History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 230

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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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

the farm owned by his father until 1806, when he purchased the property, in Springfield township, now owned by his son, William, where he resided until his death, May 29, 1863. He married Gertrude, daughter of George Urffer, on the 1st of November, 1808, and had children,-Susan, born in 1809; Joseph, 1811 ; Leah, 1814; Charles, in 1817; George, 1820; and William, in 1821. George married Amanda, danghter of Peter Streeper, and has three children. Leah married Thomas L. Bates, and has had seven children. Jacob Yeakle was a successful farmer, de- voting his attention principally to dairying and mar- keting in Philadelphia. He was a Whig in politics,

JOSEPH YEAKLE,

The oldest son of Jacob and Gertrude Yeakle, was born on the 11th of April, 1811, in Springfield town- ship on the homestead, where his life has been spent. The winter months were devoted to school, and the re- mainder of the year, during boyhood, to labor on the farm of his father, where was found an abundance of work for willing hands to execute. He ultimately rented the farm lying adjacent to the homestead, which belonged to his father, and in 1848 purchased the property. He was, in 1836, married to Miss Eliza- beth, daughter of John Huston, whose birth occurred April 1, 1813. Their children were Huston, born in

Joseph yealle

and although interested in all that pertained to the good of the township of his residence, did not accept office, having always business matters of impor- tance to occupy his attention. He was a man of marked integrity, of whom it might be said with truth that " his word was as good as his bond." His opinion was much respected in questions of weight, his services often being desired in the settlement of estates and in the capacity of executor. In religion he adhered to the Schwenkfelder faith, which was that of his ancestors, and worshiped with the meeting in Towamencin township.

1835; James, in 1837; Emily (Mrs. James Nash) 1839; Elenora (deceased), 1842 ; Daniel W. (deceased), 1844; Jacob, 1847; Elvie (Mrs. Cleaver Supplee), 1850. Mrs. Yeakle died in 1852, and Mr. Yeakle was a second time married, in 1854, to Miss Mary Huston, whose death occurred in 1877. Their children are John H., born in 1853 (deceased), and Thomas C., whose birth occured in 1855. Mr. Yeakle continued farming until 1870, when, desiring to be relieved from the hard labor which had been his portion from youth, he retired and made Flourtown, Montgomery Co., his home. He has heen a firm adherent of the

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SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP.

Republican party since its organization, and although not an office-seeker, holds the appointment of post- master in the village. He has been since 1881, asso- ciated with his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Daniel W. Yeakle, in the management of a store at Flourtown. In religion he is a supporter of the Presbyterian Church, of the latter place, though not identified as one of its members.

CHARLES YEAKLE,

The second son of Jacob and Gertrude Yeakle, was born July 7, 1817, on the homestead, now owned by his brother, William. Here his youth, passed wi.l

gomery Co., whose only child, Levi, died in February, 1861. Charles Yeakle has devoted his life to the em- ployments of a farmer and the extensive mining of iron-ore. While successful in these branches of in- dustry, he has found neither time nor inclination for other pursuits. He is a Republican in politics, having been formally allied to the Old Line Whig party. Though formerly the incumbent of one or more minor offices, he is not ambitious for political honors. His services have been sought on frequent occasions in the capacity of guardian and trustee, which appoint- ments have been, with rare exceptions, declined. Mr. Yeakle now worships with the Presbyterian Church, though reared in the faith of the Schwenkfelders.

Charles aperfiles

his parents, was varied by the enjoyment of advan- tages of education, in some slight degree superior to those ordinarily obtained, at Flourtown, Whitemarsh, and at the Hicks school, at Springfield. After a period devoted to labor on the home-farm he, in con- nection with his brother, William, cultivated the land on shares, from 1843 until 1849, when he removed to his present home, then owned by his father. This he occupied as a tenant until 1863, when it became his by inheritance. Mr. Yeakle was married, on the 16th of March, 1843, to Sarah, daughter of Michael and Bar- bara Urffer Neuss, of Upper Hanover township, Mont-

WILLIAM YEAKLE,

The youngest son of Jacob and Gertrude Yeakle, was born on the 7th of November, 1821, in Springfield township, where he has since remained, and is now one of its most influential citizens. His educational opportunities were not superior to those of his brothers, being confined to a few months of instruction, chiefly during the winter. He was reared from youth to habits of industry, and at an early age became useful to his father in his farm employments. He later rented the homestead until the death of the latter, when a portion came to him as his patrimony,

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

the remainder being secured by purchase. On this place he still resides, and is, as formerly, actively engaged in the various avocations pertaining to a farmer's life. Mr. Yeakle was married, on the 27th of December, 1849, to Mary, daughter of Jacob Wentz, whose birth occurred September 24, 1826. Their children are Atwood, born 1850; Gertrude, 1852; Ambrose, 1854; and John, 1857. Mr. Yeakle is a member of the board of directors of the Montgomery National Bank, of Norristown. A Republican in his political views, he is not active in the field of politics, and finds little leisure for pursuits aside from his life as an agricul- turalist. Mr. Yeakle is an attendant upon the ser-

the riots, and in four hours were marching with forty-seven men and their big six-pound cannon, They marched direct to the Girard Bank, and from thence to the Arsenal, where now stands John Wanamaker's store. In 1846 the Mexican war broke out, and George Lower, with his brother Henry, went to Philadelphia and joined Captain R. K. Scott's company of Cad- walader Grays, which, when the First Regiment was formed, became H Company, went to Mexico and participated in the taking of the city of Vera Cruz and the Castle of San Juan Del Ulloa, which capitulated on the 29th of March, 1847. The First Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, Company H

William Beable

vices of the Lutheran Church, of which Mrs. Yeakle is a member.

GEORGE LOWER.

George Lower was born January 30, 1823, on a twenty-acre farm in Springfield township, Montgomery Co., Pa. His father, Joseph, died at the age of ninety, and his mother, Ann, at seventy-six years of age. At the age of nineteen, with other young men of the neighborhood, George Lower raised a military com- pany, of which he was made one of the lieutenants; they became so perfect in drill that they would go through the manual by the tap of the drum. In 1844 they received orders to go to the city to help suppress

being one of the companies, was commanded by Col- onel Franeis M. Wynkoop. Mr. Lower participated in all the important engagements of the war, including Cerro Gordo. After peace had been concluded he returned to Philadelphia, where he arrived in July, 1848, and was mustered out and discharged. He then returned to Springfield township, and in the fall of that year was elected county auditor, and in 1854 was elected recorder of deeds, and whilst in office removed from the old buildings to the new offices in the new court-house, and recorded the first deed. Atter going out of office he went to Flourtown, in Springfield township. In the spring of 1858 he was elected a justice of the peace and has served almost continually since.

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SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP.

ENOCH SHOEMAKER.

Enoch Shoemaker, who for more than a half-cen- tury has been a resident of Springfield township, is a descendant of George Shoemaker, who (with one or two others) came from Wales to Pennsylvania on special invitation from William Penn, landing in 1685 at Chester, where he afterwards married Sarah, a daughter of Richard Waylen, who was a preacher of the Society of Friends. Nothing of the subsequent life of George Shoemaker has been ascertained. A son, or grandson, of his was Jacob Shoemaker, who, with his wife, Margaret, were residents of White- marsh township, and parents of the following-named

ary 17, 1816. His wife was Hannah Kenderdine, of Horsham. Their children were Agnes, born Septem- ber 23, 1765; Margaret, born September 8, 1767 ; Dor- othy, born July 25, 1769; Thomas, born August 6, 1771; Rachel, born December 18, 1773; Mary, born July 19, 1775. The daughters all lived unmarried, three of them reaching an age exceeding eighty years. The only son, Thomas, became owner of his father's farm in Whitpain. His wife was Jane, daughter of David Supplee, who lived in Norriton township, on the farm now owned by Andrew F. ITiltner, of Nor- ristown.

The children of Thomas and Jane (Supplee) Shoe-

Enoch Shoemaker

children : Matthias and Jonathan (twins), born 14th of Twelfth Month, 1736; Barbary, born 30th of Sixth Month, 1738; Jonathan (second of the name), born 16th of Twelfth Month, 1739; Isaac, boru 16th of Eleventh Month, 1741; Hannah, born 10th of Ninth Month, 1743; Elisabeth, born 30th of Eleventh Month, 1745; Sarah, born 3d of Second Month, 1748; David, born 30th of First Month, 1753.

The first-named of these children, Matthias Shoe- maker, was grandfather of Enoch, the immediate subject of this biographical notice. He lived in Whitpain township on a farm which he purchased in 1777, and which is now owned by his grandson, Charles K. Shoemaker. On that farm he died Janu-

maker, were Enoch (the subject of this memoir), born September 25, 1804; Job, born in 1805, and died in his twenty-second year ; David, born in 1806 (father of John K. Shoemaker, of Philadelphia) ; Allen, born in 1808, and now living in Lewisburg, Pa. ; Matthias, born February 17, 1810 (now of Philadelphia) ; Hau- nah (died in infancy); Jesse (died in Canada) ; and Charles K., now living on the Shoemaker home- stead in Whitpain township.

Enoch, eldest son of Thomas and Jane Shoemaker, was married, March 8, 1832, to Rachel Mitchel, daugh- ter of Jacob and Sarah (Hallowell) Mitchel, whose home was in Springfield township, on the homestead farm, now owned and occupied by Enoch Shoemaker.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Sarah, the wife of Jacob Mitchel, was a descendant of Edward Farmer, the first settler in Whitemarsh. Ja- cob Mitchell was born in Whitemarsh, of parents who came there from Germany. IIis father was a leading man in that township and a prominent mem- ber of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, at Barren Hill. The children of Jacob and Sarah Mitchel were Elizabeth, born in 1791, married James Pierce, of Plym- outh township, and died in 1873; Mary, born in 1793, married Andrew Fisher, of Chestnut Hill, and died in 1873 ; Sarah, born in 1795, married Frederick Klair, of Gwynedd, and died in 1866; Abigail, born in 1798, married William Cowden, of Plymouth, and died in August, 1861; John, born in 18)1, lived in Springfield, and died in 1853; Ann, born in 1804, now widow of Valentine Keely, of Roxborough ; Rachel, born September 19, 1806, now wife of Enoch Shoemaker ; Hannah, born in 1809, married Phineas Michener, of Plymouth township, and died in 1867.

Enoch and Rachel (Mitchel) Shoemaker have been the parents of the following-named children : Samuel, born August 8, 1833, died in infancy ; Charles, born July 8, 1836, now living in Whitpain township; Hannah, born May 3, 1839, now Mrs. John H. Mann, of Horsham ; Sallie J., born July 25, 1843, attended a select school taught by Enoch H. Supplee, of Phila- delphia; Mary Amanda, born March 26, 1845, died in the fifth year of her age.

Charles, second son of Enoch Shoemaker, attended the common schools, also the school of G. D. Wolle, at Norristown, in the fall and winter of 1856. He was married to Mary S., daughter of Joseph P. Conard, of Whitpain township, December 24, 1863. They have been the parents of children as follows : Joseph Con- ard, Enoch (died in infancy), Ella, Rebecca J., Rachel, Annie C., Mary K., Charles and Frank.

Hannah Shoemaker, daughter of Enoch and Rachel, attended the Adelphia Institute, at Norristown, dur- ing the winter and spring of 1857. She was mar- ried, March 13, 1862, to John H. Mann, of Hor- sham. Mr. Mann is a descendent of an ancestor who came to America in 1733, and settled in Bueks County. In 1748 he moved to a farm of one hundred and sixty-four acres, which he had taken up in Hors- ham township. Samuel Mann, grandfather of John H., was married, in 1777, to Margaret Keith, daughter of William Keith, of Makefield, Bucks Co., at whose honse General Washington had his headquarters when he marched against the Hessians at Trenton, on the night of December 25, 1776.

The children of John H. and Hannah (Shoemaker) Mann have been Charles S., now a student in the State Normal School, at West Chester; W. Henry; Albert H .; Rachel, deceased; Enoch, died in in- fancy ; Sallie L .; Walter ; and Ann Cornelia. Mrs. Mann is a member of Puff's Lutheran Church, in Up- per Dublin.

Mr. Shoemaker, the subject of this memoir, received in his youth only such education as was afforded by

the common country schools of that time. He was apprenticed to Morgan Morgan, in Gwynedd township, to learn the blacksmith's trade, at which he afterwards worked about one year with Andrew Fisher, at Chest- nnt Hill, soon after which he left the business and returned to his father's farm in Whitpain, where he remained until his marriage. He then settled in Springfield township on his father-in-law's farm, which he rented from year to year for sixteen years, and then purchased. He has now lived on the place for fifty-three years. For the first thirty-two years after his marriage he lived in the old farm-house, then removed to the new house, which has now been his residence for twenty-one years. Mr. Shoemaker was by birthright a Friend. Mrs. Shoemaker is a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church at Barren Hill. Their daughter, Sallie J., is a member of the Manatawny Baptist Church.

On the 8th of March, 1882, the "golden wedding" festival of Enoch and Rachel Shoemaker was cele- brated at their house by eighty-four persons, nearly all of whom were members of the family. The Rev. William Smith, of the Cold Point Baptist Church, and the Rev. Charles T. Pritchard, of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, were present and conducted the religious exercises, which were preceded and followed by vocal and instrumental music. The presents were numerous and valuable. The family history was read by Charles S. Mann, grandson of the venerable couple. The ceremonies and festivities were continued during the entire day, and the occasion was one which will be long remembered by those who participated in it.

CHAPTER LXXIV.

TOWAMENCIN TOWNSHIP.I

TOWAMENCIN 2 township is one of the central towu- ships of the county, bounded on the northeast by Hatfield, south by Worcester, southeast by Gwynedd, southwest by Perkiomen and west by Lower Salford. Its greatest length is four and a half miles, breadth nearly three, with an area of about six thousand aeres. The surface is slightly rolling, and the soil a red shale. It is watered by the Skippack and Towa- menein Creeks. The former has a course of nearly three miles, but furnishes no valuable water-power. The latter is a branch of the Skippack, and lies al- most wholly within the township, and in a course of six miles propels two grist-mills. These streams also receive several tributaries within this territory, all of

1 By Wm. J. Buck.

2 The name of this township is spelled both Towamencin and Towamen- sing. Though there is good reason for thinking that Towamensing was the original spelling, we have adopted Towamencin because it is so spell- 1 ed in official proceedings at Norristown, and has been for many years.

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TOWAMENCIN TOWNSHIP.

which go to help the volume of the Skippack, a con- fluent of the Perkiomen.

The only material public improvement is the Spring House and Sumneytown turnpike, finished in 1848, which crosses the township for a distance of three miles near its centre. According to the census of 1800, it contained 473 inhabitants; in 1840, 763; and in 1880, 1282. Although its progress has not been rapid, yet every decade has shown an increase. The real estate in 1882 for taxable purposes was valued at $847,735, and including the personal, $929,235. The taxables were 313, and the aggregate per head is $2968, making it in point of wealth the tenth township in the county, and almost the equal of Gwynedd. In 1883 we find here two hotels, one hardware, one boot and shoe, onegeneral store and three dealers in flour and feed. It contains six public schools, open six months, with an average attendance of 233 scholars; in 1856 five schools were open four months, with an average of 142 pupils. The census of 1830 gives 144 houses, 175 families and 132 farms. It contains five churches, belonging, respectively, to the Mennonites, Dunkards, Lutheran, Reformed, Schwenkfelders and Methodists.

Towamencin is a name of Indian origin, and no doubt was taken from the stream bearing it. In March, 1728, the territory was formed into a town- ship, and at the request of the petitioners called Towamencin. A draft thereof in the records states its area to be "about five thousand five hundred aeres." Although its boundaries have not since been changed, yet, like all other early surveys, its area is now made somewhat more, no doubt in part brought about by a closer or more exact measurement through the increased value of lands. A list of the land-holders and tenants of this township was pre- pared in 1734, which we now propose to give here in full, being thirty-two in number, which necessarily must contain some of its earliest settlers, of whom, to a limited extent, a further account will be given: Joseph Morgan, 200 acres; James Wall, 100; John Morgan, 200; Daniel Morgan, 200; Daniel Williams, 200; John Edwards, 250; Joseph Lukens, 200; Jacob Hill, 100; Hugh Evans, 180; Cadwallader Evans, 100 ; Christian Weber, 50; Nicholas Lesher, 150 ; Paul Hendricks, 100; Jacob Fry, 200; Peter Weber, 150; Peter Tyson, 100; Christian Brinaman, 150; Law- rence Hendricks, 150; Garret Schrager, 100; Leonard Hendricks, 150; Henry Hendricks, 123; Herman Gotschalk, 100; John Gotschalk, 120; Gotschalk Gotschalk, 120; Abraham Lukens, 200; Francis Grif- fith, 100; William Nash, 50; Henry Fry, 50; Felty Consenhiser, 23; Peter Wentz ; William Tennis, 25 ; Jellis Jellis, 22 acres.

It is apparent, in examining the above list, that many of the early settlers came hither after a brief residence in or around Germantown. As their children grew up and the country became more improved they moved to where cheaper lands abounded, though at the expense of greater toil.

The first land probably taken up in Towamencin was a grant of one thousand acres from Penn's com- missioners of property to Benjamin Furley, June 8, 1703. This was purchased nine days later from Fur- ley's attorneys by Abraham Tennis and Jan Lucken, who, in 1709, divided it, cach taking five hundred acres. This tract embraced the northern part of the township and extended to the present Skippack road, and perhaps as far down as Kulpsville. Here they settled and made the first improvements, and even to this day the descendants of John Lucken or Lukens retain a portion of the ancestral tract. Henry Fry purchased twelve hundred and fifty acres on the Towamencin Creek from Benjamin Fairman, Decem- ber 10, 1724, on which he also was the first settler. The Tennis family, it appears, for awhile flourished here. On the list of 1734 we find only the name of William Tennis with 25 acres, but in 1776, Samuel Tennis with 192 acres, and William and Israel Tennis. They possessed an old burial-place in the northeast part of the township, though the name has now be- come extinct in this section. Christian Weber made his purchase in 1728, and very likely then made his residence here. Wilhelm, Heinrich, Lorentz. and Gerhart Hendricks resided at Germantown before 1700. William Hendricks and his sons, Henry and Lawrence, were naturalized in 1709, to hold and en- joy lands, Among the descendants of those in the list of 1734, the Hendricks and the Gotschalks are still numerous, and the names of Lukens, Wentz, Fry and Edwards are still here. The last is the only surviving one of those of English or Welsh origin, who then constituted over one-third of the total number. William Nash, in May, 1747, was a collector of taxes in Towamencin.

Jan Lucken came from Holland in the fall of 1688 and shortly afterwards settled at Germantown. Ac- cording to his Bible record, he had seven sons and four daughters. Elias was born in 1686; William, 1687; John, 1691; Peter, 1696; Mathias, 1700; Abraham, 1703; and Joseph, in 1705. Jan Lucken made his will October 9, 1741, leaving to his son Abraham three hundred acres, to be taken off the southeast side of his tract, and the balance he di- rected to be sold. Abraham made his will March 31, 1776, by which it appears he had nine children,- John, Mathias, William, Abraham, Joseph, Job, Margaret, Jonathan and Enos. His executors were Elizabeth, his second wife, and sons John and Mathias. The homestead, of two hundred acres, situated near the present Union or Brick Church, was sold out of the family. In the assessment of Towamencin for 1776 we find Abraham Lukens taxed for 215 acres; Joseph Lukens, 98; John Lukens, son of Abraham, 115 acres ; Peter Lukens, 87 acres ; and John Lukens, 109 acres. John Lukens, son of Abraham, continued to reside on his homestead nntil his death, and his son George became its owner in 1805, and retained possession for about forty-four

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

years. The Lukens family here, like their kindred in Horsham, appear to have been noted for longev- ity, as well as for being substantial land-holders.

Heinrich Frey or Fry, a native of Altheim, in Al- saee, it is stated, came to Pennsylvania before the arri- val of William Penn and settled near Roxborongh. In 1692 he was married, at Germantown, to Catharine, daughter of Wigart Levering. They had nine chil- dren, of whom six were sons. He purchased, as has been mentioned, twelve hundred and fifty acres on Towamenein Creek in 1724. It is a family tradition that two of his sons walked up from the Wissahiekon, a distance of eighteen or twenty miles, on Monday mornings, bringing their provisions along with them for the week, for the purpose of making a clearing and erecting a house, which they completed by the fol- lowing spring. A few Indians, who appeared friendly, were still lingering here, having a couple of wigwams on the banks of the stream. The chief, who visited the seene of their labors, observed them eating bread, when they gave him a piece, which he ate and pronounced good. On the following week they brought him an extra loaf, at which he was greatly delighted, and in return the following day brought them a saddle of venison. The eldest of these brothers was Jacob, who had two sons and two daughters, whereof Daniel Fry is still living on the homestead at the good old age of ninety-four years, and yet very active. The

family possess an ancient burial-ground in the town- ship, which is now in a dilapidated condition. In the assessment of 1776 we find, as in 1734, the name of Jacob Fry with two hundred acres. The late Jacob Fry, of the Trappe, member of Congress and auditor- general of Pennsylvania, is represented as a descend- ant of this family.

Christian Weber and wife, Appolonia, arrived in Philadelphia in 1727, and the following year pur- chased a farm on the west side of the present turn- pike, adjoining Gwynedd line. He built a stone house here in 1737, which is still standing. His death oe- curred in 1778, at the age of eighty-two years. He had sons,-Jacob, Benjamin, Nicholas and Christian. Jacob Weber had three sons,-Abraham, Benjamin and Isaac. Christian Weber, Jr., was born in 1743 and married Elizabeth Wiedner in 1765, and kept an inn half a mile below Kulpsville, on the west side of the turnpike, now the residence of William H. Anders. His wife died in 1805, after which he mar- ried the widow of the Rev. Jacob Van Buskirk. He was a captain in the Revolution, and, it is said, re- cruited one hundred men for the service. Governor Mifflin appointed him a justice of the peace, and he also served in the beginning of this century as one of the county commissioners. He had two sons,-John and Jesse,-who both became prominent men. The former was born in 1768, became a miller, and in 1807 was elected to the Assembly, of which he served twice as Speaker. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob and Catharine Reiff, and had five

children. His death and also his father's occurred in 1815. Jesse Weber was captain of the Montgomery Union Troop of Horse, to which post he was elected September 28, 1807, and afterwards, with his company, went into the service at Camp Dupont during the late war with England. He was also elected trom this county to the Assembly in 1844 and the follow- ing year. We find rated in Towamenein for 1776, Christian Weber, Sr., for fifty-two acres; Christian Weber, Jr., one hundred; and Benjamin Weber, sixty-four acres.

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 230

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