and friends were numerous and mag- nificent.
The following are the resolutions passed by the committee of the Conshohocken Public School upon the death of Wilmer Middleton Bate :
WHEREAS. In his all wise providence our Heavenly Father has seen fit to call from among us Wilmer Middleton Bate, a fellow-member of our Literary Society, and a member of the first class of the division of the High School. We must therefore bow in humble and contrite sub- mission to the will of Him "who doeth all things well," and await that final day when all who sleep shall wake, and when all that is dark and mys- terious in His providence here, shall be made plain; therefore, be it
Resolved, That in his early death, the com- munity has lost one, who gave promise of becom- ing one of its foremost citizens, the Society a true, efficient and highly esteemed member, the school a conscientious and dutiful pupil, the class its brightest scholar, and the parents a model chris- tian young man, and an illustrious son.
Resolved, That we sincerely sympathize with the deeply stricken family, and tender them our heartfelt sympathy in this their sad hour of affliction. No word of condolence can express the deep feeling of sorrow which pervades in our hearts, but it is the will of the divine power who orders all things for the best, and we commend them for consolation to Him who alone can com- fort the afflicted and support them in the time of their sore distress.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions of respect be entered on the minutes of the Society, published in the Conshohocken Recorder, and a copy sent to the bereaved family.
By order of committee. Signed by Prof. J. H. Landis, Eva V. Rowley, Edmund K. Will- iams, Ivy L. Gilbert, William Bailie.
FRANZ ANTON HINDERBERGER, a well known citizen of Plymouth township, was born August 31, 1850 in Waschbeiren, Wurtem- berg, Germany. He is the son of Joseph and Anna Mary Hinderberger. Mr. Hinderberger came to America in 1867 and settled in Browns- burg. Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and later lo- cated in West Philadelphia, where he engaged in butchering, and in 1875 removed to Newtown, and later to Richboro, both in Bucks county, and in 1882 to Blue Bell, in Whitpain township, and
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followed farming. In 1884 he purchased the farm on which he now resides (the Charles Roberts place) and has lived there ever since. He is a member of the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church of Centre Square, and is a Dem- ocrat in politics.
Mr. Hinderberger married in 1875 Carolina Beisswanger of Philadelphia, daughter of John J. and Catherine (Holzworth) Beisswanger. Their children : Anna Catharine, married Alex- ander Vogel, they having one son, Anton Alex- ander; Henrietta Danfield, married Robert C. Snyder, the couple residing in Philadelphia and having one son, Ellwood Anton Snyder ; Mag- gie Elizabeth (deceased) ; Sadie Fredericka and Lillian Carolina.
The father of Mrs. Carolina, wife of Franz A. Hinderberger, was John J. Beisswanger, who was born in Germany in 1814. He died in Philadel- phia in 1899. He was a carpet weaver, and fol- lowed that trade in Philadelphia. Catherine Holtz- worth, his wife, was of German parentage, her father, a blacksmith, having died on the passage to this country. Mrs. Hinderberger's paternal grandfather came to this country with six chil- dren, four sons and two daughters, all of whom are dead but one, Christian Beisswanger, now living in Philadelphia.
ROBERT LOVETT, for a number of years one of the supervisors of Plymouth township, was born May 27, 1863, in Lower Merion town- ship. He is the son of Joseph and Letitia (Hanna) Lovett.
Joseph Lovett (father) was born in Ireland in 1830. He was the son of Goodman Lovett, of county Tyrone. Joseph Lovett emigrated to this country at an early age and attended school in Philadelphia. He followed the occupation of boating on the Schuylkill Canal for many years, making trips between Port Clinton and Philadel- phia. At the age of fifteen years he was made master of a canal boat. In 1859 he located at Spring Mill, in Whitemarsh township, and was occupied as a pilot for thirty-one years. From 1861 to 1864 he was in the employ of the United
States government on transports. He has in his possession at his present home on the German- town road in Plymouth township a cannon shot fired from the Confederate works along the Po- tomac river, which struck his craft near Alex- andria, Virginia. In 1888 he abandoned canal boating and bought his present home, where he has resided ever since. He is an active Democrat in politics, and was road supervisor for five years. He married twice, his first wife being Catharine McBride, daughter of Patrick McBride. They had five children, all of whom are deceased. Jo- seph Lovett married later Letitia Hanna, of Lower Merion, daughter of William Hanna. The couple have six children, five sons and one daugh- ter, as follows: Robert, William, married Susan Kochel; Benjamin, married Mabel May; Mary Ann, married Charles Wolf; Joseph, deceased ; Isabella, deceased, Joseph and John. The par- ents, as well as the children, are members of the Catholic church.
John Lovett (grandfather) was of Irish birth and came to Philadelphia in early life. He worked on Girard College during its erection. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Catholic church. He married Elizabeth Mc- Bride in Ireland. She was the daughter of John McBride. Their children numbered eight as fol- lows : Patrick. John, Terence, Alexander, Mary Ann, Thomas, Joseph and Benjamin. All are de- ceased except Joseph and Benjamin, the latter living in Philadelphia.
Robert Lovett attended the neighborhood schools in Conshohocken and Lower Merion town- ship. He was in the hotel business in Consho- hocken, and later engaged in farming in Lower Merion, moving from there to the Kolb farm in Plymouth, where he has resided since. He is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, af- filiating with Minnie Kannie Tribe of Norris- town; also of the Knights of the Golden Eagle of Cold Point. He is a Democrat in politics, and has been road supervisor for several years. He is a Catholic. Mr. Lovett married Josephine Warren, of West Philadelphia, on September 6, 1885. She is the daughter of William and Jan-
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etta (McAnneny) Warren. Mrs. Lovett's fa- ther came to America from Germany, and was a carpenter by trade. He was the father of nine children, five of whom are living, as follows : John G., Mary Anne, Jennie, James Allen, Jose- phine. The children of Robert and Josephine Lovett are: Letitia, born February 10, 1887; Jo- seph, born May 26, 1888; Katie, born December 12, 1890; Mary, born April 16, 1892; Nellie, born January 31, 1893; Anna Mabel, born June 10, 1894; Jennie, born December 2, 1896; William R., born February 8, 1898; John, born January 14, 1900: James Allen, born August 25, 1902.
ELIAS K. FREED, one of the best known business men of Montgomery county, Pennsyl- vania, was born in Franconia township, a few miles distant from his present home, July 1, 1830. He is the son of John Fry and Katharine ( Kolb) Freed. He attended free and pay schools of the district, one of them being a German school taught by his relative, Jacob S. Freed, a man of considerable learning and ability. Another of Elias K. Freed's teachers was Enos Freed Ger- hart, also a relative. These facts prove that the Freeds were not an illiterate family, but, on the contrary, that they knew how to appreciate learn- ing at its true value. Education at that day had its limitations, however, one of these being time.
At the age of fourteen years, Elias K. Freed left school and learned the trade of shoemaking. After serving an apprenticeship of several years he made that his occupation for twelve years longer. In 1857, having accumulated some cap- ital, as well as established his credit on a firm basis, being known among his neighbors as a man of enterprise and energy, he began business on his own account in the retail lumber trade at North Wales, opening on January I, of that year. The North Pennsylvania Railroad was then being completed, and his foresight was shown in his efforts to make North Wales a station of more than ordinary importance. Always on the alert for improvements, Mr. Freed has kept abreast of the times, and has done much towards estab- lishing the prosperity of the place. At the time
of the opening of the new railroad and the estab- lishment of Mr. Freed in business, there was but one house of any importance in North Wales, that of Mr. Hurst, now renovated and consider- ably improved, known as the Main Street Hotel. Mr. Freed remained in the lumber business for four years as an individual operator. He took as partners Jonas and David Moyer, which arrange- ment continued for several years. In the mean- time Mr. Freed interested himself in the milling business, and secured an establishment at North Wales. He introduced improved methods of manufacturing flour and feed. In the course of time Mr. Freed, having bought out the interests of the Moyers, took his son, Rhine Russell, into the firm, and also his son-in-law, which partner- ship existed as the E. K. Freed Milling Com- pany until July 1, 1901, when the interests of the firm were purchased by the Eastern Milling and Export Company, Mr. E. K. Freed continuing to operate the establishment for that corporation.
Mr. Freed has always taken an active interest in local affairs, recognizing local needs and en- deavoring to advance the interests of the com- munity by every means in his power. He has encouraged local improvements, including the Water Company and the Electric Light Plant. In politics Mr. Freed is a Republican, but he has never aspired to any office beyond those merely local in their character.
Mr. Freed married, in December, 1859, Eliz- abeth Shutt, of near Harleysville. Their chil- dren : Sallie F., married Franklin Slaughter Krie- bel, and resides at North Wales, the couple hav- ing one child ; Rhine Russell, engaged as chief coiner at the United States Mint in Philadelphia, and resides at North Wales. He has been en- gaged with his father in local enterprises, and has long been recognized as a party leader in Montgomery county. He was elected register of wills on the Republican ticket in 1899. He has recently purchased a controlling interest in the North Wales Record. Mr. Freed is a very active and successful party worker.
The original mill at North Wales was built by J. H. Egner in 1860, and was then operated
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as a grist mill and distillery. It was forty by sixty feet in dimensions, and three stories in height, with an attic. At the time of finishing the mill the proprietor was obliged to sell it, and E. K. Freed and the Moyers became the pur- chasers. The new firm removed the machinery connected with the distillery, and changed that part of the building into a planing mill, using the other portion as a grist mill. In March, 1862, the building was destroyed by fire, but it was quickly rebuilt for a merchant and grist mill, with five run of stones and a forty-horse-power en- gine. In 1866 Jonas D. Moyer withdrew from the firm, and in 1868 David Moyer withdrew also, selling his interest to Henry W. Moyer. E. K. Freed & Company then operated the mill on the old plan until 1876, when they put in the new roller process. In 1881 Mr. Moyer sold his in- terest to Mr. Freed, who gave a third interest in the business to his son-in-law, Frank S. Kriebel. The mill was then rebuilt for manufacturing flour by the roller process, and its capacity greatly in- creased at the same time. It was the first roller process mill in the county, and the third in the state. Later, Mr. Freed gave his son, Rhine Rus- sell Freed, a one-third interest in the business.
Mr. Freed has been for many years the presi- dent of the First National Bank of Lansdale, and has also filled many other important financial and other positions. He is highly respected in the community in which he lives, and for whose-wel- fare he has so long been actively interested.
MISS AMANDA STOUT. The Stout fanl- ily are old settlers in the lower end of Mont- gomery county, Pennsylvania. Three brothers are said to have come to America together, namely : Jacob, Christian and Hosea. They were natives of Germany, and came from one of the Rhine provinces. Christian went south and pros- pered, rearing a large family. Hosea settled in the state of New Jersey, and became the ancestor of a numerous family. Jacob settled in Upper Dublin township, in what is now Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and it is from him that the Stout family in this country originated. He was
a farmer by occupation. He married and reared a family. One of his children was Peter, great- grandfather of Miss Amanda Stout. He also became a farmer, adding to that occupation the business of a drover, in which he was very suc- cessful. He married and reared a number of children. One of his sons was George, who was born on the homestead in Upper Dublin township. He was educated in the schools of the vicinity, and followed the business of farming throughout his life. The father of Peter Stout of this review married Hannah Rapine, of a family long resi- dent in this vicinity of Barren Hill, also in Mont- gomery county. The couple had the following children, all of whom are now deceased: John, Agnes, George, Caleb and Peter, second cousin of the subject of this sketch.
Peter Stout was born on the Upper Dublin homestead, April 1, 1826, the farm being located in three townships. Cheltenham, Springfield and Upper Dublin, and being known as "Edge Hill," from the chain of elevations so named in the lower part of Montgomery county. He was educated in the public schools, and on leaving school learned the trade of stone mason, which he followed for a number of years, and then turned his attention to farming, which occupied him until his retirement from active labors a few years before his death. He died August 25, 1900, in Springfield township, to which he had removed and purchased a farm in 1868.
In politics Mr. Stout was an active Democrat, and kept close to his party affiliations, esteeming it a virtue to hold fast under all circumstances to his political principles. He served as assessor of the township for the remarkably long period of twenty-one years, and his records of valuations were never called in question by property owners, he being a man of good judgment and of sterling honesty. He was kind and considerate to those around him, and was highly esteemed for his ex. cellent qualities. Enjoying the confidence of his friends and neighbors, they still delight in recall- ing his many admirable traits of character, his friendliness toward all with whom he came in contact, and his devotion to the interests of the
Amanda Stout
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community in which he was so valued a men- ber. Fraternally Mr. Stout was a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He attended the Reformed church at Flourtown.
Mr. Stout never married, but had as his house- keeper and companion Miss Amanda Stout, a second cousin. He left to her at his death the bulk of his property, and she resides on the Springfield homestead. Miss Stout is a person of rare womanly qualities, an excellent manager, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know her.
JOHN S. FRITZ, of Douglass township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, a successful and enterprising agriculturist, whose extensive operations have yielded him goodly returns, is a descendant of a family who were among the early settlers of Berks county, Pennsylvania. He was born in the township in which he now resides, Douglass, November 24, 1846, a son of Joseph and Mary (Saucerman) Fritz and grandson of John Fritz.
John Fritz (grandfather) came with his par- ents to Berks county when a mere child. He was educated in the common schools adjacent to his home, and later served an apprenticeship at the trade of blacksmith, which he followed dur- ing the active years of his life. Several years prior to his death, he removed to Douglass township, Montgomery county. He. was a Democrat in politics, the principles of which party he firmly believed in and upheld. He married a Miss Sands, of Berks county, and their children were : Daniel, Samuel, John, Sarah A., a child who died in infancy, and Joseph.
Joseph Fritz (father) was born in Douglass township, Montgomery county, in 1804. He was indebted to the common schools of his township for his education, and after laying aside his books he took up the trade of tinsmith, which line of work he continued at for a number of years, but later turned his attention to farming. Ile ad- hered to the principles laid down by Thomas Jef- ferson, and was active in his support of the can- didates of that party, but never sought or held
public office. He was a man of irreproachable character, genial and kindly in disposition, and won and retained the friendship of all people who came in contact with him. He married Miss Mary Saucerman, deceased, a daughter of John Saucerman, a farmer of Berks county. The issue of this marriage was as follows: Amelia, who died in early life; Levi, who died in childhood ; Willoughby, Henry, Joseph, Mary A., and John S. After a life of usefulness and activity, Joseph Fritz (father) died. He and his family attended the Lutheran church.
The common schools of Douglass township, his birthplace, afforded John S. Fritz an oppor- tunity of obtaining a practical education, which is so essential to success in life. He chose farm- ing as an occupation, which he has continued ever since, and in addition to this conducts a feed mill in the same township. He also has a fine fruit orchard from which he realizes a goodly harvest, and the fruit being of a superior quality finds a ready market and good price. He manages both his farm and mill in a practical way, and well de- serves the success which has attended his efforts. Like his forefathers, he is a stanch Democrat, and a regular attendant at the Lutheran church. The respect in which he is held in the community is evidenced by the fact of his having been chosen to fill the position of school director, the duties of which office he discharged creditably and ef- ficiently.
Mr. Fritz married Naomi Shanley, a daughter of David Shanley, a farmer of Berks county. By this union the following named children were born, all of whom are unmarried : Joseph N., Ed- mund W., Ida C., Mary E., John H., Emma N., and James Fritz.
J. WELLINGTON GODSHALK. The founder of the American branch of the Godshalk family, represented in the present generation by J. Wellington Godshalk, an enterprising business man and an esteemed citizen of Towamencin township, was Garrett Godshalk (great-grand- father), who was one of the pioneer settlers of Towamencin township. Montgomery county,
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clearing up a tract of land which he later culti- vated and resided on. Although of foreign birth, a native of Germany, he took an active interest in the affairs of his adopted country, to which he ever remained loyal and true. He believed in the doctrines of the Mennonite church, and con- tributed liberally toward the erection of the first church of that faith in Montgomery county. By his marriage he became the father of a number of children.
Garrett Godshalk, Jr. (grandfather) was born on the homestead in Towamencin township. After completing a common school education he took up farming, which line of work he pursued throughout the active years of his career. In connection with this he was a minister of the Mennonite church. He was a man of honorable, upright principles, and in every relation of life performed his duty faithfully and well. His po- litical affiliations were with the Democratic party. He married Annie Fry, a native of Towamencin township, who bore him the following named chil- dren : William, Jonas, Mary, Margaret, Barbara and Daniel.
Daniel Godshalk (father) was born on the old homestead in Towamencin township, in 1817. He was indebted to the common schools of the neighborhood for his education, and on attaining the years when it was incumbent upon him to earn his own livelihood took up milling, which he followed throughout his lifetime. He was a practical, thoroughgoing man of business, and his reliable methods brought to him a large de- gree of success. He gave his support to the can- didates and measures of the Republican party, to which great organization he gave his allegiance upon attaining his majority. By his marriage to Miss Angeline Weaver, deceased, a daughter of a prominent farmer of Towamencin township, the following named children were born : Emma, wife of Newton Johnson; and J. Wellington, mentioned at length hereinafter. Daniel God- shalk (father) died in 1897.
J. Wellington Godshalk was born in Wor- cester township, Montgomery county, Pennsyl- vania, May 11, 1864. His mother died when he
was eleven years of age, and therefore his edu- cational advantages were exceedingly limited, as he left school at that time. He then went on the farm with his uncle, assisting in the work to the best of his ability, and remained there until he was sixteen years old. He then served an ap- prenticeship at the trade of carpenter, becoming a proficient and expert mechanic, and this calling he has followed ever since in Towamencin town- ship, where he now resides, and to which he re- moved in the early part of his business career. He has erected a large number of houses in vari- ous other townships besides the one he resides in, all of which reflect great credit on his ability and skill. He uses nothing but the best material in the construction of his houses, is careful and painstaking in his labor, even down to the minut- est details, and in this way has won and retained an enviable reputation along the line of his call- ing. He is a Republican in politics, and has been the incumbent of several minor township offices. He is an active member of the Order of Eagles.
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