USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a history, Volume II > Part 25
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Mr. Miller married, in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, March 17, 1921, Minnie Snyder, daughter of John and Ella Snyder, well known residents of that place. The Snyder family paternally are of German descent, and on the maternal side-Bryson-came from Ireland. Both grandparents of Paul D. Miller, Joseph Miller and David Divelbliss, were Civil War veterans from Pennsylvania.
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Paul D. Miller is the third undertaker in Conshohocken to bear the Miller name, he succeeding William J. Miller. His mortuary establish- ment is finely equipped with sanitary morgue, parlors arranged for the holding of funeral services, automobile hearse and carriages, and night or day service, his home being connected with his establishment.
EDGAR STANLEY BUYERS, M. D .- Since 1903 Dr. Buyers has practiced medicine in Norristown, Pennsylvania, there establishing offices at No. 612 De Kalb street, upon completing a term at Montgomery Hospital as interne. Nineteen years have since elapsed and he is now a veteran practitioner, honored as a citizen and highly esteemed as a physician of learning and skill. Dr. Buyers is of Lancaster county birth, tracing descent from John Buyers who, with his wife, Mary Letitia (Patton) Buyers, came to Pennsylvania from County Monaghan, Ireland, in 1735, and in 1744 bought from the agents of Thomas and Richard Penn 236 acres of farm land in the Pequea Valley, in Lancaster county. John Buyers was born in 1702, and died in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1756. Dr. Edgar S. Buyers has, in his possession, the church certificate certifying that John Buyers and Mary L., his wife, nee Patton, were members of Protestant Dissenting church, in Monaghan, Ireland, June 4, 1737.
The descent is Scotch-Irish, traced from John and Mary L. (Patton) Buyers, the founders of the family in Pennsylvania, in direct line to Dr. Buyers, of Norristown, through the second son of the founders, Captain Robert Buyers, an officer of the Revolution, commissioned captain by the Pennsylvania House of Assembly, April 6, 1776, Dr. Buyers having his discharge among his treasured mementoes of his patriotic ancestors. The sword Captain Robert Buyers carried and his commission is in the possession of James A. Buyers, of Stirling, Illinois. He, Captain Buyers, was born in 1746, died in 1801. He married Jean Armour, the line of descent following through their son, Robert Armour Buyers.
Robert Armour Buyers, born in 1778, died in 1816, married Elizabeth McCally, and succeeded his father, Captain Robert Buyers, in the owner- ship of the homestead farm until his death at the age of thirty-eight years. James Armour Buyers, grandfather of Edgar S. Buyers, with his brother, John McCally, were joint owners of the homestead. The farm is now owned by William Caldwell, a descendant of the fifth generation. Two sons of James Armour Buyers, John and James, enlisted in the Union Army at the outbreak of the Civil War and served until the end of the war. Smith Patterson Buyers, youngest son of James Armour and Eliza Jane (McJimsey) Buyers, was born April 23, 1853. He, after forty years of farm life and ownership, retired. He married Margaret M. Kennedy, daughter of Sylvester and Martha (Kinzer) Kennedy, and they are the parents of Dr. Edgar Stanley Buyers, of Norristown, Penn- sylvania, whose career is herein reviewed.
Dr. Edgar Stanley Buyers was born at the home farm at Buyers- Mont-13
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town, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, September 6, 1878. He began his education in the public schools of his district, going thence to Honey- brook High School in Chester county, afterwards entering Blair Presby- terian Academy at Blairstown, New Jersey, where he completed prepara- tory study. Choosing the profession of medicine as his life work, he entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, whence he was graduated M. D., class of 1902. He then spent a year as interne at Montgomery Hospital, Norristown, Pennsylvania, and in 1903 began private practice in that borough, where he continues in honor and success. Since 1913 he has been physician and surgeon to the Pennsyl- vania railroad for the Norristown district, and since 1916 secretary of the Montgomery County Medical Society. He is a member of the Phil- adelphia Medical Club, of the Aesculapian Club of that city, and of the Penn Club. During the war period 1917-1918, he was physician to the Norristown selective draft board.
Dr. Buyers is a Republican in politics, a member of the First Pres- byterian Church ; Norristown Lodge, No. 190, Free and Accepted Masons ; and is a lover of field sports, spending his vacation periods when possible with gun and rod.
He married, September 15, 1909, in Norristown, Pennsylvania, Mary E. Kite, daughter of George R. and Emma (Moir) Kite, her father cashier of the First National Bank of Norristown.
WILLIAM F. SMITH, or Squire William Smith, as he is generally called, is the son and grandson of fighting ancestors, and himself served in the Civil War until disabled. He is a pioneer resident of Consho- hocken, Pennsylvania, and knew the city, and had an active share in its municipal affairs in its early days. He is the grandson of John Smith, who served as quartermaster under General Greene, in the Revolutionary War, and ranked as captain in his New Jersey Regiment. His son, Andrew Smith, married Sarah W. Wilkinson, the daughter of Josiah Wilkinson, who won fame for the part he took in Perry's victory on the Great Lakes, during the War of 1812. One of the valued family pos- sessions is a powder horn, owned and used by Josiah Wilkinson. Sarah W. (Wilkinson) Smith was the mother of William F., of whom further.
William F. Smith was born July 27, 1840, near Mullica Hill, Glou- cester county, New Jersey. In the Quaker school of Mickleton, New Jersey, he gained his education. He was a tiller of the soil and later, a house painter until the Civil War broke out and was one of the first to enlist at Lincoln's call for troops. He came to Conshohocken, Pennsyl- vania, in November, 1867, after the war and, as a staunch Republican, was honored with public office, for three terms, of burgess of the borough of Conshohocken. At the beginning of his third term, in 1892, the borough had just seventeen cents in its treasury, with a multitude of debts to be paid, but before his service was ended, the town was not only out of debt, but had money in its treasury. Since May, 1880, he has been a justice of the peace, and is universally known as "Squire Smith."
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He fraternizes with the Washeta Tribe, of the Improved Order of Red Men, of which he is a past sachem; the Junior Order of United American Mechanics; and is past master of the Fritz Lodge, No. 420, Free and Accepted Masons.
His military record in the Civil War is as follows: He enlisted April 19, 1861, from West Chester county, Pennsylvania, to serve three months, and was mustered into the army at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, as a private, then under Captain Benjamin Sweeney, Company G, Second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Frederick S. Stam- baugh commanding. It was one of the first volunteer regiments organ- ized, April 21, 1861, and left Harrisburg immediately for Washington, but was halted by a destroyed bridge and went to York, Pennsylvania, where it camped and trained until June I. It then went to Chambers- burg, where Mr. Smith was honorably discharged because of sickness and returned home. Upon the recovery of his health, he reenlisted on Sep- tember 30, 1861, for the duration of the war, as a private in Company H, 97th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Charles McIlvain, Colonel Henry R. Guss, commanding. He went to camp at Camp Wayne, near West Chester, Pennsylvania, where, on November 12, the regiment was reviewed by Governor Curtin, who presented it with the State colors. On November 16, it left for Washington, D. C., and four days later moved into Fortress Monroe, Virginia, and on Decem- ber 8, shipped for Port Royal, South Carolina, arriving on December 14, but was unable to land for three days because of a severe storm. On January 21, they embarked for an expedition against Fort Pulaski, near Savannah, Georgia. Heavy guns were landed and a demonstration made, and the enemy capitulated on the following morning. Mr. Smith then went with his command to Fort Clinch on the St. Mary's river, Fernan- dina, Florida, and immediately left for Jacksonville, Florida, arriving on January 24, 1862. He was engaged for a time in building defences about Jacksonville, but the city was evacuated the following April, and Mr. Smith returned to Fernandina. On the tenth of April, he marched to Hilton Head, and by the nineteenth, was at North Edisto Island, where he performed fatigue duty until June 2, when he was moved to Legreeville, made a reconnaissance on the seventh of June, fighting a drawn engagement at the battle of Secessionville, James Island, South Carolina, where the regiment was under severe fire and displayed great bravery. Later in the month the Island was evacuated, and returning to Edisto Island, occupied their old quarters. On July 18, he was ordered to Hilton Head and was on picket duty along Broad river, from Say- brook Point to Back Creek, until September 6. The regiment suffered greatly from fever about this time, and Mr. Smith was among those who became ill, and only he and one other comrade of tweny-eight men of his company survived. Rendered unfit for further service by his sickness, he was honorably discharged on November 15, 1862, and returned to West Chester, where he remained until 1867. Enlisting as a private, Mr. Smith was appointed an eighth corporal October 17, 1861, promoted to
2
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seventh corporal November, 1861, sixth corporal later in the month, fifth corporal May 25, 1862, and fourth corporal October 8, 1862. He is prominent in the Grand Army of the Republic, George Smith Post, No. 79, and has been junior and senior vice-commander and quartermaster for the past thirty-two years.
RALPH PHILLIPS HOLLOWAY-The office of postmaster seems hereditary in the Holloway family, Ralph P. Holloway being the present incumbent of that office in Pottstown, his father, a general merchant of Douglassville, Berks county, Pennsylvania, having served as postmaster there for four years, from 1890 to 1894, while Levi Baum Holloway, grandfather of Ralph P., served Douglassville as postmaster for twenty- one years, from 1865 until January, 1886. Levi B. Holloway was a mer- chant of Douglassville, his son, Elmer Phillips Holloway, succeeding him in the business. Elmer P. Holloway married Eleanor Virginia Swavely, their son, Ralph P. Holloway, being the present postmaster of Potts- town, and the principal character of this review.
Ralph Phillips Holloway was born in Douglassville, Berks county, Pennsylvania, January II, 1887, in a stone mansion erected in 1769, which was used as a place of business for many years by George Doug- lass, after whom the village was named. This house is within 150 yards of the oldest house in Berks county, now standing, which was built in the year 1716. He was educated in the public schools of Amity township, finishing with courses at the Pottstown Business College. In 1903, four years after the death of his father, the family removed to Pottstown.
After school years were over he entered the employ of P. L. Egolf & Son, lumber dealers of Pottstown, but in a short time left them to enter the service of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company, in the accounting department at Pottstown, continuing with the company for fifteen years, filling responsible positions.
Ever since coming to man's estate Mr. Holloway has been active in political affairs as a Republican, and has filled several important offices. He is interested in business affairs as well and since 1919 has been secre- tary of the Pottstown Cold Storage & Warehouse Company. He served as borough auditor for one term and on February 12, 1922, was appointed by President Harding as acting postmaster at Pottstown, which action was confirmed by the Senate on August 23, 1922, his term of four years dating from the latter date.
He is a member of Pottstown Lodge, No. 814, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks; Court Pottstown, No. 137, Foresters of America ; the Republican Club, the Empire Hook & Ladder Company, the Young Men's Christian Association. and Christ Protestant Episcopal Church of Pottstown. Mr. Holloway has but one brother, Harry Augustus Hollo- way, who also resides in Pottstown.
JOSEPH A. CURREN-A member of the firm of Curren & Boyer, Mr. Curren is a dominant figure in the business world of Norristown, Pennsylvania. Of Irish ancestry, he was born at Norristown, October
Joseph 9. Burren
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9, 1878, son of Patrick, Jr., and Rose (Sheridan) Curren. His father was born at Girardville, Pennsylvania, son of Patrick Curren, Sr., who came to Philadelphia from County Cavan, Ireland, the ancestral home of the Currens.
Patrick Curren, Jr., Mr. Curren's father, was a man of large inter- ests, and, although he came to Norristown as a young man, he never relinquished all his connections in Philadelphia, but maintained his posi- tion as a member of the well known wholesale liquor firm of Bunting & Company in that city until his death. He was one of the organizers of the Norristown Water Company, and owned a splendid farming property at Norristown, taking a great interest in agricultural work and experi- mentation. A public-spirited citizen, he took his share in political life and served for ten years as a member of the Borough Council at Norris- town. He had a family of five children, of which Mr. Curren is the youngest, his sisters and his brother being as follows: Annie, who mar- ried J. Frank Boyer, Mr. Curren's partner and one of the leading busi- ness men of Norristown ; Julia, who is unmarried; Jean ; and Edward F., who is also a resident of Norristown.
Mr. Curren received his education in the public schools of Norris- town and was also a pupil of the parochial school of St. Patrick's Cath- olic Church there, his family being Catholics. He was graduated from school in 1895, and began his business career as an assistant in his father's wholesale liquor store at Philadelphia. He continued in this establishment, one of the many business enterprises in which his father was interested, until 1901. In that year he decided to seek a change of employment and entered into partnership with his brother-in-law, Mr. Boyer, organizing the firm of The J. F. Boyer Plumbing and Heating Company, specialists in plumbing, heating and electrical installations, Mr. Curren being treasurer of the firm and general manager of the elec- trical department. The new firm prospered from its inception, and at the present time it is one of the most prominent of its kind in the county.
In addition to his duties as a member of the above firm, Mr. Curren is engaged in the real estate business and has himself transacted many important deals. Together with Mr. Boyer, however, Mr. Curren is developing what is known as Curren Terrace. This property was for- merly the Curren farm, consisting of sixty-six acres, two-thirds of which is in the borough of Norristown and the remaining third in Ply- mouth township. This tract, which is the show place of the east end of Norristown, is being developed with private boulevards, hedge fences and building restrictions. Already eighteen homes have been built on the property, which is large enough to accommodate one hundred houses. The premises of the firm of The J. Frank Boyer Plumbing and Heating Company are located in the Boyer Arcade, which was named for Mr. Boyer, and the new arcade, but lately completed at Nos. 51-61 East Main street, is named for Mr. Curren and known as the Curren Arcade. This latter building, which was remodelled from old ones, including sev- eral additions, has a frontage of one hundred feet, a depth of one hundred and fifty feet, and is three stories high. The arcade contains five stores fronting on Main street, with separate entrances to the arcade, thirty-
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seven offices, and two large halls, and is the last word in modern architecture.
A stockholder in the Norristown Water Company, Mr. Curren takes a great interest in the prosperity and progress of this company. As one of the most progressive and energetic men of affairs of the community, he is a strong supporter of all civic improvements and movements cal- culated to increase the general welfare, such as those for better roads, improved street lighting systems, increased facilities for the use of elec- tricity, telephones, and similar modern conveniences throughout the town, and especially in rural districts, where, in the old days, isolation and drudgery were too often the lot of the farmer and his family, and the maintenance of the most rigid standards of sanitation, including the inspection of milk, provision shops, drinking water, and public buildings, especially schools, in order to prevent epidemics and to raise the stand- ards of health, already higher at Norristown than in many other places of equal or greater size. In politics Mr. Curren is a Democrat, and believes that the Democratic party should lead the country in construc- tive policies and ideals.
Mr. Curren and his family are members of St. Patrick's Roman Cath- olic Church at Norristown. He belongs to the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks, holding membership in Norristown Lodge, No. 714. An ardent player of golf, and an enthusiastic spectator of horse races, Mr. Curren is a member of the Plymouth Country Club; the White- marsh Country Club ; the Norristown Club; and also the Ersine Tennis Club.
Mr. Curren married, on October 11, 1910, at Norristown, Margaret M. Gleason, daughter of John and Mary (Dalton) Gleason. Mrs. Cur- ren's father died in 1892, and her mother married (second) Patrick Golden. Mrs. Curren was her father's only child, but she has a step- brother, John Golden, and two step-sisters, Mary and Anna Golden. Mr. and Mrs. Curren have one son, John Frank Curren, born March 31, 1916.
NEWTON G. ALLEBACH, M. D .- The medical fraternity of Sou- derton, Pennsylvania, has among its prominent members Dr. Newton G. Allebach, who has not only made a name for himself in the medical world, but is becoming conspicuous in municipal affairs. Skilled, edu- cated, of an engaging personality, he has made his influence felt by the citizens of that place, and is much sought not only in his profession, but in the many movements aimed at the betterment of local conditions. He is the son of Jacob R. and Esther J. Allebach, his father a merchant and proprietor of a general store in Green Lane, Pennsylvania, for thirty-five years, and president of the Green Lane Valley Bank from its establishment until his death in 1914.
Dr. Newton G. Allebach was born at Green Lane, Pennsylvania, Jan- uary II, 1888. After attendance at the public schools and Professor Hartzell's Academy, whence he was graduated in 1904, he entered Per- kinson Seminary, finishing with the graduating class of 1908. He pre- pared for his profession at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia,
Rewton G. Allebach, M. D.
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receiving his M. D. with the class of 1913. He spent some time as interne in Allentown Hospital, Allentown, Pennsylvania, locating in Souderton for private professional practice in 1914, and there he contin- ues with honorable success. He is a member of the Montgomery County Medical Society, Pennsylvania State Medical Society, and the Amer- ican Medical Association, keeping in close touch with every advance in medical science or discovery through the medium of these societies.
Interested in public affairs, Dr. Allebach has given a great deal of time to borough affairs both in private and official capacity. He was elected a member of the Borough Council in 1921, and in July, 1922, was chosen president of the council. He is a member of the Masonic order, affiliated with McCalla Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; the Royal Arch Chapter, and Hutchinson Commandery, Knights Templar ; he is also a member of Souderton Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity (Jefferson), and a communicant of Zion Mennonite Church of Souderton. He was elected a member of the Church Council in 1920, and was president of the Men's Volunteer Bible Class of the Sunday school during 1921 and 1922.
At Green Lane, Pennsylvania, January 27, 1914, Dr. Allebach mar- ried Luella Blanck, daughter of Dr. Joseph E. and Amanda Blanck. Dr. and Mrs. Allebach are the parents of three children: Eatha, born Janu- ary 2, 1915; Martha, born September 29, 1916; and Dorothy, born August 15, 1922.
JOHN CHRISTMAN SMITH-Every locality owes much to those who have given of their best during the years of their active life and then have quietly passed beyond our ken into the "Land o' the Leal," leaving a good work and a beneficent influence to live after them. Among those who have, in years past, taken an active part in the development of Montgomery county, is John Christman Smith, who passed from this life more than four decades ago, but whose work left a lasting imprint upon the development of his section of the county.
Abraham Smith, father of John C. Smith, was born in Frederick township, March 18, 1794, his parents being Jacob and Margaret Smith, descendants of German ancestors who were among the early settlers of Pennsylvania. Sorrow early came to the home in which Abraham Smith was born, his mother being left a widow when the child was only thir- teen months old, and the child, Abraham, being "bound out" to Jacob Fryer when he was but four years of age, to be "brought up" in a Chris- tian family. He learned the shoemaker's trade with Michael Sensen- derfer, of Limerick township, and on September 20, 1816, when he was twenty-two years of age, he married Elizabeth Christman, of Limerick township, and removed to Deep Creek in Frederick township, where he followed his trade for some time and then engaged in farming and huck- stering. About 1836 he removed to Pottstown, where he became the proprietor of a general store, and where he remained during the rest of his life. He was a soldier in the company of Captain Peter Hanley, of Pottstown, during the War of 1812. To his first marriage, to Eliza- beth Christman, six children were born: Mary, who married Levi Wil-
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dermuth; John C., of further mention; Elizabeth, who married Rufus B. Longaker; Jacob C .; Sarah, who married William Wamback; and Abram C. The first Mrs. Smith died, and Abraham Smith married (sec- ond), in 1845, Mrs. Mary Maisberger. There were no children of the second marriage. Abraham Smith died April 6, 1878, in the eighty-fifth year of his age.
John Christman Smith, son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Christman) Smith, was born at Deep Creek, Frederick township, December 1, 1818, and died July 21, 1882. He received his education in the public school of the district in which his youth was spent, in Limerick township. working on a farm before and after school hours and during vacations. In 1836 he removed to Pottstown with his parents, and became his father's assistant in the general store, continuing this connection until the time of his father's retirement, when he continued the business alone. adding to that activity a considerable amount of work on the tow-path. That he was successful in this second field of activity as well as in the first is evidenced by the fact that he became a canal-boat captain and owner. Of this latter achievement he was very proud, and during his later years looked back with much pleasure upon the days of his "tow- path" experience.
Along with his business success, Mr. Smith took a deep and active interest in public affairs. He was a Democrat of the old Jacksonian type and one of the leaders of his party in Montgomery county. In the fiercely waged contest over the proposal that a new county be formed, to be called Madison, with Pottstown as its county seat, Mr. Smith advocated the change and for many years continued the struggle for its acceptance, combatting the opposing element with all the energy of the "war horse" of those days. In the fall of 1852 he was nominated for State Senator, but the campaign became a struggle between the friends and the enemies of "Madison county" and he was defeated, his Whig rival, Benjamin Frick, winning by thirty-two votes. A few years later, however, in 1861, he was again nominated for State Senator, his oppo- nent being Henry W. Bonsall, a prominent member of the Montgomery county bar, and was elected by a majority of 767 votes. His term in the Senate came during the most critical period of the Civil War, he serv- ing in the sessions of 1862, 1863, and 1864, with such eminent men as Heister Clymer, Henry S. Mott, W. W. Ketcham, A. K. McClure, Mor- row B. Lowrey, William A. Wallace, Harry White, William Hopkins, Benjamin Champneys and others. He took part in the election of Hon. Charles R. Buckalew, as United States Senator in 1863, when the Demo- crats had a majority of one on joint ballot in the Legislature. He was also a member during the famous deadlock session of 1864, when Gen- eral Henry White, a Republican member, was absent, held a prisoner by the Confederates at Richmond, which absence left the Senate with six- teen Republican and sixteen Democratic members. He served on several important committees. In 1872 he was again nominated, and carried a large majority in his own county, but, as the district then included Chester and Delaware counties, the majorities in those sections defeated him. In local politics he was active and served in various capacities. In
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