USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Lives of the eminent dead and biographical notices of prominent living citizens of Montgomery County, Pa. > Part 12
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Many, if not nearly all these "lights of the world," without doubt, received much of their training from the godly man whose life we are writing.
Abington is one of the first organized Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania, Rev. Malachai Jones, a Welshman, being con- stituted first pastor in 1714, a hundred and sixty-four years ago. He continued to minister to them till his death, which occurred in 1729. On December 30th, 1731, Rev. Richard Treat was next installed pastor, and continued till 1778, a period of forty-nine years. In 1781, after an interregnum of three years, Rev. Dr. William Mackey Tennent was placed over the church by the Presbytery. While here he gave part
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REV. ROBERT STEEL, D. D.
of his time to the congregations of Norriton and Providence. During Tennent's pastorate the log house of worship was torn down and a stone building erected in its place. Dr. Tennent died December 2d, 1810, after an incumbency of twenty-nine years. In 1812 Rev. William Dunlap, a son of the President of Jefferson College, was next called. He died in 1818, after laboring six years, and was buried in the same yard with other pastors.
On September 9th, 1819, the pastorate of Rev. Robert Steel began, which was terminated by his death on September 2d, 1862, lacking only a week of forty-three years. Thus, after a life-time (between the young man of 24 and the old one of 68) spent with one people, his remains, as those of his predeces- sors, lie in charge of the people to whom he ministered so long and well. To a friend, a short time before his demise, he made the following solemn and remarkable declaration con- cerning the church and himself: "There is an interesting fact in the history of this church worthy of note. It is this: all the ministers who have preceded me for the space of more than one hundred years are but four in number, and have lived and died among you; and they all sleep in yonder grave-yard, waiting in hope until the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised. There, too, I hope to be laid when I put off this tabernacle." "And it is even so now," says his eulogist .* It is certainly a wonderful if not unprecedented fact in congre- gational records, deducting the brief pastorate of Rev. Mr. Dunlap, Dr. Steel's immediate predecessor, and including the subject of our notice, that these four men who spent their ministry there aggregate a period of one hundred and forty- two years, or an average for each minister of thirty-five and a half years.
But it becomes us to speak of his general work. That he took a deep interest in every spiritual and worldly need of his people and of the community at large, is but telling how he felt instead of what he accomplished. A warm, sympathetic heart is but characteristic of the Celtic race; but when a gener-
*Rev. John Gray, D. D., of Easton, Pennsylvania, who preached his commemora- tive sermon.
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REV. ROBERT STEEL, D. D.
ous nature has been touched and sanctified by divine grace, it is doubly prepared to fly to the relief of the wretched and to lift up the fallen. His judgment in matters of charity was so well known and confided in that one wealthy man made him his almoner, as doubtless did others.
In 1831 his church was visited by a deep revival work. A day of humiliation and prayer had been appointed by the ses- sion, which was solemnly observed. The next Sabbath the number attending divine service could not all be seated, and so for weeks the work went on, Dr. Steel being aided by Drs. Ely, Green, Junkin, McAuly, and others.
In 1833 his congregation found their house of worship too strait for the adequate accommodation of the people, and an enlargement was accomplished at considerable cost, during which time he preached to the people in a grove near by.
On the rise of the temperance reform in 1842 he espoused the cause, and was one of the early members of the first or- ganization, called the Montgomery County Temperance So- ciety, which met in different places from time to time, and which assembled at Abington Hall in November, 1843, under his patronage.
Dr. Steel was the President of the Montgomery County Bi- ble Society almost from its organization till a short time before his death, the annual convocations being generally held at Norristown in the early spring.
In 1860 the Huntindon Valley Presbyterian Church was or- ganized-an offshoot of his own, and founded with his assist- ance and favor, which doubtless has a promising and hopeful future.
In 1863 the Abington congregation, that he had left so pros- perous the previous year, replaced their church edifice with a new one up to the standard architecture of the times.
Dr. Steel was held in high estimation by his clerical breth- ren, and wielded a large influence among them. This is shown by the official positions he held at their hands, permanent and occasional. He was for a considerable period a trustee of the General Assembly of the church and also of the Board of Do- mestic Missions, and of the government of Lafayette College.
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In all of these trusts he was so scrupulously true, and punc- tual in attendance upon church courts also, that his friend, Dr. Murphy, says: "Some months before his death he declared to. a friend that never during all his long ministry had he been: absent from one stated meeting of Synod." The honorary title of D. D. was conferred upon him by the Faculty of Lafay- ette College in 1846.
Dr. Steel was blessed with a true helpmate in his wife, Mrs .. Mary Steel, daughter of Dr. Reading Beatty, of Bucks county,. whom he married in October, 1820, and who survived him about fifteen years, passing away near the close of the Centen- nial year or beginning of 1877. While she lived she also was- a constant alms-giver. The ladies of the church, after her death, in recounting her fidelity, add: " This season was com- pleted the thirtieth box of clothing sent to gospel workers in the West, largely through her help."
As a preacher Dr. Steel was characterized by great earnest- ness and simplicity, never seeking to electrify his hearers with great conceptions or sensational rhetoric. The secret of his. power is described by Rev. Dr. Gray, who preached his memorial sermon. He says: "Feeling deeply both his subject and his responsibility to God and man, and with a soul warm and af- fectionate even to the tenderness of tears, it is not strange that he often suffused the souls of others with a similar tenderness through the contagious influence of his own feelings." And again: "Another peculiarity of his moral constitution was the power he possessed of differing from others, if differ he must, in love and tenderness, not in wrath or denunciation. This was the more remarkable in a person of ardent feelings; for while no man was more decided in his judgment, nor more can- did in declaring it, yet he did not quarrel with his adversary."
In person Dr. Steel was rather under the common stature, stoutly built, of light florid complexion, inclining to baldness, with gray locks in his later years. His features were round and full, indicating the warm, sanguineous temperament.
Dr. Steel and wife had four daughters and one son. The son and one daughter are deceased. One daughter, Elizabeth, is married to John J. C. Harvey, Esq., and Mary to Dr. Har- vey, a brother of the former.
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GOV. FRANCIS R. SHUNK.
GOVERNOR FRANCIS R. SHUNK.
The wise man is always for some solid good, civil or moral; as to make his country more virtuous, preserve her peace and liberty, employ her poor, improve land, advance trade, suppress vice, encourage industry and all mechanical knowledge; and that they should be the care of the government and the blessing and praise of the people .- William Penn.
As an eminent native of Montgomery county none is more worthy of a page in our galaxy of bright names than Francis Rahn Shunk, who was twice elected Governor of Pennsylvania. He was a " Penn- sylvania German" in the highest sense of that title, for, to use a modernism, he never "went back on" the simplicity of his village education or his honest German ancestry. He was born at Trappe, Upper Providence township, August 7th, 1788, just before the ex- isting United States government went into operation. His father, John Shunk, who was but a plain farmer, married Elizabeth Rahn, a name still common in that locality. He belonged to or was de- scended from the Protestant Germans who came in great numbers to America from the Palatinates about 1715 to 1717, and settled all over Pennsylvania. They were a religious people, who fled from persecution in the fatherland, and made the best citizens that came to our State.
The parents of Francis R. Shunk, being poor, were not able to put him on a farm, but gave him instead a good common school education, which he improved so well, and so added to by private study, that some time before he attained his majority he was fitted to teach the country school in his native village. Hon. Jacob Fry, Hon. Joseph Royer, and other prominent citizens of the vicinity, were his pupils. He followed this calling for several years till his friend, General Andrew Porter, of our county, became Surveyor General of the State under Governor Snyder, in 1812, who em- ployed young Shunk as his secretary. While filling this position he commenced the study of law with Thomas Elder, Esq., a pro- fession, however, for which he never had much taste. In 1814 he was among those who, with the militia of the State, marched to the de- fence of Baltimore from the invasion of the British. Very soon after this he was elected assistant clerk of the House of Represen- tatives of the State, and finally chief clerk, a post which he filled many years. He was so capable and faithful in a clerical capacity that in 1829 he was appointed clerk to the Canal Commissioners, a
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GOV. FRANCIS R. SHUNK.
very important and influential office, for it brought its incumbent into contact with contractors and public men all over the Common- wwealth. It was an office, too, that tried the integrity of the man ; ·for the immense sums then being disbursed by the State in internal improvements were a fearful temptation to the commissioners and their clerk to play "Boss Tweed," as has been done in various :parts of the country in late years.
On the accession of David R. Porter, in 1838, Mr. Shunk was .appointed Secretary of the Commonwealth, and held the place till 1842. In 1844 he was nominated to succeed Governor Porter, and .elected over Joseph Markle, Whig, by 4272 votes. He chose Jesse Miller to be Secretary of the Commonwealth, and filled the office of Governor during one of the most difficult periods in our history, arising from the prostration of the industry of the State and the „doubtful credit of the Commonwealth, the debt having become very large. The State had extensive works going on requiring great financial skill in the Governor and the Canal Board, who de- rived their power from him. Notwithstanding the difficulties of his position, his administration was so popular that he was renominated :as a matter of course, and at the next election; in 1847, even with the Free Soil influence against him, and with a Native-American and an Abolition candidate also in the field, was elected over James Irvin, Whig, by a plurality of 16,933, or an absolute majority over all of 4825 votes.
Very soon after his inauguration to a second term, his health, ,which had never been very robust, gave way, and he concluded to resign the office. This made William F. Johnston, then Speaker of the Senate, Governor till the next election, when the then incum- bent reached the office, at the polls, by 299 votes over Morris Longstreth, another Montgomery county man, who had been nomi- nated by the Democracy. Thus ended, July 20th, 1848, when he died, the long and useful life of Francis R. Shunk, at the age of 60 years. According to his request his remains were brought to Trappe ifor interment, showing that his after-life distinction had not effaced the attachments of his youth.
Over his body there was erected on July 4th, 1851, in Augustus Lutheran Church Cemetery, by subscription of citizens of the State, a marble shaft twenty-five feet high, bearing the following inscrip- tions :
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GOV. FRANCIS R. SHUNK.
South side : A medallion likeness of Governor Shunk in bas -- relief above, and below, chiseled in German, Zum Gedächtniss der hier ruhenden Gebeine des weihland verstorbenen FRANTZ RAHN SHUNK er wurde geboren in der Trapp Montgomery County Pennsylvania den 7 August im Jahre unsers Herrn 1788 Er starb den 20 July 1848 im Alter von 59 Jahren II Monaten 18 Tagen. Ich weiss das mein Erloesser Lebt Hiob Cap 19 vers 25.
East face reads :
FRANCIS R. SHUNK, Governor of Pennsylvania. Born at Trappe August 7, 1788. Died at Harrisburg July 20, 1848.
Francis R. Shunk was not a brilliant but a sincerely honest man .. This reputation he maintained through a long political life. Like- his predecessor, Simon Snyder, he was one of the old-time, honest Germans, of whom our State has produced so many. The text chosen for his monument shows that the halo of the Muhlenbergs, who used to breathe patriotism and piety combined in the old' Trappe church, was not lost on young Frantz Shunk as he sat in that classic sanctuary.
Annually, while he lived at Harrisburg, he paid a visit to the. scenes of his childhood, generally being the guest of his life-long friend, Hon. Jacob Fry, Jr. At such times he loved to visit among. his old acquaintances, without any regard to rank or party. A gentleman, who was a small boy then, relates the following inci- dent, showing his utter lowliness of mind and enduring friendship for old acquaintances. He says : "I was but a mere lad at that time, but well remember his tall and noble form and pleasant face .. His child-like simplicity and goodness of heart were conspicuous. His delight was to visit the abodes of the older villagers of Trappe, no matter how humble their lot, and talk with them of 'ye olden:
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REV. ABRAHAM HUNSICKER.
time.' A poor widow, named Haxpel, lived in a little log house ·above the village, on whom he especially delighted to call. On one occasion (I recall the occurrence as if it had been yesterday) he purchased a basket of groceries and sent my brother and myself to carry them to her. Having tarried a little at starting with our charge, when we arrived we found him already there, stretched on the bare but clean floor and leaning against a cupboard, talking with her in Pennsylvania German about the time when he and she were boy and girl together."
His religious feeling was very strong, and he always arranged his visits so as to worship once in the quaint old building of his child- 'hood, or in the more modern edifice near by erected in later years.
REV. ABRAHAM HUNSICKER.
Rest from thy labor, rest ; Soul of the just set free .- Montgomery.
One of the most eminent and respectable German families in Montgomery county is that whose surname stands at the head of this page. The record of its emigration is that Valentine Hun- sicker, a native of Switzerland, a nation which has preserved its freedom and independence a thousand years, came to the United States in 1717, and about 1720 settled in what was then called Van Beber, since Skippack, now Perkiomen township. He is probably ithe progenitor of all of the name in Montgomery county. The next generation in the direct line was Henry Hunsicker, whose wife, Esther, was the daughter of John Detwiler. These were the parents of Rev. Abraham Hunsicker, the subject of this biography, who was born July 31st, 1793, in East Perkiomen township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. His ancestors being the followers of Menno Simon, a plain, unworldly sect, most of whom grew up to under- value liberal education " as of the world," Abraham Hunsicker en- joyed but the most limited educational advantages. When grown up he felt the disadvantages of the want of scholastic training, and being of a strong natural endowment early conceived the idea of reforming his religious brethren in reference to that subject.
On May 30th, 1816, he was married to Elizabeth Alderfer, and :there were born to them ten children, as follows: Ann, intermar- iried with John B. Landis; Benjamin A. to Hannah Detwiler ; Esther, first married to Abraham Detwiler, and afterwards to Gideon
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REV. ABRAHAM HUNSICKER.
Fetterolf ; Henry A., intermarried first with Mary Weinberger, and. afterwards with Anne C. Gotwals; Abraham H., married to Rachel Rittenhouse; Elizabeth, wife of Francis R. Hunsicker; Elias A.,; intermarried with Susan F. Moyer; Mary A., widow of Rev. Jared T. Preston; Catharine A., wife of Rev. Joseph H. Hendricks, pas- tor of Trinity Church, Freeland; Horace M., who married Eliza Cosgrove. All the children of Abraham and Elizabeth Hunsicker,. except Benjamin, the eldest son, who died in 1855, are living. Two' sons reside in Philadelphia, two in Montgomery county, a daugh- ter in Bucks county, and the others near the place of their birth.
Abraham Hunsicker was ordained a minister of the Mennonist: church January Ist, 1847, and soon after was elected a Bishop ... About that time a schism occurred in the Mennonite body, and. Rev. Mr. Hunsicker was separated from the " old school" or con- servative class of the society. In 1851 a second division took place, when Mr. Hunsicker set about organizing anew. He issued a pam- phlet entitled "A statement of facts and summary of views on mo- rals and religion, as related with suspension from the Mennonite" meeting." In this he portrayed the excellence of that christian- charity and toleration which should prevail among religious denomi- nations, as clearly set forth in the teachings and example of Christ .. He deplored to the close of his life the undue tenacity evinced by most christian sects for non-essentials in religious doctrine, thus: keeping them apart instead of drawing them to co-operate in the- great work of saving souls.
Though brought up a Mennonite, under a rigid discipline which forbade marriage with any outside of the meeting, prohibiting mem- bers also from going to law to recover property, and regarding a- liberal education as not only unnecessary but dangerous, he was- strongly impressed with a sense of duty to labor to modify and cor- rect these traditional views. He believed that whatever ground might have existed in early ages of the church for strict adherence to such rules, the time for a change had come.
About the time of his ordination (1847) as Bishop of the Men- nonites of the district of Skippack, Providence and Methachen, he conceived the idea, in connection with his son, Rev. Henry A. Hunsicker, to found a boarding-school to furnish his people better means of education. This was accomplished in 1848 by the erec- tion, upon land which belonged to him, of the extensive buildings now occupied as Ursinus College. At the head of this school his son, Henry A., who was shortly after ordained a minister, was
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REV. ABRAHAM HUNSICKER.
placed, together with able assistants. The supervisory charge of Bishop which he now held had been filled for many years previously by his father, Rev. Henry Hunsicker, Sr., who died in 1836 at the advanced age of 85 years, after fifty-four years service as minister. Holding it to be the right and privilege of women as well as men to be liberally educated, he proposed, in 1851, in conjunction with Prof. J. W. Sunderland, to found Montgomery Female Institute, now Pennsylvania Female College, near by, which was also in due time accomplished.
These proceedings in the cause of education and other liberal views held by Mr. Hunsicker, led to division in the Mennonite body of the locality, and he proceeded at once to organize Trinity Christian Church, of Freeland, and to build a new house of wor- ship, he tendering the ground for the purpose. This enterprise was accomplished in 1853. Unlike the society in which he had been raised, he regarded Sunday schools as a necessary adjunct of the church, and soon had a flourishing school connected with the meeting. In a missionary spirit he planted a Reformed church and school at Skippackville, which, like the Freeland society, has flour- ished, and both are ministered to by his son-in-law, Rev. Joseph H. Hendricks. These societies differ from old school Mennonites not only in the matters before stated, but in holding protracted meet- ings with a view of gathering in the unconverted.
Being of a humane and practically benevolent nature, he dis- pensed freely what he had to give, and labored long and hard to establish through the church a systematic Poor Fund that should supercede the necessity of beneficial organizations outside of its pale. Notwithstanding his efforts in this direction, he combatted the prejudice of his late brethren in the church who were opposed to secret societies, though he never belonged to any of them him- self. He thought the church ought to feel a concern for the ma- terial welfare of its members, as it claims to overlook their spiritual well-being. Practical religion, born of love and good will to all, was pre-eminently his, and that which he labored to establish ; hence he was ever impatient of meaningless customs and traditions founded on the letter but destroying the spirit of the gospel. Accordingly he was an advocate of free communion among evangelical sects, and set the example in the church to which he ministered. He con- tinued to wear the plain Mennonite garb while he lived, but was not prepossessed in its favor, rather holding attire to be a thing of religious liberty, as he also thought of the form of baptism. He
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ISAAC HUDDLESON, M. D.
held, however, that the pouring on of water was the significant form of the rite, but would have every one act on his or her conscien- itious convictions in the matter.
He was of such clear judgment, and so untrammeled in thought, tthat he followed the Divine Word as he understood it. He was of :a mild and generous nature, and yet uncompromising in what he regarded as vital; so that he may be set down as one of the genu- ine reformers of our day. In alms-giving he was free to a fault. Although he differed from his old Mennonite brethren in many things, he had the most exuberant charity for those who differed from him in their attachment to forms and dogmas.
In person he was tall and stoutly built, weighing over two hun- «dred pounds, with a face expressive of honesty, force and resolu- tion. His forehead was massive, and his temperament sanguine- bilious, indicating power and endurance. His complexion was dark but ruddy. He enjoyed good health as a consequence of a good constitution, vivacious spirits, and temperate living. He was eminently social, finding enjoyment in the company of old or young alike, and ever giving appropriate advice and counsel to all.
From the time of settlement in Upper Providence in 1816, he resided on the same farm till 1851. Subsequently he moved on a smaller property purchased from William T. Todd in 1846, in the lower part of the village, where he continued to reside till within three or four years of his death, when he and his aged partner went to live with their daughter, Mrs. Rev. J. T. Preston. Abraham Hunsicker died January 12th, 1872, aged 79 years. His widow still (1878) survives at an advanced age.
ISAAC HUDDLESON, M. D.
We prospered together, and it was our mutual study to render each other happy .- Franklin's Autobiography.
Isaac Huddleson was born in Attleboro, Bucks county, in 1767. His grandfather, William Huddleson, came from Yorkshire, Eng- land (date unknown), and was of the Quakers who arrived here shortly after Penn's settlement. He had five sons and three daugh- ters. The sons were Joseph, William, Thomas, George, and Henry. "This Henry had two sons, Isaac and Henry, and two daughters, none of whom had issue except Isaac, the subject of this memorial.
Dr. Isaac Huddleson studied medicine with Dr. Samuel Torbert, of Newtown, Bucks county, who gave him a very flattering certifi-
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ISAAC HUDDLESON, M. D.
cate of qualification. He attended the Pennsylvania Hospital dur- ing the year 1792, for which service he got the following certificate :
We, the attending managers and physicians of the Pennsylvania Hospital, do certify that Isaac Huddleson, student of medicine, of the county of Bucks, in the State of Pennsylvania, hath studied the practice of the physicians of the said hospital for the season.
Signed: Managers-Wm. McMurtrie, Saml. Coates; Physicians -Benj. Rush, M. D., James Hutchinson, M. D.
[At that time, it is thought, degrees were not conferred. ]
Early in 1793 Dr. Huddleson settled in Norristown, and soon acquired an extensive practice, being considered a good physician and very successful in minor surgical and obstetrical operations.
His name appears in 1796 as one of the original corporators of the Norristown Library Company. He was married in 1799 to Martha Gray Thomson. She was a young woman of unusual re- finement and culture for those times. The following is her gene- alogy: Her great-grandfather was Isaac Taylor, who came from England in 1684, and settled in Chichester, now Delaware county, where his son John rose to be a prominent man. The latter was born in 1695, and became a physician and surveyor. He estab- lished what at that time were considered extensive iron mills, on Chester creek, called "Sarum Iron Works," at or near Glen Mills, Delaware county, the site now occupied by Willcox's paper mill, which he carried on up to the time of his death in 1756. He also filled the office of Sheriff of Chester county for ten years, and repre- sented it in the Provincial Assembly for 1730-31. His son, also named John, married Sarah Worrall, of Edgemont, and had three children, Mary, Isaac, and Sarah, who married respectively Persi- fer Frazer, Elizabeth Townsend, and James Thomson. The last was the father of Mrs. Martha Huddleson. She (Mrs. H.) was born at Glen Mills, Delaware county, in 1777, and educated there. Upon her marriage she removed to Norristown, where she continued to reside until her death, which occurred in 1869. Three children were born to Dr. Isaac and Martha Huddleson, as follows : John Taylor Huddleson, who is still living, an eminent practicing physi- cian at Thornbury, Delaware county; Eliza B., who became the wife of the late John McKay, of Norristown; Mary Anna, who in- termarried with Dr. Beaton Smith, late of the city of Philadelphia. Dr. John T. Huddleson married Caroline Pritner in 1828.
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