USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Lives of the eminent dead and biographical notices of prominent living citizens of Montgomery County, Pa. > Part 52
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In April, 1866, after an absence and public service of nearly five years, Dr. Read returned to the office and resumed prac -- tice with experience still more enlarged by such an extended tour of duty in the field and hospitals of the nation. Soon after- coming home he purchased the spacious mansion on Main. street below Green, which he enlarged by adding a third story, and otherwise refitting and beautifying, providing also for an. office in the basement.
During the past thirteen years Dr. Read has been attending to a very large and laborious practice, taxing his health, time. and strength to the utmost.
On the election of General Hartranft as Governor of Penn- sylvania, and the reorganization of the Pennsylvania National. Guard, Dr. Read was appointed Surgeon General, and at the: beginning of Hartranft's second term was reappointed, which position he held till the inauguration of Governor Hoyt, when, he was appointed a third time.
In 1877 Governor Hartranft appointed Dr. R. to the very responsible position of commissioner for the erection of an asy -. lum for the insane of the southeastern counties of the State. This trust involved the selection of a site, choice of a plan, and the construction of the buildings, all of which duties, at great sacrifice of his private business, has been patriotically performed: to the satisfaction of the public.
557
CHARLES F. JENKINS.
CHARLES F. JENKINS.
Let justice have its impartial course and the law free passage. Though to your loss, protect no man against it; for you are not above the law, but the law above you .- JVil- liam Penn.
Charles Foulke Jenkins was born in Gwynedd township, Montgomery county, on the 18th of March, 1793, and died at his native place on the 5th of February, 1867, in his seventy- fourth year.
We turn aside here to relate what is known of the genealogy of the family, which is Welsh, as the name indicates. The pa- ternal descent of the Jenkins family is as follows:
Jenkin Jenkins, born in Wales in 1659, came over about 1729, and settled near Lansdale, understood to be the farm where for many years John Jenkins resided. John Jenkins, just mentioned, is still living, at the advanced age of ninety- five, with his son-in-law, Abel Lukens, of North Wales. Jen- kin Jenkins died in September, 1745.
John Jenkins, son of the above, born also in Wales, in 1719, «came over with his father, married Sarah Hawkesworth, and died in July, 1803.
Edward Jenkins, son of the above, born July 12th, 1758, married Sarah Foulke, of Richland, who were the parents of the subject of this memorial.
Charles F. Jenkins, son of the above, married Mary, daugh- ter of Thomas Lancaster, of Whitemarsh.
His father, Edward Jenkins, had purchased in 1794 the pro- perty on what was then called the North Wales road (now the Spring House and Sumneytown turnpike road), just above the Gwynedd Friends' meeting. This had originally been the pro- perty of Jacob Wentz, of Worcester, and had been used as a tavern during the Revolution, General Lacey's brigade of mili- tia having its headquarters there at times. Edward Jenkins used it as a store, and after his death in 1829 his son Charles F. continued the same business therein until his death in 1867, since which time his son, William H., of the third generation, continues it. The building which the latter occupies now was partly built by Jacob Wentz in 1768, and partly by Edward Jenkins in 1784.
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558
CHARLES F. JENKINS.
The maternal ancestry of Charles F. Jenkins is also worthy of notice. The Foulkes, by a memorandum left by Edward Foulke, trace their descent back to Ririd Blaidd of the Pool who was Lord of Penllyn in North Wales. The family in the United States is counted from Edward Foulke, a settler from Merionethshire, Wales, who, with others, in 1698 took up land in Gwynedd township. Our subject's maternal grandfather was Theophilus Foulke, of Richland, Bucks county.
Charles F. Jenkins was engaged in mercantile business in Philadelphia for several years previous to his father's death,. and then (1830) returned to Gwynedd, taking his father's place, and there continuing during his life-time, as has been stated. He was a public-spirited citizen, active in all public affairs, an officer for many years of the Philadelphia and Bethlehem Turn- pike Road Company; instrumental in the construction of the turnpike road from Spring House to Sumneytown, and Presi- dent of the corporation for many years; a director of the Bank. of Montgomery County; an officer for years of the Mutual! Fire Insurance Company of Montgomery County; active as a. school director, and in other public capacities, while he was repeatedly a candidate of his party (Whig, and then Republi- can) for positions of honor and responsibility, though sharing the defeat of the party ticket in Montgomery county. With Philip Super and John Thompson he acted as a commissioner to lay out the extension of the borough of Norristown, about twenty-five years ago, and was one of those well known and well respected citizens of the county habitually selected for similar duties. He was a man of more than ordinary intelli- gence, had received a good education from the celebrated! Enoch Lewis, of Chester county (father of the present Hon .. Joseph J. Lewis), at his school at New Garden, and continued. a great reader during life. He was also a man thoroughly in -- formed on public affairs, taking a keen and intelligent interest: in all matters connected with the common weal.
Charles F. and Mary Jenkins left but two children, Alger- non Sidney, born in Philadelphia on the 28th of November, 1816, and William H., whose birthday was on the 14th of April, 1827.
559
CHARLES F. JENKINS.
Algernon S. Jenkins, well known throughout the county as a Justice of the Peace and business man, occupies part of the estate of his father, in Gwynedd. He was elected a Justice of that township in 1846, and by successive elections since that time has been continued in the office. What has been said of his father as to public spirit and capacity to serve the commu- nity may be said with equal truth as to him. He has repeatedly been honored with the nomination of his party for legislative and other offices, though not elected, owing to the adverse majority. Mr. Jenkins has been twice married, and has two sons, Howard M. and George Herbert.
His son, Howard M., very early developed a talent for let- ters, commencing to correspond as a literary contributor, and sometimes even on political topics, as early as his sixteenth year. His writings used to appear almost weekly in the Re- publican, published in Norristown, over the nom de plume of "Richard Random." During that time he wrote a well drawn story, running through several numbers, entitled "Eastbrook Meadows." In 1862, in connection with Wilmer Atkinson, he bought the paper just named, and of which the author of this book had been editor and proprietor for several years. Subsequently, when that paper was sold, he was for a short time one of the editors of the Herald, located in the same town. After leaving Norristown he went to Wilmington, Dela- ware, and, with his former partner of the Republican, founded the Daily Commercial. On the Ist of April, 1877, after having been in charge of it for ten and a half years, and conducting it with marked ability, he sold it and retired for a partial rest from excessive labors.
Howard M. Jenkins, Esq., was born March 30th, 1842, and in March, 1865, married Mary Anna, daughter of Thomas Atkinson, of Upper Dublin. They have five surviving child- ren, three sons and two daughters.
360
GEORGE BULLOCK.
GEORGE BULLOCK.
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 hier poor, improve land, advance trade, suppress vice, encourage industry and all mechanical knowledge .- William Penn.
Without doubt the most eminent and extensive manufac- turers of textile fabrics in Montgomery county, if not in the State, are George and James M. Bullock, of West Consho- hocken.
George Bullock was born of English parents in Philadel- phia on the 9th of March, 1830. Being well educated in his native city, at an early age he entered his father's counting- house, where he continued until reaching his majority. Hav- ing acquired some capital of his own through enterprises man- aged during his minority, he was taken into his father's busi- ness in 1851 as a partner, under the firm name of Benjamin Bullock & Sons. His father, who had been some years in the wool trade, died in 1859, and in his will indicated a wish that the business should be continued under the title of Benjamin Bullock's Sons, naming the subject of this sketch and his two brothers as executors. George Bullock took the lead in the management of the concern, and in the progress thereof the firm became possessed of the woolen mill and water power on Gulf creek, near Conshohocken, from which the celebrated Bethel Moore had retired just before the commencement of the Southern rebellion. The war having opened in April, 1861, an immense demand for army clothing arose, which the Bullock brothers undertook to fill to the utmost of their ability. Their being at nearly the head of the wool trade of Philadel- phia gave them unbounded facilities, and they filled one con- tract after another for regulation cloths and flannels, running their mills day and night with double sets of hands. These engagements amounted to millions of dollars, and were filled with such scrupulous fidelity that they took the lead from the start as the clothiers of our armies in the field.
In May, 1871, George Bullock withdrew from Benjamin Bul- lock's Sons, in the Philadelphia concern, and in conjunction with his younger brother formed the firm George & James M.
561
GEORGE BULLOCK.
Bullock, in the woolen manufacturing business alone. At this time, or shortly before, by procuring the best machinery and making improvements to their works, they at once entered upon the manufacture of the finer descriptions of broadcloth and ·doeskins. In this branch of industry the establishment has a high reputation all over the United States. "Bullock's cloths and doeskins" have a specific character with the cloth trade, ·as fabrics usually have which are sold and known by a copy- righted label.
In addition to the works at West Conshohocken, the Messrs. Bullock purchased and now operate the woolen mill formerly owned by Hunter & Kershaw, in Norristown. Both these establishments give employment to several hundred hands, and they have kept in motion almost constantly through the long continued commercial prostration since 1873. This fact speaks volumes for their standing as business men and the growing reputation of their goods. Still further, during all these years of depression and depreciation of prices, the public have learned of no discharges or disputes arising from the mat- ter of wages.
It is often charged to the discredit of some large manufac- turers that they fall into the habit of regarding their workmen as the mere mechanical instruments of their business, for whose comfort or welfare, beyond their wages, they are in no sense responsible. It is a pleasure to be able to say that with this ·class of employers Mr. Bullock has no sympathy. It is only necessary to mark the air of comfort, convenience, and even elegance, surrounding the dwellings of his employes, to see that Mr. B. desires his workmen to feel that they are "at home." A brief walk through the mountain dale in which his great works are located will show that he has spent much of his pro- fits in public and private improvements. On the hill-side, far above his mill, he has dammed a mountain spring, affording his works and people the purest of hydrant water, and secur- ing the mill and other property against destruction by fire. His own elegant mansion, standing upon an elevation near, has been also provided with every comfort and needful ornament.
Of Mr. Bullock's concern for the welfare of his employes
562
GEORGE BULLOCK.
and neighbors, it may be further stated that he has founded quite a library and lecture-room for their use, and a very suc- cessful and spirited literary society is maintained among them. During the summer of 1878 he purchased a steam pleasure- yacht for their enjoyment, to run on Plymouth dam between: Conshohocken and Norristown. Besides these benefactions, Mr. B. subscribes liberally to the support of Balligomingo Bap- tist Church, though not a member, and there is scarcely any object that appeals to public charity or the public welfare that does not have Mr. Bullock as a patron and liberal contributor. It is doubtless through his public spirit that West Consho- hocken has been rected into a borough. He has even ac- cepted the office of Burgess of the same, a post involving more responsibility and expense than honor.
Mr. Bullock has always belonged to the Republican party, and taken a lively interest in public affairs. In 1864 he was the Republican nominee for Congress from our district, but not elected in consequence of the adverse party majority. He was again tendered the nomination for the same place in 1872, but declined, when, owing to a division of the opposition, his. election would have been assured.
Some years ago Governor Hartranft appointed Mr. Bullock a member of the Board of Public Charities, and at the expira- tion of his first term reappointed him, a trust he still fills.
On the retirement of Hon. Alan Wood, Jr., from the Presi- dency of the First National Bank of Conshohocken, Mr. Bul- lock was elected to fill the vacancy, a post he still holds.
Mr. B. was married in 1857 to Josephine, daughter of Sam- uel Wright, of Philadelphia.
In recapitulating, Mr. Bullock may be characterized as a man of great administrative ability, pushing with energy and success whatever he undertakes. His liberality and public spirit are unbounded.
[NOTE .- The author will be excused for any trivial inaccu- racies that may be seen in the above sketch, for though Mr. B. subscribed liberally, he failed to supply the memoranda.]
563
REV. CHARLES COLLINS, JR.
REV. CHARLES COLLINS, JR.
Tongue cannot describe the love of Christ; finite minds cannot conceive of it; and those who know most of it can only say, with inspiration, that it "passeth knowledge.'" -Payson.
Charles Collins, Jr., was born in Philadelphia on the Ist of February, 1823. His paternal grandfather, Abraham Collins, came from England about 1764, and married Alice Mills, a "public Friend" at Mount Holly, New Jersey. These were the parents of Charles Collins, Sr., who was born February 4th, 1785, and who died at the residence of his son Charles on the IIth of January, 1872. His wife was Eleanor, the daughter of Captain John McMinn, who fought bravely through the Revo- lutionary war. They were married in November, 1808, and their offspring were three sons: William S., who died January 15th, 1852, aged thirty-seven years; Charles, the subject of this notice; and John M., attorney-at-law, Philadelphia. Mrs. Eleanor Collins died of pneumonia on the 29th of May, 1.855, aged sixty-six years.
At the age of fifteen, an incipient consumption being devel- oped, Charles Collins, Jr., was induced to sail for the benefit of his health on a trading vessel to the West Indies, visiting most of them, but remaining longest at Barbadoes, St. Thomas, Ja- maica, and Cuba. After staying in the tropics two years, he returned to his studies with renewed health, pursuing a regu- lar classical course, including the languages, at the Philadel- phia Collegiate Institute. At the completion of the term, as he was preparing to enter Lafayette College, his health again failed. Being advised by his physician, he sought a home for a year among the mountains of Pennsylvania at Bellefonte, Centre county. A year and a half later, under much depres- sion on account of poor health, he again left for the West In- dies, remaining through the winter on the south side of Cuba. Returning to Philadelphia partially restored, he was induced, much against his will, to abandon further studies for the pres- ent, and enter permanently into mercantile business. This he did as a shipper of produce from the West Indies. Having a considerable knowledge of the countries with which his vessels
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564
REV. CHARLES COLLINS, JR.
traded, he was successfully engaged for nearly ten years in com- mercial affairs, still having a purpose and desire, however, to en- ter the gospel ministry as soon as health permitted. The time thus employed was not lost on his mind, as it was a schooling in actual life that has been of great value in his chosen profes- sion.
In 1855, finding his health restored, he abandoned a lucra- tive business and resumed his studies. Having early been in- doctrinated in the faith of the Presbyterian church, he renewed the study of theology, and on the 29th of June, 1858, at Phila- delphia, was licensed to preach the gospel. Without waiting to be ordained, he commenced to labor as an evangelist, organ- izing the Whitefield Mission in that city, and labored there a number of years, having also a large Sabbath school. He had been for many years previously organist and musical director in one of the prominent city churches. After thus humbly serving the Master for a time, on the 29th of May, 1862, he was again examined, ordained and set apart to the work of the gospel ministry, the latter ceremony taking place at Philadel- phia on the 29th of June of the same year. The remainder of that and the entire following year he supplied the pulpit of the Second Presbyterian Church of Norristown, and part of the next year that of the church at Manayunk. In 1864 he spent some time as an evangelist in western Pennsylvania, adding largely to his knowledge of men and things away from great centres of population. In August, 1866, he was invited to preach two Sabbaths at Jeffersonville Presbyterian Church, a congregation that was very much enfeebled in numbers and in- fluence. In November he began to labor there regularly, and uninviting as was the field, with another church of the same order about a mile above and Norristown adjacent, he preached regularly until 1871. In the succeeding year a marked revival of religion took place, adding nearly a hundred to the member- ship, which had previously been reduced to a small number. Such manifest divine favor following his ministry, he was now called in due form, and installed pastor by the Presbytery of Philadelphia North, preaching regularly thereafter with con- tinued increase of congregation.
565
HON. E. L. ACKER.
The house of worship needing repairs, and being located out of the centre of membership, it was resolved to build at Jef- fersonville the Centennial Presbyterian Church. This edifice was completed in 1877, having been dedicated in 1876.
In early life Mr. Collins' education also comprised a partial course of anatomy and medicine, including the study of medical electricity and physiology. He also devoted much attention to music, being almost a born musician. At twelve years of age he was able to perform on a number of instruments; at seven- teen was an active member of the Philadelphia Sacred Music Society; was one of the founders of the Handel and Haydn musical association, and was honored with the title of Profes- sor of Music for several published works on that subject and for compilations of hymns. Mr. C. is a poet of considerable reputation, his effusions appearing from time to time in the re- ligious press of the country and in the Norristown Herald. Rev. E. M. Long, in his work on " Hymns and Their Authors," gives Mr. C. credit for about three hundred.
As a preacher Mr. Collins is always solemn and earnest in manner, usually extemporizing from a text employed to en- force a particular doctrine or used as a motto to illustrate some point in morals, in the course of which he introduces very striking observations and experiences that have fallen within his notice in life. He is a good reader and elocutionist, often illustrating his discourses with original poetry.
Mr. C. was married on the 25th of December, 1850, to Miss Eugenia Elvira Nutt, of Philadelphia, and they have four child- ren: Eleanor M., William C., Charles C., and Addison B.
HON. E. L. ACKER.
Remember, man. "the Universal Cause Acts not by partial but by general laws," And makes what happiness we justly call Subsist not in the good of one but all .- Pope.
Ephraim Leister Acker, a member of the Forty-second Con- gress, is the son of Peter and Esther Acker, and was born in
566
HON. E. L. ACKER. -
Marlborough township, Montgomery county, on the 11th of January, 1827. When young he sought an education under many difficulties, attending first the academy at Sumneytown while working mornings and evenings for his board, and was thus enabled in 1844 to enter, half advanced, the Freshman class of Marshall College, graduating with honor in the fall of 1847.
Teaching two or three years, part of which as principal of the Norristown grammar school, he commenced the study of medicine, and graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1852. In 1853, before beginning practice, he bought the Nor- ristown Register, and thereafter, up to 1877, published it accord- ing to the strictest doctrines of the Democratic party. In 1858 he purchased the Montgomery Watchman, uniting the two pa- pers. About 1874 he issued a daily edition till, as he alleges, the Register and Watchman was very unjustly sold from him, in the midst of hard times, when it was impossible to collect his abundant means, for a debt incurred in purchasing the lat- ter journal.
Mr. Acker claims as a plea for his involvement in debt that he was persuaded to buy and join the Watchman to the Register for the purpose of securing a harmonious party unity. This debt was what finally sacrificed a newspaper property that cost him ten thousand nine hundred and fifty dollars for the paltry sum of fifteen hundred. His pluck and perseverance under his pecuniary reverse, however, is worthy of all praise.
Prevented by an injunction from issuing a paper under the old name, he began publishing the Weekly Gazette, which he still continues. Being a shrewd, active politician, in 1870 he obtained a nomination for Congress, and was elected. During his term he moved a general amnesty law and some other im- portant acts. Previous to his Congressional career he had been County School Superintendent for six years, and has also filled the post of School Director in Norristown for a number of years.
In 1860 he was appointed postmaster at Norristown by Presi- dent Buchanan, and served about eleven months. He was a candidate for Congress in 1872, but owing to a split in the party was not elected.
567
JOHN S. SHRAWDER, M. D.
Dr. Acker is married to Sarah Markley. His brothers and sisters are the following: Henry L., married last to Mrs. Caro- line Drake, daughter of Philip Dotterer; Sarah, to William Sas- saman; Esther ; William, to Sarah H. Keesey; Benneville, de- ceased; Mary, to Camillus Mckinstry; Hannah, to Henry W. Kramer.
JOHN S. SHRAWDER, M. D.
Ilis desire is to do good, and he searcheth out the occasion thereof; in removing the oppression of another, he relieveth himself. From the largeness of his mind le compre- hendeth in his wishes the happiness of all men, and from the generosity of his heart he endeavoreth to promote it .- Knigge's Philosophy.
John S. Shrawder, M. D., was born in Lower Providence, Montgomery county, on the 16th of August, 1839, and is the son of Joseph and Catharine Custer Shrawder, of that town- ship. The paternal ancestry is doubtless of German origin, and the same as that spelled Shroeder. His grandparents on his father's side were Daniel Shrawder and Elizabeth Ellis, the former German and the latter Irish, and his maternal grand- parents were Levi Custer and Elizabeth Zimmerman, both of German descent. Dr. Shrawder's brother and sisters are the following: Levi C., deceased; Elizabeth, intermarried with H. V. Johnson; Hannah, the wife of George W. Kibblehouse; Mary, married to Charles Evans; and Kate.
John S. Shrawder, M. D., having been born and raised adja- cent to Mount Kirk Seminary, owned and taught by Rev. H. S. Rodenbough, has had, in addition to a good common school education, an academical if not classical training. After study- ing closely while a youth, shortly after passing his majority he entered himself as a student of medicine in the office of Dr. John Schrack, of his native township. After remaining there a time he left, and continued his studies with Dr. William H. Pancoast, at Eleventh and Walnut streets, Philadelphia, gradu- ating at Jefferson Medical College in the class of 1865. In a
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568
JOHN S. SHRAWDER, M. D.
short time afterwards he opened an office and commenced to. practice near Mount Kirk, and while there was elected a School' Director, which office he filled efficiently, being a man of en -. larged public spirit, and taking a deep interest in anything and everything that affects the welfare of society.
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