History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 216

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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Rodenbaugh, in Lower Providence township. Occa- sional services are still held in this church and the burial-ground used for interments.

Among the families who have buried at this place are the familiar names of Armstrong, Hooven, Mc- Crea, Porter, Darrah, Richards, Thompson, Patter- son, McGlathery and Fitzwater. Colonel Archibald Thompson, of Revolutionary fame, who died No- vember 1, 1779, iu his thirty-ninth year, is buried at this place, as is also Colonel Christopher Stuart.

THE CENTENNIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .- This modern and beautiful church was built in 1876, and is located at Jeffersonville. It takes the place of the former Presbyterian Church, founded about 1841, and located on the Ridge turnpike, near the Trooper village. The congregation were originally of the

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Providence Church, and represented the " new school" element of that denomination in a division which occurred in 1840-41. Among its founders were Henry Loucks, Christian Weber, James Smith, Joseph Smith, Daniel Croll and others. The corner- stone of the new edifice was laid July 4, 1875. The chapel was opened for public worship January 2, 1876, and the church building was dedicated Sunday, October 1, 1876. The building committee was ap- pointed May 5, 1875, viz. : James Shaw, Dr. David Schrack, Joseph D. Smith, Michael Reed, Francis Whiting and the Rev. Chas. Collins, pastor. Although the edifice cost over twenty thousand dollars, the public announcement was made at the time of dedi- cation that " all claims against the church property have been liquidated, and it is declared free of debt." The officers of the church at the time of its dedica- tion were Rev. Chas. Collins, pastor; Elders, James Smith, John C. Weber, Francis Whiting, Michael Reed and Dr. David Sehrack ; Trustees, Dr. David Schrack, A. L. Davis, G. W. Brown, Michael Reed, Francis Whiting, H. S. Parmalee and Samuel Scheetz.

A Sabbath-school has been maintained in connec- tion with this church since its organization in 1841-42.

Auxiliary Brunch of the Women's Foreign Mission- ary Society .- President, Mrs. M. Wallace; Secretary, Mrs. II. W. Whiting ; Treasurer, Miss M. W. Snyder.

The following pastors have officiated at this church : Rev. Chas. F. Diver, 1842 to 1844; Rev. N. S. Aller, 1844 to 1848; Rev. Charles Waek, 1848 to 1849; Rev. George Foot, 1849 to 1851; Rev. William Fulton, 1851 to 1853; Rev. Saml. Helffenstein, 1853 to 1854; Rev. A. J. Snyder, 1854 to 1865; Rev. Chas. Collins, 1865 to present time. The Revs. Messrs. Diver, Wack, Foot and Helffenstein are deceased.

BURR'S MEETING-HOUSE, located at Norritonville, is a one-story stone building, and has always been free to the use of all evangelical denominations. It was built by Marmaduke Burr, who still survives at an advanced age, and resides in Philadelphia. The place is kept in repair, and used for all the purposes originally contemplated, under the direction of a local board of trustees. A Sabbath-school has been main- tained in connection with this place of worship for many years.

Religious worship at stated times was for many years held in the second story of the old Jeffersonville school-house. These services were conducted by the Rev. Messrs. Rodenbaugh and Trites, the latter at the time pastor of the Lower Providence Baptist con- gregation. Rev. Jolin Rees, of Norriton, also offici- ated from time to time at the evening meetings held at this place.1 There are two public halls in this

township; the first was built at Penn Square in the year 1847 ; the same building is used for public-school purposes. The other is known as Jefferson Hall, located at Jeffersonville, built 1872. The audience- room will seat three hundred people. Both these halls are used for public entertainments, public meet- ings, festivals, etc.

A public library was founded in connection with Jefferson Hall, 1873-74, and several hundred volumes of well-selected books were purchased and placed in substantial cases for circulation in the neighborhood. It was organized upon a stock subscription basis, and for a time was usefully employed in furnishing en- tertaining and profitable reading· matter to the people of that vieinity. The collection of books and property of the company still remain in the library-room, but have not been used for the last few years, nor has the number of volumes been increased by purchases or contributions since it was organized.

Among the ancient organizations of the township we must note the Jefferson Express Horse Company, organized prior to 1840, and among the most efficient in the county in the detection of thieves and recovery of stolen horses. In its early history its members did most excellent service, and prided themselves in horsemanship and in the ownership of fleet-foooted riding-horses. The company is still in existence, and its annual meetings are held in the month of Decem- ber of each year at the Jeffersonville Hotel. In these latter days of express-trains by rail, of telegraphs and telephones, horse-stealing has become a "lost vice " in this locality, and if, perchance, an old-fashioned thief should attempt his vocation, he is certain to be inter- cepted before he can reach the " Jersey Pines " or the famous " Lancaster Gap."

The people of Norriton, from time immemorial, have evinced a fondness for the useful associations of civil life. We cannot reeall the time when the town- ship was the headquarters of a military organization, un- less it was of the " Home Guards," in 1861-62. Militia trainings were held in the township, the last of which wascommanded by Captain Peter G. Richards, in 1841. Parades of the First Troop and the "Washington Greys," the first commanded by Captain John Math- eys and the latter by Captain Jesse B. Davis, were of frequent occurrence thirty and forty years ago, and a number of the public-spirited young men of the town- ship were members of the organizations named. But the history of Norriton is without a military organi- zation exclusively her own. It had, however, its de- bating and literary societies. Many of our readers will recall the forensic efforts made at the Indian Creek, Jeffersouville, Eight Square and Penn Square school-houses by the members of debating societies organized at different times at the places named, of which Colonel Thomas P. Knox, Alban Thomas, Col-

1 A Sabbath-school was organized and regularly taught for many years in this building prior to the founding of the " New School Church," near the Trooper, in 1841-42. Among its earliest superintendents was the lion. Thomas P. Knox. Among its lady teachers were the Misses Sbannon, Weber, Hamil, Beanand Stinson. Stepben P. Hamil was for

many years librarian, and the late Rev. Owen Shannon was among the young men prominently connected with the school.

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NORRITON TOWNSHIP.

onel Henry Beyer, Teachers Latimore, Walker, Mc- Closkey, Burnside and Bechtel were leading spirits. Subsequently, literary associations took the place of The Pennsylvania Schuylkill Valley Railroad, re- cently constructed, traverses the township, running debating societies, among which was the " Calliope." Two annual publie entertainments were given by this . parallel with the river, with a passenger depot on the association at the Indian Creek school-house in 1856-57. Township Line road, opposite Port Kennedy. The attendance upon the last of these "literary exhi- JOHN BULL was a native of Providence township, Montgomery Co., where the family had resided bitions" was estimated to be between one and two thousand persons. An elaborate stage was erected at | for several generations. In the beginning of 1771 he the south gable of the school-house with seats for a large audience. The programme, of music, declama- tions, original essays and dramatic personations was executed to the satisfaction of the public, and the event was pronounced a success by the local press of the pe- riod. Literary and musical entertainments were fre- quent in Norriton. As early as 1836 a musical enter- tainment was held in the old Yellow School-house, in the second story. The room was crowded, and in the midst of the performance the floor gave way in the centre of the room, precipitating many to the floor be- low, with injuries of a more or less serious character ; none, however, were fatally hurt. In later years Hon. Hiram C. Hoover has taught a number of musical classes in the township and given numerous public concerts of an entertaining and instructive character.

The Yellow Club, of Norriton, was for a time an association of interest to those composing it from 1848-51. Its chief object was to make an annual pil- grimage to the " Yellow Springs " of Chester County, a watering-place or resort of great popularity in those days, and an "excursion " to the place during the "season " was an event of more than ordinary interest in the social lives of the ladies and gentlemen compos- ing the club. There were no cheap and popular ex- cursions to the sea-shore, Coney Island, up the Hudson and elsewhere in those days, and henee the " drive to the springs," the glimpse of fashionable life there to be seen, the exhibition of dress, the music, the grand dinner and the extravagant price paid for it, the beautiful grounds, thecurative water,-these considerations were subject matter of rare importance, and the "club " made the most of them on their annnal pilgrimages.

Among the families connected with the organiza- tion were Matheys, Bean, Crawford, Owen, Schrack, Shearer, Markley, Weber, Carson and others. The club dissolved by mutual consent about 1852-53. The farmers of the township were among the first to or- ganize an agricultural society, the particulars of which are referred to elsewhere.1

The advantages of good husbandry are everywhere manifest in the well-tilled and substantially im- proved farms and commodious residences that make up the taxable values of the township.

Number of taxables, 417 ; value of improved land, $1,156,580 ; value of unimproved lands, $28,240; as- sessed value of 386 horses and mules, $24,650; assessed value of 919 horned cattle, $27,790; value of honse-

hold goods in excess of exemptions, $900; value of all property taxable for county purposes, $1,238,160.

lived in Limerick, where he resided till he purchased the mill and plantation of Charles Norris, the follow- ing 17th of September, where is now the present bor- ough of Norristown. He was at this time a justice of the County Court, which office he held for several years. In January, 1775, he was one of the twelve members of Philadelphia County that met in a pro- vincial convention, whose object was to get the As- sembly to pass a law to prohibit the future impor- tation of slaves into the colony. This same year, in consequence of the Revolutionary troubles, the As- sembly authorized the enlistment of a battalion of eight companies for the Continental service, to be under the command of Colonel Bull, until January, 1778. With three others, he represented Philadelphia County in the convention that framed the Constitu- tion of the State, and which was adopted the 28th of September, 1776. In November of this year he dis- posed of all his property in Norriton township to Dr. William Smith, of Philadelphia, for the sum of six thousand pounds. He was confirmed a justice of the courts by the Assembly, August 31, 1778. Not long after this date he moved to Berkeley County, Va., where he erected a mill on the Opequan Creek. He was still living there in 1795, which is the last we know of him. Benjamin Rittenhouse, a brother of the celebrated philosopher, and who was commissioned by Governor Mifflin, in 1791, as one of the associate judges of the Court of Com- mon Pleas of this county, was married to a daughter of General Bull. Wm. Bull, who was probably a brother, resided in Norriton township in 1770, where he had purchased a farm of Henry Connard.

ANDREW PORTER .- Robert Porter was a native ot Ireland and emigrated in early lifeto this country, and settled iu Worcester township, Montgomery Co., where his son, Andrew Porter, was born September 24, 1743. His father furnished him with a good education, and in the spring of 1767 he removed to Philadelphia and took charge of an English and mathematical school until the spring of 1776. On the 19th of June he was commissioned by Congress a captain of marines, and ordered on board the frigate " Effingham." He after- wards left the navy and joined the army as a captain, and served with great gallantry at Trenton, Princeton and Brandywine. At Valley Forge he was major of a regiment of artillery, and during the war was in con- siderable service. With David Rittenhouse, in the spring of 1785, he was appointed a commissioner on the part of Pennsylvania to ascertain the boundary be-

1 See chapter on Agriculture.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

tween this State and Virginia. In the spring of 1787, with Andrew Ellicott, he commenced the survey of the northern boundary of the State, which was completed by the middle of the following November. While en- gaged on this work, he says, "The Indians appear friendly and have expressed' no dissatisfaction to our running the line." For his services Governor Snyder, the 4th of April, 1809, appointed him surveyor-general of Pennsylvania, which office he held till his death, which occurred November 16, 1813, at the age of seventy years. He died at Harrisburg, where he was buried with military honors in the Presbyterian bury- ing-ground, and a neat white marble monument desig- nates the spot. At the close of the Revolution Mr. Porter was colonel of the Fourth Pennsylvania Regi- ment of Artillery and subsequently brigadier and mna- jor-general ofthe Second Division of the militia. It is said that President Madison offered him the commis- sion of brigadier-general of the American army, and also the office of Secretary of War, both of which he declined. Mr. Porter resided in the upper part of the borough of Norristown, near the Ridge turnpike, in the mansion recently occupied by the late Colonel Thomas P. Knox. Robert Porter, the general's father, died in 1770, at the age of seventy-two years, and is buried in the Norriton Presbyterian graveyard, where a large stone is erected to his memory. The sons of Andrew Porter have been quite distinguished. Gen- eral David R. Porter was Governor of Pennsylvania from 1838 to 1844. General James M. Porter was a member of Assembly, president judge of the Twenty- second Judicial District, and Secretary of War under President Tyler. George B. Porter was judge, United States marshal of the Eastern District of Pennsylva- nia and subsequently Governor of Michigan, in which office he died in 1834, in his forty-fourth year. All these sons were natives of Montgomery County.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HIRAM C. HOOVER.

Judge Hoover is a descendant of Levis Henry Hoover, whose father, the first member of the family to emigrate, resided in Bucks County until 1800, when he made Gwynedd township, Montgomery Co., his home, and followed his trade of a tailor in connection with the cultivation of a farm of two hun- dred acres, purchased by him. . He married Miss Margaret Kern and had children,-Christian, Jacob, Philip, Elizabeth (Mrs. John Rile) and Mary (Mrs. William Kneedler). Philip succeeded to his father's occupations in Gwynedd township, and married Miss Mary, daughter of Frederick W. Conrad, of Worces- ter township, whose children were Frederick W., Susanna (deceased), Julia Ann (deceased), Maria (Mrs.

Samuel Linton), Harry (deceased), Hiram C., Albert C., Elizabeth (Mrs. Daniel B. Kieffer), Andrew T. and four who died in infancy. Hiram C. Hoover was born on the 23d of October, 1822, on the homestead in Gwynedd, and until the age of twenty-four inter- ested himself in the various pursuits peculiar to the farm, having during the mean time received a rudi- mentary education at the neighboring public and select schools. Judge Hoover was gitted with rare musical taste, which was carly cultivated and properly directed. At the age of eighteen he became an instructor, and for twenty-five years continued this favorite vocation, including both vocal and instru- mental music in which he was equally proficient. He executed with skill upon several instruments, devot- ing his abilities especially to music of a sacred charac- ter and the formation and direction of church-choirs. He was, on the 4th of March, 1847, married to Miss Margaret, youngest daughter of Frederick and Sarah Dull, of Whitemarsh. Their children are William A., Irvin W. (deceased), Sarah D. (Mrs. James W. Hercus, of Richmond, Va.), and Mary M. (Mrs. Albertus Hallman, of Norriton). After his marriage Judge Hoover leased the farm for a period of two years, and in 1849 purchased his present home. Here his efforts were directed to the cultivation and improvement of a productive estate until 1870, when his son succeeded to the farming interest. He erected an attractive residence in the immediate vicinity and retired for the time being from active employment.

Judge Hoover's energetic nature found little to satisfy it in a life of inactivity, and ou the comple- tion of the Stony Creck Railroad he established a coal, feed and lumber business at the station known as Hooverton, opening, two years later, in connection with it a general store.

In politics the judge is a Democrat. He was elected justice of the peace in 1851, and served for eleven years as school director of the township, having presid- ed at one of the conventions for the election of a county superintendent of schools. He was also, for three suc- cessive years, chairman of the County Democratic Com- mittee. Judge Hoover was elected to the State Legis- lature in 1861 and re-elected in 1862 and 1863, having served as chairman of the committee on agriculture and done other important committee work. He was, in 1865, elected associate judge of the Montgomery County courts, and at the expiration of his first term re-elected for an additional five years. He was for five years a trustee of Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa., and now fills the same office in connec- tion with Ursinus College, at Collegeville. He has been, since its organization, the president of the Nor- ristown and Central Square Turnpike Company. He is a prominent Mason, and member of Charity Lodge, No. 190, of Norristown, as also of the Royal Areh Chapter of the borough. He was, in 1841, made a member of the First Troop of Montgomery County, and served during the riots that occurred in Philadelphia

VORRITON TOWNSHIP.

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in 1844. He was for six years one of its musicians and later served as first lieutenant until the disband- ing of the company. Judge Hoover, in 1838, became a member of Boehm's Reformed Church, of Blue Bell, in which lie has been an elder since 1856, and was also president of the consistory for the whole period, with the exception of one year. He has frequently served as delegate to various church bodies and been, since 1875, treasurer of the Philadelphia classis. His zealous efforts in behalf of the good work of the Sunday-school have resulted in his repeated election as superintend- ent and instructor of the Bible-classes, in which labor of love he has few superiors.

deceased, of Norris Hall, the estate of the maternal parent having descended from the Norris family, who purchased it from the son of William Penn, the founder of the colony. In the spring of 1835. Mr. Shearer settled in Norriton township, on a part of the Norris estate known as the " Buttonwood Farm," comprising one hundred and fifty-six acres. This property he purchased in 1861 and substantially improved. In the management of this estate he pursued the life of a | successful farmer, and after the marriage and settle- ment of all his children he sold the premises, in 1876, and retired to his present residence, at the Trooper j village, three miles northwest of Norristown. Mr.

Hiram & Horon

AUGUSTUS W. SHEARER.

Angustus W. Shearer was born July 12, 1812. He is the eldest son of the late John Shearer, Esq., de- ceased, a citizen of Lower Providence township, who was prominently identified with public affairs, repre- senting Montgomery County in the General Assembly during the years 1830-33, and was subsequently elected Register of Wills, 1839, and held the office of justice of the peace in Lower Providence township for a period of twenty-five years.

His son, the subject of this sketch, was married, December 9, 1834, to Miss Eunice Norris Schrack, the only daughter of the late John and Mary Norris Schrack,

Shearer has lived an unostentatious life, but fulfilling the public duties of citizenship with fidelity and exactness. He took an active part in securing the adoption of the common-school system in Norriton township, and was one of the early school directors elected by the people, an office which he held for nineteen years. During a part of this period he was secretary of the board. The Indian Creek school was under his immediate direction; he was among the first to employ female teachers, the trial being made in the school under his management about 1844. He was one of the six citizens of Norriton township who originated the Montgomery County Agricultural

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Society, in 1847, and drafted the first constitution for its government, and the rules and regulations of the first annual exhibition of the society, held at Jefferson- ville. He was a member of the First Troop of Mont- gomery County, a cavalry organization whose origin antedates the war of 1812, and whose membership for more than half of a century comprised the most in- telligent and energetic young men residing near the center of the county. In 1846 he was commissioned colonel of the Sixty-third Regiment of the Pennsyl- vania militia, at the time this regiment was connected with the Second Brigade, Second Division, of the State service. Mr. Shearer was clerk of the board of county

the enjoyment of well-earned repose, he takes an active interest in all public matters that pertain to the progress and welfare of the community in which he resides. Mr. and Mrs. Shearer celebrated their golden wedding on the day and evening of December 9, 1884.

SAMUEL RITTENHOUSE.

William Rittenhouse resided in Montgomery County, where he was an industrious farmer. His children were David, William, Henry, Catherine and Jesse. Henry was a native of Montgomery County,

A. r. Shearer

commissioners for five years, 1856-61, and while in this position he performed the duties of the office with entire satisfaction to the public. Colonel Shearer was early in life identified with the Democratic party, but with many others took issue with its leaders upon the subject of slavery. He supported Stepheu A. Douglas for President in 1860, and subsequently gave a friendly and active support to the administration of Abraham Lincoln and to all measures for the suppression of the great Rebellion. Mr. Shearer and family have long been connected with the Presbyterian Church at Lower Providence, under the pastorate of the Rev. Il. S. Rodenbaugh. Although living in retirement and

where he learned the trade of a weaver, but after- wards became a farmer. By his marriage to Catherine Carl were born children,-William, Lydia Ann, Eliza and Catherine. By a second union, with Mary Shoup, of Upper Providence township, his children were John, Mary A., Sarah A., Samuel, John (2d), Henry, Ellen, Harriet, Lavinia, Elmira and Joseph. Samuel was born on the 1st of January, 1830, in Upper Provi- dence township, Montgomery Co., and in his youth attended the schools most convenient to his home. He then engaged in labor on the farm until his eighteenth year, when he left home and sought an independent I career. On the death of his father he returned home

NORRITON TOWNSHIP.

1009

and rendered valuable service to his mother in the management of the farm. Mr. Rittenhouse was on the 2d of January, 1862. married to Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin Baker, of Norriton township, and has children,-Mary Ann, Josephine and Bessie. After his marriage Mr. Rittenhouse for five years rented a farm, at the expiration of which time he purchased his present home, embracing one hundred and fourteeu acres of productive land, which is devoted to dairying and butter-making. Mr. Rittenhouse. though not active in politics, bas, as a Democrat, held such townsbip offices as school director, assessor, etc., and been inspector of the Montgomery County prison.

whose children were Charlotte, Susan, William, Christopher, Sophia, Henry and David. William, whose life is here briefly reviewed, was born August 3, 1803, on the homestead farm, with which he has been actively identified during his whole life. He was early taught the value of habits of industry, and when a lad assisted his father in his daily pursnits. Receiving but a limited education, he chose a farmer's life as that most congenial to his tastes, and on the death of his father received, as his portion, one-sixth of the estate, the remaining shares being secured by purchase. He married, iu 1831, Miss Susanna, daughter of John Highley of Lower Providence,

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 216

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