USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Lives of the eminent dead and biographical notices of prominent living citizens of Montgomery County, Pa. > Part 37
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The next number of the paper contains the letter to Presi- dent Adams, of Tobias Lear, private secretary to General Wash- ington, announcing his death; the message of the President to Congress, at that time sitting in Philadelphia; the proceedings in Congress upon the reception of the message; and also an account of the funeral ceremonies at Mount Vernon.
The next number of the paper contains an address of the United States Senate to President Adams, and his reply; a message from Governor Mckean to the Legislature, dated at Lancaster, where that body was then sitting; the orders of the Secretaries of War and Navy directing crape to be worn by the officers on the left arm for six months; an account of the funeral procession in Philadelphia from the State House to Zion church at the corner of Fourth and Cherry streets, where after prayers by Rt. Rev. Bishop White, an eloquent oration 26
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DAVID SOWER.
was delivered by Major General Henry Lee, of Virginia, in the presence of a congregation computed to number four thou- sand persons; and a proclamation by the President requesting the people to wear crape on the left arm as mourning, for thirty days, in accordance with the recommendation of Congress.
The paper continued to be dressed in mourning a month, and every number contains messages and resolutions, accounts of funeral processions and addresses from various cities of the Union, and other articles exhibiting the universal grief exist- ing among the people. Many further extracts might be made from these files which would be of general interest and mat- ters incidentally connected with persons whose descendants still reside in the county, but want of space forbids.
In connection with the printing office, Mr. Sower established a book bindery and book and stationery establishment in Nor- ristown, where an assortment of school and blank books, sta- tionery, magistrates' blanks, and German and English almanacs could be obtained. He also published a novel entitled "The History of Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded." "The Psalms," Dr. Watts' version, "An Account of the Awful Death of an Irre- ligious Youth," and the like, were also issued by him. Soon after, he published another novel, called "The Storm," two vol- umes in one, two hundred and forty pages duodecimo, costing seventy-five cents; and an eulogium on the death of General George Washington, by a member of the Senate of the United States.
The last number of the Gazette was issued June 6th, 1800. It was a large quarto, containing three wide columns on a page. Each page was numbered consecutively through the volume, and at the end a complete index was furnished. Immediately after its publication under that name ceased, the Norristown Herald was commenced on a folio demi sheet, having three broad columns on a page. Its motto was "Nothing extenuate-nor set down aught in malice." The location of the publication office was on Egypt or Main street, above Swede. Many items of great interest to the present generation might also be culled from its columns.
In November, 1802, David Sower, Sr., issued proposals for
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a weekly German paper called the Norristown Messenger and Montgomery County Advertiser. It was the same size as the Herald, but continued in existence only a few months.
On the 15th of June, 1804, the proceedings of a meeting of trustees of the Norristown Academy are given. Those present were William Tennant (President), Francis Swayne, Andrew Porter, Levi Pawling, John Markley, Isaac Huddleson, Robert Hamill, and Seth Chapman (Secretary). The academy was organized, but the building known by that name was not in ex- istence, being erected afterwards.
On the 20th of July, 1804, the paper was in mourning for the death of Hamilton, murdered by Aaron Burr in a duel. Full accounts of the fight are given; also a lengthy statement of Rev. Benjamin Moore, in which Hamilton, after he was shot, expressed his prior determination to do Burr no harm, his for- giveness of him, his sincere repentance and belief in Christ's atonement, and his desire to partake of the sacrament as a tes- timony thereof.
On the 9th of August, 1808, two patent washing machines are advertised; one by Isaac Huddleson is said to rinse and wring the clothes as well as wash them.
On the 7th of October, 1808, the drawn numbers of the Sum- neytown School House Lottery are given.
In December, 1808, he transferred the paper and printing establishment to his eldest son, Charles Sower, and soon after opened a general store in Norristown, including dry goods, groceries, queensware, china, glass, hardware, and so on, for which his early business experience in Philadelphia had fitted him. About this time he advertised for sale his plantation of one hundred and sixty acres in Lower Providence township, the house and lot in Norristown (fifty by two hundred and fifty feet) lately occupied by him, and about seventeen acres below Norristown, adjoining Samuel Markley's tan-yard. In Sep- tember, 1810, he removed to his new store-house in Norris- town, where he continued in the business several years. Thence he removed to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he united farming with merchandising, remaining there a number of years. This last venture did not prove to be successful, and
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DAVID SOWER_
in 1824 he returned to Norristown, resuming the business of bookbinding on the south side of Main street near DeKalb. While here, on the 7th of May, 1828, his wife died after a long illness. Soon after, he relinquished his business, which was continued by his youngest son Edwin. The infirmities of age creeping upon him, he peacefully passed away on the 19th of October, 1835, and his remains were interred beside those of his father, mother and wife, in the burying ground attached to the Mennonist church at Methatchen, in Worcester township.
Charles Sower, son of David Sower, Sr., succeeded his father as publisher of the Norristown Herald in December, 1808. He was a genial man, social in his habits, and of a tempera- ment that made warm friends and bitter enemies. As an edi- tor he was a strong partisan. The tremendous struggle going on in Europe, which resulted in the downfall of Napoleon, was in progress, producing intense feeling and excitement in this country also, and which could not fail to tincture politics in the: United States with great bitterness. In July, 1812, an article- appeared commenting upon a non-uniformed militia muster in. Philadelphia, describing their ignorance of the art of war as shown by the Irish officers, which so excited their ire that a mob of ruffians from Philadelphia attacked the office and par- tially destroyed it. The remaining printing materials were sold to Samuel Ladd, and the Herald passed for a few years out of the hands of the Sower family. Charles Sower removed to Maryland, where he published a paper a few years, and died there. He was never married.
David Sower, Jr., the proper subject of this memorial, son: of David, Sr., was born in Philadelphia on the IIth of Febru- ary, 1794 .* He received a plain English education, and as he- grew up assisted his father in whatever business he was en- gaged, obtaining, of course, a thorough training in that of printing, as well as a general knowledge of merchandising. After the Herald passed into the hands of his brother Charles, David remained with him, assisting in the mechanical depart- ment as long as he continued to publish it. When the office was attacked by the mob, David was a little more than seven-
*In the opening of this sketch it is erroneously stated that David'Sower, Jr., was. born in Montgomery county.
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DAVID SOWER.
teen years of age. Thrown at this time upon his own resources, he went first to Baltimore, and then to Washington, where he obtained employment in one of the great printing establish- ments of that city, and remained a year or more.
In June, 1816, having attained to twenty-one years of age, he returned to Norristown, purchased the Herald from the then proprietor, who had failed in business, and in July of the same year issued the first number under his charge. He soon ·obtained the assistance of an able corps of writers, and the pa- per teemed with articles of extraordinary literary merit. The circulation increased, and along with it the advertising patron- age, so that it soon became necessary to enlarge the paper. In ISI8 the printing office was removed to a building crected for the purpose on the site now occupied by F. D. Sower's book-store. This building remained until June, 1853. During "the eighteen years he continued to be its publisher enlarged facilities from time to time became necessary, so that when in July, 1834, he sold the establishment to John Hodgson, Esq., it was one of the largest and best patronized county papers in the State.
In I819 he married Miss Cecilia, daughter of Jean Baptiste Chollet, a French political refugee who came to this country during the troubles following the revolution of 1791 in France. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Alexander May, who was afterwards one of the professors in the Protestant Episco- pal Theological Seminary at Alexandria, Virginia.
During David Sower's administration of the Herald he did mot entirely lose sight of the book-publishing business. In ISIS he issued a little work entitled "The Pocket-Lawyer," containing a collection of legal forms, which proved to be a success, and in other hands subsequently passed through many editions. His next venture was a collection of stories entitled -" Tales of Somerville," written in a simple, beautiful style. In «connection with his business he continued to keep for sale a : stock of books and stationery, as did his ancestors in the same business. In 1830 he published an abridged digest of the laws «of Pennsylvania, containing those acts of general interest to farmers and property holders, and intended for their use. It
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was compiled by B. F. Hancock, Esq., and had a large sale,, passing through two or more editions. In 1832 he published a collection of sacred music, combining a system of instruction in written music. The notes were in seven different forms or characters, each representing a note of the diatonic scale. This. at that time was entirely new, being the first attempt to give a different form for each of the seven notes. Music written in' notes of four characters was very common. The types for these- notes were originated and cast for the work, and were a heavy item in the expense. Many years after a teacher named Aiken attempted to patent the same idea, using characters of differ- ent forms, and his work had an extended circulation.
After disposing of the printing and publishing establishment in 1834, he remained out of business about two years, devoting: his time to collections, building and improving his 'real estate, of which he had become possessed of considerable. In 1836 he opened a book and stationery store, in which was included a variety of fancy articles. As it was the first attempt in Nor- ristown to conduct a store devoted to certain special articles,. as also varieties, and to make a display of goods in show win -- dows and glass cases, the opening created, considerable inter- est and attracted crowds of people for many days. This was the beginning of a series of improvements in stores and shops. which marked the advance of Norristown from a country vil -- lage to a business town or city, now rivalling in beauty and: enterprise any county seat in the State outside of two or three great cities.
In 1838 he entered into business partnership with his younger brother Edwin, and opened a handsome dry goods establish- ment in a store-house built by him for the purpose, adjoining the book-store. This also proved to be eminently successful, and was another step in classifying business, for he was the- first to separate dry goods from other wares. But soon after,. or early in 1839, Edwin died of scarlet fever. He was mar- ried to Mary, daughter of Thomas Stroud, of Norristown, who; still (1879) survives. About the time of his death three children also died; consequently Edwin left no posterity. John Willard took Edwin Sower's place in the firm, but he also being in ill:
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health at the time, soon passed away. Mr. Sower then con- tinued the business alone, together with the book and stationery concern in the store adjoining. His son Charles G. having become of age in 1842, he disposed of the book-store to him, continuing in the dry goods business till 1850, when he sold it to Morgan Wright, and retired from active business alto- gether.
Soon after the infirmities of age began to show their effects upon him. In his prime he was a man of portly build and ot medium height; growing older, however, he lost his round- ness of figure, and during the last two years became thin and shrunken.
Though not a member of church until a short time before he died, he had been through life religiously inclined, always moral, and for over twenty-five years a regular attendant at divine service, usually worshiping with the Baptists. A pas- sage in his diary, dated April 14th, 1858, says:
"The first temperance meeting in Norristown was held in the court-house on Saturday, May 4th, 1833. Robert Hamill was the chairman, and David Sower and John S. McFarland, Esq., Secre- taries. About fifteen to eighteen persons signed the pledge to ab -- stain from the use of ardent spirits as a beverage. My signature was among them, and from that day to this that pledge has never been broken, and I trust never will be. Some years after I signed another pledge to abstain from the use of all intoxicating drinks, which also remains inviolate."
Although while editing a paper Mr. Sower was thrown muchi among public men, he was always diffident, quiet, and unob- trusive. His judgment was remarkably clear on most subjects, exceedingly careful and prudent in financial matters, and in- violate in his pledges. Generally sedate and serious, he had nevertheless a vein of humor in his composition that manifested itself in quiet little surprises, and which he enjoyed exceed- ingly. He was ever devoted to his family, a kind husband and father, generous and considerate, but not foolishly indul- gent. In 1862 his debility rapidly increased, and in April he became too weak to leave his home. From this he gradually declined until June 19th, when he quietly gave up his life. His remains were taken to Montgomery Cemetery, attended
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by a large concourse of friends .* David Sower had also a sis- ter Eliza, some years his junior, who was married late in life, and died some years after, leaving one or two children.
David Sower left five children, namely: John Randolph, many years a wholesale dry goods merchant in Philadelphia, and more recently President of the Shafton Gas Coal Com- pany; Charles G., publisher and bookseller, of Philadelphia; Franklin D., bookseller, now of Norristown; Mary M., wife of Matthew H. Crawford, late of Norristown, but now residing in Philadelphia; and Adeline A., wife of Daniel H. Stein, watch- maker and jeweler, of Norristown.
A further brief account of the personal and business lives of David Sower's family is given. His widow, Cecilia Sower, at an advanced age, now (1879) resides with her youngest son in Norristown. Charles G. Sower, born in 1821, worked in his father's printing office when a boy, in 1833 and 1834, and was educated at the Norristown Academy. He assisted from 1836 to 1842 in his father's book-store, and assumed control of that business in the latter year, removing to Philadelphia and en- tering the bookselling trade in 1844. The next year he com- menced publishing books, generally school publications. He married Caroline A., daughter of Nathan R. Potts, Esq., in 1849. In 1850 he surrendered the Norristown book-store to his brother, Franklin D .; in 1851 took William H. Barnes as partner, and continued business as Sower & Barnes; in 1858 added F. C. Potts as partner, and continued as Sower, Barnes & Co .; and in 1865 changed the firm title to Sower Barnes & Potts. William H. Barnes left the firm in 1870 on account of ill health, and the business and firm are still continued under the title of Sower, Potts & Co.
The publication house of Sower, Potts & Co. has been quite famous in the book trade for a number of years. The firm made a fine exhibit at the Centennial in 1876, receiving several medals for their school publications. At the Paris exposition in 1878 like testimonials were received. Among their notable
.*. ITis life is aptly illustrated in the following quotation :
" I would express him simple, grave, sineere; In morals, uncorrupt; in language, plain ; And plain in manner; deeent, solemn, chaste, And natural."
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BENJAMIN E. CHAIN, ESQ.
publications is Dr. Emmon's work on Geology, the first pub- lished for schools illustrated by American fossils. They also issued Colonel Gilpin's "Central Gold Fields of America," which announced the existence of the precious metals in mass in Colo- rado and the Rocky Mountain region long before they were dis- covered there.
Besides the descendants of David Sower, a number of other collateral members of the family of different generations have been extensively engaged in the printing business, and several still continue such. Samuel Sower, a brother of the elder David, after commencing the business at Chestnut Hill, re- moved to Baltimore about the year 1794, where he became well known as an extensive type founder and printer. Some of the grandsons of Christopher (3d) were and perhaps still are engaged in publishing newspapers in Virginia.
BENJAMIN E. CHAIN, EsQ.
Then weleome business, welcome strife, Welcome the eares and thorns of life; The visage wan, the purblind sight, The toil by day, the lamp at night, The tedious forms, the solemn prate, The pert dispute, the dull debate.
-Blackstone's Farewell to His Muse.
Benjamin E. Chain, of the Norristown bar, is the son of John and Ann Chain, of Norristown, and was born October 15th, 1823. He is the grandson of Matthew Chain, who owned a large farm in what was then Norriton township (now West Norristown), which has descended in the family for several generations down to the present. A fine mansion was erected by Mr. Chain's brother, a few years ago nearly on the site of the old homestead which for over a century stood on the de- clivity west of Stony creek. This remnant of the old home is still retained in the name by his brother, James Chain, and oc- cupied by him and wife, together with another brother, Mark.
Benjamin E. Chain's mother was an Evans, one of the repu-
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BENJAMIN E. CHAIN, ESQ.
table family of Lower Providence that gave name to Evans- burg. She was a sister of Benjamin Evans, Esq., who many years ago was a very eminent and successful lawyer in our county, being admitted to the bar in 1810, and after whom the subject of our notice is named. As we perceive by an old newspaper file, John Chain and Ann Evans were married Octo- ber 24th, 1808, by Rev. Mr. Clay. The tradition is that in early times the elder Chain (John Chain's father), though not a professional man, was of great ingenuity and wide informa- tion, serving his neighbors as dentist, doctor, law-adviser, and the like. B. E. Chain, Esq., had one sister, who was married to John McFarland, Esq., also of our bar, but both she and her husband have been dead many years.
After receiving a full academic training under Eliphalet Rob- erts, who then taught our Norristown Academy, he was fur- ther sent to the seminary of the Messrs. Hamill, at Lawrence- ville, New Jersey, where he was prepared to enter the Sopho- more class in Jefferson College, at Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1839. After studying three years he graduated, and at once commenced the study of law in the office of G. Rodman Fox, Esq., of Norristown. Reading law one year here, he went to Easton early in 1844, entering the office of Hon. James M. Porter, where he graduated, and was admitted in November of that year. He returned to Norristown and opened an office, and soon attained a considerable practice. Shortly after, in 1850, he was elected District Attorney, being the first to fill that post by the vote of the people.
The second year of his service as attorney of the Common- wealth, in August, 1852, it became his duty to prosecute Miss Emily Higgs for the alleged murder of her child .* Mr. Chain,
*The history of the case was this: Emily Higgs, the aecused, who resided at Hat- boro, in Mooreland township, became the mother of an illegitimate ehild. She had been living with an old gentleman named Miller, who had died very suddenly some months before, and had inherited most of his estate. Subsequently she gave birth to the child, which also died suddenly, and with violent symptoms indicating poisoning by the use of arsenic. About the time of its death it transpired that a girl of twelve years, in Miss Higgs' employ, had been sent by her to the store for arsenic, which she plaeed upon the young mother's bureau, at which time, by the testimony of the girl and the nurse, the child was well. Shortly after violent symptoms set in, and it died in two or three days in great agony. The girl also testified that at about the time it expired Miss Higgs or- dered her to return the arsenic, which the dealer refused to take baek, but subsequently weighed and found deficient in the original quantity. Before burial the contents of the child's stomach were tested, and showed traees of arsenic. It was in evidence also that previous to the violent sickness the child had shown symptoms of opium poisoning by sleeping two or three days in sueecssion. The strong grounds of suspieion in the case of the child, and the bold manner in which it appeared to have been done, led many to eblieve that the old gentleman had also been put out of the way by poison. Miss Higgs
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who was then a young lawyer himself, was associated with an- other still younger. The case was ably handled, nevertheless, Mr. Chain addressing the jury in a closing speech of nearly four hours in length, making an address of impassioned elo- quence, which surprised his friends, who had never seen him. in a great cause. Great effort was necessary, for Mr. Brown, who was one of the defendant's counsel, had exhausted all his. arts of oratory learned in a long life of criminal practice. We shall never forget that scene of a hot August day, with Mr. Brown's double-breasted coat buttoned tightly to his neck, pouring his lightning and thunder appeals to the jury to spare the young woman's life. Mr. Chain's effort was able, but too much oratory had preceded him. He lost his case, but gained a reputation as an energetic, impassioned speaker, that has placed him high on the roll of the Montgomery county bar.
Mr. C. has been a life-long Democrat, but has never pressed his claims for political preferment. During the continuance of the rebellion he had no sympathy with those who manifested opposition to measures for the vigorous prosecution of the war, and was active in their support himself. Once, when the State was invaded, he shouldered the musket to repel the enemy.
Shortly after commencing practice he was married to Miss Louisa, daughter of John Bean, of Norristown, then recently deceased. They have two surviving children: Mary, married to F. D. Farnum, of the manufacturing firm of F. D. Farnum & Co., Norristown; and B. Percy. A few years ago Mr. Chain purchased a handsome mansion, erected in cottage style, in the eastern part of the borough, which combines the features of both town and country, where he resides.
was well edueated, had been respectably raised, was rather comely in person, and, hav ing the means, had retained David Paul Brown and James Boyd, Esqs., as her counsel. Mr. Chain was assisted by C. H. Stinson, Esq. A ease so stated and circumstanced ex- cited great interest in the community, as may be supposed. The cause came to trial at the August term in 1852, and after several days of labor a verdiet of acquittal was ren- dered. The popular judgment, however, was that she escaped just because of the un- willingness of the jury to make a return that would bring a woman to the gallows.
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REV. J. H. A. BOMBERGER, D. D.
REV. J. H. A. BOMBERGER, D. D.
Super omnia quidem Pater est, et Ipse est caput Christi; per omnia autem Verbum , » et Ipse est caput Ecclesia; in omnibus Spiritus, et Ipse est aqua viva, quam præstat Do- minus in se recte credentibus,-Irenæus.
Rev. Dr. J. H. A. Bomberger, a very prominent minister of the Reformed church, was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on the 13th of January, 1817. His parents were George H. and Mary Hoff- meier Bomberger. His mother was a daughter of Rev. John H. Hoffmeier, for nearly thirty years pastor of the Reformed church in Lancaster. His ancestors on both sides were of German origin, »and in their ecclesiastical relations, as far back as is known, con- nected with the Reformed church.
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