History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 228

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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From the time of settlement in Upper Providence, Unlike the ' in 1816, he resided on the same farmi until 1851. Sub- sequently he moved on a smaller property purchased from Wm. T. Todd in 1846, in the lower part of the village, where he continued to reside until within three or four years of his death, when he and his aged part- ner went to live with their daughter, Mrs. Rev. J. T. : Preston. Abraham Hunsicker died Jannary 12, 1872, aged seventy-nine years. His widow still (1884) sur- vives at an advanced age.

HENRY G. HUNSICKER.

Being of a humane and practically benevolent na- The grandfather of the subject of this biography was Henry Hunsicker, a Mennonite preacher, whose children were John, Jacob, Henry, Garrett, Abran, Elizabeth, Annie, Kate and Sarah. Garrett Hunsicker was married to Catherine Detwiler, whose children are Elizabeth, Henry G., Esther, Christian, Kate, Garrett, Mary and Abram D. ture, he dispensed freely what he had to give, and labored long and hard to establish, through the church, a systematic poor fund, that should supersede the ne- cessity of beneficial organizations outside of its pale. Notwithstanding his efforts in this direction, he com- bated the prejudice of his late brethren in the church, who were opposed to secret societies, though he never Henry G. Hunsicker was born, February 15, 1812, in East Perkiomen, and enjoyed only such advantages as were to be found at the schools adjacent to his home, after which he engaged in active labor. He was, on the 10th of January, 1835, married to Hannah Stauffer, belonged to any of them himself. He thought the church ought to feel a concern for the material wel- fare of its members, as it claims to overlook their spir- itual well-being. Practical religion, born of love and good-will to all, was pre-eminently his, and that ,whose birth occurred September 16, 1815. The chil-

dren of this marriage are Mary, Catherine, Garrett S., Hannah (married to G. W. Pennepacker), Emanuel, Esther, Lizzie (wife of Horace Ashenfelter), whose children are Hannah, Mary, Amy, Alma and Henry H.

Mr. Hunsicker is identified with the business in- terests of the county, having served for twenty years as director of the Montgomery National Bank, and for ten years as director of the Montgomery Mutual Fire and Storm Insurance Company. In politics he is a Republican, but not active as a politician. In religion he is a Mennonite and member of the Upper Provi- dence Mennonite Society.

Horace Ashenfelter, son-in-law of Mr. Hunsicker, is descended from John Ashenfelter, who was born June

ABRAHAM HUNSICKER.

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UPPER PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP.

7, 1771, and married, March 26, 1799, Mary Spare, whose birth occurred January 20, 1775. Their chil- dren were Catherine (MIrs. George Reiff), born August 25, 1801; Jonas, born November 9, 1805, married to Margaret Davis; Samuel, whose birth occurred January 8, 1808, married to Rebecca Miller ; and John S., born December 5, 1810. The latter was mar- ried, November 1, 1846, to Susan Johnson. Their children are Henry J., William J., Abram J., John J., Horace, Frank J. and Katie.

HENRY W. KRATZ. Mr. Kratz is of German descent, Valentine, his

born November 9, 1809. Their children are Henry W., Catherine (deceased), Sarah (deceased), Andora and Elizabeth (deceased). The eldest, and subject of this. biographical sketeh, was born in Perkiomen township on the 31st of July, 1834, and at the age of six years removed to Trappe, in Upper Providence, since that date his residence. After a thorough Eng- lish and partial classical education, received first at the common schools and later at the Washington Hall Collegiate Institute, at Trappe, he engaged in teaching at the latter point and in the immediate vicin- ity, and for eighteen consecutive years continued his professional labor, one year of this time having been

Henry & Hunsicher

great-great-grandfather, having emigrated from the spent at the Washington Hall Collegiate Institute. In 1862, Mr. Kratz was elected justice of the peace by his Republican constituents, and held the office continuously for a period of twenty years. In 1866-67 he was appointed transcribing and message clerk of the State Senate, and in the fall of 1881 was elected recorder of deeds for the county of Mont- gomery, remaining the incumbent of that office until 1885. These offices were filled with ability and in- tegrity, characteristic of the man. Mr. Kratz has been and is in sympathy with every movement hav- ing for its purpose the moral, educational and material Fatherland and settled in Pennsylvania. The birth of his son, Valentine, occurred in Montgomery County. Among the children of the latter was a son Isaac, who resided in Perkiomen township, Montgom- ery Co., where he married Catharine Hunsicker and had children,-Valentine, William, Isaac, Re- becea (Mrs. Wm. Godshall, now deceased), Catherine (Mrs. Jacob Rittenhouse), Mary (Mrs. John Bean), Elizabeth (Mrs. Wm. Young) and Ann (Mrs. Henry Cassel). Valentine was born in Perkiomen town- , ship October 10, 1810, and married Mary, daughter of" Henry Weikel, of the township of Upper Providence, ! advancement of the county. He is president of the

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

board of directors of Ursinus College, at Collegeville, Samuel, Joseph, Peter, Anne (Mrs. Pennypacker), director of the National Bank of Schwenksville. Catherine (Mrs. Slough), Mary (Mrs. Slough) and Mrs. Rittenhouse. Peter Custer, the father of the subject of this biography, was born on the homestead, and later made Lower Providence township his home, where he remained until his removal to the property now owned by his son in Upper Providence township. He married Rebecca, daughter of Anthony Vander- dice, of the latter township, who resided upon the farm now owned by Mr. Custer. The children of this marriage are Jacob, Samuel, Anthony V., Elizabeth (Mrs. Jacob Garges) and Nancy (Mrs. manager and secretary of the Perkiomen Valley Mu- tual Fire and Storm Insurance Company, president of the board of managers of the Black Rock Bridge Company, and manager of the Perkiomen and Read- ing Turnpike Company. He is a prominent repre- sentative of the Masonic fraternity, and member of Warren Lodge, No. 310, of Trappe, and of Hutchin- son Commandery, No. 32, of Norristown. He is, in his religious associations, identified with the Reformed Church, and is a member of the St. Luke's Reformed

Henry M. Fratz

Church of Trappe, in which he has, for nearly a Christian Gross). Anthony V., of this number, was quarter of a century, been chorister.

born July 26, 1802, on the maternal homestead, his present residence, where his whole life has been spent.

Mr. Kratz was, on the 26th of May, 1857, married to Miss Myra, daughter of William Bean, of Trappe. The youth of that day enjoyed but limited advan- Their children are Mary T., Kate B. (Mrs. Horace Royer) and Henry Elmer, now living; and Irvin B. and Jane, deceased.

ANTHONY V. CUSTER.

Jacob Kishter (as the name was originally spelled), time proved of service to him in later years as he the grandfather of Anthony V. Custer, emigrated from Holland and settled in Montgomery County, Pa., having purchased a tract of land in Worcester town- ship, of that county. His children were Jacob,

tages of education and were early taught habits of industry and economy. Anthony V. Custer was no ex- ception to this rule, and spent many more days in culti- vating his father's land than with his books at school. The lessons of diligence and thrift learned at that fought manfully the battle of life. On the 1st of December, 1829, he married Mary, daughter of Matthias Brumbach, of Lower Providence. Their children are Louisa, deceased ; Catherine, deceased

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SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP.

(Mrs. Augustus Yoder) ; Matthias, whose children are

central distance from Norristown is about seven miles, Mary Ida (Mrs. Isaac Garmer), C. Flora, Louisa S., greatest length reduced now to five and a half, and Anthony W., Leora, Werna L., and Olivia M. ; Ann (Mrs. Elijah Brunner), whose only daughter is Eliza- beth ; and Anthony, deceased. Mr. Custer remained with his father, assisting him in his labors until 1832, when he inherited the farm. In 1852 he rented the property for a number of years, after which his son Mathias assumed charge, and now cultivates it. Mr. Custer was formerly a Whig and is now a Republican, but is neither active in politics nor a seeker after office, having been during his busy life entirely ab- sorbed in his own business interests. He is a mem-

breadth two and a half miles, with area of four thou- sand and thirteen acres. While it is the smallest township iu the county, there is probably none in the State so remarkably irregular in form. Its outline on the map justly excites the wonder of a stranger, a portion being a narrow belt, of only one-third of a mile in width and three and one-fourth miles in length, which, until eight years ago, extended to the Schuylkill. By a decree of the court, confirmed No- vember 11, 1876, the extreme end of that narrow strip, containing about one hundred and sixty acres and

A. B. Custer

ber of Augustus Lutheran Church, at Trappe, in ; nearly three-fourths of a mile in length, was annexed which he has been for forty years an exemplary elder. to Whitemarsh; hence this township no longer extends to the Schuylkill. This change was made for the res- idents, with reference to the advantages of nearer school and road facilities.

CHAPTER LXXIII.

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP. 1

SPRINGFIELD may be regarded as one of the south- eastern townships of the county, and is bounded on the north by Upper Dublin, west by Cheltenham, south by Philadelphia and west by Whitemarsh. Its

The surface of Springfield is agreeably diversified with hill and dale, and the soil is naturally fertile, containing excellent limestone. Edge Hill is the most considerable elevation, and extends nearly through the centre of the township for the distance of about two miles, in a northeast and southwest course, crossing the Bethlehem turnpike south of Heydricks- dale. Where this elevation intersects the Church road a fine prospect is afforded in a western and nor- thern direction. £ Church Hill begins in the north

1 By Wmn. J. Buck.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

corner of the township, near the Upper Dublin line, field," and according to the Penn manuscripts contained and after a distance of about three-fourths of a mile extends into Whitemarsh. The Wissahickon Creek flows nearly through the centre of Springfield, but only for half a mile, in which distance it propels a grist-mill. The next considerable stream is Sandy Run, near its northern corner, which also propels a mill. Two small streams flow nearly through the cen- tre of the township, and, like Sandy Run, are tributaries of the Wissahickon. These are all steady, constant streams. Nearly every farm possesses a spring-house, with excellent and unfailing water.

Springfield is a thickly-settled township, particu- larly in the neighborhood of Chestnut Hill and Spring House turnpike. In the vicinity of Chestnut Hill are several fine country-seats and residences, built within the last thirty years, owned chiefly by Philadelphians, and occupied during the summer. The population in 1790 was 446; in 1840, 695; and in 1880, 1535. Owing in part to its proximity to the city, its popula- tion has been steadily increasing. In 1882 the nuni- ber of taxables was 352, the real estate was valued at $1,522,605 and the aggregate taxable property at $1,600,830. It is decidedly the wealthiest district in the county, the average per taxable being 84547, almost double that of the highest rated borough in the county. Licenses were granted in May, 1883, to five hotels, five stores, one maker of agricultural imple- ments and a coal-yard. The public schools are four in number, open ten months, with an average attend- ance of 103 pupils. Springfield now contains 245 inhabitants to the square mile. In 1850 the return was 114 lionses, 124 families and 65 farms.

There are several public improvement in Spring- field. The Chestnut Hill and Spring Honse turnpike, completed in 1805, traverses it nearly two miles. The Germantown and Perkiomen and the Ridge pikes pass only a short distance through the narrow belt. The Wissahickon turnpike begins at Flourtown and runs direct to the Ridge road, a distance of two and a half miles, and for the greater portion of this distance is on the Philadelphia line. It was finished in 1855, and crosses the Wissahickon by a covered frame bridge one hundred and thirty-three feet long. The North Pennsylvania road crosses its entire width, a distance of nearly two miles, in a northwest direc- tion, close to the Upper Dublin line. The sta- tions on it are Edge Hill, Oreland and Sandy Run. The Plymouth Railroad extends from Conshohocken to Oreland, where it forms a junction with the North Pennsylvania road, a distance of two miles, with

stations at Flourtown and Oreland. It was extended Christian Donat, 110; Andrew Redheffer, 160; John to the latter place in 1868, and cost, with the addi- tional equipment, about two hundred and fifty thou- sand dollars. Both these railroads are operated by the Reading Railroad Company, who have leased them.

On Holme's map of original surveys this township is marked "Gulielma Maria Penn's Mannor of Spring-

four thousand and ten acres. At this day it has nearly the same singular outline as given on that map. It is a tradition that Maria Penn requested that when it was laid out a strip should be attached to it leading to the Schuylkill, so that forever after- wards she or her successors should have the privilege, whenever they desired, to reach the river by their own land. We also learn, from the Penn-Physick pa- pers, that the survey was made by Thomas Fair- man, who mentioned in a bill of charges that pre- viously he and the proprietary, William Penn, had made a journey "to look at some land," that was " afterwards named Springfield." This must have been done before Penn's return to England, in August, 1684. Maria Penn was the daughter of Sir William Springett, of Darlington, in Sussex, and was married to William Penn when in his twenty-eighth year. Mrs. Penn died in 1694, and, a few years later, he married Han- nah Callowhill.

Owing to the whole of Springfield having been early taken up and held by the Penn family, it has been difficult to secure the names of the earliest settlers within its limits. Mention is made that one hundred and sixty acres of land were surveyed in the " Manor of Springfield," in 1690, to Thomas Fitzwater, but whether he resided on said tract is not knowr. The road from Philadelphia through this township to the lime-kilns at Sandy Run was ordered to be opened in 1703, and the following year extended up to Gwynedd. The earliest settlement under the cir- cumstances could not have been made much before that date. In 1734 there were sixteen land-holders residing in the township: Harman Greathouse, 260 acres ; John Greathouse, 100; Samuel Adams, 50; John Harmer, 100; William Nice, 75; Thomas Silance; Job Howel, 75; Thomas Hicks, 100 ; Chris- topher Ottinger, 85 ; George Gantz, 40; Allen Forster, 100; Henry Snyder, 50; Adam Read, 50; Hugh Boyd, 30; Michael Cline, 12; and George Donat, 80 acres. Nearly one-half of those names indicate a German origin, which at this day is decidedly the strongest element in its native population. Thomas Penn, son of the founder, in 1738, owned sixteen hundred acres here, being the balance still unsold of the original tract. Herman Greathouse's tract in 1705 comprised five hundred acres,

It is ascertained from the assessor's list for 1776 that Springfield contained at that time 72 taxables and 37 land-holders. Of the latter, John Nice owned 200 acres; Wm. Hicks, 100; Christopher Rex, 100 ; Ottinger, 100; Christopher Ottinger, 286; Michael Slatter, minister, 133; Henry Bisbing, 200; and Henry Dewees, 120 acres. Henry Friend had a grist-mill, paper-mill and ninety-three acres. The following occupations are mentioned : Ulrich Wagoner and Felix Detwiler, shoemakers; Jacob Haricher and Jacob Leslie, tailors; David Mack, smith; Jacob

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SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP.

Miller and John Lynn, coopers; John Server and Wm. Boler, weavers; Jacob Neff, tanner; Abraham Hiderich, carpenter; and Christopher Lance, mason. Allen Foster was collector of taxes in 1720, and Her- man Greathouse in 1723. In 1767, Henry Scheetz was constable and Jacob Miller supervisor; Henry Dewees assessor, and Jacob Neff collector in 1776, and Bernard Bisbing supervisor in 1785. The super- visor's book of this township commences in 1775, and has been used continuously for this purpose down to the present time.

From the "Genealogical Record of the Schwenk- felders" we learn that Abraham Heydrick, son of Balthasar, married Susanna, daughter of Christopher Yeakle, in 1767. Their children were Sarah, Chris- topher, Susanna, Abraham and Maria. He died in 1826, aged nearly eighty-four, and his wife in 1834 aged ninety years. Shortly after his marriage he kept a store at the present Wheel-Pump Hotel. Abraham Heydrick, the son mentioned, married Susan, daughter of Jacob Neff, in 1803, and had children,-Mary Ann, Caleb, George N., Edward, Levi, Charles and Susanna. He died in 1866 and was the owner of a farm, hotel and other property at the foot of Chestnut Hill, so long known as Heydriek's Hollow, since changed to Hey- drieksdale, but better known as the Wheel-Pump. Balthasar Heydriek, born in 1750, had children,- George, Mary, Catharine, Abraham, Isaac, Samuel, Elizabeth, Ann and Susan. He was a captain in the army of the Revolution. He died in 1831, aged eighty- one years. His one-story house is still standing on the east side of the turnpike, in the central part of Flour- town, and the only log building remaining anywhere in this section of country. Dr. Christopher Hey- driek was born in Springfield in 1770, and in his youth studied medicine in Philadelphia with the cele- brated Benjamin Say, and graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1792, and for some time after was a physician at the hospital and also a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences. He removed in 1819 to Mercer County, Pa., where he died in 1856, aged nearly eighty-six years. Several members of this family still hold real estate in the township. Balthasar Heydriek, and his wife, Rosina, the ancestors, arrived from Silesia in 1734. George Heydriek is the present proprietor of the steam saw-mill and extensive ma- chine-works near the Wheel-Pump.

The Yeakle family, now numerous here and the holders of considerable real estate, are the deseend- ants of Christopher Yeakle, who arrived here in September, 1734, with his widowed mother, and settled in Cresheim, below Chestnut Hill, where he success- fully followed the occupation of cedar cooper. The log house he built in 1743 and resided in, is still standing, and now owned by Charles Streeper. He married Maria Schultz in 1743, and died after the Revolution at Chestnut Hill, at an advanced age. Abraham Yeakle, his son, was born in 1752, and married Sarah, daughter of Christopher Wagner, in

1776. Their children were Isaac, Samuel, Jacob, Susanna, Maria, Christopher and Sarah. He died in 1841 on his farm in Springfield, now owned by Daniel Yeakle, his grandson, at Heydricksdale. What is known as the Yeakle burying-ground is located about a quarter of a mile from the Philadel- phia line, immediately on the north side of Chestnut Hill. It was purchased in 1802 by Christopher Yeakle and his two sons, Abraham and Christopher, and his son-in-law, Abraham Heydrick. for one hun- dred dollars. It contains about one-eighth of an acre and has been recently inclosed with a new stone

RESIDENCE OF CHRISTOPHER YEAKLE, BUILT 1743.

wall. It originally belonged to the Mack family, of Germantown, and was used as a place of interment some time before 1753. Here are buried members of the Mack, Yeakle, Heydriek, Schultz, Dowers, Ober- holtzer, Krieble and Shuman families of the surround- ing section. Tradition states that several soldiers who had died from wounds received at Germantown and from the attack made on the Americans under General Irvine, near by, were also consigned to burial here.

Christopher Ottinger, mentioned in the list of 1734 as holding in this township eighty-five aeres of land, can be named among its early settlers, originally pur- chased by him from Herman Greathouse, in 1706. He resided in the lower end of Flourtown, in a sub- stantial two story stone house still standing on the east side of the, turnpike, and now owned by Samuel Raney. A stone on the centre of its front bears the inscription "C. O. M. O., 1743," meaning Christopher and Mary Ottinger. On the list of 1776 we find the names of Christopher, John and William Ottinger, evidently of the same family. The name still exists here, borne by persons who hold real estate in the vicinity of the Wheel-Pump.

Flourtown is the largest village in Springfield, situated on the Spring House turnpike, or better known as the Bethlehem road, twelve miles from Philadelphia. The Plymouth Railroad has a station

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

here, and a turnpike leads to the Ridge road. It con- tains about sixty honses, four hotels, three stores, a large Odd-Fellows' Hall, huilt in 1878, two stories high, containing a room for lectures and concerts, and also a Presbyterian Church. This village is an old settlement, and tradition states that the early settlers of Salford and Franconia came hither with their grain to mill, from whence originated the name. A post-office was established here before 1810, when Nicholas Kline was postmaster, and previous to 1827 was moved further up, to Whitemarsh, where it re- mained until about 1875, when it was restored to its former place. We know by the Pennsylvania Archives that it was called Flourtown in 1781, and Scott, in his "Gazetteer " of 1795, mentions it as "a vil- lage containing sixteen or seventeen dwellings." Gordon in his " Gazetteer " of 1832, states it to contain twenty houses, five taverns and two stores. The elec- tions of the township previous to 1847 were held in Whitemarsh, and since in this village.

Owing to its distance from the city, before the in- troduction of railroads the inns of Flourtown became noted stopping-places for travelers, and deserve some mention here. Michael Spiegel kept a licensed house here in 1766; John Kenner, 1767 ; John Streeper and Philip Miller in 1773; Joseph Campbell, John Kenner, Jacob Neff, Frederick Kehlhoffer and Christopher Mason in 1779. Jacob Neff, who was a collector of taxes, in 1776, kept the Wheel-Pump inn, at least at that date; consequently this is an old-estab- lished stand. Tradition states that the name was derived from a wheel-pump in use here during the Revolution and for some time thereafter. John Ken- ner was still in business here in 1785. Ottinger's tavern is mentioned here in 1772, and was on the present Bisbing property, near the railroad. Mason's stand was on the property of the late George Sechler. Nicholas Kline, who was postmaster here in 1810, kept the sign of the "Wagon and Horses" until his death, about 1826. This was a noted stopping place for farmers. He was an extensive owner of real estate in Springfield and Whitemarsh, and rebuilt the mill on the Wissahickon, now owned by Silas Cleaver. He was buried in the ancient Lukens graveyard, of which he was made one of the five trus- tees in 1786.

The Presbyterian Church is situated on the east side of the turnpike and near the railroad, in Flour- town. It is a two-story stone edifice, fifty by thirty- six feet in dimensions, built in 1857, and the only house of worship in the township. The church and graveyard comprise about three acres of ground. On the tombstones are found the names of Sliver, Lower, Thatcher Gilbert, Lukens, Dungan, Ycakle, Sorber, Bitting, Bunting, Cressman, Katz, Garner, Murphy, Kline, Soladay, Robeson, Freed, Thornton. Graeff, Gordon, Leidig, Layer, Van Winkle, Dewees, Miller, Willis, Watson, Shaffer, White and McNeill. There has recently been no regular pastor of this congregation.

To show the amount of travel which formerly passed through Flourtown, a list is given of the various stages that stopped here in 1820. A line left the Cross Keys tavern, 18 North Fourth Street, Phila- delphia, daily at eight A.M. and three P.M .; one started from the Old Rotterdam daily at three P.M .; another from the White Swan, 106 Race Street, daily at the hours of nine, ten and eleven A.M., and at three, five and six P.M. These several lines had their termi- nation here. The Bethlehem stage left for the White Swan, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, at four A.M. The mail-stage for Bethlehem left Yohe's Hotel, North Fourth Street, on the same days and at the same hours. It will thus be observed that to this place there were at that time nine daily arrivals from the city, besides the two tri-weekly lines for Bethlehem. Allowing the capacity of each coach to be twelve, this shows an accommodation by these several lines in going and returning daily of two hundred and forty passengers. We may well judge what a revenue was derived from this source by inn-keepers, toll-collectors and the village smith.

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 228

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