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 89
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Mr. Colton is descended from a New Eng- land family of that name, the pioneer ancestor being George Colton who came from England in
James te boulton
J. Percy boulston. slow.
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1630 and settled at Longmeadow, Massachusetts, just south of Springfield. George Colton, afore- mentioned, married Deborah Gardner about the year 1645, and the line of descent is as follows : John Colton, son of George and Deborah (Gard- ner) Colton, born 1659, married Joanna Wolcott, September 2, 1690, and died 1727. Captain Si- mon Colton, son of John and Joanna ( Wolcott) Colton, born 1709, married Abigail Burt, 1736, who died 1760, and his death occurred in 1796. Major Luther Colton, son of Captain Simon and Abigail (Burt) Colton, born 1756, married Thankful Woolworth, November 30, 1780, who died October 25, 1797, and his death occurred in 1803. Sabin Colton, son of Major Luther and Thankful (Woolworth) Colton, born 1783, mar- ried Rhoda Boardman, January 2, 1811, who died 1852, and his death occurred five years later, 1857. Sabin Woolworth Colton, son of Sabin and Rhoda (Boardman) Colton, born 1813, in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, married Susanna Beaumont, Au- gust 4, 1835, whose birth occurred in 1812, a member of an old English and Scotch lineage. They are the parents of John Milton Colton, of this review. Sabin W. Colton ( father) died in 1890, but his wife is living at the present time (1904). J. Milton Colton married, January 22, 1880, Mary Roberts, who is descended from an old Welsh family of Friends (Roberts) from Thomas Roberts, of Bryn-y-neuodd, high sheriff of Carnarvon, 1704. by appointment of Queen Anne. His son, Thomas Roberts, came to Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, in 1699, with James Logan, at the invitation of William Penn. Through mar- riage she is descended from the Barclays and Stevensons, both families of distinction in colon- ial days who aided the colonies in the revolution. Her parents were George H. and (Margaret Barclay Stevenson) Roberts. Three children were born of the marriage of John Milton and Mary (Roberts) Colton, as follows : Milton Beau- mont, Margaret Barclay and Mary Ethel Colton.
By marriage Mr. Colton is descended from the Chauncy family through Rhoda (Boardman) Colton, wife of Sabin Colton, as follows : Charles Chauncy, born 1592, died 1761 : was second pres-
ident of Harvard College; married, March 17, 1630, Catherine Eyre, born 1601, died 1667. Sarah Chauncy, daughter of Charles and Catherine (Eyre) Chauncy, born 1631, died 1699; became the wife of the Rev. Gresham Bulkley, October 26, 1659, who was born in 1636, died 1713. Ed- ward Bulkley, son of the Rev. Gresham and Sarah (Chauncy) Bulkley, born 1663, died 1748; mar- ried, July 14, 1702, Dorothy Prescott, born 1681, died 1748. Dorothy Bulkley, daughter of Edward and Dorothy ( Prescott) Bulkley, born 1716, died 1801; became the wife of Thomas Curtis, Janu- ary 8, 1741, who was born in 1710, died in 1789. Hepsibah Curtis, daughter of Thomas and Dor- othy (Bulkley) Curtis, born 1757. died 1807; became the wife of Jason Boardman, July 7, 1784, who was born 1762, died 1844. All of these fam- ilies were residents of New England. He was also related through the Chauncys to the follow- ing English families: Eyres of Wiltshire; De Roos, Kings of Scotland; Earls of Northumber- land, Dukes of Rutland, Earls of Norfolk, Earls of Pembroke; and through French marriages from Henry I of France, and from Charlemagne, and also through the French line of marriage from the daughter of Edward I of England, and the Saxon Kings.
Mr. Colton is a member of the Sons of the Revolution by descent from Major Luther Col- ton, who served in the war of the revolution : a member of the Order of Founders and Patriots, by descent from George Colton, 1630, and Major Luther Colton, 1776; also a member of the New England Society of Pennsylvania.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM AUCHENBACH, during a long and active career prominently iden- tified with commercial and financial affairs in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, is a native of that state, born in Reading, February, 22. 1832. His parents were Henry and Mary ( Shultz) Auch- enbach, both of German descent and natives of Pennsylvania. The father was born in Schuyl- kill county, and in his young manhood removed to Reading, where he followed his trade as a car- penter, and where he died at the age of fifty
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years. His wife survived him until 1891, and died at the advanced age of eighty-four years. They were both Methodists in religion. They were the parents of six children, five sons and one daughter, of whom William Auchenbach is the only one living. William Auchanbach's ma- ternal grandfather was also born in Reading, where he passed his life, following the occupation of a wool hatter, and where he died, well ad- vanced in years, and leaving several children.
Captain Auchenbach lived in Reading until he was twenty years old. During this time he was educated in the common schools and early entered upon a life of self support. After he was ten years old he worked in a tobacco factory for one year, afterwards in a flour and feed store, then in a general store, and finally went into the Reading Depot to learn moulding, remaining there two and one-half years. In 1850, at the age of eighteen, he was clerking in a general store in Pottstown. Five years later he undertook a business upon his own account as a dealer in groceries and dry goods. After eighteen months, his health being poor, he retired from this occupation and went upon a farm, where he remained for four years, when he returned to Pottstown and resumed a grocery business. In 1893 he associated with himself his sons, Harry and Frank, under the firm name of William Auchenbach & Sons, and ex- panded the business to the requirements of a wholesale trade. This was the first and is the only establishment of its kind in Pottstown, and was established to supply the trade within a radius of thirty miles, and has transacted a large business to the present time. In 1895 occurred the death of Captain Auchenbach's eldest son Harry, when the style of the firm was changed to that of Will- iam Auchenbach & Son.
Captain Auchenbach, besides standing at the head of this, one of the most important mercan- tile houses in this part of Pennsylvania, has also been actively interested in various other im- portant enterprises. He was formerly president of the Bannock Cotton Mills, now the Bannock Silk Mills ; is the only survivor of the organizers of the Pottstown Water Company ; and is a direc-
tor in the National Iron Bank of Pottstown. His most conspicuous service to the community was in the part he took in the establishment of the Pottstown Hospital, to the building of which he secured subscriptions to nearly the amount of $50,000. Of this sum $25,000 was subscribed by Mr. John Krause, through the strong personal friendship which existed between himself and Captain Auchenbach, accentuated by some family ties which bound the generous donor to the city of Pottstown. Not a native of the county, Mr. Krause was born and reared about three and one- half miles from Pottstown, in Berks county. In early life a friendship sprang up between Mr. Krause and Captain Auchenbach which was con- tinued throughout life. Captain Auchenbach was one of Mr. Krause's first as well as largest cus- tomers and most intimate personal friends, and so to this long connection is due the benefaction which made possible Pottstown's handsome hos- pital, of which Captain Auchenbach has been one of the directors from its founding.
Captain Auchenbach served during eighteen months of the Civil war period as captain of Company H, Sixty-eighth Regiment Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, also known as the Scott Le- gion. He organized his company, and led it in some of the most momentous campaigns and bloodiest battles which make up the record of the Army of the Fotomac, including the desperate conflicts of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. He maintains relationship with his former com- rades through his membership with Graham Post, G. A. R. Prominent in military circles, he is a member of the committee having charge of the arrangements for the celebration of Washington breaking camp at historic old Valley Forge, as he also was about thirty years ago. He is affiliated with various Masonic bodies-Stichter Lodge No. 254, F. and A. M .; Pottstown Chapter, No. 271, R. A. M .; and Nativity Commandery, K. T. In politics he is an independent Democrat. He was at one time a member of the borough council, and at another of the school board.
Captain Auchenbach was married, in 1853, to Miss Annie Wamback, daughter of Bartholomew
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and Mary Wamback. She was a Lutheran in re- ligion. She died after bearing to her husband four children, Harry and Frank, and two who died in' infancy. Harry Auchenbach, who was for a few years associated with his father in business, died in 1895, leaving a widow, who was Miss Alice Corbett, and four children, Annie, Mary, Effie and Frank. Frank Anchenbach, who is now in partnership with his father, is unmarried.
Captain Auchenbach married (second) Miss Effie Bechtel, who is also now deceased. She was a member of the Baptist church.
JACOB EDWARDS, a well known farmer of Plymouth township, residing near the borough line of Norristown, is descended from an old Bucks county family of Welsh origin. He is the son of Samuel and Margaret Edwards. He was born August 4, 1848, in Upper Dublin township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, near the vil- lage of Fitzwatertown. The family removed when he was a mere child to Whitpain township in said county, where they farmed for two years; to Plymouth township, near Hickorytown, where they resided four years ; to Spring Mill, in White- marsh township, two years ; and at other places in or near Norristown for the next half dozen years. Samuel Edwards then bought a farm of thirteen acres at Springtown, about two miles from Nor- ristown, where the family remained about seven- teen years, and then removed to Norristown, where they have since resided.
Jacob Edwards was reared on the farm, but on coming of age engaged in business as a con- tractor, being a part of the time in partnership with his brother George in Norristown. In 1901 he bought of the Shoemaker estate the twenty- eight acre farm which had been the home of John Gallagher, a well known resident of the vicinity, in his lifetime. He resides on this farm, which is under a high state of cultivation and very pro- ductive. Everything about the farm is in ex- cellent order, and he and his wife are devoted to the management of the farm and the interests of their family. Mr. Edwards was educated in the public schools of the different townships in which the family resided during his boyhood, and al-
though he never had the advantage of what may be called a high school education, he acquired considerable knowledge, and is possessed of much ability in figures, being able to solve any ordinary question arising in business dealings with sur- prising quickness and accuracy. The Edwards family were originally Democrats in politics, but- Mr. Edwards often votes independently. He has never sought or held office.
Mr. Edwards married, December 21, 1870, Debbie, daughter of Henry and Ann Elizabeth (Hallowell) Refsnyder. Mrs. Edwards was born December 24, 1847, near Jarrettown, in Upper Dublin township. Mr. Refsnyder died March 2, 1904, and was buried at Horsham. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Edwards were: Annie Parry, born January 16, 1872, married, March 16, 1897, Louis A. Irons, the family residing at Arch and Freedley streets, Norristown, and having one child, Mable Ruth, born July 4, 1900; Jacob Brumheller, born April 19, 1875, married July 29, 1897, Margaret Hanselman of Pottsville, they having two children : Russell J., born in 1898, and Marguerite, born July 28, 1901 ; Phebe Allen, born November 19, 1877, and resides in Norristown.
Mrs. Edwards is the granddaughter of John and Deborah Hallowell, whose children were: Martha, born November 24, 1821, married Ed- mond Stout, and removed to the state of Dela- ware, where the family reside; Anna, born April 2, 1824, died July 12, 1843; Ann Elizabeth, mother of Mrs. Edwards, born October 1, 1826, married Henry Refsnyder and died August 13, 1857; Jolin Edwin, born May 1, 1834, died in infancy ; Caroline E., born May 7, 1837, married Charles Briggs, who died May 10, 1903. and is buried at Southampton, Bucks county ; Rebecka, married Elias Ott (both dead).
John Hallowell, grandfather of Mrs. Edwards, was born 9th mo. 19, 1784, and died July 21, 1881. Deborah, his wife, died November 20, 1866, aged sixty-three years, two months and four days. They lived near Horshamville, in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and were buried at Barrett's Chapel, Delaware, with Martha and Edmond Stout, as were also most of their children.
John and Martha (Conard) Hallowell, great-
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grandparents of Mrs. Edwards, also resided in Hoarsham township, and were members of the Society of Friends. John was born December 15, 1753, and died January 26, 1829. His wife was born February 15, 1745, and died August 28, 1808. Their children were: Rebecca, Samuel, George, Elijah, Mary, John, grandfather of Mrs. Edwards, and Hannah.
The children of Henry and Ann Elizabeth Refsnyder, parents of Mrs. Edwards: Debbie Lizzie, born August 15, 1849, married George Ashton, and had one daughter, long since de- ceased, and married, second husband, Morris Lord, and has two children, Martha, married Firth Brown, and Edna : Mary, born August 13, 1851 married James Phipps, and has one son George; Amanda, born January 24, 1854, died December 14, 1875; John H., born February 14, 1856, married Roxanna Miller, of Minnesota, and resides in the state of Washington.
THOMAS F. BUZBY, a farmer and dairy- man of Montgomery township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, is a native of Gwynedd township, in the same county, where he was born May 21, 1863. He is the son of James and Mary Ann (Myers) Buzby, lifelong residents of Gwynedd township.
James Buzby (father) was the son of Wil- liam Buzby. He was born in Gwynedd township. He was a butcher by occupation, and also engaged in agricultural pursuits, although not very ex- tensively. He was a progressive citizen and was highly esteemed in the community. He was a Republican in politics, and held at different times the positions of supervisor, assessor and tax col- lector and school director. He was elected a justice of the peace on one occasion, but declined to take out a commission. He was always inter- ested in public affairs, and never missed an elec- tion, either local or general. He was a man of the highest integrity, noted for his upright deal- ing with all. He died January 14, 1900. His widow resides on the homestead in Gwynedd township. Their children : William, deceased ; Kate, Thomas F., Harry, William and Sarah.
Thomas Franklin Buzby was educated in
Cedar Hill school at Gwynedd, and in the Friends' school at Gwynedd meeting house. For six years after leaving school he drove the butcher wagon for his father, and later engaged in butchering on his own account, continuing this occupation eight years. During four years of that period he was also engaged in farming in Horsham township. In 1893 he purchased his present farm of about one hundred acres in Montgomery town- ship, which he has greatly improved, and on which he has since resided. He married at Cen- tre Square, in Whitpain township, November 22, 1883, Hallie, daughter of Robert anl Jeannette Lindsay. The couple have had five children, as follows: James, born September 1, 1884; Earl, born March 24, 1887; Mary Ann, born July 18, 1890; Sarah K., born July 7, 1895; Thomas F., born December 27, 1898, died August 14, 1899.
In his political affiliations Mr. Buzby is a Re- publican. He is a member of Springhouse Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a progressive and practical farmer.
ISAAC JONES CLARK, a well known retired resident of Lower Merion town- ship, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, was born June 18, 1846, in the township in which he now resides, a son of Dr. Jonathan and Susan (Freyburg) Clark, and great-grandson of Jolin Clark, born September 14, 1749, died March 29, 1832 and his wife, Mary Clark, born October 4, 1761, died October 20, 1824. John and Mary Clark were the parents of the following named children: Deborah, horn June 26, 1777, died October 24, 1781 ; Stephen, born December 25,. 1778; Priscilla, born May 30, 1780; Champion, born November 9, 1781 ; Rena, born August 26, 1783; John, born April 23, 1785, died July 7, 1792.
Dr. Jonathan Clark (father) was born in the state of New Jersey, in 1812. His early education was acquired at the ordinary schools of the vicin- ity and under private tuition. After completing his studies as well as was possible with the fa- cilities which were afforded at that day, he en- tered a drug store as a clerk. He took up the study of chemistry with a view of extending his.
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knowledge still further in the domain of medical science, and in 1831 was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. Shortly after se- curing his diploma he entered upon a successful career in the practice of his profession, contin- uing therein until the year 1857, in Lower Merion township, Montgomery county, when he retired from active practice. He was an eminent phy- sician in his day, and was among the first to use ether to relieve the pain of parturition. He was much in advance of the time in which he lived, not only in the particular named, but in many others. His published works show him to have been a man of great knowledge and skill, who combined with thorough study of the principles of medical science, long experience of the most valuable kind in his profession. After his re- tirement from the profession of medicine he de- voted his attention to the mining of coal, being a partner in the Crow Hollow Mining Company, whose operations were conducted in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. He finally retired alto- gether from active pursuits, leading a retired life until his death, November 12, 1869.
Deringer, daughter of Henry and Eliza Deringer, and by the second marriage he had two children : Estalina, deceased, and Eva Evangeline.
After completing his public school studies Isaac J. Clark entered upon an active career in the extensive plant owned by Henry Deringer, father of Mrs. Eliza (Deringer) Clark, known as the Deringer Pistol Factory, located in Philadel- phia, where he learned the various de- tails pertaining to the business. He con- tinucd in the establishment a period of four years, when the head of the firm died and was succeeded by his son, Bronaugh Deringer, who died a year later. Then Mr. Clark took charge of the business for the family, suc- ceeding so well that in 1873 he purchased the business and conducted it on his own account. In 1881 he retired from active pursuits, turning over his extensive interest to others, and has since confined himself to the walks of private life. In religious faith he is an Episcopalian. In politics he is a Republican, supporting the principles and nominees of that party, but not seeking political preferment of any kind.
Dr. Jonathan Clark was united in marriage to Susan Freyburg. Their children were: I. Lewis LESTER I. DINGEE, a representative busi- ness man of Ashbourne, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, is a native of Philadelphia, Penn- 1868. He is a son of Albert H. and Emma (Ivins) Dingee. Jones, born June 25, 1835, died when he had reached the age of twenty-one. 2. Joseph Brook- field, born February 24, 1838, died in infancy. 3. . sylvania, the date of his birth being January 31, Nathan Beach, born April 15, 1840, married Ellen Walddie, no issue, and died April 18, 1898. He was appointed third assistant engineer in the Albert H. Dingee (father) was born in the city of . Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 31, 1846, a son of Edmund and Catherine (Hama) Dingee. Albert H. Dingee was educated at the public high schools of his native city, and the knowledge thus gained thoroughly qualified him for a life of activity. He was an extensive man- ufacturer of bricks for building purposes, this occupation proving most successful and remuner- ative, and at the age of thirty-six years retired from business. He served for twenty-two years as a member of the bureau of health, was a mem- ber of the board of public charities for a number of years, a director of the German-American Title, Insurance and Trust Company, a large stockholder in several national banks of Phila- United States navy on May 13, 1801 ; second as- sistant engineer, December 17, 1862, first assist- ant engineer, July 1, 1865, became chief engineer, October 16, 1868, and was placed on the retired list, March 3, 1885. 4. Edward Wurts, born May 20, 1842, died in the United States service, having been appointed third assistant engineer at the age of twenty-four years. 5. Margaretta Beach, born November 28, 1843, became the wife of Owen Jones, and mother of one daughter, born in 1874, who became the wife of Clarence T. Faires, M. D., and they are the parents of one child, Clarence T. Faires, Jr. 6. Isaac Jones. mentioned hereinafter. Mrs. Susan (Freyburg) Clark having died, Dr. Clark married Eliza
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delphia, and a holder of considerable traction stocks. He was a prominent and influential citi- zen and his influence for good was felt through- out the community in which he resided. Mr. Dingee married, December 13, 1866, Emma Ivins, daughter of Aaron B. and Anna (Lester) Ivins, and the issue of this union was two chil- dren, namely : Lester I., born January 31, 1868, mentioned at length hereinafter ; and Blanch M., born July 26, 1873. Albert H. Dingee (father) died November 9, 1903, aged fifty-seven years.
Emma (Ivins) Dingce, mother of Lester I. Dingee, is a lineal descendant of John Leicester, of London, England, who spent his entire life in his native land. By his marriage he had a son, Peter Leicester, who settled in Leicestershire, England, from whence in 1682 he emigrated to America with William Penn, settling in Phila- delphia with the latter named, who gave him a square of ground on Market street which he after- ward sold for thirty pounds. Peter Leicester married, and among his children was a son, John Leicester, who married and had a son, John Lei- cester, who married and had a son, Thomas Lei- cester, who married and had a son, Peter Leices- ter, who in turn married and had a daughter named Anna Foulke Leicester, who became the wife of Aaron B. Ivins, and their daughter, Emma Ivins, became the wife of Albert H. Din- gee and mother of Lester I. Dingee.
The educational advantages enjoyed by Lester I. Dingee were obtained at the Friends' Central School, Fifteenth and Race streets, Philadelphia. After completing his studies he was admitted into the firm of James E. Dingee, this connection con- tinuing until 1890, when he withdrew his inter- est and engaged in the hop business on his own account. In addition to this enterprise he devotes considerable time and attention to real estate operations in Cheltenham township. The con- fidence and esteem in which he is held by his fel- low-citizens is evidenced by the fact that he has been chosen to serve in the capacity of commis- sioner of Cheltenham township. He is a member of the Manufacturers' Club of Philadelphia and of the Columbia Club.
On April 15, 1889, Mr. Dingee married Marie
Madeleine Ravel, daughter of Jules M. and A. C. (Lafore) Ravel. Their children are: Lester I., Jr., born November 28, 1891; Albert H., born February 8, 1895; and Marie Madeleine, born October 6, 1904.
SAMUEL H. HIGH, one of the most active and reliable of the younger members of the Mont- gomery county bar, located at No. 325 Swede street, Norristown, was born in that city July 16, 1875. He is the son of Harry S. and Flora B. (Lightcap) High, also of Norristown. They had five children born to them, four sons and one daughter, four now living : Mamie, wife of Henry L. Stiles, of Philadelphia ; Harrison L., deceased ; Walter L., of Philadelphia, secretary of the Read- ing Screw Company ; Samuel H., of Norristown ; Raymond, of Philadelphia.
The father is a carpenter and builder and has lived all his life in Norristown. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Trinity, in which he is an elder. He is very domestic in his tastes, and quiet and unos- tentatious in his manners. He was always an ardent Democrat but not an office seeker.
Samuel High (grandfather) was a lifelong resident of Montgomery county. He was a dry goods merchant on Main street for many years. He died in Norristown at an advanced age, and had three children. The maternal grandfather of Samuel H. High was Samuel Lightcap. He was a native of Pottstown, where he spent the early part of his life, and later removed to Milwaukee, after his wife's death, and lived with one of his sons until his death, which occurred when he was upwards of seventy years of age. His wife was Mary Lightcap. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and had a small family.
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