History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 202

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 202

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).

1 Author of a " History of Valley Forge" and other papers of local interest ; died in December, 24, 1879, aged eighty-four years. Personally well known to the writer.

road through this township was used for the purpose. The Gulf road was another early and important high- way, noted on Lewis Evans' map of 1749 as extend- ing from Valley Forge to the Lancaster road, a short distance above Ardmore. This road is noted for hav- ing on the east side of its course the " Penn mile- stones," called so from having on the rear side the three balls or platters of the Penn coat-of-arms. They appear to be soapstone, and are generally above the ground about three and a half feet, bearing on the front merely the figures denoting the distance in miles from Philadelphia,-as, for instance, between Bryn Mawr and the Upper Merion line are two, bear- ing respectively "12" and "13." It is remarkable that these should have been only placed along this road. When and by whom placed and who bore the expense are matters for conjecture. In 1766 a petition was sent to the Court of Quarter Sessions praying for a road from John Roberts' mill "to Rees Ap Edward's Ford, on the river Schuylkill, for the transportation of lime and other necessaries across said ford, for the convenience of the public." This probably is the present Mill Creek road, and consequently this ford must have been in the vicinity of the mouth of the stream, thus indicating the necessity of bringing lime from Whitemarsh and Plymouth. At March Sessions, 1785, Anthony Levering made application for a road from Levering's Ford, on the Schuylkill, by his mill, to the Lancaster road, on the north side of Merion Meet- ing-house. The court appointed commissioners to lay out the road, which was ordered to be opened. This is evidently the highway commencing at the mouth of the stream at the lower part of West Man- ayunk, and thence proceeding through Academyville, by Belmont Race-Course to the meeting-house. It was one of the first applications granted for a new road after the organization of the present county. The overseers of the highways in 1767 were Robert Jones and Stephen Goodman; in 1785, William Stadleman and John Jones ; and in 1810, Louis Knox and Peter Pechan.

Prior to the Revolution those persons in the town- ship that were entitled to vote were obliged to go to the State-House, in Philadelphia. In 1778 the elections for this district were ordered to be held in Germantown, and from thence, in 1785, removed to the court-house in Norristown. By an act of Assembly passed on March 31, 1806, Lower Merion became the Ninth District in the county, and elections were required to be held at the General Wayne, and remained there until 1867, when a division was made into the Upper and Lower Districts. Through the increase of popula- tion, the court confirmed, June 3, 1878, the division of the LowerDistrict into East Lower and Lower Dis- tricts, the elections for the former to be held at West Manayunk, and for the latter to continue at the General Wayne. The division of the Upper District was con- firmed by the court June 10, 1880, to be called West and Upper Districts, the elections for the former to be held

933

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP.

at Bryn Mawr Station, and for the latter to continue at Merion Square. We thus perceive that in a large and populous township like this, with its two centu- ries of history, even the subject of its elections, if inquired into and the materials brought together, could, through the changes connected therewith, be made the matter of an interesting sketch since the days of slavery, servitude and property qualifications.

In connection with this subject, and deserving men- tion, a map of Lower Merion was published in 1858 by John Levering, from surveys made by himself, showing all its buildings and various improvements, names of property-holders and the boundaries of lots and farms. This, we believe, was the first effort of the kind for the whole township; a part of the lower portion had been thus given in Hill's map of 1809.

ASSESSMENT OF LOWER MERION FOR 1780.

Peter Evans, 280 acres, 1 horse and 3 cattle ; l'hilip l'ritner, gent., 100 a., 1 h., 2 c., 2 slaves ; Alexander Oliver, 4 h., O c. ; Leonard Nidley, 2 h., 3 c. ; David Thomas, 2 h., 2 c. ; Lawrence Trexler, 2 h., 3 c. ; Jona- than Brooks, 100 a., 2 h., 3 c. ; Charles Massey, 2 h., 3 c., 1 chair ; Jesse Jones, 100 a., 2 h. ; Francis Jones, 50 a., 3 h., 2 c. ; Catharine Zolley, 52 a., grist-mill, 1 h., 2 c. ; David Briggs, inn-keeper, 42 a., 2 slaves, 2, h., 3 c. ; John Jones, 50 a., saw-mill, 2 b., 5 c. ; Sammel llorton, smith- 1 c. ; Abraham Nanna, 120 a., 2 1., 2 c. ; John Tate, 2 h., 2 c. ; Abra- ham Tuley, 2 h., 3 c. ; Jonathan Sturgis, 200 a., 2 1., 2 c. ; Joseph Smith, cordwainer, 1 c. ; John Davis, muson, 1 c., 2 c. ; Elizabeth Crickbaum, 100 a., 3 h., 2c. ; Robert Lisle, laborer ; Robert Elliott, weaver, 100 a., 3 h., 4 c., 1 slave : Israel Jones, 2 h., 3 c. ; Llewellyn Young, 2 h., 5 c. : John Smith, mason, 2 h., 2c. ; Peter Trexler, rents of Charles Thomson, 750 a., 6 h., 10 c. ; Henry Pugh, 50 a., 1 c. ; Thomas Cochran, 150 a., 2 h., 4 c. ; George Horn, 77 a., 2 h. ; Andrew Horn, 77 a., 2 h., 2 c. ; William Broades, 25 a., 3 b., 4 c. ; Hugh Jones, 334 a., 4 h., 12 c., 1 slave ; John Grover, 3 h., 4 c. ; Wendel Kingfield, 2 h., 2 c. ; Hannah Bridson, widow, 93 a., 2 1., 3 c .; William Tolbert, 93 a., 4 h., 2 c. ; Joseph Taylor, 1 c. ; Isaac Taylor, aged, 139 a., 3 h., 2 c., 1 slave ; John Young, weaver, 1 h., 1 c. ; John Llewellyn, 350 a., 2 h., 5 c. ; Mathias Foltz, 50 a., 2 h., 2 c. ; Mathias Foltz, 50 a., 2 h., 2 c. ; Abraham Wal ter, single, 89 a. ; Joseph Roberts, 150 a., 1 h., 3 c. ; John Rowland, laborer, 1 h., 1 c. ; Eleanor Lloyd, 50 a. ; Isaac Comly, 2 h., 4 c. ; Mera_ uah Alloway, 2 h., 3 c .; Enoch Davis, 40 a., 1 c. ; Christ. Homiller, 3c. ; John Fimple, 1 h., 2 c. ; John White, will wright ; William Ward, 2 h., 2 c. ; Daniel Burrell, oil-maker, oil-mill, 3 1., 3 c., 1 chair ; Hugh Rob- erts, single, 130 a., 1 h., 1 c. ; Jacob Amos, 1c., 2 h. ; Isaac Warner, 2 h., 2 c. ; Anthony Righter, laborer, 1 c. ; John Righter, miller, 100 a., grist-mill, 4 h., 4 c. ; Jacob Hansbury, laborer, 1 c. ; Joseph Sill, 2 h., 2 c. ; Frederick Bicking, 200 a., paper-mill, 1 slave, 2 b., 5 c .; Jacob Newhouse, 52 a., paper-mill, 2 h., 2 c. ; Thomas Wilday, 51 a., I h., 1 c. ; Thomas Robeson, weaver, 1 c. ; John Robeson, clergyman, 1 h., 2 c. ; John Robeson, laborer, 1 c. ; James Winter, 80 a., 2 h., 2 c. ; Jona- than Robeson, smith, 15l a., 2 b., 2 c. ; Daniel Claus, paper-maker ; Benjamin Scheet%, paper-maker, 1 c., 1 slave ; Catherine Scheetz, 100 a., 2 paper-mills, 1 h., 3 c. ; George Handbolt, paper-maker, 1c. ; James Underwood, 2 h., 5 c. ; Ambrose Emery, 2 h., 4 c. ; Samuel Pawling, laborer, 1 c. ; John Grover, 70 a., 2 h., 3 c. ; Thomas Morgan, 100 a., 3 h., 3 c. ; Michael Cline, 30 a., 1 h., 1 c., weaver ; Thomas Waters, 2 h., 2 c. ; Rudolph Exbright, 2 h., 2 c .; Henry Miller, 50 a. ; Thomas Humphreys, smith, 30 a., 1 h., 1 c. ; George Fimple, 2 h., 3 c. ; Philip Sing, 45 a., 2 h., 2 c., 1 chair ; Algernon Roberts, 224 a., 5 h., 7 c .; John Evans, tailor ; Jacob Coleman, cordwainer, 40 a. ; Mathias Crea- mer, 2 h., 1 c. ; Jacob Everman, laborer, 30 a., 2 c. ; Jacob Keighler, 3 h., 3 c. ; Casper Space, 1 h., 2 c. ; Rudolph Latch, cordwainer, 75 a., 2 h., 2 c. ; James Calahan, laborer, 1 h., 1 c. ; Win. Stadleman, inn- keeper, 80 a., 4 h., 2 c. ; Jesse Thomas, smith, 40 a., 2 h., 2 c. ; Abel Thomas, 40 a., 2 h., 3 c. ; Lewis Thomas, wheelwright, 1 h., 1 c. ; John Zell, 160 a., 4 h., 2 c. ; Nehemiah Evans, 50 a., 2 h., 2 c. ; John Durnal, 5 h., 5 c. ; Isaac Hughes, 70 a., 3 h. ; David Shannon, 100 a., 3 h., 5 c. ; Henry Bare, 4 h., 5 c. ; James Nussel, cordwainer, 2 a .; John Roberts, 50 a., 2 h., 3 c. ; Jacob, Lobb, 4 h., 3 c. ; John Price, 194 a., 1 slave, 5 h., 8 c. ; Walter Walter, 80 a., 2 h., 3 c .; Daniel Lobb, 1 c .; Hngh Knox, 120 a., 3 h., 2 c. ; John Cook, 2 h., 1 c. ; Margaret Goodman, 168

a., 2 h., 3 c .; Michael Bower, 100 a., 2 h., 5 c. ; Martin Miller, 35 a., 2, 11., 2 c .; Jacob Matson, 1 h., 3 c. ; Peter May, 150 a., 3 h., 2 c. ; llenry Shoolster, weaver, 2 h., 2 c. ; Abraham Streeper, inn-keeper, 16a., 1 h., 1 c. ; Robert Holland, tanner, 40 a., tan-yard, 1 h., 2 c. ; Michael Smith 2 h., 2 c. ; William Smith, 2 h., 1 c. ; Michael Smith, 2 h., 1 c. ; Simon Claus, paper-maker, 2c. ; Anthony Tunis, 100 a., 1 h., 2 c. ; Jeremiab Trexler, 2 h., 2 c. ; David Zell, 100 a., 2 h., 2 c. ; Jacob Conrad, 4 h., 2 c. ; Isaac Lewis, tailor, 2 h., 2 c. ; Jacob .Jones, 230 a., 2 h., 2 c. ; John Amos, cordwainer, 1 c. ; John Whiteman, wheelwright, 1 c. ; Jacob Sloan, 100 a., 2 h., 3 c. ; Antbony Levering, 114 a., grist and saw -mill, 3 1., 2 c. ; Paul Jones, 130 a., 3 h., 2 c. ; Silas Jones, 140 a., 2 h., 2 c. ; Margaret Heller, 180 a., 1 h., 3 c. ; Frederick Crow, 100 a., 3 h., 4 c. ; Israel Davis, cordwainer ; Nicholas Stoltz, 2 h., 4 c. : Bartle Righter, 40 a., 1 h., 3 c. ; Jacob Neagle, paper-maker, 1 c. ; Michael Mle Mulleo, 190 a., 3 h., 4 c. ; William Roberts, I c. ; Rudolf Sibley, 180 a., 3 h., 5 c. ; Michael Hersh, 1 b., 1 c. : Edward Price, infirm, 200 a. ; Rees Price, 15 a., 2 h., 8 c. ; Thomas David's estate, 280 a. ; John Vanderin, 13 a. ; l'eter Righter, 5 a.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church .- The list of 1734 contains the names of fifty-two residents of Lower Merion, and among them there is not recogniz- able a single German name, yet they had sufficiently increased by 1765 to have ministers occasionally preach to them in their language and baptize their children. In 1767 the first communion service was held, in which forty-three persons participated. Through the exertions of William Stadleman, Fred- erick Grow, Stephen Goodman, Christopher Getzman, George Bassler and Simon Litzenberg an organization was effected and a lot of ground purchased, with a view to erect thereon an Evangelical Lutheran Church, with a cemetery attached. A small log house for worship was built thereon in 1769, but no communion service held until May 1, 1774. The Revolution now approaching, the excitement connected therewith impaired the congregation to such an extent that it had but little more than a lingering existence through- out the whole of this period, and even its pulpit was occasionally supplied by ministers of other denomina- tions.

Near the close of the century matters began to wear a brighter aspect, and it was determined, as the building was getting dilapidated, to erect a new one of stone in its place. This was accordingly accomplished in 1800, but without securing stated religious services or a regular pastor. Through the efforts of several of its most efficient members, the Rev. B. Keller, of the Germantown congregation, was induced, in 1828, to divide his ministrations with this church. The at- tendance began now to increase, and through renewed efforts on the part of the pastor and the chief men- bers prosperity became more manifest. A substantial wall was erected along the roadside ou the southern part of the lot, and a Sunday-school started under flourishing auspices. The Rev. Jeremiah Harpel succeeded in the charge in 1831, and at the first com- munion he held eleven persons participated. His energetic labors materially added to the membership. In 1833 the building was enlarged, and in November of that year dedicated to St. Paul.

Mr. Harpel having resigned in 1834, the Rev. Charles Baruitz assumed the charge in the following year, making his residence in the neighborhood, and

934

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

remained its pastor until 1839, during which period he added to its membership fifty persons. His successor was Rev. Edward Town, who retained the pastorate about two and a half years, or until 1842. A va- cancy now occurred, which was filled by Rev. Nathan Cornell in the autumn of 1844, who, within three years, added some twenty-four members. The Rev. William D. Roedel having settled here, the congrega- tion built for his accommodation a parsonage in I851, on the upper or western end of the church ground. He remained in charge until 1855, during which time he received seventeen into membership. Rev. Timothy Tilghman Titus succeeded, and remained pastor for several years, Henry Woodman, in a visit to this section in the latter part of 1858, thus speaks of this congregation and its previous church build- ing,-

" I was informed by some persons residing near the place, that it has at this time the largest congregation of any other place of worship in the township. Thirty years ago, there was only a small house upon the premises used in the double capacity of a meeting and school-house, and the congregation had become very small. All restraints against service being performed in the English language being removed, they have now become a large and highly respectable congregation. The officiating clergyman informed me that if service was now performed in the Ger- man language, they would have to get another congregation to under- stand it."

As these Germans were surrounded by the descend- ants of the early Welsh settlers and an English-speak- ing population, chiefly belonging to the Society of Friends, in consequence it was long known through this section as "the Dutch Church." It stood at the intersection of cross-roads, about a quarter of a mile sontheast of Ardmore, and was a one-story stone building, surrounded by the graveyard with shade- trees. In 1873 it was torn down, and the new church erected on a one-acre lot donated by Mr. Kugler, in the lower part of the village, fronting on Lancaster Avenue. It is a handsome edifice, built of dressed stone, two stories high, fifty-two by seventy feet in dimen- sion, surmounted with a steeple and was dedicated in December, 1875. The present pastor is Rev. W. H. Steck. Services are held twice every Sabbath, the Sunday-school being in the afternoon.

The graveyard, which has now been in use nearly one hundred and twenty years, in 1858 comprised about one and a half acres, and has since been enlarged to twice that size. It is neatly kept, and is now partly inclosed by iron railing. As may be expected, a considerable number are buried here. From the nu- merous tombstones we have transcribed the following surnames, of which fully three-fourths denote a Ger- man origin: Stull, Keoch, Cassidy, Hoegne, Dolby, Brooks, Bailey, Kenzie, Knox, Martin, Thomas, Weest, McMinn, Smith, Lainhoff, Kugler, Miller, Sheaff, Goodman, Grover, Coldflesh, Sibley, Kensel, Ott, Uries, Freas, Zell, Stelwagon, Trexler, Horn, Jones, Hagy, Raser, Schrieble, Kriekbaum, Knall, Walkin, Prentz, MeElroy, Her-e, Snyder, Righter, Wagner, Litzenberg, Hill, Willong, Wright, Helmbold, Black, Stadleman,

Leedom, Fullerton, Griffith, Heater, Fimple, McClel- lan, Amos, Latch, Wallower, Fiss, Richter, Hoffman, Hayworth, Barr, Tibben, Grow, Wood, Mowrer, Rhodes, Schofield, Garrett, Wise, Williams, Super, Warner, Hansell, Bettle, Knoll, Gravel, Bloom, Epright, Ponge, Lentz, Schafer, Fryer, Vaughan, Bowden, Hoffman, Burns, Abraham, Seabold, Bevan, Rodenboh, Nagle, Pope, Pitman, Lowbey, Hilt, Whiteman, Grave, White, Noblet, Yetter, Clevenger, Magee, Holland, Miles, Wilcox, Fry, Lyons and Young. A neat stone has been erected here to the memory of the late Charles Kugler, which informs us that he was born February 5, 1805, and died October 28, 1879. He was long identified with this church, above fifty years superin- tendent of the Sabbath-school, a school director of the township thirty-six years, and sixteen years president of the Lutheran Publication Society, besides holding other positions.

Theological Seminary of St. Charles Borromeo. -This institution of the Catholic diocese is situated in the southeastern portion of Lower Merion, and within half a mile of Overbrook Station, on the Penn- sylvania Railroad. The dome, surmounted with an elevated gilt cross, forms an object that can be seen for miles around the country, and its extensive grounds and magnificent buildings attract attention and are a subject for comment among visitors on business or pleasure who have occasion to pass through this sec- tion. Its origin dates back to 1832, when a house was used for this purpose near St. Mary's Church, on South Fourth Street, Philadelphia. In the year 1838 it was incorporated by an act of Assembly as the "Seminary of St. Charles Borromeo." The incorporators were John Keating, John Diamond, Joseph Dugan, Michael McGrath and Mare Antoine Frenaye. These gentle- men constituted the first lay trustees and formed five of the nine required by law. The other four consisted of Bishop Francis P. Kendrick, the president of the seminary, the professor of theology and the professor of Sacred Scriptures.

In January, 1839, the building at Eighteenth and Race Streets was completed, when Rev. M. O'Connor, D.D., opened the seminary with eighteen students. The object intended was that those thus educated should serve the missions within the diocese of Phila- delphia alone. At this date this diocese included the whole of Pennsylvania and Delaware, with the western part of New Jersey ; but such has been the increase of churches that since 1869 its territory has been reduced to the city of Philadelphia and nine counties, namely,- Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton and Schuylkill. In 1848, Rev. Thaddeus Amat became president, with twenty- five students, and $4043.26 raised by subscription for their support. The seminary having been enlarged, the number of students in 1851 had now reached to forty-one. Owing to a further increase and the want of sufficient accommodations, Bishop Neuman, in 1859, opened a preparatory seminary at Glen Riddle, Dela-

935

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP.

ware Co., under the direction of Rev. James F. Shana- han, now bishop of Harrisburg.

Seeing a necessity for further accommodations, Bishop Wood, at a cost of thirty thousand dollars, in 1866, secured the site known as the Remington Farm, near Overbrook, about four and a half miles from Philadel- phia, containing one hundred and twenty-seven acres, and now bounded by City, Lancaster and Wynnewood | Avenues and the Hunter estate, the land being diver- sified, a branch of Indian Creek passing through it and possessing fine meadows, shady woods and stone adapted for building purposes. The corner-stone of the new building for the seminary was laid April 4th, 1866, on which occasion the president, Rev. Michael O'Connor, preached the sermon, when he reviewed its early history and struggles to arrive at what they were now prepared to accomplish. Owing to the extent of the improvements to be made, the semi- nary building was not ready for use until January' 187t. In 1872, Rev. James A. Corcoran, D.D., assumed the rectorship of the seminary, succeeded in the fol- lowing year by Rev. Charles O'Connor, D.D. The

As this seminary-building ranks among the finest in the country, a brief description will be given. Its architecture is of the Italian style and the general ground-plan somewhat in the form of the letter E. The east, or main front, is three hundred and eighty- four feet in length, three stories high and the central portion surmounted by a dome, the summit of which is one hundred and eighty feet above the ground. In the rear of the central building is the chapel, forty-five and a half by one hundred and three feet in dimen- sions and admirably fitted up, the decorations and paintings therein being excellent. Besides the main altar, tour side altars are built in alcoves, sixteen feet wide and twenty-four feet high. The organ and choir-loft are situated at the east end of the chapel, and the students, when in choir, sit in stalls facing one another, according to the mode adopted in Rome. The central building is devoted to the library, choir- halls, sacristies, reception-room, and parlors. The pa- vilions contain study and recreation halls. The north- west pavilion and a building adjoining it are the quar- ters of the matron and her attaches, the kitchen, laundry, engine-room, store-rooms, etc. The southwest pavilion

is occupied as students' rooms and a laboratory. The house is built of gray stone, heated by steam, and everything used in its construction is of the most sub- stantial and durable character. The architects were Samuel F. Sloan and Addison Hutton. There are, besides, located on the grounds gas and water-works, two private dwellings for employés, carpenter-shop, barns and large and commodious stables.

The library contains nearly eighteen thousand volumes, many of which are valuable and some rare. Among these we shall give space to mention the fol- lowing works, all folios excepting two: The Bollan- dist "Lives of the Saints," commenced in 1643 at Antwerp, and still being published, 67 vols. ; De Lyra's Bible, printed at Rome 1472, the capitals painted by hand; a German Bible, printed in 1534, translated by D. Johan Dieten ; a Bible in 10 vols., printed in 1645 at Paris, in Syriac, Samaritan, Chaldee, Arabic, Latin, Greek and Hebrew ; "Councils of the Church," t1 vols. ; "Cornelius a Lapide," 10 vols., Antwerp, 1645; Martin's " Corruptions of the Scriptures," 1582; "Bulla Roma Pontificum," 29 vols. ; "St. Augustine," 14 Rev. William Kieran, D.D., who was appointed in vols. ; "Venerable Bede," 5 vols., 1563 ; " Bellarmine," 1879, is its present rector. The seminary contains on an average one hundred students, and since its first foundation has supplied the diocese with upwards of three hundred and fifty priests. There are eight pro- fessorships, besides several assistant professors. The languages taught are English, German, Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Syriac. The French and Italian languages are cultivated in private by a number of students. Rev. James A. Corcoran, D.D., is the professor of Hebrew, Syriac and homiletics. Every branch of sacred and profane science receives its due attention in the ten years' course required here in preparing the students for their future labors.

11 vols., quarto ; " St. Thomas Aquinas," 26 vols. ; Montfaucon's " Antiquities," 10 vols. ; Kingsborough's "Mexican Antiquities," 9 vols. ; "Scriptorum Græ- corum Bibliotheca," 70 vols .; Lemaire's " Bibliotheca Classica," 150 vols., quarto. Such a library is calcu- lated to impress one with the antiquity and extent of the church. Many of the volumes have been donated by distinguished persons residing in Europe and in this country. It contains also a fine collection of medals struck by the various popes, commencing in 1417 and down to the present time. The walls of the seminary are also adorned with numerous valuable engravings and paintings. To bring this seminary to its present condition has cost not less than one million of dollars, and requires for its continuation an annual outlay of nearly forty thousand. The result, however, has been that some of the most gifted minds in the church are happy to call it their Alma Mater, and its welfare concerns many thousands of Catholics residing within the diocese.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

CHARLES WHEELER.

Charles Wheeler, who, during the later years of his life, was the owner of the beautiful country-seat and suburban property known as the Wheeler Estate, in Lower Merion township, near Bryn Mawr, was born August 22, 1827, in the city of Philadelphia, which was his place of residence through all the years of his life.

In 1847, Mr. Wheeler entered the employment of Morris, Tasker & Co. as a clerk, and continued in that position six years. At the end of that time Wistar

936

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Morris, senior partner and founder of the house, re- of good government,-a conviction he evinced by his activity and prominence in the Committee of One Hundred from the time of its organization. He took an active interest in city charities, being connected with the Charity Organization Society, the Bed- ford Mission and the Soup Society. He was a mem- ber of the Protestant Episcopal denomination, and was for many years connected with St. Luke's phia. Especially was his care and liberality extended to the Church of the Redeemer, at Bryn Mawr, near his country-seat. His city home was at 1217 Walnut Street. tired from the business, and, much to the surprise of every one, sold out his interest to Mr. Wheeler, who was then less than twenty years of age and without capital. The preference was the more remarkable as there were clerks in the office senior to Mr. Wheeler and of family relationship to his benefactor. The confidence, however, was not misplaced. He paid for Mr. Morris' interest the sum of five hundred | Church at Thirteenth and Spruce Streets, Philadel- thousand dollars out of his share of the profits of the concern within two years after he entered it. In 1864, Mr. Wheeler sold out his quickly-acquired share in the business for eight hundred thousand dollars, and turned his attention to the Fairmount Iron-Works, of which he was the owner, and to the JOHN YOCUM CRAWFORD. establishment of the Central National Bank, of John Yocum Crawford, one of the most prominent and influential among the leading men of Lower Merion township in his time, was descended from a Scotch family of that name, who came to America before the war of the Revolution and settled on lands which, at its organization, in 1865, he was the largest share-holder. He was one of its original directors, and, in 1873, was elected its vice-president. He con- tinued in the direction of the Fairmount Iron-Works

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 202

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