USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Historical sketches : a collection of papers prepared for the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 15
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If we retrace our steps and go back toward Philadelphia, along the Lancaster turnpike, we still find the same succession of old taverns, the Red Lion, near the upper end of the pres- ent Ardmore, being the only one still used as a hotel. This is the great resort of bicycle clubs, quite different quests from the old-time sojourners, from wagons and stages.
What a long, weary journey it must have been to Pitts-
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burg in a wagon. You might suppose teamsters and travelers would welcome a change. But, no! such is the proverbial short-sightedness of human nature. When a railroad through Lower Merion was first talked of, these teamsters and travelers were the first to oppose the innovation. Why? Because, they said, it will make horses good for nothing. And when, at last, the railroad was built, the people were afraid to use it, and for years thereafter continued to travel with horses and wagons.
Have I told all that I know of Lower Merion? Nearly; except that, now that the new Schuylkill Valley railroad has cut through its northwestern corner, the people of the outside world will learn, more and more, what a beautiful resting place for our dead we have within our borders-West Laurel Hill. Not that I admire pretentious cemeteries-the little grave-yard adjoining the Lower Merion Meeting-House suits my simple Quaker taste very much better-but I like West Laurel Hill because of its natural loveliness, its wonderfully beautiful pros- pects of rock and wood, vale and river. Had I been a mem- ber of the Anderson family, with such a fair ancestral domain as Maple Hill, scarce could I have consented to its change of name and nature. But, if it is fitting that the remains of the distinguished dead be laid among us, let me say that we have a necropolis sufficiently magnificent for the sepulchres of kings.
This is all that I know of Lower Merion. My knowledge is chiefly of its past. Of its present, let those tell more who know more, those who have entered into it as conquerors and who now possess the land. Of its future, I can safely say that, like its past, this will be beautifully, heroically grand; the past is marked by humanity's constant endeavor, the future will be marked by humanity's triumphant success. Our Lower Mer- ion will be, as it is, as it has been, the world in miniature; our people, of the past, the present, the future, typify all peo- ple-humanity toiling, humanity expectant, humanity crowned.
HISTORY OF THE FIRST TROOP OF CAVALRY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA.
By Hon. Hiram C. Hoover.
The precise date when this volunteer company was organ- ized cannot now be definitely determined, as there are no books or papers now in existence (as far as the writer knows) which would fix its organization. Sharf & Wescott's Philadelphia History, volume I, page 448, mentions that the Montgomery Troop of Light Horse, commanded by Captain James Morris, paraded in the grand Federal procession in Philadelphia, on July 4, 1788. Some have thought this was the organization afterwards known as the First Troop of Montgomery county ; but from tradition and from information received from old inhabitants now living, we conclude that the troop was organ- ized about the year 1798, under the following circumstances.
There was a troop of horse in existence in the county prior to this date, under the command of Captain Henderson. This troop was ordered out to assist in suppressing what was known as the whiskey insurrection in western Pennsylvania. Some time after their return, between the years 1795 and 1798, Rob- ert Kennedy was elected captain (he was proprietor of the Hickorytown hotel). (See History of Montgomery County, page 1032). At the time that the Fries rebellion occurred, this troop was ordered out again to assist in suppressing the out- break, and they responded to the order.
The troop was composed of members holding different political views, some holding the Federal or John Adams' ideas, others belonging to the opposite party, known as the Jeffersonian or Democratic party. As political feeling waxed very warm at this period, the adherents of Jefferson erected throughout the county what were known as liberty poles,
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which were very obnoxious to the Federalists. Consequently, upon the return of this troop, when it reached the Trappe (where they stopped to refresh themselves), there was one of these poles standing, and some of the members belonging to the Federal party attempted to cut it down. Whether they suc- ceeded or not is not known to the writer, but it resulted in a complete division of the membership, the Federalists refusing to remain members, as Captain Kennedy was a Democrat. But the ranks were soon filled by new members holding the same political views as the captain, and they then adopted the name of the Democratic Republican Troop of Montgomery County. Captain Kennedy continued in command of the troop until the year 1804, when Isaiah Wells was elected cap- tain, who continued in command until April 15, 1808, when John Mattheys (then residing in Lower Merion township, but who, later, purchased a property in Norriton township, now owned by Edward Hibbs) was duly elected captain, and con- tinued in command for about twenty-five years. He was elected to the State Senate in 1831, and served from 1832 to 1835.
In the year 1814 (when this country was involved in the second war with Great Britain) the troop met at the public house of James Harvey, Norristown, when Captain Mattheys ยท gave notice that the members should hold themselves in readi- ness to serve their country in connection with the first brigade, second division of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, and the mem- bers, without a dissenting voice, pledged themselves to be ready to assist in driving the enemy from our shores.
In September, 1824, when General Lafayette paid his last visit to Philadelphia, the troop paraded along with all the mili- tary companies of the state. And it is related that General Lafayette remarked that the horses rode by the members of the First Troop of Montgomery County were the best horses in the whole procession. This same pride of a fine horse to ride on the days of parade or drill was kept up by the mem- bers down to the last of its existence.
The troop was also called out at the execution of Minor,
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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
who was hanged on June 21, 1832, on the Bucks county Almshouse farm, as it was feared that there would be an at- tempt to release him. There were several military companies there, but the troop was assigned the right in the line, and guarded the prisoner to the place of execution.
The uniform of the troop then was as follows: Black leather cap, covered with bear-skin, with a buck-tail on the right side; navy blue coatee, with scarlet breast facing; three rows of round, silver-plated buttons, about the size of a musket ball, one row in the centre and the other two on the outer edge of the scarlet facing, which was circular in form; silver braid around the collar; navy blue pantaloons, with scarlet stripe one and one-fourth inches wide down the outer seam; black cravat, long boots, silver-plated spurs, white buckskin sword-belt, which passed over the right shoulder, extending down to the left side, with silver-plated hooks by which the sword was attached; silver-plated medal in front, bearing upon its face the device of a mounted trooper, and buckskin gaunt- lets. The horse equipments consisted of a double bridle, with silver-plated curb and snaffle-bits; breast strap, with silver- plated breast-plate the shape of a heart; saddle, plated stir- rups, blue saddle cover, covering the saddle and extending as far back as the hips of the horse, with a stripe of red cloth one and a half inches wide around the outer edge. The cost of this uniform and horse equipments, at the time the writer be- came a member (1841) was about one hundred dollars. The sword and pistol holsters and other accoutrements were furn- ished by the state.
This troop outranked all other military organizations of the county. It may be proper to state in this connection that there was another military organization, known as the Second Troop of Montgomery County, having about the same num- ber of members, but differing from the First Troop in politics. It was the outgrowth of the division of the original troop, as above stated. Notwithstanding their political difference, a general good feeling existed between the two companies. They formed themselves into a battalion, and each company
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FIRST TROOP OF CAVALRY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
endeavored to excel the other in drill and military deportment. After the resignation of Captain John Mattheys, Jacob Scheetz, son of General Henry Scheetz, of Whitemarsh township, was elected captain. How many years he continued in command is not known. Next in command was William Z. Mattheys, son of the former Captain John Mattheys, who was a brilliant officer, and the troop was in a high state of drill while under his command, which continued until about 1839. Then Rob- ert Pollard was elected captain, but only served one year, when Dr. John A. Martin (who had been surgeon of the trocp) was elected captain ; Adam Hurst, first lieutenant; Henry G. Hart, second lieutenant; David Z. Mattheys, first orderly sergeant. The troop then numbered about seventy-five members, and there was a general attendance at every meeting for drill. They had a high regard for their captain, and he in turn took pride in teaching them the tactics and discipline of a soldier.
There were some changes made in the membership. Old members, who had served as volunteers the required time, ac- cording to the militia laws of the state, would retire from the service and young men would fill their places, thus keeping the company up to the standard it had held for so many years.
In the month of July, 1844, a serious riot broke out in the city of Philadelphia, which was beyond the control of the police force of the city, and the mayor called upon the gover- nor of the state for troops to quell the riot. The first to reach the scene was a company from Germantown, who were badly handled by the rioters on Sunday night, some being killed and many wounded. On Monday, about noon, Captain Martin received orders from the governor to proceed with the troop to the city, and, although the members lived scattered over the middle and lower sections of the county, by eight o'clock of the same evening, nearly every member reported for duty (many of them being farmers, had to leave their crops unhar- vested). At one o'clock the next morning they commenced their march for the city, arriving at the outskirts about day- break. Many of the rougher classes shouted at them as they passed on to the headquarters of General Patterson, who was
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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
in command of all the military, his headquarters being in the Girard bank, on Third street, near Dock. The troop was ordered to quarters at Douglass' hotel, on Sixth street, and ordered to report at headquarters three times each day, at nine in the morning, two in the afternoon, and seven in the evening. They stood in line in front of the bank in the scorch- ing sun of July, with the privilege of dismounting and stand- ing by their horses, as it was expected every hour that an attack would be made at some point by the rioters. This routine of duty continued from Tuesday until Saturday night, when it was thought there would be no further disturbance of the peace. The troop was, therefore, at five o'clock dis- missed, to await further orders, but was not required to report at seven, as had been the custom. Consequently, the mem- bers availed themselves of the opportunity of seeing some- thing of the city, and were scattered about at different places. But about eight o'clock an officer from headquarters rode with orders to mount immediately and report to General Pat- terson, as there was an attack made at the Moyamensing prison to release some of the prisoners. The alarm spread all over the city, and there was a rally for boots and saddles and mount, and in a very short time every member was in his place ready for service. As the troop reached Third street they found the street packed with people in front of General Patterson's headquarters and extending up and down several squares. The sentinels in front of the bank were unable to keep the crowd back, but as the column pressed on, the peo- ple gave way, and a passage was cleared in front of the bank and the crowd began to diminish.
The next order was that the First Troop, together with Captain Archambault's troop from Bucks county, should pro- ceed to the prison to ascertain the state of affairs there. When the prison was reached some of the officers rode forward and found that it was a false alarm. The troop returned to head- quarters and reported all quiet. They were then dismissed for the night, and, as there was no further outbreak, all were discharged the following Tuesday and returned to their homes.
FIRST TROOP OF CAVALRY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 18I
At the commencement of the Mexican War, Captain Martin proposed to offer the service of the troop to the govern- ment, but a number of members refused to accede to the pro- position. Many withdrew, and shortly after Dr. Martin re- signed and went to California. Lieutenant Hurst was elected captain, but the membership declined very much, and was on the eve of disbanding, when Dr. Martin returned from Cali- fornia. There was a proposition to re-elect him, when Captain Hurst withdrew altogether from the troop, which was then reorganized by the election of Dr. J. A. Martin, captain ; H. C. Hoover, first lieutenant; and Jacob Hoover, second lieu- tenant. The uniform was also changed to the following : Beaver cap, ornamented with horse-hair plume and eagle in front, buff cord and tassels; blue coat, with buff collar, cuffs and skirt facings, oval buttons (yellow); sky-blue pantaloons, with a buff stripe down the outer seam one and one-fourth inches wide; black cravat, long boots, yellow spurs and white sword belt, with plate in front. The horse equipments were similar to the former, except yellow mounting was used in- stead of silver-plated. Many of the old members refused to equip themselves in the new uniform, but the ranks were soon filled by new members without regard to politics, as the Sec- ond Troop had disbanded, and according to the fourth article of the constitution adopted, any white male person of good moral character, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, would be eligible to membership, but must receive the vote of two-thirds of the members present at the meeting when pro- posed, provided a majority of the members be present at such meeting. The members were nearly equally divided politi- cally, and the same military deportment characterized the membership which had always heretofore made it respected wherever it paraded.
Charles Thomson Jones, of Roxborough, captain of the Roxborough troop, extended an invitation to the First Troop of Montgomery County to participate in the unveiling of the monument erected in the Leverington cemetery in memory of Virginia soldiers of the Revolutionary war, who were sur-
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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
prised and bayoneted while asleep by a squad of British sol- diers sent by a Tory. The troop accepted the invitation and participated in the ceremonies. As Captain Martin was unable to attend on account of the death of his father, First Lieuten- ant H. C. Hoover took command on this occasion. General Pat- terson and several other prominent military men were present.
At the opening of hostilities of the civil war a meeting was ordered by the captain, and the question of offering the services of the troop was discussed. Several of the members concluded that it was impossible for them to leave their fami- lies and farms (and it was composed largely of farmers), and when the vote was taken it was a tie. It is but proper to state in this connection that this was not a party vote, but each member voted as he viewed his own private circumstances, and, although the troop did not go as then organized, many of the single men volunteered in other companies, and several lost their, lives on battlefields. Owing to the continuation of the war, and the members enlisting in other military organi- zations, the troop disbanded, after an existence of over sixty years.
The following is a list of members of the troop who re- ported for duty at the time of the riots in Philadelphia, in July, 1844 :
John A. Martin, captain ; Adam Hurst, second lieutenant. Non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates :- William Bickings, Henry Baker, James Burnsides, Samuel Beyer, Rich- ard Bickings, George Burkheimer, Samuel Beideman, Joseph Bruner, Jesse Bean, Joseph Cleaver, Henry Culp, Levi Cope, Philip Custer, George Cowden, Lemuel Eastburn, Amos Erb, Bennet Fulmer, Allen Fleck, Philip S. Gerhard, Peter Gilbert, Franklin Gouldy, Joseph Hague, Daniel S. Heist, Jacob High- ley, Jacob Hallman, Hiram C. Hoover, Jacob Hoover, Andrew Hart, George Hoof, Jacob Hurst, David Lukens, William Logan, Samuel Lightcap, David Z. Mattheys, William Martin, >Charles Newman, Elwood Norney, Isaiah Richards, George Sensenderfer, Conrad Sheive, William Teany, John Walker, George H. Wentz, James Highley.
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FIRST TROOP OF CAVALRY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
In addition to these, and besides those previously men- tioned, the writer (although he may unintentionally omit some) recalls from memory the following, who were at some time members of the troop:
George K. Ritter, Solomon Norney, Solomon Katz, Kline Shoemaker, Benjamin Baker, John Hesser, Sennica Radcliff, Thomas Bitting, Charles Hurst, David Marple, Amos Yost, Abraham Anders, George Rittenhouse, Andrew J. Hoover, Algernon J. Hoover, Andrew H. Baker, Marshall DeHaven, William Werkheiser, Henry Werkheiser, Benjamin Harrar, Dr. Milton Newbury, Jackson Walker, Isaac Z. Lysinger, Napoleon B. Holland, James Busby, Wilmer F. Gerhart, Isaac Fryer, William Greager.
Much of these reminiscences is based on the writer's personal recollections, as he was connected with the organiza- tion at different periods, amounting altogether to sixteen years.
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THE SECOND TROOP, MONTGOMERY COUNTY CAVALRY.
By Major William H. Holstein.
Having been appointed to give you a history of the Sec- ond Troop, Montgomery County Cavalry, I regret to say there is but little of its early history at my command, from which I can derive the desired information. My father, George W. Holstein, who was for many years Colonel of the cavalry bat- talion, was probably the first Captain of the Second Troop. He was followed by Andrew Shainline and others. Richard A. Edey was the last Captain of the Troop. He afterwards re- moved to Illinois. I have been informed that he is no longer living. I have been unable to learn whether any of the records of the Troop were left in the county by Captain Edey, or any of his officers.
The only matters of interest at my command relating to the Troop, are its closing scenes, connected with the last grand parade of the military of Montgomery county previous to the late rebellion. This took place at Pottstown, in October, 1841.
The cavalry battalion of the county at that time on parade was composed of the First Troop, Captain William Z. Mat- theys; Second Troop, Captain Richard A. Edey; Third Troop, Captain Smith; First National Dragoons, Captain Fry; visit- ors: First Troop Chester County Cavalry, First and Second Troops Berks County Cavalry.
Besides the cavalry parading on that day there were seven artillery and infantry companies of Montgomery county, two artillery companies from Berks county, and two infantry com- panies from Chester county, about 700 rank and file. Com- mander-in-chief, Governor David Rittenhouse Porter; Aids, Colonel William J. Leiper, Colonel C. R. Servoss, Colonel Andrews, Colonel James Cameron; Commander, General
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SECOND TROOP OF CAVALRY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
George Hartman; Aid, Major John Rutter; Adjutant, General Diller; Aid, Colonel James H. Keim; Brigade Inspector, Col- onel James Bush; Brigade Major, J. R. Murphy; Brigade Ad- jutant, William H. Holstein; Quarter Master, William M. Huddy; Assistant Quarter Master, Levi Hoffaker; Surgeon, Dr. D. M. Foot; Assistant Surgeon, Dr. J. A. Martin.
The next parade of the cavalry battalion, consisting of the First and Second Troops, Montgomery county, was on the 3Ist of October, 1842, when they served as escort to Colonel R. M. Johnson and Honorable James Buchanan, from German- town to Philadelphia.
November 7, 1842. The battalion was ordered by Major Pawling to assemble this day for parade and inspection at Bar- ren Hill. The Captain of the Second Troop, with his two Lieutenants, only were present, while the First Troop was out in force. The officers of the Second Troop appearing without their command, resulted in a court martial being ordered by Brigadier General John H. Hobart, for the trial of the said officers for disobedience of orders, unofficer-like conduct, etc. The court consisted of Colonel Henry Beyer, President; Lieu- tenant Colonel Augustus W. Shearer, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Garet, Major Samuel Hogeland, Captain Daniel Fry, members; Josiah W. Evans, Judge Advocate. The trial lasted several days; the Captain and his two Lieutenants were found guilty of insubordination, and directed to pay a fine, which was remitted.
The Second Troop was called into service and reported for duty at the riots in Philadelphia in July, 1844. They were on duty there for eight days. They also took part in a large military demonstration at Paoli on the anniversary of the mas- sacre. I can not recall the year. Several of their horses were hurt at a sham battle there. At another military encampment, at Doylestown, twenty-three companies being present, a sham battle was fought, in which this organization participated.
The Second Troop disbanded several years prior to the First Troop. Captain Edey moved West. The members lost interest in the organization and it went to pieces.
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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
The following is a list of members of the Second Troop Montgomery County Cavalry shortly before it disbanded : Richard A. Edey, Captain; Henry S. Hitner, First Lieutenant ; John Wentz, Second Lieutenant. Non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates-John Foulke, Surgeon; Charles T. Rogers, Cornet; Abram Weaver, First Sergeant ; John I. Ker- sey, Quarter Master; William H. Cress, Trumpeter; Isaac Bell, George W. Bisbing, Lephemia Bolton, Moulton C. R. Dager, Mark DeHaven, Allen Dunehower, William H. Eder, Henry Edey, Andrew Famous, George Famous, Charles Fisher, George W. Fisher, Jeremiah Freas, Walton Freas, William Fratt, Alexander Fulton, William Gilmore, Charles Hallowell, George B. Hampton, Stacey Haines, Samuel Henderson, Geo. W. Henderson, William Hiltner, Jacob Hinkle, Septimus W. Jones, John P. Knapp, David Livergood, William M. Lukens, Isaac Markley, William Michener, Edward Preston, Ross Rambo, Reuben Y. Ramsey, Edward Rhine, Anderson Stew- art, Charles Stewart, Mark Supplee, George W. Supplee, Chas. Slifer, Wells Tomlinson, Thomas Tomlinson, Washington Ulrich, Charles Weak, Abram Wentz, Thomas H. Wentz George Wolf, Mordecai DeHaven.
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CLOCK AND WATCHMAKERS OF MONT- GOMERY COUNTY.
By M. Auge.
The importance of marking the flight of time, especially during the obscurations of the sun, has been one of the prime - necessities of mankind in all ages; hence the ancients had their hour-glasses for measuring time by the running of the sand or water, after which sun-dials served the purpose for daily use in fair weather, while aspects of sun, moon and stars marked years, months and cycles.
Although the division of time into hours, minutes and seconds by 12 and 60, as indicated by our time-keepers, seems to be arbitrary and not natural, still we follow the ancient custom of reckoning by 12 instead of 24, the number of hours in a completed day. They, the ancients, recorded the first hour of the equinoxial day at sunrise, and counted twelve at. sunset, while their nights were divided into four watches of three hours each, ending at sunrise, the time of beginning mak- ing twelve hours for the night also. With us, the necessity of having uniform traveling time will probably lead to the con- struction of new time pieces, graduated to twenty-four hour dials, corresponding with such traveling time-tables.
Clocks are said to have been invented and used as early as the sixth century ; but until the revival of learning in the sixteenth, they do not seem to have been regarded as reliable for practical use. The first one recorded in English history was made by Richard Wallingford, a monk, in 1326. Two hundred years later Gallileo invented the pendulum, which was practically added to the clock by Huygens, a German, in 1662, since which time clocks have been one of the fixtures of our higher civilization.
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