USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Lives of the eminent dead and biographical notices of prominent living citizens of Montgomery County, Pa. > Part 64
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697
JAMES B. EVANS, ESQ.
a fact Mr. E. shrewdly foresaw, and he held them while he lived under little expense in the way of taxation. The very great increase in the value of these with other investments, have given his widow considerable property to look after, and left her in comfortable circumstances.
We turn back now to detail the conclusion of our subject's official term and business career. In 1848 or'49, on the sale of his father-in-law's farm, in Plymouth, James B. Evans pur- chased it at public auction very cheaply, as was thought, and shortly after sold it again at considerable advance. In 1852 his official term ended, and the following year, November 25, he was admitted to practice law, having sometime previously been entered as a student in the office of James Boyd, Esq. He was enabled to give much time to study during the latter part of his official term by reason of having his nephew, Jared Evans, well trained in all the duties of Prothonotary, to which office he also was chosen at the next election. James B. Evans was a laborious, patient man of business, and close applica- tion to a sedentary life for over a dozen years had greatly un- dermined his health so seriously that for the last three or four years he was a constant sufferer from a complication of dis- eases, which finally carried him away June 30, 1857, aged thirty-seven years, four months and four days.
There were born to Mr. and Mrs. James B. Evans four child- ren, two sons and two daughters, namely, Charles Wallace, Mary, William (deceased in infancy) and Ellen. The son Charles W. is intermarried with Lydia A. Streeper, and they have one daughter, Mamie.
James B. Evans was an affectionate husband, a kind and indulgent father, and his memory is dearly cherished by those he left behind so early in life. He was a member of the Cen- tral Presbyterian Church, as are nearly all of the family. His remains lie buried in Montgomery Cemetery, marked by a fit- ting memorial tablet.
James B. Evans was under the average stature, slightly dark complexion, black hair and of a quick, ready deportment, and so courteous as to be heartily esteemed by all who knew him.
698
EDMUND A. KITE.
EDMUND A. KITE.
If, in the good time coming, including civil service reform, it shall come to pass that faithful officers are " retired with all the honors" (even without "half pay"), then the gentleman whose name stands above has won that distinction and right, as will fully appear from what is hereafter stated of his busi- ness career of near sixty years.
Edmund A. Kite, of Norristown, was born in Philadelphia June 2, 1813. His ancestors, who are only traced back two generations, were doubtless English Friends of the early emi- gration of the last century, settling in or near that city. His grandfather Kite's name was Benjamin and his wife's Sarah. Their son Isaac married Rachel Marple, a widow, whose maiden name had been Roberts, and born in Plymouth, who were parents of the following children: Edmund A. (our sub- ject), Mary Ann and Rachel. When a boy Edmund A. Kite had only a fair common school training by attendance at Friends' school on Race street, below Fourth. At the age of sixteen he apprenticed himself to learn the trade of a tailor, and after reaching majority continued a few years working at the business. In his twenty-fourth year, 1837, April 9, he was married to Elizabeth Harman Jackson, who bore him eight children, hereinafter named and referred to. Subse- quently, in 1844, he took a position on the Norristown rail- road as conductor, holding it acceptably five years, until June, 1849, when engaged in uncoupling cars at School Lane he was thrown beneath the wheels and had the misfortune to lose one finger, and for considerable time afterward almost the use of his left hand. On partial recovery in August he was offered and accepted the higher position of station or ticket agent, or rather superintendent, at the then termination of the road at Norristown, taking the place of Major Matthias Holstein, who was then near his demise. In this very responsible and diffi- cult office he continued with special acceptance to the com- pany and good will of the people till 1870, a period of about twenty-one years, when the expansion of the business of the road led to division of duties; then Mr. Kite was made ticket
699
EDMUND A. KITE.
clerk alone with, however, the same general supervision of the depot as before. This last appointment Mr. K. filled for a further term of sixteen years, until finding his health and vigor declining and the wear of long service or weight of years demanding rest, induced him, September 1, 1886, to surren- der his post to younger hands. He still, however, for a time was recognized as ex-officio superintendent or overseer, as his health and strength might permit, but the recent wholesale retrenchment of the board of management has retired him al- together.
At this point it may be pertinently added that it is doubtful if there is a like railroad example in the United States where two superintendents have served a company to full acceptance with cordial sympathy of the people also, during its whole history as a busy line of freight and travel, covering a term of half a century, as in the case of Major Holstein and Ed- mund A. Kite, they serving respectively fifteen and thirty- five years.
Four years before Mr. Kite's retirement from the chief re- sponsibility at Mill street station he had the deep misfortune to lose by death the life-long partner of his cares and joys, his beloved wife, who died of paralysis July 1, 1882, in her sixty-second year, which finally led to the breaking up of his household and retirement among his children, who are settled about him in life. The offspring born to E. A. Kite and wife have been William A., Isaac, Charles (both the latter died in infancy), Eliza J., Edmund A., George R., Harry (deceased), and John P. The eldest son, William A., married Henrietta Fore- man and has one daughter, Breta. Their next child, Edmund A., married Sarah Ann Perry, now deceased, and had by his first wife three children, George, Ella and Horace. His present wife is Addie C. Reinoehl. George R. was married to Emma M. Moir; their children are Bessie Maria, Mary Emma, James M., Karl K. and George E. Mrs. Emma Kite is de- ceased. Mr. Kite's sons at this writing are occupying busi- ness positions as follows : William is clerk in employ of Reading railroad, at Conshohocken; Edmund holds a sim- ilar position at Cox's brewery; George R. is teller and assist- ant cashier at First National Bank, Norristown; John P. is in
700
FREDERICK BRENDLINGER.
business with Joseph Long in Norristown. All Mr. and Mrs. Kite's children have had good academic training in the public schools of Norristown.
Edmund A. Kite's abundant success in life and high popu- larity as a man and citizen is without doubt largely the result of high moral principles instilled in infancy, and to the fact that in early life he started out an abstainer from intoxicating liquors, joining so early as 1836 Gen. Marion Lodge, No. 6, of Philadelphia, I. O. of O. F., and also the Sons of Temperance. He has during all his later life been a member of Charity Lodge, A. Y. M., of Norristown, and "passed through the chairs" of the first and last orders, and was treasurer of the last twenty-six years, which post he only resigned recently.
In politics Mr. Kite has always been a Democrat, but never actively so, and as his occupation was confining, he has not been called to fill any public office in the gift of his fellow citizens, if we except two terms in borough council.
Mr. Kite has not been a member of any church, though he is in sympathy with the Presbyterian denomination. He is now at a green old age enjoying the kindly intercourse of children, grandchildren and fellow-citizens, the result of a well spent business life, free from animosities and heart burnings, that a more public career might have entailed, or the repent- ings that a lapse of high responsibilities would have brought him.
FREDERICK BRENDLINGER.
From a personal acquaintance extending backward more than forty years, the author has no hesitation in expressing his belief, that in all the characteristics of a good citizen and christian gentleman, few, if any, stood higher in public estima- tion than he whose name is written at the head of this memo- rial. He was the artificer of his own fortune, not inheriting from storied ancestors a name already famous, but rising from a humble German family, who had settled in Pennsylvania per- haps a century ago, he derived from them only a genial, placid
701
FREDERICK BRENDLINGER.
turn of mind with high moral principles, which won the favor of all with whom he came in contact and made him friends wherever he moved.
Frederick Brendlinger, the son of Jacob Brendlinger, was born in Douglass township, Montgomery county, August 29, 1 809, and according to custom in German Protestant Churches was baptized November 5, same year; confirmed at the Lu- theran Church, New Hanover township, 1824, and resided in his native township till grown up. Having but the ordinary opportunities of education, he so improved his time and tal- ents, however, that when advanced to manhood he was com- petent to take charge of a local school, and so continued in the calling some years, his mild and placid temper qualifying him in a remarkable degree for that responsible position. When also reaching his twenty-sixth year, November 24, 1835, he was married, by Rev. Jacob Miller, to Maria K., daughter of Peter Hill, born April 26, 1814, baptized July 10, and con- firmed by Rev. Augustus Danlie, at Oley, Berks county.
Some years after his marriage Mr. Brendlinger took a store at Gilbertstown for a short time, and about 1839 a better stand at New Hanover, commonly known as "Swamp Churches." Here, having a full endowment of that German quality per- · severance, or "let well enough alone," he continued, to the time of his death, doing a large mercantile business, and having charge of the post office for full forty-three years, a case almost unexampled in the state. The store and post office are con- tinued at the same place, on behalf of the heirs, by one of the sons, James Frederick. Frederick, the father, died February 22, 1881, aged seventy-one years, five months and twenty-three days. Maria K., his widow, survives him, and remains at the homestead.
There were born to Frederick and Maria K. Brendlinger, the following children: Irwin H., Emma H., Mary H. (born June 29, 1840, baptized and confirmed), died January, 1886 ; Lydia A., Mahlon Charles (born March 6, 1843, baptized the same year), died December 26, 1853 ; James Frederick, Louis Jacob, Rosa Elizabeth, Peter Franklin, Georgeanna, Sarah Cornelia born January 18, 1854, died December 13, 1858.
702
FREDERICK BRENDLINGER.
Frederick Brendlinger was taken up by his party and elected County Treasurer for one year, 1857, which was the legal term then and re-elected next year according to party usage. He was also Treasurer of the Lutheran Church near by for many years, as also of Limerick and Colebrookdale Turnpike Company.
His extensive knowledge of the people of the upper town- ships and his enlarged judgment of men and business made him a very valuable member of the directory of the Pottstown National Bank, which post he filled for a long time, and now his son who succeeds him in the store takes his vacant place in the management of the same bank.
Frederick Brendlinger's judgment and co-operation in busi- ness matters was widely sought by others; so he was asso- ciated for a time with his cousin, Peter Y. Brendlinger, in the running of Colebrookdale Iron Works, but after a period of eighteen years the heirs sold out his interest there to John Saybold, the former manager of the works. He also assisted his son Irwin H. to go into the' dry goods trade with Daniel M. Yost, of Norristown, a firm (Brendlinger & Yost) contin- uing from 1861 to '69. Irwin H. Brendlinger next bought out Neiman Brothers and very soon enlarged the site, erecting, 1876, the store house on Main street, Norristown, and also > put over the whole a Mansard roof. His present dry goods house, thirty-six feet front by ninety-seven deep, is much the most capacious store house of the kind in Norristown and doubtless does the largest business, employing about sixteen store assistants. .
Irwin H. Brendlinger was first married to Miss Andora, daughter of Philip S. Gerhard, who died January 17, 1873; He has since been united in marriage, September 1, 1875, to Sallie H. Lukens.
Most of the other sons of Frederick Brendlinger, at this writing, are employed and located as follows: Lewis Jacob is an assistant in Scheetz's grocery, Norristown; Peter F. is a civil engineer. After passing through Treemount Seminary he also graduated at Polytechnic College, Philadelphia, and is now Chief Engineer of the Pottsville and Schuylkill branch of the Pennsylvania railroad. He has a wife and four children.
703
SAMUEL L. BUTZ.
It might seem pertinent in casuistry to inquire, what may have been the connection between the early baptism of our subject and his long continued success in life, as also the pros- perity of his descendants ?
SAMUEL L. BUTZ.
The quiet, unpretentious mechanic whose name stands above, is one of Norristown's most useful and respected citizens, who, while building houses, mills and churches for others, has been steadily building up his own fortune and household by honest industry and thoroughly correct business . habits. As the name indicates and tradition informs us, it is Teutonic in na- tionality, his grandfather having come to America from Ger- many and his grandmother from Holland. They were of the Rhenish emigration so numerous during the first half of the last century, settling near Easton, Northampton county ; their names were Abraham and Alice Brown Butz. Samuel L. Butz claims his descent from them through Jeremiah P. Butz, who, intermarrying with Rebecca Ludwic, removed and settled on the eastern border of Berks county, where our subject was born March 28, 1825. He has two sisters, Harriet Gillespy, the younger, residing at Trenton, New Jersey, and Rebecca Howard, the elder, in the state of Illinois. Several brothers and sisters have deceased.
In the year 1841 Samuel Butz apprenticed himself to Jacob Bodey, then leading carpenter of Norristown, serving in that capacity four years, and after his majority, continued to work journey work until 1851, when he commenced in a small way contracting for carpenter jobs himself.
In 1846, however, following Franklin's excellent advice, set- ting out in life early, Mr. Butz chose himself a partner for life in the person of Miss Teressa Scott, and in 1850 he and she made a profession of religion, joining the Norristown Baptist Church. This was the second wise step (as life thus far has shown) and thus was he equipped for the race of life. He now soon be-
704
SAMUEL L. BUTZ.
gan contracting for carpenter work and thence pushed business in earnest. In company with Justus P. Leaver and Augustus Groff he erected the eastern wing to Treemount Seminary, a considerable undertaking then, and near the same time a fancy cottage for Richard Kerr, on East Marshall street, as also ex- tensive improvements at the Veranda House. He thus con- tinued in partnership or alone to build up Norristown and vicinity until after the breaking out of the rebellion, in 1862, when he entered the employ of the United States Government in his highest capacity, that of a skilled carpenter. He was sworn in or enlisted as a trained workman, and not as a sol- dier, and set to building barracks at Chestnut Hill for the use of recruits and invalid soldiers. From there he transferred himself to Washington for like duties, being employed con- structing various works for the uses of the army. In 1864, however, he returned to Norristown and resumed his calling on improvements then projected during the closing months of the war. About this time he had the contract for the stock- house and trestle work of James Hooven & Sons' new blast furnace. Soon after he erected the palatial mansion of T. P. Potts, on Powel street. From this time forward he erected the following: Baptist parsonage, Bridgeport; pumping house for the Norristown Water Company; German Baptist Church edifice, Barbadoes street; and in connection with Justus P. Leaver the new Baptist Church, on Swede street, corner of Airy, this last being one of the handsomest public buildings that adorns the borough. Near the same time or soon after (1872) he purchased a lot on the declivity, corner of Airy and Green streets, graded it and erected thereon eight uniform brick dwellings, selecting the corner one for his own use, in which he has ever since resided. During the year of 1876 he erected the capacious store-house of I. H. Brendlinger and en- larged, altered and raised those of Daniel M. Yost, at Main and DeKalb, with extensive improvements also for Morgan Wright, at his store-house, including erection of the great Quaker City Shirt Factory, on Corson street.
During 1877 Mr. Butz erected Lower Providence Baptist Church, four of the Bringhurst houses on Elm street, besides other buildings on Powel, Astor, Chain, Marshal and George
705
SAMUEL L. BUTZ.
streets, as also others in different parts of the town, including an addition to the Montgomery National Bank building.
Recently his reputation as a skilled builder having extended beyond town limits, he has, in addition to home work, just completed for Mrs. Coffin Colket, of Chester Valley, an en- larged and palatial mansion, with extensive stabling, fitted up with all modern improvements, being one of the most mag- nificent suburban "establishments" in all the surrounding country.
Whilst Mr. Butz's life has been hitherto exceedingly busy, as described, he has otherwise filled the duties of husband, father and citizen well, as shown by what he has gathered about him.
Samuel and Teresa Butz, as we said, began life early and well, and there have been born to them four children, Mattie, William, Walter and Laura, all of whom have had a good common school education, the sons being in business for themselves in Norristown. They are intermarried as follows : Mattie with George Neiman ; they have two children, Russel and Laura. William is married to Lizzie Snyder and have two surviving children, Franklin and Harry. Walter is mar- ried to Lottie Stewart and they have children, Lillie, Samuel and Walter. Thus in conformity with our premise, "that Mr. and Mrs. Butz set out in life early," to use a current solicism, they have now the satisfaction of seeing nearly all their child- ren and grandchildren comfortably settled about them in pros- perous circumstances, their immediate children having followed the pårental example of "settling in life early."
706
PHILIP QUILLMAN.
PHILIP QUILLMAN.
There is a popular aphorism that a "boy should be always seen, but not heard," the point of the proverb being that the youth who is more ready to do than to talk, is the one who has the most true metal in him. The rule holds in most cases with men also; the quiet, thinking, industrious man surely climbs the ladder of a successful business life, while the noisy, vaporing fellow is only discussing how it may be done. The above little homily may not appear impertinent to the indi- vidual, whose name stands at the head of this sketch, when we shall have told what is known of him.
He was born at Zieglersville, Frederick township, Mont- gomery county, April 14, 1841, and baptized August 15, of the same year.
We turn back here to give what is known of the genealogy of the family, which is German-the earliest known ancestor having settled early the last century in northern Chester county, where our subject's grandfather, Jacob Quillman, was born July 10, 1784, his wife's maiden name being Margaratha Faust. He died at Norristown May 12, 1861. Their child- ren were the following: Henry, Catharine, Daniel, Esther, Jacob and Jonathan ; the first and last of these died in early life. Of this third generation just named, Jacob, the father of our subject, was born February 8, 1815, at Braunsweig township, Schuylkill county, where his father had removed ; but a few years later, when the former was nine years old, he took up his residence in Marlborough township, Montgomery county, and when of mature age, February 14, 1836, married Catharine Auchy. He was by original occupation a tailor, at which he worked at Franconia, Sumneytown and Zieglersville until 1854, when he purchased and removed to the Cross Keys hotel, Lower Providence township, which he subse- quently sold, after which he removed to the Veranda House, Norristown, April, 1857. Here he remained until January, 1865, when he quit business until the spring of 1868, when he purchased the Rambo House and kept the same until spring of 1873, when he finally retired from business.
707
PHILIP QUILLMAN.
Jacob and Catharine Quillman had the following children : Henry, born at Franconia December 14, 1836, was postmas- ter at Norristown a short time under President Johnson's ad- ministration, died at Royersford September 30, 1875, leaving children Amelia, Isaac Warren, and Annie Frances; Philip; and Benjamin, born at Zieglersville July 10, 1846, engaged in the stove and hardware business at Norristown, where he at this time resides, intermarried with Caroline V. Baird, and has had five children, Mary Catharine (died in infancy), Hannah Agnes, Charles Jacob, Ralph Kieffer and Alice Naomi. Jacob and Catharine Quillman's second child was Philip, our proper subject, born as before stated. When he was sixteen his father removed to Norristown, 1857, and thenceforward he had the best opportunities of education at our public schools - though he had profited previously by like opportunities at Zieglersville, Sumneytown, Lower Providence and in the pri- vate school of Benjamin Davis, and still later with Professor J. W. Loch.
His parents being attached to the Reformed church and their children attending the Sabbath school, our subject, on reaching his nineteenth year, was catechised and confirmed a full member by Rev. P. S. Davis, the pastor of Reformed Church of the Ascension, April 7, 1860. Soon after reaching his majority, also March 17, 1864, he was united in marriage, by Mr. Davis, to Susan T., daughter of Matthias and Eleanor Custer. The children of this union have been (1) Catharine, (2) Eleanor, (3) Clara Knipe, (4) Elizabeth, (5) Irenc, (6) Philip Clinton, (7) Susan C. The sixth of this list died April 26, 1878, aged fifteen months.
We must now turn back again to record the business career of Philip Quillman, who, as soon as qualified by education, set forth on the business of life with his eye on the polar star of success. He did not first dissipate or waste time, as some young men do, but within a little over four years, joined church, entered matrimony, commenced the study of law with George W. Rogers, Esq., but was offered and accepted a more remunerative position-Prothonotary's clerk. Here he was known as the quiet, attentive and unflagging assistant under Jared Evans, then holding that responsible office. Here also,
708
PHILIP QUILLMAN.
with an interval of one year, from April, 1863, to 1864 (when he filled the office of Deputy Recorder), he remained in the Pro- thonotary's office until December, 1873, a period of nearly twelve years. In this long tour of duty Mr. Quillman had not only acquired the whole minutiæ of office work, but an exten- sive familiarity with the bar and people of the county, and so became the prominent Democratic candidate and was nomi- nated for that office for the term commencing 1872, but was defeated before the people by the diminutive majority of 13 votes by William F. Reed, Esq. Mr. Quillman's motto, how- ever, had now become nil desperandum, and he did not aban- don the field, but three years later was nominated again (1875), and chosen over Comly Jenkins, the Republican can- didate, by 756 majority, and served three years, to the end of the term, December 31, 1878.
He had previously, however, March 17, 1873, bought the grocery business of Daniel Longaker & Co., at Main and De- Kalb streets, being associated for the time with Colonel D. M. Yost, the firm being "Philip Quillman & Co." About a year later, January 1, 1874, Mr. Q. bought out his partner's inter- est and continued the grocery alone. September, 1877, Mr. Quillman purchased the famous Odd Fellows' Hall property, where he designed to make extensive improvements and repairs, including the added superstructure of a Mansard fourth story. Here, into a magnificent store room, occupying three-fourths of the ground floor and much of the cellar, with storage apart- ments above, Mr. Q. removed his business. In this building he has what must at this time be rated the finest and largest sales-room in Norristown, where possibly he is doing the heav- iest retail business of his line in the town.
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