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 86
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Mr. Lukens was married, 11 mo. 26, 1868, to Susan Foulke Corson, born 8 mo. 9, 1845, a daughter of Dr. Hiram and Ann J. (Foulke) Corson.
J. HENDERSON SUPPLEE. Andris Soup- lis (Supplee), the first ancestor and progenitor of this family in America, emigrated to this country from France in the year 1683, during the reign of Louis XIV, King of France. The Huguenots, or
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Protestants, suffered much persecution at the hands of the Catholics of that country, and for this reason Andris Souplis went to Holland, where he married a German woman. He and his wife joined the German emigrants who were going to Pennsylvania, and arrived in Germantown in Oc- tober, 1683. He is said to have been an officer in the French army. Andris Souplis was owner of real estate in Germantown in 1685. His name is in the list of land owners in Germantown made by Francis Daniel Pastorius, justice of the peace, dated October 24, 1685. The signatures of An- dris Souplis and Anneckie Souplis, (probably his first wife) are attached to the marriage certif- icate as witnesses to the marriage of Henry Frey to Anna Catherine Levering. The ceremony was before Francis Daniel Pastorius, justice of the peace of Germantown, and took place on the 26th day of 2d mo. Anno Domini, 1692. He was naturalized May 7, 1691. Andris Souplis was elected sheriff of Germantown. The first court of record was held Anno 1691, the 10th of the 8th mo. The court proceedings were held in the public meeting house of the Friends, before Francis Daniel Pastorius, bailiff. Andris Soup- lis's will was signed March 25, 1724, recorded March 20, 1726, Sec. No. 29, book E, page 26, in the office of register of wills, Philadelphia. This will refers to his wife Gertrude and five children, Bartholomew, Margaret, who married Peter Crayson ; Ann, who married Charles Yo- cum ; Andrew, and Jacob. His will gave his oc- cupation as that of a weaver, and his residence was in the township of Kingsessing. His execu- tors were his son Andrew, and his son-in-law Peter Crayson. The latter, however, died before the will was proved. This same will was wit- nessed by Anthony Klinkson and Dork Janson.
Gertrude Supplee was assessed in 1734 with forty acres of land in the township of Kingsess- ing. Her will, dated October 5, 1737, proved . November 20, 1738, is recorded in will book F, page 78, Philadelphia.
Andrew Supplee, son of Andris and Gertrude (Stritzinger) Supplee, was born about 1685 or 1686. He bought real estate in Upper Merion township, Philadelphia (now Montgomery)
county, on March 20, 1708, and again on July 28 of the same year. He bought an adjoining tract, making in all about one hundred and fifty acres. The first tract was bought from Charles Yocum and the second from Peter Yocum. This land was on the Schuylkill river, about fourteen miles northwest of Philadelphia, where are now located the Swede Furnaces. Andrew Supplee also pur- chased one hundred and fifty acres of land in Nor- riton township, of Isaac Norris. The deed for this property is recorded in deed book 5, page 358, Philadelphia county. About 1736 Andrew Sup- plee moved from his Upper Merion tract to the one at Norriton. On part of the Norriton tract is now located Norris City cemetery. His remains were placed in the vault adjoining the grounds of Supplee's school house. The remains have since been moved to Norris City cemetery.
There are no records of his marriage, but tra- dition says that his first wife was Anna Stack- house. Their first child, Hance, was born July 14, 1714. Andrew Supplee married a second time, and in his will she is named Debora. The children named in the will are: Jonah, Andrew, John, Sarah, Catharine, and Susanna. His will dated May 28, 1747, proved October 8, 1747, is recorded in the office of the register of wills, Philadelphia, in will book H. page 403.
Hance Supplee, of Worcester township, by will No. 25, dated 9th day 11th mo., 1770, proved January 12, 1771, devises to his wife Magdalena the use of two rooms and other privileges and ten pounds annually, during life. To son Andrew, one hundred and thirty pounds ; to four daughters, Rebecca, Hannah, Rachel and Mary, seven hun- dred and fifty pounds to be equally divided be- tween them; to Peter, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and John, seven hundred and fifty pounds to be equally divided. To Elizabeth and Debora, twen- ty-five shillings each, they having had seventy- five pounds before. Real estate, two tracts in Upper Merion township, eighty acres and sixty acres ; "also the tract I now live on and the one adjoining, (subject to a quit rent of fifty bushels of wheat annually) eldest son to have first choice, Andrew next. according to age; the real estate to be appraised. they paying the difference for
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distribution to the other heirs, to be paid to the six sons and daughters as they arrive to the age of twenty-one years ; three hundred pounds to be reserved for the use of his wife Magdalene during her old age; two-thirds to my sons and one-third to my daughters." Signed, Andrew Supplee. Peter Supplee, executor. Peter De Haven {brother-in-law) and Andrew Supplee, trustees, Will recorded in will book R, 25, page 37, at Philadelphia.
I. Andris Souplis married Gertrude Stritz- inger, and to this marriage had children, Barthol- omew, Margaret, Andrew, Ann, and Jacob. An- dris Souplis, father of these children, died in 1726.
II. Andrew Supplee, second son and third child of Andris and Gertrude (Stritzinger) Sup- plee, was born in 1685-86, and died in 1747. He married first. Anna Stackhouse ; his second wife was named Deborah, maiden name unknown. His children were: Hance, Jonah, Andrew, John, Sarah, Catharine and Susanna.
III. Hance Supplee, first child of Andrew Supplee, was born 7 mo. 14, 1714, and died 12 mo. 16, 1770. He married 8th mo. 14. 1736, old style, Magdalena De Haven, born IIth mo. 25. 1716, died 9 mo. 25. 1801 ; she was a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth DeHaven. To them were born the following children: Andrew, Elizabeth, Sarah, Deborah, Catherine. Peter, Abraham, Rebecca, Hannah, Rachel, Isaac, Jacob, John, and Mary.
IV. Andrew Supplee. first child of Hance and Magdalena (De Haven) Supplee, was born 9th mo. 13, 1737, and died Ioth mo. 22, 1806; he was twice married. first to Mary Zimmerman, and secondly to Rachel Davis. His children were Zimmerman, Hance, Susan, Rachel, Phœbe and Randolph.
V. Zimmerman Supplee, first child of Andrew and Mary Zimmerman Supplee, was born 12 mo. 2. 1770, and died 10th mo. 21, 1849. He mar- ried Hannah Henderson and had children : Alex- ander, Andrew, J. Henderson, Jane. and Mary Ann.
VI. Alexander Supplee, first son of Zimmer- man and Hannah (Henderson) Supplee, was born Ist mo, 1, 1803, and died 9th mo. 1, 1882; he
married Jane Rambo and had children, Mark, Andrew, Jonathan and Hannah.
VII. Andrew Supplee, second child of Alex- ander and Jane (Rambo) Supplee, was born 12th mo. 5. 1834, and died 2d mo. 17, 1900; married Amanda Cassel and had children, Elizabeth C., J. May, and Idora.
VII. Mark R. Supplee, son of Alex- ander and Jane (Rambo) Supplee, was born 4th mo. II, 1836. He married Hannah Baker, and had children : Florence, Benjamin, Baker, Lin- ford R., Frank A., Bertha E., Warren E., Mary C. and H. Ethel.
VI. J. Henderson Supplee, third son of Zim- merman and Hannah (Henderson) Supplee, was born April 26, 1809, and died October 19, 1893. He married Catherine F. Righter.
VII. J. Henderson Supplee, son of J. Hender- son and Catherine F. (Righter) Supplee, was born on the old Supplee homestead in Upper Merion township, Montgomery county, Pennsyl- vania, July 12, 1842.
His early mental training was obtained at the old Crooked Lane schoolhouse in Upper Merion, and when eleven years of age he entered Profes- sor John Loch's Academy at Norristown, which he attended for several terms, continuing to re- side under the parental roof and assisting in the work of the farm up to Auugst, 1862. He then enlisted in the Union army, in the Fifteenth Reg- iment Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Colonel Palmer, of Philadelphia, and Major Rosengarten, serving valiantly until the close of the war, having participated in the memorable battles of Antie- tam, Stony River. Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain. Upon his discharge at the close of hostilities, Mr. Supplee returned to Upper Me- rion township, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits on the homestead farm until 1873, when he purchased the old Gulf Mills in Upper Merion township, which had been built in 1747 and had furnished meal and flour to the Continental army during Washington's stay at Valley Forge. He successfully operated the old mills up to 1895, when they were destroyed by fire, and during the same year he purchased the Conshohocken flour and feed mills at Conshohocken, Pennsylvania,
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where he has since continued in the milling and grain business, having built up a large and in- creasing trade which has been the logical result of his straightforward and honorable business methods. In August, 1895. he associated with himself his two sons Albert Irvin and William Wagner Supplee, and under the firm name of J. Henderson Supplee & Sons the firm have made many important improvements to their mills which are now equipped with all the modern devices known to the art of milling.
J. Henderson Supplee was married in Phila- delphia by the mayor of that city on October 29, 1867, to Elizabeth Ellen Wagner, born April 3, 1838, a daughter of William and Abigail ( Reese) Wagner, and the issue of this marriage was four children : 1. An unnamed child who died in in- fancy. 2. Albert Irvin, born October 22, 1872. He was married on February 25. 1904, to Margaret Regina Stiteler, daughter of Edwin F. and Mar- garet Stiteler. 3. William Wagner, born October 12, 1874, was married on January 6, 1895, to Isa- bella Duncan Lennen, daughter of Thomas and Christina Lennen, and to this marriage were born the following named children : Elizabeth Wagner, born October 3, 1895: Catherine Findley, born February 9. 1807: William Wagner, Jr., born September 23. 1898; and Elsie Lennen Supplee, born September 25, 1900. 4. J. Henderson, born August 20, 1877. He was married July 12, 1901, to Hattie Storcks, who died in June, 1902, with- out issue.
Mr. Supplee and his family attend the old Gulf Christian church in Upper Merion township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania.
ELLWOOD J. WANNER, who has filled the position of business manager at the office of the Norristown Herald, No. 73 East Main street, since 1885. is a native of Norristown. He was born August 3. 1856. He is the son of Frederick Conrad and Sarah (Gash) Wanner, both de- ceased.
Mr. Wanner was educated in the public schools of Norristown. After leaving school he entered the Herald office to learn the printing business. On completing his trade he accepted a
clerical position in the office, from which he was promoted in due time to the position which he now holds.
Frederick C. Wanner (father ) died in 1870. His widow died in 1896. Ellwood J. Wanner, having lost his father at an early age, was thrown upon his own resources and became the principal support of the family. The other children of his parents were a sister, Margaret, who died in 1890, and a brother, Thomas, who died in infancy.
Mr. Wanner married, October 8. 1889, Miss Margaret J., daughter of David and Margaret (Glenn) Wilkins, of Conshohocken. Mr. and Mrs. Wanner have one son, Frederick Conrad Wanner, born October 16, 1890.
Mr. Wanner is an active member of Norris Lodge, No. 430, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and also of Norristown Encampment, No. 37, of the same order. He has since 1884 been the efficient secretary of Norris Lodge, and since 1896 the scribe of Norristown Encampment. Mr. Wanner is actively interested in everything that relates to the welfare of Odd Fellowship. He has participated prominently in the arrangements for the erection of the new Odd Fellows' Building on West Main street, Norristown, which is to be the future home of the local lodges of the order-the Norris, the Montgomery and the Curtis, as well as of the Encampment, and of the Daughters of Rebekah, the latter the ladies' branch of Odd Fellowship.
Mr. Wanner is a member of the Press League of Bucks and Montgomery counties, and himself and Mrs. Wanner have frequently attended its outings. He is also a member of the Montgom- ery County Historical Society, and takes much interest in its work. In politics Mr. Wanner is a lifelong Republican, active and earnest in sup- port of its principles, and always contributing by his vote and his influence to the success of its can- didates.
Mr. and Mrs. Wanner are members of the Central Presbyterian church. He is one of its tritstees. Mr. Wanner is a selfmade man in the best sense of the term, his success in life being the result of his integrity, his ability and his strict attention to business, which have
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secured him the respect and confidence of all who know him. In all that relates to the success of the business enterprise in which he is engaged he is ever on the alert, and he has contributed greatly to the high reputation which the establishment enjoys, as the oldest and most complete in the county. He is the secretary of the Norristown Herald, the corporation recently formed by Mor- gan R. Wills, the proprietor. Mr. Wanner is a resident of the Tenth ward of Norristown, own- ing a handsome residence on Main street on the Hamilton Terrace tract.
THOMAS H. LIVEZEY, who holds a prom- inent and responsible position at the Pencoyd Iron Works of A. & P. Roberts & Co., is the only child of Samuel and Mary ( Roberts) Livezey. He was born at Plymouth Meeting, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1879.
Samuel Livezey, father, is the son of Thomas and Rachel (Richardson) Livezey. He was born at Plymouth Meeting, on the homestead now oc- cupied by the family of T. Ellwood Livezey, his deceased brother, March 9, 1835. He was edu- cated at Friends' School, Plymouth Meeting, and also studied at Andalusia Academy in Bucks county. He was employed for a time on the farm, and then went to Chicago, where he was employed for several years in the large meat pack- ing establishments of that city. He married, No- vember 7, 1877, Mary, daughter of Hugh and Alice A. Roberts, whose sketch appears else- where in this work. The couple returned to Chi- cago, but came east on account of the illness of his father in about a year. His father died after a long illness, and their child was born, and they returned to Chicago, remaining there until 1884, when they returned east on account of the illness ot his mother, with whom they made their home until her death, May 21, 1890. They removed soon afterwards to Norristown, erecting later a house at No. 908 West Marshall street, Norris- town, in which Samuel and Mary Livezey still reside.
Thomas Hugh Livezey was educated at Friends' School at Plymouth Meeting, and after the removal of the family to Norristown at the
public schools of that borough, graduating from the Norristown high school in the month of June, 1897. He immediately secured a position in the Pencoyd Iron Works, where he began at the foot of the ladder, as it were, and worked his way by steady attention to business to his present position.
Thomas H. Livezey married, October 1, 1902, Joanna M., daughter of William, deceased, and Caroline R. Miller. The father of Mrs. Livezey was a teacher and later a farmer. Some years prior to his death he went into the tobacco busi- ness in Philadelphia with his brothers, and was very successful therein. The mother of Mrs. Livezey is a member of an old family of Gwynedd Friends, her father being Charles Roberts, a highly respected citizen of Whitpain township, who resided near Blue Bell. (For further par- ticulars of the Miller family, see sketch of Dr. William G. Miller, elsewhere.)
Thomas H. Livezey is a member of the So- ciety of Friends, as is also his wife. He has been for several years the clerk of Norristown Pre- parative Meeting. In politics he is a Republican, but has never participated very actively beyond depositing his ballot on election day.
(For further particulars of the Livezey fam- ily see sketch of T. Ellwood Livezey, elsewhere in this work.)
CHARLES A. COX. The Cox family have been for several generations prominently identi- fied with the commercial and civil affairs of Whitemarsh township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. They are of English origin, and their ancestors were members of the Society of Friends.
Charles Cox, father of Charles A. Cox, was a native of Whitemarsh township. He spent his boyhood days under the parental roof, attending the schools of the neighborhood during the winter months until he reached the age of eighteen years, when he took up the practical duties of life on his own account. Having engaged in farming during his boyhood days he pursued this occupation for some length of time with varying success, and finally engaged in the limestone quarrying and lime burning business, in which undertaking he
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met with a well-merited degree of success. He was a progressive and enterprising business man, and during his day aided materially in the de- velopment and improvement of the means and methods of the lime burning industry in Mont- gomery county. He was the first man to ship lime by railway cars from this section of the country, and it is authentically stated that he con- signed the first carload of lime that was shipped into the city of Philadelphia. He was one of the leading lime manufacturers of his day and by energy and perseverance, coupled with straightforward business transactions, he es- tablished a successful business, which has ever since been held in the possession of the family. In his political affiliations he was a Whig and Repub- lican, and was ever a zealous worker in the inter- ests of the parties. Mr. Cox married Elizabeth Detterer, a member of an old Montgomery county family, of German descent, and the issue of this union was three children : Charles A., born April 23, 1846, mentioned at length hereinafter ; Clar- ence died in infancy ; and Elizabeth B., who be- came the wife of Robert Argue. Charles Cox, the father of these children, and his wife, Eliza- betli (Detterer) Cox, are both deceased.
Charles A. Cox was born in Whitemarslı township, Montgomery county, on the old home- stead, April 23, 1846. He acquired the rudi- ments of education in the common schools of the township, and pursued a course of advanced studies at Treemount Seminary, Norristown, Pennsylvania. His first occupation after complet- ing his studies was that of farming, to which he devoted his attention for several years. He then engaged in the butchering business, which he con- ducted successfully for a number of years, after which he turned his attention to the occupation of drover, buying and selling catttle. His next bus- iness venture was the quarrying and burning of lime, which line of trade had been pursued by his family for three generations, and his efforts were attended with a fair degree of prosperity. Hc supplied this commodity to builders both in the city and country, and the agriculturists also used a large quantity in the cultivation of their farms. He is an active and public spirited citizen, and
during his entire business career he has at all times been scrupulously just, and his reputation has always been regarded as synonymous with honor and integrity. He has served in the capac- ity of school director, was at one time a member of the health board, and his name has been fre- quently mentioned as a candidate for office in the town council and for various other positions since his residence in Norristown. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Baptist church of Norristown, and a prominent member of the Masonic order, being affiliated with the Com- mandery. He was a victim of the Exeter wreck on May 12, 1899, in which so many citizens of Norristown and vicinity lost their lives. He suf- tered severe injuries, and after several trials of his suit for damages in the Montgomery county courts he received a favorable verdict.
On February 1, 1866, Mr. Cox married Mag- gie H. Davis, born April 29, 1847, daughter of Francis and Catharine (Hellings) Davis, the former named having been one of the prosperous farmers of Plymouth township. Their children are: I. Charles C., born November 4, 1866; he married, February 6, 1894, Katherine S. Scho- field, born September 16, 1872, daughter of Se- ville and Catherine (Sommerset ) Seville, and the children of this union are: Charles A., born June 8, 1895 ; and Catherine S., born in June, 1902. 2. Frank D., born August 8, 1868; married, April 25, 1888, Anna MI. Danehower, born February 23, 1870, daughter of John and Sarah (Leister) Danehower, and their children are Vernon D., born March 16, 1889; and Marion, born Janı- ary 16, 1892. 3. B. Wilson, hereinafter further mentioned. 4. Bertha E. 5. Mary A. M.
The first representative of the Argue family in this country was the grandfather of Robert . Argue, who married Elizabeth Cox. He came to this state from England, where he had been en- gaged in business as a weaver of cotton cloth. He married and had several children, among them David, who married Willamina Coulston. The children of David and Willamina Argue were William Frederick, Jemima, Hannah and Robert, the husband of Mrs. Argue. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 27, 1847.
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He was educated in the public schools of that city, and also studied under private tutors. On finishing his school pursuits, he became an ap- prentice to the trade of pattern making, and fol- lowed that occupation, but of late years he has been occupied in the promotion of various im- portant enterprises. He and his family have a beautiful summer home in Whitemarsh township, where they are residing most of the year, and they also have a very desirable home on Broad street, in Philadelphia. In politics Mr. Argue is a Re- publican, although he has never been a candidate for public office. He is a member of the Ma- sonic order, of the Knights of Sparta, and of several clubs in Philadelphia. He and his family attend the Baptist church. He married, in 1870, Miss Bertha Cox, daughter of Charles and Eliza- beth Cox. The couple have one child, Elizabeth B., born in 1871, who married Robert Judge, of Philadelphia. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Judge have three children-Amy E., James R., and Gladys B.
ALGERNON BROOKE ROBERTS, attor- ney-at-law and senator from Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, was born at Pencoyd Farm, in that county, August 12, 1875. He is the son of George B. and Miriam P. (Williams) Roberts.
George B. Roberts (father) was for many years the president of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and was one of the best known resi- dents of Montgomery county. He was born at Pencoyd Farm, on which he resided all his life, and received his professional training in the Poly- technic Institute at Troy, New York. He imme- diately began life as a railroad engineer, working himself up to the high position which he attained by incessant diligence and superior ability as a civil engineer and railroad manager. He began work as a rodman on the mountain division of. the Pennsylvania Railroad, and in 1852, while he was still but nineteen years of age, was made as- sistant engineer of the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad, aiding in the construction and location of the Sunbury and Erie, the North Pennsylvania and other important lines, being employed as chief engineer on several of them. In 1862 he returned to the Pennsylvania Railroad as assistant to the
president, J. Edgar Thomson, continuing in this position for seven years. His service was so valuable that he was made fourth vice-president of the road in 1869. He was soon afterward made a second vice-president, and on June 3, 1874. when Colonel Thomas A. Scott succeeded J. Edgar Thomson in the presidency, Mr. Roberts was promoted to the post of first vice-president. This was a very responsible position, great inter- ests being confided to his care. Colonel Scott died in May, 1880, and Mr. Roberts was chosen to succeed him, and held the position by annual re-election until his death, in 1897. He was twice married, his first wife being Sarah Lapsley Brin- ton, and his second wife (mother of Senator Roberts ) being Miriam Pyle Williams. George B. Roberts was the son of Isaac Warner Roberts, who married first Emily Thomas, and had four daughters, and married (second) Rosalinda Evans Brooke, and had two sons, Algernon, died November 5, 1868, unmarried, and George B. Roberts, born in 1833. George B. Roberts was of Welsh descent, his ancestor having come from Bala, in Wales, more than two centuries ago. He gave the name to the railroad station near the homestead.
Isaac Warner Roberts (grandfather), born March 15, 1789. died September 19, 1859. He was the son of Algernon Roberts and Tacy War- ner, his wife, who had eleven children in all. Algernon Roberts was born in Merion, January 24. 1751. He was lieutenant colonel of the Sev- enth Battalion, Philadelphia County Militia, 1777, and justice of the peace for Upper and Lower Merion townships. He married Tacy Warner, daughter of Colonel Isaac Warner, of Blockley, January 18. 1751. She was descended from William Warner, of Draycott, Blockley parish, Worcestershire, England, son of John Warner, who came to Pennsylvania, prior to Penn's proprietorship of the province. The parents of Algernon Roberts were John and Re- becca (Jones) Roberts, who had twelve children.
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