USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a history, Volume II > Part 29
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treasurer and at his passing vice-president of the Norristown Fish and Game Protective Association. His religious affiliation was with the Orthodox Society of Friends as a member of the Meeting in Norristown.
On November 21, 1893, at Norristown, in the Lutheran church, Nathaniel Howland Brown, Jr., married Frances Jones Baily, of an old Colonial family that came from England and settled in Chester county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Brown is the daughter of Joshua G. Baily, born October 24, 1824, and died February 23, 1903, and of Emily Jones (Fry) Baily, born March 1, 1832, and died April 14, 1919, at the home of her daughter Mrs. Brown in Norristown. Joshua G. and Emily Jones (Fry) Baily were the parents of two children: Frances Jones (Mrs. N. How- land Brown), and Susan, wife of Dr. J. Newton Hunsberger, of Norris- town, Pennsylvania. The Baily family of Chester county were seated at London Grove ; the Frys at Germantown, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Frances J. (Baily) Brown continues her residence in Norristown, her home at No. 213 De Kalb street.
WILLIAM NEVILLE-Abilities of a rare order have made William Neville, of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, conspicuous in many spheres of endeavor. Prosperity has not only come to him, but with it the honor of serving his section in the Legislature of his State and county. He is at present coroner of Montgomery county. He is the son of Samuel Neville, of New York City, now deceased, who married Anna Stemple, a member of one of the pioneer families of Montgomery county.
William Neville was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 10, 1868. His preliminary education came from the public schools, followed by a course in Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1910 as a Doctor of Pharmacy. He bought the drug store on the corner of First avenue and Fayette street in 1900. He made extensive improvements, added the most up-to-date equipment, and has now one of the most attractive places of business in the city. He was a director of the Fayette Building and Loan Association, and very active in its interests. A lifelong Republican, he was secretary of the Board of Health and was the health officer of both the State and of Conshohocken. He was appointed in 1907 as local registrar of vital statistics. In 1915 he was elected to the State Legislature and served on a number of committees among which are the Health and Sanitation, Insurance and Appropriation. At the present time he is coroner of the county of Montgomery, and member of the Chamber of Commerce. His fraternal affiliations are with the Improved Order of Red Men, No. 53, and Knights of Pythias, No. 117, both of Conshohocken, and also the Blue Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is a past master ; Norristown Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of which he is past high priest ; Hutchinson Commandery, Knights Templar; Philadelphia Consistory ; and Lu Lu Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
At Conshohocken, October 8, 1888, he was married to Mary Louise Whitman, daughter of Charles Whitman, of Bridgeport, Pennsylvania,
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founder of the Whitman Pork Packing Corporation, and Mary Ella Whitman. Mr. and Mrs. Neville have one daughter, Marion, born in Conshohocken.
HARRY M. WOODMANSEE-There are probably few influences more potent in their effects upon a community than those exerted by the editors of our newspapers. When a man like Harry M. Woodmansee comes to a city and takes over the control of one of its newssheets, it is well for that city to scrutinize the life and character of the man. Lans- dale, Pennsylvania, has had years in which to know Mr. Woodmansee, and the consensus of their opinion and feeling was, when he died in 1915, that the city had suffered an irreparable loss. Business men real- ized his business ability, students recognized the depths of his study, men and women everywhere came to know of his bigheartedness, his dependability, and the power that he had been in the civic, educational, and business life of Lansdale.
Harry M. Woodmansee was the son of Howard, a veteran of the Civil War, and Sarah Woodmansee, both of whom were residents of Mont- gomery county. He was born November 25, 1859, at Fallen Timber, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. His early education came from the dis- trict school, which was followed with a course in Mifflintown High School, from which he was graduated. He then entered a printing shop, the "Juniata Tribune," to learn the printer's trade, which he did, in all its phases.
Harry M. Woodmansee after finishing his apprenticeship left Mif- flintown and went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the job department of the "Times." After a period of perhaps two years he went to Burling- ton, New Jersey, and started the "Daily Evening Reporter," which he conducted about three years. He then went to New Brunswick, New Jersey, as business manager of the "Daily Fredonia," for eighteen months, and then came to Lansdale, and on July 1, 1887, bought the "Lansdale Reporter," a weekly newspaper. He promptly applied the results of his training to strengthening and improving the paper, and set for both him- self and the paper a high standard of excellence. His success was gradual and solid, and before he died he had made the "Lansdale Reporter" one of the most influential in its class in the State.
Mr. Woodmansee was one of the organizers of the Citizens' Club of Lansdale, and a charter member ; was at one time president of the Press League of Bucks and Montgomery counties, also one of the organizers, and charter members. He fraternized with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
On September 17, 1884, at Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, Mr. Woodman- see was married to Annie Coffman, daughter of Isaac and Anna S. (Hook) Coffman. Mr. Coffman came originally from Chester county, and his wife from Lancaster county. Mr. and Mrs. Woodmansee are the parents of the following children: 1. Mary, married Frank E. Spog- rell, of Lansdale, and they are the parents of one child, Harry E. 2.
H. M. Woodmansee -
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Howard L., now a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, engaged in newspaper work. He entered the service of the United States during the World War, June 9, 1918, and was stationed at Camp Lee. He was mustered out holding the rank of sergeant.
HARRY P. HILTNER, who has for many years been identified with the public life of the borough of Norristown, both in engineering activi- ties and in an official capacity, has had broad experience in the profes- sional field, and is now devoting his native ability and extensive business prestige to the furtherance of civic advance in Norristown. A native of Montgomery county, Mr. Hiltner traces descent from Colonial ancestors, prominent in the early struggles of the settlers of Pennsylvania, and in the Revolutionary War. He is a son of Edwin L. Hiltner, was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, January 19, 1837, and died November 4, 1919, having reached the advanced age of eighty-two years. In early life, and for years Edwin L. Hiltner was engaged in business as a grocer in West Conshohocken, Montgomery county, then in 1874 came to Nor- ristown to reside having entered the provision business in Philadelphia. Two years later he became interested in the ice business, and with storage houses at the foot of Franklin avenue, continued along that line of business for a period of thirty-five years. He was a veteran of the Civil War, having served in the 51st Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, for three and one-half years, with the rank of corporal. At one time he was wounded in the right ankle, his horse being shot from under him. He was for many years a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and a member of the Masonic order.
Edwin L. Hiltner married Sarah J. De Haven, daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Trautzman) De Haven, granddaughter of John and Hannah (Pawling) De Haven, and great-great-granddaughter of Jacob De Haven, a patriot of the Revolution, a wealthy Frenchman, who came to the American colonies with Samuel, Edward and Peter De Haven, his brothers, between the years 1750-1760. Jacob De Haven, when the need was greatest, came to the relief of the struggling government and through Robert Morris, the "financier of the Revolution," advanced $450,000 in gold. The loan was made in a spirit of broad, generous patriotism to meet pressing wants of the army, for Jacob De Haven was devoted to the cause of Independence. From the De Haven farm not more than three miles from historic Valley Forge came supplies for the soldiers all through that fearful winter, and it is not pleasant to remember that the actual money advanced was never repaid, although the government regularly acknowledged the loan from Jacob De Haven, and later pay- ment in depreciated Continental money was tendered and refused. Jacob De Haven failed to secure a settlement in the coin he had advanced and since his death several attempts have been made by his heirs but thus far they have been failures.
Edwin L. and Sarah J. (De Haven) Hiltner were the parents of three children : Harry P., whose name furnishes the caption of this review ;
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Edna, deceased, wife of George F. Dunkle, a mining engineer of Phil- lipsburg, Pennsylvania, her death occurring in 1912; William D., a resident of Norristown, associated as engineer with the firm of Hitch- cock & Hiltner.
Harry P. Hiltner was born in West Conshohocken, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, March 21, 1868. He was educated in the public schools of Norristown, finishing with graduation from high school in the class of 1885. For the succeeding five years he was engaged in the ice business with his father, then in 1890, he went west to Escanaba, Michi- gan, where a friend was at that time engaged as a civil engineer. From boyhood desirous to enter that profession, Mr. Hiltner remained with his friend for a year, tramping over immense areas in that western country, as their work was largely surveying. At the end of a year he returned to Pennsylvania, but later however, Mr. Hiltner rejoined his friend in Michigan and qualified as a civil engineer. His career in Norristown began in 1892, when he acted as inspector on the Belgian Block and concrete paving work done on Main street, and two years later he was active on the all-town survey of the borough of Norristown, after which he acted as assistant to the borough engineer.
During 1897-98 Mr. Hiltner had charge of the brick paving of the streets of Norristown, and the work done at that time is, after almost a quarter of a century of constant use, in excellent condition. From this beginning, practically all of the borough work along civil engineering lines until 1916 was under his charge. From 1906 until 1914, he also acted as clerk of the Borough Council and with the exception of a short period in 1902, when he was associated with Ryan & Kelley in the erection of bridges, as superintendent, Mr. Hiltner has been continuously in the employ of the borough for nearly thirty years, being now borough treasurer, an office to which he was appointed in 1916. When he had completed the unexpired term of his predecessor, he was reelected to the Town Council for the regular two-year term, and subsequent reelections have retained him in office until now he is serving his third term. He also acts as custodian of the borough property, has been a member of the borough executive committee and of the Republican county committee. Mr. Hiltner is affiliated with Charity Lodge, No. 190, Free and Accepted Masons; Norristown Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Hutchinson Com- mandery, Knights Templar; Lu Lu Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; the Improved Order of Red Men; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks ; the Grand Army of the Repub- lic ; is an honorary member of Fairmount Engine Company, and a mem- ber of the Norristown Club.
Mr. Hiltner married, April 27, 1898, Katherine Shantz, of Norristown, and they reside at No. 1028 West Marshall street.
SAMUEL W. FRANKLIN-In engineering activities in the East and South, Mr. Franklin was for a number of years a leading figure, but more recently has been identified with the Keasby & Mathison Company,
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of Ambler, Pennsylvania, where he was assistant superintendent of the plant. He is now connected with the Julian S. Simsohn Company of Philadelphia. Mr. Franklin is a native of this State, and a son of John M. and Permilla Franklin, his father, a poultryman on a large scale, located in Fayette county. There were five children in the family, Mr. Franklin's brothers, Robert and William, and his sisters, Ella and Grace.
Samuel W. Franklin was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania, March 27, 1883. His education was received in the public schools of his native county and the neighboring county of Fayette. He was graduated from Uniontown High School in the class of 1900, then attended Birmingham Business College, at Birmingham, Alabama, for one year. He then entered Cumberland University of Tennessee, gradu- ating from that institution in the class of 1911. Mr. Franklin's first experience was with the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company as an engineer in the chief engineer's office under Robert Hamilton, and he was thus engaged for a period of five years. Thereafter becoming iden- tified with the Republic Iron and Steel Company, in Republic, Alabama, he served as construction engineer for one year, after which he went to W. J. Rainey, with whom he was active for two years on construction work in the capacity of engineer. Coming East to Camden, New Jersey, he entered the employ of the American Coke and Gas Construction Com- pany as engineer for one year. Mr. Franklin had by this time gained an enviable reputation in this field and was widely known in the East and South, and was sought by the Keasby & Mathison Company, in the employ of which concern he remained for ten years. On May 1, 1923, Mr. Franklin took entire charge of the mechanical department of the Julian Simsohn Company, located at Broad street and Girard avenue, Phila- delphia, chemical engineers.
In fraternal circles Mr. Franklin is well known, holding membership in Shiloh Lodge, No. 558, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is past master; and Philadelphia Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; and of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. His relig- ious affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal church, which he serves as steward.
Mr. Franklin married, at Lansdale, Pennsylvania, on October 16, 1913, Blanche Printz, daughter of William and Mary Printz, and they have two children: Gordon, born December 16, 1915; and Elizabeth, born September 7, 1920.
JAMES BARCLEY EDWARDS-One of the longest-established business houses of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, is the shoe store of James Barcley Edwards. He came to Lansdale in 1872, and celebrated the passing of a half-century in trade in 1922. No man can live for such a length of time in any community and conduct a business without pro- foundly effecting the community life.
James Barcley Edwards was born in London, England, October 17, 1845. His father, Edmond Edwards, was a currier and tanner of leather ; his mother was Mary (Barcley) Edwards.
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James B. Edwards received the customary education of his day, and was about eighteen when he came to the United States. For a time he traveled through various parts of this country before settling down, which he did finally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1866. In this year he also started to learn the shoemaker's trade, and spent three years in acquiring all there was to be taught. When he felt he knew his vocation, he set up in business for himself, in Kulpsville, Pennsylvania, in 1868, and later, in 1872, opened a shop in Lansdale, although it was not until a year after that that he came there to live. From that little shop has grown his present store.
In the early days Mr. Edwards was interested in politics and civic affairs, was for three years a member of the Borough Council, and served another three years on the school board. He fraternizes with the Improved Order of Red Men, Knights of the Golden Eagle, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Edwards was married, at Philadelphia, in 1871, to Sarah Anna Fry, who though born in Philadelphia is really from Montgomery county, her parents, George R. and Elizabeth Fry, being well known citizens of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have one son, Edward F., born October 27, 1871.
WALTER ATWOOD YEAKLE, M. D .- Among the prominent physicians of the younger set of Norristown, Pennsylvania, is Walter Atwood Yeakle. The long service he gave his country in the World War interrupted his career at a time when he was becoming well estab- lished in his city practice, but on his return with two years of added experience, he settled again to his work with a renewed zest that is making him widely known and sought. He is the son of Atwood and Caroline (Aiman) Yeakle, of Norristown, his father a druggist at No. 600 De Kalb street for nearly fifty years. He has two sisters: Eleanor, who is the wife of John J. Corson; and Molly, the widow of Henry F. Derr, both of Norristown.
Walter Atwood Yeakle was born at Norristown, Pennsylvania, August 4, 1887. He is a graduate of both the grammar and high schools of his natal city, and in the pursuance of his professional education attended first the Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) College of Pharmacy, from which he was graduated in 1909, and later completed the course of the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which he received his degree of M. D. with the class of 1913. He further increased his training by becoming an interne for a year in the Cooper Hospital of Camden, New Jersey.
He established himself in practice in Norristown, but enlisted in the navy May 15, 1917, and was placed in the Naval Medical Corps, at the naval operating base, Hampton Roads, Virginia, as medical aide in the Fifth District of Norfolk, Virginia, and saw service there until July 17, 1919. He promptly returned to Norristown and has since applied him- self to his profession.
William J Ralston
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Dr. Yeakle is a member of the Pennsylvania Health Department, and is county medical director for the State Department of Health. He is a member of the County, State and American Medical societies. He is a Republican in his political views, and affiliates with Norristown Lodge, No. 190, Free and Accepted Masons. His college fraternity is Omega Upsilon Phi. Dr. Yeakle is a lover of outdoor life, enjoying especially fishing, hunting and tennis. His church membership is in the Trinity Lutheran Church of Norristown.
On November 27, 1918, Dr. Walter A. Yeakle was married to Eliza- beth Marie Wheeler, born June 3, 1895, daughter of George F. and Mary S. (Stack) Wheeler. Mr. Wheeler has been for a number of years the court clerk at Charlestown, Maryland. Dr. and Mrs. Yeakle are the parents of one son, Robert Lee, born September 9, 1921.
HARVEY S. SOUDER-Descended from one of the old families of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, represented in civic, State and National affairs, and in the industries and professions, Henry S. Souder, of Souderton, Pennsylvania, is now a leading citizen of this county, and a prominent and progressive public servant. A native and a lifelong resident of Souderton, Mr. Souder is a son of Monroe and Elizabeth Souder, both born and reared in the vicinity, in their ancestral homes.
Harvey S. Souder was born in Souderton, Montgomery county, Penn- sylvania, May 19, 1863. His education was begun in the public schools of his native place, and completed at the local high school, giving him a broadly practical foundation for his subsequent business activities. In 1884 Mr. Souder established a cigar factory at No. 18 Green street, in Souderton, and this plant has now been in operation for nearly four decades, with steady increase of prosperity, requiring expansion from time to time, and is looked upon as one of the substantial industrial interests of the community. Mr. Souder also manufactures cigar boxes, having begun this activity to meet his own needs, and now supplying an extensive trade in Pennsylvania and near-by States. Long a leader in business circles in this borough, he has also for a number of years been identified with the financial progress of Souderton as vice-president and director of the First National Bank of Lancaster. Mr. Souder's practical business ability and far-sighted perception in his individual affairs long since brought him into the public notice, and with the need of the quali- ties in the administration of the affairs of the borough, he was elected first as school director, and later as a member of the Borough Council, and has served for years in both connections. Fraternally he holds mem- bership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Souderton.
Mr. Souder married, in Souderton, Elizabeth Blank, daughter of William and Anna Blank, of this place. Mr. and Mrs. Souder have one child, Walter B.
WILLIAM J. RALSTON-A resident of Royersford for nearly forty-seven years, and during the greater part of that period actively identified with the manufacture of glass in a widely known local plant,
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Mr. Ralston is looked upon in this borough as a thoroughly representa- tive citizen. A few years ago he retired from business activity, but has recently become interested in a new manufacturing project, and is again actively contributing to the general advance of Montgomery county.
Mr. Ralston was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, December 25, 1859, and is a son of Aaron and Hannah A. (Hamor) Ralston. Receiv- ing his education in the public schools of Chestnut Grove, he came to Royersford in February, 1876, and entered the employ of Francis Buck- walter & Company, manufacturers of stoves. Here learning stove mould- ing, he remained with the company until October, 1884, when he became a member of the firm known as the Pennsylvania Glass Company, with which he was associated for about two years. Then withdrawing from that concern, he returned to the Buckwalter plant and resumed his old position there. In September, 1888, Mr. Ralston became a partner in the Diamond Glass Company of Royersford, and his association with this concern continued until September, 1920. During the course of this period the business was incorporated and Mr. Ralston was made secre- tary of the concern, filling this office until the above date, when he retired from active business. His purpose at the time was to spend his declining years in leisure, to which, after nearly forty-five years of industrial and executive activity, he was surely entitled. The habit of work, however, is difficult to break, and Mr. Ralston became interested in a project for the founding of a textile industry ; the plant is known as the Eleta Knit- ting Company, and is located in Pottstown. In the spring of 1922, in company with a few other enterprising men, Mr. Ralston formed and incorporated the new concern, and the plant is now, 1923, operating at its permanent location in Pottstown.
Mr. Ralston has always been and still is broadly interested in every branch of activity which counts for the public welfare. He is a director in the National Bank of Royersford; is secretary and treasurer of the Fernwood Cemetery; and is now treasurer of the school board, the position he has held for the past twelve years. Fraternally Mr. Ralston is connected with the Lafayette Castle, Knights of the Golden Eagle, of which he has been a member since its organization on August 4, 1885, and during this entire period he has served as keeper of the exchequer. He is also a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America, No. 191, of Spring City, and for three years served as treasurer of this lodge. He has been treasurer of the Evangelical Sunday School since 1909.
William J. Ralston married, in November, 1910, Catherine (Weikel) Hixson, daughter of Israel Weikel. In 1908-09 he erected the handsome residence where they now live, at the corner of Walnut street and Fifth avenue, which is an ornament to this fine residence section.
ALBERT H. ENGLERTH-In mercantile circles in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, Mr. Englerth is well known, having been for many years a dealer in coal and feed. Mr. Englerth comes of old Pennsylvania stock on both paternal and maternal sides. His grandfather, John R.
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Englerth, was a leading farmer of Chester county, and his maternal grandfather, William Holscher, came from Amsterdam, Holland, and settled in Pennsylvania many years ago.
John Samuel Englerth, Mr. Englerth's father, was born in Chester county, June 21, 1847, and spent his lifetime in farming. He married Harriet Holscher, who was born in November, 1855, and they were the parents of four children, Albert H. Englerth having had two brothers, John Samuel, Jr., and William, who died in childhood; and has one sister, Margaret.
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