USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Lives of the eminent dead and biographical notices of prominent living citizens of Montgomery County, Pa. > Part 43
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Mr. Johnson's denominational education has been that of a Quaker, though his wife, who is the daughter of James and Susan G. Bleiler, of Doylestown, is an Episcopalian, and a cou- .sin of Governor Geary. Mr. Johnson had one brother, Dr. Joseph H., who died December 30th, 1877, while practicing medicine at Chester, Pennsylvania.
460
CADWALLADER EVANS.
CADWALLADER EVANS.
Hope springs eternal in the human breast; Man never is but always to be blest .- Pope.
Cadwallader Evans, of Bridgeport, is the son of Elisha and' Rebecca Jolly Evans, and was born in Norristown on the 26th of July, 1808. His father at that time kept the Rising Sun Hotel, and some years after purchased two hundred acres of land, covering the chief part of the present borough of Bridge- port. He was a man of enterprise and public spirit, as evinced. by the fact that when the people of Norristown objected to the · canal on the left bank of the river, Mr. Evans stepped forward and offered to donate the ground on the west side for that pur- pose. The land he held had been part of the original Holstein tract, but had been bought by Du Portail, the celebrated French military engineer of the Revolutionary army, who neglected his- purchase, and it was sold by the Sheriff in 1804 for taxes, from whom Evans received his deed. It was an informal contract of the managers or the Schuylkill Navigation Commissioners, of whom Mr. E. was one, that he was to have a water power for the right of way; but it was never fulfilled. Elisha Evans and his son did much to lay out and improve Bridgeport, which. was first called "Evansville." The new State road being laid out, however, and the great bridge erected, it was thought more- proper to name it "Bridgeport."
A considerable part of this valuable property Mr. Evans has; sold in lots, but still retains about fifty acres of farm land, with numerous lots and dwellings, beside his own mansion and the- hotel, the latter of which he entirely rebuilt a few years ago. Cadwallader Evans' mother died about 1812, and his father in 1830. Elisha Evans, who belonged to the numerous Welsh family settled in Gwynedd, had a large family of children. The oldest, Jolly, went abroad by sea when a young man, and was never heard of again; Catharine married John Elliott, of Ches- ter county, moved to Illinois, and died there, leaving a large- family of children; Charles, intermarried with Ann Jolly, re- moved to Armstrong county, and in 1835 was a member of the Legislature, dying about 1840; William died while a young
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CADWALLADER EVANS.
man; Sophia was married to Benjamin Levering, of Roxbor- ough, and died, leaving three children; Cadwallader, our sub- .ject, was married in 1842, to Rachel Pawling, daughter of Dan- iel R. and Ann Farmer Brower.
We turn aside here from pursuing a further notice of Cad- wallader to continue and finish the record of his father's family. "The seventh child was George W., who a few years ago was blown up and killed on board the steamboat Princess, at Baton Rouge, leaving four or five children in the West. The young- est of the family was Jared Brooks Evans, who removed to Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, and settled at Brookville, giv- ing name to the county seat of that county. He married Jane Armstrong, and they had seven children, named William, Eli- sha, Sophia, Charles, George, Jared, and Belle. His wife died in 1874, and he is now living in that county and operating the Rockdale Mills there.
Cadwallader and Rachel P. Evans have four living children, George, Charles B., Margery, and William. Ann B. died in infancy, and Cadwallader in 1862 at the age of fifteen. George Evans is intermarried with Sophia Braddon, and they have two children, Alice and Edna. Margery is married to Thomas H. Wilson, and they have one son, Frank E.
When a young man Cadwallader Evans learned milling at Pottstown, and there followed it about eight years. He then worked at the Stony Creek mill, Norristown, and at that of David Harry, Conshohocken. Next he went to Philadelphia as an assistant in a wholesale store at Sixth and Willow streets. Some years after he rebuilt the old hotel property in Bridge- ¡port, and kept the house himself for a time. Finally he re- tired in his large mansion at the corner of Second and DeKalb .streets.
During and since the late rebellion Mrs. Cadwallader Evans and her sisters, Mrs. Dr. Holstein and Miss Lizzie Brower, were very active in providing comforts and supplies for our soldiers in the field. They also co-operated in all patriotic demonstrations in aid of the Union cause.
462
DAVID NEWPORT.
DAVID NEWPORT. 1
Those who would go to heaven when they die, must begin their heaven while they" live .- Henry.
The melancholy ghosts of dead renown
All point to earth and hiss at human pride .- Night Thoughts.
David Newport, of' Willow Grove, Montgomery county, Penn- sylvania, is the son of Jesse W. and Elizabeth Newport, and was .. born in Philadelphia on the 18th of Twelfth-month, 1822. His mother was a very eminent minister of the society of Friends of that city. He has a sister, Martha E. Travilla, residing at West Ches- ter, who is also an approved public Friend. The family is de- scended from an ancient English one, which dates its emigration to' the year 1690, very soon after Penn founded the colony, and they have continued in all their generations since then members of that humble and devoted sect. David Newport attended school in Phil -- adelphia, and subsequently one belonging to Friends at Alexandria, Virginia. Arriving at man's estate, he was inducted into the farm- ing business at or near where he now resides. He is married to. Susan Satterthwaite, and there have been born to them two child- ren, William C. and Emma C., who have both received a good! education.
Mr. Newport early took a deep interest in all moral and political! subjects, and was especially interested in the unfolding develop -- ments of the slavery issue forced upon the country just as he was; entering manhood. Having inherited the ingrain love of liberty? and hatred of oppression peculiar to Friends, he espoused the North -- ern side of the question with great fervor, and talked and wrote: much against what Wesley called "the sum of all villainies." He: was so early and earnestly interested against the system that he was in 1848 one of seven very distinguished radicals of Mooreland who in that year voted for Van Buren, the Free Soil candidate for the: Presidency. There were very few more active citizens concerning. public affairs than Mr. Newport for some years before the election of Lincoln and the breaking out of the war. He frequently wrote: in the papers, dividing his favors between the Herald and Free Press and the Republican, both Norristown publications. Accordingly, after the war began, and the new system of internal revenue was framed by Congress, President Lincoln appointed him collector for the Congressional district composed of the counties of Montgomery and Lehigh, with his office in the court house at Norristown. He
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DAVID NEWPORT.
chose Samuel Homer and Howard M. Jenkins as his deputies, and from 1862 to 1866 a very large sum of direct tax was annually re- ceived and paid over by him. He held the position till the death of Lincoln placed Andrew Johnson in the Presidential chair.
Mr. Newport's courtesy, fidelity and uprightness were conspicu- ous while he held the place, and no man ever retired from a fidu- ciary trust with a cleaner reputation. Some time after his retire- ment from office he was busy with his pen, being an almost constant contributor to political, religious and scientific publications of the country. He also frequently courted the muse, and the following lines, written on hearing of the re-election of President Lincoln in 1864, are given as a specimen of his style:
LINCOLN AND LIBERTY. .
From where the placid Delaware winds onward in its course, To where Niagara's waters flow with their resistless force; From where New England's stalwart sons amidst the woods of Maine, The axe rings forth the anthem-rings forth the glad refrain.
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The miner in the land of Penn, the boatman at the oar, The farmer in the teeming West among his garnered store, The sailor on the ocean amidst the surging sea, All, all have caught the glad acclaim-"Lincoln and Liberty !"
* * *
*
And o'er Pacific's gentle wave far toward the setting sun, From where the sands with gold are mixed, and silver waters run ; From where Nevada rears his head and winter's chaplet crowns, Where nature both in mount and tree in giant growth abounds.
There in that land where Broderick lived, there where he fought and fell, In freedom's ranks his friends have ranged, and freedom's cohorts swell. The tide from out the Golden Gate is ebbing towards the sea ; Amidst the shrouds the sailor sings-"Lincoln and Liberty !"
David Newport is also the author of a small volume entitled " In- dices Rational and Historical," which was written about the same time as the previous piece.
Being born into membership with Friends, his mind a few years ago became more deeply impressed with religious things than dur- ing early life. So, in 1871, after much earnest thought and medi- tation, he felt a drawing to the ministry of the Word, and in due time was acknowledged by Friends as such according to the order had among them.
David Newport's utterances at meetings are marked by great earnestness and plainness, he feeling it to be his mission to simplify the truths of religion, and to call men to truth as authority rather than to authority as truth. And further, that truth is to be realized by the immediate inspiration of the Spirit of God to every individ-
464
GEORGE STEINMETZ.
ual soul, and that His dispensations to men have ever been accord- ing to their state. Hence to the outward He appears outward. " With the pure Thou wilt show Thyself pure, and with the froward Thou wilt show Thyself unsavory." Friend Newport is a member of Abington monthly meeting, and is held by his brethren as a very acceptable minister. Of course, since his relations have become more intimate with the meeting, he takes but little active part in political or party matters.
GEORGE STEINMETZ.
Why life a moment ; infinite desire ? Our wish eternity ? Our home the grave ?- Night Thoughts.
Among the most prominent business men of Norristown, forty years ago, were Jacob and George Steinmetz, brothers, doing a lumber and coal trade, under the title of J. & G. Steinmetz, at Main and Markley streets. This firm was established about 1836, and continued until 1849 or 1850. They were careful, energetic dealers, doing a large trade, and having the benefit of a period of great activity and improvement were quite successful. Shortly be- fore the Messrs. Steinmetz retired from business the father, who was quite wealthy, authorized his sons to erect for themselves fine residences, George building his on Main street, above Barbadoes, and Jacob choosing the corner of Swede and Marshall streets. Shortly after both had occupied their houses the old gentleman to whom they belonged died, when Jacob bought and concluded to move to the "Roberts farm," in the suburbs, whereupon his brother George sold the Main street house and took that of his brother Jacob, which then, almost without outside conveniences, he began to improve.
The inheritance from the father and another from a wealthy uncle, who died some years later, added to what they had made in busi- ness, placed them both in easy circumstances. After having fol- lowed the lumber trade about fifteen years, they sold it and retired.
Some time after, the subject of this notice, in connection with the late Nicholas Bechlar, purchased a lot on Main street, above Swede, and erected for a hardware store, a large three storied brick store-house, which they occupied three or four years under the firm
465
GEORGE STEINMETZ.
of Steinmetz & Bechlar. Bechlar losing his health, however, the firm was dissolved. The building was then divided between the partners by running up a partition wall in the middle, after which the property was sold to different parties, and Mr. Steinmetz re- tired from business altogether.
George Steinmetz is the son of William and Mary Steinmetz, and was born September 20th, 1814, in Philadelphia, where his parents then resided. He married Ellen, daughter of Charles and Hannah Ramsey, and there were born to them two sons, William Henry, who died at the age of thirteen, and Dr. Charles R. Stein- metz, who studied medicine with Dr. J. B. Dunlap, of Norristown, graduated in the medical college, and spent some time as assistant surgeon in the army during the war.
Returning from the army, he opened an office at Trappe, and was getting into practice, when his health, never robust, gave way, and he closed it and returned to his father's in 1868, and in Au- gust, 1869, died. He was unmarried. The early demise of Dr. C. R. Steinmetz was a sorrowful visitation to his young friends, but a terrible stroke to his fond parents, who had built their hopes upon him. The mother has never recovered from its shattering effect upon her constitution. Over his remains, in Montgomery Cemetery, is an elaborate monument.
Since the death of his son, Mr. Steinmetz has occupied much of his time in making improvements in his dwelling and providing for the comfort of an invalid wife. The mansion at Swede and Mar- shall streets, at first without shrubbery or ornament, has been great- ly enlarged and improved from cellar to attic. A few years ago he had Gold's low-pressure steam-heating apparatus, at a cost of over two thousand dollars, erected in the basement, which warms the whole building, chambers, entries, and all, to an equable tempera- ture.
During the year 1878 Mr. Steinmetz bought the lot adjoining on the north, affording him a side-yard of twenty by one hundred and fifty feet. This purchase gave space on the north face for two handsome brick bay-windows, both of them two stories high. These ornamental casements, which admit air and light to the halls and entries, are finished in the most elaborate style of oiled walnut, and lighted by cut, stained glass, furnished also with gas fixtures, blinds, &c. While making these improvements he took the op- portunity to add a Mansard fourth story, with the most elaborate and ornamental cornice to be seen in the borough. The whole is
466
CAPTAIN CHARLES P. WEAVER.
covered with slate, and surrounded by a gilded metalic balustrade. . Besides these ornamentations, he has added a unique, groined, mar- ble door-head, and the ground-floor entrance on the north face, which opens upon the side-yard and fountain, is finished in unique alcove style, of the fashion of the sixteenth century. In one of the halls Mr. S. has an inlaid clock, one hundred and five years old, made by Saber, of Reading, having calendar, moon changes, &c. These improvements, with those previously made by him about this elegant mansion, make it one of the finest in Norristown.
In the rear, and separated from his dwelling by Church street, Mr. Steinmetz, some years ago, bought a lot forty feet on Marshall street by one hundred and forty feet on Church, on which he has built of stone rubble work, and fitted up, the most elegant and convenient carriage-house and stable in town. In and about it is every convenience for groom, team, carriages, &c. The family coach is one of the largest and most elaborately finished that is driven about our streets. Mr. Steinmetz makes improvements with great taste and judgment, sparing no expense to have things to his mind.
CAPTAIN CHARLES P. WEAVER.
The sea! the sea! the open sea ! The blue, the fresh, the ever free !- B. W. Procter.
Names of great men all remind us, We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time .- Longfellow.
Stephen Girard, in signing his will, affixed the words "Merchant and Mariner." So the gentleman whose name is at the head of this sketch, following so eminent an example, might add " Mariner and Manufacturer" to his.
Charles P. Weaver is the son of Ransom and Mary Hogan Wea- ver, of the town of Pultney, Steuben county, New York, and was born August 8th, 1828. His paternal ancestry are English, as the name indicates, and his maternal are Irish. At the age of fifteen he took to the briny deep, and was "boy and man afloat" twenty- three years. With a "long yarn in his locker," as we happen to know, he has given us a very short one to weave into this sketch.
467
CAPTAIN CHARLES P. WEAVER.
.This must be credited to his habitual modesty. He briefly informs us that for six years he was a sailor, nine a subordinate officer, and eight a Captain. For the first ten years of his nautical life he was in the European trade, sailing back and forth to Great Britain and ports on the Continent. Later he made long voyages, having been five times around Cape Horn to and from California. This was during the palmy times of gold digging in the Golden State. He also made four trips to the East Indies, and was wrecked several times. Two or three times he bore his family, who usually sailed with him, from a sinking ship. During his life as a seaman, Captain Weaver visited nearly all the principal sea-marts of the world ex- cept those of the Dutch and Baltic ports. He was Master and part owner of the clipper ship Edwin Flye for several years, and also Captain of the Flying Eagle and bark Columbia. While sailing the bark Union Jack he was captured by the rebel pirate Semmes of the Alabama. This officer burned the vessel and cargo, and landed Captain Weaver, his family and crew, at Bahia, Brazil. The loss by that very brave exploit was repaid him by Johnny Bull as a whole- sale job in the Geneva Award, the said Johnny taking his pay in Confederate bonds which he had previously purchased.
After being thus "closed out," as the mercantile phrase is, by the Confederate cruiser, he concluded to abandon the sea. Accord- ingly, in 1865, he came to Norristown with a corps of skilled tack- makers from Massachusetts, and set up the Pennsylvania Tack Works in the lower part of the borough. Here the business was pursued a few years with fair success, but finding the building too small re- moved the works to the structure at Markley and Penn streets, on the bank of Stony creek, which he enlarged and refitted. Here he has much improved the property from time to time, and obtained such facilities of manufacture as place his establishment nearly at the head of this delicate branch of trade. Great care is taken to procure the very toughest descriptions of iron and machinery of the very highest finish, producing a line of samples that attracted great attention at the Centennial exhibit. Since then a large office and machine shop have been added to the works.
Many years ago Captain Weaver found a lady, Miss Margaret H. Pratt, of Braintree, Massachusetts, who very kindly joined fortunes with him to comfort his lonely hours "on the bounding sea." The offspring of this marriage are two sons. The elder, Henry P., has the rare distinction of having been born at sea, in 13º South
468
SAMUEL JAMISON, SR.
latitude, near Ascension Island; the younger, George N., was born at Neponset, Massachusetts.
It is difficult to write of Captain Weaver's general character in his life-time, his acts, sentiments and feelings standing out from the background so that little need be said. It may be stated in brief, however, that he is public spirited and benevolent to a fault, and especially within the past two or three years has had his hand and heart in nearly every good word and work. To him are the Young Men's Christian Association mainly indebted for the elegant rooms they occupy in the front part of and above Music Hall, and of which organization he is the President. About three years ago Mr. W. united with the First Presbyterian Church, his wife having been a member some time before. His will-power is very great, and whatever he undertakes he drives with indomitable perseverance. The Pennsylvania Tack Works being in such hands, and kept con- stantly running, are, as may be supposed, an institution of which Norristown is a little proud.
SAMUEL JAMISON, SR.
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away .- Psalm XC, 10.
Of those who organized and built up the manufacturing industry of Norristown during the past half century, there is no more distin- guished name than that which stands at the head of this memorial.
Samuel Jamison, as the name imports, is Scotch in origin, though he was born in County Down, in the north of Ireland, and with- out doubt bred in the linen manufacturing trade, which was, and still is, the special fabric of export from that part of Ireland. He was born May 14th, 1786, and came to this country when a young man, settling first at Baltimore, Maryland, where he was employed in a commission house, and soon after put in charge of the Union Mills near that city. While employed there he came to Norristown in 1828 to superintend the starting of the first cotton factory in the place, which had been erected by Bernard McCredy in 1826, at the foot of Swede street. Mr. Jamison came here under the arrange- ment to have the whole management of the concern, but after get-
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SAMUEL JAMISON, SR.
ting it into operation was induced to leave the town, and removed to Holmesburg in consequence of the general prevalence of fever and ague then suffered all along the Schuylkill as a consequence of the then recent construction of canal and slack-water navigation.
After remaining at the place just named for some time, where he had charge of Lewis' mills, he and his family returned to Norris- town about 1832, and rented the "little mill" which stood on the river bank below McCredy's, and which had been originally erected for a white lead manufactory. This building, belonging to the Savage estate, he filled with looms and wove print cloths for several years, getting his yarn for a time from McCredy, but finally from Philadelphia and other places. Soon feeling the inconvenience of this, in 1837 he purchased ground of Jacob Freedley immediately below DeKalb street bridge, and proceeded to erect a spinning mill, the building facing upon the river, with its western end abutting the street at the entrance to the bridge. This large four-story fac- tory was finished that year, and a powerful steam engine built by Isaac H. Miller and Richard French, then doing a large locomo- tive and engine business in what is now Farnum's mill, was placed in the new establishment. The hard times then about coming, however, as the result of the suspension of specie payments in 1837, he was obliged to seek the aid of some of our capitalists to fill it with machinery and put it in successful operation. Accordingly a corporation or limited partnership was formed under the title of "Samuel Jamison's Spinning Mill," the members being Davis Hen- derson, Merchant Maulsby, Mordecai R. Moore, John and Jacob Freedley, and Samuel Jamison.
This mill, after getting to work, at first spun the yarn which was used at his weaving factory before described. But notwithstanding the increase of capital, the market was so depressed, and the sales of cloth so languid, that the concern resorted to the expedient of issuing to its hands four-month due bills or certificates of labor, with which they were paid. This was continued a year or more, when the mill was suspended for a short time. It started again, however, and the tariff of 1842 going into operation, gave an impulse to manufacturing. Mr. Jamison consequently bought out his partners, and in a few years had acquired such means that about 1844 he erected the other wing of the mill, which fronts DeKalb street. This new part was built of brick, and was nearly as large as that first erected. By this means he was enabled to give up the rented mill across the street, which was done soon after, and which has never
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SAMUEL JAMISON, SR.
since been occupied. From nearly the completion of his manufac- tory in 1838 till 1850, when he took his son, William M., into part- nership, his son-in-law, William Stroud, who had married his daugh- ter Jane, was clerk and book-keeper, and was afterwards assisted by John Potts, who had married Mr. J.'s younger daughter Mary. Subsequently Mr. Stroud went into the daguerreotyping business, and Mr. Potts alone filled the position. For a number of years, up to 1856, a large manufacturing business was done by the firm of Samuel Jamison & Son, the latter becoming a leading partner in the establishment. The younger son, Samuel, was an assistant.
Very soon after coming to Norristown, Mr. Jamison purchased and moved into the large stone mansion on Main street, where his son Samuel now (1879) resides. As before stated, Samuel Jamison took his son William into the concern in 1850, and they ran the mills together till his death in 1856. William, having the works willed to him by his father, continued to operate them till his own death, which occurred on the 15th of October, 1862.
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