USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Lives of the eminent dead and biographical notices of prominent living citizens of Montgomery County, Pa. > Part 63
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In 1870 Major Moore was appointed by President Grant Appraiser of Customs at the port of Philadelphia, a post of great responsibility, which he held till 1885, almost sixteen years, the best evidence in the world that he filled it with scru- pulous courtesy to importers, and fidelity to the government. There is probably no other office in the gift of the President that requires such inflexible integrity, or more exacting pre- requisites of judgment.
Upon taking possession of the Appraiser's office he found the records in a very chaotic condition. Strange as it may appear, of the numerous volumes of records, not a single one was supplied with an index. The official letters had been copied into large ledgers, but not being indexed were useless for all practical purposes as references. These deficiencies were all supplied under his direction, and when he left the office some eighteen months since (July, 1885), it was univers-
686
EDWARD B. MOORE.
ally accepted by the authorities at Washington as one of the most efficiently equipped and systematic offices in the service.
On assuming direction of the time-honored Republican, as before stated, he was careful to maintain its recent high tone as an organ committed to the broadest platform established by the results of the war. Its lofty adherence to principle, and successful exposure of local disloyalty, sustained Major M.'s former high reputation for intrepid political editorials, and it was soon found that through the influence of the paper and other causes, the early Republican majorities of the county were nearly doubled. It is a matter of record, moreover, that the resumption measures, including "free national banking," afterwards adopted by Congress, was first suggested in a care- fully written editorial published in the Republican in 1872, being in advance of any other journal in the Union, as is be- lieved.
It is proper to state that during the ten years he filled the editorial chair at West Chester, as of the previous ten of like service at Norristown, he was generally on the lead, both as to policy and adroitness of party management.
Finding, however, that both official and editorial duties were too exacting and injurious to his health, he was induced in 1876 to retire from the latter by disposing of the Republican and attending strictly to the duties of his federal office. Thus he continued for nine years longer until displaced by Cleveland's administration, when he at once assumed presidency of a num- ber of business enterprises, representing large capital, with their affairs at 1017 Chestnut street, Philadelphia, which he still holds. Major Moore's business life hitherto may be summed up-about ten years editorial service at Norristown ; four years service in the army; ten of newspaper work at West Chester, and over fifteen worthily filling a Federal office of great trust and responsibility, at Philadelphia. It only re- mains to add our subject's domestic affiliations.
While he resided at Norristown, he was married in 1856 to Miss Mary Norris, daughter of Colonel A. W. and Eunice Shearer, of Norriton, Montgomery county, she being a lineal descendant of the famous Norris family that gave name to Norristown. By her he had one son and one daughter, the
687
JOHN C. SNYDER, ESQ.
latter dying in infancy. The wife and mother died a few months after giving birth to the latter child, when the boy was taken into the family of his maternal grand-parents.
After settling in West Chester, in 1867, Major Moore was again married to Miss Mary H., daughter of the celebrated Dr. John B. Brinton, deceased, of that place, and there have been born to them a daughter and a son, the former of whom only survives.
JOHN C. SNYDER, ESQ.
The above sterling surname, which has given Pennsylvania one of her best Governors, "Honest Simon Snyder," is Ger- man, of course, and probably at first spelled Schnider, "tailor" in English. He is of that plain, industrious, persevering stock, which has done so much to develop our state and make it what it is, the pride of the American Union. The peculiarities of this race for a century and a half forming the web and woof of our population are industry, blunt honesty and quiet stabil- ity of character.
John C. Snyder, well known about Norristown as "Squire Snyder," was born in Hilltown township, Bucks county, May 17, 1834. His father's name was Michael, and his mother's Anna, who were also born and reared in the same county. The former died there at the age of forty-six and the latter survived till her seventy-third year.
Up to the age of seventeen our subject worked on a farm, when he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a smith, and after acquiring his handicraft, very soon removed to Norris- town, still working at his proper calling. Being public spir- ited and patriotic he not long after joined the military corps known as Wayne Artillerists, and as the company celebrated Washington's birthday, 1857, while firing the cannon at the eleventh round, a premature discharge occurred, when he was ramming the piece, prostrating him to the earth, destroying his right eye and costing nearly all use of his right hand. This
688
JOHN C. SNYDER, ESQ.
shocking accident created profound sympathy in his behalf among comrades and throughout the community. The terri- ble mishap, however, did not destroy his patriotic ardor or drive him from the company. Governor Packer had already commissioned him Second Lieutenant, which position he held at the time refered to. Being thus deprived of the full use of his hand, and therefore unable to work for some months, dur- ing his recovery he sold books for a living until March 26, 1858. The following autumn he was elected Coroner and the Governor again commissioned him to serve in that office for three years. Feeling, however, the need of constant employ- ment, encouraged and assisted by some confiding friends, in January, 1859, he started at Main and Walnut streets, the grocery business in a small way, almost without capital. The same year he was elected Brigade Inspector of uniformed mili- tia, Governor Packer further honoring him with a new commis- sion for the same. This command embraced the Second Bri- gade, Second Division, composed of Bucks, Montgomery and Delaware counties, the selection then being by the votes of the volunteer militia themselves of contiguous counties. All these offices our subject filled to public acceptance, and al- though still providentially disabled, energetically pressed for- ward in life's duties. Accordingly, April 17, 1860, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary B., daughter of Christopher and Catharine Rittenhouse, of Norristown, and thence with renewed energy continued to build up his grocery trade into a paying concern.
Very soon after coming to Norristown Lieutenant Snyder had joined the "American movement," which had for its aim the discouragement of interference by foreigners in our do- mestic concerns, and passed through the Presidential contest of 1860 as an adherent of Bell and Everett, the "native" can- didates. The election over, the mutterings of war were heard on every hand, and while the attitude of Bell, a Southern man, and Everett, the embodiment of New England conserv- atism, threw those statesmen (pending the "irrepressible con- flict") rather into the defence of slavery, or at least non-inter- vention against the efforts to introduce slavery further into the Southwest, still the moment Beauregard at the mandate
689
JOHN C. SNYDER, ESQ.
of the new Confederate government trained his guns upon our dear old flag at Fort Sumter, then our military sprang to arms almost as one man, and party lines were forgotten or given to the winds. The Wayne Artillerists, on offering their services to the government, were necessarily reorganized, and Lieuten- ant Snyder, not being "able-bodied," retired, as did the Cap- tain. But when the first reverse to our arms came, and our territory was threatened with invasion, September, 1862, mili- tia regiments were hastily organized under the call of Gov- ernor Curtin, and Lieutenant Snyder was elected Captain of Company D, IIth Regiment, commanded by Col. Charles A. Knoderer, on the promotion of Captain Walter H. Cooke from the post of Captain to that of Major. This enlistment, which was for the emergency, growing out of Lee's threatened invasion of Pennsylvania, passed away on his repulse at An- tietam September 17, and actually lasted only from September 12 to 24, of the same month ; and yet perhaps over a month was employed in organizing and returning, as it was part of a considerable force, which had gathered on the border of Maryland in haste within supporting distance of McClellan when that battle was fought.
Again in July, 1863, the Confederate commander invaded our state, burned Chambersburg, was rapidly advancing on Harrisburg and Philadelphia, when the alarm in our locality was greater than before. The Governor implored citizens as before to spring to arms and help repel the enemy. This time a feeling almost of despair seized the people, and many shrank back, saying, "they will overrun and devastate us in spite of all we can do." But on Sunday the court house bell rang out long peals of alarm, and the people came together in multi- tudes, patriotic speeches were made, wealthy citizens stepped for- ward with large subscriptions to aid families of men enlisting, and before Tuesday morning three companies were organized at Norristown to march to the menaced front. At Governor Curtin's mandate they temporarily organized and left for Read- ing, were mustered into the United States service as the Forty-third Regiment, under Colonel William W. Stott, of Chester county, July 6. Of this command Company I was nominally commanded by Captain Joseph L. Allabough, of
690
JOHN C. SNYDER, ESQ.
Norristown, but by reason of his continual illness really under the command and constant drill of First Lieutenant John C. Snyder, the subject of our sketch. In occupying this delicate position from July 6 to August 12, including nearly as much time before and after the strict term of service, acting Captain Snyder was always the considerate gentleman, as he was the rigid soldier, which the writer remembers very well, as he was a private in the company. As before, there was no fighting done by these troops, who to the number of over fifteen thou- sand were encamped along the Potomac for two or three weeks. This latter commission of Lieutenant Snyder was ex- ecuted under General Order No. 42 of the President, dated June 15, 1863.
Again, as the crisis of the rebellion verged to a close in the summer of 1864, and every available veteran of the army was wanted at the front, there was organized what was called the "Coal Exchange Regiment," composed of troops from Philadelphia and neighboring counties, "for a hundred days," whose chief duty was to garrison some camps of rebel pris- oners. Accordingly, the 197th Regiment, organized July 22 at Philadelphia, under Col. John R. Hazlett, of which company G, composed chiefly of men of Norristown, elected John C. Snyder captain, Charles S. Jones first, and Wilmer Atkinson second, lieutenant. The regiment was first sent to Camp Brad- ford, near Baltimore, where it remained two weeks. After this, being well drilled, it was sent to Rock Island, Illinois, to guard a camp of rebel prisoners, where the duty, by reason of the extended charge, was quite as hard and exacting as service in the field would have been. At the close of its term the regiment returned to Philadelphia, and was mustered out No- vember II, after serving over the hundred days. This ended Capt. Snyder's term of service in the army of the United States, for home defence.
After the conclusion of the war, October 4, 1866, Captain S. was appointed by the Secretary of Treasury, under Presi- dent Johnson's administration, Inspector of cigars, tobacco and snuff, of the Sixth District of Pennsylvania, which he held about two years, when the office was abolished. In the year 1869 Capt. Snyder was elected by citizens of Fifth ward, Nor-
691
WILLIAM CORSON, M. D.
ristown, Justice of the Peace, and April 1 3th was commissioned by Governor Geary. Still continuing his business as grocer at the place he began several years before, and filling the latter office acceptably to the people to the end of the term, he was · again elected and commissioned March 14, 1874, by Governor Hartranft for another term. This has continued twice since, being commissioned successively by Governors Hoyt and Pat- tison, the last dated April 23, 1884. Thus we may add by way of general remark, that Esquire Snyder, who still sells "creature comforts," as also adjusts matters of right and jus- tice between the people, may be well characterized by the rustic phrases " hang on," or steady perseverance. As may be sup- posed, so many years' faithful work and upright deportment have brought him and family a fair reward, and he may be de- scribed as comfortable, if not rich. It only remains to describe the personnel of 'Squire Snyder's family. He and wife have been blessed with four children: Winfield W., Anna Kate, Mary Helen and John Harry. The eldest of the flock died in his twenty-fourth year.
It is proper to add that our subject is and has been for some years a very earnest Democrat, and his wife and daughters are members of the Lutheran Church.
WILLIAM CORSON, M. D.
With pleasure and yet sorrow for his recent departure from this life, we proceed to record a due memorial of the distin- · guished man whose name stands at the head of this sketch. We do it with more pleasure because it supplies a defect in our first edition, which only resulted from Dr. C.'s excessive modesty and sensitiveness. But he has passed beyond reach of the fond praises of friends or rude comments of others who might not know him.
He was no commonplace man, but without being eccentric very peculiar and his characteristics so boldly stood out in relief that everybody knew Doctor Corson nearly as well as.
692
WILLIAM CORSON, M. D.
he knew himself. Blunt honesty and moral courage were his distinguishing characteristics and openness of mind such that his contempt for fraud and deception in others could not at times be concealed, thus often subjecting him to the censures of those who practice finesse and policy toward opponents. . He was sympathetic as a refined woman, and usually "the firstlings of his heart were the firstlings of his hand," to use the language of the great poet. This was more remarkable when it is remembered that he never formed any conjugal or other family ties, but seemed to feel as husband and father to- wards everybody.
Of his family origin and affiliations we have fully written in sketches of his brothers Alan (see page 308) and Hiram, and therefore avoid repetition here. Of his gifts and capacity as a practitioner of medicine his brethren have spoken at length as partly detailed below. It may be added, however, of the writer's personal knowledge, that for some fifty years he was ever ready to answer a call to the bedside of a sick person, whether the patient was able to pay in money or only "thanks." The Doctor was always polite, genial and friendly, and the author occasionally dropped in to see him a few minutes. In one of those interviews, perhaps a year ago, allusion was made to the estrangement long time known to exist between him and his medical classmate, Dr. H. D. W. Pawling, when Dr. Corson, with evident pleasure, remarked that he had recently met the former and a friendly greeting was exchanged between them. Thus was a slight misunderstanding of near half a cen- tury's continuance in a moment dismissed forever. The last time we saw him alive, a short month before his demise, when the shadow of the death-angel's wing was plainly on his vis- age, he gave permission, "That if we had a tribute to his char -* acter worthy of him and the author, he would not object to it being placed in the book of 'County Biography.'" A few per- sonal facts not hitherto recorded are annexed.
William Corson, the son of Joseph and Hannah Corson, was born in Plymouth township, near Hickorytown, August 8, 1806, and after graduation in medicine at the University in 1831 he opened an office at Main and Strawberry streets, Norristown, but very soon purchased the property 110 East
693
WILLIAM CORSON, M. D.
Main street, where he erected an office, carriage house, and still later almost rebuilt the dwelling attached, by raising it a story and replacing the stone front with a handsome one of brick. There he resided till his dealth almost fifty years, which occurred November 3, 1886, just as he had entered his eighty- first year. His disease was but a prostration of the vital forces from age. Never having been married, he left no children, and being "his own almoner" little or no worldly estate. On the latter statement it must be recorded to Dr. Corson's broad humanity, that he hardly ever left an applicant for charity go away empty from his door, and in his benefactions he knew neither Jew, Christian nor Samaritan, but gave with a cosmo- politan liberality to the extent of his means, and was doubtless often imposed upon by the vicious and unworthy, as he was known to involve himself in efforts to serve his friends.
Being an ingrain anti-slavery man, he was of necessity al- ways a strong partisan Republican, but never sought civil office, therefore was never a candidate for public trust.
On the announcement of his death, November 5, a special call of the County Medical Society was issued for a meeting next day, which convened, Dr. F. S. Wilson in the chair. A committee on resolutions, consisting of Drs. P. Y. Eisenberg, H. H. Whitcomb and C. Z. Weber, after consultation, reported a series, and in presenting them, Dr. E., among other eulogis- tic things, said: "Dr. Corson was remarkable for his force of character, for his friendship, and unswerving opposition to everything that savored of wrong, or tended in any way to compromise the dignity of himself or of others ; he was pos- sessed of heroic courage and thrilled by philanthropic im- pulses. He was a man of lofty conceptions, purity of purpose " and sincerity of action. As a physician, Dr. Corson was highly esteemed among his colleagues, and his judgment and diag- nostic skill were sought in many a consulting room for a period of fifty-five years." Remarks were also made by Drs. Stinson, J. K. Reid and George M. Stiles. A resolution was then passed to attend the funeral in a body. The pall-bearers chosen were Drs. I. N. Evans, John Schrack, S. N. Wiley, P. Y. Eisenberg, David Beaver, J. O. Knipe, C. H. Mann and R. H. Chase; and the interment was announced to be the ensu-
694
WILLIAM CORSON, M. D.
ing Monday, 8th, at Montgomery Cemetery. The following is a part of the official preamble and resolutions :
"WHEREAS, They recognizing in the death of their late as- sociate the loss of one who at all times had the welfare and prosperity of the society at heart, and feeling desirous of ex- pressing in befitting words their high appreciation of his many qualities as a man and a physician, therefore be it
" Resolved, That in the death of Dr. William Corson this society mourns the loss of one of its oldest and most active and talented members, and one who was justly esteemed by all of his professional brethren for many excellent qualities of head and heart."
The concourse in attendance at his funeral was immense, a hundred carriages being in line, his professional brethren and numerous mourning friends forming such a procession as is rarely seen in the streets of Norristown.
For many years Doctor Corson had lived in the family of Mr. Alfred Hurst, a zealous member of St. John's Episcopal Church, which Dr. C. often attended, and was on terms of cordial intimacy with the rector, Rev. Isaac Gibson (as he had formerly been with Rev. Dr. Halsey), so Mr. Gibson very pro- perly officiated at his funeral, reading the usual service for the dead.
For a long time he had his nephew, Dr. Ellwood M. Corson, associated with him in practice, and who still occupies the office and continues attendance upon his patients.
Perhaps the best test of public appreciation of Dr. Wm. Corson is found in adding the names of most of his students. They are the following: Doctors Henry T. Slemmer, George W. Nugent (as assistant and student), Mary Stinson, Louis W. Read, Thomas F. Corson, Eugene Smyser, David R. Beaver, Charles Bradley, Isaac Hughes, S. N. Wiley, Ella Zook, Geo. N. Highley, William Ramsey.
There was recently published in the Norristown Daily Times some reminiscences of Dr. Corson from the pen of Dr. E. M. Fury, of Norristown, which are so graphic and charac- teristic of him that a short extract is appended. These pur- port to be recent conversations of the narrator with our sub- ject. He says :
695
JAMES B. EVANS, ESQ.
"First came the death of Mrs. L. W. Read, for whom he had the utmost respect and admiration. With tears in his eyes he said to me the day of her death, 'This has broken me up. I knew her from a little girl. I knew her virtues, and she was a model woman.' And then he ceased to speak and wept bitterly. 'And then came the death of the distinguished jurist, Judge Yerkes,' and again he seemed lost in sorrow. Then it was that he said to me, 'They are all leaving me be- hind. I never expected this to come to pass.'"
These extracts from recent conversations, as given by Dr. F., would seem to indicate that the doctor thought his life- work done, and that others more useful than he were being taken and he left behind.
The testimony of Dr. E. A. Wood, of Pittsburg (late Sen- ator), to Dr. Corson's peculiarities, is as follows : "He always impressed me with the idea of a great man, but of that kind of greatness void of ambition-that is to say, he made no effort to be great, but was great in spite of himself."
JAMES B. EVANS, ESQ.
James B. Evans was the son of James Evans, Esq., of Lim- erick township, Montgomery county, where he was born Feb- ruary 26, 1820. His father, for whom he was named, was at one time a Justice of the Peace and a member of the Lower House of Assembly for the sessions 1826, '27 and '28. He had three brothers, Josiah W., Thomas and Owen B., the first and last elsewhere recorded in this book, and four sisters, Anna, Char- lotte, Elizabeth and Harriet .*
In 1830 Jacob Fry, Jr., of Trappe, was appointed Prothon- otary at Norristown, and chose Josiah W. Evans his clerk or deputy, the latter filling the place during Mr. Fry's term, as also that of his successor. At the conclusion of the Ritner administration, in 1839, Josiah W. Evans was first appointed Prothonotary by Governor Porter, and afterwards under the
*For the ancient genealogy of this Evans family see the sketch of Owen Evans elsewhere in this volume. ,
696
JAMES B. EVANS, ESQ.
requirements of the new constitution, elected to that office for three years. He at once appointed his youngest brother, our subject, James B., his deputy, being then in his twentieth year. From that time he filled the place with great fidelity, boarding with his brother, Josiah, until the end of the latter's official term, in 1842, when Dr. Jones Davis was elected Prothon- otary, who, finding young Mr. Evans expert and proficient in the duties of the office, continued him in trust as his deputy also. This very convenient arrangement enabled the Doctor to still reside in Lower Providence, where he had consider- able practice in his profession. At the end of Doctor Davis' term, and on the election of Mehelm McGlathery, 1845, the new incumbent, finding Mr. Evans so long and well fitted to discharge the difficult duties of the office, retained him, as his predecessor had done, and he served Mr. McGlathery to the end of his term also. This long continuance in the post of Deputy Prothonotary had now made Mr. Evans widely ac- quainted with the people, and his courteous, obliging deport- ment in intercourse with the bar rendered him the prominent aspirant for the office he had so long filled as deputy. There- fore, industriously bringing his name before the Democratic electors of the county, to which party he had always belonged, he was taken up at the autumn convention, 1848, and elected to the office for the usual term of three years.
A little previously, however, he had formed the acquaint- ance of Miss Ann J., daughter of Thomas and Hannah Cow- den, of Plymouth township, and they were married March 20, 1844, he purchasing a mansion, to which they removed, on Swede street, above Airy, where they resided while he lived. About that time Mr. Evans, having a quick perception of the future growth of Norristown and the advantage of investing his considerable savings in town lots, purchased at public sales, then common; and, associated with Michael C. Boyer and Samuel E. Hartranft afterwards, purchased thirty acres of land, west of Stony creek, of Thomas P. Knox, most of which was sold to lot speculators at a considerable advance on cost; but quite a number of these he retained or bought in for him- self. These lots being then in Norriton township (but sure to come into the borough later) were not subject to heavy taxes,
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