History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 174

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

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At the building of the new church Mr. Voigt had again become pastor, a position he retained until June, 1799, when Rev. John F. Weinland became his suc-

BOROUGH OF POTTSTOWN.

793

cessor to the elose of 1806. In May, 1807, Rev. F. W. Geissenhainer became pastor, and remained until 1808. Rev. Peter Hecht had charge from 1809 to 1813, fol- lowed by Rev. J. E. L. Brouns, who remained until the elose of 1815, After Rev. F. W. Geissenhainer, in May, 1823, Rev. Conrad Miller succeeded. In 1833 the Synod held its first meeting in Pottstown, thirty-five pastors and twenty-three lay delegates be- ing present; services in English were also held, which produced a desire to have that language introduced- At this time the pastor had seven congregations in charge and conducted worship here once in four weeks. Rev. Conrad Miller proposed to the congre- gation, in April, 1834, to take measures to secure ser- viees in English at stated times. In accordance with

ITH

NEW HANOVER LUTHERAN CHURCH.

this request, Rev. John W. Richards accepted the eall, and preached his introductory sermon May IS, 1834. Ile held the pastorate until the spring of 1836, when Rev. Jacob Wampole, of the Trappe, sue- ceeded, and continued until his death, in the be- ginning of 1838. Rev. Henry S. Miller had charge from April, 1838, until August 20, 1848. In 1844 a second Synod was held here, fifty-three pastors being present.

In the summer of 1848, Rev. Conrad Miller trans- ferred the care of the German congregation to his nephew, Rev. George F. Miller, who also beeame pas- tor of the English portion on the resignation of Rev. H. S. Miller. In 1859 the members of the latter resolved on the erection of a new church, the eor- ner-stone of which was laid Angust 5, 1859, and it was consecrated February 16, 1861, on which occasion the Rev. J. A. Seiss delivered the sermon. In the aet of incorporation it is styled "The English Evangelieal Lutheran Church of the Transfigura- tion," situated at the southwest corner of Hanover and Chestnut Streets. It is a handsome, large, two- story brick edifice, and cost twelve thousand and fifty

dollars. The Rev. George F. Miller remained pas- tor until the spring of 1868, succeeded by Rev. G. W. Schmucker until the fall of 1870. In June, 1871, Rev. Charles Koerner became pastor, who was suc- ceeded in the spring of 1881 by the Rev. B. M. Schmucker, D.D., who is still in charge.

Owing to the increase of membership and a desire to have more frequent services, the congregation sold out their interest in the Old Briek or Union Church to the Reformed members in May, 1871. An act of incorporation was obtained under the name and title of the "German and English Evangelical Lutheran Emannel Church." They had reserved for their use one-half of the ground, one hundred and fifty by one hundred and eighty feet in extent at the corner of Hanover and Walnut Streets. The church was commeneed thereon May 30, 1871, and was dedi- eated September 28 and 29, 1872. Its dimensions are ninety-nine and a half feet long by sixty-three feet wide and it cost thirty-three thousand dollars, pos- sessing the largest membership of any church in the place. The Synod met in Pottstown in 1864, when ninety-two ministers were present; again in 1873, with one hundred and forty-four ministers; and in 1881, with one hundred and seventy-six ministers present. The officers and teachers of the Sabbath-school belonging to the church in 1882 numbered fifty and the scholars six hundred and seventy-six. While the church was building the Rev. Wm. G. Laitzle had charge; Rev. D. K. Kepner is the present pastor. In the preparation of this article acknowledgments are due to Dr. Sehmneker for information derived from his interesting pamphlet, entitled "The Lutheran Church in Pottstown," published in 1882, and also to Mark II. Richards, Esq., relative to the borough.

REV. D. K. KEPNER is a descendant of one of the first settlers by this name in the upper end of Mont- gomery County. Andreas Kepner paid quit-rent to the proprietary of Pennsylvania for one hundred acres of land prior to 1734 (see Rupp's collection of names, ete., page 473). His farm was situated on the road leading from Pottstown to Falkner Swamp, near the latter place. He died in 1766, aged sixty-five years, William Kepner, his son, having lived and died on an adjoining farm. Henry, the son of William, resided on another farm, where his son William, father of Rev. D. K. Kepner, was born, and died on a farm near by Fegleysville, so that Andreas 1, William 2, Henry 3 and William ' lived and died in Montgomery County. All were members of the Lutheran Church at New Hanover, and are buried in the graveyard of the church. All of them followed agricultural pursuits. The subject of this sketch is a son of William Kepner and Sarah Koch, his wife. He was born October 15, 1836, baptized and confirmed by Rev. Conrad Miller in the same ehureh, and, subsequently, also married in the same to Lydia A. Brendlinger, daugh- ter of Frederick Brendlinger, of Swamp. He was reared on the farm and accustomed to hard work, his

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

school advantages having been very limited in his younger days. When he arrived at the age of eigh- teen years his father gave him the choice of a trade or attendance at an advanced school for two winters. He chose the latter, and became a pupil for two ses- sions of the Washington Hall Boarding-School. He entered Frederick Institute the succeeding winter, and remained during three sessions. The next four wiuters he taught a public school, in the mean time preparing for college, and entered the sophomore class of Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, Pa., in the fall of 1861, having the ministry in view. In the fall of 1862 he enlisted in the service of the United States as regimental quartermaster of the One Hundred and Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, subsequently re-enlisting in the One Hundred and Ninety-fifth Penn- sylvania Volunteers. He was mustered out at the end of the war as first lieutenant in charge of Com- pany A, and returned to college in the fall of 1865, graduating August 8, 1867. Mr. Kepner entered the " Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church," at Philadelphia, September, 1867, and graduated from this institution June 8, 1870, being ordained a minister of the gospel, June 15, 1870, by the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, thus having gained the object of his aspirations for the previous ten years. He supplied the Orwigsburgh charge, in Schuylkill County, during the winter of 1870-71, and accepting a call to Slatington, Lehigh Co., Pa., entered upon the work May 12, 1871. He organized a new congregation at Lehighton, Carbon Co., Pa., and built a church, serving the same in connection with Slatington and Pennsville. Mr. Kepner accepted a call to Emman- uel Evangelical Lutheran Church of Pottstown, Montgomery Co., and began his labors January 1, 1875, having just completed his teuth year as pastor of this church. The congregation is one of the oldest and the largest in membership, worshiping in the most spacions church edifice in Montgomery County. The summary of Mr. Kepner's pastoral work during the ten years is as follows : Baptized, infants, 1005, adults, 58; confirmed, 544; added by transfer from other congregations, 488; total added, 1037 ; funerals, 671 ; married, 311; communicated, 16,945. The largest number of members communed in one year (1884) was 1054. He has preached 1360 regular and funeral sermons, made 1371 addresses, and was unable to preach by reason of indisposition, only five Sundays during the ten years. In the last four years he has not missed a Sunday in the church nor Sunday-school.

During a ministry of fifteen years Mr. Kepner al- ways trained the choir of the church and the Sunday- school in the service of song and led the same in addition to his work as pastor. The statistics already given may indicate to some extent the work accom- plished by Mr. Kepner while in the ministry. He is firmly intrenched in the hearts of his people and holds an influential position in the denomination which he represents.

BIOGRAPIIICAL SKETCHES.

RUFUS B. LONGAKER.

Peter Longaker, the father of Rufus B., was a native of Lawrenceville, Chester Co., Pa., where he was born ou his father's farm March 14, 1786, and died Novem- ber 1, 1866, in Limerick township. He married Han- nah, daughter of George and Mary Boyer, who was born in Churchville, Hereford township, Berks Co., Pa., September 1, 1795, and survived until her nine- tieth year. There were born to Mr. aud Mrs. Long- aker six children,-Rufus B., Mary (Mrs. Abram Kohl, deceased), Louisa (Mrs. Sebastian Kohl), Eme- line, John B. and Francis Elmira (deceased). Rufus B., the eldest of this number, whose birth occurred in Limerick township (where his father then resided) on the 6th of April, 1816, at the age of sixteen became a pupil of the Trappe Boarding-School. On com- pleting his course of study he removed to Berks County and engaged in teaching, which pursuit was continued for two winters. He was for one year clerk in a country store at the Trappe, and soon after em- barked in mercantile pursuits at Crooked Hill, Potts- grove township, Montgomery Co., remaining at this point from 1840 until 1851. Having been in that year elected recorder of deeds, he removed soon after to Norristown, and remained for three years the in- cumbent of the office. Returning to Pottstown in 1855, he engaged in the purchase and sale of cat- tle and horses, continuing the business for several years. He was, in 1863, the successful candidate for county treasurer, having received the Democratic nomination for the office, and served in that capacity for two terms, meanwhile retaining his home in Potts- town. In 1862, under the firm-name of Longaker & Van Buskirk, he embarked in the wholesale wine and liquor business, in which he was succeeded by his son, Montgomery S. Longaker. Mr. Longaker was an in- fluential member of his party, and at various times delegate to Democratic State conventions. For three years he served as member of the Borough Council of Pottstown. He was for many years in the board of management of the Union Mutual Fire and Storm Insurance Company of Montgomery County, as also manager of the Reading and Perkiomen Turnpike Company. He was a devout member of Trinity Re- formed Church of Pottstown. Mr. Longaker was married, in 1842, to Elizabeth, daughter of the late Abram Smith, of Pottstown. Their children arc Montgomery S., Hannah E. (Mrs. Matthias Geist), Horace S., Mary (Mrs. William H. Thomas), Lewis C. (of Bradford, Pa.) and two who are deceased. Mr. Longaker enjoyed a reputation for integrity and promptness in all his business dealings. Possessing sound judgment and a mind that grasped quickly the details of business, he was frequently consulted upon matters involving important issues. He was exten-

795

BOROUGH OF POTTSTOWN.

sively acquainted with public men throughout the State, and enjoyed the confidence and friendship of many persons iu high official position. The death of Mr. Longaker occurred after a life of great activity and usefulness on the 26th of September, 1882. Smith retired therefrom. Mr. Smith manifested in his earlier life a lively interest in military affairs, and for some years served as captain of a volunteer cavalry company, known as the Third Troop of Montgomery County, which participated iu the State Military en- campment in 1841, held at Pottstown. He was at various times a member of the Borough Council and JONAS SMITH. board of school directors of Pottstown, and was Jouas Smith, the eldest son of lIenry and Mary Smith, was born in New Hanover township, Montgom- elected chief burgess of the borough in 1839. In the fall of 1841 he was made treasurer of Montgomery ery Co., Pa., March 15, 1806. After the usual period . County, being the first county treasurer elected to that at school he learned the trade of a carpet-weaver, but office. He was re-elected in 1842, and filled the term

2/3. Lougaiter

soon abaudoned it for the more congenial pursuit of a | with great acceptance. He was for nearly forty years merchant. Entering a store at the Swamp as clerk, treasurer of the Pottstown Mutual Fire Insurance Company, was a manager of the Schuylkill Bridge Company for more than thirty-five years and for sev- eral years director of the Bank of Pottstown. He was also treasurer of the Pottstown Cemetery from the beginning until a short time prior to his death, and for some time superintendent of the company. All these positions were filled with credit to himself and to the interest of the various corporations he served. To his first wife were born children,-Franklin C., George W. and Esther (wife of Jacob Hartranft, de- he later purchased and for several years conducted this enterprise. During the fall of 1837 he made Pottstown his residence, and there engaged in busi- ness in various localities in the borough. In 1840 he removed to a farm in Pottsgrove towuship, but re- mained for a brief time only, resuming again his mer- cantile ventures in connection with his brother, Wil- liam H. Smith, under the firm-name of J. & W. H. Smith. The firm subsequently became Smith & Hartranft, and was continued until 1855, when Jonas

796

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

ceased), as also one who died in youth. By his mar- riage to a second wife were children,- Theophilus II. and Mahlon V., besides one who died in childhood. Mr. Smith was for nearly his whole life a consistent member of the Lutheran Church, and connected as an officer with the Church of the Transfiguration, con- tributing generously to the various organizations connected with the work of its members. Ilis life was one of great usefulness. He was public-spirited, philanthropic and true to the best impulses of a noble nature. His death, which occurred March 12, 1884, occasioned universal sorrow.

were also the remaining brothers and sisters. After very limited advantages of instruction he learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, becoming an apprentice in 1808, and walking a distance of one hundred and twenty miles to avail himself of opportunities not afforded him near his home. He pursued this trade in Pottstown and vicinity for seven years, when the war of 1812 found him among its volunteer recruits. Later he assisted in the construction of the Schuyl- kill Canal, and on the 20th of January, 1820, was united in marriage to Susannah Christman, whose birth occurred November 26, 1798. Their children

Junio Smith

GEORGE MISSIMER.

Mr. Missimer is of French descent, his grandfather, Cassimir Missimer, having emigrated from Alsace. He married Margaret Brandt, whose children were eleven in number,-John, Henry, Jacob, Benjamin, Frederick, George and five daughters. Frederick, whose birth occurred in Virginia, married Elizabeth Kreider, of Montgomery County, whose children were Catharine, Mary, John, George, Samuel, Rebecca, Anna, Elizabeth, and three who died in childhood. George Missimer was born on the 1st of December, 1792, in Pottsgrove township, Montgomery Co., as

are Henry, born in 1825; Elizabeth, in 1827; George, in 1830; Susan, in 1832; Mary, in 1834; Rebecca, in 1836; Emeline, in 1839. After his marriage Mr. Missimer for eight years rented a farm in Pottsgrove, which was afterwards purchased by him. For six- teen years he resided upon this property, and on his practical retirement from active labor, in 1848, Potts- town became his home. He at this time controlled interests in various barges and engaged in other busi- ness enterprises. Mr. Missimer is an Andrew Jack- son Democrat of the most pronounced type, having cast his first vote in behalf of that distinguished

797

BOROUGH OF POTTSTOWN.

Presidential candidate. He has represented his borough in the Council for many years, and also filled the office of street commissioner. He has been an important factor in the growth and development of Pottstown. Mr. Missimer is a director of Mt. Zion Cemetery and member of the Lutheran Church of the Transfiguration, in which he has been a vestry- man since the erection of the church.

which most of the residences are built the scenery and general landscape is of a pleasing and picturesque character. The name is derived from an ancient ford over the Schuylkill River at this point, which took its name from a family of the name of Royer, who are believed to have owned the land many years ago and prior to the use of the stream for navigation purposes. Subsequent to the erection of dams and the consequent

GEORGE MISSIMER.

CHAPTER L.

BOROUGH OF ROYER'S FORD.

THE borough of Royer's Ford was incorporated by decree of the Court of Quarter Sessions dated June 14, 1879. The petition upon which this decree was made was signed by ninety-eight persons, who consti- tuted a majority of the land-owners residing within the limits of the proposed borough.

The first local election for borough officers was held July 17, 1879, under the following officers appointed by the court : Adam Grander, judge ; Allen S. Keeley and Silas S. Swartly, inspectors. A. S. Keeley made the original survey of the borough, as shown by the draft on file in the office of the clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions.

This borough is located on the eastern shore of the Schuylkill River, and on the line of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, distant from the former city thirty-two miles and from Norristown sixteen miles. The location is healthful, and from theelevation upon

destruction of the fords in common nse, a bridge was construeted here, but the name of Royer's Ford was still retained by the villagers, and when the forms and advantages of municipal government became neces- sary, the ancient name possessed a popular charm that rendered its retention advisable in the judgment of the projeetors of the borongh enterprise.

The borough contains over two hundred residents and an estimated population of about one thousand persons. There are two hotels, three dry-goods stores, one dry-goods and grocery, three grocery and provis- ion, one drug-store, tin-smith and marble-yard, besides other mercantile and mechanical enterprises. There are large manufacturing industries carried on here as mentioned in detail elsewhere,1 to the influence of which the rapid and substantial growth of the bor- ough is in a large measure attributable. There is a graded public school in the borough, taught by one male and two female teachers, having an attendance of one hundred and twenty-five pupils. Schools are

1 See chapter " Manufactures," ante.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

open for nine months in the year, and the salaries paid are forty, thirty and twenty-five dollars per month.

Places of Religious Worship .- The Royer's Ford Baptist Church was organized January 30, 1879, with fifteen members from the Baptist Churches of Law- renceville, Pottstown and Phoenixville. A committee of three was appointed to call a council for February 8th which was done. Delegates from the churches of Potts.' town, Pughtown, Vincent, Windsor and Lawrenceville convened at the appointed time, and after examination the church was recognized. On March 1, 1879, the church resolved to erect a house of worship fifty-five by thirty-five feet, of brick, on Church Street, which was soon after begun, and was completed and dedica- ted in the summer of 1880. In April, 1880, this church, in connection with Lawrenceville Church, called as pastor the Rev. C. W. O. Nyce, who remained till January, 1881. On the 14th of October, 1882 the Rev. William Edwards was called, and served the church until April 1, 1884. The Rev. J. M. Lyon, the present pastor, was called May 25th fol- lowing. The church now has thirty-one members. The Methodist Episcopal Chapel is located on the corner of Church and Airy Streets, the land being donated by Daniel Latshaw.1 The edifice is a plain, substantial brick building, with a seating capacity of upwards of two hundred persons. There is a Sabbath-school connected with the chapel, having an attendance of from one hundred to one hundred and fifty scholars.

The enterprising people of the borough have organ ized the Royer's Ford Hook-and-Ladder Company' and are prepared to battle with fire should it occur Not possessing water-works, such as are in general use in larger towns, they have sunk a well to the level of the water in the Schuylkill River, from which water is led, furnishing a supply deemed adequate for any exigency likely to arise. The main thoroughfare known as Main Street, has been graded and macadam' ized, and presents a neat appearance; public improve- ments are in progress on High Street and the borough is rapidly approaching a condition and appearance that will give it a place among the substantial and flourish- ing towns in the Schuylkill Valley.

Commercial Return of Mercantile Appraiser for 1884 .- Lewis Buckwalter, confectioner; A. D. Bech- tel, flour and feed ; A. C. Freed, provisions ; Wm. Isett, meat and provisions; H. E. Kline, jeweler ; J. M. Lewin, boots and shoes ; Mowry & Latshaw, hardware; Place, Mahlon, tobacco ; Royer's Ford Co- operative Association, groceries and provisions ; Wm. Rice, provisions ; Jones Rogers, merchandise ; Dan- iel Springer, lumber; A. K. Saylor, drugs; Fred, Shaner, tobacco ; Simon Snyder, notions ; B. F. Saylor, tobacco; D. M. Ziegler, boots and shoes.

Number of taxables, 1884, 257 ; value of improved

lands, $321,120 ; valne of unimproved lands, $9065; value of horses, $3790 ; value of cattle, $810 ; value of taxable property for county purposes, $371,805.

Addison Buckwalter was burgess of Royer's Ford from 1879-83. B. F. Saylor was elected to this office in 1884.

David Gow was appointed postmaster in 1842; Daniel Schwenk, January 1, 1860; and the present postmaster, Reuben Winter, January 1, 1860.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

EPHRAIM P. KEELY.

Henry Keely, the grandfather of Ephraim P. Keely, who was of German descent, resided in Perkiomen township, where he was actively employed as a black- smith. His children were Henry, John, Jonas, Eliza- beth (Mrs. Schantz) and Ann (Mrs. Kline), all of whom are deceased. Henry was a resident of Perkio- men township, the scene of his birth, where he fol- lowed the trade of a plasterer. He was also actively identified with the county militia, in which he held the rank of captain. Henry Keely married Hannah, daughter of John Peltz, of Upper Providence town- ship, whose children were Abeltis, of Phoenixville ; Ephraim P. and Jacob, of Upper Providence ; Mary Ann, deceased (Mrs. John Wright, of Chester Co., Pa.) ; Manasseh, deceased ; Salome (Mrs. William B. Wrightmeyer, of Pottstown); Susannah (Mrs. William Boyer, of Phoenixville); Hannah, deceased; and Henry, deceased. Ephraim P. was born January 21, 1827, in Perkiomen township, where he remained until his seventeenth year, meanwhile receiving such instruc- tion as the neighboring school afforded. He then removed to Upper Providence and served an appren- ticeship of two years as a carpenter and builder. On becoming proficient at this trade he readily found his skill in demand in the immediate vicinity, and later filled the position of foreman for the Reading Rail- road Company.

In 1857, Mr. Keely removed to that portion of Limerick now known as Royer's Ford, and erected a residence, which is still his home. Since 1866 he has been engaged as a contract builder, hav- ing recently erected the glass-works at Royer's Ford, the First Reformed Church of Spring City, and the ex- tensive stove-works of Grander, Rodgers & Co. He was, in 1851, married to Margaret Ann, daughter of Jacob Tyson, of Upper Providence, whose only son, Allen T., is now principal of the Royer's Ford Public School and justice of the peace, as also a skillful sur- veyor. Mr. Keely, in connection with his other en- terprises, is engaged in the manufacture of brick for building purposes. He is a Democrat in his political convictions, but, aside from the office of Town Council-

. 1 Soo " History of Metho lism, " ante.

799

BOROUGH OF WEST CONSHOHOCKEN.

man of the borough, has held no official position. He

curbing has been done. Gulf Creek, a rapid stream is a member of the Spring City Lodge, No. 553, of | that rises in Delaware County, after a course of nearly Free and Accepted Masons, of which he was the first and is the present treasurer. He is also a member of Phoenix H. R. A. Chapter, No. 198, of Jerusalem Commandery, No. 15. and of Palestine Council, No. 8. Mr. Keely is member of the Reformed Church of Spring City, Chester Co., Pa.

four miles, empties here into the Schuylkill, propelling in this distance several grist-mills, besides cotton and woolen manufactories. Near its mouth the highway and railroad eross it by substantial stone bridges. A small stream rises beyond the borough line on the south side of the Township Line road, and after a

Ephraim of Reely

CHAPTER LI.

WEST CONSHOHOCKEN.1

THIS borough is situated on the west side of the Schuylkill, directly opposite Conshohocken, and was incorporated October 6, 1874, its territory having been taken nearly equally from the townships of Upper and Lower Merion. Three railroads and a canal pass either through or by it and an iron bridge connects it with the opposite side of the river. The front on the Schuylkill is a mile and a quarter, and at its southern extremity extends westward nearly the same distance. Its area is about five hundred and forty acres. The ground is somewhat broken, and in the central portion rises to some elevation. As to the streets, comparatively little

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 174

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