History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 178

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 178

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).

JOHN M. FENTON.

Eleazar Fenton emigrated from England to America in or prior to the year 1680, and settled in Burlington County, West Jersey. Of his family, Eph- raim Fenton, his son, moved into Buckingham township, Bucks Co., Pa., and took up five hun- dred and forty acres of land previous to or in the year 1710. He died in 1748, leaving three sons,-El- cazar, Josiah and Sammel,-of whom Samuel, whose death occurred in 1796, was the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch. l'lis son Ephraim married, in 1782, Mary Thomas, of Milestown, Philadelphia Co. (a relative of the painter, Benjamin West), and settled in Cheltenham township, Montgomery Co., where he died in 1826. The eldest of his eight chil- dren was Samuel, who married Mary Mann, of Upper Dublin township, Montgomery Co., and had one daughter, Harriet, married to Andrew Long. of Harts- ville, Bucks Co., and a son, John M. Fenton. Sam- uel Fenton was actively engaged in farming pursuits until his death, in 1862, at his home in Cheltenham. His son, John M. Fenton, was born on the 18th of May, 1810, on the homestead, which is now his resi- dence. In 1843 he married Elizabeth W. Kennedy, of Abington township, whose three children are Sam- nel M. (deceased), Franklin K., and Hattie L. Mr. Fenton was elected treasurer of Montgomery County for the years 1856 and 1857. He has filled nearly all

the offices in Cheltenham township, being in official position continuously for forty years, ten years of which he was a justice of the peace. In polities he has always voted with the Democrats. He has been for many years a member of Abington Presbyterian Church ; for thirty-six years a trustee and for seven- teen years its treasurer. He has been president of the Limekiln Turnpike Company for twelve years,

He was married, in 1849, to Miss Annetta, daughter of Joseph and Mary Megargee, of Cheltenham fown- ship, and in 1850 moved to Shoemakertown and en- gaged in the mercantile business in the old store that had for many years been occupied as a store- house by Richard Shoemaker. After doing business in the limited quarters of the old Shoemaker store for a few years he purchased the old Tyson property, on which he built his present large and commodious store, which he has well-stocked with a large and well-selected variety of goods suited to the wants of the community around him.

He also remodeled the old Tyson mansion, making the comfortable, convenient and sightly residence he now occupies.

He has been prominently identified with all the progressive movements in and around the village of Shoemakertown. Although having held several elec- tive political offices, he enjoyed the higher privilege of a seat in the council of the leaders of the party with which he affiliates and whose candidates he supports. His townsmen have honored him with a seat in the board of school directors of the township, which he still occupies with honor to himself and profit to the educational interests of Cheltenham. In 1858 he was appointed postmaster at Shoemakertown, which office he has held continuously to the present time (1885). Twenty-seven years continuons service in one official position is the lot of but few, and is the best evidence of Mr. Engle's fitness for the respon- sible position he now holds.

Mr. Engle is the father of children as follows: Anna M., born April 24, 1850 (married to William H. Parker, of Philadelphia, and is the mother of two son and two daughters) ; Mary E., born June 20,

John M2 Surton

CHELTENHAM TOWNSHIP.

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1852; Albert J., Jr., born January 4, 1854; William Megargee, born December 17, 1857, and died when about two years of age; Annetta R., born May 2, 1860; Frank, born December 15, 1861; Irwin J., born January 11, 1864; Olive May, born Jnne 27, 1866, and died when two and a half years of age.

Mr. Engle's parents, Jacob and Elizabeth Engle, were aged and prominent residents of Bristol town- ship, and lived near Cheltenham township line, on the farm that had been in the Engle family for three generations.

The parents of Mrs. Engle, Joseph and Mary Me-

north side of what is known as the Church road, and on the southeast side of what is now known as the Cedar road. The Church road was so named from the fact of its being traveled for a number of years by the late George Keith, then a celebrated minister of the Society of Friends, who preached at Oxford and at Whitemarsh. His oft-repeated journeys over this then crooked path gave it the name of Church road, which it has since retained. Cedar road was so named from the fact of there being a row of cedar trees on either side of the road for a long dis- tarice. It was in the angle of these two roads, and

A.f. Engle

gargee, were residents of Cheltenham township for over half a century, and owned the property on the North Penn Branch of the Reading Railroad, at what is known as City Line Station.

MRS. SARAH T. BETTS.

nearly a mile from what is now Shoemakertown, that Mr. Thompson located his one hundred acres, then considered a wilderness, but now one of the most pleasantly located and valuable farms in the town- ship. William Thompson had also another lot of land lying along Tacony Creek, upon which he resided for many years, and upon which he died. Catharine, wife of William Thompson, died the 15th of the Sixth Month, 1786, aged about seventy-four years. Their children were Jessie, born the 26th of the Eighth

Mrs. Sarah T. Betts was a lineal descendant of William Thompson, who came to Cheltenham township in the early part of the last century and purchased one hundred acres of land out of the old Ashmead tract of | Month, 1745, and died, unmarried, the 22d of the two hundred acres. This one hundred acres lay on the Seventh Month, 1778.

816

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

John Thomson (for so his name was written, he having dropped the letter "p") was born the 22d of the Twelfth Month, 1750; married Abigail, daughter of Thomas and Letitia Roberts, of Trumbanerville, Bucks Co., Pa., and died the 28th of the Ninth Month, 1838. His wife, Abigail, was born on the 28th of the Seventh Month, 1751, and died the 12th of the Tenth Month, 1802.

John, having outlived his father and brother, in- herited the one hundred and the forty-acre tract of land.

Sarah, the subject of this sketch.

John, born the 1st of Tenth Month, 1810, and is still living. He inherited the one hundred and forty acres, owned by his great grand-father William Thomp- son, and is still the owner of the one hundred acre tract, having sold the forty acre lot.

Abigail, born 28th of Fifth Month, 1813 ; married John Wileman, of Langhorne, Bucks Co., Pa., and died the 23d of Second Month, 1868.

Elizabeth, born 20th of Sixth Month, 1816, and died the 21st of Second Month, 1817.

John, above mentioned, married 8th of Third Month, Thomas, son of John and Abigail Roberts Thomson, was born the 30th of the Ninth Month, 1775, and died | 1828, Caroline, daughter of Amos Jones, who was the

Sarah J Betto

the 26th of the Twelfth Month, 1825. Thomas in- son of Amos Jones, of Cheltenham township. Caroline hierited the one hundred and forty aeres owned by his father, John.

The children of Thomas Thomson were as follows :

Ann, born the 19th of Third Month, 1800; married Jacob E. Jarrett, of Horsham township. Mrs. Jarrett is still living.

Hannah, born the 27th of Eight Month, 1802 ; mar- ried John Roberts, of Byberry, and died the 14th of Sixth Month, 1872.

Kitty, born 15th of Eleventh Month, 1804; married Richard Roberts, and died 21st of Ninth Month, 1880.

was born the 24th of Tenth Month, 1814, and died the 14th of First Month, 1877. Their children are as follows :

Charles, born 23d of Fifth Month, 1839 ; died 22d of Sixth Month, 1848.

Alice J., born 31st of Tenth Month, 1840 ; married Benjamin F. Penrose, of Quakertown, and now re- sides in Cheltenham township, on the farm adjoining the old William Thompson and the Ashmead tracts.

Thomas Thomson, born 28th of Second Month, 1842; married Miss Eyre, of Bucks County, and now ocen- pies the old Thompson one hundred acre farm, and is

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CHELTENHAM TOWNSHIP.

the fitth generation of the Thomson family that has continuously occupied the old farm.

Samuel J., born 30th of First Month, 1844, died 13th of Twelfth Month, 1882.

Jane, born 1st of Ninth Month, 1845.

Margaret T., born 6th of First Month, 1848; mar- ried Henry W. Hallowell, of Moreland township.

John, born Ist of Tenth Month, 1849, died 19th of Third Month, 1851.

William and George, (twins), died in infancy.

John, Jr., born 16th of Seventh Month, 1853, died 17th of Fifth Month, 1874.

sides on the Williams-Shoemaker-Betts homestead, Cheltenham township. Mr. Shoemaker died, and Sarah Thomson, his widow, married Cyrus Betts, of Solebury, Pa. Mr. Betts died, leaving only Mrs. Betts, whose portrait is herewith presented.

Mrs. Betts has been well and favorably known for the last forty years as a faithful and devoted min- ister of the Society of Friends. She was all her life, with the exception of a few years' residence in Bucks County, a member of Abington Monthly Meeting, and for the last forty years her residence was in Cheltenham township, where she was highly

John Lenhart

William P., born 24th of Second Month, 1855. J. Dawson, born 1st of Second Month, 1858.

Sarah Thomson, the fourth daughter and fourth child of Thomas Thomson, was born the 8th of the Eighth Month, 1807, and married for her first hus- band Anthony Williams. The result of this union was four sons, viz. : Charles Williams, Edward H. Williams, Joseph Williams and Anthony Wil- liams.

After the death of Mr. Williams she married Jesse Shoemaker, by whom she had one danghter, Sarah Shoemaker, who married Alvin Haines, and now re-

respected for her kindness and love towards all with whom she associated.

She died Third Month 3, 1885, in the seventy-eighth year of her age, leaving behind her a host of friends who revered her, and who had been the better for her life and precepts.

JOHN F. LENHART.

George Lenhardt, who was born on the 8th of March, 1754, emigrated from Germany to America, when seventeen years of age, in company with his brother Peter, their parents, with whom they sailed,

818

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

having died and been buried at sea. The boys were sold for their passage, George serving three years and nine months with Jonathan Tyson. At the expira- tion of this period of service he settled in Upper Dublin township, Montgomery Co., and engaged in lime-burning, as also in the purchase and sale of real estate. He was connected by membership with the Reformed Church of Germantown, in which he was an exemplary and active worker. Mr. Len- hart married Catherine Hoffman, who died on the 31st of January, 1783. Their children were John, George, Jonathan and one who died in early life. He was a second time married to Christiana Kohler, whose

of the farm. On the death of his father, in 1845, he inherited a portion and purchased the remainder of the estate, the land of which he has since cultivated and greatly improved. He has paid much attention to horticulture, and won a reputation as a propagator of fine varieties of fruit, though also successful in other departments of agriculture. Mr. Lenhart was married, November 13, 1851, to Ruth, daughter of Joseph Ad- dis, of Moreland township. Their children are Amy (deceased), Margaret (Mrs. John D. Stout), Joseph (deceased), Eliza (Mrs. Franklin P. Bryan), John and an infant (deceased). Mr. Lenhart is a director of the Limekilu Turnpike Company, fills the same office in

Thor Co. yeahles

children are Mary, Henry, Joseph, Sarah, Christiana and Margaret. Joseph was born on the 30th of Jan- uary, 1788, in Upper Dublin township, and in the year 1801 removed to the farm in Cheltenham town- ship now owned by the subject of this sketch. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Funk, whose children are John F., Margaret (Mrs. David Heist) and Cathrine (Mrs. Isaiah Campbell, deceased). The death of Mr. Lenhart occurred on the 7th of January, 1845. His son, John F. Lenhart, was born November 25, 1821, on the homestead, where he has been in- dustriously employed as a farmer during his lifetime, having in youth been made familiar with the labor

connection with the Willow Grove and Germantown Turnpike Company, and is one of the directors of the Keystone Stone Quarry Company, of which he is a charter member. He is a Democrat in politics, though not especially interested in questions of a political character. In religion he is a Presbyterian, his mem- bership being with the Market Square Presbyterian Church, of Germantown.

THOMAS C. YEAKLE.

Mr. Yeakle is a lineal descendant of Christopher Yeakle (Jaeckel), whose widow, Regina, came to America and settled in Pennsylvania in 1734, his an-

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CHELTENHAM TOWNSHIP.

cestry having been elsewhere mentioned. He is the duties in connection with his own business leave little leisure for participation in enterprises of a public eharacter. grandson of Jacob and Gertrude Urfler Yeakle, and the son of Joseph and Mary Huston Yeakle. The children of the latter marriage are John H., born August 12, 1853, who died March 7, 1854; and Thomas C., whose birth occurred January 19, 1855, in Spring- SAMUEL M. WILSON. field township, where the years of his youth were Frederick L. Wilson, the grandfather of Samuel L., was by birth a Norwegian, and captain of a vessel wrecked off the coast of Ireland. By his marriage to a lady of Irish lineage he had one son, William, whose residence was in the immediate vicinity of London- derry, in the north of Ireland, where he filled the spent. He became a pupil of the public school near his home, and afterwards enjoyed superior advantages at Treemount Seminary, Norristown. On completing his studies he returned to the farm and became in- terested in its varied occupations, but later removed to Flourtown and engaged in mercantile pursuits. In office of land steward, and was also an industrious

1877, preferring the healthful employment of the farmer. He married Elizabeth, daughter of William agricultorist to a sedentary life, he purchased the Mackey, of Londonderry, whose children were Robert, Samuel M., William, Elizabeth, James, Joanna Mary and John. The death of Mr. Wilson occured in 1854, in County Donegal, Ireland. His son, Samuel M., was born on the 12th of January, 1840, near London- derry, in the latter county where the first eighteen years of his life were spent, a portion of this time be- ing devoted to acquiring a modest education and as- sisting in the labor of the farm. Being impressed with the superior advantages offered the workingman in America, he decided to emigrate, and in 1858 sailed alone for Philadelphia. He readily found em- ployment on a farm in Bucks County, and served for valuable property in Cheltenham township now owned by him, and has since been numbered among the suc- cessful farmers of the township. Mr. Yeakle was married, on the 7th of February, 1878, to Emma C., daughter of Joseph Stahlmeeker, of Flourtown, whose children are Lizzie and Mary Emma. lle was again married, in November, 1882, to Emma, daughter of Jessie MeCoombs, of Montgomery County. Their only child is a son, Thomas C., Jr. Mr. Yeakle is in politics a Republican, though not ambitious for the honors of office. IJe is a supporter of the Presby- terian Church of Flourtown. His daily routine of

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

eighteen months in that capacity, when Montgomery GEORGE K. HELLER. County became his home. For six years his industry Mr. Heller is of German deseent, his grandfather, Christopher Heller, having emigrated from Germany to America, and settled in Northampton County, where he founded the hamlet of Hellertown. Here he engaged in farming. Among his children was Daniel, born in or near Hellertown, who afterwards became a farmer in Bucks County. He married Mar- garet, daughter of Heury Scheetz, Esq., of Whitemarsh township, Montgomery Co., whose children were Catharine (Mrs. Jacob Wentz), Elizabeth, Saralı brought a comfortable support, principally as a farm laborer, after which, in 1866, he rented a farm, and for six years cultivated it successfully. During the four succeeding years Mr. Wilson was engaged in the gro- cery business in Philadelphia, after which he removed to Edge Hill and became proprietor of a country store, holding also the commission as postmaster of the place. Having previously invested capital in mining enterprises, he determined to devote his ex- clusive attention to the mining of hematite ore. In | (Mrs. Samuel Nice), Ann (Mrs. George MeCleland),

S. R. Heller

this industry he is still engaged, his energy and busi- ness tact making him one of the important factors in the development of the ore-beds of the county. Mr. Wilson was, on the 28th of November, 1862, married to Margaret, daughter of Robert Bustard, of the same county. Their children are Anna Mary, Ellen D., Margaret, Samuel M., George, Jane, Maria, William and Lizzie. Mr. Wilson's political sympathies are with the Republican party, although he is rarely active in the field of politics. He accepts the creed of the Baptist faith, and is a member of the church of that denomination in Jenkintown.

George K., Mary (Mrs. John M. Jones), Margaret (Mrs. Robert HI. Hinckley) and Hannah (Mrs. Samuel Nice).

George K. Heller was born March 14, 1803, in Springfield township, Montgomery Co; to which township his father removed from Bucks County. The common school afforded at this early date the only opportunities for education. These, however, were improved by him, after which, for eleven years, he engaged in teaching in Montgomery and Philadel- phia Counties, respectively. Desiring a less seden- tary life than that of a teacher, he purchased a farm

821

CHELTENHAM TOWNSHIP.

in Cheltenham township, which for twenty-two years he cultivated, and at the expiration of that time, having abandoned active labor, he sold his farm and retired to his present residence, in the village of Cheltenham, in the same township. Mr. Heller was married on the 10th of March, 1829, to Sarah, daughter of John Nice, of Philadelphia County. Their chil- dreu are Charles, of Philadelphia; Margaret H. (Mrs. Dilworth Wentz), of Cheltenham; Elizabeth (Mrs. Dr. H. B. Buck), of Springfield, III .; and George N., of Philadelphia. Mr. Heller formerly affiliated with the Democratic party, but later became a Repub- lican. He has been identified in various relations with the township, having for a period of thirty-three years filled the office of school director of Chelten- ham and been one of the first agitators of the public- school system in the township. He was also director of the Independent Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Mr. Heller's known ability and integrity have caused his services to be much in demand as guardian and trustee, more than forty estates having been settled by him or through his aid. For forty-six years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and for more than forty years recording steward of the same church.

THOMAS T. MATHER.

The subject of this biographical sketch, Thomas T. Mather, traces his lineage through a line of worthy ancestors, who espoused the belief of the Society of Friends. His father was Jonathan Mather, who mar- ried Elizabeth Tyson, of Edge Hill, Montgomery Co., and had children,-Sarah (Mrs. Newlin Scho- field), Mary Ann, Thomas T., Hannah MI. (Mrs. Wil- liam Stapler) and Eleanor. Thomas T. was born on the homestead, in Cheltenham, where his father was a successful farmer) on the 7th of February, 1814. This property, which is now occupied by his widow, subsequently became his by inheritance and pur- chase, and was the scene of his lifetime labors. His education was superior to that obtained by most of the youth of the vicinity, schools iu Montgomery County and also in Wilmington, Del., affording him the advantages of a thorough scholastic training. His mathematical mind here found an ample field for development, and enabled him to take high rank in the science in which he was proficient. Not desiring to follow a professional career, he returned to the home of his parents, and devoted his attention to the employments of a farmer. He was well versed in the science of horticulture and skillful in the propagation of choice varieties of fruit, the nature and growth of which he thoroughly understood. Mr. Mather, while gratifying his taste in this direction, was also a suc- cessful farmer, and thoroughly practical in all his business undertakings. He was married, on the 3d of December, 1856, to Rachel G., daughter of William and Susan G. Nicholson, of Philadelphia. Their children are Jonathan, Elizabeth (Mrs. I. W. Lin-

ton), Susan N., Sarah, Eleanor, William N., Rachel, Jr., Thomas T., Jr., and William N., (second). Mr. Mather, though diligent in matters pertaining to his private business interests, exhibited much public spirit and a laudable zeal in all measures tending to the welfare of the county of his residence. He was a director of the Jenkintown National Bank, a director in the Germantown National Bank, and held the same official connection with the Limekiln Turnpike Company. flis acknowledged ability and probity led him frequently to be suggested for positions of trust, notable among which was that of treasurer of the C'helton Hills Mutual Improvement Association. Mr. Mather was in politics, a Republican, and cour- ageous in the defense of any principle of the party, while indifferent to the official positions which are the rewards of party service. He was an earnest ad- vocate of the Free-Soil doctrine, and cast the earliest vote in the township in its favor when that question was first agitated. He was educated in the belief of the Society of Friends, and never departed from the faith, having been a member of the Abington Monthly Meeting at the time of his death, which occurred on the 21st of June, 1877. Mr. Mather was a man of marked influence in the community, not less for his judgment and executive ability than for the elevated sentiments which actuated his whole life.

CHARLES B. WRIGHT.

Charles B. Wright, who has been for the past twenty years a resident of Cheltenham township, was born January 8, 1822, in Wysox Valley, Bradford Co., Pa., to which place his parents had emigrated from New London, Conn., in 1814. Ilis father, Rufus Wright, who was a currier by trade, had (with a number of other Connecticut people) intended to settle in the Wyoming Valley, but was afterwards induced to locate at Wysox, where he established the first tan- nery that was put in operation in the valley of the Upper Susquehanna. In that business he continued with snecess until the year 1830, when he removed to Tioga Point, or (as better known in later years) Athens, Pa., where he was connected with the busi- ness of the toll-bridge across the North Branch of the Susquehanna River. Five years later, when Charles was thirteen years of age, his father removed to a farm located about five miles from the river, on the uplands in Smithfield, Bradford Co. Until that time Charles had been kept. at the Athens Academy, but after his removal with the family to the farm he only enjoyed the advantages of the winter terms of the common school for the completion of his education. He had sisters ohler and younger than himself and an elder brother, who was engaged in business in the West. On him, therefore, his father principally relied for assistance on the farm, and he was con- stantly employed in the work required upon it, except during the winter season. The farm was well adapted for the purpose of stock-raising, and this business his

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

father made a specialty, having a large number of and from it he had learned the lesson that only by cattle, sheep and horses. Charles became an expert perseverance in his undertakings could he hope to rider, and made frequent trips on horseback to the i win success in the world. He kept steadily on, win- village, two miles from the farm, to market the butter, | ning the confidence of his employer, who, in 1841, gave eggs and other produce, and to purchase the store- him an interest in the business, he being then only nineteen years of age. He continued in the business two years longer, but at the age of twenty-one years, having become restless and desirous of entering a wider field of enterprise, he decided to leave Le Rays- ville and travel in the Western States, a part of his plan being to visit his sister, Mrs. William Spaulding, who was then residing in the new town of Janesville, Rock Co., Wis. goods necessary for the use of the family,-sometimes including ammunition for his shot-gun. On these trips the young farmer usually rode a fleet horse, of which there were always several in his father's pas- ture, and he seldom returned home without having had a race with some of the boys or men of the sur- rounding county, who could always depend on his being ready to engage in that kind of amusement.

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 178

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