USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Lives of the eminent dead and biographical notices of prominent living citizens of Montgomery County, Pa. > Part 61
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Between the latter periods it was the author's good fortune to be brought into frequent contact and conference with Jesse Evans, and he can truly say, that in all matters of Christian duty and moral reform, he never met or knew a truer man, or one more fearless. He had no patience with evasions of duty, or covert methods of carrying on social enterprises. He was a square opponent of everybody that resorted to sham or indi- rection to compass their aims. In early life he had imbibed a dislike of secret societies ; and hence much as he loved the temperance cause would never join any of the "orders" organ- ized to promote it, but worked incessantly outside upon the general public, insisting that such societies mainly promoted the spread of Masonry and cognate organizations which leave that great reform uncared for. He was ever the broadest ad- vocate, however, of universal liberty of speech and personal freedom. He and his wife were communicants in the Protest- ant Episcopal Church, worshiping at St. Mary's, in Warwick, Chester county.
Though residing on and managing his farm for many years, he gave much attention to state and county surveying, pursu- ing both till within a few years of his decease. He was re- garded by all who knew him well, as a God-fearing man, de- testing sin of all kinds, and especially against those leveled at the rights and welfare of others. He accordingly without fear denounced it in whatever form it appeared. Believing that the manufacture and use of intoxicating liquors for use as
662
ISAAC M'CARTER.
a beverage, was a bane to his fellow-men, he plunged into the very thickest of the battle against the whole business and custom.
In politics he was by birth and conviction what was called "a Whig," a generation ago, and per consequence became a staunch Republican, believing with all his soul that every man had inalienable rights and liberties which ought to be re- spected by all. He therefore soon became a warm and vigor- ous opponent of American slavery, denouncing it as a national sin, and for which North and South were alike responsible, and for which both were finally punished by a terrible war. . After the finale of slavery he threw all his vigor and talents against the liquor traffic, and the last time the writer met him in any public capacity was at the first National Convention of the Prohibition party, in February, 1872, at Columbus, Ohio, where he was a delegate. He was interred at Saint Andrew's, and many persons from a distance attested their high regard by attending his funeral.
1
ISAAC McCARTER.
THE MCCARTER FAMILY.
The early progenitor of this reputable and well known family was Isaac McCarter, who emigrated from Scotland or Ireland before the Revolution, settling in Virginia, where he joined the Continental army at "the time that tried men's souls," and served nearly to its conclusion-as he used to re- late, that he was at home and saw a single horseman riding through the country with courier speed announcing the glad news-"Peace has come! Peace has come!" Shortly after the conclusion of the war, Isaac McCarter, the emigrant, who then had two sons, Moses and Isaac, removed with his family to Ohio.
663
ISAAC M'CARTER.
Moses, or some of his immediate descendants, emigrated South again, and were known to reside at Richmond, Virginia, until about the commencement of the late rebellion.
Isaac McCarter, junior, the proper subject of this memorial, was a currier by trade, but being well educated for the times soon entered upon the calling of instructor of youth, which he followed many years, coming finally to Pennsylvania and settling in Lower Merion township, where he married Martha Thomas. About that time, the second war with England breaking out, he entered the army, as his father had formerly done, and served under General Scott till the return of peace. Isaac and Martha McCarter had four children, Eli G., Richard, Harmon and Hannah. Eli G. married Margaret Ricard, and had the following offspring : Ann, Emma, Cortland, Hannah and I. Newton. Richard McCarter was intermarried with Catharine Baker, and they had born to them the following: Elizabeth, Warren, Jane, Richard, Marshal, William, George and Clara. Harmon was united with Elizabeth Orr, but left no children. Hannah, the youngest of the family, was.the wife of William Rossiter, Esq., who located in Norristown in 1842, and they were married in 1844. He was elected Clerk of the Courts, serving one term, and afterwards Justice of the Peace for two terms, and subsequently did a large scrivening business, living on Airy street and having his office in the rear on Penn street. He died September 20, 1870, leaving no heirs but his widow, who still (1886) resides in Norristown.
Eli G. McCarter was a shoemaker by trade, but early aban- doned it for the more lucrative employment of auctioneer, which he successfully followed for many years. He was an active and valued member of the Bridgeport Baptist Church until his death, 1882, having been connected there and with the Norristown church for over fifty years, as also his sister Hannah has been for a like period.
Richard McCarter, in early life, learned the trade of a miller, which he followed some years, and afterward engaged in mer- cantile business in Norristown and Philadelphia a short time, but was later appointed Flour Inspector at Philadelphia, which post he held many years; but having acquired a competence,
664
DANIEL H. STEIN.
retired a few years ago to Bridgeport, where he erected an elegant mansion on the declivity of the borough, and where, in 1878, he was parted by death from his consort, and where at this writing he resides. His son William R. now holds a position in the Flour Inspector's office at Philadelphia, as his father had done.
DANIEL H. STEIN.
It is doubtful if any other man having a business career of over forty years, ever passed away in Norristown leaving such an exemplary record as he whose name stands at the head of this memorial. Neither detraction that envy often distils upon the good, nor falsehoods which malice invents to defile whom it hates, seems to have left a shadow or imputation resting upon his memory.
Daniel H. Stein was descended from German and French ancestry, his grandfather being of the former and his grand- mother of the latter nationality. He was the son of Hon. Jacob Stein, Judge of the courts of Lehigh county (originally written Von Stein), and brother-in-law to the celebrated Joseph J. Mickley, of Philadelphia, an enthusiastic antiquarian and coin collector, who died there some years ago. D. H. Stein was born in Allentown October 12, 1818, and his father being Judge and an officer in the second war with England, gave his son a good education at Muhlenberg College. As he grew up he had the offer also of a cadetship at West Point, to which his mind early leaned, but by reason of the attachment of parents was turned from his purpose, and continued his studies, as above stated. Having two elder brothers, who were practicing physicians, he commenced studying that profession with them; but both dying of a malignant epi- demic, the visitation turned his mind from it also, to watch- making and jewelry, which he learned; and in the year of 1838-9 came to Norristown and worked at his trade a few years, until David Sower erected the stores on Main street,
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DANIEL H. STEIN.
below Strawberry, one of which Mr. S. rented and opened within it a watch, clock and jewelry store, which he contin- ued to the time of his death, over forty years. Not long after embarking in business he was married to Miss Adeline, second daughter of David and Cecilia Sower, and they liad one daughter, who married, but died a few years later, leaving an only son.
During the great rebellion, in 1863, Mr. Stein, true to the patriotic instincts of his family, enrolled himself among the "emergency men," called out by Governor Curtin, to repel the Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania; but draft riots oc- curring at the same time at Philadelphia, Mr. S.'s company was diverted to that city and suffered from exposure to sun and rain equally with soldiers in the field. From this cause Mr. Stein contracted disease (a complication of asthma), which never left him, and finally carried him off March 25, 1885, he having been a patient sufferer from it for years. He was con- fined to his bed only six weeks. His funeral was largely at- tended and conducted by Rev. Dr. Noble, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, of which the deceased had been many
years an exemplary member. These sad obsequies were made doubly solemn by the impromptu and touching remarks of Rev. D. Wesley Gordon, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, who, when a boy, had stood in his store and lived in his family. He feelingly stated that much of the web and woof of his early religious life had been formed under the kind ad- monitions of Mr. Stein, who had been both his master and pre- ceptor during the most impressible years of his boyhood.
Mr. Stein was a man of general intelligence, but so modest and retiring that few but his intimate friends knew of his ac- quirements. He was besides a man of unvarying suavity and refinement of feeling, a gentleman always and everywhere. He had a fine voice and early sang in the choir of St. John's Episcopal Church, and for a much longer period in that of the First Presbyterian, to which he belonged at the time of his death.
The religious affiliations of the elder Mr. Stein's family had been with the Lutheran Church, but for many years D.
666
SAMUEL M. BUNTING.
H. S. and wife were members of the First Presbyterian, of Norristown.
In politics Mr. S. had always been a Whig and Republican, but having no taste for the wrangles of political life he was never elected to any public office. In person, he was comely in feature, of dark, yet clear complexion, with well-formed person, slightly below the average height.
His death produced much real sorrow in Norristown, and was a deep bereavement to his consort, who recalls his genial nature and affectionate qualities as the dearest treasure that memory has now left her. His courteous demeanor and in- flexible integrity will long be remembered by the people of Norristown.
SAMUEL M. BUNTING.
If a genial, kindly temper, a spotless life, an exemplary and successful business career of thirty-five years in one town en- titles any person to a record in a book of county biography, then Samuel Miller Bunting, late of Pottstown, is worthy of such memorial. This opening sentence is the author's sincere tribute to his memory.
He was descended from Scotch ancestry, and born in Ox- ford, Chester county, June 23, 1827. He learned the hat- ter's trade as it was pursued many years ago, and came to Pottstown in 1850, when a young man of twenty-three, estab- lishing a business in the manufacture and sale of hats, chiefly of his own manufacture, wholesale and retail, first in partner- ship with Wesley Boyer, but after a lapse of three or four years dissolved, continuing alone, and subsequently purchased the central lot, northeast corner of High and Hanover streets, where soon after (1864), he erected two of the then finest stores in the borough, with a dwelling attached, the corner one for his own occupancy.
Soon after settling at Pottstown Mr. Bunting's mind was deeply interested in religious things, and he became an active
667
SAMUEL M. BUNTING.
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which was then feeble and but recently organized in the place; and it is hardly too much to say, that by his devotion, as much as through that of any other man, the congregation was built up and established; for at the time of his decease his brethren made this record, that "For twenty-seven years he had been a worthy member, twenty-five years a Trustee and Steward, twelve years Superintendent of the Sabbath school, and also class leader for a time."
On the 6th of December, 1853, Mr. Bunting was united in marriage with Miss Hannah, daughter of the late Michael and Margaret Sloanaker, of Chester Springs, Chester county, and there were born to them five sons and one daughter, namely, John A., Howard S., William M., I. Newton, Charles W., (who died in infancy), and Annie M.
In politics Mr. B. was always a consistent Democrat, but never seeking political preferment was only elected a member of Town Council and School Board, of which latter he was President for a time. Here we must award our subject grate- ful remembrance for his active and efficient labors while in the Board and all through his busy life, in elevating the effi- ciency and thoroughness of public school instruction. His service in this regard will long be remembered by the people of the borough.
Mr. Bunting's genial, affable deportment, joined to his up- rightness and high sense of honor, made him popular with all, and gave abundant success in the particular business to which he had devoted his life.
His health was never robust, so he was seized with a nerv- ous disease of the chest that soon terminated his useful life July 10, 1885, aged fifty-eight years and seventeen days. On the fourteenth he was buried at Mount Zion Cemetery, fol- lowed by a very large concourse of sympathizing friends. Rarely, if ever, had Pottstown exhibited such general signs of mourning ; most of the principal business houses on the line of the funeral cortege were closed. Ten prominent citizens of the borough, who had been associated with the deceased as members of the Quarterly Conference, walked in a body to
668
JAMES SHANNON.
the house of mourning and served as pall-bearers. Religious services were conducted by the pastor, Rev. J. S. Hughes, as- sisted by five other Methodist and a Reformed minister.
In person Mr. Bunting was above medium height, well formed, light complexioned, of comely, agreeable countenance, and his kindly aspect will be fondly cherished by his surviv- ing fellow-citizens. Few men have died in Pottstown more truly respected and mourned by all.
JAMES SHANNON.
One of the most reputable families in Montgomery county, dating from colonial times, is that bearing the surname at the head of this sketch. It is most probably Irish, possibly Eng- lish or Scotch, and doubtless settled here in the first quarter of the last century. It must have been wealthy and respect- able from the first, as Dr. Robert Shannon, a great-uncle, owned a thousand acres of land on both sides of the German- town turnpike, between the (now) Hartranft station and Penn Square, and was in extensive practice there at the commence- ment of the present century.
James Shannon, of the second generation, married Elizabeth Lane, of Evansburg, and one of his sons, Samuel, was the father of our subject. He was apprenticed to the celebrated John Markley, of Norristown (originally a tanner), he learn- ing that trade with him, and at the same time the German language. Samuel Shannon was born in 1781, and completed his apprenticeship about 1802 or 1803. Not many years after he established a tannery for himself in Norriton township, on the line of Stony creek, which he successfully pursued until near 1840, when he retired from business and located in Norristown. Early in life he had been united in marriage to Elizabeth Harner, and there were born to them the following children: James, our subject; Ann, Rose, George, John, Joseph and Samuel Lane. George is elsewhere recorded in
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JAMES SHANNON.
this volume; two of the sisters, Anna and Rose, at this writ- ing reside retired in Norristown.
Samuel Shannon, as most of his family, was an Episcopalian, connected, while he lived, with St. John's, Norristown. He was an expert in sacred music, and it is related of him that when that church was founded, and soon following, the First Presbyterian, service was frequently alternated between them, that there might be one house full of worshippers every Sab- bath, on which occasions Mr. Shannon would generally lead the singing at either, as a convenience to both congregations. Mr. Shannon, the elder, was also a man of enlarged public spirit and one of the first School Directors and defenders of the public school system. Through his influence with those who, as himself, spoke German, in the back part of the town- ship, he had much to do in getting the school law into early operation in Norriton township. Also, when the original Montgomery County Agricultural Society was formed, some forty years ago, Mr. Shannon, then retired from business, was one of the most active in securing its success with the people. While residing at the farm and tannery he was road Supervi- sor for near twenty years.
We come here to record the career of James Shannon, of Norristown, who is the proper subject of this memorial, now (1886) enjoying a green old age, while living in the family of an adopted daughter, Mrs. James Rowan.
Mr. Shannon was born in Norriton township, July 5, 1813, and at the proper age was apprenticed, in 1829, to John Shep- herd, of Whitemarsh, to learn cabinet-making. Completing his term of service, he went, 1834, to Philadelphia to work at his trade, and after continuing a while there, like most enter- prising mechanics, concluded to take a trip South; so in the winter of 1836 he went to New Orleans, working there and at Mobile about two years, until 1838, when he returned, and 1844 married Miss Hannah, eldest daughter of Joseph and Ann Abraham, of Upper Merion, who died in 1874 in Nor- ristown.
Mr. Shannon's further business life has been somewhat va- ried, but entirely successful. For a short time he kept a fur- niture store on Main street, Norristown; 1862 he purchased
670
JAMES SHANNON.
of his brother George the oil mill which he had erected at Lafayette and Ford streets. This he converted into a place in which to manufacture fertilizers from bones and other ma- terial, and ran it about three years, when Captain C. P. Weaver, with a corps of tackmakers, needing a mill with power, Mr. Shannon rented the works, which arrangement lasted till 1869, when the tack "plant" was transferred to Stony creek, and Mr. Shannon again put machinery into his mill and be- gan to manufacture paper boards for book-binders' use, which he continued nearly fourteen years, until 1883, when he sold the real estate to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, dis- posed of the machinery to others and retired from business.
Near the same time, Mrs. Sarah Derr dying, left Mr. Shan- non one of her executors, after disposing of which trust, Mr. S. concluded to revisit the South and see the results of the war and emancipation at the places where he had worked as a journeyman cabinet-maker nearly fifty years before.
About 1870 Mr. Shannon, though bred an Episcopalian, made a profession of religion and joined the Baptist Church, of Nor- ristown, by the usual rite of baptism, and not long after was elected one of the deacons, which responsible place he re- cently resigned. James Shannon is known in Norristown as a man of great amiability, simplicity of life, ever ready to assist in works of charity and mercy, and therefore a most valuable assistant in church work. Nearly all other branches of the Shannon family in Montgomery county are church people, and most of them in the early past were interred in the family vault at St. James', Evansburg.
671
EDWIN T. FREEDLEY.
EDWIN T. FREEDLEY.
Edwin T. Freedley, who is identified with Montgomery county by residence in early life, is one of the few who may be said to have a cosmopolitan reputation. His name is familiar to thousands of those who were in active business thirty years ago, both in Great Britain and United States, and many of the successful merchants of the present day in both countries frankly acknowledge that they are indebted to his writings for their first knowledge of the principles of business. He was born July 28, 1827, and after receiving a fair educa- tion in the common schools and from private tutors, he en- tered the Treemount Seminary of the Rev. Samuel Aaron, at Norristown, where he was noted for his facility in acquiring languages, particularly Latin and French. In common with many of the surviving pupils of this famous teacher, Mr. Freedley holds his memory in the highest veneration, and claims that he never in after life met a more eloquent or "brainy" man. His school life may be said to have been de- void of incident; he was quiet, reserved and studious, never needing correction and seldom reproof.
In 1845 he entered the law school of Harvard University, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was present when Edward Everett was inaugurated President of the University. In those days moot courts were an important feature of the school and Mr. Freedley was frequently assigned to argue cases submit- ted by the Professors. One of these, which he argued before a full bench, composed of Edward Everett, Simon Greenleaf, author of "Greenleaf's Evidence," Judge William Kent, son of the Chancellor, and a galaxy of distinguished lawyers from Boston, is still a tradition in the school. It had its origin in the famous Tirrell murder trial, then going on in Boston, in which Rufus Choate was the leading counsel for the defence, pleading somnambulism successfully, and the question that was argued in the moot court was, in case one of the jurors should abscond and could not be found before the trial was finished, whether the prisoner could be tried again in view of
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EDWIN T. FREEDLEY.
the constitutional provision which declares that "no person shall be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeop- ardy of life or limb."
Before graduating, Mr. Freedley was called to go to Cincin- nati to secure a large sum of money owing his father, and this led to his becoming partner and part proprietor in the largest steam marble mill which then had been established in the West. He remained there nearly four years, when, at his wife's earnest solicitation, he sacrificed his interests and re- moved to Philadelphia. Having nothing in particular to en- gross his attention, he set about studying the principles that underlie success in negotiation, and recorded the result of his studies in a little work which was published under the title of " A Practical Treatise on Business." The liveliness of its style and its common sense views attracted the popular fancy and it had an immense sale, not exceeded probably by any miscellaneous book that had been published up to that time, with the exception of Mrs. Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. Five different firms in London republished the book in England, besides the author's edition, in which P. T. Barnum and an official connected with St. James' Palace, who was also a book- seller, were interested with him. The London Economist, as quoted in Allibone's Dictionary of Authors, said of it: "This book is American in origin and completely American in char- acter. No other country could have sent forth such a work- so plain spoken, so honest, so judicious, so reasonable." An edition, eliminated and adapted to the English market, was edited by John McGregor, Esq., member of Parliament. The extraordinary success of his first work determined his life's destiny and led him to become an author and publisher.
In 1854 Mr. Freedley returned to Harvard Law School with the view of obtaining the best advice and assistance in the preparation of a book of legal advice for business men, which was published by Lippincott, Grambo & Co., and had a large sale. In 1857 he issued a work on "The Manufactures of Philadelphia," which was largely distributed by the merchants and Board of Trade, and was the first to attract the attention of the merchants of the South and West to the fact that Phil- adelphia was a great manufacturing centre, especially of tex-
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EDWIN T. FREEDLEY.
tile fabrics adapted to their sections. A second and enlarged edition was published in 1867. About this time he projected a purchasing agency which would have enabled country mer- chants to purchase many imported articles from first hands, and which was probably the forerunner of wholesale co-oper- ation which is destined to effect great changes in the methods of distributing merchandise. In 1860 he, in association with the Hon. Edward Young, began the publication of a " Manu- facturers' Gazette," which was discontinued after the battle of Bull Run. Previous to that he had employed Dr. J. L. Bishop to prepare a History of American Manufactures, which, in consequence of the author's death, Mr. Freedley was com- pelled to complete, making three volumes octavo. This he illustrated with steel portraits of representative manufacturers in groups, which, it is believed, started the furore for biograph- ical works illustrated with steel portraits of living men, which has furnished work for the engravers to the amount of hun- dreds of thousands of dollars. During the years he was con- nected with the book trade he edited, wrote and published many other books, nearly all of them successful publications, and in 1868 he retired with a moderate fortune.
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