USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a history, Volume II > Part 13
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In 1917 Dr. Barker enlisted in the United States army and was in active service in France, participating in the battles of the Meuse and Argonne Forest. He received a commission as lieutenant, later was made a captain, and in December, 1920, resigned his commission and resumed private practice with offices in the Ardmore Theatre building at Ardmore, Pennsylvania. Previous to entering the regular army for active service, Dr. Barker gained military experience as a private in the Sixth Regiment of the Pennsylvania National Guard, and as a lieutenant in the Reserve Corps of the United States army. In addition to caring for a large pri- vate dental practice, Dr. Barker has also been, since 1921, dental surgeon for the Autocar Company.
In social and civic affairs of his home community, Dr. Barker has always taken an active interest, and he maintains membership in num- erous clubs and societies, not only in this section but in other parts of the country. Among these may be mentioned the Brookline Square Club ; the Ashler Club of Baltimore, Maryland; the Sigma Alpha Epsilon, the Theta Nu Epsilon and the Delta Sigma Delta fraternities of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania ; the Lower Merion High School Alumni Society, of which he is president, treasurer and secretary, and for seven years was a member of the board of directors; Merion Lodge, No. 210, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Swedeland Lodge, No. 273, Knights of Pythias; Cassia Lodge, No. 273, Free and Accepted Masons; also the Philadelphia Consistory and the Rajah Shrine of Reading, Pennsylvania. Dr. Barker is a resident at Gladwyn, and in his religious affiliation is a member of the Redeemer (Protestant Episcopal) Church at Bryn Mawr, to which he gives generous support.
It. O. Jegely.
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REV. WILLIAM OLIVER FEGELY-Among the men whose life and work and character have made for righteousness, uplift and inspira- tion in a community, few stand higher than Rev. W. O. Fegely, who for nearly a quarter of a century has been pastor of the old historic Muhlen- berg church of Trappe, Pennsylvania. He was born January 8, 1867, in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, son of Benjamin and Mary A. (Dankel) Fegely.
Benjamin Fegely was born in Berks county, and his wife was a native of Lehigh county, where they were married. He received the usual limited education of his day in the district school, and when a mere lad set out to learn the carpenter's trade. After working at his vocation for a number of years, he turned to agriculture on a piece of land which he had purchased in Lehigh county. He had much of the pioneer's work to do on his place, for a great deal of it was still in the rough and there was a home and farm buildings to be erected. His trade, however, was a great help and before his death on June 6, 1894, he had a splendid farm with a complete set of buildings and equipment. Physically he was robust and active, mentally keen, a man of good heart and works. His wife died August 13, 1898. They were the parents of four children : Hiram C., a graduate of normal school, a teacher for eighteen years, later becoming a farmer ; Matilda, who for many years lived with her brother, Rev. W. O. Fegely ; Susan, who died at the age of twenty; and William Oliver, the subject of this sketch.
Christian Fegely, father of Benjamin Fegely, and grandfather of Wil- liam O. Fegely, and his wife, Catherine, were also natives of Berks county. He was the third generation of Fegelys from the original emi- grant from Germany, and was a farmer and member of the Lutheran church. Their children were: Peter John; George Henry; Benjamin, William O. Fegely's father ; Samuel ; Maria; Elizabeth ; Anna and Leah.
Charles Dankel, maternal grandfather, was born in Berks county and belonged to an old established family that came originally from Ger- many. He was a farmer, a weaver of linen, and in politics was a Demo- crat, holding the offices of supervisor and tax collector. He was a member of the Reformed church, and died at the age of sixty-five. His children were: Mary A., mother of William O. Fegely; Caroline (Mrs. Hiram Becker) ; and Isabelle (Mrs. Willoughby Fegely).
William Oliver Fegely grew up on his father's farm, attending the district school until he entered the Kutztown State Normal School at Kutztown, Pennsylvania, in 1886. His stay here was only long enough to prepare him for entrance to Muhlenberg College, at Allentown, Penn- sylvania. He matriculated in 1887 and was graduated with honors in 1890, giving the German oration at the commencement exercises. He is a member of the Sophronian Society and the Alpha Tau Omega fra- ternity. He now became a student at Mt. Airy Theological Seminary, Mt. Airy, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1893, and in June of the same year was ordained. His first church was a Lutheran
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mission at Sayer, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where he remained for five years.
In 1898 Rev. Fegely was called to the pastorate of the famous old Muhlenberg church at Trappe, Pennsylvania, called Augustus, although not so called from St. Augustus, but from the superintendent of Halle institutions in Germany, Augustus Francke, who was instrumental in sending H. M. Muhlenberg to organize it, and through his son was the means of bringing to America in 1742, as its pastor, the first regularly ordained minister in this country. This was Rev. Henry Melchoir Muh- lenberg, who preached his first sermon in Philadelphia, November 25, 1742, but who shortly after moved to Trappe, and in December of the same year gave an address in a barn to the gathered Lutherans who were many, but had only a temporary church organization. He was the father of General Peter Muhlenberg, who served with distinction in the Revolu- tion. He is also buried in the graveyard adjoining the church. He bought a tract of land, established the church and staid as its pastor until 1765, when he went to Philadelphia. On December 26, 1784, he returned to Trappe and preached his last sermon, passing away October 7, 1787. The church has always been an important one and under Rev. Fegely's ministrations has increased in growth and influence.
Rev. Fegely is a much sought after preacher in his denomination, and lecturer before other bodies. His interest in education has wrought much good, and he has been a school director for three terms, 1901 to 1913. He was the president of the Lutheran Conference in 1915. During the World War he was prominent in the Red Cross work and was one of the principals in the Liberty Loan and later the War Chest drives. He helped compile the "Graphic Historical Review of Pennsylvania," which listed the loyal citizens and soldiers of merit from this State, together with their names and addresses.
In 1893 Rev. W. O. Fegely was married to Anna M. Snyder, born in 1870, a daughter of Henry H. and Amanda (Reiff) Snyder, of Bucks county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Snyder died on February 7, 1919. He was for many years a farmer on the homestead which had been in the family for several generations. His father, George Snyder, also a farmer, was the father of the following children: Henry; Francis; Henry H., father of Mrs. Fegely ; Jacob; Mary A. (Mrs. A. Bean) ; Sarah (Mrs. H. Cress- man) ; and Ephraim, who died at the age of ten.
Amanda Reiff was the daughter of Abraham and Sarah Reiff, natives of Montgomery county. He died in 1884 and was a Mennonite. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Reiff were: Abraham; William; Sarah (Mrs. Brant) ; Lavinia (Mrs. Kober); and Amanda (Mrs. Snyder). Henry H. and Amanda (Reiff) Snyder had three children: Elmer R., a physi- cian, who died in 1898; Sallie E., who married Rev. Charles C. Snyder, a Lutheran minister ; and Anna M., wife of Dr. W. O. Fegely.
Rev. W. O. Fegely, A. M., and Anna M. (Snyder) Fegely are the parents of four children : 1. Byron S., born July 11, 1895, was a graduate of Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, in 1915, and a teacher of
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English and history at Hamburg Academy, New Jersey, until the United States entered the World War. He then enlisted and was placed in the medical department of the 7th Infantry of the 3rd Division. After a period in Camp Dix, he sailed to France in 1918. He was wounded Octo- ber 3 of that year, in the battle of the Argonne Forest, and died in the hospital on October 13, 1918. He was buried in the American Cemetery, Romagne Sons, Montfaucon, Meuse, and disinterred and reburied in grave No. 193, Section 101, Plot No. 4. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and the official recommendation for that honor reads :
Byron S. Fegely (American Serial No. 543321), Private Medical Department, 7th Infantry, 3rd Division. For extraordinary heroism in action near Cierges, France, October 1, 1918. After having been rendered unconscious for two hours by exploding shells, he, upon receiving consciousness continued to administer first aid to the wounded. Later while carrying a severely wounded man to safety he was fatally wounded by a shell fragment.
The American Legion Post at Collegeville, Pennsylvania, was given his name, Byron S. Fegely Post, No. 119. He was quite an athlete, and participated in baseball while there. Being an accomplished musician, especially on the piano and pipe organ, he was appointed organist of the Trappe church. Just previous to being called to camp, he was elected organist and choir director of Grace Lutheran Church at Norristown, which position he could only fill for one week. While overseas he was honored by playing the organ for service in one of the large churches in France. 2. Grace, born January 25, 1897, and died May 26, 1897. 3. Alma, born March 17, 1899, and at present (1922) is a teacher. 4. Flor- ence E., born August 6, 1902, is attending Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pennsylvania (1922).
J. P. HALE JENKINS-Among the successful members of the legal profession in Montgomery county was the late J. P. Hale Jenkins, attor- ney, who for more than half a century was engaged in general practice in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and who died January 19, 1921.
Mr. Jenkins is of Welsh descent, tracing his ancestry to Jenkin Jenkin, a native of Wales, who emigrated to America and settled in what is now Hatfield township, about the year 1729. The family Bible, printed in Welsh characters, is still in the possession of members of the family, and the following records are of interest to the numerous descendants of Jenkin Jenkin: "Jenkin Jenkin died September 15, 1745, aged 86 years. Mary Jenkins died November 27, 1764, aged 74 years. John Jenkins, born February 15, 1719."
Jenkin Jenkin was born, therefore in 1659, and his wife Mary in 1690, and their son, John (1), was a lad of about ten years when the family came to this country. The records show that on November 17, 1730, Jen- kin Jenkin purchased of Joseph Tucker, three hundred and fifty acres of land in Hatfield, "reaching from Gwynedd line nearly or quite to the cowpath road, and from the Montgomery line about to the road running from Lansdale to Colmar." On this tract of land he settled, and there he
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lived during the remainder of his life, his will, drawn in 1745, stating that he was then "of Hatfield." Four children survived him: I. John (1), of whom further. 2. Mary. 3. Jenkin, Jr., who married Thomas, and had four children: David, unmarried ; Elizabeth, who mar- ried John Banes; Hannah, unmarried; and Eleanor, who married a McPherson. 4. Elizabeth, who married John Hoxworth, son of Peter and Mary Hoxworth, and had seven children. Of these, the line of descent is through John, the oldest son, he being the progenitor of all the family who now bear the name, the brother, Jenkin, having had no sons.
John (1) Jenkins (as he spelled the name), son of Jenkin and Mary Jenkin, was born in Wales. He bought land in Gwynedd, adjoining Lansdale, in 1746, and died in 1803 or 1804. He married Sarah Hox- worth, daughter of Peter and Mary Hoxworth, and they became the par- ents of eight children : 1. John (2), born in 1742, died in 1805, served as an officer in the Revolutionary Army; married Elizabeth Lukens, widow of Abraham Lukens, and they were the parents of six children: Owen, who married Mary Tennis; Sarah, who married Peter Hoxworth ; Jesse, who married Mary Aaron; John (3), of whom further; Edward, who married Margaret Server; and Elizabeth, who married Issacher Rhoads. 2. Levi, who married Susan Sheive, and was the father of nine children, among whom was Rev. John S. Jenkins, prominent in the Baptist denom- ination, and Levi, Jr., who married Sarah Smith. 3. Ann, who married Hugh Kousty. 4. Edward, born July 12, 1758, died in 1829, married Sarah Foulke, daughter of Theophilus Foulke, and had six children : Charles F., married Mary Mancaster; Ann, unmarried; Jesse, married Mary R. Ambler; Margaret, married Peter C. Evans; Rachel, married Meredith Conrad; and Caleb, who died in childhood. 5. Jesse, born in 1760, died in 1794, unmarried. 6. Elizabeth, married Owen Hughes and had eight children. 7. Mary, married Peter Wentz, and had seven chil- dren. 8. Sarah, married Isaac Lewis, and became the mother of three children.
John (3) Jenkins, son of John (2) and Elizabeth (Lukens) Jenkins, lived to a very advanced age, dying in the home of his son-in-law, Abel Lukens, October 5, 1882, in the ninety-seventh year of his age. Through- out his life he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, and he took an active part in public affairs, holding at different times all the township offices. He was a Democrat, politically, and was known as "Assessor John," because of his long term of forty-two years as assessor in Gwynedd town- ship. He owned the property on which East Lansdale is now built, south and east of the railroad, and in his later years was known throughout the county as "Uncle John." He enlisted for service in the War of 1812, but was prevented from serving because of the fact that on the very next day he broke his leg. He married Ann Todd, daughter of John Todd, and a grandniece of General Porter, of Revolutionary fame, and they were the parents of seven children: Naomi, who married Abel Lukens; Charles Todd, of whom further; Jane, who married Samuel Rhoads; Ann T.,
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who married Jacob B. Rhoads; Silas T., who married Eliza Morgan; John S., who married Eliza Steever; and Milton, who married Sarah Ellis.
Charles Todd Jenkins, eldest son of John (3) and Ann (Todd) Jen- kins, was born in Gwynedd township, April 3, 1812, and received his edu- cation in the public schools of his native district. When school days were over, he engaged in teaching for a time, then for a while was employed as a butcher, and finally settled down to the occupation of being a thoroughly up-to-date and successful farmer, which occupation he followed for many years. In addition to his work as an agriculturist, he was interested in other lines of business. For twenty-five years he was president of the Line Lexington Fire Insurance Company, and for thirty-three years he was treasurer of the Springhouse and Hilltown Turnpike Road Company, these positions occupying much of his time and attention during his later years. He was keenly in sympathy with the abolition movement and his house was one of the stations of the famous "Underground Railroad" by means of which so many runaway slaves were conducted to freedom. At one time he took an active part in the political affairs of the county, and was twice a candidate for the office of county treasurer, being defeated because of the large Democratic majority in the county at the time. He took an active interest in the educational system of the district and county, and served as a member of the board of school directors for Hatfield township for a number of years. In 1840 he married Sarah Lukens, daughter of George Lukens, or Luken, and descendant of Jan Lucken, who came from Amsterdam, Holland, at the time William Penn made his second voyage to Pennsylvania, settling in Germantown, and becoming the progenitor of a numerous and influential family. Both Charles Todd Jenkins and his wife were members of the Society of Friends. They were the parents of eight children : George L., of the firm of Burgen & Co., manufacturers of glass bottles, in Philadel- phia, now deceased ; Comly, a resident of Philadelphia ; Parker, who was freight agent for many years at Colmar Station, on the Doylestown branch of the North Pennsylvania railroad ; J. P. Hale, of whom further ; Ella, who married Oliver M. Evans, teller of the First National Bank of Lansdale; Valeria, wife of George W. Chapin, a commission merchant of Philadelphia, residing at St. Davids; and two who died in infancy. Charles Todd Jenkins died in 1899, aged eighty-seven years, his wife hav- ing died three years earlier at the age of eighty years.
George Lukens, father of Mrs. Jenkins, was for many years engaged in teaching school, and later was a farmer in Towamecin township. He married Esther Jeanes, when he was thirty-six years of age and she was eighteen, and then began farming in Towamecin, near Kulpsville, where his grandson, George W. Lukens, later resided.
J. P. Hale Jenkins, son of Charles Todd and Sarah (Lukens) Jenkins, was born on his father's farm in Hatfield township, and received his early education in the public schools of his native district. He then entered Lexington Seminary, and when his studies there were completed, took a
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course in Crittendon's Business College in Philadelphia. Upon the com- pletion of his business course, he began reading law in the office of George N. Corson, in Norristown, and on April 30, 1874, was admitted to the bar. He at once began practice in Norristown, and since that time has been continuously engaged in general practice in that place. He built up a large and important clientele, and was known as a wise office counsellor, a resourceful attorney, and an effective advocate. Along with his professional responsibilities and activities, Mr. Jenkins has been active in the political and civic affairs of the county as well as in impor- tant financial organizations of the locality. He was an earnest advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and filled many important posi- tions. He was solicitor for the borough of Norristown for six years ; solicitor for the poor of the borough of Norristown for nine years ; solici- tor for the Norristown school board for six years ; and in June, 1903, was a second time elected to fill the position of solicitor for the county com- missioners. For several years he was a member of the board of school directors, and served as a delegate to several State conventions. In 1884 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention which nom- inated Blaine for President of the United States, and in 1898 he was can- didate for State Senator, but was defeated by John A. Wentz, the Demo- cratic candidate, by the narrow margin of one hundred and forty-five votes. He was secretary of the Springhouse and Hilltown Turnpike Road Company, of which his father was for many years president, and for thirty-eight years, continuously, was a director in the Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company of Philadelphia. He has served as a member of the board of directors of the Norristown Trust Company, and the Casualty Trust Company, since their organization, and for twenty years was a director of the Stony Creek Railroad Company. He was appointed a member of the Valley Forge Park Commission by Governor Stone, in which capacity he served for twenty-two years, from the time of its inception until his death, and he took a deep interest in the matter of the preservation of the historic remains of Washington's encampment there. He was identified with the Valley Forge Centennial and Memorial Asso- ciation, which had charge of the anniversary exercises in 1878, and also actively participated in the management of the celebration in 1903, of the one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of the breaking of camp at Valley Forge, and was acting president of Montgomery County His- torical Society for several years. Mr. Jenkins was an authority on American history, being able to quote, off hand, important dates and events related with it. He compiled a book, "Valley Forge," for the centennial celebration in 1878, which was published by J. B. Lippincott & Company, of Philadelphia, in 1879.
In addition to his many and varied interests already mentioned, Mr. Jenkins is a member of Chantry Lodge, No. 190, Free and Accepted Masons; also of Norristown Chapter, No. 190, Royal Arch Masons; Hutchinson Commandery, No. 32, Knights Templar; Lu Lu Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Norristown Lodge, No. 430, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which order he is one
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of the oldest representatives in continuous service in the grand lodge of Pennsylvania. He was first exalted ruler of the Norristown Lodge, No. 714, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, which body he served in 1902-03 as district deputy, and was a charter member of Plymouth Coun- try Club.
On December 30, 1875, J. P. Hale Jenkins married Ella C. Slight, daughter of Augustus and Amanda (Bush) Slight, and they were the parents of three children: I. Leila, born July 28, 1877, a graduate of Vassar College, class of 1899, was a member of the Montgomery county bar, to which she was admitted in June, 1902, being the second woman admitted to the Norristown bar; she died January 17, 1917. 2. Helen, born August 24, 1881, married Harvey H. Heyser, of Hagerstown, Mary- land, October 27, 1909, and they have two children: Harvey H., Jr., born March 3, 1911, and Carolina, born January 24, 1917. Mr. Heyser is manager of a Hagerstown shoe and legging factory. 3. Olive, born February 25, 1887, a graduate of Martha Washington Seminary, Wash- ington, D. C., in 1908.
JESSE S. CRESSMAN-A long and active career has been that of Jesse S. Cressman, president of the Valley National Bank at Green Lane, Pennsylvania. As teacher, clerk, business man, and finally as a bank official, he has demonstrated his ability and his faithfulness, and has won the esteem and the love of a large group of friends and associates.
Born in Zieglersville, Pennsylvania, March 4, 1853, son of Jesse and Leanna (Triesbach) Cressman, Mr. Cressman obtained his early educa- tion in the public schools of his native district, completing his course of study in Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pennsylvania. He taught school for three terms in Frederick township, and then associated himself with the business of Harvey Brandt, who was proprietor of a general store in Sumneytown, Pennsylvania. For ten years he acted as clerk in this con- nection, and at the end of that time was made a partner in the business. Thoroughly conversant with every detail of the business of conducting a general store in Sumneytown, he continued to conduct a prosperous con- cern there for a period of twenty years, and then, in 1908, sold out and associated himself with the Valley National Bank of Green Lane, Penn- sylvania, of which he was one of the founders and a member of the first board of directors. Upon the death of J. Allabach he was elected presi- dent of the bank, which official position he has continued to efficiently fill to the present time (1922).
Politically Mr. Cressman gives his support to the Democratic party, and he has always taken an active interest in the local public affairs in the communities in which he has lived. While proprietor of the general store in Sumneytown, he served as postmaster for three years, which position he fills at present, and also served as a member of the Town Council and as town auditor. During the World War he was treasurer of the local chapter of the Red Cross, and chairman of the Liberty Loan Drive Committee, and so energetically did he plan and conduct the latter that his section went "over the top" in every drive. In his religious
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connection, which is with the Union Lutheran Church, Mr. Cressman is also very active. He is a member of the board of trustees and treasurer, and fifteen years ago he organized the Society of Willing Workers, which is still actively at work and enthusiastically "willing," though the mem- bership has somewhat changed.
On October 15, 1876, Jesse S. Cressman married Fannie Hoffman, daughter of Anthony and Fannie (Graber) Hoffman, and they are the parents of two children: 1. Forrest J., who is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and has spent four and a half years in Europe, studying in Vienna and Munich. On his return from Europe he was connected with the Musical Art Institute on Riverside Drive, New York City, teaching both piano and composition until his death, at the early age of thirty-five. 2. Anna, who received a diploma from the West Chester Normal School and also graduated from the New Haven Normal School of Gymnastics, New Haven, Connecticut. She was one of the first ten supervisors appointed when the Philadelphia public schools put physical training into the curriculum of the schools. After five years of supervising she was appointed to the Germantown High School. After four years of service there she was appointed head of the physical training department in the Trenton Normal School at Trenton, New Jersey. She is now the wife of Morris Hiltebeitel, and resides in Philadelphia.
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