USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Lives of the eminent dead and biographical notices of prominent living citizens of Montgomery County, Pa. > Part 55
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
There are few if any men in Norristown, we repeat, who have resolutely pursued business and the accumulating of pro- perty for nearly fifty years, whose standing for honesty and honorable dealing is so unexceptionable as Mr. Kohn's. He is now retired from active business with a competence.
Mr. K. was married in 1844 to Miss Susan Shafer, and there have been born to them seven children Three died in infancy, one son, Charles, at the age of fifteen, and three survive. Of these the eldest, Samuel, is married to Amanda Calhoun, and they have three children, Flora, Sue and Charles. The elder daughter, Rebecca, is the wife of Norman H. Stevens, and has one daughter, Norma. The younger daughter, Flora, is intermarried with Dr. Charles Houpt, and they have two child- dren, Gabriella and Alfred.
591
HON. THOMAS P. KNOX.
HON. THOMAS P. KNOX.
Colonel Thomas P. Knox was for many years previous to the time of his death one of the best known citizens of Mont- gomery county. His ancestors were Scotch Irish Presbyte- rians, who emigrated from the north of Ireland and settled in our locality about the year 1730 or perhaps a few years earlier. David Knox, the great-grandfather of our subject, came, bring- ing his wife and son, Andrew, then several years old. They settled at the afterwards well known homestead in Whitpain township, a little north of Norristown, and he died there in 1780. Their descendants continued to reside at the same farm and dwelling until a recent period.
At the breaking out of the Revolution, Andrew was the fa- ther of a rising family. He was a zealous patriot and an open ad- herent of the American cause, a magistrate charged with the duty of giving notice of foraging parties of British while they occupied Philadelphia, and preventing Tories of the locality from carrying supplies of country produce to them. He thus became very obnoxious to some royalist neighbors who were frustrated by his vigilance, and they resolved to summarily get rid of him by a night attack. The following extract, from an extended article published in the Norristown Register just after his death, January, 1808, gives a circumstantial narrative of the attempt at his capture. It assumes to be an accurate obituary notice, written evidently by some intimate friend thoroughly conversant with his life. Being thus prepared by a cotempo- rary it may be received as entirely authentic:
" Died, at his home in Whitpain township, on the 17th ult., An- drew Knox, Esq., in the Soth year of his age. His office as a mag- istrate, and his zeal in the American cause, procured him the honor of a visit from certain royalists when the British army heid Phila- delphia.
" About four o'clock on the morning of the 14th of February, 1778, seven armed refugees approached his house; two stood sen- try at the back windows, while the other five attempted the door. Finding it bolted they endeavored to gain admittance by artifice. Esquire Knox, but partially dressed, came to the door at their call. when a dialogue took place nearly as follows: 'What do you want ?' ' I come to tell you that the enemy are coming, and to warn you to
592
HON. THOMAS P. KNOX.
escape for your life.' 'What enemy?' 'The British.' 'And who are you 'that speak ?' (A friendly name given.) Looking out at the window the 'Squire now saw their arms, it being moonlight, and then said : 'I believe you are the enemy.' Upon this they burst open the door and attempted to force in. Mr. Knox, seizing the opening door with his left hand, and with a cutlass in the other, saluted the aggressors in a manner they did not expect, and re- peated his strokes. The assailants meanwhile made repeated thrusts with their bayonets. By these Mr. Knox received two or three very slight flesh wounds, and had his jacket pierced in several places ; but the door, standing ajar, covered his vitals and saved his life. By this time Mr. Knox's eldest son, then a young stripling, laid hold of a gun that was loaded with small shot, and came to the scene of action, asking his father if he should shoot. The 'Squire, who had just broken his cutlass on the enemies' guns, now apprehended that he must surrender, and thinking it imprudent to exasperate the foe to the utmost, told his son not to shoot. But trying his own wea- pon further, and finding it still capable of service, he continued to defend the pass ; and the son, wishing to cooperate, struck one of the assailants with the barrel of his gun, and brought him to his knees-and his prayers, it is hoped. This gave the besieged an op- portunity to close the door, whereupon the party presented their pieces and fired five balls and several buckshot through the door, one of the bullets slightly wounding Esquire Knox. Thinking the reports of the guns would alarm the neighborhood, the enemy re- treated toward the city. Esquire Knox, at the approach of day, collected some friends and went in pursuit. They tracked the party several miles by the blood on the snow. One of them, who took refuge in a house, was taken, brought back, and made an am- ple confession. This fellow being found to be a deserter from the American army, was tried by a court martial for desertion only, but condemned and executed near Montgomery Square. Another was apprehended after the British left Philadelphia, condemned by a civil court, and was executed. Of the rest little is known and nothing will here be said." [Names are purposely omitted in this narrative.] "In the madness of those times men may have done things which in moments of sober reflection they have condemned and regretted. God pardons the penitent ; so should we."
From the closing words of this narrative it is plain that Tory partisans were mainly engaged in the attack, whose descend- ants were then still residing in the county, and were known to the writer.
The door as perforated with the bullets of that conflict has been preserved, and is still in possession of the family.
Andrew Knox, son of the Revolutionary Andrew, was born in 1773, and when a young man removed to Savannah, Geor- gia, where he was married in 1803 to Rebecca, widow of Job
593
HON. THOMAS P. KNOX.
Pray and daughter of Captain Thomas Rice. There, on the 8th of July, 1809, was born to them Thomas Pope Knox, the proper subject of this biographical sketch. This Andrew Knox was a shipping merchant at Savannah, but through business derangements caused by the embargo and subsequent war with England, together with the seizure of one of his vessels and the loss of another, his affairs resulted disastrously. Accord- ingly in 1821, when our subject was about twelve years old, the family removed to Norristown, purchasing from the heirs of General Andrew Porter the residence and farm since known as "Selma Farm," and continued to reside there until Andrew Knox's death in 1844 and his widow's demise in 1858.
Thomas P. Knox was one of nine children, most of whom died young, except John P., Andrew J., and himself. John P. studied theology, was ordained a minister of the Dutch Re- formed church, and for eight years thereafter had charge of the church of that denomination at St. Thomas, West Indies. For the past twenty-five years he has been pastor of the Presbyte- rian church at Newtown, New York, where he now (1881) re- sides with his family.
Andrew J., the youngest brother, is a farmer and Justice of the Peace, residing in Plymouth township, Montgomery county. He married Miss Wilhelmina Detwiler, and has several sons and daughters.
Thomas P. Knox was educated at the Norristown Academy, and later at Rutger's College, New Brunswick, New Jersey. He never graduated, however, having the design to be a farmer, which was his life-long occupation.
Soon after reaching manhood, and while living with his pa- rents at Selma Farm, he joined the Providence Presbyterian Church, of which he continued a member all his subsequent life, although he was a constant attendant at the First Presby- terian Church, Norristown, and many years one of its trustees.
In 1840 he was married to Sarah Ann, daughter of Dr. Jos. Leedom, of Plymouth, and there were born to them four child- ren, Isabella, Joseph L., Ellen and Andrew, all of whom died in carly childhood except Ellen, the wife of Joseph Fornance, attorney-at-law, Norristown. They reside at Selma Farm, be- fore described.
594
HON. THOMAS P. KNOX.
The death of the wife of Thomas P. Knox, which happened in 1846, was a sad affliction to him. Occurring so soon after the loss of his three children, it was a crushing blow from which he did not recover for many years.
In 1847 he purchased of Isaac Williams the "upper Chain farm," now in Norristown, containing twenty-five acres of land, which he had formerly rented, and most of which he sold soon after to speculators at a handsome profit. In 1851 he removed to Selma Farm, having purchased the interest of his mother and brothers therein, and continued to reside there until his death.
Mr. Knox was a life-long Democrat, and during Bigler's ad- ministration was appointed Governor's aid, with the rank of Colonel. Being an active politician, and possessing unusual urbanity of manners, he was popular with the people, and so was nominated and elected to the State Senate in 1855, serv- ing acceptably three years. During his Senatorial term he made extensive acquaintance at the State capital. Soon after he was chosen President of the State Agricultural Society, which office he held for several years. He at one time also filled the office of Justice of the Peace for Norriton township, before the limits of Norristown were made to include his homestead. He was likewise several times urged by his friends for Congress, but never received the nomination.
In person Colonel Knox was of medium stature, fair com- plexion, and hair nearly snow-white in his later years. He pos- sessed remarkable suavity and courtly gifts, and therefore was always an agreeable companion, having in social converse a pleasant word for each and all.
After a year of suffering he died at his home on the 29th of May, 1879, in the 70th year of his age. His remains are in- terred in Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown.
595
HON. BENJAMIN MARKLEY.
HON. BENJAMIN MARKLEY.
Having faithfully served his day and generation, full of years and honors -as a shock of golden grain-he was carried home and garnered by the reaper Death.
Among the prominent men of our county in the early days was "Judge Markley," a resident of New Hanover township. He was the son of Abraham and Barbara Markley, and born July 13th, 1751. In 1774, in his twenty-third year, he mar- ried Hannah Wentz, and a number of children were born to them, one of whom, Sarah, married Philip Boyer, of Pottstown.
Judge Benjamin Markley, in his early manhood, was a cav- alry officer in the American army during the Revolution. He was a man of considerable literary and business attainments, having a wide reputation, and wielding in his day an extensive influence. He took an active interest in the cause of education and every other beneficent public measure. In 1789 he was selected by the people, in company with Jacob Reiff, James Vaux and John Roberts, and elected to the House of Repre- sentatives in the State Legislature, and, with John Roberts, James Vaux and Cadwalader Evans, returned the following year. On the 17th of August, 1791, in connection with Col. Robert Loller, he was appointed Associate Judge of our courts, a post which he filled worthily until near the time of his death, which took place July 10th, 1819, when the place was filled by the late Richard B. Jones.
Judge Markley and his wife rest beside each other in the cemetery of the Lutheran church at New Hanover, of which they were members. The latter survived her husband ten years, dying in 1829 at the age of 74. It may be of further interest to the family to state that church records show that Judge Markley's grandfather was Jacob Markley, doubtless from Germany, who resided in Skippack and Perkiomen town- ship, and died in that locality in 1784. Both he and his sec- ond wife were buried at the lower Mennonite cemetery in Per- kiomen township. Their names are spelled "Maercly" in the inscription on the tomb-stones.
It is proper to state further that during Judge Markley's act- ive life he was eminently useful to his fellow-citizens, serving
596
HON. JOSEPH ROYER.
them in various capacities, such as Justice of the Peace, sur- veyor, executor, administrator, and in many other private trusts, besides being an active promoter of education and religion in his locality.
To partially complete the family record, we close with a no- tice of his distinguished son-in-law,
GENERAL PHILIP BOYER.
This gentleman was born September Ist, 1782, and during the war of 1812-15 with England was Major of a battalion of riflemen serving some time in the field, and after the restora- tion of peace rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the mi- litia. In 1822 General Boyer was elected Sheriff of the county, and served three years. As before stated, he married Sarah, daughter of Judge Benjamin Markley, and had two children, a daughter and son. The former, Caroline, intermarried with Rev. Daniel Weiser, a descendant of Conrad Weiser, the fa- mous Indian trader and interpreter of the colonial era. The son is our distinguished townsman, Hon. B. Markley Boyer, elsewhere recorded in this volume.
Philip Boyer and wife resided at Pottstown during most of their lives, he also serving in various private and public trusts. He died September 27th, 1853, and his wife November 2d, 1861. They are both buried in the cemetery at Pottstown.
HON. JOSEPH ROYER.
Higher paths there are to tread, Fresher fields around us spread, Larger manhood may we share, Surer fortune if we dare .- Bayard Taylor.
Joseph Royer was born in February, 1784, two miles west of Trappe, Providence township, in the then county of Phila- delphia. The act creating Montgomery county was passed sub- sequently in the same year. When about eleven years old he was apprenticed to learn the tailor's trade. After serving until his nineteenth year he returned to the home of his mother and began the business for himself. This slow occupation, how-
597
HON. JOSEPH ROYER.
ever, did not satisfy his youthful aspirations. He is next found . at Garber's school house, one-fourth of a mile north of what is now Black Rock Hotel, as a teacher of youth. After two or three winters thus spent in the small log school house, and in the summer assisting farmers at their work, he is next trans- ferred to the store-room of Benjamin Garber, occupying a por- tion of the building in the above mentioned hotel. Here he proved himself an excellent salesman, and for several years continued in the position; but this, too, at length, failed to sat- isfy his ambition. From that place he betook himself to the city of Philadelphia, where he started a retail grocery. After several years of hard work the concern was closed, mainly in consequence of derangement of business caused by the em- bargo laid in 1813. Having discharged all obligations in full, however, he next removed to Trappe, where he again engaged in teaching school, as the successor of Francis R. Shunk, in the old school house which was a part of the dwelling tenanted by the sexton of Augustus Lutheran Church, and owned by that body.
It may be here remarked that the strongest ties of friendship existed between the subject of this biography and Francis R. Shunk from their earliest boyhood to the time of the Governor's death Although of different political faith after 1828, that cir- cumstance did not in the least interfere with their life-long at- tachment. As each summer solstice returned with the revolv- ing year, so did Frank Shunk return to the home of his fathers, and there were none whom he was so pleased to see as " Joe Royer and his good 'frau' Betsy." With them he spent as much of his time in these annual visits as his political associa- tions would allow.
For the business of teaching the ordinary branches of an English education the subject of this sketch was eminently fitted. With him it was an indispensable desideratum to first gain the affections of his pupil as a prerequisite to success. But the field was too small, and he again soon tired of the rou- tine of the school master. So, after two years more spent in the role of teacher, he went back to mercantile pursuits as bet- ter suited to his taste and offering a more extended field for his ambition.
598
HON. JOSEPH ROYER.
Accordingly, in 1816, he and William White, under the firm name of White & Royer, entered into storekeeping at Trappe. About two years later the junior partner bought Mr. White's interest, after which the business was conducted by Mr. Royer alone. By industry and ability an extensive and profitable trade was soon created, which continued until the year 1852, when he transferred the entire concern to his sons, C. John and Horace Royer, he thus having been continuously in business at one place for thirty-six years.
In this connection it may be mentioned that in the year 1835 he constructed a large and convenient store-house on the west corner of the turnpike and Royersford road, upon land bought of Jacob Fry, Jr., and in 1839 built to and adjoining the store a large and commodious dwelling, to which he removed his family, and there resided until his death, which occurred in November, 1863. A monument in Augustus Lutheran Cem- etery marks his final resting place.
Joseph Royer was married in 1818 to Elizabeth, daughter of David and Mary Catharine Dewees. She, now a widow for nearly twenty years, survives (July, 1881), and is physically strong, with mental faculties but little impaired, though nearly eighty-four years old. Of this marriage eight children were born, whose names and record are inscribed on the concluding pages of this biography.
In 1821 and 1822 Joseph Royer, elected as a Democrat, rep- resented Montgomery county in the lower branch of the Leg- islature at Harrisburg; but, owing to the interference of this trust with his affairs at home, a third election was absolutely declined.
At this time, and for many years after, much of the business which is now done mainly if not altogether by lawyers, such as holding arbitrations, references, settling estates, auditing ac- counts, writing deeds, and the like, was entrusted to promi- nent individuals, or to three men selected by the parties them- selves. When, therefore, the services of the subject of this sketch could be obtained, he was engaged far and near in mat- ters of this kind, being a most correct accountant and also an excellent and rapid penman. The people universally in his
599
HON. JOSEPH ROYER.
section of the county placed great confidence in his judgment ; as a consequence he was very often consulted and his advice sought in the selling and buying of real estate, or before em- barking in the various pursuits of life. Thus, with his increas- ing trade and frequent engagements above stated, his life was an exceedingly busy one,-so much so that there was little time found for social intercourse, and only an occasional op- portunity to gratify his great love for fishing. In angling he was one of Izaak Walton's most devoted disciples, with scarcely a superior in the art.
In this manner, being successful in business, and enjoying the confidence of all, his life passed without further public in- cident until 1837, when, unsolicited and unexpected to himself, he received from Governor Ritner the appointment of Asso- ciate Judge of Montgomery county This position he filled for the usual period with honor to himself and to the satisfac- tion not only of his associates on the bench but of the lawyers and other court officials. He was now, however, better en- abled to attend to the duties of this appointment by reason of the fact that his eldest son, Francis, who, though but eighteen years old, was already an expert salesman, and in his father's absence thoroughly competent to take charge of the entire bu- siness, which had then become very large for a country place.
It may not be out of order to mention the further fact that Judge Royer was upon three different occasions the candidate of the Whig party for Congress, as follows: in 1828, 1832, and 1836. That party being then largely in the minority he was of course defeated, nor was he disappointed in the result.
Of the genealogy of the Royer family very little is positively known. It is reputed, however, to be of German origin, though tradition warrants the belief that its ancestors were French, driven into Germany as Protestants fleeing from persecutions which existed in their own country in the fifteenth and six- teenth centuries, and especially during the reign of Charles IX and the vicious and demoralizing policy of his queen-mother, Catharine de Medici.
It may be here stated incidentally that A. H. Huber, Esq., of Westminster, Maryland, who is intermarried with the Royer
1
600
HON. JOSEPH ROYER.
family, is engaged at this time in tracing its record and in adapt- ing the different links of the chain to their place. In his sum- mary he says: "Sebastian Royer (originally spelled Reyer) emigrated about 1718 with four sons, as it would appear, to the then province of Pennsylvania. The two elder settled on the Schuylkill at or near Royersford."
There is no doubt that the name was originally spelled Reyer, or Reyers, for upon the stone which marks the burial place of the grandfather of Joseph Royer we find engraved in German the following : "Here rest the bones of Carl Reyers, who died October 29th, 1780, aged 66 years, 9 months, and 25 days." This person, we suppose, was one of the sons of the Sebastian Royer above named, and could have been but about four years old when he set foot on the shores of the new world.
The next in descent was John Royer, who married Anna Catharine Apfel (Apple), and our subject, Joseph Royer, was the only son and next to the youngest of nine children born to them. John Royer died October 17th, 1788, in his fortieth year, and when his son Joseph was less than five years of age. Mrs. Royer survived her husband forty years, dying June 5th, 1828, in her eighty-second year. Joseph's sisters married, and all left the county, most of them going to the far West, except Catharine, who intermarried with John Shupe, now long since deceased.
Thus, after raising a family of nine children, John Royer and wife died where they had so long lived, and almost where they had been born, on the property so long and familiarly known as "Mother Royer's."
Joseph Royer possessed a fine physical form, was six feet in stature, symmetrical in proportion, and of full person. His complexion was fair, nose of a bold Roman type, head large and of noble mould. Idleness was no part of his nature. Most of his leisure moments were devoted to reading, and his brain as a consequence became a store-house of general knowledge. He was emphatically a self-made man. Although possessed of a limited scholastic education, he could fluently and intelli- gently converse upon nearly all subjects. In intercourse with his fellow-men he was affable and pleasant. In conversational
601
HON. JOSEPH ROYER.
powers he had few superiors. He was a member of the Trappe Lutheran Church, where his body is entombed. After having lived to the ripe age of nearly eighty years he passed quietly away, lamented by all who knew him.
Judge Royer being a man of broad intellect, carnest purpose, and fine social qualities, his character was in a remarkable de- gree stamped upon nearly all his sons. Francis, the eldest, born April, 1819, has already been mentioned. The author knew him well, as a most fluent, intelligent, public-spirited young man, a general favorite with young and old. He was the life of debating societies and social parties, and his death in 1845, at the early age of twenty-six, and unmarried, pro- duced a profound sense of sorrow and regret in a wide region around his home. He was a most promising young man.
J. Warren, the second son, born in 1820, is now the well known, genial and successful Doctor of Medicine at Trappe. He graduated at Princeton College in the class of 1842, and in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 1845, and has ever since been practicing at his native village.
Lewis, the third son, born March, 1822, also graduated in medicine and practiced for a time, but has been more recently engaged in the iron manufactures of the interior. Being also an active and influential Republican, his party in 1878 placed him on the ticket for State Senator, and he was elected to rep- resent Montgomery county in that body, making at present a very industrious and efficient member of the same.
The fourth son, J. Dewees, was born in 1824, who, catching the gold fever, went to California, and died there unmarried in 1848.
The fifth is C. John, who was born July, 1825.
The sixth, Horace, who was endowed with many social and intellectual gifts, and who took strongly to politics, was for some years very popular with the people, being, like his bro- ther more recently, elected to represent our district in the State Senate in 1865, and serving very efficiently in that capacity for three years. As elsewhere stated, he succeeded his father in the store, and kept it a number of years. After his return from Harrisburg he took a situation in Beecher's store at Pottstown,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.