USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Historical sketches : a collection of papers prepared for the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 32
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On December Ist, 1821, the first preparatory meeting of neighboring citizens was held at the public house of John Miller, of Norriton, for the purpose of forming the Jef- ferson Express Company-an organization for "the re- covery of stolen horses and detecting of the thieves." At this meeting a committee of three citizens were appointed to draft rules and regulations. The meeting for organization oc- curred on January Ist, 1822, at the above named place : the organization was completed by the adoption of rules and
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regulations and the selection of officers. Arnold Baker was made president, William Hamill treasurer, John Bean secre- tary. In the early history of this organization the company held meetings regularly every three months-now annually. Citizens were only eligible to membership residing within a certain defined territory. First this company met at different inns within the prescribed limits ; now they are annually held at Jeffersonville inn.
In 1821 I find another military organization meeting at the house of John Miller-the " United Rifle Rangers "-for drill, inspection, etc.
In 1823 John Miller was school trustee of (now) Jeffer- sonville school.
On Wednesday evening, February 19, 1823, a happy wedding took place. The groom was Edward Lane Bean (son of Jesse Bean) and the bride was Miss Anna Maria Miller, eldest daughter of the inn-keeper, John Miller. Rev. J. C. Clay, of Norristown, performed the ceremony.
The forty-seventh anniversary of American Independ- ence was celebrated here under the auspices of the Norristown Guards, on July 4th, 1823. * " This auspicious day was welcomed at early dawn by firing of cannon, ringing of bells, martial music and music from a band. * The guards marched from Norristown to Jesse Bean's woods (a few hundred yards below the Jefferson Inn) where a large concourse of citizens greeted them. An excellent dinner for the occasion was served by John Miller. Captain Markley, Lieutenants Boyer and Porter were the presiding officers of the day. 13 regular and 27 volunteer toasts were drank, ac- companied by firing of cannon and music from the band."
Another wedding took place at the Jefferson Inn on March 4th, 1824, Rev. J. C. Clay officiating. The contracting parties were Mr. James Horning, of Upper Providence, to Miss Sarah Ann Miller, daughter of John Miller, of Norriton.
John Miller in 1825, in consequence of ill health, con- cluded to relinquish the hotel business, and he rented the place to a man by the name of Heebner. In consequence of
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the death of Heebner's wife just a short time previous to the time he was to occupy the same Heebner changed his mind, for which reason Miller continued the business a year longer.
In 1825 John Miller completed the erection of a dwelling house at the junction of the Ridge and Egypt roads, opposite the hotel. In 1826, after vacating the inn, Miller with his family moved into the new dwelling. This house is now owned and occupied by Miller's son, Jackson, and his family.
Joseph Miller, the veteran hostler, in 1825 took up his position at this inn. He was a German, and John Miller brought him from the stone hills in the upper end of Mont- gomery county. Joseph Miller was a proficient and attentive man at the business, and held the position at this stand con- tinuously for forty-seven years. By virtue of his promptness and sturdy attention to the business, " Old Joe" (as he was known in later years) became widely known by the traveling public. Many were the pennies he garnered at the business, and at the time of his death he was worth a snug little prop- erty as the result of this thrift.
In 1826 John Miller rented the inn to Dillman Stauffer,* a neighboring farmer. On April Ist, 1826, the hotel license was transferred to Stauffer by Miller. Stauffer conducted the place for two years.
About 1827 the western room, first floor, of the hotel was rented by the inn-keeper to Samuel Markley, son of the late Isaac Markley, for a general merchandise store. This was the first store ever opened in the village, and was continued in the tavern for several years, until about 1829, when William Anslee, son-in-law of John Miller, bought from his father-in- law two and one-half acres of land, close by the hotel building, on the opposite side of the Ridge road, and immediately im- proved the property with a substantial two-story stone build- ing. After completing the structure Mr. Anslee opened here a general merchandise store. In 1831 he sold out his stock of goods and moved to Roxborough to engage in the tavern
*Stauffer at this time was an extensive land owner in the community.
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business. Mr Anslee then rented this place. In this building in 1833 Rev. William Wolcott, pastor of the Lower Providence Presbyterian Church, opened a "classical boarding school "; and in 1834 the trustees of the Lower Providence Presbyterian Church purchased the said property for a parsonage. This property is owned and occupied now by Mr. Tabor.
About 1831 John Miller erected a two-story stone build- ing for store purposes on a lot owned by him adjoining the Anslee property. He rented this building after completion to Samuel Markley ; the latter in 1832 opened here a store. Mr. Markley continued a successful business here for a number of years. This dwelling has been owned and occupied as a store lately by-Lewis Yetter.
April Ist, 1828, the hotel license was transferred to Ed- ward Lane Bean, son in-law of John Miller. Mr. Bean con- ducted the place as renter until April 9, 1835, when he pur- chased the inn of John Miller and Magdalene Keisellar (widow of Christian Keisellar), with II acres of land, paying therefor $8,500.
' Montgomery Greys," a military company, met at this house in 1829 and afterwards, for drill and other purposes. Rodger Davis, captain.
Previous to 1829 the residents of this community received their mail at the Norristown post-office. This place (Jeffer- sonville) up to this time had grown to contain five dwelling houses .* The Jeffersonville post-office was established Jan- uary 29, 1829, in the hotel, and Edward L. Bean, inn-keeper, was appointed the first postmaster ; he was continued as such until January 29, 1839, when Samuel Markley, store-keeper, was selected Bean's successor.
*The dwelling houses in Jeffersonville in IS29 were as follows:
Hotel, occupied by Edward L. Bean.
Tenant house, belonging to the hotel property, in which Peter Richards, the blacksmith, resided.
John Miller's residence, in which Jackson W. Miller now resides.
Archibald Darrah's residence, occupied at that time by Abram Markley, in which now resides George Garrett.
Toll house No. 5, owned and occupied by John Rhoades; of late years ten. anted by Clayton Detwiler, store-keeper, and during whose occupancy it was de. stroyed by fire early in the winter of IS94.
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We learned that previous to this date, and for a long time thereafter, this hotel was known as the " Jefferson Inn." The presumption is as the result of the growth and importance of this place, and the earnest desire to have a post-office here, at this time the " ville " was attached to " Jefferson," and " Jef- fersonville " was the outcome. Besides about this time Kei- sellar and Miller, owners of the hotel property, were putting forward great efforts to establish a village. Much of their land contiguous to the hotel buildings they cut up into lots and did much to encourage their sale and building thereon. They not only sold many of these lots, but improved some themselves with suitable buildings. As an outcome of these efforts within the next few years many of the dwelling houses the village now contains were erected.
The " Second Troop of Montgomery County," the Re- publican organization, and the " First Troop of Montgomery County," the Democratic organization, met together at the " Jefferson Inn " May 3d, 1830. These troops convened here for the purpose of receiving arms from the state, to have a friendly drill, a social time in general amongst them, and for the transaction of routine business.
On May 24th, 1834, Christian Keisellar, father-in-law of John Miller and part owner of the hotel property, died, his widow, Magdalene, and daughter, Mary (wife of John Miller), their only child, surviving.
In October, 1834, John Miller advertised that noted and well established stand, sign of " Thomas Jefferson," in Jeffer- sonville, at private sale. " Tavern-house 60x34 feet with an entry and five rooms on first floor and an entry and five handsome rooms and a large dining-room on second floor, a double piazza in front and a piazza back of the house and kitchen-the kitchen is 18x24 feet and two-story high- cellar underneath house and kitchen. There is also a frame dwelling 15x24 feet (the building in which Peter Richards formerly resided), and an excellent stone double shed with granary and hay-loft above, likewise an open shed ; also three handsome building lots facing on the turnpike."
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" On Saturday, September 12, 1840, the Democratic Sons of Liberty, of Jeffersonville and vicinity, raised a splendid hickory liberty pole, upon which the flag of our country waved in graceful triumph, exposing to view the stars and stripes emblematic of the union of states. The land upon which the hickory grew, as also that upon which it is now planted, was in the days of the revolution the property of those whose devotedness to freedom brought down upon them the heavy hand of vengeance. Their all was consigned to the flames by British troops or British tories. But the soil, good and fruitful, nourished the stately hickory above described ; and now, in the days of triumph, it bears aloft the insignia of that liberty which British tories and British slaves sought to destroy. Long may the stars and stripes grace the hickory liberty pole; the hickory being emblematic of strength, the stripes emblematic of the union, and the stars the brightness of glory which surrounds the American constellation, the light of liberty which enlightens the world.
" Addresses were delivered on this occasion by Col. William Powell, Adam Slemmer and Benjamin Powell, Esq." -Norristown Register, Sept. 16, 1840.
On January 13, 1841, Edward L. Bean, inn-keeper, was again appointed postmaster at Jeffersonville.
On Saturday, August 19, 1843, a " harvest home celebra- tion " was held at the public house of Jesse Rittenhouse, Jef- fersonville, by the " Washington Greys"; Jessie B. Davis, captain. The company (artillerists), after parading and spend- ing some time in drill, partook of a sumptuous dinner pro- vided by the inn-keeper ; after which the " Greys " marched by sound of martial music to a table prepared in a neighbor- ing grove, accompanied by many citizens who were kindly invited by Captain Davis to participate in the exercises of the day.
After surrounding the table Col. Augustus W. Shearer was elected president, Capt. J. B. Davis and B. E. Chain vice- presidents, and J. W. Knight and Adam Ashenfelter secretaries.
Colonel Shearer delivered the oration; after which 17
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toasts were read by Captain Davis, which were received with appropriate salutes from the "Grey's " brass field-piece and cheering by the crowd.
In 1843 Edward L. Bean retired from the hotel business and rented the inn to Jesse Rittenhouse, who conducted the place for two years as inn-keeper.
An adjourned meeting of the Democratic Polk Associa- tion was held at the public house of Jesse Rittenhouse (Jeffer- sonville) Thursday evening, August 22, 1844. This meeting convened for the purpose of adopting a set of resolutions and plans for efficient party work at the oncoming general elec- tion. Daniel Smith was made president, and James Burnside and Bennet Fullner secretaries of the meeting. As an out- come of the above efforts on the following Saturday a great mass meeting was held in the woods of Col. William Powell. where it was estimated from 15,000 to 25,000 people were present.
In 1845 the hotel license was granted in the name of Henry Ortlip. Mr. Ortlip remained here as renter for three years.
In 1847 John M. Bean and Christian Miller, adminis- trators in the estate of Edward L. Bean, deceased, sold the hotel with II acres of land to John Beard. John Beard con- ducted the inn for two years, in whose name the license was . granted in the years 1848 and 1849.
On October 19th and 20th, 1848, the " Jeffersonville Agricultural Association of Montgomery County " held its first display or exhibition. This important affair took place at the Jeffersonville inn. The rooms of the second floor west end of the building were used for the domestic or ladies' de- partment in which to display their goods. For machinery. cattle, products of the soil, etc., the shedding and temporary buildings were erected for that purpose. This initiatory ex- hibition of agricultural products led to the formation and elaboration of the Springtown, and later on the Ambler Me- chanical and Agricultural Society.
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In 1850 George Brenig became hotel-keeper as renter, and he conducted the inn for two years.
In 1852 the hotel license was granted in the name of Reinhard March, who conducted the inn as renter for two years.
Reinhard March was a man of considerable inventive ingenuity. At this time, it is said, he devoted much of his time to the elaboration and perfection of a " perpetual motion."
In 1852 Norriton township was made into a separate election district. Under an act of Assembly, approved March 3, 1852, the first general election was held at the public house of Reinhard March, Jeffersonville, in the following October. The general elections were held here and Penn Square alter- nately until 1891, at which time the township was divided by the court into two election districts ; now all elections of the western district are held at the Jeffersonville Inn.
In 1854 to 1857 the hotel was occupied by Theodore Skeen as renter, when on April 8th, 1857, the license was transferred to Adam Hurst, who at this date purchased the hotel with 8 acres of land of John Beard.
John Beard, while owner of the hotel property, erected on the lands thereof five dwelling houses-a row of three stone dwellings facing the turnpike, opposite the hotel, now owned by Mathew Tyson and others; a row of two frame dwellings, also facing the turnpike, now owned by Mr. Samuel Scheetz.
On Thursday night, December 2d, 1858, the frame sheds attached to the hotel property, to the rear of the stone stable, were destroyed by fire with contents, such as cow, mowing machine, hay, etc.
On Wednesday evening, October 20th, 1859, the stone stable opposite the hotel building was destroyed by fire. These fires were supposed to be the work of an incendiary.
About this time a number of barns with their contents, in this neighborhood, were destroyed by fire. A failure in ac- complishing their purpose with a neighboring barn, and the discovery of the apparatus constructed by the fire-bug with
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which to fire the building, created suspicion, which rather sud- denly put a stop to these dastardly acts.
Shortly after the destruction of the stone stable by fire Adam Hurst erected a new stone stable, that forms part of the present hotel property, and which stands to the rear of the hotel building.
On April 4th, 1860, Adam Hurst transferred his license to D. B. Hartranft, as renter. Hartranft remained here for three years.
In 1861 the civil war broke forth. Military organizations were springing up rapidly all over the country. Some of these troops were organized for the purpose of going to the front and some for home defense. A local military troop was formed at Jeffersonville called the " Home Guards," composed mainly of neighboring citizens, and the Jeffersonville Inn was their chosen convening place for drill, the transaction or routine business, etc. Inn-keeper D. B. Hartranft was early selected drill master or captain of these troops. Each man furnished his own horse and a uniform of gray material. These troops were armed with wooden swords, and usually drilled in a large field below the village, bordering the Ridge turnpike. This troop continued in existence until the year 1862, when many of its members enlisted in the regular service and went to the front with other troops. This depletion of the ranks led to the dissolution of the organization. Captain D. B. Hart- ranft enlisted in the Seventeenth United States Cavalry.
In 1862 the hotel property was deeded to Charles Hurst by Adam Hurst. In 1863 and 1864 David Seasholtz occu- pied the place as renter, and on April Ist, 1865, transferred his license to Yates Evans. Evans remained as renter until April 6th, 1866, and in turn transferred the license to Adam Hurst. Hurst conducted the inn until his death. In 1872 the widow, Letitia Hurst, rented the hotel to John Jarrett. Jarrett re- mained here until April, 1874, when he was succeeded as renter by Charles Weaver. Weaver continued as innkeeper until April, 1874, when he was succeeded as renter by A. H. Brower.
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The hotel was sold at Sheriff's sale in 1876 to W. E. Oberholtzer. In April, 1877, the license was transferred to Oberholtzer, who conducted the inn until 1879, when he sold it to Bridget Noonen. Mrs. Noonen's husband, John Noonen, conducted the inn until March, 1880, when he was succeeded by John McCool as renter. In November, 18So, Peter Fiegel became purchaser, and conducted the inn until 1885, when he was succeeded by William J. Ferrell. On January 20th, 1890, William Stroud became purchaser, and still occupies and owns the inn. Mr. Stroud has lately improved the hotel building. The land, with the buildings, now amounts to but a trifle over one acre.
The hotel building* as erected by Col. Archibald Thomp- son, in 1765, was at that time very large for such purposes, so far inland and distant from Philadelphia. As Col. Archibald Thompson was born and reared in this neighborhood he un- doubtedly displayed good judgment by erecting such a large and substantial structure in these early days. Subsequent time proved that the building was not beyond needful dimen- sions.
As Norristown in these early days had not materialized, the public house of Archibald Thompson soon acquired a wide reputation for hospitality and excellent entertainment. As many of the settlers in this neighborhood were intelligent and progressive, of Scotch-Irish descent, this community early became a noted place, and many of the public gatherings of a political, public, local and general character were held at the public house of Archibald Thompson. This house being large for those days, the place offered ample room and accommoda- tion for such purposes.
Hotel keeping in these early days was of a different nature from that of to-day. We find in those days some of our most eminent and popular men engaged in the business. The calling at that time was one of actual necessity, and the hospitable and
*The excellent photo-engraving of the old Jeffersonville inn which adorns this volume is from a photograph by our townsman W. H. Richardson. It was taken about ten years ago.
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progressive landlord was the person the travelling public and community looked upon as the leading spirit. As there were no canals or railroads in those days over which to transport goods or merchandise, naturally the inland settlements de- pended on the pack-horse and vehicle as the mode of convey. ance. When distance was to be covered by the travelling pub- lic appeal was made to the public house to provide provender and rest for man and beast engaged in such work.
The public house of Col. Archibald Thompson, located but nineteen miles from Philadelphia, soon became a great stopping place. This Inn's location by teamsters was early recognized as a day's journey to or from Philadelphia. It soon became an accepted fact with teamsters, regardless of the time of leaving Philadelphia or their arrival in Norrington, this public house was the accepted stopping place for the night.
These teams, in the early history of the Inn, would draw up in the woods surrounding the hotel. Later on, when the land was cleared of its timber and fenced, the road would be utilized along which to draw their teams in a line, and there unharness their horses and tie them to the wagons for the night and to feed. In the winter the horses would be covered with short blankets. Irrespective of the weather the stabling would seldom be used by these teamsters for the housing of their animals, for the reason, as it was said, to care for their horses well in the east the animals would not withstand the severe wintry blasts and exposure while crossing the moun- tains where no shelter abounded.
These teams, while travelling, usually did so in long trains, sometimes miles in length. The lead teams were us- ually encircled with strings of bells. It was said the noise fright- ened away wild animals while crossing the mountains, such as wolves, bears, etc.
When these teams drew up before a hotel for the night, each teamster usually cared for his own horses. The proven- der was usually purchased from the innkeeper. The animals were fed from feed boxes strapped to the wagon. There the
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horse would remain for the night with naught else to lie upon than the hard ground or soft snow.
The teamster usually partook his meals of the innkeeper, who supplied such for a mere pittance. When night came on for rest, the teamster with his bunk (which he usually carried with him strapped into a roll), during the cold weather would go into the bar-room, spread it upon the floor, cover himself with a short blanket and there sleep for the night. In early morning these teamsters would be astir to care for their horses. After partaking of breakfast and a morning toddy, their team would be gotten in readiness and off they would be on their journey. The price of toddy in those early days was about three cents ; for extra drinks the price would be accordingly.
This inn was early provided with a hostler. Farming was carried on to a considerable extent at this place in con- junction with innkeeping. The hostler's duties in those days were mainly directed to the performance of chores, such as general work around the hotel, barn and stable; at times to work on the farm, attending to the wants and necessities of the travelling public whenever his services were required.
In the early history of this hotel, by what I can learn from public documents and other records, it usually went by the name of the person who conducted the inn. Very early it was called the public house of Archibald Thompson ; his successor, the public house of Hannah Thompson ; her successor, public house of Robert Thompson; the public house of Archibald Darrah, etc. It was during Darrah's administration we pre- viously learned that this place took the name of " Jefferson Inn." Although after this, irrespective of the new name given the inn, the hotel continued to be published in the name of the innkeeper, as the public house of Frederick Hallman, Jacob Wykle, Samuel Patterson, John Benjamin, Isaac Markley, John Miller, etc.
The earliest line of stages that travelled the Ridge road of which I can find any record was about 1800, and Jefferson Inn was one of their stopping places. The object of stopping here was to give the horses a rest, and offer the passengers an
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opportunity to limber their stiffened joints, and refresh them- selves with drink or otherwise. Later on, when the village post-office was established at Jeffersonville, the mail was de- livered by these coaches; they continued to do so until the stage lines were abandoned, which occurred a short time after the construction of the Perkiomen railroad.
As we previously learned this inn was extensively patron- ized by the travelling public from its beginning. The revenues from the innkeeping business increased with time until the build- ing of the Schuylkill canal and railroads. These improved conveyances offered cheaper rates and more rapid transit of goods, which led to a revolution in the carrier business, and travel on the public roads then began to diminish rapidly. As an outcome of this many of the rural inns were closed for lack of public patronage, but " Jefferson Inn " was one of the hotels to continue its existence ; and still its portals are open for the accommodation of the travelling public, in which capacity it has now seen a continuous existence for a period of one hun- dred and thirty years.
The palmiest business days at this inn covered a period, say, from 1810 until the construction of the Schuylkill canal about 1827. Travelling on the Ridge road during this time was something tremendous.
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