USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Historical sketches : a collection of papers prepared for the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 16
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HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
Previous to the Revolution, clock and watch-making could hardly be reckoned a trade in America, except in a few of the chief cities; yet we, of Montgomery county, claim the honor and distinction of producing the first eminent clock and watch- maker, as also astronomer, who attracted the attention of our whole country, as also the learned and ingenious of Europe, and that, too, in the colonial age, between 1750 and 1760. This distinguished man was David Rittenhouse.
Having very briefly discussed the importance of record- ing the lapse of time, the history of its divisions, and the earli- est inventors of time-keepers, you will indulge me in a few reflections and speculations as to how it is that so many of our American geniuses have had the temerity to meddle with, and master untaught, the most complicated and delicate of all ma- chines-the clock and watch? Of this we have two or three instances to record presently. Indeed, there is nothing so marks the versatility of American genius as the thousands of untaught experts at clock and watch-making, who have gained distinction in spite of the English motto, "Let the cobbler stick to his last and awl." I will just cite a case or two within my own knowledge to illustrate this national trait. A young lad, who was familiar with edged tools in infancy (his father being a joiner), at the proper age, served a full apprenticeship as tanner and currier, and at majority turned away from it to farming, which he followed to middle life, in the meantime making most of his farm implements, and then, without any technical instruction, set up and followed successfully the business of a master carpenter for the rest of his life.
Here, also, before entering upon the details of my task, I desire to state a principle that lies at the base of all inventive genius and industrial progress-the necessity of introducing children to the use of various tools and the manner of using them. Our public school system will never be perfect until this shall be a feature of instruction, when every one shall be introduced to his or her born calling.
Here I return to time and time-pieces.
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In our region of country, watches were little used in the early part of the present century, and clocks were still scarcer. In the locality of my childhood days (southeastern Chester county) my recollection is, that within a radius of three miles, previous to 1820, not a half dozen clocks of any kind were running to give note of passing time, and watches were not much more numerous. Farmers rose by the crowing of the cock, and going to work with the rising sun; were called to dinner by a horn, sounded when a shadow reached a meridian point fixed by a surveyor's watch or compass. A few had sun-dials; but when cloudy, noon-time was reached by guess. I knew one old lady, who, in summer, could tell high noon to a second by seeing a gleam of sunshine darting down her chimney.
About 1826-28 all this was changed. The Yankee wooden clocks in wagon loads were driven over the country, and every well-to-do family soon had one on the mantel, and very soon after, mechanics in cities and large towns began to talk about "working the hours-from six to six."
I come now to the strict subject-matter of my undertak- ing-the deeds and personnel of the clock and watch-makers of Montgomery county. First on the list, therefore, comes our great and good patriot, before referred to, David Ritten- house. Though afterwards most renowned as a philosopher and statesman, he won his earliest distinction as a clock and watch-maker. This eminent man was the son of Matthias and Elizabeth Rittenhouse, and was born near Germantown 1732, and died 1796. With his father's family he removed, when a small boy, to Norriton township, five miles northwest of Nor- ristown. Contrary to the wishes of his father, who intended him for a farmer, he early began to show his aptness at mechanical contrivances, and before his eighteenth year, con- structed a serviceable wooden clock, which his nephew and biographer, Dr. Barton, asserts, was the only one of that primitive sort he ever made. But in early childhood, having access to a chest of tools owned by a deceased uncle, he con- tinued to invent, contrive, and repair the few clocks and
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watches of the neighborhood. But taking his brother Ben- jamin into partnership, they continued to work and contrive until by 1760, when they had made several brass time-pieces.
In his early youth, Rittenhouse had but the most limited instruction in elementary studies. He formed later, however, the acquaintance of school-master Barton, who opened to his mind the higher mathematics and philosophy. This was at the period of early manhood. His father, at last perceiving the unchangeable bent of his mind, furnished him a small sum of money, which procured him, in Philadelphia, better tools, so that, in addition to astronomical clocks, he conceived and executed the project of making an orrery, or planetarium, to show at one view the whole solar system. This he did while occupying his little shop at his father's homestead, near our present Fairview village. This wonderful machine, which won the commendation of the scientists of that day, he sold to Princeton College for three hundred pounds, and after remov- ing to Philadelphia, in 1770 constructed another for Pennsyl- vania University, and sold it for the same price. He soon thus became famous, not only in America but Europe, as the maker of chronometers, time-pieces and mathematical instruments of various kinds. His biographer, Dr. Barton, asserts that he never received an hour's instruction in practical mechanics, but was wholly self-taught. The same was mainly true of his acquirements in the abstract sciences, including astronomy. His achievements in surveying and astronomy, being out of the line of our purpose here, as, also, his manufacture of metallic thermometers, are not enlarged upon. His mind having a wide grasp, it was impossible to confine such a man to mere mechanics; so he took up inter-state surveying, and serving the commonwealth also as state treasurer during the Revolution and subsequent to it.
The only other "clock-maker" that Montgomery county has produced, that deserves comparison with Rittenhouse, is the late Jacob D. Custer, of Norristown, who, for the sake of chronological order, is passed for a moment to name others who formed the connecting links between them. The follow-
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ing is a brief description of the names and places of business of most of them; and because they were not distinguished, except as worthy mechanics, the account of each must be brief. Probably the earliest clock and watch-repairers-for most of them were only such-since Rittenhouse, resided in Norristown, as it was the only considerable town in the county for a long time. The first that we have any account of at the county seat was William Bevens, whose advertisement first appears in Norristown papers, November 1816, four years after the town was incorporated, and whose death was therein recorded with much manifestation of respect and feeling June 1819. His son-in-law, George Govett, continued the business, but removing, in April, 1831, to Philadelphia. John White- head advertises himself as his successor. About this time, perhaps earlier, Joseph Thomas learned the business with a man named Griffith, in Philadelphia, and it is thought followed clock and watch repairing in Whitpain or Norriton township, but never set up a shop in the business, but was, for many years prior to the time of his death, an officer of a Pottsville bank, and the Bank of Montgomery County. It is proper here to mention Seneca Lukens, near Horsham Meeting (father of the celebrated Isaiah Lukens), who was also a self-taught clock- maker, and with whom his son learned the trade. He made a clock for each of his four daughters-a set-out on their mar- riage-and some of them are still running. Isaiah removed to Philadelphia and became famous as the maker of the state- house and Lollar Academy clocks. After Seneca Lukens died and his son removed to Philadelphia, Nicholas Kohl, a shoemaker, commenced cleaning clocks, on Doylestown road, near Willow Grove. He also made a number of "grand- father" clocks, still in the neighborhood and in service.
But the most distinguished clock, watch-maker and in- ventor of our county in later times was Jacob D. Custer, born March 5, 1805, and died September 30, 1872, aged sixty-seven years. His early life is thus given: When a half-grown boy he was required to help his mother spin, and having a daily task to perform, would often rise at two o'clock a. m to finish
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it so that he might gain time in daylight to practice his invent- ive genius with tools. When the clock-repairer of the neigh- borhood died, he stepped into the place, having got an insight into "movements" by taking his father's watch apart and re- pairing it while he was gone to market. He never had but six weeks schooling, yet managed to learn reading, writing and arithmetic at home. By his nineteenth year, entirely un- taught, he set up his business at township line road, traveling around to repair clocks and watches at times when not em- ployed at home. This place was midway between Shannon- ville and Jeffersonville, where he had a clock dial placed in the window, pointing the time, as a business sign. At this time, and for a period later, he kept a horse and light wagon, in which he drove around, plying his trade for considerable dis- tances from home. In 1832 he removed to Norristown and set up his business, though he had never had an hour's in- struction in the art from others, and announced his business, as follows, in the papers: "Jacob D. Custer has commenced clock and watch-making one door above Thomas and Hooven's store," Swede and Main. Underneath are appended this fur- ther notice and certificate: "He keeps on hand and makes patent clocks at short notice. The following persons have bought and used my clocks: A. T. McFarland, March, 1832; Jos. S. Pennypacker, August, 1831; Abraham Rhawn, Janu- ary, 1832; Abraham Heebner, March, 1831." -**...
Not long after, Mr. Custer removed to near the corner of Main and Green streets (where his brother Isaac learned the trade with him), and until he erected a new brick store and workshop on Main, below Strawberry. Very soon after he got settled at Main and Green streets, he began to make steeple or town clocks. About 1834 he made one, and pro- posed to place it on a school-house belfry near by, on Green street, but the town council purchased it, and it was placed in the belfry of the old court house, where it ran, keeping good time until 1853, when the building was torn down; but the clock was removed and set up elsewhere; and he made a new one for the present court house.
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He began early to erect town clocks, the principal move- ments made of cast iron. Of the number, he erected one each at Uniontown, Danville, Gettysburg, Phænixville, German- town, Schuylkill Falls, Coatesville, Glassborough, and Bridg- ton, N. J., and Salem, Ohio, as also sending others to South Carolina, Alabama, and other southern states; as also one for an eating house on Market street, Philadelphia.
According to Chas. S. Crossman, who has written “a complete history of watch-making in America," our Jacob D. Custer was the third American maker of a serviceable watch, Luther Goddert ranking first and Henry F. Pitkin being sec- ond, Custer's watches being made between 1840 and 1845. ' About 1850 he made for the United States government a number of "fog-bells" (his own invention) to warn mariners on our coast of shoals and hidden rocks in misty weather. In building and inventing these he had the advice and assist- ance of General Meade and Professor Bache. During the rebellion he invented a Minie bullet machine, which he sold to Mr. Tatem, of Philadelphia, much below its true value; a ma- chine that would mould several tons in a few days. He pat- ented a valuable contrivance for lubricating engine journals under steam pressure. He took out a number of patents for. watches, clocks, harvesters, etc. He early began, not only to repair, but actually make gold and silver watches for friends who ordered them. Among these, one for each of the follow- ing: William H. Slingluff and wife, John Jacobs, Uriah Thomas, and several others. These were entirely made by himself, except the main and hair springs. He also made a sewing machine for his wife. In 1850 Mr. Custer went into the heavy machinery business, in connection with the watch and clock trade, but soon after closed the latter and erected a shop on Lafayette street for erecting steam engines and other heavy work, in connection with his patent town clocks. This busi- ness he continued to the time of his death.
Mr. Custer was not a man of many scientific attainments even in mechanics, but a wonderful mechanical inventor by simple intuition. As proof of this, "a Cincinnati man, who
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heard of him, inquired if he could construct an automaton parasol-opener for his show-window, which Mr. C. accom- plished on a mere description of what was wanted."
It ought to have been stated before that Mr. Custer's brother Isaac, who learned the trade with him, set up watch and clock-making in Norristown, but after following it a time quit in 1837 or 1838, and went west. The shop he vacated, near Sower's old book-store, was immediately occupied by William D. Rapp, a Philadelphia watch-maker, who sent the late Daniel H. Stein, then an apprentice, with other help, to run the store. Mr. S. soon after succeeded to the business, which he continued to the time of his death, in 1885, over forty years. With Mr. Stein, Washington Koplin learned the business, and became his competitor in Norristown for a period of nearly twenty-five years, till his death. Near 1850 William Robertson established a watch and clock shop above the Montgomery bank, and had great patronage till the time of his death, 1875 or 1876. He was considered a very ac- complished watch-maker. The business was continued by his son-in-law, David Rogers. About 1849 Henry Leibert, a hatter by trade, but a watch and clock-maker also (learned of his father in early life), started a store at near DeKalb and Main, drifted into jewelry manufacture with Samuel Brown some years later, but lost his life by an explosion of gun- powder, with which he was experimenting below Norristown, as also did his partner in the enterprise, William Reiff.
Albert B. Parker, of DeKalb street, Norristown, began about' 1879 the watch, clock and spectacle trade; and Thad- deus S. Adle, a little subsequent to 1870, also began, and con- tinues at Main, below DeKalb; as also George Alker near by, within a year or two past. A German, named Gus. Lantz, on DeKalb, is an enterprising time artist and spectacle dealer ; and J. E. Boucot, at Main, near Cherry ; with J. D. Sallade at 16 East Main; S. C. Levy & Co., at Airy and DeKalb, com- prise the profession at the present time, doing business in Norristown, it being understood that the long-established con-
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cerns of the late Washington Koplin and Daniel H. Stein are continued by the widows of each respectively.
The clock and watch-makers of Pottstown have been the . following: David Leigh was a famous clock and watch- maker of the olden time. At a subsequent date, John A. Andre was a noted clock and watch-maker and dentist. Mr. Andre was not only an artist but a politician also. D. K. Hatfield is probably the longest established now in the upper borough. Aaron Hartenstine, D. H. Shiffert, H. C. Boone and Edward Kerper (the last having a reputation for great ingenuity) make up the present time artists of the upper borough.
In Sumneytown, in early times, Faber had a wide reputa- tion, and Solliday at Montgomeryville, as also Daniel Sheidt, lately deceased, at Sumneytown. James B. Ray is a very successful watch and clock-maker at Conshohocken; also, F. B. Righter and F. J. Bloomhall. In Bridgeport the trade is filled by Charles E. Leigh, B. Frank Fry and George Hart. Jesse Wanner, some years ago, followed the business at the Trooper, in Norriton.
In early times the lower end of the county was well sup- plied with amateur clock and watch-makers. Alfred Graves, an Englishman, son of the great cutler of Sheffield, occasion- ally repaired clocks near Willow Grove. William Homer, the elder, of Upper Dublin or Moreland, was a self-taught clock and watch-repairer, his specialty being the purchase of unserviceable time-pieces, and repairing and selling them at a profit. A grand-nephew of his, Wm. Homer, Esq., now of Norristown, has been for years a self-taught expert at repair- ing clocks, watches and even guns. Alan Wakefield, of Hat- boro, commenced the business of repairing clocks and watches some years ago, and has followed it to the present time. At present the borough of Hatboro has a very pre- tentious establishment, of which optical implements are a de- cided feature, which is run by J. S. Garner. And James Ogden keeps time-pieces ticking in Jenkintown. At the Trappe, Clinton Shuler has been the artist for many years.
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In this hasty review (already too long) some notable mechanics in this line may have been overlooked, as also some . interesting anecdotes of Isaiah Lukens, Jacob D. Custer, and . others, have been excluded for lack of space and time.
YESTERDAY'S SUNSET. 197
By William McDermott.
As we grow near the sunset of life, we are prone to look back and live in the sunny hours of the day that had its open- ing for us. There are those, who, in the evening time, are disposed to look upon the past with regret, and bemoan their lot and the varied actions of their past lives. We, therefore, oftentimes hear the remark that if "I had my life to live over again, how very different would I act, and how much better I should be off now." We take this to be a delusion ; for, as intelligent persons, with our environment, we did the best we could; and that is true, not only in our days of youth, but practically through our whole lives. Believing, as we do, in a superintending, personal Providence that controls our action, while we are conscious of being in the most absolute sense "free agents," "there's a divinity that shapes our ends, rough- hew them how we will." Therefore, if we have, to the best of our ability, discharged the duties of the years gone by as they have presented themselves, we may feel content. Looking to the Lord to pardon all done amiss, for Christ's sake, he may serenely march to the sunset of life with sublime peace.
Those in the morning of their life's journey, with the dew of youth upon their brows, have the golden light of the grand future spread before them. And it is a grand aspiration of the young heart to build "castles in the air," and have that castle all illumined with the brilliant rays of undying hope. Even if the "castle" be dismantled, there has been joy in its building, and a pleasure in its even temporary possession. Let the young have their rainbow future, and those of us older calmly and peacefully enjoy the golden rays of the " setting sun."
In this paper I propose to "look back;" not perhaps in chronological order, but as the events of the past come troop-
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ing up. We are told the mind never forgets. As an illustra- tion. More than fifty years ago a lot of us " little folks" were sent to a school kept by two maiden ladies, in their home, corner of Green and Airy streets, Norristown, and when they gave up, I remember crying; and in 1837, when Eliphalet Roberts kept the " Academy," which stood on DeKalb street, facing Airy street, at the close the boys and girls bid good-bye with real grief. The Norristown Academy was an endowed institution, receiving appropriation from the state, and a legacy was left it by Mr. Winnard, who had at that time the Norristown Register.
During repairs made at the First Presbyterian Church, the Baptists and Presbyterians held a joint protracted meeting here. There was a preacher from the " Valley," a Baptist, who was very irreverently called the " hell fire preacher." He was to preach on a certain night, and a lot of fellows got a huge bale of cotton waste (old cotton saturated with oil); inside was placed a canister of powder, with a slow match. Just at the time of the " appeal," and that hymn given out commenc- ing, " That awful day will surely come, The appointed hour makes haste," off went the blast, and on rushing to the door the air was seen to be full of falling flakes of fire, and the " awful day " had surely come ; some cried, some fainted, some prayed and some swore, some dropped on their knees and some ran down the street as if the recruiting officer was on their heels. It was in the old Academy where lectures were given. Mr. Hough once taught there; Rev. Samuel Aaron occupied it for awhile. In the rear was a cultivated field, where, when the crops were off, we boys played ball. On the square bounded by Airy, Penn, DeKalb and Green streets, was the dwellings of Samuel Sherwood, one a stone, the other a little, plastered, one-story house; the balance of the square was an orchard, where, if the " boys" did not steal the fruit, the old gentleman would be very generous to all of us. He lived almost alone, and had the reputation of being very rich for those years.
The Episcopal church was the oldest of all our churches. Rev. N. Stem was one of the old land marks among the min-
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isters of the borough-tall, venerable and dignified, and of decided pulpit ability. Rev. Mr. May was at one time min- ister. The second church was the First Presbyterian, built about 1817. How well we remember that white stone building, occupying the site of the present First Church. In front was a row of Lombardy poplars and a little yard, with a wide ves- tibule. Here the good people met on Sabbath mornings to speak to each other. Ulrich Schlater, David Getty, David Wolmer, William Powell and Robert Hamell were the elders. An old black man, Jacob Glascow, was a prominent and useful man. Willi m Powell, William McDermott, and others held what was called cottage prayer meetings, around from house to house. How earnest Mr. Powell was in his work, and towards the close of his life with what energy he would sing. Rev. Mr. Barr, Rev. Mr. Nassau and Rev. Robert Adair were among the early pastors. Mr. Adair, as early as 1834, made temperance addresses, for which he was pelted with rotten eggs, and once, out of sheer disrespect, was elected constable. In those early years, the munificent salary of six hundred dol- lars a year was paid the pastor, and thirty dollars a year to the janitor. This church has been the scene of wonderful revivals in the past, particularly under the pastorate of Rev. Samuel M. Gould, when upon more than one occasion almost an hundred persons united with the church, at one time. Mr. Gould was often aided by that eloquent preacher, Rev. Mr. Anspach, of Barren Hill, and on other occasions by Rev. Mr. Helffenstein, of Germantown; this grand man was a preacher of wonderful power, not sensational, but impressive. A large congregation assembled at one time in the audience room, when he preached on "A Lost Soul;" those who wished to were asked to remain, and the entire congregation, except two men, remained to the after meeting.
A trick was played on one of the old elders of this church. He kept a store on Main street, nearly opposite the Central Presbyterian Church, a half-century or more back ; every- thing was sold from potatoes to French broadcloth, and all kinds of liquors. One winter night, a man called, and wanted
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a quart of whiskey. He wore a cloak around his shoulders. After getting the whiskey, he could not pay for it, and the motto " no trust " was the rule. "Well, then," said the pur- chaser, "you must take it back." The jug was handed back, and the contents poured into the barrel. As the old fellow was going out of the door, he said: "Well, that was a trade where I came out first best, and the store keeper lost nothing. I had two jugs, one filled with water, the other empty ; I got the whiskey in the empty jug, and handed back the jug with the water."
During a revival at this church, Tom - came into one of the meetings ; it was held in the lecture room. Tom was a little "tight," and about mid-way of the service he got up, walked the whole length of the room, and planked down a " quarter." "There, take that for my share. I have given more attention to this church because my parents were among its early members as far back as 1820, and I united with this church in February, 1843, when 93 stood up together to take our vows."
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