History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 209

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 209

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).

Charles Roberts, the second son of Joseph, was born January 21, 1807, and died August 11, 1867. His wife was Sarah Ann, daughter of Richard Kenderdine, of Horsham township. He owned the farm now occu- pied by Jesse Ambler, and better known as the Jona- than Jarrett place. Sarah Ann Roberts died Septem- ber 12, 1871. The children of Charles and Sarah Ann Roberts were : 1 .- Elizabeth, born Eleventh Month

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MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP.

10, 1832, died Second Month 9, 1862. II .- Gulia lersville Normal School, Lancaster Co., Pa .; also a graduate from Bryant & Stratton's Business College, Philadelphia, and for several years was a successful teacher. Elma, born Tenth Month 3, 1834, married, Eleventh Month 8, 1864, to Edwin Thomas, and died Third Month 31, 1865. At the age of sixteen she con- menced teaching school, and taught for nearly sixteen Richard K. Roberts was reared upon the farm of his father in Upper Dublin township, and during the summer months he performed such duties as were incumbent upon a youth of his age, and during the winter seasons attended the neighboring schools, and attended the Normal Institute at Carversville, Bucks Co., Pa., during the winter terms of 1861 and 1863, and by strict attention to his studies obtained a good years. III .- Jesse, born Second Month 13, 1837, married Sarah Emma Skirving, of Germantown. Her father was John Skirving, Esq. Jesse owned the old homestead in Upper Dublin township. IV .- George K., born Fifth Month 5, 1841, married Elizabeth Shay, of Horsham township. George is a banker and merchant in Phoenixville, Pa. He served three years as a sergeant in Company A, First New Jersey Cav- i academic education, and subsequently taught school

Richly K. Roberts

alry, during the late slave-holders' rebellion. V .- Richard Kenderdine Roberts, born Second Month 5. 1843, in Upper Dublin township, this county. He married, Third Month 12, 1879, Ruth Anna, daughter of Hugh B. and Sarah B. Michener, of Plumstead township, Bneks Co., Pa. She was born Third Month 7, 1851. They are parents of children as follows : David Foulke, born Second Month 26, 1880, died Seventh Month 8, 1884; William Ely, born Fifth Month 10, 1881. VI .- Anna Jane, born Tenth Month 7, 1845, died First Month 31, 1866, unmarried. VII .- Joseph, born Ninth Month 11, 1848, married Mary W., daughter of William R. Evans, of Carverville, Bucks Co., Pa. Joseph was a graduate from Mil-

two winters in Schuylkill County, this State. During the war his patriotism led him to join the Union army in defense of his home and fireside, and he became a member of Company D, One Hundred and Ninety- seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Hazlett, and performed well the duties of a soldier, returning to his home when the war was ended.

In 1869 he purchased the David Jones farm of one hundred acres, upon which he now resides, surrounded by his little family, and happy in the enjoyment of one of the most honorable and independent vocations of life. He is a member of Gwynedd Monthly Meet- ing, Society of Friends, and is a minister of that society.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

JOHN SELSER.

John Selser, the oldest living native of Montgomery township, was born on the farm and in the house where he now lives December 28, 1793. Mr. Selser has for three-quarters of a century and more been one of the sturdy, hard-working, honest, industrious yeo- men of the township.

As the name indicates, he is of German ancestry, his grandfather, Nicholas Selser, having been born in the Fatherland, and emigrated to this country about the middle of the last century, and purchased the farm where his grandson has thus far spent ninety-one years of his life. The property was inherited by John, I

Mary Ellen Field, daughter of Thomas T. and Eliza- beth Field, of Northampton township, Bucks Co., Pa. She was born December 15, 1831. Her father, Thomas T. Field, was born July 30, 1803, and her mother, Elizabeth (Larue) Field, was born December 12, 1807.

David G. Selser, the great-grandson of Nicholas, is now (1885) with his parents and sister, Lydia A., in ocenpation of the old homestead where three gener- ations have been born, and where he has lived for sixty-three years. Lydia A., the second child of John and Hannah Selser, was born October 7, 1824, is un- married, and the comfort of her aged parents.

Elizabeth Selser, born September 27, 1827, married

form selber

son of Nicholas, who married Catharine Schlater, daughter of Casper Schlater. Their children were Isaac, Mary, John (the subject of this sketch), Eliza- beth, Jesse and Rachael. The father of these children died April 3, 1815, leaving the homestead to his son John.

He married, December 14, 1820, Miss Hannah Grove, who was born June 14, 1795. The parents of Mrs. Selser were David and Hannah (Keeley) Grove, who were also the parents of Elizabeth, Susan, Catha- rine, Henry and David. Mrs. Selser is still living, the solace and comfort of her aged husband.

Their children are six in number, as follows : David C., born June 28, 1822, married, June 13, 1867, Miss

Emanuel Jacoby, of New Britain township, Bucks Co., Pa., where she spent her married life. She died March 7, 1861, leaving two sons, Frank P., now living in Philadelphia, and Charles S., who died October 30, 1884, at the residence of his grandfather, John Selser, in Montgomery township. Frank P. married Miss Kate Shugard.

William Selser, born October 28, 1830, married Margaretta, daughter of John D. Wentz, of Chelten- ham township, and died August 4, 1872, leaving three children,-John W., William A. and Hannah Louisa. John W., eldest son of William, married, May 8, 1878, Ella Maria, daughter of Charles and Ruth Ann Heller.

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MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP.

John A. Selser, born June 14, 1832; is unmarried.

Charles N. Selser, born August 28, 1835; married Sarah, only child of Jacob and Mary Sthase. She died March 10, 1884.

ROBERT SHAW.

John Shaw, the father of Robert, was a native of Bucks County, where he successfully cultivated a farm. He was married to Miss Martha Brown, whose children were Elias, Robert, Sarah (Mrs. Moses Gib- son) and Rachel (Mrs. James Sands). Robert, the second son in order of birth, is a native of Buckingham township, in Bucks County, where he was born on the

engaged until 1881. He meanwhile erected a spacious residence and otherwise greatly improved the prop- erty, but in 1884, having retired from active labor, re- moved to Norristown and became a member of the family of his son. Mr. Shaw has been in politics either a Whig or a Republican, but found little time to devote to matters apart from his legitimate voca- tion. He is by birth a Friend, and worshiped for years with the Gwynedd Friends' Meeting. His re- cent change of residence renders the Norristown Friends' Meeting more convenient, and with this he has latterly been associated. The death of Mrs. Cath- erine Shaw occurred February 19, 1876.

Robert Shave

14th of April, 1801. Here his youth was passed amid scenes peculiar to the life of a farmer, and with such meagre advantages of education as the neighborhood afforded. He assisted his father for years in his daily routine of labor, and on the 15th of October, 1826, was married to Miss Catherine Shamel, daughter of Conrad and Mollie Shamel, of Montgomery township and county, whose birth occurred August 28, 1797. Their children are Anna Maria (Mrs. Nathan Allen), Sarah Wilhelmina (deceased), and John (married to Anna M., daughter of Adam Moore, of Gwynedd, who has one son, Walter M., a student in the University of Pennsylvania). Soon after his marriage Robert Shaw removed to a farm in Montgomery township, which his wife inherited, where he continued actively

JOSEPH MITCHELL, JR.

Abel Mitchell, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in England, and, with a brother came to America, as nearly as can be ascertained, in 1774, and located in Philadelphia. The brother who came with Abel subsequently returned to Eng- land. while Abel remained in his adopted country, married, reared a family and died at the advanced age of eighty-four years, six months and four days. His wife, Sarah, died at the age of seventy-six years, three months and nine days. Their children were Joseph, Abel and William.

Of these sons, Joseph, father of Joseph, Jr., was born in Philadelphia, November 19, 1798, and is still living, an honored and respected citizen of

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Montgomery township. At an early age he was ap- prenticed to Jacob Coons, of Philadelphia, to learn the trade of a gunsmith. After serving his time he went to Valley Forge, where he worked as a journey- man gunsmith for a time with Brooks Ivins, and sub- sequently returned to Philadelphia, where he estab- lished, and for several years carried on, an extensive business in the manufacture of small fire-arms. In 1841 he removed to Montgomery township, where he commenced farming on one hundred and thirty acres of land adjoining the farm now owned and occupied by his son Joseph.

His wife, Dorothy Mitchell, was born September

Annie, born in Philadelphia August 6, 1833. She married, for her first husband, Samuel Barr, and for her second husband, Joseph Hughes, also deceased. She now lives in Germantown, Pa.

Emily, born in Philadelphia August 26, 1839, mar- ried Thomas Moore, and now lives in Germantown.

Elizabeth, born January 15, 1843, in Montgomery township, Montgomery Co., Pa., unmarried, and lives at home.

Joseph Mitchell, Jr., married, March 8, 1852, Miss Emeline, daughter of William and Hannah Moore, of Montgomery township. She was born January 3, 1829.

Jurent Mittheen

14, 1801, and died September 10, 1879, and was buried on her seventy-eighth birthday. They were the par- ents of the following-named children :

George, born in Philadelphia August 19, 1823, mar- ! Emeline have been as follows :

ried Miss Catharine Ann Phipps, who was born Sep- tember 30, 1831.

Sarah, born in Philadelphia July 30, 1825, married John Hoffman, who died February 19, 1884, and was buried on the 23d of same month.

Mary, born in Philadelphia May 27, 1828, married John Schutt.

Joseph, Jr., born in Philadelphia September 6, 1830.

The Moores were a Chester County family. How- ever, William lived subsequently to his marriage in Montgomery County. The children of Joseph and

I. Samuel, born January 29, 1853, married Miss Willimina Clymer, who was born in Bucks County, Pa., May 17, 1858. They have two children, -Julia Elizabeth, born June 26, 1877, and Arthur Ivin, born May 29, 1883.

II. Josephi M., born September 15, 1856, married Miss Laura G., daughter of John and Catharine White, of Montgomery County. Laura G. was born March 18, 1860. Their children are Bessie May,

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MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP.

born February 16, 1879; Howard Leon, born July 30, 1881 ; and Owen, born September 28, 1883.

111. William flenry, born October 29, 1858, died July 25, 1859.

IV. Charles Edward, born July 25, 1860.

V. Francis, horn July 16, 1862.

VI. Elias, born December 13, 1864.

VH. Hannah Ellen, born December 4, 1866.

VIH. Mary Elizabeth, born January 6, 1869. IX. Howard, born June 17, 1871.

The children of William and Hannah Moore, parents of Mrs. Mitchell, were Emeline, Mary Ann, Oliver and Elias (born October 30, 1836). The last- named lives at Sellersville, Bueks Co., Pa., is a black- smith by occupation, and is now engaged in the butchering business for the Philadelphia market. His wife was Margaret Fry, of Montgomery township.

Joseph Mitchell, Jr., at the age of sixteen years, was apprenticed to Thomas Warmup, of Montgom- ery Square, to learn the trade of a wheelwright, and served four years, after which he worked as a journeyman for one year, then carried on business for himself for a short time, when he abandoned the slow and tedious method of earning a livelihood by repair- ing old sleds and wagons, and engaged heartily in the butchering and farming business for the Philadelphia market, which he still continues.

April 2, 1866, he purchased the farm where he How resides, containing twenty-two aeres, and erected thereon the large and commodious buildings and the beautiful residence he now oceupies. He has also added to his possessions the old and well-known Shaw farm, adjoining his first purchase, containing seventy- six acres.

Upon this farm stands a natural curiosity in the form of a huge poplar-tree, the admiration of all who have seen it. Its height is one hundred and sixty feet, as nearly as can be ascertained, one hundred feet to the first limbs, and three feet from the ground it measures eighteen feet in eireumferenee.

He also owns a farm of forty-two arres in New Britain township, Bucks Co., Pa. Mr. Mitehell is well and favorably known throughout the county, and his thorough business habits, his honesty and up- rightness of character and fair dealing with his fellow- men place him high in the estimation of his neigh- bors, who have honored him with several official positions. He was elected constable and collector of the township in 1861 and served for seven years, when he resigned his official position. He is a liberal contributor to the various religious organizations in Montgomery township.

THOMAS WILSON.

The great-grandfather of Thomas Wilson, of Mont- gomery township, whose name was also Thomas, came from Ireland near the middle of the last century, and lowated at what was known as Milestown, then in Phil- adelphia, now Montgomery County. From there he

moved to the farm now owned by Elliott Thomas, ad- joining the farm now owned by his great-grandson, Thomas Wilson, whose farm was also a part of the or- iginal Wilson plantation. He purchased this farm, then containing one hundred and ten acres of land, in 1781 or'82, and paid for it in Continental money.

He was a captain in a militia regiment in the Con- tinental army, and often related incidents of his ex- perience, many of which are still remembered by the older people of the community, who knew him in his old age. The sword and belt worn by him during that struggle are now in possession of Charles S. Rorer, of florsham township, and are highly valued as relies of the Revolutionary war.

He had a son Thomas, born in Milestown, who came with his father to Montgomery, married and be- came the father of children as follows, and died in 1816: Margaret, who married Gabriel Boyer, and lived near Germantown ; Elizabeth, married Joseph Wright, of Horsham township; William, died unmar- ried ; Hannah, died unmarried ; Thomas, father of the present Thomas, born where Elliott Thomas now lives, married Sarah, daughter of Peter Wentz, of Montgom- ery township, and died in December, 1856. His wife, Sarah, died in December, 1870. They had children,-

1. Mary Ann, born January 6, 1815, married Ben- jamin Davis, of Montgomery Square. He died in 1840. Their children are Sarah, born in 1836, de- ceased, and John, born in 1839, now living in Am- bler.

II. Margaret, born in 1817, married Henry Det- wiler, of Horsham township. He died in 1870. They had children,-Abraham, Arabella, Clara, William and John.

INl. Euphemia, born in 1819, married John Denen- hower, of Hilltown, Bucks Co., Pa. They have two children, Harrison and Clara.

IV. Thomas, born September 23, 1821, on the old plantation, married, October 23, 1847, Ann Delp, horn June 8, 1829, daughter of Isaac and Ann Delp, of Franconia township. They are the parents of chil- dren as follows:

1. Harrison, born October 8, 1848, married Emma Berrell, of Willow Grove. They have three children, -Carrie, Warren and Maggie.

2. Abner, born November 26, 1849, married Mary Buckley, of Philadelphia. Abner was killed Septem- ber 18, 1880, by an accident in a stone-quarry on the Horsham road. Their children are Abner and Joseph.

3. Thomas, Jr., born August 22, 1851, married Miss Kate, daughter of Charles Bennett, of Horsham town- ship, and now resides near Lansdale. Their children are Beatrice and Thomas.

4. John, born January 4, 1855, died April 5, 1855.

5. William, born September 25, 1857 ; unmarried.

6. Lincoln, born August 2, 1860; unmarried.

7. Ella, born April 12, 1862, married Andrew Fry, of Lumberville, Bucks Co., Pa. Their children are Anna and Mabel.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY,

8. Anna, born May 31, 1865, died April 22, 1866.

9. Katie, born March 19, 1868.

10. Emma, born September 28, 1871.

CHAPTER LXIV. MORELAND TOWNSHIP.

Mr. Wilson is one of the conservative, honest and industrious farmers of the township, and has always THIS is the most eastern township in the county, and is bounded on the north by Hatboro', northeast by Bucks County, southeast by Philadelphia, south- west by Abington, and northwest by Horsham and Upper Dublin. Its length is six miles, and its lived upon the original plantation purchased by his great-grandfather, it having passed by inheritance from father to son down to the present Thomas Wilson, who erected substantial and convenient farm build- ings in 1856, the year previous to his taking full pos- : breadth three, with an area of ten thousand nine hundred and sixty acres, having been reduced up-

session of the property.

Thomas Wilson

Although Mr. Wilson's life has been spent upon his beautiful farm, he has been somewhat active in muni- cipal affairs, and his townsmen have upon several oc- casions honored him with official positions of trust. He has been supervisor of roads for six years, also one of the election board for several years, and for the past few years a member of the board of school directors of the township. Mr. Wilson is also one of the most extensive contractors and builders in the northern part of Montgomery County, and has built a larger number of farm-barns and first-class farm- houses than any one man in the county.

wards of five hundred acres in 1871, by the incor- poration of Hatboro'. The surface is rolling, particu- larly in the vicinity of Willow Grove, Huntingdon Valley and the central portion. The soil is a fertile loam composed of some gravel, with but little clay. The Pennypack is the most considerable stream, and in a course of over six miles through the township turns four grist-mills and receives eleven tributary streams, the most considerable of which are Hunting- don Valley, Round Meadow and Terwood Runs,

1 By Wm. J. Buck.

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MORELAND TOWNSHIP.

which also furnish water-power. On Lindstrom's map of 1654 it is called Penichpacka, which Heckewelder says in the Delaware language signifies " deep, dead water, or having but little current." This stream is noted for forming a boundary to no less than four dis- tinet purchases for lands made with the Indians by William Penn or his agents. In its general aspect Moreland is beautifully diversified with hill and dale, and watered with numerous small, unfailing streams. Edge Hill crosses through its centre, and continues in a western direction to the Schuylkill. Near Shel- mire's Mills the Pennypack flows through it, impart- ing considerable wildness to the scenery. The highest eminence is near Willow Grove and affords fine dis- tant prospects.

The geology of this township possesses considerable interest and deserves further investigation. The pre- vailing rocks consist of syenite, granite, sandstone and mica-schist. At Willow Grove, iron-ore, fire- clay, kaolin, quartz and feldspar abound. In this vicinity, in the primal white sandstone is found the scolithus linearis, supposed to be the oldest fossil ! three housesofworship, belonging, respectively. to the yet found in Pennsylvania. These consist of straight, cylindrical, stem-like impressions, whose length varies from several inches to above two feet, with a diameter of from one-eighth to half an inch, the Moreland forms one school district, and for the year ending with June 1, 1882, its seven public schools were open ten months, with an average attendance of one hundred and eighty-two pupils. These were held in five school-houses, located at Willow Grove, Huntingdon Valley, Paper-Mill Hill, Wood's Hill and Walnut Valley. Education is encouraged, for the schools have been kept continuously open ten months every year since June 1, 1850. An act was passed June 30, 1836, establishing public schools throughout the State, which this district, by a vote, did not accept. By the act of April 11, 1848, the common school system was enforced on the unac- cepting districts, when the township opened five schools for six months, ending with the close of the school year, June 1, 1849. In 1850 two additional school-houses were built, one at the Paper-Mill and the other at Walnut Valley, on the Byberry road. position being generally perpendicular to the strati- fication. Some have supposed it to be the remains of algæ, others that it was the boring of a marine worm of the aforesaid name. "The Rocks," about half a mile to the east of Willow Grove, on the steep side of a wooded hill, are composed of a very hard conglom- erate of small pebbles of blue quartz. This has been supposed to be the earliest known beach of the Cam- brian formation. But what the evidences are of a beach, have not been advanced by the speculators. In the vicinity of Benjamin Morgan's grist- mill, on Round Meadow Run, a short mile to the northeast of the village, are to be found rocks com- posed of very coarse conglomerate, the pebbles being chiefly composed of white quartz, some of the size of eggs. The banks of the stream a few yards above the mill appear to be almost entirely composed of coarse white pebbles. In this vicinity marine remains have been found for eighty years past, consisting of shells of various kinds, some of which. secured from the bed of the stream, are in the writer's possession. In digging a well, some twenty-five years ago, about one- third of a mile southeast of Morgan's mill, a fine body of white kaolin was reached, which some day might be turned to profitable account. On the Welsh road, a few yards west of the Pennypack Creek, graphite or black-lead has been known for nearly a century. In the beginning of May, 1850, a mine was opened and a quantity excellent in quality secured, which was worked for a while when the attempt was abandoned. In the vicinity of Hatboro' are fine quarries of sand- stone and a coarse sand adapted to building pur- poses.

There are several turnpikes in the township ; among these may be mentioned the Cheltenham and Willow Grove, finished in 1804; the Doylestown, in 1840; the Middle road, to the "Sorrel Horse," in 1848; and the Warminster in 1850. The North East Pennsylvania Railroad has two miles of road in this township, and has stations at Willow Grove, Heaton, Fulmor and Bonair. The branch extending from Jenkintown to New York, has a course of two miles and a half, and a station called Bethayres. The Newtown Railroad has three miles of track in the township with sta- tions at Huntingdon Valley and Byberry road. The principal villages are Willow Grove, Huntingdon Valley and Verkesville. The population in 1790 was, 1284, in 1830, 2044; and in 1880, 1746. For 1882, 510 taxables were returned, holding real estate valued at 81,897,415. As regards the average per taxalde it is the fifth in rank. In May, 1883, the township contained five hotels, five general stores, three dealers in flour and feed, one in fertilizers, one in agricultural imple- ments and one coal and one lumber-yard. There are Orthodox Friends, Methodist Episcopalians and Presbyterians. According to the census of 1850, 410 houses, 410 families and 218 farms were returned.

Willow Grove is situated at the confluence of the Doylestown with the York Road, thirteen miles north of Philadelphia, and near the Abington township line. It contains two hotels, two stores, post-office, several manufacturing establishments and mechanic shops, a railroad-station and about twenty houses. The country in the vicinity is rolling, and the highest eminence for some distance around rises to the east of the village. In 1711 the York Road was laid out through here to the city. The stream flowing through here in 1722 was known as Round Meadow Run, over which at that time a bridge was constructed. In 1719, James Dubree purchased here two hundred acres and Jacob Dubree one hundred acres, upon which they settled and probably made the first improve- ments. The latter devised his property, in 1742, to his

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

son, whom we know advertised, in 1746, his two hun- dred arres for sale, stating it to contain "20 acres of meadow, a double house, good barn and a fine young orchard." John l'aul advertised, in 1768, his tavern, "sign of the Wagon," here for sale, with one hundred and two acres of land. He states that the "stables will contain near 100 horses. The house is allowed to be the best between the Rising Sun and Coryell's Ferry, with three roads passing by." This long known as the "Red Lion," was kept by Joseph Butler during the Revolution, by William Heaton in 1786, by Israel Michener from 1804 to 1822 and by Jacob E. Buck from 1842 to 1868, since which time it has been no longer a public-house. The stabling for "near 100 horses " would indicate considerable travel, even several years before the Revolution. The name of the place was given it by Reading Howell, as may be seen on his large township map of Pennsylvania, published in 1792. In James Mease's "Picture of Philadelphia," published in ts11, is this allusion to Willow Grove: "At Rex's tavern you can be well entertained ; here is also a fine spring, highly impreg- nated with iron, and a spacious bath-house, supplied with mineral water, for the accommodation of visitors." AAbout this time it commenced to he a noted summer resort to Philadelphians, which it has continued to be to this day. George Rex, Sr., had moved hither from Germantown before 1792, and after 1803 established the Mineral Spring Hotel, afterwards so long kept by George Rex, his nephew, to whom he had bequeathed the property. Israel Michener kept the post-office here in 1816, which must have been established several years previously. The first school- house was built in 1839, on a half acre lot, presented for this purpose by George Rex, Sr. A fine two-story stone building now occupies the site of the public school. In 1851 five daily lines of stages passed through here to Philadelphia, from Easton, Doyles- town, Lambertville and Hartsville. After the opening of the railroad, in December, 1872, a creamery was built here by an association of farmers, and phos- phate-works erected, which are now conducted on an extensive scale by William C. Newport & Co.

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 209

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