USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a history, Volume II > Part 42
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On November 4, 1902, Frank Sarni married Celeste Pizzurusse, who was born in this country, daughter of Stanley and Frances (Gamboni)
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Pizzurusse. Mr. and Mrs. Sarni are the parents of two children: I. Cora, who was born January 10, 1904. She graduated from St. Patrick's School in 1921, and is now holding a position as bookkeeper for the Gold- berg Furniture Company. 2. Cesare, born November 14, 1906, is now a student in Norristown High School, from which he expects to graduate with the class of 1924. He will then study medicine in the Philadelphia Medical College. At present he is highly esteemed as a member of the football team, and has made an enviable record as left tackle.
M. LEROY MOYER-The ancestry of the Meyer (Moyer) family is traced from Christian Meyer, believed to have been of Swiss birth, perse- cution driving him to the Netherlands, for Switzerland cruelly persecuted the Mennonites, to which faith he belonged. From the Netherlands, about the year 1700, Christian Meyer took passage for the New World, sailing from Amsterdam and arriving at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He setled in Lower Salford township, in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, at Indian Creek, and bought a farm of one hundred and fifty acres. The date of purchase is not known, but he was holding it December 24, 1719. The land was probably secured by virtue of warrant for he received a patent therefor, dated September 6, 1734, and signed by John, Thomas and Richard Penn.
On his purchase, Christian Meyer built a cabin by driving four forked saplings in the ground in a square, then laying poles in the forks to support a roof of poles, making the walls of upright poles. There was a single opening for an entrance, this cabin probably the first Meyer domicile in the New World, having been entirely built with an axe. An article of furniture which probably adorned this primitive residence was a large Dutch clock brought across with him, which is now owned by a descendant in Canada. In 1734 Christian Meyer was taxed for but one hundred acres in Salford township, fifty acres having been set off from the original tract for his son, Samuel, who received a deed therefor in November, 1741. The remaining one hundred acres Christian Meyer conveyed to his grandson, also named Christian Meyer, under date of December 28, 1748.
Nothing is known of the wife of Christian Meyer further than that her name was Barbara and that she shared the dangers of the Atlantic and endured the privations of pioneer life with him. They were among the original worshippers at the Franconia Mennonite Meeting House, where they are probably buried, but neither date of death nor place of burial is definitely known. Christian Meyer made his will January 18, 1748, and it was offered for probate June 6, 1751. Barbara, his wife, had died before the will was written. The name was written Moyer in the will, and the signature of Christian Meyer was written in German. Christian and Barbara Meyer were the parents of six children : Christian, Jacob, Samuel, Elizabeth, Anna and Barbara.
Milton L. Moyer, a descendant of Christian and Barbara Meyer, was a mining engineer and an inventor of mining machinery, residing in Souderton, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania.
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M. LeRoy Moyer, son of Milton L. and Amanda Moyer, was born in Souderton, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, July 28, 1887, and there completed public school study with graduation. From Souderton High School he passed to Franklin and Marshall Academy, Lancaster, Penn- sylvania, finishing there with the graduating class of 1904. During the years which have since intervened he has been a resident of Souderton, engaged in the real estate business, and has built up a very large and lucrative agency. He is also assistant postmaster of the borough and a notary public. He is a Lutheran in religious faith ; a Republican in poli- tics ; and is affiliated with the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. His club is the New County Club of Souderton, and he is secretary of the Men's Association of the Lutheran church.
Mr. Moyer married, in Souderton, Pennsylvania, December 9, 1913, Emma Yost, daughter of Edward and Lucinda Yost. Mr. and Mrs. Moyer are the parents of a son, Edward, born at Souderton, February 13, 1916.
JAMES I. FARRELL-With excellent training and long experience in the business in which he is engaged, James I. Farrell, of Norristown, is one of the leading pharmacists of this community. A native of this State, Mr. Farrell belongs to a respected family of Columbia county, and is a son of Robert and Margaret Farrell, his father for many years a miner.
James I. Farrell was born in Centralia, Columbia county, Pennsyl- vania, November 24, 1879. His early education was acquired in the pub- lic schools, and he was graduated from the Medical High School of Philadelphia in the class of 1900. Meanwhile, from 1896 until 1900, the young man was employed with the Finnerty Drug Company, of Philadel- phia, which was located at the corner of Eighteenth and Mckean streets, in that city, devoting all his spare time to his work, and thereby learning by practical experience while he was gaining his technical training in school. He continued along the same line of activity in Philadelphia until 1906, when he came to Norristown. At that time he opened a drug store at No. 1021 West Airy street, which he managed for ten years. At the end of that period Mr. Farrell became identified with the Metropoli- tan Life Insurance Company as their Philadelphia representative, and was active in that capacity for one year. Then, in 1917, he opened his present place of business, and has since conducted a prosperous and steadily growing drug enterprise, handling a general line of goods such as go to make up the stock of a complete and modern pharmacy. Located on the corner of Markley and James streets, his future seems assured. In the public affairs of the borough Mr. Farrell supports the Democratic party, but has not, thus far, accepted public honors. He is a member of Lodge No. 714, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of the State Firemen's Association.
Mr. Farrell married. in Philadelphia, on September 21, 1907, Anna M. Howard, daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Hogan) Howard. Mrs. Farrell died October 16, 1918, leaving one son, Edward Furey Farrell.
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FRANK J. C. JONES-When, about thirteen years ago, the firm of J. C. Jones & Sons, lumber dealers of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, was formed, it was composed of the father, Joseph C. Jones, and two sons, Charles and Frank J. C. Jones, and has been carried on since that date, 1909. They are located at the corner of Hector and Cherry streets, this borough.
One of the partners, Frank J. C. Jones, was born in Conshohocken, January 29, 1872, his parents, Joseph C. and Emma (Wood) Jones, hav- ing been residents here all their lives. The father, now deceased, was born at the old Jones homestead near Conshohocken in 1840; when the Civil War broke out he was a very young man but he enlisted in the Seventeenth Pennsylvania Cavalry from Norristown, which was under the command of Colonel Theodore Bean. Mr. Jones went through most of the major engagements of the war, including Gettysburg. At the close of the war he held the rank of corporal. Returning to the home- stead at Conshohocken (1864), he took up farming for a time, then, three years later, went into the lumber business with Evan D. and Ellwood C. Jones and from 1867 to 1909 this was continued. At the latter date the new firm was formed, alluded to above and, under the name of J. C. Jones & Sons is still doing business. Joseph C. Jones died February, 1919, at the age of seventy-nine ; he was a most highly respected citizen, holding many positions of trust in his home town. A member of the Republican party, Mr. Jones was elected to serve in the City Council; at another time he was made secretary of the local school board and was once the Republican candidate for the position of county treasurer, but was defeated. He was a director of the First National Bank of Con- shohocken, president of the Conshohocken Building and Loan Associa- tion and president of the Citizens' Building and Loan Association. Always interested in everything pertaining to the Civil War, Mr. Jones was an active member of the local chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic. In religion he was a firm believer in the faith of the Friends. His wife, Emma (Wood) Jones, was a daughter of Charles Wood, and niece of Squire John Wood, of Conshohocken. She was the mother of three sons and one daughter: I. Charles. 2. Frank J. C., of whom further. 3. Florence, who married Howard E. Gardner, of East Orange, New Jersey. 4. Alan W.
After acquiring an education in the public schools here and gradu- ating from the high school, Frank J. C. Jones entered the employ of the Horace Jones Manufacturing Company, remaining with them for one year ; in 1892 he became the bookkeeper for the firm of Evan and J. Ellwood Jones Lumber Company, and in 1909, this concern being taken over by the J. C. Jones & Sons Company, he became one of the partners and is such at the present time.
Like his father before him he is a staunch Republican in political faith and has held the office of treasurer of the borough of Conshohocken for four years. In religion he is by birthright a member of the Friends church ; he is also affiliated with the Pennsylvania Club.
In Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, on October 23, 1899, Frank J. C.
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Jones was married to Sarah Jones, the daughter of John M. and Emma C. (Wood) Jones, the latter a member of the well known Wood family of Norristown. John M. Jones belongs to the Jones family of Montgomery county. Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. C. Jones have one child, Aline, born in Conshohocken.
SAMUEL D. CORNISH, D. D. S .- Among the well known citizens of Collegeville, Pennsylvania, Dr. Cornish holds a prominent place. Since coming to this community in 1898 and establishing himself in the practice of dentistry, he has identified himself with everything pertaining to the advancement of the community, and the Collegeville Flag and Manufacturing Company which was started by him, and but recently incorporated, is but proof of his versatile qualities.
Alexander Cornish, father of Dr. Cornish, was born in Loch Arbor, Scotland, and there attained his education. When a young man he came to this country locating at Valley Forge where he established himself in the business of mining iron ore, hiring a number of men and supplying the various iron foundries in this vicinity. In later years he retired to farm life and died at Mont Clare, Pennsylvania, in 1910. He married Mary Callahan, a native of Ireland; she died November 11, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Cornish were the parents of the following children: John, deceased ; Isaac, deceased ; George, a mechanical dentist at Phoenixville, Pennsylvania ; Mary, wife of William McAllister, formerly of College- ville, now a resident of Chestnut Hill; Samuel D., of further mention ; Alexander, a dentist in Philadelphia; Margaret and James, twins, the former, the wife of Robert Hutchinson of Elizabeth, New Jersey, the latter deceased ; Belle, a resident of California ; and Mabel, deceased.
Samuel Davis Cornish was born in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, June 9, 1865. His preliminary education was obtained in the Valley Forge Camp School and Upper Providence District School. He then studied drafting and for three years was employed by the Phoenixville Iron Com- pany. Having in the meantime, however, determined to become a den- tist and with this end in view, he accordingly matriculated at the Penn- sylvania College of Dental Surgery at Philadelphia, and was subsequently graduated from that institution with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1898. He then removed to Collegeville and this has continued to be his home up to the present time. Dr. Cornish quickly obtained a clientele which has continued to grow unceasingly, for his skill as a den- tist has become widely recognized.
In 1909 he established the Collegeville Flag and Manufacturing Com- pany at Walnut and Fourth streets. This enterprise flourished from the start and in 1922 was incorporated with a capital of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars with the following personnel: Dr. Cornish, president ; Arnold H. Francis, treasurer and manager; and William C. McAllister, superintendent. The organization manufactures flags, aprons, house-dresses, masquerade suits, leather bags and sanitary goods, as well as flag pole accessories.
Politically Dr. Cornish is a Republican and has served as councilman.
Samuel D. Cornish
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He is well known in Masonic circles, and is a member of Warren Lodge No. 310, Free and Accepted Masons; Norristown Chapter, No. 190, Royal Arch Masons ; Hutchinson Commandery No. 32, Knights Templar ; Lu Lu Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and the Philadelphia Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. He also affili- ates with the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Norristown Chapter No. 31 ; Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, Collegeville Chapter No. 397; National Dental Association : North Philadelphia Dental Society ; Pennsylvania State Dental Association; and also holds membership in the Lu Lu Temple Automobile Club of Philadelphia ; the Camp Biff Hunt and Fish Club of Pike County, Pennsylvania ; and the Acacia Club of Collegeville, of which he was vice-president for two years and by resolution was made honorary president. In religion Dr. Cornish is affiliated with the Trin- ity Reformed Church, being an elder in the church and president of its Bible class.
On June 5. 1901, at Philadelphia, Dr. Cornish married (first) Dr. M. Rebecca Rauch ; she was a daughter of Dr. George and Sarah (Cartledge) Rauch, the former a practitioner of dentistry in Philadelphia and a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery. Dr. and Mrs. Cornish were the parents of one child, Samuel Louis, born May 21, 1902, a student of Swarthmore College, class of 1924. Mrs. Cornish died August 5, 1909. Dr. Cornish married (second) on June 23, 1915, Irene Sacks, a native of Zieglersville, Pennsylvania, and from this union have been born two children : Freeland S., July 1, 1916; and Evelyn, February 17. 1918.
Dr. Samuel Davis Cornish is a splendid example of the aggressive, keen and resourceful citizen, modern in all his views, progressive in his ideas and actuated at all times by a sense of community obligation and the necessity of making his individual success an element in the general advancement. Throughout a residence of many years in Collegeville he has proved himself trustworthy and loyal to all claims of friendship having thus commanded the esteem and high regard of the community.
E. ALLEN REEVES-Since establishing himself in business at Abington, Pennsylvania, as a building contractor in 1918, E. Allen Reeves has met with unbounded success in his particular line of endeavor.
Caswell B. Reeves, father of E. Allen Reeves, was born in Titusville, New Jersey, and for many years was engaged in farming in Davisville, Bucks county, having been retired from active work for the past ten years at Southampton, where he devotes himself in large part to church work, being an elder in the Baptist church there. He married Anna Mary Allen, and to them have been born three children: E. Allen, of further mention ; Mary Stewart, born September 15, 1889, died June 18, 1919, and formerly the wife of George H. Yerkes, of Southampton ; and Harold Caswell, born June 30, 1893.
E. Allen Reeves was born in Davisville, Bucks county, October 5, 1887. After attending the grammar school at Southampton he entered the employ of John Stevens, Inc., of Pennsylvania. His tireless energy
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and ability brought him promotion rapidly after serving his apprentice- ship, and he finally became vice-president and. construction superin- tendent of the organization, being associated with the concern for sixteen years. As the years passed he became anxious to engage in business on his own account and with the thorough knowledge gained from so many years of valuable experience, he severed his connections with the Stevens corporation and started in business in 1918 at Abington. But four years have elapsed since Mr. Reeves established himself on York road, still he has handled many large contracts, among them being the Ashburne Sunday school building, and many fine residences.
Mr. Reeves is a member of Friendship Lodge, No. 400, Free and Accepted Masons ; and Abington Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. He is an active church member and like his father devotes himself largely to the activities of his own church. He attends the Abington Presbyterian Church and is president of the Men's Association connected with that denomination. Public-spirited and progressive, he takes a keen interest in civic affairs and no movement looking toward better things for the community is without his generous support.
On March 23, 1910, E. Allen Reeves was united in marriage with Laura B. Foster. They are the parents of three children : Allen Foster, born January 8, 1911 ; Robert Norman, born May 28, 1916; and Paul Howell, born April 1, 1920.
Although comparatively young in years Mr. Reeves has already reached a position in the business world which well might be the envy of a much older man. A spirit of enterprise and progress, dominated and controlled by keen business discrimination and sound judgment has brought him to the position which he now holds, and his many friends predict for him an even more brilliant future, judging by his past achieve- ments.
CLARKSON ADDIS, D. D. S., the well known veterinarian of Col- legeville, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, is a member of a family famous in Pennsylvania for many generations. On his mother's side (Duffield) the line is clearly traced back to the year 1066, and Addison- ville, Pennsylvania, was named in honor of the Addis family. There were eight or nine closely related men of Addis lineage in the Revolutionary War, of whom only one survived, and it is from him that Clarkson Addis descended. There is a commendatory from George Washington to the Addis who served so well under him, which is highly treasured by the family.
Dr. Clarkson Addis is the son of Howard and Emma J. (Duffield) Addis, of Edge Hill, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and was born at Southampton, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, January 9, 1895. He studied in the Ashburne Grammar School, then entered the Cheltenham High School, from which he was graduated in 1913. To acquire a proper professional training he matriculated in the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in 1913, and graduated in 1917, with the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Surgery. Dr. Addis first located and practiced his profession
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in Hatboro, Montgomery county, from 1917 to 1921, but in the latter year returned to Collegeville, Pennsylvania, where he is now a resident and serving a rapidly growing clientele. Dr. Addis is a member of the Huntington Valley Hunt Club, and is a communicant of the Episcopal church.
At Glenside, Pennsylvania, October 29, 1921, Dr. Addis was married to Anna Heinrich, daughter of George Heinrich, a well known farmer of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and Elizabeth (Marsden) Heinrich, who died March 3, 1921. They have one child, Jane Elizabeth, born September 4, 1922.
JOHN B. KEYSER-One of the well known business men of Norris- town, Pennsylvania, is John B. Keyser, proprietor of the automobile supply store at the corner of Main and Barbadoes streets, who also con- ducts a modern, well-equipped repair shop, and is agent for the Durant and Star automobiles. Mr. Keyser has been associated with the automo- bile business from the beginning of his active career and is an expert in the field of automobile mechanics.
Born in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, December 13, 1892, son of John T. and Sarah P. (Bergey) Keyser, the former a native of Collegeville, Mr. Keyser received his education in the public schools of his native town, and upon the completion of his high school course, engaged in the automobile business as an apprentice, learning all branches of general repair work. In the fall of 1909 he went to Lakewood, New Jersey, where, as a partner in a taxi business, he was engaged until May, 1910. He then returned to Norristown, where he accepted a position as dis- patcher for the Norris City Garage, his route lying between Wayne and Valley Forge. That connection he maintained until April, 1912, when he took charge of J. S. Rambo's cars, continuing to hold that position until November, 1913, when he opened his present establishment. Since that time, with the exception of the period of the World War, he has devoted his energies and ability to the development of a notably successful busi- ness of his own. His thorough knowledge of auto mechanics, his wide experience, greatly enlarged by his war service, and his excellent busi- ness methods are well known, and his work has gained the unqualified commendation of his patrons. He carries all kinds of accessories, keeps his repair shop thoroughly equipped both as to modern devices and to trained mechanicians, so that work may be promptly done, and as an agent for the Durant cars he is honest and reliable.
In June, 1917. Mr. Keyser enlisted for service in the World War and was assigned as a private to the 103rd Supply Train, 28th Division, Pennsylvania National Guard. He was sent overseas and advanced through all the non-commissioned grades to the rank of sergeant of the first class. After two months' service at the front he was sent back to the Army Candidate School, at France, where, after two months spent in intensive training, he was commissioned a second lieutenant of infan- try, selected as an instructor, and sent to an infantry specialty school for further instruction in minor tactics, and infantry specialty weapons.
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Upon the completion of that course he, with ninety-four other second lieutenants, was sent to La Valboune, France, near Lyons, as an instruc- tor in the infantry candidate school there. After the signing of the arm- istice and the elimination of the school, Mr. Keyser became a surplus officer, and after preparing the Christmas dinner, was ordered to Gondre- court, France, for re-assignment, to the Combat Officers' Replacement Depot. There he was assigned to the position of motor transport officer of the post, having charge of sixty-seven cars and trucks. This assign- ment was made because of his superior qualifications in that line, his card of qualifications having followed him. Having requested a transfer to the Motor Transport Corps, however, he was assigned, April 6, 1919, to the Motor Transport Reconstruction Post at Romorantin, France, the largest aviation production center of the American Expeditionary Forces, as salvage and sales officer of the post. After completing operations there, he was assigned in June, 1919, to the office of the chief purchase and sales officer of the Motor Transport Corps, in Paris, France, as a motor transport sales representative. Upon arriving in Paris, he received a letter of commendation for his efficiency in the conduct of the salvage and sales department at Romorantin, from General M. L. Walker, chief of motor transport in France. From the Paris quarters Mr. Keyser travelled all over France in the discharge of his duties as sales representa- tive, selling motor transportation to the various allied nationalities, such as Spanish, Serbian, Esthonian, Ukranian, Lithuanian, Roumanian, Swiss, Italian, Polish, as well as British, French, and Belgian, securing contracts totalling nearly ten millions of dollars. Upon the completion of these duties, September 3, 1919, he received orders to proceed to a home station, and when he arrived at the base port, Brest, he was assigned to Casual Company, No. 4707, composed of American Expeditionary Force "pick ups," numbering one hundred and seventy. He was second in com- mand during the home passage, and was in actual command after landing on American soil. He was mustered out of service at Camp Dix, Wrightstown, New Jersey, October 10, 1919, receiving his honorable discharge after two years and three months of service, two months of which were spent at the front in France with the 28th Division of Pennsylvania.
Upon his return to civilian life Mr. Keyser became identified with the Norris City Garage as a salesman, handling automobiles and trucks, and in February, 1921. he accepted a similar position with the Willow Garage, of Norristown. The latter connection he maintained until February I, 1922, when he engaged in business for himself as proprietor of the auto- mobile supply store at the corner of Main and Barbadoes street, where he conducts a modern, well-equipped repair shop and sells the Durant and Star cars put out by W. C. Durant. His thorough knowledge of the busi- ness and his wide experience have brought him deserved success, and his establishment is one of the most popular and one of the most reliable of its kind in the city.
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