History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 162

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 162

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Just before going to Bristol Circuit, his next field of labor, he was married to Miss Sarah T. Beans, the daughter of John and Martha Beans. Wm. Penn found her father's ancestors settled in this region when he came to Pennsylvania, and on her mother's side she was directly descended from Governor John Carver, one of Massachusetts' "Pilgrim Fathers." Bristol Circuit at that time included Doylestown and all the territory between and around.

A number of years of arduous toil followed; after fifteen years' labor as a Methodist minister, he found, because of his rapidly-growing family, some more lucrative employment to be a necessity. He accord-

ingly left the ministry, and, although repeatedly urged iu after years to do so, has never returned to the work. lle then settled upon the farm near Hatboro', where he now resides, it being a part of the original "Beans tract."

Of his family of twelve children, one son and one daughter died in infancy, and two daughters, one a remarkably precocious child, in early youth. His okdl- est son, after teaching a few years, became a farmer ; the other two are professional men, and his daughters are engaged in teaching.

Mr. Goentner was one of the earliest movers in the temperance cause in the county, and has always been identified with it, having represented it for years in State and county conventions. He was one of the origi- nal founders of the Republican party in the county, and for many years a delegate to its conventions. For thirty-four years he has never missed an election, though never a candidate for any office.

On first coming into the neighborhood he purchased a share in the Hatboro' Library, of which he has al- ways remained an active member, and despite his cares and each day's labor, is an indefatigable reader. Owing to his efforts the Revolutionary monument was erected on the "Crooked Billet" battle-field. He first proposed it, donated the lot for it and was elected president of the association, which office he has ever since held.

Prior to 1860, during a number of years, an excel- lent lyceum flourished at Hatboro'; the debates were noted throughout the neighboring counties. Many of the men whose names are recorded in these pages crossed swords with him in wordy combat in Loller Hall, Hatboro'.

Mr. Goentner adds another to the long list of names of men who have conquered their way through life by persevering efforts, having risen almost unaided from an orphan boy to be an honored, useful and be- loved citizen.

JOHN B. JONES.

John B. Jones is a native of Worcester County, Md., where he was born August 12, 1825. Ilis parents, John and Nancy Bishop Joues, were both natives of Worcester County, MId., where they died when their son, John B., was about twelve years of age. At that tender age John B. was thrown upon the charity of a cold and heartless world, and appren- tieed to learn the trade of a shoemaker, a trade not exactly in accordance with his taste, and after serving three years and having learned the rudi- ments of the art, he resolved (in his own mind) that shoemaking was not, to him at least, the road to future greatness; therefore, without the usual formalities, forever dissolved his connection with shoemaking and between master and servant, at least as far as he was concerned, and made his way up into the little State of Delaware. There he found employment at various kinds of work until he was

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BOROUGH OF HATBORO'.

nineteen years of age, when he took another step northward and landed in Philadelphia, Pa. At that place he soon found employment, and from 1845 to 1858 his occupation was that of a stage-driver. At first he drove on the route from Philadelphia to Easton, Pa., by way of Doylestown, and all along this route, o'er hill and dale, could be heard his "wind- ing-horn " as he approached the wayside inns and post-offices. During this time he was employed by Jacob Peters, Sr., the old and, at that date, well- known mail contractor on many of the Pennsylvania routes.

In due time he was transferred from the Philadel-

first contract for a mail route was from Georgetown, Del., to Northampton, Va., a distance of one hundred and thirty miles. In 1858 he located in Hatboro', then Moreland township, and purchased what is now the "Jones House," where he has for twenty- seven years acted well the part of "mine host " in one of the best-appointed hotels in Montgomery County.

Upon his settlement in Hatboro' Mr. Jones became one of the substantial men of the town, and for his ur- bane and genial qualities, his honesty of purpose and uprightness of character and solid worth, is not sur- passed by any in the community. He has been hon-

Jolm B Jones

phia and Easton route to the old Swiftsure Line, run- ning between Philadelphia, Pa., and Flemington, N. J., where he remained the Jehu of the route till the palace-car superseded the old stage-coach and monopolized the passenger traffic. During his career in the staging business he owned the Swiftsure Line, which he purchased in [852, or soon after the death of Mr. Peters, and in June, 1860, sold the route, stock and fixtures. He has also been quite prominent among the mail contractors of the United States, owning several routes and parts of routes at the same time, and sub-letting them at a profit both to himself and the sub-contractor. His

ored by his townsmen with the office of school direc- tor for five years; trustee of the Loller Academy for twenty years; member of the Town Council of the town of Hatboro', and treasurer of the same; also one of the originators of the Hatboro' Cemetery Asso- ciation, and its treasurer since its organization. He was also one of the charter members of the W. K. Bray Lodge, No. 410, A. Y. M., of Hatboro', and its treasurer since its institution.

He was married, in 1848, to Miss Harriet Shugard, of Philadelphia, Pa. They are the parents of nine children, eight of whom are living, viz .: John W., born February 6, 1850; Mary E., born October 3,

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

1852; Ella D., born March 21, 1855; Leonora, born March 17, 1857; Harriet, born January 30, 1859; Paul, born February 28, 1860; Emma L., born De- cember 14, 1862; Angie B., born July 4, 1869. The four elder were born in Philadelphia, and the four younger in Hatboro', Montgomery Co., Pa.

JOHN VAN PELT.

John Van Pelt is a descendant of the pioneer of that name who came from llolland as early as 1750, and settled in Midwont, or Flatbush, Long Island, and either himself or immediate descendants migrated

land, and carried on the carpenter, cabinet, pump- making and undertaking business in connection with his little farm.

The children of Thomas H. and Alice Van Pelt were as follows :

Joseph C., born in 1826; married Elizabeth Ray, of Bucks County.

Samuel P., born in 1830; married Adelaide Lukens, and died in 1882.

Sarah Jane, born in 1833; married Charles Willard, of Bucks County.

Thomas H. Van Pelt, Jr., born in 1835; married Wilhelmina Selna, of Bucks County.

Jomo bur PUT

to Bucks County, Pa., from whence sprang the numer- ous Van Pelt families in this part of Pennsylvania, and even throughout the United States.

Isaac, the grandfather of Jolin Van Pelt, was born in Holland, and soon after his arrival in this country located on a farm about half-way between Wrights- town and Penn's Park, Bucks Co., Pa. His children were Isaac, John, Thomas H , Jane, Nellie and Eliza.

Of these children, Thomas H. was born in 1800 and married Alice, daughter of Joseph C. Campbell, of Bucks County, Pa. Alice Campbell was born in Sole- bury, Bucks Co., Pa., in 1804, and is still living. Thomas owned a small farm of twenty-six acres of

Mary Ann, born in June, 1836; married John Everitt, of Bucks County.

John, born December 18, 1837.

William Henry, born in 1842 and died when four- teen years of age.

Eliza Ellen, born June 14, 1845; married Major Joseph B. Roberts, of Newtown, Bucks Co.

Louisa, born in 1848 ; nnmarried.

John Van Pelt, son of Thomas H. and Alice Van Pelt, was born in Buckingham township, Bucks Co., Pa., December, 1837, and at the age of seventeen years was apprenticed to learn the trade of a carriage-maker with Israel B. Matthews, of Centreville, Bucks Co.,

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BOROUGH OF JENKINTOWN.

and served five years. He then worked as a journey- man for three years, then rented the shop in which he had learned his trade, and carried on the carriage- making business for two years, when he sold out and went to Philadelphia, where he worked as a journey- man for five years. He then went to Pineville, Bucks Co., Pa., where he built a large carriage-factory, and for five years conducted a large and successful busi- ness, at the end of which time he sold out and assumed the management of a carriage-factory at Centreville, which he subsequently purchased, and continued the business on his own account for two years, and again sold out. In the autumn of 1874 he, with his brother, Samuel P., came to Hatboro' and built the hardware- store and dwelling where he has since resided. After a copartnership of fifteen months he purchased his brother's interest in the property, and associated with himself his brother-in-law, Joseph B. Roberts, who, after fifteen months' partnership, purchased Mr. Van Pelt's interest in the property. Mr. Van Pelt was then in the dry-goods and notion trade for nearly two years, when he purchased of Mr. Roberts his interest in the hardware business, which he has since con- ducted with signal suceess. In the autumn of 1884, Mr. Van Pelt added a large stock of groceries to his hardware trade, which he bas thus far found a profit- able investment. Mr. Van Pelt has been honored by the voters of Hatboro' with the office of burgess of the borough for two terms, and in the spring of 1883 was elected a member of the Borough Council, which posi- tion he still holds. He is a member of Bristol Lodge, No. 25, Free Masons, and of Girard Mark Chapter 214. Mr. Van Pelt has in his possession a gold watch formerly owned by the Marquis de Lafayette, which is highly prized by its possessor, and connected with which is quite an interesting history.

Mr. Van Pelt was married, in the autumn of 1882, to Mrs. Martha H. Sprogell, of Hatboro'. Mrs. Van l'elt was born in Virginia in 1842, and when but a few months old her parents moved to Delaware and subsequently to Maryland. She is of English-French parentage and a highly-educated and accomplished lady, endowed with a literary ability second to no lady in Montgomery County. Ifer maternal grand- father, Ralph Melbourne, descended directly from Lord Melbourne, of England. Her paternal grand- father was Benona de Hoziea, a noted Frenchman and bosom friend of the Marquis de Lafayette. Her father's name was also Benona de Hoziea, an unele of George Alfred Townsend (Gath). At the age of fifteen years she, with her cousin, George Alfred Townsend, edited a small paper, and since her resi- dence in Hatboro' she has been the editress and life of the Public Spirit, a large weekly published at that place.

CHAPTER XLV.

BOROUGHI OF JENKINTOWN.1

This borough was incorporated December 8, 1874. and all its territory, comprising an area of two hun- dred and forty-eight acres, taken from Abington township. Its extreme length from north to south is about three-fourths of a mile, and hounds Cheltenham township for over half of that distance. The main or business portion of the town is situated along York Avenue, opened through here as a highway from Philadelphia to the river Delaware in the fall of 1711, and turnpiked from the Rising Sun to Willow Grove in 1804. The station of the North Pennsylvania Railroad here, situated in the southwestern corner of the borough, close to the Cheltenham line, is eight and one-tenth miles from Philadelphia, twenty-three and four-fifths from Doylestown, forty-six from Beth- lehem and eighty and three-tenths miles from New York. The road was opened for travel in 1856 and the branch to New York in May, 1876. A considerable amount of business is done here, as may be well sup- posed, it being the stopping-place for forty-four daily passenger-trains each way, and on Sundays nineteen. The scenery around this station is justly admired, the hills, woods and waters of the Tacony Creek giving it quite a romantic appearance. Upon arriving at the station the wonder of a stranger is justly excited as to the whereabouts of Jenkintown, as no such place is perceptible, it lying off' nearly half a mile in an eas- terly direction.

From its nearness to the city and unusual business facilities, as well as from its being surrounded by a fine and fertile section of country, abounding with fine springs of water, the place is rapidly improving and its real estate enhancing in value. The census of 1880 gave it eight hundred and ten inhabitants and the assess- ment of 1883 returned three hundred and five tax- ables, possessing property valued at six hundred and four thousand one hundred and thirty dollars. It contains five churches, a bank, two flour and feed, two stove, three drug, six merchandise, one notion, one tobacco, one confectionery and one shoe store. The public-school building is a one-story stone strue- ture, standing in the centre of a commodious lot at the corner of West and Cedar Avenues. Three schools are kept in it, and for the school year ending June 3, 1883, they were open ten months, with an aver- age daily attendance of one hundred and two scholars. Gordon, in his "Gazetteer of 1832," mentions .Jenkin- town as containing thirty dwellings, two hotels and two stores. According to Lake's map, published in 1860, it contained at that date fifty houses, two hotels, two stores and an Episcopal Church.

For its size, Jenkintown may be regarded as a place of churches, there being within a distance of two

1 By Wm. J. Buck.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

miles around it, seven additional honses of wor- 1869, in Lyceum Hall, and the congregation was soon after formed by the Rev. S. T. Lowrie, of the Abington Church, who continued in the charge until August, 1874. The Rev. L. W. Eckhard succeeded January 1, 1875, followed by the Rev. J. II. Dulles as " mis- sionary assistant," April 17, 1877. Rev. Archibald Murphy was appointed in the spring of 1878 and remained for nearly two years, when he took charge of the Roxborough Church. The Sabbath-school con- tains at present about one hundred and sixty-five scholars. The Rev. Henry MeKubbin has present charge. ship, making in all twelve, belonging to seven differ- ent religious denominations. The first built in the place was the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour, handsomely situated within a shady lawn on the east side of York Avenue. The congregation was organ- ized by the Rev. E. Y. Buchanan, of Oxford Church, who held services in Lyceum Hall in 1857. The church was opened for worship June 20, 1858, when the Rev. Orme B. Keith took charge as its first rector. The rectory was built in 1861, and the parish building in 1866, both of stone. Mr. Keith resigned in March, 1870, and in April of the same year Rev. The Baptist Church is situated on a knoll at the corner of Walnut Avenue and Beechwood Street, commanding a magnificent view of the surrounding country. The lot of ground was presented for the purpose by William Pettit. It is a one-story stone building, in the Gothic style, thirty by sixty feet in dimensions. The congregation was organized in 1880 R. Francis Colton became rector. Ile died suddenly in July, 1880, and in the following December the Rev. Frederick Palmer, the present incumbent, re- ceived the charge. The present number of communi- cants is one hundred and twenty. The church is a neat and substantial one-story brown sandstone structure, in the Gothic style, surmounted by a stone , by the Rev. Josiah Williams, with twenty-five mem- belfry. The property is valued at thirty thousand dollars and is free from all debts.

The Roman Catholic Church of the Immaculate conception, of which the Rev. J. J. Mellon is present pastor, is built of stone in the Italian style, two- stories high, and is located at the corner of West Avenue and Pleasant Street. It was erected in 1866; dimensions, fifty-three by ninety-eight feet ; Christo- pher Lugar, builder. The congregation was formed and worship held for several years previously in Lyceum Hall. Services are held on Sunday at seven, eight and half-past fen A.M., and vespers at eight P.M. The Sunday-school meets at nine A.M. A two story stone parochial residence is attached to the church.

The Methodist Episcopal Church property on West Avenue was originally the first public school-house built under the school law in Abington township. It was purchased by the congregation April 20, 1867, and after worshiping therein for several years was enlarged, in 1879, to thirty-six by thirty feet in dimen- sions. It is a plain one-story stone structure standing within a fair-sized lot. The pastors who have served the church are as follows: Revs. A. J. Collom, J. A. Cooper, J. R. Bailey, M. Barnhill, Robert Mckay, E. C. Yerkes, A. J. Collom, E. I. Townsend, W. H. Pickop and Rev. J. Bickley Burns, the present pastor. The Sunday-school has an average attendance of seventy-five scholars.

Grace Presbyterian Church is situated on the east side of York Avenue, and is a handsome one-story stone structure in the Gothic style. The lot of ground was purchased in the spring of 1871 for two thousand three hundred dollars, having a front of one hundred and twenty-six feet and a depth of upwards of three hundred feet. The church was erected thereon at the expense of Mr. John Wanamaker, and was dedicated in September, 1872. Its membership in July, 1874, was stated to be ninety-three, comprising thirty-four families. The Sabbath-school was revived in August,

:bers, and in the summer of 1883, had increased to forty-five, with eighty children in the Sunday-school. The corner-stone was laid June 23d, 1883, and dedi- cated the 8th of November following, when the Rev. A. J. Shoemaker was ordained as pastor. The con- gregations of the five churches were all originally formed and held their worship in Lyceum Hall, on York Avenue, prior to the erection of their respect- ive houses of worship. It is a plain one-story stone building of modern size, erected in 1839, and designed chiefly for the promotion of useful knowledge. There is not a place of interment in the borough.

The Jenkintown National Bank was authorized to commence business by the comptroller of the currency, April 17, 1875, the subscriptions therefore having commenced on the 25th of January previous. 1ts original capital was $50,000, increased July 6, 1876, to $70,000, and in January, 1884, to $100,000. The bank was opened for business in Masonic Hall, May 3, 1875, where it remained until the completion of the present building, March 14, 1880, which occupied a lot fifty- seven by two hundred and seven feet on York Avenue, the whole costing, with furniture, safes, etc., $10,700. The charter number of the bank is 2249. Samuel W. Noble is president and Andrew H. Baker cashier. The average individual deposits for 1883 exceeded $97,000.

Masonic Hall is a large three-story stone building, the first story of which is designed for business pur- poses. The second story possesses a commodious concert and exhibition-room, to which is attached a stage, with drop-curtains, etc. Friendship Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, No. 400, meet in the upper story. Peace and Love Lodge, of I. O. O. F., No. 337; Jenkintown Lodge of Knights of Pythias, No. 476 and a division of the Sons of Temperance, No. 127, also hold meetings in the place.

Besides possessing five churches and several public halls, the promotion of literary facilities and useful

735

BOROUGH OF JENKINTOWN.

knowledge have not been neglected by the residents ' the family and kept even several years before 1759. in and around Jenkintown. Abington Library was On inquiry it has been ascertained that this inn stood a few yards below the present Cottman House. founded here in 1803, and is now located in Masonic Hall, of which a history has been prepared to follow All the land comprised within the present limits of the borough, and surrounding it in Abington town- ship, was originally taken up in 1684 by Sarah Fuller and John Barnes. The former's purchase contained two hundred and fifty and the latter's six hundred acres. It is probable that Sarah Fuller never resided in this vicinity. John Barnes and Joseph Phipps were among the earliest settlers. The first highway up into this section from Philadelphia was the York road in 1711, beside which we know at said date Stephen Jenkins resided, who was one of the jurors that assisted in laying it out. The road from the present Fitzwatertown, by Weldon and through the borough to Abington Meeting-house, was laid out in 1725. Thomas Fitzwater at this date carried on lime- burning at the former place. The aforesaid road now forms East and West Avenues. The road known as Washington Lane was confirmed from Germantown to the meeting-house in 1735, and now forms the eastern boundary of the borough. From the laying out of these early roads, we can perceive that at this period this section must have been taken up and pretty well settled. The great centre, how- ever, appears to have been the Friends' Meeting-house, originally completed in 1700 and situated nearly half a mile east of the borough limits. this article. In January, 1881, a lady of the neigh- hood asked five gentlemen to serve as a board of directors for a reading-room in the place, in behalf of which she offered to pay the rent of a suitable room for three years and supply the following periodicals : Scribner's Magazine, Nineteenth Century, Harper's Weckly, The Spectator, The Contemporary Review, Punch, The Scientific American, The Nation and the Fortnightly Review. Contributions in addition having been received from other persons, in February a room in Masonic Hall was rented, formerly occupied by the Jenkintown Bank, which was handsomely fitted up and opened to the public on the evening of February 24, 1881. To the original list a considerable num- ber of magazines and newspapers have been added. Soon after its opening arrangements were made with the directors of Abington Library by which access was allowed to their books in the adjoining room. In connection with the same, and to extend its usefulness, several gentlemen and ladies residing in the vicinity gave a series of lectures on literary and scientific sub- jects. The directors of this laudable effort are Fred- erick Palmer, president; A. H. Baker, treasurer ; Joseph W. Hunter, secretary ; J. W. Ridpath and Charles Mather.

The borongh, as has been stated, was organized December 8, 1874. Marion Chalfan, the first burgess, served until March, 1876; Thomas P. Manypenny, second, served until March, 1879; John J. C. Harvey, third, served until March, 1884; M. L. Kohler, served until March, 1885; J. H. Wheeler is the present in- cumbent.

The earliest mention yet found of the name of this borough is on Nicholas Scull's map of the province, published in 1759, whercon it is called "Jenkens' Town," William Scull, on his map of 1770, denoting it as "Jen- kins." William Jenkins, the founder of the family, came from Wales, and we know that he at least resided in this vicinity in 1697, and took at that time an active part in promoting the creetion of the Friends' Meet- ing-house. He purchased, June 17, 1698, from John Barnes a tract containing four hundred and thirty- seven acres, located on the present York road about half a mile north of the borough boundary. This property in 1712 was inhabited by his son Stephen, whom we know continued to reside thereon in 1734, and had a son Phineas Jenkins, at this date residing near by. In the assessment of Abington for 1780 we find mentioned Phineas Jenkins, Sr., undoubtedly the former person, William, Lydia, a widow, and John and Jesse Jenkins, the latter probably brothers. We know that in 1779, Sarah Jenkins was licensed by the Conrt of Quarter Sessions to keep here a public-house, and herein we undoubtedly see how the name got to be applied, as this publie-house may have been in

The inn kept here in 1779 by Sarah Jenkins may have been the stand licensed to Stephen Meshon in 1787-88. By an act of Assembly passed March 31, 1797, the Third Election District was com- posed of the townships of Abington, Cheltenham and Moreland, which were required to vote at the public- house of William McCalla, which then stood on the present Cottman House property. Mr. McCalla, in connection with John Broek, Joseph Hillman, James Burson, Charles Meredith, Charles Stewart, Alexander McCalla and Elijah Tyson, established a semi-weekly line of stages from Philadelphia to Bethlehem, by way of Doylestown, in 1800, exchanging horses here, the fare through being $2.75. In January, 1807, Mr. McCalla advertised his property, from which we have obtained the following description :

" For sale, that well-known tavern-stand, sign of the ' Barley Sheaf,' a large two-story stone house, four rooms on the front and seven on the second story, stabling sufficient for ninety-five horses, ice-house, new and convenient. The lot contains three acres, fronts on York road three hundred and sixty-six feet. A post-office is kept here, and two lines of stages stop at said inn."

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 162

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