History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 249

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 249

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).

The Blue Bell Benevolent Society was first organized April 15, 1867 ; number of members 133. Present officers : President, Jacob Hoover; Vice-President, George Shoemaker; Secretary, George G. Rossiter ; Treasurer, William H. Slingluff; Trustees, Samuel D. Shearer, Linford S. Preston and Henry F. Conard.

BROAD AXE is situated in the lower part of the township along the Whitemarsh line, at the intersee- tion of the Skippaek turnpike and the Upper Dublin and Plymouth turnpike roads.

The village contains one inn, store, post-office, blacksmith and wheelwright-shops and six dwellings. A portion of the village is in the adjoining township.

Reading Howell, on his map of 1792, denotes a tavern here called " Broad Axe." The sign originally contained a broad axe, square and compass.

The post-office was first established here in 1855, with John Cadwallader, postmaster. The office is still kept here, and Jacob G. Dannehower, postmaster.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

During the days of horse-racing a running course was here, one-half mile in length, extending from the village to the road leading to Wertsner's Mill. Many an exciting race here took place and was witnessed by large crowds. The ground was finally abandoned for that purpose in 1840.

The Washington Benevolent Society of the town- ship of Whitpain, organized February 12, 1841, holds its regular meetings on the last Saturday evening of each month in the hall of the hotel. Present officers,- President, Francis Schlater; Vice-President, Charles Harner; Secretary, Charles Kehr; Treasurer, George Lower; Trustees, Reuben Ellis, Charles Aimen and Sylvester Jones; Door-Keeper, Anthony Hallman. For a period of thirty-eight years Francis H. Kehr filled the position of secretary.

The society, from its organization until 1881, paid out the sum of $36,268.42 for relief and $6565 for funerals, making a total of $42,833.42.

FRANKLINVILLE is situated near the eastern portion of the township, at the intersection of the Morris and State roads, and contains one inn and seven dwell- ings.

The fine country-seat, farm and summer residence of William M. Singerly, of the Philadelphia Record, is located here. Here is to be seen one of the finest herds of "imported Holstein cattle " in Pennsylvania. In the assessment of 1882 he returned to the assessor sixty head, mostly of that breed, and kept on the farm.

Washington Square is located at the intersection of the township line, dividing the township from Norri- ton, and Centre square and Norristown turnpike, and contains one inn, wheelwright, blacksmith-shop and five dwellings.

Along the line of the Stony Creek Railroad,1 which passes the entire width of the northern portion of the township, are the villages of Caster and Belfry. The former is located in the extreme western part, near the line of the townships of Norriton and Worcester, and contains a steam mill for grinding graiu, coal- yard and several fine dwellings.

Belfry is located at the Worcester line, dividing that township from Whitpain and the Skippack road. A flour, feed, coal and lumber-yard, kept by Theodore Harrar, blacksmith shop and several houses, consti- tute the village. There is a post-office here, making the third in the district.

Schools and Education .- The first school-house in the township was located near the centre, along the Skippack road, where the road leading to the Union meeting-house intersects, and was taught by one William Knox about the year 1766.

Philip Dotterra and his wife, Jannegan, by their deed, dated April 16, 1760, sold sixty-one and a half perches of land for five shillings, situated at the junc- tion of the North Wales road and the Pennllyn turn-

pike, to Philip Wentz, Jolın Martin, Frederick Dull and Jacob Cobler for a school-house. A stone struc- ture was shortly afterwards erected thereon. This was for a parochial school, as it was the custom of the early Germans, as soon as the church building was completed, to provide a school-house and teacher. The school was kept open to all that chose to comply with the regulations. The above-named persons were members and officers of Boehm's Church. The pro- perty now belongs to the congregation, and a house for the sexton occupies the old spot. Nicholas Korn- doffer taught the school in 1777.

Centre School is now located near the original spot of the first school, and was erected in 1800.

Ellis' school-house is located in the forks of the Swedes' Ford road and the Centre Square and Norris- town turnpike road, and was first built on ground deeded September 10, 1787, by Isaac Ellis, Andrew Knox and wife, Isabella, containing six and one-half perches, for the sum of six shillings. The persons to whom the deed was given resided in the townships of Whitpain, Norriton and Plymouth, and the sum of forty-seven pounds was raised towards building a house, which was built the same season.

Sandy Hill school is situated at the Six Points, and was first built on ground deeded by Joseph Lukens and wife, Mary, in 1796, to trustees, members of Ply- mouth Meeting and Society of Friends. The support- ers resided in the townships of Whitpain, Plymouth and Whitemarsh, and it was kept open to all that wished to send there.

The teacher was always employed by the trustees In 1837 there were 40 males and 28 females from the district ; from other districts, 29 males and 5 females, making a total of 106 scholars, all taught by one teacher, Benjamin Conrad.

Centre Square School was first erected on grounds purchased from Henry Groff and wife, Elizabeth, November 1, 1825, by Rev. George Wack and Henry Hurst, trustees appointed by the district.

There are at present six school-houses in the dis- trict; the last two, Franklinville and Shady Grove, have been located and built since the adoption of the school law.

The enactment of the school law, of 1834, raised a storm of opposition, especially among the Germans or their descendants. This was, however, not because they were opposed to education, but because it was "something new." To the eredit of the township, be it recorded, that although there was strenuous oppo- sition, it chose to adopt the common school system from the first, and never faltered in its support.

The school law first went into operation May 26, 1836; length of term, six months. On May 2, 1837, a vote was taken on the continuation of the system, and was continued by a vote of 70 in favor and 59 against.

The last election on the subject was held March 19, 1841, when eighty-nine votes were given in favor of its continuation and fifty-five against.

1 The Stony Creek Railroad was built, commencing in 1871, and opened January 1, 1874.

WHITPAIN TOWNSHIP.

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This virtually ended the opposition to free schools. They have been regularly kept open, varying in term from six to teu months; and to its credit there have been female teachers employed since 1841-forty- three years.

Prior to the adoption of the school law, the usual ' branches taught were spelling, reading, writing and arithmetic. Some few scholars studied grammar, mensuration and surveying. The books in general use were Comly's Primer and Spelling-Book ; intro- duction, English Reader ; sequel, Columbian Orator, Scott's Lessons and the American Speaker. The three last were considered high branches. Arith- metics : American Tutor (by Zachariah Jess), Pike's and Rose's. Geographies : Adams', Olney's and Smith's. These were generally used for reading- books, and the questions asked by the master (teacher).

The early school-houses were all built of stone. The desks were placed around against the walls, and the pupils occupying them sat facing the windows. Benches without backs, for the smaller scholars, oc- cupied the middle of the room.

A desk for the teacher, a huge wood-stove in the middle of the room, a bucket, tin-cup, splint-broom, and what was called a "pass," a small paddle, having the words "In and Out" written in opposite sides, constituted the furniture of the room.

During the time of wood-stoves, it was customary for the larger boys at noon to cut the wood and carry the same in the house and place it around under the desks for use.

The larger girls took their turns in keeping the room clean.

The law for the education of poor children was passed April 4, 1809. By that act the assessors were required to take the census of all children between the ages of five and twelve years whose parents were unable to pay for their schooling.

Iu 1830 the assessor returned eighteen children from the district to be supported by the county.

The first teachers and their salaries in 1836 .- Centre School, Dr. Pile, teacher, $20 per month ; Ellis School, George Roney, teacher, $20 per month ; Sandy Hill School, Benjamin Conray, teacher, $20 per month ; Centre Square School, T. G. Bates, teacher, $20 per month; Franklinville School, Samuel Arnold, teacher, $20 per month; Mount Pleasant School, Joseph Roney, teacher, $20 per month.

Teachers and their salaries in 1883 .- Centre School, Lizzie Hallowell, teacher, 838 per month ; Ellis School, Lillian Rynick, teacher, $30 per month ; Sandy ITill School, Annie Whitcomb, teacher, $30 per month ; Centre Square School, Reuben Beyer, teacher, $38 per month ; Franklinville School, Kate Hallman, teacher, $38 per month; Mount Pleasant School (now Shady Grove), Maria Taggert, teacher, $38 per month.

Whole number of scholars in the district in 1836, 294; whole number of scholars in the district in 1883,

216. Whole amount of cost for tuition and repairs in 1836, $1203.09; whole amount of cost for tuition and repairs in 1883, $1949.41.

Directors in 1836 .- Charles Greger, Jacob Fisher, Peter C. Evans (secretary), John Styer, John Rile (president), John Heist, Abraham Wentz (treasurer, appointed outside of the board).

Directors in 1883 .- Henry Hobensack (president), Jones Detwiler (secretary), Albert Katz (treasurer), Joseph C. Beyer, Samnel D. Shearer, Reuben Rode- baugh.

Roads .- The main roads that pass through the township are the Skippack, Morris, State or Swedes' Ford, and the road leading from North Wales Meet- ing-house to Plymouth.

The Skippack road, the most important highway in the township, was opened at an early date, concerning the inception of which we happen to have document- ary evidence which is transferred to these pages. Before the year 1713, settlers had begun to occupy the country along the Skippack Creek, then known as Bebber's township or traet; that it began to be felt necessary to have a central public highway leading to the uorthiwest that would answer better than the crooked, winding paths through the woods and in places over almost impassable swamps. Accordingly, a petition was drawn up and presented to the Court of Quarter Sessions, held in Philadelphia, June 2, 1713.

" To the Court of Quarter Sessions hell, in Philadelphia, June 2, 1713 :

"The petition of the inhabitants of the towoships of Skippack and several adjacent plantations in said county, humbly showeth, that whereas, in the aforesaid township and neighbourhood thereof, pretty many families are already settled, and probably not a few more to settle I in and about the same, And yet no road being laid out and established to accommodate your petitioners ; but what paths have hitherto used are only upon sufferance, and liable to be fenced np. Therefore, your petitioners, both for the public good and their own convenience, humbly desire an order for the laying out and establishing a road or cartway from the upper end of said township down to the wide-marsh, or Farmer's mill, which will greatly teml to the satisfaction of your peti- tioners, who shall thankfully acknowledge the favor, etc."

"Signed by Dick Rosenberry, Henry Frey, Jacob Kolb, Claus Jansen, Peter Bon, Henreich Paonebecker, Thomas Kentworthy, Johonas Sholl, Peter Bellar, Jobin Newberry, Peter Wentz, Abraham Le Fevre, William Renberry, John Krey, Andrew Shrager, Johonas Umstat, Hermaons Kuster, Heinrich Kolb, Daniel Dismant, Jacob Gaetshlack, Lorentz Sweitzer, Mathias Tyson, Gerhard In Iloven, Gerhard Clemmens, James Been, Jobonas Kolb, Martin Kolb, Jacob op den Graeff, Herman In Iloven."

The following is the report of the jury to lay out said road :

" Whereas, by virtue of an order of C'onrt obtained by the Petition of the Inbabitants of Skippack for the laying out of a road from the said Skippack to Edward Farmer's mill, and the same being laid out, dis- satisfaction to some of the Inhabitants of Farmer's township, application being made to the next succeeding Court for a review of the road, aod persons being appointed, namely, llenry Sellen, James Shadeck, Robert Jones, Jolin Roady, Edward Farmer, and Nicholas Scull, or any four of them, and they having reviewed the said Road, as Likewise a Certain Northeast line extending from the said Farmer's Mill up into the country, dividing Divers parcells of land, as by the platform hereunto annexed May more plainly appear, we do find the said line to be a more Direct and better Road with the variations therein laid down, and considerably and less injurious to the Inhabitants, greatly to the satisfaction of the

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

petitioners and the Inhabitants in general, as witness our hands this twenty-sixth day of February, Anno Domini, 1713-14."

(Signed by)

" HENDRICH SELLEN.

" ROBERT JONES.

"JOHN ROADY.

" Enwrap FARMER.

" NICHOLAS SCULL. "

The following are the courses and distances :

"That this is a true return of the road from Skippack Creck, in Bebber township, by Edward Farmer's mill, unto North Wales road . bearing in course from the Skippack Creek 380 perches, varying from southrast seven degrees easterly ; thence due southeast 2829 perches, except two small variations."

(Signed)

" MATTHEW ZIMMERMAN."

The following remonstrance was presented to the court :

" Whereas, this Honorable Court has lately granted a Road from Skip_ pack to Edward Farmer's Mill, and the same having been viewed and laid out, We find it to be very much to our Prejudices and hurt, And whereas your Petitioners have already three allowed Roads through the township, and your Petitioners being generally poor, and have but small tracts of land, the said Road last granted Cutts four of these said small tracts, to the great prejudices of the owners, and laid out through four very bad swamps, not passable withont bridges ; therefore your Petitioners humbly pray that there may be a second review, and we doubt not but we can lay them out a Road far more convenient and straighter, and your Petitioners shall in duty bound pray."

(Signed)

" ABRAHAM DAWS. "J. NICHOLAS SLEEGLEETZ. " CASPER STAIIL. "NICHOLAS SCULL. "and thirteen others."

On the northeast side of this road, on the draft, are marked the lands of Edward Farmer, William Taylor, Joseph Knight, Abm. Daws, Richard Whitpain and Basely Cox, passing through Worcester township, which is named "New Bristol." On the southwest side, beginning in the same order, are Casper Stahl, Robert Ashton, John Palmer, Mary Dane, Jonas Smyth and Basely Cox.

The bridge on the road over the Wissahickon Creek, near Farmer's Mill, was built about the year 1796.

The bridge over Oil-Mill Run, near the Broad Axe, was built in 1804, and cost $1054.15.

The Skippack Creek at the road-crossing was bridged in 1826.

The Zachariah Creek at Stong's Mill, in Worcester township, was bridged in 1848.

An attempt was made in the year 1844 to turnpike the road, and a charter was obtained March 1, 1845. It was to commence at its junction with the Chestunt Hill and Spring House turnpike road, in Whitemarsh, and running through Skippackville to where the Skip- pack road instersects the Swamp road in Perkiomen township. John Jones, John Rex, Abrm. Wentz, Sr., Joseph M. Mather, Morris Longstreth, Jacob G. Sor- ber, Cornelius Tyson, Henry Bergstresser, Jesse Gable, Charles Hendricks and Abraham Hydreck, were named the commissioners in the act, and the price of shares was fixed at fifty dollars.

This attempt failed, and the subject was again re- newed, and another charter obtained dated March 13, 1853, the capital stock to consist of two hundred shares at twenty-five dollars.

William Michener, Charles Stout, John Hobensack, Frederick B. Robeson, David De Haven, George Scheetz, Philip S.Gerhard, John Fitzgerald, Sr. Francis Kehr, John Jones, Matthias Farringer, John F. Styre, Lawrence Lawrence, Levi Miller, Enos Hoxworth, Samuel F. Shaeff, Henry Dickinson, Samuel Streeper, J. L. Rex, Joseph P. Conrad, Abram Wentz Sr., and Jacob Hoover were the commissioners named in the act, with power to construct a turnpike road, com- mencing at the Chestnut Hill and Spring House turn- pike in Whitemarsh, passing through the villages of Broad Axe, Blue Bell and Centre Square. A supple- ment to the charter was procured, and extended the distance to St. John's Lutheran Church. Work was soon commenced and the entire distance was turn- piked. The first officers were the following : Presi- dent, Joseph P. Conard ; Secretary, Frederick Robe- son; Treasurer, John Hobensack; Managers, Charles Stout, William Michener, Jacob Hoover and Francis Kehr. The old Swedes' Ford road was laid out in 1730. By an act of the Legislature, passed April 6, 1830, William Stokes, Merrick Reeder, of Bucks County, Joel K. Mann, Henry Scheetz, of Montgomery County, Dr. William Darlington and David Dickey, of Chester County, were appointed commissioners to straighten and widen the road from a point on the Delaware River, in Bucks County, through the above-named counties, and from that time the road has been called the State road. A turnpike road is constructed on portion of the same from Centre Square to Norristown.

The Morris road was first laid out according to the order of the court held in Philadelphia, September, 1741, to commence at Morris Mill (now, 1883, Conard's auger works), in Whitemarsh township, to Garret Clemmens' mill, in Upper Salford township.

The old road leading from North Wales Friends' Meeting-house to Friends' Meeting, Plymouth, was laid out at a very early date, probably before 1710, as Friends had settled both localities, but its course in the township has been considerably changed.

The rest of the roads have all been laid out since the formation of the county.

There are four turnpikes in and around the town- ship, viz. : Skippack, Centre Square and Norristown, Blue Bell and Pennlyn, and Plymouth and Upper Dublin, along the southeast portion.

By the act of March, 1762,1 the townships of Whit- pain and Plymouth were formed into a district ; each township was to elect one supervisor, and they were to aet jointly in levying the taxes and mending the roads. With this act the inhabitants became dissatis- fied, and after the year 1763 the township became a separate district.

In the year 1762' the whole amount of duplicate

1 " Whereas, John Roberts being chosen Supervisor in the township of Whitpain by the direction of an Act of Assembly of this Province in March, 1762, and Barnabas Coulston, in the township of Plymouth, the said townships being made in one district by said act, and to act in conjunc- tion in all expenses on public roades and highways in suid district

Курортвейдову

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WHITPAIN TOWNSHIP.

assessed for road purposes was $15 19s. 3d; whole amount paid for labor on roads, £9 1s. 9d .; cash paid John Roberts, supervisor, for commissions, 168. ; cash paid ditto for "assessing and drawing the duplicate and getting the same rectified before two justices of the peace, &c.," 5s. The wages paid at that time were 38. 6d. per day.

Taverns and Public-Houses .- There has always been a good supply of public-houses in the township. Nicholas Scull, on his map of 1758, mentions two,- the " White Horse" and "Waggon." In 1749, John Bonton is marked as an inn-keeper.

In the list of taxables, of 1762, Abraham Wentz is marked as inu-keeper, and one hundred and fifty acres of land; Derrick Vanpelt, ditto, twenty-five acres ; Thomas Fitzwater, ditto, and forty acres.

At the August Sessions of 1797, Barbara Rynear, John Wentz, Leonard Styer, James Bartleson and Nicholas Swoyer were licensed to keep public-houses.

In 1808, Joseph Haws, Thomas Humphrey, Joseph Prichard, John Yetter, Valentine Bush, Jesse Fitz- gerald and Jonathan Philips kept licensed houses, and were as follows: Bush's or "White Horse," Cen- tre square, Wentz, Pigeontown (Blne Bell), "Black Horse," ditto, and Broad Axe. These were all lo- cated along the Skippack road, within the distance of four and a half miles. Of this number, Bush's " Big Brick " and Wentz's have been abandoned.

Wentz's, having the "Rising Sun" for a sign, was built in 1764. The house is still standing, and in good condition, being built with heavy brick walls, two stories in height, with heavy plaster cornice on all four sides. In the days of wagon travel this was the chief stopping-place for the heavy teams and was called the wheat market. The millers from the lower mills would meet the farmers here and purchase their grain.

The general elections were held here from 1831 to 1867, when the house was closed to the public. For one hundred and three years this same building was known as a public-house.

On the 4th of October, 1788, the county meeting for the nomination of a county ticket to be supported at the general election was held at the public-house of John Wentz.

Francis Swaine, high-sheriff of Montgomery County, advertises for sale, in the Pennsylvania Gurette, on

The said townships being nearly equal burthend with roades, and the in- habitants of each township near as equal in number and ability to main_ tain the said roades, doth rather chuse to act separately, and for the better confirmation the said John Roberts, of Whitpain, doth hereby discharge and acquit the said Barnabas Coulston, of Plymouth, of all and every charge and expense of what kind soever of all roades in the Township of Whitpain."

"Signed by order of the Inhabitants of Whitpain, March ye 19, 1763, John Roberts, Charles, Jolly, Abraham Wentz, Jacob Levering, Jacob Roberts, John Lewis, Andrew Knox, Thomas Adams, Philip Richardson, Philip Shenenberger, Joshua Dickinson, Benjamin Dickinson, William Davis, Jonathan Taylor, Joseph Conrod, John Dehaven, Joseph Roberts, Joshua Richards, Jonas Supplee, George Robinson, William Robinson, Owen Thomas and William Dehaven.

Monday, February 23, 1789 at the public-house of John Wentz, a tract of land containing fifty acres, the property of Peter Bisbing.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

WILLIAM M. SINGERLY.

The establishment, by William M. Singerly, of a country home in Whitpain, at Franklinville, Gwy- nedd Station, on the North Penn Railroad, was an important event for the people of the township and the county, for it ultimately led to the development of what is probably the most extensive and elaborate high-grade stock-farm in the country, which, as a kind ofinformal agricultural academy, has exerted a marked influence upon the advancement of farming and stock interests in the region round about. It has, as an educa- tional institution, taught many practical object-lessons.

The way in which it came to pass that a young business man, city-born and city-bred, became the owner and manager of a great farm and herds of cattle and sheep, and gained an intimate knowledge of agricultural methods and scientific systems of feed- ing and caring for animals, was this: In 1872, his health and strength having become slightly impaired by close and constant application to weighty business matters, and by the varied and unceasing demands always made upon the time and consideration of a man of affairs, he was urged by his father to seek the recuperation which a summer home in the country would afford. Thus counseled, he bought a little farm of sixty-eight acres, to which, in the summer of 1873, he removed. From this little beginning, made with no other thought or object than we have indi- cated, grew, by occasional additions, the " Record farms " of six hundred acres, which, in their improved condition, with the immense buildings upon them and the stock which they support, represent an invest- ment of about a quarter of a million dollars. The land, which had been somewhat impoverished, was, by careful fertilizing processes, brought into a high degree of richness, a careful plau of drainage was carried out and the utmost pains taken to produce the most desirable crops in greatest possible quantity and best quality. Mr. Singerly's latent natural taste for the healthful freedom of ontdoor life, and his love for the nobler domestic animals, were both quickened, and with the energy which has characterized him in other extensive enterprises, and the organizing ability which has made them successful, he entered ambi- tiously upon the difficult but absorbing task of per- feeting the best stock-farm in the State. No effort or expense was spared which tended toward the realiza- tion of his ideal in this direction.

Some idea of the extent of Mr. Singerly's stock

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 249

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