Historical sketches : a collection of papers prepared for the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1921-1925, Volume VII, Part 16

Author: Historical Society of Montgomery County
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: [Norristown, Pa.] : Historical Society of Montgomery County
Number of Pages: 746


USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Historical sketches : a collection of papers prepared for the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 1921-1925, Volume VII > Part 16


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Caesar Ghiselin went to Annapolis, where he engaged in other occupations, and some doubt may reasonably be expressed as to his producing silverware there after his removal, though his son William was also a silversmith.


Francis Richardson was the father of Joseph Richard- son; born in 1711; married Mary Allen in 1748, and died in 1784. He had two sons, Joseph and Nathaniel. Joseph became Assayer of the United States Mint, in 1808. They had their shop on the west side of Front street, below Walnut, and a country place down the Neck (in the vicinity of Morris street) .


Much of the silverware found among the Quaker set- tlers in the Delaware Valley was made by the Richardson family. As the town grew and the trade improved, other silversmiths came into competition. To mention some of the prominent ones : John Lepelier; Nathaniel Coleman, at Bur- lington, born 1765, died in 1842; at Wilmington, Bancroft Woodcock. The most distinguished of the Philadelphia smiths probably were the Syngs.


*Read before the Society, February 22, 1924.


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HOME OF PHILIP SYNG (Photo by Charles R. Barker.)


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PHILADELPHIA SILVERSMITHS


Philip, the father, had been a silversmith in Cork, though it seems he emigrated from Bristol, England, bring- ing with him his young son Philip. The father, like Ghiselin, went to, Annapolis, where he became an innkeeper; but his son, the distinguished member of the family, worked in silver during his long and useful life, producing what is probably, historically, the most important piece of silver in the American Colonies. In 1753, he made for the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania the ink-stand used in the State House, from which the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were signed. This, as you know, continues to stand on the Speaker's desk in Independence Hall.


Syng was a friend and associate of Benjamin Franklin, for whom he made many apparatuses used by Franklin in his electrical experiments. He was a member of Franklin's junto, a founding member of the Library Company of Philadelphia, a contributor to the Pennsylvania Hospital- in fact, he shared in most of the public enterprises of his long life.1


1 Philip Syng was for some years a resident of Lower Merion town- ship, now in Montgomery county. An advertisement in the Pennsylvania Gazette, issue of September 23, 1772, says:


"RICHARD HUMPHREYS, Goldsmith,


Having taken the house in which PHILIP SYNG lately dwelt, hereby informs his friends and the public, that he now carriers on the GOLD- SMITH'S Business, in all its branches, at the aforesaid place, a few doors below the Coffee-house;


RICHARD HUMPHREYS.


The subscriber, having lately removed into Upper Merion township, hereby informs his friends and former customers, that they may be sup- plied as usual, at his late dwelling, by the above-mentioned RICHARD HUMPHREYS, whom he hereby recommends to them;


PHILIP SYNG."


Of course, Upper Merion was a slip for Lower Merion! In 1774, Thomas Potts, Jr., writing to Benjamin Franklin, says, "Good Mr. Philip Syng has retired into the country about ten miles from the city, where I


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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY


Richard Humphreys, born in the island of Tortola in 1750, was apprenticed to Philip Syng, became a very suc- cessful silversmith, and died in Philadelphia in 1832. He left ten thousand dollars, more than a tithe of his estate, to trustees to "found an institution for instructing the descend- ants of the African race in school learning, in the various branches of mechanical trades, in agriculture, and to pre- pare as teachers." The outgrowth is the Normal School at Cheney, Pennsylvania.


The first work guiding the popular mind with data of the Goldsmiths' Company was published by William Chaf- fers in 1863, enabling the public to ascertain the precise date of manufacture by the sign manual of the Goldsmiths Company, stamped on plate when sent to be assayed. That this was a popular venture is shown by its going through six editions in ten years. The price of old plate rose enor- mously in consequence of its actual date being easily and certainly ascertained. The designation "plate" means, strictly speaking, wrought silver, and is derived from the Spanish word, "Plata"; hence, as applied in "gold plate" and "silver plate" it is a pleonasm. "Plated" means, actu- ally, metal covered with plates of gold, silver, etc.


In America there was no compulsory marking of silver- ware, and nothing was known of American makers until attention was drawn to the matter by Mr. Francis Bigelow and his associates in New England, who brought together the exhibition of old American silver at the Massachusetts Museum of the Fine Arts, in Boston, in 1906. This was succeeded by the exhibition in New York, Hudson-Fulton Anniversary, and has been carried on by numerous special exhibitions held throughout the country, the knowledge of


frequently see him." (Memorial of Thomas Potts, Junior, by Mrs. Thomas Potts James, p. 125.)


The country home of Philip Syng was within a stone's throw of the Ardmore station of the Pennsylvania Railroad. He purchased it July 13, 1772, and sold it March 31, 1783. (Phila. Deed Books "I" 12, p. 41, and D 6, p. 417; also, Pa. Mag. of Hist. and Biog., Vol. LII., p. 214.)-Ed.


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PHILADELPHIA SILVERSMITHS


the smiths and the marks they used growing like compound interest.


Joseph Lowndes, who advertised from 1780 until 1816, from his shop, 133 South Front street, by the Drawbridge, made, among other things, the tea service for Joshua Humphreys, the architect of the six vessels, "Constitution," "Constellation," etc., the first vessels to be built by the Government for the American navy.


Thomas Shields was one of his competitors living nearby in the "Seventh house from the Drawbridge in Front," while George Dowig and Abram Dubois, in Second street, near Arch, were his neighbors. John David was a son of Peter David, French Huguenot in New York, and came to Philadelphia, where he worked as a silversmith, and died in 1794. Among the Presbyterians, John McMullin became a very prominent silversmith, working from the close of the Revolution until the end of his long life in 1843.


Note: The following reference works may be found of value in con- nection with Dr. Woodhouse's paper :


American Silversmiths and Their Marks; by Stephen G. C. Ensko. New York, 1927.


List of Philadelphia Silversmiths and Allied Aritificers, From 1682 to 1850; by Maurice Brix. Phila., 1920.


A List of Early American Silversmiths and Their Marks; by Hollis French. New York, 1917.


Pennsylvania Museum Bulletin No. 68; June, 1921.


Report of Annalist for 1924 *


By GILBERT S. JONES


The record of our county's material welfare during the twelve months, March 1, 1923, to February 29, 1924, with- out embellishment, merely reduced to the printed page for the benefit of future researchers, reveals a progress and development that reflects community-wide prosperity. Our people have applied themselves, with characteristic enter- prise, to the tasks of the year, and the accomplishments have been achieved safely and solidly as is the custom of Montgomery Countians.


During 1923, Montgomery county market finished products of the manufacturing industry valued at over $175,000,000.


The county ranked sixth in the state for the past twelve months, with a corn crop valued at $2,213,692, yielding an average price of $1.03 per bushel.


The wheat crop totaled 423,930 bushels, valued at $454,665.80, with a yield averaging 20.4 bushels per acre.


Records of forest preservation show that we planted 157,391 trees in Montgomery county in 1923.


Bank clearings for the entire county are not available, but they were enormous, as the Federal Reserve Bank re- ports they reached $48,158,087.79 in Norristown alone.


All the import of the figures of this data encourages us, notwithstanding the regrettable fact, as ascertained by a


*Read before the Society, April 26, 1924.


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REPORT OF ANNALIST FOR 1924


rural survey, that there are more than 10,000 acres of idle farm land in the county.


Population is now over 200,000; 1577 marriage licenses were issued, and births exceeded deaths by a ratio of 7 to 4.


It cost more than $1,000,000 to operate the govern- mental machinery and official public affairs of the county for twelve months.


It was ascertained, further, that our largest borough, Norristown, stands thirty-sixth in industrial importance among eighty-nine towns of the state.


It is interesting to note, the while much attention is being directed to public institutions, that Dr. Ellen C. Pot- ter, Chief of the State Department of Public Welfare, pub- licly states that the Montgomery County Prison is a model penal institution, while the State Hospital, located within our borders, was managed efficiently during the year, at a maintenance cost of about $1,000,000.


It may be deemed worthy of note here, that on Novem- ber 8, 1923, the first all-steel train to be run on the Perkio- men Branch of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway, passed over that system.


No other interest is so indicative of material progress in our community as the real estate field. Record prices have marked the year in town and country. The high water mark in the business section of Norristown was reached in the sale of 42-44 East Main street for $90,000, yielding $3,600 per front foot. Justin Pagel, shoe merchant, is the new owner.


A large residential realty transaction involved $80,000 for the "Norris," an apartment house at 611 Swede street, the property bringing its former owner, L. I. Rossiter, $1,450 a front foot.


In productive farm land, the record sale for the year, per acre, was $300 for acreage of forty and over, where


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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY


land is used strictly for farming. Plots of nine acres, yet not adjacent to a town, brought $1000 per acre. Real estate's assessed valuation in the county stands at $175,770,310, and in Norristown, $20,500,000.


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These annals are intended to be a periodical publica- tion of transactions, or record of events, and in keeping with the definition of the work, should be properly set forth in chronological order. Although we are familiar with the events of our day, a moment may be spared that we refresh our minds as we place in the record that which may be useful information for reference.


1924


Mar. Hon. A. S. Swartz retired from Montgomery County Bench.


Mar. 17. New Junior High School, Norristown, designated as Thomas J. Stewart High School. Senior High School named A. D. Eisenhower School.


Mar. 31. Dr. L. W. Hainer completed twenty-fifth year of his pastorate at Calvary Baptist Church, Norris- town.


Mar. 31. Trinity Lutheran Church, Norristown, cancelled debt of $28,500.


Apr. 4. St. Peter's Church, North Wales, celebrated cen- tennial.


Apr. 5. First Bay in Porch of Allies, Washington Memo- rial Chapel, Valley Forge, given by Henry M. Justi.


Apr. 6. Tornado swept over section of county, including Valley Forge and West Norriton township, doing great property damage. No fatalities.


Apr. 6. Scheerer Memorial Library, Pottstown, dedicated.


Apr. 9. St. James P. E. Church, Evansburg, elected women on Vestry. First instance in Pennsylvania Diocese.


الحرة


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REPORT OF ANNALIST FOR 1924


Apr. 16. Hon. J. Ambler Williams named by Governor Pinchot as Judge of Thirty-eighth Judicial Dis- trict, to succeed Hon. A. S. Swartz, retired.


Apr. 18. Announced that Elkins Park is to have a new $40,000 post office.


Apr. 30. Montgomery Traction Company, operating trolley line from Trooper to Harleysville, sold to holders of first mortgage bonds.


May 1. Augustus Lutheran Church, Trappe, commemo- rated 175th anniversary. .


May 5. Contract to rebuild Grand Opera House, Norris- town, awarded F. R. Heavner for $143,000. Entire cost of work, including furnishing, to be $223,000.


May 6. New home of Young Men's Hebrew Association, 710 Swede street, Norristown, dedicated.


May 14. St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Norris- town, celebrated fiftieth anniversary. Rev. G. Julius Hoeppner, pastor in charge for twenty-five years.


May 30. Memorial Markers to World War men unveiled at Bridgeport, Jeffersonville, Ardmore and other points in county.


June 7. "Music Week" observed generally throughout county.


June 9. Supreme Grand Tall Cedar John A. Longacre, of Norristown, initiated President Warren G. Hard- ing into the order at Milford, Delaware.


June 14. Montgomery County Farm Bureau opened preven- tive campaign against Japanese beetle.


June 25. Old St. Peter's, in the Great Valley, observed an- niversary by unveiling bronze tablet to Patrick


p. 190, line 12. Year should be 1923, not 1924.


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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY


Anderson, born 1719. Paper read by Mrs. Joseph- ine Anderson Knipe, of Norristown, lineal de- scendant in fifth generation.


July 3. Building at N. W. corner Main and Cherry streets, Norristown, purchased by First National Bank for $61,000.


July 4. General Gourand, French World War hero, spoke at Valley Forge.


: July 10. Ursinus College Library, Collegeville, dedicated.


Aug. 23. Rev. Will H. Houghton resigned pastorate of First Baptist Church, Norristown.


Aug. 23. Pay of jurors increased from $3.00 per day to $4.00, according to Act of Legislature.


Aug. 25. 76-78 East Main street, owned by L. E. Taubel, sold for $80,000, an average of $2,790 per front foot.


Sept. 1. 6,000 attended annual picnic at Old Goshen- hoppen Church.


Sept. 4. Mrs. Mary J. Bean Nichols, life-long resident of Valley Forge, was tendered reception on her ninetieth birthday anniversary by the Community Club of that village.


Sept. 5. Pine Run Farm, estate of late Henry Pratt McKean, sold to incorporators of the Pine Run Country Club.


Sept. 5. New Penn Square School dedicated. Speakers were President Judge John Faber Miller and County Superintendent J. Horace Landis. Cost of building, $22,271.


Sept. 10. Construction of building at 57-59 East Penn street, to house the printing and publishing busi- ness of The Norristown Register Company. Com-


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REPORT OF ANNALIST FOR 1924


pany prepares to issue a daily newspaper, the "Norristown Evening Register."


Sept. 11. Contract for new Y. M. C. A. awarded, for $163,243.


Sept. 17. "Constitution Week" observed throughout county. Observance instituted by Citizenship Committee of the American Bar Association. Its purpose-the study of all phases of the Constitution of the United States.


Sept. 29. Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Trinity, Nor- ristown, celebrated seventy-fifth anniversary.


Oct. 1. Charity Lodge, No. 190, A. F. and A. M., cele- brated its one hundredth anniversary. Feature of celebration was the burning of the mortgage on the Masonic Temple on Main street, Norristown.


Oct. 1. New Navy dirigible ("Shenandoah") passed over Montgomery county in non-stop flight from Lake- hurst, N. J., to St. Louis, Mo.


Oct. 3. Norristown Civic Club opens twelfth season. Mrs. Irwin Fisher enters second year as president.


Oct. 6. Annual Fall Outing of Historical Society of Mont- gomery County. Historic spots visited in White- marsh and Springfield townships, with luncheon and public meeting in Zion Lutheran Church, Whitemarsh.


Oct. 11. Norristown Branch of American Red Cross reports receipt of $7,093.32 for Japanese Earthquake Sufferers' Relief.


Oct. 19. James Lees & Sons Company shipped 1,000 hanks of yarn to Japan, as gift to earthquake sufferers.


Oct. 20. "Daisy Day" realized $1,862.67 for Associated Charities.


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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY


. Oct. 27. New home of Good Will Fire Co., Bridgeport, dedicated. Model fire house. Cost, $30,000.


Oct. 30. Degree of LL.D. conferred by Lafayette College on Dr. George Leslie Omwake, president of Ursinus College.


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Nov. 1. Norristown Lodge, No. 213, Loyal Order of Moose, wiped out debt of $50,000 on their home, 624 West Main street.


Nov. 3. George R. Kite, vice-president First National Bank, Norristown, completed fifty years of service with that institution.


Nov. 7. Co-operation of Borough Council makes possible "white way" lighting for Main street. Installation nearly complete.


Nov. 12. New headquarters of George N. Althouse Post, American Legion, on Airy street, Norristown, gift of people of borough, dedicated.


Nov. 13. Joseph B. McDevitt purchased former "Daily Reg- ister" Building, 7 West Main street, from. B. E. Block & Bros., for $40,000.


Nov. 20. Tenth Annual Show of Montgomery Farm Bureau, at Borough Hall, most comprehensive ever held. Inter-State Milk Producers' Association co-oper- ated at the exhibit.


Dec. 1. After service of thirty-five years, the ladder truck of Fairmount Fire Company was retired from borough service, and donated to State Hospital. The faithful horses, "Dolly" and "Babe," went with the apparatus.


Dec. 5. Branch of Lions Club, a national organization, functioning in eight hundred cities, organized in Norristown.


Dec. 17. Mrs. Mary Griffith, Trappe, celebrated one hun- dredth birthday anniversary.


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REPORT OF ANNALIST FOR 1924


1925


Jan. 1. Conshohocken Trust Company opened for busi- ness in new building, Second and Fayette streets. Capitalized at $125,000.


Jan. 2. Old school building, on ground of St. James Church, Evansburg, ,dedicated as Mortuary Chapel.


Jan. 2. Valley Forge Chapter, D. A. R., endorsed erection of Washington Hall, at Washington Memorial, in honor of Washington and heroes of Revolution.


C Jan. 2. Donation Day for Montgomery Hospital yielded $3,744 in cash and $1,000 in supplies.


Jan. 2. Hon. J. Ambler Williams qualified for the ten- year term as additional law judge of Montgomery County Courts.


Jan. 14. Norristown Trust Company and Penn Trust Com- pany, of Norristown, merged under name Norris- town-Penn Trust Company, with total resources of $20,000,000.


Jan. 14. O. F. Lenhardt elected president of Bridgeport National Bank.


Jan. 25. Violet Swartley, of Norristown, rescued two men from the icy waters of the Schuylkill river.


Jan. 25. Bill introduced in Congress to provide $75,000 addition to Norristown Post Office.


Jan. 30. William L. Jenkins, of Gwynedd, appointed Con- sul-in-Charge of India, with headquarters at Calcutta.


Jan. Ownership of capital stock of the Montgomery Trust Company, the oldest trust company in the county, sold by Louis M. Childs and associates to Horace C. Coleman and associates. Old manage- ment retired, and new officers elected.


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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY


Feb. 2. Valley Forge and Port Kennedy property owners, it is announced, get distribution of $330,411.13 for land taken by state for Valley Forge Park.


Feb. 3. Rev. Abner James Davies celebrated twenty-sec- ond anniversary as pastor of First Baptist Church, Conshohocken.


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Feb. 8. Thomas Jefferson Window placed in Washington Memorial Chapel. Eleventh window in history of chapel.


Feb. 8. Fourteenth anniversary of founding of Boy Scouts appropriately observed in county.


Feb. 12. Announcement that total expenses of Y. W. C. A. for 1923 were $7,067.87, and receipts $7,245.12.


Feb. 12. Frank P. Croft, Port Kennedy, elected President of new fraternal order, Loyal Sons of America, organized to combat the Klu Klux Klan.


Feb. 14. Montgomery county tax rate increased from 2 mills to 3 mills.


Feb. 14. Degree of Doctor of Divinity conferred by Ursinus College on Rev. W. O. Fegley, of Trappe.


Feb. 14. Centennary of birth of General Winfield Scott Hancock observed. Commemoration by Hancock Fire Company, Norristown, public schools, Rotary Club and others.


FIRE RECORD


1923


Mar. 5. $50,000 loss at Fatlands Protectory.


Mar. 29. $60,000 loss at Emmers Hosiery Mills, Royersford.


Mar. 29. Garage of Theo. Keyser, at Kulpsville. Loss, $35,000.


May 24. Harry Street Grade School, Conshohocken. Loss, $75,000.


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REPORT OF ANNALIST FOR 1924


June 16. $15,000 fire, Three Tuns Inn.


June 16. Becker's stable, at Kneedler. Loss, $25,000.


July 1. $30,000 loss at Orange Home, near Hatboro.


Sept. 26. Valuable records and $50,000 property loss, Ehret Magnesia Company, Port Kennedy.


Oct. 4. House and barn of John Giest, at Perkiomen Junction. Loss, $15,000.


Oct. 4. Feed and fertilizer plant of Jacob Tinley & Son, Linfield. Loss, $50,000.


Nov. 23. Old covered wooden bridge over Perkiomen, at Schwenksville.


Nov. 27. $20,000 blaze at Trooper, destroying barn and contents. Owner, Mrs. Lucy Ludwig.


Dec. 3. Plant of Perkiomen Hosiery Mills, at Schwenks- ville. Loss, $25,000.


1924


Feb. 18. $25,000 damage at plant of Saquoit Shirt Com- pany, Norristown.


DEATH RECORD


1923


Feb. 23. Samuel Roberts, president Grater-Bodey Company, Norristown, and prominent citizen.


Mar. Thomas Marshall McCarter, veteran of Civil War, aged 74 years.


Mar. 16. Mrs. Mathilda McDermody, aged 101 years. Old- est resident of Conshohocken.


Mar. 16. W. H. Rodenbough, chief of police of Norristown for more than 35 years.


Mar. 16. Isaiah Detwiler, Ironbridge, aged 80 years.


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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY


Mar. 16. Mrs. Elizabeth Tracy, of Conshohocken, aged 81 years.


· Apr. 10. Jesse Thomas, road supervisor, Lower Providence township, aged 57 years.


Apr. 11. Harry Kremer, jeweler, Norristown. Victim of sleeping sickness.


Apr. 14. Elijah Brooke, of King-of-Prussia.


Apr. 17. Francis W. Lawler, of Trooper, last soldier to die abroad during World War, buried with military honors in St. Patrick's Cemetery, on sixth anni- versary of entrance of United States into World War.


Apr. 21. John S. Geller, aged 78 years.


Apr. 27. Lewis G. Stritzinger, founder of Stritzinger Bak- ing Company, aged 60 years. Norristown.


Apr. 30. Israel M. Aker, Civil War veteran. Aged 84 years.


May 4. Evan B. Kepler, of Souderton. Aged 78 years.


May 5. Benjamin Quillman, prominent business man of Norristown, aged 76 years.


May 7. Henry Pagel, oldest merchant in Norristown in point of continuous service, aged 65 years.


June 8. Miss Rachel Rittenhouse, aged 89 years. Member of historic family.


June 16. Albert Pigeon, hosiery manufacturer of Lansdale and Norristown, aged 41 years.


June 16. H. H. Burdan, ice cream manufacturer of Potts- town, aged 53 years.


June 18. Mrs. Angelica Dyson, of Pennsburg, aged 101 years. Oldest member of St. Mark's Lutheran Congregation.


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REPORT OF ANNALIST FOR 1924


June 19. Mrs. B. Amanda Yeakel, Plymouth township, aged 92 years.


June 19. Mrs. Margaret Andrews, of Port Kennedy. Aged 82 years.


June 28. Remanders Scheetz, aged 76 years. Engaged in grocery business in Norristown more than 50 years.


July 5. Andrew Heiser, of Trooper, aged 81 years.


July 6. Richard H. Bate, aged 78 years. Prominent resi- dent of Conshohocken.


Aug. 3. John Pugh, of Conshohocken, aged 85 years. Banker and Civil War veteran.


Aug. 15. Mrs. Joseph Lees, in her 90th year. Widow of founder of James Lees and Sons.


Aug. 28. Hon. A. S. Swartz, aged 74 years; five months after his retirement from the bench.


Sept. 20. Dr. E. A. Krusen, founder of Riverview Hospital.


Oct. 4. Montgomery Smith Longaker, of Limerick Center, former postmaster of Pottstown, aged 80 years.


Nov. 8. Rev. J. Kennedy Moorehouse, aged 44 years. Thir- teen years rector of Calvary P. E. Church, Con- shohocken.


Nov. 17. Dr. J. R. V. Wolfe, Norristown, X-Ray specialist. Aged 42 years.


Nov. 17. Dr. David Rittenhouse Beaver, of Conshohocken. Oldest practicing physician in county. Aged 81 years. .


Nov. 25. Mrs. Lydia Ann Lee, one of oldest residents of county, aged 90 years, Norristown. Granddaugh- ter of Capt. Bartholemeu, of General Anthony Wayne's staff, in Revolution.


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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY


Dec. 14. David H. Krause, aged 83 years, oldest watch- maker in county.


Dec. 16. Joseph Fornance, oldest attorney-at-law, president . of Montgomery County Bar Association, and for many years president of Historical Society of Montgomery County, aged 82 years.


Dec. 19. Miss Hannah Dignan, aged 76 years. Smallest woman in county, 36 inches in height.


Dec. 24. Samuel Coates, aged 82 years, one of oldest and best known residents of Conshohocken.


Dec. 24. Lewis Rockey, aged 66 years. Veteran news car- rier. Served newspapers for 57 years.


1924


Jan. 11. William H. Morris, steel magnate, at Villa Nova.


Jan. 16. Lemuel Roberts, for 11 years warden of county prison.


Jan. 19. Montgomery Evans, aged 71 years. One of fore- most members of Montgomery County Bar, and president of Norristown Trust Company.


Jan. 30. Dr. John N. Jacobs, first controller of county, and pioneer citizen of Lansdale, aged 86 years. Phys- ician, Civil War veteran, politician and banker.


Feb. 4. Mrs. Mary Griffith, of Trappe, who celebrated 100th birthday anniversary on December 17th last.


Feb. 4. Mrs. Anna Thomas Ramsey, aged 93 years.


Feb. 5. James J. Carr, realtor and insurance broker, of Norristown.


Feb. 11. Isaac N. Carvalho, aged 74 years, cigar manufac- turer, Norristown.


Feb. 13. Mrs. Ann Louisa Swartz, widow of late Judge A. S. Swartz, Norristown.


The Harry Family*


By MRS. JOHN W. HARRY


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The first record we have of the Harrys in Pennsylvania is in a deed which contains the following: "Richard Davies, gent., of Welshpool, Wales, purchased 5000 acres of the Welsh Tract in Merion,1 Province of Pennsylvania. He sold 300 acres of this tract, in Radnor, to James Price, gent., of Mothvey, Carmarthenshire, June 19, 1682. James Price sold the same to David Price, and the said David sold the 300 acres to Harry Rees, gent., the present possessor thereof in ye "township of Radnor." The Deed is dated July 30, 1682. On the 28th, 12th mo., 1683, David Evan sold 100 acres to Harry Rees, of Radnor.




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