History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 224

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 224

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).

Frederick Ludwig Marsteller arrived from Darm- stadt, Germany, in 1729, and settled on the banks of the Skippack Creek, in New Providence township. IFere he bought land of David Williams and Richard Jones. He was an officer of the Providence Lutheran Church, and was first to welcome Pastor Muhlenberg to his new charge. IIe was active in the building of the Lutheran Church, and is named, over its doorway, as one of its founders. He died in 1753, on the 14th of October. His remains lie near the old church he loved so well.

Patrick Gordon settled in Providence, along the Schuylkill, at Mont Clare. He was a man of mark, and from June 22, 1726, to August 4, 1736, filled the posi- tion of Deputy-Governor of the province with credit to himself and honor to the county.

Captain John Diemer settled along the Skippack.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

He was a celebrated physician, and in 1746 was elected captain of a company of German Associates, raised in the neighborhood for protection against the French and Indians.

Thomas Lewis, as early as 1752, advertises for sale a farm in Providence, and a grist-mill near the mouth of the Mingo, and says that " loaded canoes can come to the mill-door."

John Bull, in 1716, purchased a farm of four hun- dred aeres in Providence, near the Limerick line, where he lived for many years. His son, Colonel John Bull, was famous in his day as a colonel in the Revolutionary army and in civil life.

Francis Shunk, the grandfather of Governor Francis R. Shunk, came from the Palatinate, in Germany, in 1715, and settled in Providence township.

Hon. Samuel Gross, of Providence, in 1803, was elected to the Assembly, and re-elected in 1805 and 1807. In 1811 he was elected State Senator, and in 1818 to Congress.

James and Adam Hamer were brothers, and settled near the present village of Port Providence in 1713, James purchasing three hundred acres and Adam two hundred and fifty acres. James Hamer, M.D., of the fourth, and James H. Hamer, M.D., of the fifth gen- eration, are still living in the township.

David Todd settled near Mont Clare. His des- cendants are still living in the township, whilst one lately occupied the position of Secretary of War under President Arthur,-namely, Robert Todd Lin- coln.

The following persons served as Justices of the Peace for Providence township from the earliest times to the adoption of the Constitution of 1838, viz .: Frederick A. Muhlenberg, 1784 and January 14, 1789; Anthony Crothers, February 7, 1789 and 1791 ; Henry Pawling, January 20, 1789 and 1792; John Pugh, January 20, 1789 and April 13, 1807; Benj. Dismant, 1792; Francis Swaine, 1793 ; Andrew Todd, May 22, 1800 ; Samuel Gross, January 2, 1802; Isaiah Davis, April 2, 1804; James Harris, January 1, 1807; Abel Thomas, April 13, 1807 and February 29, 1820; James Evans, February 3, 1814; Samuel Bard, April 9, 1816; Peter Waggonseller, December 4, 1816; Benj. Tyson, June 30, 1817 ; Isaac Linderman, De- cember 16, 1819; John Shearer, December 15, 1820 ; John S. Missimer, November 15, 1822; Henry Long- acre, July 5, 1825; Robert Evans, April 4, 1827 ; Jacob Dewees, April 20, 1829; Joseph Henry, No- vember 16, 1829; Jacob Highly, October 3, 1831 ; Henry Loucks, December 10, 1831; John Todd, July 15, 1833; David Baird, January 5, 1835; John Dis- mant, April 4, 1835; John Razor, May 28, 1835; Henry De llaven, December 7, 1836.

The settlement of Perkiomen township was begun in 1702 by the Mennonists of Germantown, under the lead of Matthias Van Bebber. This is not the place to trace the interesting history which belongs to the township of Perkiomen. Suffice it to say that this

Mennonist settlement extended into the township of Providence. Jacob Tellner, Leonard Arets and Wil- liam Streeper, all related to each other by marriage, were three of the leaders in the movement that effected the settlement of Germantown and afterwards spread into Perkiomen. Each of these three selected and purchased a traet of land in Providence township.

Tellner selected his on the Skippack, just east of the Lane tract, while Arets, in 1707, purchased five hun- dred acres just west of the Lane tract, bordering on Perkiomen, and Streeper secured the next five hun- dred acres, west of Arets, in 1705, these last two par- cels inelnding all the land now embraced in the village of Trappe.

In addition to those mentioned, George Bunson bought three hundred and forty-five aeres in 1728; James Steel, two hundred and fifty aeres in 1734. Philip Ashenfelter, Jonathan Cox, Benjamin Rees, Thomas Derringer, George Essig, Nicholas Robinson, George Painter, Roger North, Henry Desmond, Colder Royer, Benedict Garber, John Ewalt, John Jacobs and Caspar Rahn were all original purchasers from the Penns.

In 1734 we find John Beidler owning 100 acres of land ; Aubrey Richardson, 460; Edward Richardson, 200; James Hamer, 300; Samuel Lane, 500; Adam llamer, 250; Arnold Hancock, 100; John Diemer, 150; Peter Rambo, 200 ; Matthias Koplin, 148; Jacob Schrack, 250; Hans Chrisman, 200; Adam Vander- slice, 100; Roger North, 69; Daniel Desmond, 100; Thomas Morgan, 100; Henry Pawling, 500; Harman v Indehoffen, 200; Thomas How, 100; Richard Adams, 148; William Adams, 200.

One of the most important factors in the settling of Providence township was the Pennsylvania Land Company. An act of Parliament, passed thirty-third year of George 11., No. 112, vesting certain estates in Pennsylvania in a partnership called "The Pennsyl- vania Land Company in London," William Penn, in 1699, August 11 and 12, conveyed to Thomas Collet and others, who constituted this company, five thou- sand acres in Gilbert's Manor, adjoining the Schuylkill and Perkiomen, including nearly all the western half of the present township of Lower Providence. Many plantations were sold prior to 1761. On the 2d of April, 1761, the remaining twenty-two plantations in New Providence township, aggregating about four thousand acres, bounded by lands of Henry Pawling, James Morgan, Norriton township and the rivers Schuylkill and Perkiomen, were sold at publie vendue. At this sale 151 acres were sold to Samuel Bell, 145 to James Skeen, 113 to Valentine Shambough, 120 to Thomas Grahagen, 161 to Christian Recup, 147 to William Thomas, 117 to Thomas Francis, 172 to Thomas Rossiter, 336 to Arnold Vanfossen, 156 to John Taney, 147 to Benjamin Chesnut, 175 to Nathan Davis, 125 to Barney Pawling, etc.

The people of Providence, from the earliest times until 1777, were compelled to go to Philadelphia to

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LOWER PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP.

cast their votes. The elections were then held at the inn opposite the State-Honse. From 1777 to 1784 they voted at the public-house of Jacob Wentz, in Worcester township; from 1784 to 1785 at the public-house of Hannah Thompson, Norriton, then the seat of county government; from 1785 to 1802 at the court-house, Norristown. From 1802 until the division of the township, in 1810, those living east of the Skippack Creek voted at Norristown, whilst those living to the west of said creek exercised that privi- lege at the public-house of David Dewees, Trappe.

The township of Providence in 1734 had seventy- four land-owners and tenants, and in 1741 the township contained one hundred and forty-six taxables, a con- siderable increase in so short a time. In 1785 the township contained twenty slaves and six hotels.

CHAPTER LXXI.

LOWER PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP.1

THE township of Lower Providence, as at present constituted, is bounded on the west by Upper Provi- dence, on the northeast by Perkiomen and Worcester, on the southeast by Norriton, and on the south by the Schuylkill River. Its area embraces nine thousand one hundred and forty-three acres, its greatest length being five and a half miles and greatest width five miles. The only elevation in the township is Methac- ton Hill, which commences in the eastern portion and extends through Worcester township to the Wissa- hickou Creek. On Scull's map of 1770 it is called Matateken, and in 1777 Metuchen, and is still often known by the name of Methatchen. That it is an Indian name there is no doubt. It is about six miles long and mostly under cultivation, although the soil is not very fertile. The balance of the township is undulating and fertile, especially along the rivers.

The greater portion of the township is occupied by the red shales and sandstones of the middle secondary formation, among which are found a variety of min- erals. Near the Perkiomen, at Oaks, lead-mines have been worked in the past, but never with much profit. These mines were opened before 1800, and worked by Mr. Wetherill in 1818. Through working these lead- mines, copper was discovered. In January, 1848, the Perkiomen Mining Association was organized, which purchased a considerable quantity of land between Shannonville and Oaks for the purpose of digging copper. The land cost about ten thousand dollars, and a great quantity of valuable machinery was erected. The shaft here sunk has a perpendicular depth of five hundred and eighty-five feet, with side- drills of fourteen hundred and one feet, making the entire length of work in the mine over one-third

of a mile. A great many thousand tons of copper- ore have been taken out for market. The mines are uow abandoned, and the valuable machinery going to ruin.

The elections in Lower Providence from its organi- zation, in 1805, to date were held at the following places : From 1805 to 1841 those living east of the Skippack were still compelled to go to Norristown and vote at the court-house, while those to the east of the Skippack went to Trappe, in Upper Providence. On March 5, 1841, the township of Lower Providence was made a separate election district, and the act provides for holding the "general elections at the Shamo's school- house." This should read Shambo or Shambough's school-house, now known as the Hollow school-house. Here the elections were held until 1849, when, by act of April 5th, the place was changed to the public- house of Christian Detwiler. This was the present Eagleville Hotel. To this day all the elections of this township are held at this hotel.

Since the organization of the township the follow- ing have served as justices of the peace: 1840, 1845, 1850 and 1855, Isaac S. Christman; 1840, Jacob Highly (died); 1840 and 1853, Allen Corson (ap- pointed) ; 1852, Henry Loucks; 1859 and 1864, John Getty; 1860, George D. Fronefield; 1863 and 1868, William M. De Haven; 1869, 1874 and 1885, D. M. Casselberry ; 1872, 1877 and 1882, Aaron Weikel ; 1879, Benjamin F. Whitby ; 1884, Laurence E. Corson.

The following have served as constables, viz .: 1807, Andrew Jack; 1808-9, John Readheffer; 1810, An- drew Campbell ; 1811-13, Samuel Kugler; 1814, Christ. Rosenberger; 1815, John Young; 1816, George Rein- hart; 1817-19, Stephen Rush; 1820-21, William Moore; 1822-24, John Roberts; 1825-26, Arnold Baker; 1827-29, Daniel Morgan; 1830, John Mun- shower; 1831-36, William Moore; 1837, William Shambough; 1838-42, John Coulston; 1843-45, John Slough; 1846, Jacob Nungesser; 1847-49, John Nun- gesser; 1850, John Slough; 1851-52, John Getty; 1853-58, Jeremiah Deeds; 1859-63, Abraham Car- roll; 1864, Samuel Hiser; 1865-67, John Williams; 1868-69, George Casselberry; 1870-71, Joseph Wal- ters; 1872-85, John C. Johnson.

Lower Providence in 1810 had a population of 904; in 1820, 1146; in 1850, 1961; and in 1880, 1856. It now contains 444 taxables. By the last assess- ment the real estate in the township is assessed at : $1,195,690, and the personal property at $104,505.

The public schools are eight in number and are kept open for eight months, at a salary of forty-five dollars per month. A regular graded course of study is established, at the completion of which the pupil is given a common-school diploma. In this regard Lower Providence leads all her sister townships.

There are six mills in the township, three upon the Perkiomen and three upon the Skippaek, all of which do a good business. Shannonville and Evans- burg each possess a creamery. D. Morgan Cassel-

1 By F. G. Hobson.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

berry is the proprietor of a large steam tannery in Evansburg. In 1882, William H. Blanchford erected a large building for the manufacture of carriages at the intersection of the Ridge and the Germantown turnpike roads. He has built up a large trade in the short time he has been there. There are but two public-houses in the township, one at Shannonville and the other at Eagleville. Seven general stores for the sale of dry-goods, groceries, etc., are also found within its borders.

The villages of Lower Providence are Evansburg, Shannonville, Eagleville and Providence Square, at each of which there exists a post-office.

The largest of these villages is Evansburg. It has been so called from the beginning of the century. The land upon which the village stands was part of the Lane tract, and was called by them " Perkoming " for many years. In 1721 the St. James' Episcopal Church of Perkoming was built. In 1825 the post- office was established here and called "Perkiomen," and Edward Evans was postmaster. This Edward Evans was a son of Owen Evans, born 1769, died in 1812, who was an extensive land-owner, and was en- gaged in making guns for the United States army at what has lately been known as Pechin's Mill. He was married to Eleanor, daughter of Edward Lane (the younger). In honor of this man the village took its name, Evansburg. In 1827 the post-office was kept by Isaac Casselberry in a shop that then stood on the public school-house lot. In 1829 it was moved to the Ridge turnpike, and William Fronfield was postmaster. In 1832, Edward Evans, who then kept store where Henry G. Schwenks is now his successor, was reappointed postmaster.

In a short time Mr. Evans resigned and Perkiomen post-office was abolished. The people then had to depend on the Trappe office, then kept by Matthias Halderman. When the Trappe office was removed to the upper end of that village a post-office was again established, and Edward Evans, for the third time, appointed postmaster, and the office called " Perkiomen Bridge." Here it remained until 1861, when it was removed to Freeland. At the same time a new office was established in the village, with William B. Shupe as postmaster. As the name Evans- burg was already utilized as the name of a post-office ! in Crawford County, Pa., this office was named " Lower Providence." The office still retains this name, and has as its postmaster Samuel D. Shupe, the son of the first official. In 1832 Evansburg con- tained nineteen houses ; in 1858, an inn, two stores, church, two mechanic shops and twenty-four houses. At present it contains two churches, two stores, an ex- tensive steam tannery, operated by D. Morgan Casselberry, several mechanic shops and about thirty- five houses.

This village was at one time known by the nick- name of "Hustletown," which name clung to the village for many years. The origin of that name,

tradition says was in this wise: Two young bloods, none the better for frequent libations, as they journeyed, at every village gave cheers for the name of the village. As they passed through Evansburg, they looked in vain for some clew to the name of the village. A short distance from the road they saw two persons " hustling," a method of " raffling," when one proposed " Three cheers for Hustletown !" Hence the name. While this is the commonly received version as to how this name was applied, the author accident- ally came across another that to his mind seems more probable. In a deed of Edward Lane to Dietrick Welker for land in the present village of Evansburg, made May 31, 1777, the property is described as adjoining lands of Hussel Town, thus showing con- clusively that at that time a man of that name lived there. It is certainly a remarkable coincidence and seems very probably to have been the origin of the name of the town.

Shannonville was first so called about 1823, when the first post-office was established here. This vil- lage derives its name from the Shannons, a large, influential and widely-known family of colonial days. Robert Shannon was a native of Norriton in 1734, and was one of the commissioners named by the act of 1784, establishing the county of Mont- gomery, to purchase ground, erect the court-house, etc., for the new county. James Shannon was one of the wardens of St. James' Episcopal Church, Evansburg, in 1721. Both of these persons are buried in the Episcopal Cemetery, Evansburg. John Shannon, Sr., who was one of the largest land-owners of the township, and owned nearly, if not all, the land upon which the present village stands, was a man of more than ordinary attainmeuts, and it was in honor of his sterling worth that the village that now stands upon his land was named. His grand- son, Charles P. Shannon, still resides upon the old homestead. Before the village took its present name the place was known as "Jack's Tavern," besides which there were then but two other houses at that time. In 1858 the village contained twenty-four houses.

This village, like its neighbor, was also dishonored by a nickname, and was known as "Hogtown." In his extensive farming operations, Mr. Shannon raised large herds of swine, from which fact the nickname was applied. While the reputable and intelli- gent portion of community recognized the post- name it now bears, yet outside the vicinity, either from ignorance or for the humor of it, the bogus name for a time partially obscured the real. In those days the establishment of a post-office was not, as in these, heralded to every part of the State the next morning.

There seems to have been at that day quite a mania in Lower Providence for nicknames; for, in addition to "Hustletown" and "Hogtown," they had other localities of the townships nicknamed with

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LOWER PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP.

such choice titles as "Frog Hollow," "Shitepoke Level," "Hardscrabble" and kindred names ; but they have gradually died ont; the march of civilization has obliterated them, and there is no reason why these vul- gar and outlandish misnomers should ever again be revived. Two of Lower Providence's school-houses are to this day named, respectively, the Hollow School-house and the Level School-house, which is certainly a great improvement over retaining their rather vulgar qualifying description.

In this connection a good story is told by Mr. R. R. Corson, of Norristown, concerning some of his army experience. It seems that Captain Corson had been sent on a foraging expedition by General Francis. While so engaged General Patrick met him, and as there seemed to be some dispute in relation to the corn, General Patrick asked him his name and where he came from. " My name is Corson; I came from Pennsylvania," said the cap- tain. "Whereabouts in Pennsylvania ?" asked the general. "Hogtown," said Richard, who always wears his humorous side uppermost. Next morning Mr. Cor- son was summoned before a court-martial for indecorous language to a superior officer. The charges were read and proved, and Mr. Corson was given an opportunity to defend himself. Richard said that he had only told the truth. He was born at a place that was known for miles around as "Hogtown," and further enlightened the court that he was educated at Shite- poke Level. Major-General Ilancock, late candidate for President, was present, and substantiated Mr. Corson's statement.

post-office and several residences. It is known as Providence Square.

About 1865, Dr. William Wetherill erected several buildings at the corner of Egypt road and another public road, about one half-mile south of Shannon- ville. The village is known as Wetherill's Corner.

The churches of Lower Providence are four in number, viz .: the St. James' Episcopal, the Provi- dence Presbyterian, the Lower Providence Baptist, and the Methodist Episcopal Church; in addition to which a Baptist Chapel has recently been built at Shannonville.

The St. James' Episcopal Church of Perkiomen, that being the chartered name, is located at Evans-

ST. JAMES' EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

It is needless to say that the captain was acquitted amidst the laughter of the court. Some time since, at , certain, but it was evidently founded by the Lanes, of an army reunion, hell at New York, General Han- cock related this incident as one of the most anmsing of his army experience. whom we have spoken among the early settlers of Providence. The best authorities place the date about 1708, founded by the Rev. Evan Evans, a native of Wales, who came to this county in 1699.

Eagleville is a large village situate on the Ridge turnpike road, at the top of Skippack Hill, and nearly in the centre of the township. Here are held the town- ship elections. It contains at present a hotel, store, carriage-works and a large number of private resi- dences. Silas Rittenhouse purchased land here, and riages, after which other buiklings were put up. The name of the village is taken from an incident that happened about the time the citizens were searching for a name. A large eagle was shot in the vicinity and nailed to one of the buildings. From this inci- dent the village received its name.

About 1855, Thomas Miller erected a large shop for the manufacture of all kinds of vehicles on the Ger- mantown turnpike road, at the twenty-second mile- stone from Philadelphia. A village sprung up around this small beginning, which now contains a store,

burg. The time of founding this congregation is un-

In 1721 the first church building was erected, of logs, which stood in the burial-ground opposite the present building. The date-stone of this building, 1721, is still preserved. There are no records pre- served earlier than 1730, with the exception that we erected a large building for the manufacture of car- know that James Shannon and Isaac Pawling were church wardens at the building of the first church, in 1721.

In 1732 the congregation received a bequest from William Lane, which reads as follows:

" I will and beqneath for the use of the minister that shall serve successively at St. James' Church, situate in Providence, forty-two acres uf land adjoining thereunto, which land shall be laid out as commodions a settlement as conveniently it may be without causing much damage to the remainder. And the said forty-two acres of land, messnage and improvements, shall be and continue by virtue hereof to and for the use abovesaid. I will and bequeath to the present minister of said place of worship (to wit ) Rev. Alexander lowey, 5 lawful money, three months after my decease."

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

The land here bequeathed constitutes a great part of the lower end of the village of Evansburg, which to this day pays an annual ground-rent toward the support of the minister of the congregation.

On the night of the 6th of May, 1738, the church building was broken into by thieves, who carried with them the pulpit-cloth and cushion of purple-colored plush, with black silk fringe, and some valuable pewter communion service. For the arrest of the miscreants William Moore and Henry Pawling, the church wardens, offered a reward of five pounds.

Ou June 9, 1760, a resolution was passed allowing any member of St. James' Church to erect a pew in said church.

Very early a parsonage was erected, for on the 12th of November, 1764, it was determined to put the par- sonage in proper order and repair.

During the Revolutionary war the church build- ing was used as a hospital, and especially so after the battle of Germantown. Very many of the wounded of that battle died there, and about one hundred and fifty Coutineutal soldiers are buried in the cemetery, with no stone to mark their resting-place.

There is a stone which contains the following brief epitaph : "In memory of Captain Vachel D. Howard, of Maryland Light Dragoons, who departed this lite March 15, 1778, aged thirty years, in defense of American Liberty."

Many years after this, when Washington was Pres- ideut, he drove up the turnpike from Philadelphia, and alighted at the cemetery and asked the old sex- tou to show him the grave of Howard. He stood there with uncovered head, and said, "The grave of a brave man, a brave man ; 1 knew him well." What a tribute from so great and good a leader as Wash- ington ! Captain James Bean, who served in the pa- triot army, is buried in this old church-yard.

The church was incorporated under an act of As- sembly passed October 3, 1788.

In 1843 the present church edifice was erected, of stone, upon the opposite side of the turnpike, and the old church, on the east side of the road, was torn down.

It is impossible to give a complete list of the rectors of this church. The first one of whom we have any knowledge was the Rev. Alexander Howey, who preached along about 1734. After him came Rev. William Currie, who preached until the breaking out of the Revolutionary war. This clergy- man sympathized so strongly with the British that he was compelled to leave the country and return to England. There is also a tradition that he was treated to a dress of tar and feathers before he took his departure. The following letter from him is pasted in the minute-book of the congregation :

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 224

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