History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 104

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 104

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

with others, had passed; and representing the great landed wealth of the country, their leading men and capitalists were urgent in all co-operative efforts to equalize the advantages of the producing classes with those of the consumers. In addition to the commer- cial advantages of the organization, it has certain social features of peculiar interest. The grange rec- ognizes in the adult woman of the period an equal factor in domestic economy, and in these societies, as we are informed, she is placed on a perfect equality with men in all matters pertaining to their offices of usefulness. In this they are the most progressive of all fraternal organizations of the age, and the measure of influence for good they are exerting is difficult to estimate.1

1 " We would especially urge the importance of woman's mission in the grange. No social, educational or moral work can prosper without her sympathy and active support. The founders of our order very wisely 'opened wide the doors and bade her welcome to the grange," welcome to all its privileges, welcome to share in the social enjoyment and its mental culture, and to be the centre of its moral influence. It is her mission to help to a higher life all who are permitted to associate with her in the social circle of the home. Let that influence he felt with equal power in the grange, and its existence is assured. Iler presence will always secure good order and add to the enjoyment of our meetings, and her strong faith. patient endurance in adversity, and her intuitive perception of the right will prove to be the sheet-anchor of our frater- nal organization whenever it is threatened with danger of any kind. A grand opportunity is here offered to woman to extend her influence for good. We hope it will be improved, and in thus helping others to snc- cessfully fight the battle of life, her better nature will be strengthened, and she will come nearer to our ideas of the 'perfect woman nubly planned.'"-Report of Committee on Good of the Order, National Graugr, 1××2.

" REPORT OF THE WORTHY CHAPLAIN.

" Ax Chaplain of the Pennsylvania State Grange, I take pleasure in reporting the condition of the order, so far as it has come under my notice since our last annual meeting.

" My visitations have been confined chiefly to my native connty of Montgomery. Here, in company with my wife, who occupies the posi- tion of Ceres, I have visited nearly all the subordinate organizations in the county. Two of the oldest granges in the State are in our county,- Keystone, No. 2, aml Pennypack, No. 8. In the early days of the order they were strong and vigorous. They have had troubles to discourage them, removals, death, the weeding-out process, etr., all of which have lessened their numbers. In both of these granges are found some of our most earnest patrons, who continue to have an abiding faith in the stability and importance of our order. For both of them we hope a better day is dawning.

"Our own, Merion, No. 112, comes next in line. She holds her own well, never having missed a stated meeting without a quorum.

"Our visit to Star, No. 562, Cold Point, No. 606, and Wissahickon, No. 760, have been of the most pleasant kind, finding all in good working order.

"Our Pomona, No. 8, is in a very flourishing condition. The meet- ings are always largely attended and deeply interesting. The annual combined meeting of Pomonas Nos. 3, 8 and 22 has become thoroughly established, and accompanied with good results. Here we have the 5th legree conferred in full form. Visitors come from all the adjoining counties, and many from New Jersey and Delaware.

" WILLIAM II. HOLSTEIN, " Chapluin Pennsylvania State Grange, 1883."

"REPORT OF THE WORTHY CERES.

" WORTHY MASTER :

"The only grange work I have done, separate from my husband, Worthy Chaplain of State Grange, was in April last, when, at the re- quest of Brothers Herr and Brown, of Clinton County, Pa., who lund ar- ranged visits in their cunnty, some other granges along the route were added to the plan. One in Columbia County, with their Pomona Grange ; one in Montour, one in Snyder, one in I'nion, two in Lycoming and one week in Clinton County. The cost of this trip to the State Grange was

445

AGRICULTURE.

The order of Patrons of Husbandry was introduced into Montgomery County in the year 1873 by the granting of a charter to Keystone Grange, No. 8, of Montgomery County, Pa., located in Upper Providence township.

The following are among the granges organized in Montgomery County,1 as recently said by one of their most active members, "to unite the Agriculturalists in a brotherhood that knows no North, South, East or West."

Keystone Grange, No. 2, P. of H., Pennsylvania.2 -Organized March 20, 1873, by G. W. Thompson, of New Jersey. This was the first organization of the Patrons of Husbandry in Montgomery County, Pa. Charter members, Josiah S. Miller, Jobn Wanner, ; H. R. Rittenhouse, Milton C. Rambo, Abr'm Eddle- ing, Chas. L. Walton's Hall, Moreland township. man, Jesse W. Slough, Nelson O. Naille, Jonathan Time of meeting, Wednesday on or before the full muoon. Hayes, John D. Wittey, John D. Saylor, Henry Keeler, J. W. Shupe, James R. Weikle, B. M. Mark- ley, Chas. S. Miller, A. D. Bechtel, HI. F. Bechtel, Mrs. Hannah C. I. Miller, Mrs. Mary A. Wanner, Elizabeth Edleman, Sarah Naille, Mary A. Slough, Elizabeth Shupe, Elizabeth Keeler. Time of meeting, first and third Wednesday evenings of each month.

Good-Will Grange, No. 7, P. of H., was organized July 24, 1873. Charter members, D. H. Keck, M. H. Brendlinger, D. S. Levengood, Wm. HI. Young, John Roos, George M. Drumheller, Abraham Hoff- man, J. F. Yost, David Hatfield, Miss Hannah Pannebacker, Miss Louisa Roos, Miss Emma Yost, Mrs. S. Wagner, Henry W. Schneider, James S. Knous, Francis Updegrove, M. F. Leidy, Joel M. Koch, John Sabold, Jr., A. L. Wilson, Mrs. Kate Young, Miss Amanda Roos, Miss Rebecca Yost, Mrs. Elizabeth Drumheller. M. H. Brendlinger was the first Master and D. H. Keck is the present Master.

Star Grange, No. 562, P. of H., was organized June 10, 1875, by George Hammel, County Deputy | at Eagle Hall, Huntington Valley, Montgomery Co. Charter members, William W. Ridge, Nanris S. Saur- man, Wynkoop Bontcher, Christian Snyder, Christian B. Duffield, R. Edwin Duffield, l'eter Fesmire, Har- vey Fesmire, George Heaton, Amos Buckman, James B. Lesher, James Marsh, Joseph Winder, Elwood Lukens, William Banes, Joseph Banes, Samuel Yerkes, Charles Heaton, Cecelia Shelmire, Emma Heaton, Carrie Banes, M. Ella Duffield. Meetings on Wednesday evenings on or before. full

moon, and on the Wednesday evening two weeks after.

Pennypack Grange, No. 8, P. of H., was organized August 2, 1873, in Jones' Hall, Hatboro', by James Wilkinson, of Iowa, a deputy of the National Grange. Charter members, Chas. L. Walton, Joseph Barmsley, John C. Ilobensack, B. I. Hallowell, A. L. Phillips, Geo. W. Walton, Chas. R. Kauffman, Anna S. Wal- ton, Elizabeth B. Walton, Chas. W. Heaton, John Shaw, Samuel C. Walker, Eliz. Hobensack, Wm. Phipps, John Dennison, Seth I. Walton, Edwin C. Walton, Mary W. Walton, Mina Young, Lottie Hobensack, Edward II. Parnell, George W. Beuchler, Thomas Reading, Tacey A. Appleton. The present Master (1884) is Alfred L. Phillips. Place of meet-

Merion Grange, No. 112, P. of H., was organized at the King of Prussia school-house, February 4, 1874, by District Deputy Master Heckel. Charter members, George W. Righter, Isaac W. Holstein, John Hampton, William Davids, James Abraham, Wm. B. Roberts, Mark R. Supplee, Servitns Supplee, Samuel Tyson, Benj. C. Abraham, William Pechin, Ezekiel Anderson, Andrew Supplee, Thomas Abra- ham, AAustin L. Taggart, Caroline H. Righter, Anna M. Holstein, Esther Hampton, Alice H. Holstein, Kate Anderson, Susan H. Roberts, Hannah Supplee, llannah R. Supplee, Sarah R. Tyson, Josie Abraham, B. D. Abraham, John Hallowell, Frank Mancill, Jona W. Shainline, George W. Shainline. George W. Righter was the first and is also the present Master. Merion Grange meets on the Wed- nesday evening of or before full moon and the second Wednesday following, the year round, in Merion Chapel near Merion Station, Philadelphia and Read- ing Railroad.

Cold Point Grange, No. 606, P. of H., was organ- ized October 11, 1875, in the old Cold Point Baptist Church, by George Hammel, Deputy of Montgomery County, with forty charter members,-Benjamin P. Wertsner, Jesse Roberts, S. Powell Childs, Samuel S. Richards, H. C. Biddle, Howard Cadwallader, Wil- liam A. Styer, Henry Brownholtz, John M. Conrad, Frances C. Hoover, L. D. Zimmerman, Jacob L. Rex, Edwin L. Kirk, George Freas, Charles N. Shearer, David Marple, William B. Richards, Jesse Streeper, Mary Wertsner, Sarah S. Rex, E. K. Styer, Amanda Biddle, Mrs. Francis C. Hoover, Maria Zimmerman, Martha Cadwallader, Maggie Freas, Malinda Childs, Lizzie W. Richards, Elma B. Conrad, Mary Ann Kirk, Martha C. Styer, Hannah Egbert, Elizabeth Harley, Mary P. Styer, Hannah Styer, D. R. Brown- holtz, Edith Marple. The first and present Master is S. Powell Childs. Place of meeting, Plymouth Valley Creamery Hall, every Thursday night.

Wissahickon Grange, No. 760, P of H., was organized December 5, 1881, by Sarah S. Rex,

814.64. As a report of this visitation was sent to the Farmers' Friend upon my return, and an itemized statement of expenses sent to Worthy Secretary R. H. Thomas, it is not worth while to repeat then.

" Whether this trip resulted in any good to the places visited I am unable to say ; but the pleasure of meeting so many true Patrons is a must agreeable remembrance of the time thus spent.

"ANNA M. HOLSTEIN,

" Cerrs of Pennsylvania State Grunge, 1883."

1 We have been unable to obtain complete data of these organizations. Sanitoga Grange, D. of H., located in Pottsgrove Township, is among those omitted for the reason stated.

2 Grange No. 1, Pennsylvania, is in Lycoming County.

446

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Deputy-at-large for the State of Pennsylvania, at the house of Jacob L. Rex, near Blue Bell. On Decem- ber 26th the grange took possession of a hall at Ambler Park, the grounds of the Montgomery County Agricultural Society. Charter members, Jacob L. Rex, William F. Cramer, Sarah S. Cramer, Charles Shoemaker, Mary Shoemaker, John S. Rex, Amos Walton, Henrietta Walton, George Elkinton, Mary S. Rex, M. Lizzie Keisel, Anna Keisel, Ellie Walton, J. W. Merrill, Conrad Walton, Christian B. Duffield, Frank W. Duffield, Frederick Nash, Charles R. Keisel. The first Master was Jacob L. Rex; the present is John W. Merrill, of Springhouse. Place of

tuition of the Rev. James Grier Ralston, who was not only the principal of the school, but owner of the property. Mr. Ralston was an earnest advocate of education for women equal to that obtained by men. From this institute she graduated with the highest honors September 29, 1852.

She is a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Norristown. She is also a member of the Montgomery County Historical Society, the first woman member ever admitted to that honorable insti- tution.

Having a natural as well as an acquired taste for literary pursuits, she has for several years been an in-

Sarah Pollex

meeting, the hall over the Springhouse Creamery, every Thursday night, near Penllyn, on the North Pennsylvania Railroad.

MRS. SARAH SLINGLUFF REX, danghter of Wil- liam H. and Mary Slingluff (whose ancestry are else- where mentioned in this book), was born in Norristown, Pa., October 10, 1834, in the well-known old time mansion, the two lower rooms of which were occupied many years for banking purposes by the old Bank of Montgomery County.

She was the eldest of five children, and during her school-age years, or until 1848, attended the public schools of Norristown, and subsequently entered, as a student, the Oakland Female Institute, under the

dustrious contributor to the grange organ of this State,-The Farmers' Friend and Grange Advocate,- and for two years editress of the department devoted to flowers, their origin, culture, ete. She performed this work solely for the purpose of spreading such knowledge among the many farmers' wives and fami- lies, in order to lighten their cares and brighten their homes and lives.

In the great grange movement throughout the country she saw great possibilities for the women of the farms, and as her lot in life had been east with them, she felt it her duty to assist them all that lay in her power.

She was for a number of years president of the

447

TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH ORGANIZATION.

" Home Department " of both of the agricultural societies of Montgomery County ; first, the East Pennsylvania, then the " old " Montgomery County ; in fact, was the presiding officer of each, until each in its turn departed this life.

She has, with honor to herself and profit to the Pennsylvania State Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, filled the high and responsible office of Flora for two terms, and was in 1885 a member of the Finance Committee of the State Grange, and also Deputy-at- Large for the State of Pennsylvania.

She is omnivorous as regards books, newspapers and periodicals, extravagantly fond of flowers, gar- dening; and of the animal kingdom she is passion- ately fond of the noble horse and other pet animals of a domestic nature or specics.

She was married, April 1, 1853, to Jacob Lentz Rex, Esq., a farmer of Whitpain township, Mont- gomery Co., the marriage ceremony being performed by Rev. John S. Ermentrout, pastor of the Reformed Church of the Ascension, of Norristown. All her married life has been spent, thus far, upon her hus- band's farm, which was formerly owned by his father, John Rex, and prior to that by his grandfather, Levi Rex, then of Chestnut Hill, whose wife was Catharine Riter.

Mr. and Mrs. Rex are the parents of three children, viz.,-Mary S., William S. and John Rex.

Pomona Grange, No. 8, Montgomery County .- Organized in 1875. This is a county organization, and is composed of representatives from all the snbordi- nate granges in the county, and meets quarterly. The State Grange meets annually in January, and is composed of delegates from all the subordinate granges in the State. The National Grange mects annually, and is composed of representatives from all the State Granges.

CHAPTER XXX.

TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH ORGANIZATION-POST OFFICES-ROADS.

Township and Borough Organization, 1-The subject of township and borough formation and the history of local government has as yet been almost entirely overlooked. Watson, in his "Annals," makes no mention of the matter. Very few counties whose organization or history dates back into the colo- nial period have had complete accounts or tables pre- pared as to the origin, date, formation and organiza- tion of their respective townships for the purpose of carrying into effect the duties and requirements of the inhabitants of the same in their relation to the government. Though the smallest division, yet taken

collectively with the boroughs they form the counties, and these again form the State, which again forms an integral part of this great republic. On the early history of townships errors have been repeatedly pub- lished, chiefly through Holme's map of original sur- veys, bearing the date of 1681, which any one only ordinarily informed should know has been filled up down even to 1730, of which we shall have more to say hereafter. Another great error is in the dates as- signed for the organization of townships. The popu- lation at the dates assigned in itself shows that their formation was not required and was impracticable.

Prior to the grant to Penn no evidence exists that any settlement had been made by Europeans within the pres- ent limits of Montgomery County, although the Dutch had, no doubt, for many years previously voyaged up and down the Schuylkill in pursuit of the beaver tratlic and other peltries. Section 10, of the royal charter gave " unto the said William Penn, his heirs and as- signs, free and absolute power to divide the said coun- try and islands into towns, hundreds and counties, and to erect and incorporate towns into boroughs and boroughs into cities, and to make and constitute fairs and markets therein, with all other convenient privi- leges and immunities according to the merit of the inhabitants and the fitness of the places." To the same was also given the right to erect any parcels of land within the province aforesaid into manors, "and in every of the said manors to have and hold a Court Baron, with all things whatsoever which to a Court Baron do belong ; and to have and to hold view of frankpledge, for the conservance of the peace and the better government of those parts by themselves or their stewards or for the lords for the time being." We see herein ample powers given to Penn for laying out townships and chartering boroughs; also to confer manorial privileges to large purchasers, with right to hold thereon courts and exercise feudal preroga- tives.

Owing to the sparse population, attention was not at once directed to county boundaries until at a meeting of the Provincial Council held 8th of Second Month, 1685, when they passed a resolution that " there is a necessity to ascertain the bounds of the several counties of Pennsylvania, in order to the raising and collecting of taxes, public monies, and other ways to adjust the limits of the respective Sheriffs for the performing of their power and duty ; and also that the people might know into what county they all belonged and appertain to answer their duties and places." Such an object necessarily would soon call attention to the formation of townships, and that their lines for the same reasons be clearly established. To carry this into effect the Council, at a meeting held 9th of Second Month, 1690, "ordered that a warrant be made to empower each county, by their respective magistrates and grand jury, to divide their respective counties into hundreds, or such other divisions as they shall think most convenient for their ease in col-

1 By Wm. J. Buck.

448

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

lecting ye levies for ye defraying ye charge of the counties." It was on this authority that the first town- ships of the three original counties-namely, Phila- delphia, Chester and Bucks-were officially formed and organized, and not before, though otherwise stated.

Records exist to prove that in Bucks County, from the power now conferred, a court was held at Nesham- ing Meeting-house the 27th of Seventh Month, 1692, for the especial purpose of laying out said county into townships, nine being then formed, constitu- ting its most populous portions. In Philadelphia they must have been formed at very nearly the same date, but, most probably, somewhat earlier and not long after the Council's order. We will now briefly refer to Holme's map, that it may no longer mislead even intelligent persons. We find thereon " The Mannor of Moreland " duly mentioned and its boundaries denoted. This tract was not taken up nor surveyed until 7th of Sixth Month, 1684. There is also " Letitia Penn's Mannor of Mount Joy " and "Wil- liam Penn, Jr.'s, Mannor of Williamstadt," the surveys of which were not made until October, 1704, twenty- three years after 1681. Samuel Carpenter's great tract to the north of Moreland was not taken up nor granted him until May 26, 1706. However, we deem it un- necessary to go any farther into this matter than to state that it is a filled-up map, and that no reliance can be placed on it as to dates, Through this source Mr. Westcott has also been led into errors in his "History of Philadelphia," wherein he states that between the years 1682 and 1684 there were " undoubtedly established the German township, Oxford, Bristol, Moreland Manor, Plymouth, Byberry, Dublin and Kingsessing." We will admit that they may have existed in name; but that was all, not legalized nor laid out in townships, for their population was then entirely too sparse to war- rant it. Even no settlement had been made at Ger- mantown until late in the year 1683. As to the paucity of some early records, the following will ex- plain : In a petition of the inhabitants of New Hano- ver to December Sessions of court, 1735, they state that eleven years before they had been made a town- ship called " Frankfort and New Hanover," and that at the time no record was made of the fact or of its boundaries, hence they desire that now "the same may be recorded by the draft and boundaries here- unto annexed."

Courts of Quarter Sessions were not established in the three counties until October 3, 1706, when the Council "ordered that there be a court erected in every county, to be held four times in every year, in which all actions and causes may be tried except mat- ters of life and death." So the power in this court to erect townships could not have existed until after said date, and in which it has ever since remained. This fact, too, will explain the want of early records on the subject. After the minutest search on our part in the records of Philadelphia, we could not find any positive

mention earlier than that of Upper Hanover in 1724, and this was by reference in the petition from there to the court in December, 1735. For all earlier dates we had to depend chiefly on deeds, noting therein the first mention of the name as a township, and it is on this authority that the dates are given.

Probably the earliest township that bore a name within the present limits of the county was "The | parish of Cheltenham," which is so called in a survey made by Thomas Fairman, Ist of Seventh Month, 1683, for a purchase made by Patrick Robinson. The Manor of Morelandwas not located until August 7, 1684, and we have been unable to find it called a township earlier than 1718, when its population even then must have been very small. Whitpain in one instance is called a township in 1701; but it could not possibly have been such until some years after. Springfield was located in 1684, and in a petition of 1703 is called a manor. Whitemarsh was called a township in 1704, and it may be possible, from its situation and size, that at that time it exercised such powers. We find thus mentioned Gwynedd and Abington in 1704 ; Plymouth, 1705 ; Skippack and Van Bebber's, 1713; Upper Merion, 1714; Montgomery, 1717 ; Limerick, 1722; and Salford in 1727, which brings us down to the period when all future townships are duly men- tioned in the records as to their origin and organiza- tion, though, in a few instances, very briefly, because the draft alone has been preserved. The minutes of the county commissioners commence in 1718, at which date assessors and collectors had been appointed for Cheltenham, Merion, Upper Merion, Abington, Whitpain, Perkiomen and Moreland ; Upper Dublin and Plymouth in 1719; Whitemarsh and Springfield, 1720; and Gwynedd in 1722.

It is interesting, in examining those early petitions to the Court of Quarter Sessions, to observe the various reasons set forth therein for the application. Thus, in the petition for the erection of Franconia in 1731, it is stated "that the said settlements are too great a circuit for one constable to serve with the township of Salford." The petition for Douglas in 1736 represents that "the High road leading to Philadelphia through George McCall's Manor and several other tracts of land has been so bad that it was difficult for a single horse to pass without damage, and that the said peti- tioners had several times represented to this Court the badness thereof, but that nothing as yet has been done; the reason, as they were informed, was because no overseers have been as yet appointed by the Court over the said road, and that there were at least thirty families settled on the said lands who are not in Hanover or Amity townships, between which the said road lieth, and pray the said Court would be pleased to erect the said lands into a township and appoint a Constable and Overseers." For the same year a peti- tion is presented for the erection of New Hanover into a township, because they state that they are now about sixty families settled on a tract of land six miles

449

TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGHI ORGANIZATION.

square, who have no " Constable or Overseers of the poor or highways." A petition is presented from New Hanover the same year wherein they present a dispute about supporting a crippled person owing to the boundary with Limerick not having been "fixed and recorded at the time the said person be- came a cripple." The court then directed the sur- veyor-general to make a return of the lines in dispute, when they would determine the boundary.

In the petition for a division of Salford, in 1741, is stated, among other reasons, "that said township is settled with many inhabitants, some of whom escape being taxed for want of the true boundaries being ascertained." From the petition for the erection of Worcester, in 1733, we have the singular fact that that section was "formerly called New Bristol." "Skippack and Perkioming" were not formed into a township until September Sessions, 1725, when by the latter name was included what had been here- tofore known as Bebber's tract or township, con- stituting over one-half of the entire present area. The townships generally derived their names from what they requested to be called in the petitions, but there are several instances in which no name was mentioned, when, in the order from court, it would be designated. Sometimes the petitioners sent in also a draft denoting the bounds and number of acres, but this, it appears, during the colonial government, was generally done either by the surveyor-general or one of his deputies. The court also in some cases specified the extent and boundaries of the township on which such a survey or draft should be made. We regret to state that very few of the early township drafts have been entered in the records, and consequently have been lost. Immediately on the formation of a town- ship the court would appoint a constable and one or two overseers of highways and the same number for the poor, these constituting the only local officers until near the date of the Revolution, when, in addition, an assessor and a collector were ap- pointed for the same. Previous to 1760 in some of the smaller townships but one overseer of high- ways would be appointed ; after that date two ap- pears to have been the general number. An act was passed in 1771 which provided for the appointment of two overseers of the poor in each township, by the justices of the peace at a yearly meeting convened for the purpose. This office was not abolished until after the several counties had been amply provided with houses for the support and employment of their needy poor.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 104

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534