USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a history, Volume I > Part 38
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
of West Conshohocken. Shale and limestone is chiefly the makeup of its soil. The principal elevations are known as Mount Joy, Red Hill, Flint Hill, North Valley Hill, Rebel Hill, and Gulf Hill. Probably the most fertile portion of all Montgomery county is in this township, along the Schuylkill, between Bridgeport and Gulf creek, extending west for a mile or so. The Swedes in taking up this land showed good judg- ment, and were later well paid for their selection of locations. The township is not a well watered section; the springs do not form never- failing streams. The streams are known as Elliott's run, or Crow creek, Matsunk, Mashilmac creek, and Gulf creek, the largest of them all. This is near the Lower Merion line. It is a rapid stream, rising in Del- aware county, emptying into the Schuylkill river at West Conshohocken. East Valley creek for a mile forms the western boundary of the town- ship and propels numerous paper mills, etc. At Port Kennedy, also at Bridgeport, are fine springs. The present industries of the township are open books to all men who care to read, but it should be stated that forty years and more ago, it was written that the wealth of this town- ship was from its mines and quarries. It then had three large iron fur- naces, one at Port Kennedy and two at Bridgeport. Lime has always been a large product here and has been the base of many a fortune. In 184c the census reports gave the lime products prepared here as worth $74,000 annually. Since then the industry has grown wonderfully. In 1882 there was sold from this township more than $200,000 worth of lime, more than for all the county in 1845. The marble quarries here have developed into gigantic interests. (See Industrial chapter.) The population of the township has been at various times as follows: In 1800 it was 993; in 1840, 2,804; in 1880, 3,275 ; in 1900, 3,480, and in 1920 it had 4,005. In May, 1876, the list of licenses showed the number in this township to have been on three inns, eight stores, three coal yards, three dealers in flour and feed, four gristmills, eight cotton and woolen mills, three iron furnaces, two marble mills, and other lesser industries. (See Church and Educational chapters for such topics relative to this part of the county.)
The villages found here forty and fifty years ago have only grown to small outlying suburbs to Norristown, Bridgeport and Conshohocken. These include Swedesburg, next east to Bridgeport; Matsunk, came into existence since 1846, is a mile below Swedesburg; King of Prussia, near the center of the township, its name given by an innkeeper of the locality, John Elliott, in 1786. The stone bridge over Elliott's run was built in 1835. Here a post office was established in about 1826. Its original name was Reesville. Another village is Gulf Mills, where an inn was kept in 1786 by John Roberts. Its sign was "Bird-in-Hand." Merion station on the Reading railroad, about two miles from Bridge- port, is where Crow creek flows into the Schuylkill. The post office is Abrams. Port Kennedy and Valley Forge are mentioned later in the
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work, but only in connection with the Revolution, so in this regular township connection it should be said that Port Kennedy is and always has been a small place on the Schuylkill river, twenty-one miles from Philadelphia and four from Norristown. It has always been noted especially for its burning and shipping large quantities of excellent lime made from limestone near by. The iron furnace found doing a large business fifty years ago is known as the Montgomery Iron Company, of which Abraham S. Petterson was president. This was begun in 1854 and finished in 1856. The village is a station on the Reading railroad, and at that point there is a very high modern iron and steel highway bridge over the river. The pioneers in lime burning here were Messrs. Blair, Kennedy, Hunter and Roberts. John Kennedy had his kilns nearest the village as known now. He began in 1858 and had fourteen limekilns in operation all the time. Alexander Kennedy was the founder of the village of Port Kennedy. He was born in Ireland, and came here in 1805 and died in 1824. It was his sons who entered into the lime business and in advancing other village interests at Port Kennedy. The place to-day is little larger than it was a half century ago. It is too near larger business centers, and cannot be larger in the nature of things.
Valley Forge is situated on the south bank of the beautiful Schuyl- kill river, at the mouth of East Valley creek, which for nearly a mile forms the boundary line between the counties of Montgomery and Chester. It is six miles above Norristown and twenty-three from Phil- adelphia. That portion of the village within Montgomery county and Upper Merion township forty years ago was credited with having a gen- eral store, gristmill, a paper mill and ten houses (including the old Potts two-story stone house, known as "Washington's Headquarters" to trav- elers of to-day). It now has no commercial interests save the dimes to be picked up by sellers of pictures of the historic objects throughout the extensive Park now under State control, or providing meals and lodg- ings in the summer months only to the "stranger within the gates." What is known as "Washington Inn" is a large hotel building which at some seasons of the year does a good business. The attractive stone "Headquarters" building which pioneer Potts, the iron founder of Rev- olutionary days, invited Washington to occupy so long as his army was stationed thereabouts, will never cease to be of interest to student and traveler, from whatever clime they may come. This house is under the daily watch-care of a man regularly engaged to look after the premises and guide visitors around and through it, now containing numerous real Washington relics. The Philadelphia & Reading railway company a few years since erected one of the neatest stations along their line at this point. Its double track storm-sheds are supported by more than a hundred fluted colonial columns, which are all the more attractive for the reason that the road at this point is around a sharp curve, thus giving the platform and columns a semi-circular appearance.
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
The real business transacted at what is called Valley Forge is on the opposite side of the creek that divides the two counties, hence is within Chester county, and not Montgomery. Where once stood the old "Valley Forge" (the iron works) is now seen a simple iron post, with a metallic signboard telling the passerby that the post is where the iron works once stood. This refers to the rebuilt iron works, for the British soldiers destroyed the first iron works of the locality. Bean's "History of Montgomery County" has the following on Valley Forge and its name :
The name of this place was derived from a forge erected here by Isaac Potts, a son of John Potts, the founder of Pottstown. How early this forge was erected we cannot say, but it must have been before 1759, for it is denoted on Nicholas Scull's map of the province, published in said year, as being on the Upper Merion side of the stream, which is confirmed on William Scull's map of 1770. On September 19, 1777, a detachment of the British army encamped here and burned the mansion- house of Col. Dewees and the iron works, leaving the gristmill uninjured From all that history and tradition can show in this matter of where the forge actually did stand, it is now generally believed that it was on the Montgomery side, and not on the west side of East Valley creek, as some have hitherto asserted. Another proof is that Isaac Potts was in Upper Merion, as well as the iron ore obtained near by, that necessarily, for convenience, the forge would also be on the same side.
A former history of Montgomery county contains the following con- cerning this township in the days of the Revolution :
The Revolutionary history of Upper Merion is not without interest, for nearly all the leading events connected with Valley Forge happened within its limits. On the IIth of December, 1778, Washington, with his army, left Whitemarsh, and on the afternoon of the 13th crossed at Swedes' Ford and proceeded towards the Gulf and the vicinity of the King of Prussia, where they remained until the 19th, when they arrived at Valley Forge, where they were to remain until the following 18th day of June, exactly six months. Owing to the lateness of the season they at once set about building huts to shelter them from the rigors of winter. General Porter, who had been stationed at the Gulf in Novem- ber, now marched towards Swedes' Ford and joined Washington's army, when a court-martial was held to try such men as threw away their arms and equipments for the purpose of facilitating their escape in the late attack made on them at the Gulf by the British from the city. A number were sentenced to be publicly whipped, which was carried into effect, and produced not a little excitement in the camp. Although at some distance from Philadelphia, the citizens suffered considerably from the marauding expeditions of the British army.
Upper Salford-This township is bounded, or better say surrounded, by Lower Salford, Frederick, Marlborough and Franconia townships. It is near the northeast line of the county, with a part of Salford town- ship of to-day between its territory and Bucks county. Its main streams of refreshing living water include the East Branch, the Ridge Valley
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and Perkiomen creeks. The latter forms the western boundary for about four miles, in which distance it has for many years propelled four gristmills, besides several other manufacturing plants. The East Branch takes its rise in Bucks county and forms the eastern boundary for nearly four miles, and also furnishes ample water usually for a number of mills. One mile east of Schwenksville, on the east side of Perkiomen creek, is Stone Hill, probably the highest land in the township. It is 240 feet above the adjacent stream. At one time in the eighties, copper was mined in this township, but it proved profitless to the owners of the mine. The Spring House and Sumnytown turnpike crosses this town- ship, while the Perkiomen railroad about one mile above Schwenksville, hugging the east bank for three miles, in which distance it has stations named Hendricks, Salford Station, Branchville, and Mechanicsville. The township had a population at these periods as follows: In 1800 it was 676; in 1840, 1,301 ; in 1880 it was 1,866; in 1900 it had 876, and in 1920 it was 729.
Originally, Salford township was formed in March, 1727, and con- tained over thirty thousand acres, including all the townships of Marl- borough, Upper and Lower Salford and a part of Franconia. By 1741 it appeared to be much too large to the residents, and they asked the court for a division and the creation of a new township to be known as Upper Salford. This was granted, and the civil township still exists, as will presently be seen. However, some time about 1900 the township had Salford taken off. So now there are three townships-Salford, and Upper and Lower Salford. The townships of Lower Salford and Marl- borough were formed at the same time. The earliest wagon road here was laid out about 1728, known as the Skippack and Salford road. Sal- fordville, Mechanicsville and Salford Station are all small hamlets that have for many years had stores, shops, factories, churches and schools, some of which are mentioned at other places in this work. None of these ever materialized to any considerable extent, commercially.
Lower Salford-This is one of the central subdivisions of Montgom- ery county. On its northwest is Franconia township, south is Perkio- men, northwest is Upper Salford, and southeast is Towamencin town- ship. This was organized into a civil township about 1727, and then comprised thirty thousand acres. It derived its name from a town and several parishes of this name in England. By order of the Court of Quarter Sessions it was divided in 1741 into Upper and Lower Salford and Marlborough. There seems but slight doubt that there had been considerable settlement some years before the survey had been made. The earliest known was a warrant granted September 10, 1717, to David Powell, of Philadelphia, for three thousand acres of land between the "Skepeck" and a branch of the "Parkyooman." It contained about seven hundred acres. The next warrant was for lands patented in 1719 to
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Humphrey Morrow and John Budd. With the settlement of the town- ship there was a demand for several taverns or inns, as then styled. The opening of the road from present Sumneytown to Gwynedd in 1735 greatly increased the demand for good stopping places. Among the famous inns is known to have been one conducted by John Isaac Klein, and also one by Gabriel Schuler. These were both running prior to 1750. By the side of these taverns was to be found what in those days was considered a necessity-springs of cold water used "for both man and beast." In 1766 the "Stag" inn was conducted by Frederick Dick- ensheit. Two inns were conducted in Mainland about 1800; one styled the "White Horse," later changed to "The Half-Way House." The official returns give these figures for the population of this township at various times : In 1800 was 524 ; in 1840, 1,141 ; in 1880 it was 1,828; in 1890 it was 1,755 ; in 1910 was 1,712; in 1920 it had 1,692.
One of the greatest improvements made here was the construction ot the Sumnneytown and Spring House turnpike, which was completed in 1848. The pike from Lederachsville to Harleysville was finished in 1868. The making of these excellent highways for wagon travel mate- rially advanced land prices and really aided in making the township largely what it is to-day. Strange to relate, in 1858 this entire township only had three stores within its limits. The census of 1850 gave the number of houses at 234; number of farms, 136; families, 234.
Harleysville is situated on the turnpike from Sumneytown to Spring House, in the northern portion of the township. It is but a mere ham- let, with some small factories running periodically. The first and only house here in time of the Revolutionary War was that of Nicholas Schwenk, a blacksmithı, who owned here in 1776 one hundred and fifty acres of land. Samuel Harley built a tavern here in 1790, conducted a large general store, and was many years a leading factor and is credited with founding the village, for whom it was also named. It had a post office established in 1840. A creamery was established here in 1881, among the first in the county. Forty years ago, 450 pounds of butter were produced at this creamery daily. The place has not materially grown with the passing years. To-day it has a gristmill, general stores, small shops, a physician and a hotel.
Lederachsville is situated centrally in the township, and at the inter- section of six roads. In the eighties it was credited with being progres- sive, had two general stores, a hotel, telegraph office, blacksmith shop, and twenty-three houses. A post office was established in 1857, with Septimus Kriebel as first postmaster. The village really owes its origin to Henry Lederach, who built the first house here in 1825, then set up in the blacksmithing trade, and still later became a general merchant. In 1833 he secured license to run a hotel and thus was started a village.
Mainland is another place on the turnpike to Gwynedd; it has had for many years some business in way of stores, shops and a hotel. It
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was fortunate in obtaining a post office at an early date. It was also the site for a machine shop many years. It is here that is found the famous old "White Horse Tavern."
Concerning the school and church history in the township, see the general county chapters elsewhere in this work.
CHAPTER XXVII. TOWNSHIPS: UPPER AND LOWER GWYNEDD-WORCESTER -WHITPAIN-SKIPPACK.
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Up to about 1890 the two townships of Upper and Lower Gwynedd were included in one; and that was known as "Gwynedd," a corrup- tion of the Welsh word Gwineth, signifying North Wales, and also the name of a river there. In early records in Pennsylvania it is called "Gwynedith." So it will be understood in this chapter, the greater por- tion of the description of this territory will apply to both Upper and Lower Gwynedd townships of to-day. The population of the two-in-one townships has been as follows: In 1800 it was 906; in 1840, 1,589; in 1880, 2,041; 1900 it was 1,195 in Lower Gwynedd and 1,328 in Upper Gwynedd ; in 1920 it was 1,363 in Lower Gwynedd and in Upper Gwy- nedd it was 1,578. North Wales borough at its incorporation took from this township ninety-two acres, in 1869. This leaves its present terri- tory (both townships) about 12,100 acres. Later, in 1872, when Lans- dale was set off as a borough, that corporation also took one hundred and forty-five acres from that portion of original Gwynedd township. On Wissahickon creek there were in the early eighties three flour mills and a sawmill, propelled by the waters of the stream. The Treweryn and Willow run are streams next in size to the one just mentioned. Away back in 1785 this township contained within its limit five taverns, three gristmills, two sawmills, and one tannery. Forty years ago there were post offices within the township as follows: Gwynedd, Spring House, Penllyn, West Point, and Gwynedd Station, or Hoyt, as it was finally named. At the request of Thomas Penn, in 1734, a list of the freehold- ers of Gwynedd township was returned by the constable. The total number was forty-eight, all Welsh except six, Leonard Hartling being the only German. In 1741 the taxables had reached ninety-three, show- ing a marked degree of advancement and prosperity.
In 1885 the largest of the villages in this township was West Point, containing a store, hotel, mill, lumber and brick yards, several machine shops, and about thirty houses. Here also was the site of the West Point engine works and machine shops, erected in 1876. Upon the building of the Stony Creek railroad in 1874, the place was at first called Lukens station, and changed in 1876 to West Point.
Gwynedd was situated at the intersection of the Sumneytown turn- pike and the State road, and was only a hamlet. It was at this point, however, that the early Welsh immigrants made their first actual settle- ment, known as North Wales, and so mentioned on Lewis Evan's map of 1749. A public house was established here before 1769. A store was kept by Owen Evans before 1765.
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
The Spring House is another old settled place, probably in 1735. A post office was obtained in 1829, John W. Murray becoming first post- master. This township is largely an agricultural section and is well improved as such; the every object the passer-by sees shows thrift and neatness about the premises. The people of this township now depend mostly on the nearby boroughs of Lansdale, North Wales and Ambler for the largest part of their purchases, unless they need much, then they board the every half-hour trolley line into Norristown or Philadelphia and there do their shopping. The once immense business carried on by taverns or inns throughout the entire township, has long since changed with the fast flying trains on both steam and electric highways, and the more recent automobile travel. In the summer time some of these old- time hotels, modernized to quite an extent, still have quite a business from pleasure seekers who want the quiet of a country life for a season. The bar room, of course, was attached to all these taverns in early days ; yes, even up to the passage of the Volstead act and the final making the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, three years ago, since which time no intoxicating drinks are permitted to be sold, hence the profit of the barroom has become a thing of the past. It was at Spring House Tavern that John Humphrey located in 1698, and the Friends held their first meeting for worship, hence many hallowed mem- orable events cluster around the name and locality.
The people of Gwynedd were fortunate in escaping many of the dis- asters of the Revolution, which befell some of their not very distant neighbors. The sympathies of the Welsh element, like the German, was generally inclined to the patriotic side. This may be more particu- larly observed in the residents of Lower Merion, who successfully main- tained their neutrality though so near the city and between the contend- ing armies. At this period the Society of Friends, with the Mennonites, Schwenkfelders and Dunkards, who were opposed to bearing arms through conscientious scruples, constituted a decided majority of the population. To their credit, however, not one was arrested here for treason or any property confiscated. No battle took place within its limits, nor was any marauding done by the contending parties.
Worcester-The most centrally located township in Montgomery county is Worcester, which is bounded on the north by Towamencin, south by Norriton, east by Gwynedd, southeast by Whitpain, west by Perkiomen, and southwest by Lower Providence. It has an area of 1,575 square miles. Its surface is rolling, the soil is red shale, and all under excellent state of cultivation. The summit of Fairview Hills is equal to that of Chestnut Hill. The immense forests that once graced the terri- tory have long since mostly disappeared, and the land upon which dwelt the forest kings so many untold centuries, is now under the plow and pro- ducing its annual crops. It was the commanding prospect afforded by
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the elevations within this part of the county that enabled Washington to clearly discern the every movement of the British army in moving on Philadelphia in the autumn of 1777. Washington broke up his camp at Pennypacker's Mill, on October 8, 1777, and the army proceeded on its march down the Skippack road and Reading and Ridge turnpikes. On the 16th Washington established his headquarters at the house of Peter Wentz, near the church, where he wrote an interesting letter to Con- gress showing how hopeful he was at that time of final success. It was from this church that Washington finally made the attack on German- town, and after its defeat the army maintained a strong position on these hills for a number of days, when they marched to Whitemarsh township and established Camp Hill.
The water courses found in this township are Zacharia creek, with a length in the township of about four miles, propelling at one date three gristmills and a sawmill. It seems more than probable that the name Whitpain was derived from Zachariah Whitpain, an early settler in the adjoining township. A branch of the Skippack creek crosses near the western extremity of the township, and also furnished a fine water power in the long ago years. Five Mile run and Stony creek have their sources in this township.
The name Worcester has been applied from a city in England, as have other cities and townships in this country, including Worcester, Massachusetts. In 1734 the record shows this township had twenty- five taxables. The population is reported, officially as follows: In 1800 it was 782; in 1830, 1,135; in 1850, 1,453; in 1870, 1,587; in 1880 it was 1,641 ; in 1900 it was 1,397, and in 1920, reported by U. S. census reports as only 1,634. Away back in 1785, a year after this county was organ- ized, there were two taverns, two gristmills, one sawmill, and five slaves in Worcester. The quite small villages here are Center Point, Fair- view, and Cedar Hill. The township was organized into a separate election district in 1828. Of school and church histories the reader is referred to separate chapters in this work on such topics.
Whitpain-This is among the oldest townships in Montgomery county. It is spoken of as early as 1701 as Whitpain's township. It has a regular form of bounds and contains 8,640 acres. The soil is shale and loam. Limestone quarries are found on nearly all of the farms on Stony creek. The eastern and southern portions are drained by streams such as Wassahickon creek and tributaries. Two branches of the stream known as Stony creek have their rise in this township and drain the waters from the north and western parts, one furnishing water power for a saw and gristmill.
No clearer account of the settlement of this part of the county can be had than that written by Jones Detwiler, in 1883, the same including the following paragraphs :
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
In the years 1681, 1682 and 1683, William Penn, the proprietary, executed leases and re-leases to Samuel Fox for fifteen hundred acres ; Charles Marshall, two thousand acres; and James Claypole, one thou- sand acres. James Claypole shortly afterwards sold his tract to John Marshall, containing in all four thousand five hundred acres. Richard Whitpain, citizen and butcher of the town of London, subsequently became seized in fee of the whole four thousand five hundred acres. This tract, to distinguish it from the rest of Whitpain's purchases, was called or known by the name of "Whitpain's creek," situated in Phila- delphia county.
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