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 88
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Colonel Hartranft, learning that two of his children were dying, obtained leave of absence for a few days and returned home to find them already buried. While he was thus absent twenty days from his command, it was sent under Lieu- tenant-Colonel Bell on the expedition to Camden,
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South Carolina, on April 16, a movement under- taken as a feint to draw the attention of the enemy from the attack of General Wood. It was entirely successful, though it cost the Fifty-first fearful hardships and some losses, the killed, wounded and missing numbering thirty men. Camden was the only engagement in which Hart- ranft's command participated at any time from which he was absent.
Early in August Burnside's force of eight thousand men was suddenly ordered to come northward to the rescue of Mcclellan's disorgan- ized and dispirited army, which had just been repulsed before Richmond. Here Reno's brig- ade, including Hartranft's regiment, did efficient service, covering the retreat of the army on Washington and the north. At Chantilly, on September 1, two days after, they gathered fresh laurels, effectually guarding the capital from at- tack and compelling Lee to make a long detour in his advance on Maryland and Pennsylvania.
At Antietam the Fifty-first won undying fame, but at a frightful cost. In the charge on the bridge the three principal officers dashed over with their men, but with the loss of Lieutenant- Colonel Bell, killed, and Captain William J. Bol- ton, desperately wounded, and also the sacrifice of many other valuable lives. The actual cas- ualities were twenty-one killed and fifty-eight wounded, whose names are in the report, although the official account places the number of both at one hundred and twenty-five. In making his re- port to McClellan, Burnside commended Hart- ranft's bravery, skill, and faithful service, and strongly urged that he be promoted to the rank of brigadier-general.
The army now lay encamped on the Rappa- hannock through the winter. Early in the spring of 1863, General Burnside, at his own request, was relieved of the command of the Army of the Potomac, and with the Ninth Corps, temporarily under the orders of General Parke, was sent to make a diversion in favor of General Grant, who was then besieging Vicksburg. Accordingly Colonel Hartranft and the Fifty-first started west by railroad early in April, via Cincinnati, and for
a short time were posted in detachment at vari- ous points in Kentucky to protect Unionists against guerrillas. In June, Hartranft and his regiment were ordered to the Mississippi to oper- ate on the Big Black in the rear of Vicksburg, to keep the Confederate General Johnston from re- lieving that city. During the subsequent marches of General Sherman against Jackson, Colonel Hartranft, then in command of the brigade, was prostrated by the enervating climate and com- pelled to go to the hospital.
The regiment was quickly recruited by new men and the re-enlistment of veterans. The reg- iment assembled at Annapolis, where in the ab- sence of Burnside the corps, to the number of twenty thousand men, was assigned to Colonel Hartranft, to whom all new regiments were or- dered to report, and to whose supervision was committed the work of equipment and reorganiza- tion. Grant was placed at the head of the whole military force of the Union, and in person as- sumed the command of the army of the Potomac. Burnside's Ninth Corps, to which Hartranft's command was attached, was half composed of raw troops. This independent force, though not re- corded as an integral part of that great invading army, was placed between Hancock's Second and' Warren's Fifth Corps, on the Rapidan, and. ad- vancing down the peninsula, encountered Lee for the first time on May 6, in the battle of the Wilderness.
Commanding a brigade, Hartranft was acting under Wilcox, and, being ordered to attack the unseen enemy, he perceived the impossibility of accomplishing anything to repay the sacrifice of life. He conveyed his views to Burnside, who seeing the reason for it, countermanded the at- tack. During this battle Hartranit was every- where in the front. About this time Hartranft became a brigadier-general. At the battle of Spottsylvania, a few days later, it became the duty of Hartranft's brigade to check large reinforce- ments which the enemy threw on that part of the line. This involved desperate fighting, always at a disadvantage, and his losses were heavy in killed, wounded, and a few prisoners taken by the
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enemy. In these two encounters the Fifty-first lost nearly two hundred men in killed, wounded and missing.
At Cold Harbor Hartranft's brigade was or- dered to charge and take a line of works, which was accomplished. At this battle Colonel Schall was killed, also Captain Bisbing and many others. On the 16th of June, Grant's army crossed the James. The extent to which Hartranft's brigade had been used appears when, by June 18, out of one hundred and five officers, sixty-five were dead, crippled or injured ; of eighteen hundred non-commissioned officers and privates, seven hundred and thirty had been killed, wounded, or struck from the rolls for disability. After cross- ing the river, General Hartranft was wounded in the arm by a bullet. The losses of his brigade in all these operations just described were very se- vere ; but now, having arrived before Petersburg, which was prepared for a siege, his force was placed to cover the engineers and workmen while excavating the celebrated mine which was sprung and exploded on July 30. In order to cover this secret movement his men were kept almost con- stantly firing at the enemy night and day for nearly six weeks previous, and losing several daily from constant exposure. On August 18 General Warren's corps captured the track of the Weldon railroad near Petersburg. The next day, or rather in the night, General Mahone, being ordered to retake it, broke through the Union line, and Hartranft's brigade was ordered to reinforce the point attacked. This he successfully did, re- pulsing the enemy, while his horse was killed under him and a staff officer beside him wounded, losing his horse also. Hartranft's brigade partic- pated in the battles of Ream's Station, Poplar Springs and Hatcher's Run. By the commence- ment of winter his brigade, though reinforced with three new regiments, had been reduced from three thousand effective men in May to less than one thousand in November.
About the Ist of December, therefore, General Hartranft was assigned to the command of six new Pennsylvania regiments of one year men. These new troops he at once set about organizing into a division, which was designated the Third
Division, Ninth Corps. Before day on March 25, the enemy made an assault on Fort Stead- man, and such was the suddenness and impet- uosity of their charge that our men were captured and driven out, the enemy advancing their front beyond our line and taking possession of some rifle-pits abandoned by our soldiers. This was the status at four o'clock in the morning, when Hartranft, who was lodging about a mile away, hearing an unusual noise, arose and learned that Steadman, situated near the Appomattox, was taken. General Hartranft determined to advance immediately to the assault which he did, leading the attack himself. The enemy, not expecting the tables to be so soon turned upon them, were driven back after a stout resistance, with the loss of many killed, about three thousand prisoners, and the fort retaken. The victory was complete, and the rebels set about arranging for their final evacua- tion of Petersburg and Richmond. This famous assault, partly with new recruits, if we except the sweeping charge of Hancock at Spottsylvania, was perhaps the most brilliant achievement of this celebrated siege. The action was the crisis of Hartranft's military career, as also of the War of the Rebellion.
Just a week after this achievement, April 2, General Grant ordered an assault all along the line. In this attack General Hartranft com- manded the Third Division of the Ninth Corps, and all of his old brigade except the Fifty-first Regiment, which covered the ground previously occupied by the entire brigade. Colonel Bolton, of Wilcox's command, ordered his skirmishers to advance towards the city, when it was found that the enemy were evacuating the town. Thus the commands of Wilcox and Hartranft were in Petersburg by early dawn. The General, with his division, pursued the retreating enemy as far as Nottaway Court House.
General Hartranft was detailed under the order of President Johnson to guard the assassins of President Lincoln during their trial and exe- cution. He was shortly after mustered out of the volunteer force with his troops, but the govern- ment, desiring to retain his valuable services as a military man, conferred upon him unasked the
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rank and appointment of colonel of the Thirty- fourth Regiment, Regular Infantry, then sta- tioned in Kentucky, which position the General declined.
Republicans of Montgomery county urged his claim for auditor-general at the convention that assembled at Harrisburg on September 17, 1865, which was recognized, and on the second ballot he was unanimously nominated, being elected by 22,660 majority at the ensuing election. In 1871 Hartranft had then filled the post of auditor-gen- eral so fully to the acceptance of his party that he was nominated almost by acclamation. On the 9th of April, 1872, he obtained the guberna- torial nomination on the first ballot. He was elected over Buckalew by the plurality of 35.627. He was inaugurated governor on January 22, 1873, with much ceremony. In 1874 he was re- elected by the largest majority ever cast for the Republican ticket in Pennsylvania.
As Governor, John F. Hartranft performed his responsible duties with that sincere regard for the public welfare which characterized him in every situation in which he was placed. He selected wise counselors who repre- sented the different sections of the state. Eighty-two vetoes of private bills were returned in one day to the legislature , It was during his administration that the present pardon board system originated. He was a warm friend of the public school system, and of the plan for separate confinement for insane con- victs. It was owing to his recommendation that new safeguards were provided against fraudulent insurance companies and the like. He also sug- gested the forestry legislation which was enacted later. His urgent appeals in behalf of the insane resulted in the erection of the Norristown and other hospitals, in which these unfortunates re- ceive rational and effective treatment. He was the father of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, the riots which occurred in the great railway strike of 1877, in which fifty civilians and five sol- diers were killed and a hundred more wounded, and millions of dollars worth of property de- stroyed, suggesting the necessity of some safe- guard of this kind. He favored the arbitration of
differences between employers and employed. On January 21, 1879, he was succeeded by Governor Hoyt, who nominated him at once for the vacant post of major-general. He afterwards filled other public positions, including that of postmaster of Philadelphia, and collector of the port of Phila- delphia for four years. In the autumn of 1889 he became ill, his ailment refusing to yield to treatment. He passed away on October 17, and his remains were interred in the south corner of Montgomery cemetery, on an eminence overlook- ing the river for a long distance, a handsome inon- ument being erected on the spot a few years later by contributions from the National Guard of the State.
Hartranft's successful career was due largely to his ability to grasp the opportunities presented to him. He inherited from a virtuous ancestry qualities which fitted him for the various emer- gencies in which he was placed. In war and in peace he made a reputation that is enduring, and he stands high among the sons of Montgomery county, whom its people delight to honor.
WILLIAM E. LUKENS, a well known him- ber merchant of Philadelphia, whose country res- idence is located in Plymouth township, near Plymouth Meeting, is descended from one of the oldest colonial families. Their ancestor was Jan Lucken, who emigrated from Holland to this country in 1683, and settled in Germantown. Among his sons was Abraham Lukens, who was the father of John Lukens, who was the associate of David Rittenhouse, the celebrated astronomer, and assisted him in observing the transit of Venus at his observatory in Norriton township in 1769. He was a skilled mathematician, and became surveyor general of Pennsylvania, suc- ceeding Nicholas Scull.
Mr. Lukens has been twice married. He has one daughter by the first marriage, and a son by the second marriage. His present wife, Sybella (Thacher) Lukens, is descended from an old New England family, of whom Anthony Thacher was the first ancestor in this country. He was a brother of Rev. Peter Thacher, a distinguished English clergyman. Anthony Thacher came
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from Salisbury, England, bringing with him a nephew, Thomas Thacher. After remaining a short time at Ipswich, he and his wife embarked for Marblehead, August 11, 1635, the vessel in which he sailed being wrecked off Cape Ann, and all on hoard drowned except Anthony and his wife. His cousin Avery had received an invita- tion to preach at Marblehead, and he and An- thony with their families were on their way to that place when the dreadful shipwreck occurred. Twenty-one persons in all were drowned, includ- ing the Joseph Avery family, eleven in all; Anthony Thacher's children, five ; William Elliott, and four mariners. The desolate island on which the catastrophe occurred, was called "Thacher's Woe," and the rock which the vessel struck "Avery's Fall." Whittier has written a beautiful poem, "The Rock of Avery's Fall." The colonial authorities granted Mr. Thacher the island on which he found safety as his personal inheritance.
The second wife of Anthony Thacher was Elizabeth Jones, whom he married six weeks previous to sailing to America. Their children were John, Judah and Bethian.
Of these sons, John was the ancestor of Mrs. Lukens. He was born March 17, 1639, and be- came a prominent man in the colony of Massa- chusetts. He married, November 6, 1661, Re- becca Winslow, daughter of Josiah Winslow, and niece of the first governor, Winslow. A remark- able circumstance in connection with Mr. Win- slow's marriage is handed down in the family. On his return home with his bride they stopped at the house of Colonel Gorham, of Barnstable. An infant three weeks old was introduced with the remark that she was horn on such a night. He answered that it was the very night on which he was married, and, taking the child, presented it to his bride, saying, "I wish you would kiss her, as I intend to have her for my second wife." Mrs. Thacher did so, saying, "I will, to please you, but I hope it will be a long time before you have that pleasure." This jesting prediction was verified, for the wife died, and the child, Lydia Gorham, arrived at mature age by that time, actually be- came his wife, January 1, 168]. It is also re- lated that John, after the death of his first wife,
while riding in Barnstable, saw a horse belonging to his son Peter tied in front of the Gorham resi- dence, and, finding that he had advanced consid- erably in his suit with Miss Lydia, whom the father had prophetically declared would be his second wife, he took Peter aside and offered him ten pounds in money and a yoke of black steers to resign his claims, which offer the son appears to have accepted. John and Miss Lydia were duly married. John Thacher had in all twenty-one children, nine by the first wife and twelve by the second.
One of those by the second marriage of John Thacher, was Judah, born August 20, 1693, died January 8, 1775. He was a prominent merchant in Yarmouth, and married Sarah Crosby, June 4, 1724. She died October 20, 1771, aged sixty- nine years. They had eight children. of whom David (great-great-grandfather) born March 14, 1730, inherited and lived on his father's place. He was a prominent man in the colony being repre- sentative, senator and judge. He married and had six children, only one of whom, David the youngest, reached maturity. He died November 9, 1801. His widow, Mrs. Abigail Thacher, died April 25, 1803, aged seventy-six years.
David Thacher (great-grandfather) was edu- cated at college and a leading man in Yarmouth. He failed in business on account of the embargo of 1812. He removed to Egg Harbor, New Jer- sey, and died there in reduced circumstances. He married, first, Sarah Gray, of Yarmouth, July 4, 1786. She died July 21 1793. Their children were Sallie, David, died in infancy. He married, second wife, Eunice Wells Noble, June 12, 1796. Their children : David, Oliver N., Henry, Fred- erick, Arthur, Abigail, Lucy W., Alfred, Cyrus, Eunice Noble, Charles Fox, and Martha P.
Mr. and Mrs. Lukens have spent a consid- erable part of their time recently at Beaufort, North Carolina, where Mr. Lukens has exten- sive lumber interests.
THOMAS THOMSON, a well known and highly respected citizen of Cheltenham township, was born near Ogontz, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, February 28, 1842, a son of John
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and Caroline (Jones) Thomson, grandson of Thomas and Jane (Jarrett) Thomson and great- grandson of John and Abigail (Roberts) Thomson.
John Thomson (great-grandfather) was born 12th mo. 22, 1750, in Cheltenham township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he died 9th mo. 28, 1838. In 1773 he married Abigail Roberts, born 7th mo. 28, 1751, died 7th mo. 15, 1843, daughter of Thomas and Letitia Roberts, of Milford township Bucks county, Pennsylvania, near Quakertown. Their children were: Han- nah, married Thomas Shoemaker ; Thomas, men- tioned at length hereinafter; Sarah, married Samuel Rowland; Catherine, died at thirteen years of age.
Thomas Thomson (grandfather ) son of John and Abigail Thomson, was born 9th mo. 30, 1775, died 12th mo. 26, 1825. He married Jane Jar- rett, and the following named children were born of this union: 1. Ann, who married Jacob Jar- rett, and their children are : William, Joseph, Jane, John Thomson, George, Susan and Jarrett. 2. Hannah, who became the wife of John Roberts, and their children are: Abigail, Thomas, Ann, Mary, William, and Jane. 3. Catharine who be- came the wife of Richard Roberts, and their chil- dren are: Charles, who married Hannah Chan- dler, and had two children-Harry and Eva Roberts ; J. Thomson who married George Anna Hallowell, and their children were: George F., Catharine T., Susan L., Abel S., William M., Charles, and Emlen, the three latter named being deceased ; Benjamin F., who died in infancy ; Re- becca R., who married Jacob L. Hallowell, and had two children : Richard R., and William L .; Jane F., who became the wife of Abel Hallowell, and they were the parents of one child, Theodore H. Hallowell. 4. Sarah, whose first husband was Anthony Williams, second husband was Jesse Shoemaker, and third husband Cyrus Betts. 5. John, mentioned at length hereinafter. 6. Abi- gail, who became the wife of John Wildman, of Langhorne, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and had one child, Jane Wildman, who married Joseph J. Watson, and had two children-Dr. Franklin
Watson, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this work ; and Abigail Watson. 7. Elizabeth, who died young.
John Thomson ( father ) was the fifth child of Thomas and Jane Thomson. He married Caro- line Jones, and their children were : Charles, who died young ; Alice, who became the wife of Ben- jamin F. Femrose, county commissioner, and is now deceased ; Thomas, mentioned at length here- inafter ; Samuel, who married Fannie Twining, and one child has been born to them, Caroline ; Jane; Margaret, who became the wife of county treasurer Henry W. Hallowell, and they are the parents of two children, Jane and Israel ; John, who died unmarried; William, also died unmar- ried ; J. Dawson, who married Annie Knight, and they are the parents of one child, Florence Thomson.
Thomas Thomson, second son of John and Caroline Thomson, received his early education at the Abington Friends' School, then pursued a course at Friends' Central School at Fifteenth and Race streets, Philadelphia, a well known institut- tion of learning, noted for its thoroughness, and on leaving school turned his attention to farming on the homestead. During the latter years of the life of John Thomson ( father ) he apportioned his estate among his children, Thomas taking the al- lotted section on which was the old homestead, 'and erecting thereon a modern and attractive house, in which he now resides. Mr. Thomson is an estimable and public-spirited citizen. and throughout his entire life has fully exemplified the traditions of his ancestors. He enjoys the re- spect and confidence of his friends and neighbors, and his example is worthy of emulation.
Mr. Thomson married, February 24. 1874, Mary Eyre, who was born 12th mo. 15, 1846, a daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Knight) Eyre, of Newtown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. The children of this marriage are: I. Elizabeth E., born 9th mo. 15, 1875, married Herbert K. Tay- lor, of Philadelphia, 11th mo. 3. 1897, and their children are: William Thomson, born 3d mo. 25, 1901, and Thomas Thomson Taylor, born 3d mo. 2, 1904. 2. John, born 6th mo. 25, 1877, died 10th
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mo. 12, 1902; he married Elizabeth Watson, of Langhorne Bucks county, Pennsylvania Ist 1110. 15, 1902. 3. Alice P., born Ioth mo. 7, 1880, be- came the wife of Marshall P. Sullivan, of Moores- town, New Jersey, 4th mo. 27, 1904. 4. George, born iothi mo. 29, 1882, died 1Ith mo. 23, 1882. Mr. Thomson and his family are members of the Abington Friends' Meeting.
JOSEPH PERCY COULSTON, a well known citizen of Whitmarsh township, Montgom -. ery county, Pennsylvania, is a son of James M. (deceased) and Tacy A. (Freas) Coulston. The Coulstons are one of the oldest families of the vi- cinity, and are of Welsh descent.
William Coulston (great-grandfather) was in his day a prominent farmer of Whitemarsh. His children were Charles, William, Jolın, Thomas, Mary (Mrs. William Kettler) and Sarah (Mrs. Jacob Rorer). Thomas Coulston and Mr. and Mrs. William Kettler owned a fine farm in Gwynedd township, Montgomery county, and re- sided thereon the greater part of their lives. All died many years ago at an advanced age. Will- ian Coulston was a native of Whitemarsh, where he was born August 9, 1797. He married Ann, daughter of Joseph and Hannah Meredith, of an- other old family of Welsh descent, the immigrant being David Meredith, who came to Pennsylvania in 1700 and settled in Plymouth township, Mont- gomery county. Ann Meredith was born October 29. 1802. Their children were James MI., Eliza- beth and Hannah. William Coulston (grand- father) died April 17, 1863, in his sixty-sixth year, his wife having died March 25, 1833, in her thirty-first year.
James Meredith Coulston (father) was born January 27, 1831, in Whitemarsh township. He assisted in farming during the summer months and attended school in the winter according to the usual custom among farmers. He married, April 7, 1857, Tacy Amanda, daughter of Joseph and Ann Freas, of the same township, and grand- daughter of George Freas and his wife Barbara. Their children, Ann F. (Mrs. Daniel Maguire), Alice H. (Mrs. Harvey Lentz), William C. (de- ceased), his widow residing on DeKalb street,
Norristown; Lizzie, Sarah R., Francis C., Joseph Percy (subject of this sketch) and Walter. James M. Coulston was an active Republican in politics. He was one of the most substantial and highly re- spected citizens of Whitemarsh, and was always active in promoting the interests of the commun- ity in which he lived. He was one of the most progressive farmers of Montgomery county. He served as school director, and also held other township positions, but was in no sense an office seeker, being guided rather by conscientious prin- ciple in his political learnings. He died in the year 1900.
Joseph P. Coulston was born on the family homestead in Whitemarsh, April 25, 1870. He was educated in the public schools of the town- ship, and also attended the Norristown High School by way of completing his education, from which institution he graduated. Returning to his home, he assisted in farming the homestead, and afterwards rented a farm on which he now re- sides. He married, in 1896, Miss Anna M., daughter of George and Mary (Markley) Miller, farmers in Whitemarsh. They have one child, Hannah W. Coulston. Mr. Coulston is a model farmer. He is a Republican in politics, and active in the support of party interests. He and his family attend the Lutheran church at Barren Hill.
JOHN MILTON COLTON, born in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, 1849, a member of the banking firm of E. W. Clark & Company, of Phil- adelphia, resides on the Old York Road, just north of the limits of the borough of Jenkintown, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, his estate con- sisting of about nine acres with a frontage on the turnpike of nearly a quarter of a mile, the house an example of the Elizabethan period-stone, and half-timbered-and the grounds laid out in a beautiful and artistic manner with trees and shrubs in abundance, thus making it one of the most handsome and desirable pieces of property in that section of the state.
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