USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a history, Volume II > Part 23
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Politically he reserves to himself the right to cast his vote for the candidate best fitted for the office, regardless of party affiliation, in that course which seems to him wise. In 1914 he was made justice of the peace, and that office he has continuously and most efficiently filled to the present time, the term for which he was last elected not expiring until 1926. During the World War, he was active as a member of the com- mission, appointed for the purpose of managing the Liberty Loan drives and he was also active in securing the local organization of the govern- ment employment agency, and as a member of the Red Cross.
In 1872 Mr. Tomlinson married Catherine Shaw, daughter of Lewis and Esther (Fitzwater) Shaw, both residents of Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania, Mr. Shaw being a prominent farmer of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Tomlinson are the parents of ten children: Edwin K., who married Minnie Heyne; Mary J., who married Lewis Hughs, and became the mother of three children; Hannah K .; Sarah K .; Elizabeth; Walter ; Pamilla, deceased ; Charles A., deceased; Lorenzo, and Edith B.
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WILLIAM L. GOTWALS-Achieving success in a large way in one of those lines of endeavor which represent national thrift in the industrial world, Mr. Gotwals is the head of a flourishing business in Norristown, which is conducted under the name of the Norristown Iron and Steel Company.
The Gotwals family is an old one in Montgomery county, both the name and the connections, since for several generations back, on both paternal and maternal sides, members of the family have married natives of Montgomery county. William L. Gotwals traces his ancestry on the paternal side to a long list of European ancestors, all of whom, Adam Gotwals, Henry Funk, Yellis Cassel (traced through two branches), Jacob Shoemaker, Jacob Kreater, Ludwig Horning, and Hans Detwiler, came to this country from Europe between the years 1700 and 1739. From Adam Gotwals, born 1719, died 1794, who came to this country in 1739, the line is traced through (II) Henry Gotwals, born 1749, died 1832 ; (III) John Gotwals, born 1777, died 1823; (IV) Joseph Gotwals, born 1810, died 1889; and (V) Abraham G. Gotwals, born in 1850 and died in 1911, father of William L. Gotwals. The Funk line traces from Henry Funk, who came from Europe in 1719, and died in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, in 1760; through his son, Christen Funk, born 1731, died 18II ; his daughter, Elizabeth Funk, born 1756, died 1817, married Henry Gotwals, of the second generation in the Gotwals line. Her mother was Barbara Cassel, daughter of Yellis Cassel, who came to Montgomery county from Europe in 1727, and died in 1750. From Jacob Shoemaker, who came to this country in 1737, the line is traced through his son, George Shoemaker, whose daughter, Susanna Shoemaker, born 1770, died 1855, married John Gotwals, of the third generation in the Gotwals line. John Gotwals and Susanna (Shoemaker) Gotwals were the parents of Joseph Gotwals.
Joseph Gotwals married Mary Grater, whose paternal ancestor was Jacob Kreater, who came to this country in 1733. His son, John Crater (note successive changes in spelling), married Margaret Horning, daugh- ter of Ludwig Horning, who came from Europe in 1732. Their son, Abraham Grater, married Mary Cassel, daughter of Isaac Cassel, born 1746, died 1823, and granddaughter of that Yellis Cassel, already men- tioned, who came from Europe in 1727, and died in 1750. The mother of Mary Cassel was Barbara Detwiler, born 1768, died 1801, daughter of John Detwiler, and granddaughter of Hans Detwiler, who came to this country in 1700. Abraham and Mary (Cassel) Grater were the parents of Mary Grater, who married Joseph Gotwals, of the fourth generation in the Gotwals line. Joseph and Mary (Grater) Gotwals were the parents of Abraham G. Gotwals, born 1850, died in 1911, father of William L. Gotwals.
Abraham G. Gotwals, son of Joseph and Mary (Grater) Gotwals, married Mary C. Logan, a descendant of Alexander Logan, born 1737, died 1807; William Logan, born 1759, died 1808, married Mary Brown,
Mont-12
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born 1758, died 1845; through their son, Samuel Logan, born 1793, died 1861, married Mary Fulton, born 1799, died 1834, daughter of John and Jane (Shepard) Fulton. Samuel and Mary (Fulton) Logan were the par- ents of William B. Logan, born 1824, died 1912, father of Mary C. Logan. William B. Logan married Catherine Carroll, born in 1826, died in 1905, daughter of John Carroll, born in 1797, died in 1884, and Mary (Boyer) Carroll, born in 1792, died in 1874. Mary Boyer was the daughter of William Beyer (note difference in spelling), and Margaretha (Nun- gesser) Beyer, the latter being the daughter of Valentin and Salome ( --- ) Nungesser, and granddaughter of Valentin Nungesser, who came from Europe in 1733.
Abraham G. Gotwals was a carpenter by trade and active in con- struction work for about fourteen years. He was for a time engaged in mercantile pursuits and for years was warden of Montgomery county prison. He was an active worker in the Republican party, was promi- nent in the Masonic order, and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. He died at the age of sixty-one years, survived by his wife, Mary C. (Logan) Gotwals, who is still living.
William L. Gotwals, son of Abraham G. and Mary C. (Logan) Got- wals, was born in Upper Providence township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, December 25, 1877. Educated in the schools of Norris- town, he was graduated from the Norristown High School with the class of 1896, and then studied structural drafting. This line of activity he followed for about six years, during which time he was identified with the Pencoyd Bridge Works and with the Cambria Iron Works, also as chief draftsman for the Dauphin Bridge and Construction Company. In 1902 Mr. Gotwals established the Norristown Iron and Steel Company, with headquarters at the corner of Ford and Washington streets, Norris- town. Five years later the business had developed to such a point that it seemed advisable to expand materially and go forward under more highly-organized methods. Accordingly, a corporation was formed, with a capital of $20,000 under the name of the Norristown Iron and Steel Company, the personnel of the concern being as follows: Abraham G. Gotwals. president; W. L. Gotwals, secretary and treasurer. At the death of Abraham G. Gotwals, which occurred in 1911, he was succeeded in the presidency by C. B. Daring, of Norristown. Since its incorpora- tion, as previously stated, the business has been conducted under the personal supervision of William L. Gotwals. The firm handles scrap iron, and its operations extend from Maine to Georgia throughout the Eastern and Middle Western States. In public affairs Mr. Gotwals stands for progress. He is an active supporter of the Republican party, but has never held a public office. During the World War he did all in his power to forward the many home activities of the period, rendering valuable service in many lines. He is a member of the First Presby- terian Church of Norristown, which he serves as treasurer and as a mem- ber of the board of trustees, and also as treasurer of the Sunday school, in which he is an active worker.
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Mr. Gotwals married, on October 21, 1903, Elizabeth Miller, daughter of Isaac and Jermina (Mitchell) Miller, and they are the parents of three children: William L., Jr., born November 30, 1905; John Henry, born November 25, 1910; and Mary Elizabeth, born April 16, 1914. The family home is at No. 902 DeKalb street, Norristown.
ROBERT GOTWALS TRUCKSESS-In the long ago David Truck- sess, great-grandfather of Robert G. Trucksess, of Norristown and Fair- view Village, was a noted singing master and held singing schools all over Montgomery county, usually in the village or district school house, but sometimes a church might be used. This fine old master of the olden days organized classes all over the country during the winter seasons, having every evening taken up with a class which sometimes would include about every available voice in the district. All instruction, of course, was by class, and it is said that in this way he had given musical instruction to eight hundred scholars in one week. This grand old man, himself a fine vocalist, continued his work as a teacher until far along in years, and many later-day musicians received their first lessons and their musical aspirations from him, for he had many private pupils whom he taught outside his classes. He was a lieutenant in the United States army, was promoted captain, becoming major in 1843, and lieutenant- colonel in 1861. He died in 1897, aged eighty-four years.
David Trucksess was succeeded by his son, Andrew J. Trucksess, also a talented vocalist, who continued the singing schools established by his father, and when at the zenith of his popularity was giving class instruc- tion to five hundred scholars in Montgomery county. For forty-five years Andrew J. Trucksess was organist in Lower Providence Presby- terian Church, and during that period missed but three Sundays from his accustomed seat at the organ. He married Sarah Landis, and on Janu- ary 15, 1923, the veteran music master and his wife observed the fifty- third anniversary of their wedding day.
Music as a profession passed out of this branch of the family for a time with the advent of David Landis Trucksess into business life as a commission merchant in Philadelphia. He is a son of Andrew J. and Sarah (Landis) Trucksess, and after twenty-five years of successful busi- ness effort is now living retired at Fairview Village, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He married Mary Jane Gotwals, and they are the parents of three children: Robert Gotwals, of whom further; Elmer, a student at Pennsylvania State College, class of 1926; Ruth G., who is supervisor of music in the public schools of Plymouth, Worcester and Skippack townships, and the public school of Schwenksville, music in her again returning as a family profession, and thus a full century of professional music was covered in the lives of David Trucksess and his descendants.
Robert Gotwals Trucksess, eldest son of David Landis and Mary Jane (Gotwals) Trucksess, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 7, 1897. He received his early education in the Joseph Leidy Primary School, passing thence to Belmont Grammar School, both in Philadel-
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phia. In 1913 he became a student in the high school of Worcester, Montgomery county, and in 1915 entered Collegeville High School, whence he was graduated, class of 1915. He entered Ursinus College in the fall of 1915, pursuing a three-year course there before going to Col- gate University, whence he was graduated A. B., class of 1919. Having decided upon the profession of law, he entered the University of Penn- sylvania Law School, there spending two years. He is now completing his studies in the offices of J. Ambler Williams, a successful lawyer of Norristown, who has just been appointed judge, April 16, 1923, and is in line for admission to the Montgomery county bar in January, 1924. In 1919 and 1920 Mr. Trucksess was professor of psychology at Millersville State Normal School, Millersville, Pennsylvania, and while pursuing law study at the university he held the position of assistant in psychology on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania (1921-22). He has now nearly ready for publication a work entitled "A Modern Psychology," and while completing his preparation for the practice of law, he is holding the office of assistant deputy prothonotary of Montgomery county.
As in his sister, the musical talent of the family has reappeared in Robert G. Trucksess, and he is well known to music lovers and students. He has at least a local reputation as a fine performer on the guitar, flute, banjo, ukelele, cello and piccolo, and has created and introduced a new method of playing the guitar, called the "American Guitar." Using this method, he made record No. 50994 for the Edison Phonograph Company, which has become very popular. He has also made trial records for the Victor, Pathe, Gennett, Brunswick and Vocalion Phonograph companies, and in the near future these companies will issue records by Mr. Truck- sess, who is also the composer of a song "Sweet Violet." To further show the versatility of this young man the fact is recorded that letters patent, No. 1,344,216, has been issued him on an invention of his own, a theatre chair which will obviate the necessity for one occupying such a chair in a theatre rising to allow persons to pass in or out of their row of seats. A company has been formed to manufacture this chair, the Trucksess Chair Company, Robert G. Trucksess, president.
On July 28, 1918, Mr. Trucksess enlisted in the United States army and was sent to Officers' Training Camp at Plattsburg, New York. On September 16, 1918, he was commissioned second lieutenant ; was made a personnel officer on September 23rd, following, and placed in charge of all personnel work at Colgate University camp, at Hamilton, New York. At the time the armistice was signed Lieutenant Trucksess was about to sail overseas, but the necessity over, he was honorably discharged from the service December 28, 1918. He at once reentered Colgate University, and was graduated the following June.
In politics Mr. Trucksess is a Republican. Fraternally he affiliates with Hamilton Lodge (New York), No. 120, Free and Accepted Masons ; Cyrus Chapter, No. 50, Royal Arch Masons ; Norris Penn Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, No. 181, in which he is a past worthy patron; Tall Cedars of Lebanon, No. 31, Norristown Forest; Acacia Club, College-
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ville ; American Legion, George M. Althouse Post, of Norristown; and also holds membership in the Colb's Creek Country Club. In religion Mr. Trucksess is a Presbyterian and attends the Lower Providence Church of this denomination at Eagleville, Pennsylvania. Mr. Truck- sess is a young man of energy, ambition and enterprise, who, in his pro- fessional, official and social relations, holds so steadily to high ideals that he commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact. Such a man is sure to succeed, and his many friends predict for him a brilliant future.
GEORGE FETTERS HARTMAN, M. D .- Although a newcomer in Norristown, Pennsylvania, in which borough he located in 1921, Dr. Hartman is a veteran practitioner and a graduate of one of the leading medical colleges of the United States, Jefferson Medical College of Phil- adelphia, his diploma from that time-honored institution dated 1885. For thirty-six years Dr. Hartman practiced his profession in Port Ken- nedy, Pennsylvania, and is one of Montgomery's most eminent physi- cians. He is a great-grandson of Major Peter Hartman, who served in the Revolutionary War as captain and major; grandson of Peter Hart- man, who was a non-commissioned officer in the War of 1812; and a son of David R. Hartman, of Charlestown township, Chester county, Penn- sylvania, who all his life was a farmer of that township and one of the substantial men of that section. David R. Hartman married Fannie Sheldrake, and they were the parents of Dr. George F. Hartman, of Norristown.
George Fetters Hartman was born at the home farm at Pickering, Charlestown township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, August 18, 1863, and began his education in the public school of the district. He later attended private school, passing thence to Westchester Normal School. He prepared for professional life at Jefferson Medical College, Phila- delphia, receiving his M. D. from that institution at graduation in 1885. He at once established in practice at Port Kennedy and there continued in successful practice until the autumn of 1921, when he came to Norris- town and is there in practice among old friends and new, his acquaintance being wide and numerous. The years have brought him professional success and he has attained high rank among his contemporaries of the Montgomery County Medical Society.
He is on the auxiliary staff and one of the board of directors of Mont- gomery Hospital, Norristown ; a trustee, and for ten years censor of Mont- gomery County Medical Society ; a director of the People's National Bank of Norristown and a director of Montgomery Trust Company of Norristown. He is a member of Montgomery County Medical, the State Medical and the American Medical associations.
Dr. Hartman is a Republican in politics and in Upper Merion town- ship, his former home, served two terms as commissioner of highways, and as school director twelve years. He is a member of the Masonic order, affiliated with lodge, chapter and commandery, a member of
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Schuylkill Medical Club, Philadelphia Medical Club, the Ersine Tennis Club, of Norristown, the Norristown Club, and the Norristown Driving Club. Dr. Hartman loves a good horse of the light harness stock and driving is as favored a recreation with him as tennis. He is devoted to his profession, but is mindful of his civic and social responsibilities, placing good citizenship a duty and a privilege.
Dr. Hartman married, in Philadelphia, October 20, 1887, Ella Stine, of that city, daughter of Peter K. Stine, who retired after fifty years service with the Pennsylvania railroad, as station master at Broad street station, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, now deceased. Dr. and Mrs. Hart- man have no children. The doctor's offices are at No. 614 Swede street, Norristown, Pennsylvania.
JOHN M. KRUPP-A native son of old Montgomery, John M. Krupp has risen to an influential position in the business life of his county and from the vantage ground of success, reviews his four decades of life with the satisfaction that comes to the man who succeeds in his undertakings. He is a son of John H. and Mary (Moyer) Krupp, his father a merchant, who, at the time of the birth of his son John M., was located in Hatfield, Pennsylvania.
John M. Krupp was born in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, April 21, 1879, and began his education in the district schools of Franconia township, Montgomery county. He later attended Souderton High School and finished his studies in Shissler College, Norristown, Pennsylvania. He began business life with the Abraham Cox Stove Company of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, beginning as junior clerk and rising to responsible position during his twenty-one years of efficient service with that company. In 1908 he was one of them to organize the Krupp, Meyers & Hoffman, coal, feed, lumber and ice business.
That service eminently fitted him to manage a business of his own and resigning his position he organized the Lansdale Porcelain Enamel Company, with works in Lansdale, and with that enterprise safely launched, he finally, in 1921, organized the Krupp-Meyer Foundry Com- pany of Lansdale, John M. Krupp, president of both companies. A man of genial nature, pleasing personality and sterling character, Mr. Krupp has many friends by whom he is held in high esteem as business associate, citizen and neighbor. He is a member of the Masonic order, holding its thirty-second degree, being a member of Shiloh Lodge, No. 558; Lansdale Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Hutchinson Commandery, Knights Tem- plar ; Philadelphia Consistory; Lu Lu Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; the Knights of the Golden Eagle; the Junior Order of United American Mechanics; is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and in politics is a Republican.
Mr. Krupp married, in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, September 30, 1908, Alice A. Hoffman, daughter of N. O. and Mary (Renninger) Hoffman. Mr. and Mrs. Krupp are the parents of three children: John M., Jr., Helen, and Robert.
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Samle Geakle.
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SAMUEL YEAKLE-For thirteen years Samuel Yeakle conducted a coal, lumber, and feed business at Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, and for twenty-nine years he has served as a member of the board of school directors for Whitemarsh township. He is widely known and highly esteemed in Montgomery county, both as a successful business man and as a progressive and public-spirited citizen.
Samuel Yeakle is a descendant of Christopher Yeakle, the pioneer ancestor of the family of that name in America, and of Maria (Schultz) Yeakle, daughter of Balthasar and Susanna Schultz. The children of the pioneer couple were: Susanna, who married Abram Heydrick; Maria, who married George Dresher; Regina, who married Abram Schultz; Abraham, Anna and Christopher. Christopher Yeakle married Susanna Kriebel, daughter of Rev. George Kriebel, and they were the parents of: Lydia, Agnes, Anna, Sarah, George, Rebecca and Samuel. The line of descent is traced through the youngest son of Christopher and Susanna (Kreibel) Yeakle, Samuel, who was born at Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, August 25, 1798. He married (first) Lydia Anders. She died December 26, 1846, and he married (second), November 19, 1850, Susanna Dresher, daughter of Samuel Dresher. Children of the first marriage were: Wil- liam A., of further mention ; Charles A., and Abraham A. To the second marriage no children were born. Samuel Yeakle removed to White- marsh township in 1824, and engaged in farming there until 1853, when he removed to Norristown.
William A. Yeakle, son of Samuel and Lydia (Anders) Yeakle, was born in Whitemarsh township, October 20, 1824. He received a prac- tical education in the public schools of his native district, and in 1850 he began his independent career as a farmer. In that same year he was elected a member of the board of school directors for the township and that office he continued to fill for fifteen consecutive years. In 1870 he was nominated for State Senator. He withdrew in favor of Hon. Henry S. Evans, but three years later he was again nominated and elected in a strong Democratic district. He served his term of three years, but declined reelection. He represented the highest ideals of the Republican party, and his vote consistently followed his convictions and stood for the high moral principle which actuated both his business and his social life. He was for many years a member of the Montgomery County Agricul- tural Society, and in 1877 was chosen to represent that body on the State Board of Agriculture. He drew his seat for the one-year term, but was elected to serve for the succeeding term of three years, and again for a third term of three years. On January 25, 1849, he married Caroline Hocker, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Fravel) Hocker, of White- marsh township, and they are the parents of two children: Annie H., and Samuel, of further mention.
Samuel Yeakle, son of William A. and Caroline (Hocker) Yeakle, was born in Flourtown, Whitemarsh township, Pennsylvania, August 16, 1853, and received his education in the public schools of Whitemarsh township and in Treemount Seminary, at Norristown, Pennsylvania.
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from which he was graduated in 1870. Upon the completion of his educa- tion he became associated with his father on the farm at Flourtown, and this connection he maintained until the death of his father in 1888. He then continued to operate the farm alone until 1904, when he purchased David Knipe's lumber, coal and feed business at Fort Washington. This he continued to successfully conduct for a period of thirteen years, at the end of which time he sold out to the Arbuckle-Gordon Company, in the spring of 1917.
Along with the business interests already mentioned he has found time and energy for other business associations. He is a member of the board of directors of the Ambler Trust Company, and of the Community Building and Loan Association. He has always taken an active interest in the welfare of the community. Politically he gives his support to the Republican party, and was postmaster of Fort Washington during 1910- 1914, and in addition to his twenty-nine years of service as a member of the board of school directors for Whitemarsh township, he is serving his second term as a member of the board of directors of the poor of Mont- gomery county, and is now president of the board, and he is also treasurer of the Fort Washington Fire Company and a trustee of the Union School. His religious affiliation is with the Zion Lutheran Church, of White- marsh, which he serves as a member of the board of trustees and secretary of the church council; he has been superintendent of the Sunday school for the past twenty-five years.
On March 27, 1889, at Whitemarsh, Samuel Yeakle married Mag- dalena E. Rhoads, daughter of Tilghman V. and Elizabeth (Breenig) Rhoads, and they are the parents of one son, William Rhoads, who was born July 30, 1893; he was educated in the public schools of White- marsh, Ambler High School and Philadelphia Business College of Phil- adelphia, and is now associated with his father. He enlisted in the United States army during the World War, and on May 28, 1918, was sent to Camp Meade, and assigned to the Medical Detachment Truck Supply Train, No. 304, 79th Division. He served one year overseas, and saw service in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, Verdun and St. Mihiel, and was honorably discharged at Camp Dix, New Jersey, June 4, 1919. He is now, 1923, commander of William Boulton Dixon Post, No. 10, American Legion, of Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.
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