USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Blockley > Historic Lower Merion and Blockley; also the erection or establishment of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 8
USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Lower Merion > Historic Lower Merion and Blockley; also the erection or establishment of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 8
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In 1755 there was one public library. It was founded at Hatboro by the English, and the books, numbering five- hundred-and-fifty volumes, were brought from England.
In less than a year after Penn landed, a colony of Ger- mans, chiefly from Creyfeld, arrived in October, 1683, and founded the village of Germantown. Penn had preached in Germany urging emigrants to come to Pennsylvania where liberty of conscience had been proclaimed. A major- ity of the first German settlers were members of the Society of Friends. They had been here only a short time when they were shocked to learn that many human beings were held in bondage. They drew up a protest against slavery.
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And Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
This was probably the first protest against this inhuman practice in Pennsylvania. It seems almost incredible to us that, in the early days, even Ministers of the Gospel held slaves-one being "Pastor Weiss, preacher and slave- holder," who lived at the Reformed Church glebe, Red Hill, in Montgomery County. An old slave burying ground lies a short distance from the Schall mansion, near Greenlane.
The Society of Friends, as an organization, always protested against slavery, as reference to their records will prove. Lucretia Mott, the noted Abolitionist, was a Friend. She devoted her whole life to the cause of the slave. She was a native of Montgomery County.
Mathias Van Bebber bought a tract of land, six-thou- sand-one-hundred-and-sixty-six acres, which, by patent, dated February 22, 1702, was located on Skippack Creek, constituting about one-half of the southern portion of what is now Perkiomen Township. He invited settlers by sell- ing off his lands in parcels. Among these settlers prior to the end of 1703 were Henry Pennepacker, John Kuster, Claus Jansen, John Umstat and John Frey. John Jacobs came in 1704. Edward Beer, Herman and Gerhard Iden- hoferfin, Dirck and William Renberg before the close of 1707. In 1708, William and Cornelius Dewees, Herman Custer, Christopher Zimmerman, Jacob Schall and David Desmond. In 1709, Jacob, John and Martin Kolb and John Stayer. Mathias Van Bebber gave a hundred acres to- wards a Mennonite Meeting House which was built about 1725-26.
German settlers also located in Cheltenham, Spring- field, Whitemarsh, Moreland, Upper Dublin and Horsham. We find among them the Shoemakers, Tysons, Snyders, Clines, Ottingers, Cleavers, Redwitzers, Rinkers, Bartle- stalls, Melchers, Leverings, Reiffs, Conrads and the Lukens and Yerkes families.
The influx of Irish into this country was small prior to 1724, but after that greatly increased, especially along the Schuylkill Valley. The Scotch-Irish and the Irish con- tributed largely to the strength of our army during the
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War of the Revolution. Among the Scotch-Irish we have such names as Porter, Knox, Todd and Burnside. Col. Stephen Moylan's Cavalry was largely made up of the Irish. The Irish also fought in the War of 1812, the Civil War and the World War. A glance at the names of the various regiments will prove this. No braver soldiers ever fought than those from the Emerald Isle.
Among other early settlers were John Henry Sprogell, who bought a large tract of land before 1709 near what is now Pottstown. Isaac Schaeffer was a large landholder in Plymouth, in 1702. John Schrank settled in Providence in 1717. John F. Hillegas, in Upper Hanover in 1727. Before 1728 John George Gankler, Elias Long, John Henry Beer, George John Weiker and John Martin Derr and the patriotic Heister family (whose old brick mansion, built in 1757, is still standing) settled in the vicinity of Salford.
The early colonists were a religious people, most of them having left their native lands because of religious persecution. Almost as soon as they found a place to settle they built their churches and meeting houses. There was a Lutheran congregation organized by Justis Falkner in 1703. There was a church in Upper Providence in 1743; in Upper Dublin in 1754; Barren Hill in 1761; Saint John's, Whit- pain, 1769, and Saint Paul's, Lower Merion, in 1765.
The German Reformed had congregations in Skippack, Whitemarsh, Salford and New Hanover at which Philip Boehm preached before 1727. A church was built at Whit- pain in 1740, and in Worcester in 1770. The Mennonites had houses of worship in Perkiomen in 1726, in Lower Salford in 1741 and in Towamencin in 1750. The Dunkards also had organized congregations at a very early date.
The Schwenkfelders, a persecuted people from Silesia, followers of Casper Schwenkfeld, arrived in 1734, on the St. Andrew, John Stodman, Master. Others arrived in 1740. These people for 187 years have annually held serv- ices commemorating the landing of their forefathers. They still have their houses of worship, one being the Towamen- cin Schwenkfelder Church near West Point, and another
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And Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
at Lansdale. The last census gave these people six houses of worship.
At Perkiomen there is a Schwenkfeld Historical Museum and Library. The Museum and Library contain Bibles, deeds, surveyors' drafts, maps, Indian relics, old stove plates, hats, dresses, tools of the flax industry, manu- scripts, samplers, pewter ware, pen work and various other interesting exhibits covering in time 440 years. The terri- tory from which these have been procured includes Ger- many, Montgomery County and other parts of Pennsyl- vania.
From these statistics we learn that Montgomery County, with its wonderfully fertile lands, its many water- ways and luxurious forest growths, proved a haven of peace and rest to those from other climes. Each sect was per- mitted to worship according to its separate beliefs.
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PART IV Centennial Celebration of Montgomery County
S THE one-hundredth anniversary of the erection, or establishment of Montgomery County drew near, many of the most influential citizens felt that the event should be properly and fittingly cele- brated. The first movement towards this end was made by the Historical Society of Montgomery County.
At a regular meeting of that organization held May 25, 1882, Col. Theo. W. Bean, President, in the chair, the project was discussed at some length, and the chair on motion, appointed a committee, to confer with a similar committee of the County officials, and to consider the proper observances of that occasion. The committee consisted of F. G. Hobson, Esq., Hon. Jones Detwiler and A. K. Thomas. The County officials met the same day at the office of Irving P. Wanger, Esq., District Attorney and the following committee was appointed: Henry W. Kratz, Recorder of Deeds; J. Roberts Rambo, Register of Wills, and Jacob R. Yost, County Treasurer.
These two committees met and discussed plans for the celebration. It was determined that a general committee be appointed, consisting of one person from each election district in the county, into whose hands the work of the celebration be placed .*
The General Committee was gradually selected. Also an "Auxiliary Committee in Philadelphia," composed of persons identified with the County, but residing in Philadel- phia at that time. Many meetings for the discussion of plans, ways and means, were held, extending over two years. At the meeting held May 29, 1884, it was deter-
*Note .- The committees, programme, exhibits, etc., were taken from the stenographic report of the Montgomery County Centennial Celebration, published by "The Centennial Association of Mont- gomery County, Pennsylvania."
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And Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
mined, formally, that the committee be known as "The Centennial Association of Montgomery County, Pennsyl- vania."
The officers of the Association were as follows:
President Joseph Fornance, Esq., Norristown.
Vice-Presidents
Hon. Isaac F. Yost, New Hanover.
Wharton Barker, Jenkintown.
Philip Super, Pennsburg.
Warner Roberts, Lower Merion.
Robert Iredell, Norristown.
Dr. Hiram Corson, Conshohocken.
Abraham H. Cassel, Harleysville.
Rev. J. H. A. Bomberger, D. D., Collegeville.
George Lower, Springfield.
Daniel Foulke, Gwynedd.
Recording Secretary F. G. Hobson, Esq., Norristown.
Corresponding Secretary Muscoe M. Gibson, Esq., Norristown.
Financial Secretary J. A. Strassburger, Esq., Norristown.
Treasurer Lewis Styer, Norristown.
Executives
F. G. Hobson, Esq., Norristown, Chairman. Col. Theo. W. Bean, Norristown.
J. Roberts Rambo, Norristown. John W. Bickel, Esq., Norristown. Joseph Lees, Esq., Bridgeport.
William J. Buck, Jenkintown. G. Dallas Bolton, Norristown.
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Col. John W. Schall, Norristown. Henry W. Kratz, Upper Providence. J. A. Strassburger, Esq., Norristown. Samuel F. Jarrett, Norriton.
Antiquarian
William J. Buck, Jenkintown, Chairman.
Hon. Jones Detwiler, Whitpain.
Henry S. Dotterer, Philadelphia. Philip Super, Upper Hanover. Thomas G. Rutter, Pottsgrove. George F. Price Wanger, Norristown.
Abraham H. Cassel, Lower Salford."
Mrs. Dr. George W. Holstein, Bridgeport.
Mrs. Sarah H. Tyson, Upper Merion.
Mrs. G. R. Fox, Norristown.
Mrs. William W. Owen, Norristown.
Mrs. Joseph Fornance, Norristown.
Finance
David H. Ross, Esq., Conshohocken, Chairman.
J. A. Strassburger, Esq., Norristown, Secretary and Treasurer. Albert Bromer, West Perkiomen.
Col. Theo. W. Bean, Norristown.
George W. Rogers, Esq., Norristown.
Literary Exercises
Hon. George N. Corson, Norristown, Chairman.
Jacob V. Gotwalts, Esq., Norristown. William L. Williamson, Pottstown.
Hon. William H. Sutton, Lower Merion. Dr. William T. Robinson, Hatboro.
Program
Col. Theo. W. Bean, Norristown, Chairman. Joseph C. Jones, Conshohocken. J. Wright Apple, Esq., Norristown. F. L. Murphy, Norristown.
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And Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Dr. H. H. Drake, Norristown. David H. Roberts, Norristown.
B. Percy Chain, Esq., Norristown.
Invitation
J. Roberts Rambo, Norristown, Chairman.
David Scholl, Norristown. J. P. Hale Jenkins, Esq., Norristown.
Samuel B. Helffenstein, Norristown.
Perry L. Anderson, Lower Merion.
Levis H. Davis, Pottstown. Andrew J. Baker, Jenkintown.
William M. Clift, Esq., Norristown.
John H. White, Norristown.
J. Wright Apple, Esq., Norristown.
John Burnett, Norristown.
C. H. Brooke, Conshohocken.
Dr. J. E. Bauman, Franconia.
William Young, New Hanover.
Dr. Charles C. Webber, Norristown.
Col. Theo. W. Bean, Norristown.
Decoration
Mrs. Mary L. Koplin, Norristown, Chairman.
Miss Bella Shaw, Norristown.
Mrs. Henry R. Brown, Norristown.
Miss Mary Harry, Norristown.
Irvin H. Brendlinger, Norristown. Morgan Wright, Norristown.
John Overholtzer, Norristown.
Reception
J. Wright Apple, Esq., Norristown, Chairman. Aaron S. Swartz, Esq., Norristown.
John W. Bickel, Esq., Norristown. Irving P. Wanger, Esq., Norristown.
Memorial
Hon. Jones Detwiler, Whitpain, Chairman. Dr. Hiram Corson, Plymouth.
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John Hoffman, Norriton. Hon. Hiram C. Hoover, Norriton. Samuel F. Jarrett, Norriton. Samuel Rittenhouse, Norriton.
Building
Samuel F. Jarrett, Norriton, Chairman.
Justus P. Leaver, Norristown. G. Dallas Bolton, Norristown. Joseph Fitzwater, Upper Providence.
Music
Lafayette Ross, Norristown, Chairman. Henry W. Kratz, Upper Providence. Dr. P. Y. Eisenberg, Norristown.
Parade
Col. James W. Schall, Norristown, Chairman. Col. Thomas W. Stewart, Norristown. George W. Rogers, Esq., Norristown. John Pugh, Conshohocken.
Capt. H. N. Graffen, Pottstown.
Hon. Montgomery S. Longaker, Pottstown.
William D. Heebner, Lansdale.
Dr. John S. Lees, Bridgeport. Rocoe M. Moir, West Conshohocken.
Auxiliary Committee of Philadelphia
James B. Harvey, No. 4833 Lancaster Avenue, Chair- man. Saunders Lewis, Ambler.
Miss Elizabeth Croasdale, School of Design for Women.
John Wanamaker, Grand Depot.
Ex-Governor John F. Hartranft. Collector of the Port. William M. Singerly, Editor of the Record. General William B. Thomas, ex-Collector of the Port. Hon. Horatio Gates Jones, Roxborough.
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And Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
The foregoing were aided by a General Committee composed of one person from each election district in the County, together with a committee of assistants to Town- ship Committeemen.
The Centennial Celebration was held Tuesday, Wed- nesday and Thursday, September 9, 10, 11, 1884, in Norris- town, the county seat of Montgomery County.
On the opening day a granite monolith to the memory of David Rittenhouse, the noted astronomer, who lived in Montgomery County, was dedicated. The exercises took place at eleven o'clock a. m. on Tuesday, September 9th, in the presence of a large concourse of people. The memo- rial stands in front of the Court House. The meridian stone bears the following inscription :
On the east face :
David Rittenhouse Eminent Astronomer and Mathematician Born April 8, 1732 Died June 26, 1796
On the north face:
He calculated and observed the Transit of Venus at His Home in Norriton, 1769
On the west face:
Erected by The Montgomery County Centennial Association
On the south face :
:
:
1784 : 1884
·
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David Rittenhouse, the records tell us, was born in the County of Philadelphia, of which Montgomery was then a part. He lived in youth and manhood, during the greater part of his lifetime, within the limits of Montgomery County. In Norriton township, within a few miles of where this monolith was erected, stood his father's house. There, in Norriton, lay the farm where he grew up as a farmer boy. There, in a tiny shop by the wayside, without other
HOME OF DAVID RITTENHOUSE Noted astronomer, born April 8, 1732
instruction than the intuitive promptings of an extraordi- nary genius, he taught himself to make clocks and mathe- matical instruments. The clocks, remarkable for their accuracy and the beauty of their workmanship, are still treasured as heirlooms in many households. It was there in Norriton that he erected his observatory; there, with instruments constructed by himself, he explored the heavens. There learned scientists came from all parts to consult David Rittenhouse and to participate with him in
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And Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
his observations. Montgomery County is proud to number him among the many noted men born within it boundaries. It was there, in Norriton, that he constructed his wonderful orrery (now at Princeton), illustrating mechanically the movements of the solar system, upon a scale more elaborate and exact than had ever before been attempted.
In alluding to it, Thomas Jefferson who was a philoso- pher as well as a statesman, wrote: "We have supposed Mr. Rittenhouse second to no astronomer living; that in genius he must be the first, because he was self-taught. As an artist, he has exhibited as great a proof of mechanical genius as the world has ever produced. He has not. indeed, made a world, but he has by imitation, approached nearer its Maker than any man who has ever lived from creation to this day."
On the first day, in addition to the dedication of the memorial, at which Judge B. Markley Boyer made the address, prayer was made by Rev. J. H. A. Bomberger, D. D .; address of welcome; J. P. Hale Jenkins, Esq. ; ad- dress, Joseph Fornance, Esq., President of the Centennial Association. At the conclusion of the exercises Rev. Isaac Gibson pronounced the benediction. Music by the Norris- town Band followed, which closed the program for the day. On the second day the exercises were held in Music Hall. They opened with a prayer by Rev. H. S. Roden- bough, pastor of the Providence Presbyterian Church of Lower Providence. Opening address by Joseph Fornance, Esq. The never-to-be-forgotten Historical Oration by William J. Buck followed. Poem, Hon. George M. Corson. "Hallelujah Chorus," by the vocalists, accompanied by the orchestra. Rev. Dr. C. Z. Weiser, of East Greenville, a lineal descendant of the early pioneer Conrad Weiser, then followed with another oration. Benediction was pro- nounced by the Rev. Mr. Rodenbough.
Thursday, September 11th was Parade Day. (It was such a parade as only Norristown knows how to arrange.) The parade was in four divisions. First Division, Col. D. C. Swank, Marshal. Second Division, J. P. Hale Jenkins,
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Esq., Marshal. Third Division, Major D. B. Hartranft, Marshal. Fourth Division, T. J. Baker, Marshal. One feature of the parade was the Indian children from the Indian Department of the Lincoln Institute of Philadelphia, who were in charge of Mrs. J. Belangee Coxe and Chaplain J. L. Miller. They were received and cared for during their stay in Norristown by David Schall. The address of the day was made by Col. Theo. W. Bean.
The Fourth day was devoted to the Antiquarian Expo- sition. This included historical records, antiques, Indian relics, antiquities of the first settlers and early purchasers, relics and records of the Colonial period and relics of the Revolutionary War. Also of the Mexican War: War of 1812, and the War for the Union. Old Furniture, china, pewter, silver, etc., early surgical and dental instruments, coins and paper money.
Herbarium of ferns and flora of the county. These last named were by Mrs. J. F. Cottman, Jenkintown, ex- hibiting a book of natural flowers, prepared in 1859; remarkable for preserving colors.
And by Miss Margaret B. Harvey, Lower Merion, col- lection of twenty-eight varieties of ferns found growing in Montgomery County, dried and mounted on paper in groups. Also sixty-nine drawings of wild flowers of Mont- gomery County.
Ferns
1. Polypodium. Polypodium vulgare.
2. Maiden Hair. Adiantum pedatum.
3. Brake, or bracken. Pteris aquilina.
4. Cliff brake. Pellea atropurpurea.
5. Ebony fern. Asplenium ebenoides.
6. Wall Rue fern. Asplenium Ruta muraria.
7. Spleen-wort. Asplenium augustifolium.
8. Larger Spleen-wort. Asplenium thelypteroides.
9. Lady fern. Asplenium Filir-formina.
10. Walking fern. Camptosorus rhizophyllus.
11. Beech fern. Phegopteris hexagonoptera.
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And Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
12. Swamp Shield fern. Aspidium Thelypteris.
13. New York fern. Aspidium Noveboracense.
14. Spring Shield fern. Aspidium Spinulosum.
15. Crested fern. Aspidium Cristatum.
16. Shield fern. Aspidium Goldianum.
17. Wood fern. Aspidium Marginale.
18. Christmas fern. Aspidium Acrostichoides.
5
19. Bladder fern. Cystopteris fragilis.
20. Sensitive fern. Onoclea sensibilis.
21. Woodsia. Woodsia Ilvensis.
22. Dicksonia. Dicksonia punctilobula.
23. Royal fern. Osmunda regalis.
24. Clayton's fern. Osmunda Claytoniana.
25. Cinnamon fern. Osmunda cinnamonca.
26. Grape fern. Botrychium Virginicum.
27. Moonwort. Botrychium lunarioides (variety obli- quum ).
28. Moonwort. Botrychium lunarioides (variety dissec- tum).
The sixty-nine drawings, by Miss Harvey, of wild flowers of Montgomery County were arranged in groups, viz .:
Spring Flowers
Group I
1. Trailing Arbutus. Epigea repens.
2. Liverleaf. Hepatica triloba.
3. Wild hyacinth, or blue bottle. Muscari rocemosum.
4. Blood root. Sanguinaria Canadensis.
5. Spring beauty. Claytonia I'irginica.
6. Rue anemone. Thalictrum anemonoides.
7. Wood anemone. Anemone nemorosa.
8. Golden corydalis. Corydalis flavula.
9. Dutchman's breeches. Dicentra cucullaria.
Group II
1. Quaker ladies. Houstonia carulca.
2. Dog tooth. Erythronium Americanum.
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3. Violet sorrel. O.ralis violacea.
4. Columbine. Aquilegia Canadensis.
5. Tooth root. Dentaria laciniata.
6. Wild geranium. Geranium maculatum.
7. Cinquefoil. Potentilla Canadensis.
8. Solomon's seal. Polygonatum giganteum.
9. Jack-in-the-Pulpit. Aris@ma triphyllum.
Group III Violets
1. Common purple violet. Viola cucullata.
2. Sweet-scented white violet. L'iola blanda.
3. Heart-leaved violet. Viola cordata.
4. Arrow-headed violet. Viola sagittata.
5. Hand-leaved violet. Viola palmata ..
6. Yellow violet. Viola pubescens.
7. Striped violet. Viola striata.
8. Bird-foot violet. Viola pedata.
9. Dog violet. I'iola canina.
Summer Flowers Group I
1. Buttercups. Ranunculus acris.
2. Daisies. Leucanthemum vulgare.
3. Azalea. Asalca nudiflora.
4. Laurel. Kalmia latifolia.
5. Blue flag. Iris versicolor.
6. Cockle. Lychnis githago.
7. Indian physic. Gillenia trifoliata.
8. Partridge berry. Mitchella repens.
9. Wild rose. Rosa blanda.
Group II
1. Spider wort. Tradescantia Virginica.
2. Venus' looking-glass. Specularia perfoliata.
3. Wild lily. Lilium supurbum.
4. Wild pink. Dianthus armeria.
5. Starry campion. Silene stellata.
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And Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
6. Bouncing Bet. Saponaria officinalis.
7. Indian pipe. Monotropa uniflora.
8. Shin leaf. Pyrola elliptica.
9. Pipsissewa. Chimaphila maculata.
Group III Orchids
1. Showy orchis. Orchis spectabilis.
2. Twayblade. Liparis lilifolia.
3. Adam and Eve. Aplectrum hyemale.
4. Fringed orchis. Habenaria lacera.
5. Rattlesnake plantain. Goodyera pubescens.
6. Ladies' tresses. Spiranthes gracilis.
Autumn Flowers
Group I
1. Butterfly plant. Asclepias tuberosa.
2. Cone flower. Rudbeckia hirta.
3. Wild sunflower. Helianthus strumosus.
4. Cardinal Flower. Lobelia cardinalis.
5. Golden rod. Solidago.
6. Blue and White Asters. Aster.
7. Closed gentian. Gentiana Andrewsii.
8. Touch-me-not. Impatiens fulva.
9. Evening primrose. ŒEnothera biennis.
Group II
1. Snap-dragon. Linaria vulgaris.
2. Arrow-head. Sagittaria variabilis.
3. Blue lobelia. Lobelia syphilitica.
4. Virgin's bower. Clematis Virginica.
5. Gerardia. Gerardia tennifolia.
6. Man-of-the-earth. Ipomoa pandurata.
7. Monkey flower. Minulus alatus.
8. Lick trefoil. Desmodium nudiflorum.
9. Shell flower. Chelone glabra.
The total number of exhibitors at this Antiquarian Exposition was 1,240-showing how many people were
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interested in making this exhibit a success. Many of the articles displayed were of rare interest and value.
The National Geographic Magasine, Washington, has been publishing a series of articles on the "Common American Wild Flowers." These are beautifully illus- trated, so the flowers may be readily recognized. In the introduction to these articles we read, "Many of these, such as the daisy, mullen, aster, blue-flag, etc., are so plenti- ful that they may be picked at will; but there are others- for instance, the Mayapple, Spring beauty, lupines, lady- slipper, etc., which may become as rare as the trailing arbutus unless everyone unites to preserve them. So it is to be hoped that the city dwellers who, on their automo- bile excursions, thoughtlessly cut and bring back great branches of dogwood and baskets laden with our rarer wood flowers will soon realize that, unless their plucking be tem- pered with judgment, the suburbs of all our cities will, in the not-distant future, be bereft of many of these flower treasures."
Mr. John C. Wister, Philadelphia, rose and iris expert recently addressing a meeting of the Garden Club at the Academy of Natural Sciences, voiced the same sentiments. Mr. Wister made an urgent plea for the preservation of our wild flowers, which, he said, are in grave "danger of ex- termination."
As Miss Harvey gave the names of all the native wild flowers of Montgomery County the writer has included them in this volume, with the hope that they may help in the preservation of those in danger of extermination.
Joseph Fornance, Esq., President of the "Centennial Association of Montgomery County," in his address, Sep- tember 9, 1884, said: "The Act of Assembly establishing the county states that the reason for cutting off three- fourths of Philadelphia County and making Montgomery County of it, was its great distance from the courts of Philadelphia. That seems a strange reason now, for rail- roads and telephones have annihilated distances."
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And Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Thirty-eight years have passed since Mr. Fornance uttered those words. The telephone was then in its in- fancy, Mr. Bell having for the first time publicly demon- strated it at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, in 1876. In 1884 very few were in use. Now they are installed in almost every dwelling, so we may talk to each other at any time. With the electric trains added to the steam roads our children go back and forth to schools and colleges in Philadelphia daily; the automobile carries the business man to and fro. The aeroplane and the radio are among the latest inventions annihilating time and space. All settlements in Montgomery County have really become suburban to the Quaker City, and sometimes it seems to the writer that, perhaps, before many years have gone by, the two counties may again be one.
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