USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a history, Volume III > Part 11
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TOBIAS K. RITTENHOUSE-Coming from Canada a quarter of a century ago (1897-1922), Tobias K. Rittenhouse continued the practice of his vocation of farming until he established himself as a salesman of farm implements in Souderton, Pennsylvania. He proved as able in his newer line of activity as he had been as a farmer, and became one of the prominent merchants of his adopted place. He has given freely of his time and energy to matters that concern the improvement of farm and town conditions, and his opinions carry great weight with his fellow- citizens.
Mr. Rittenhouse was born in Lincoln county, Ontario, Canada, Feb- ruary 5, 1869, the son of Abraham F. and Christine (Kinsley) Ritten- house, his father being an agriculturist. He was educated in the public schools of his native county, and early went to work with his father on the latter's farm. He continued tilling the soil in Canada for many years, but in 1896 moved to Blooming Glen, Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania, where he farmed for six years. In 1902 he located in Souderton, Pennsylvania, started a store, and has since been engaged in his present business of selling agricultural supplies, implements, and other equip- ment. His venture has been successful and he has year by year enlarged the scope of his establishment. Mr. Rittenhouse is religiously affiliated with the Old Mennonite Church.
On February 13, 1902, at Dublin, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, Mr. Rittenhouse married. Katherine Fretz, daughter of Joseph and Esther (Kulp) Fretz. Mr. and Mrs. Rittenhouse are the parents of three chil- dren : Sarah Elizabeth, born March 15, 1904; Anna May, born Decem- ber 15, 1905; and Ida Katherine, born February 13, 1909.
HENRY S. HALLMAN-In one of the most vital branches of pro- duction Mr. Hallman, of Souderton, Pennsylvania, is taking a very prac- tical part in the public advance, his farming operations contributing materially to the daily needs of the people, and his creamery producing a fine quality of dairy products for the nearby trade, his exclusive patron- age keeping his standard at the very highest point. Mr. Hallman's
Oliver A. Beau
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family has been in this State for many generations, he being a grandson of Israel and Mary (Schmitt) Hallman, of Bucks county, well known and highly esteemed people of their day and generation. Jesse Hall- man, their son and Henry S. Hallman's father, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in 1855, and throughout his lifetime was active as a farmer, also being engaged in earlier years as a carpenter, and later in broom manufacturing. He married Susan Shelly, daughter of Levi and Barbara Shelly, also of a prominent family of Bucks county, Pennsylvania.
Henry S. Hallman was born in Milford township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, August 11, 1883. He was educated in local schools, began business life as a cigar maker in his native place, continuing along this line for about eight years, then came to Souderton, Montgomery county, and wishing to establish a business of his own, bought one of Souder- ton's leading barber shops and for ten years conducted it with success. He then decided to extend his business activities, and bought the Fran- conia Creamery, located in Franconia township, Montgomery county, and in this branch of effort he has developed a very prosperous and profitable enterprise, making butter and cheese of the highest grade. He keeps his business within the limits to which he can give it his per- sonal oversight, and the result is gratifying to those whom he supplies with the products of his creamery. He is one of Montgomery's success- ful business men and in the public life of the community supports the policies and principles that accord with his own ideals of public prog- ress, keeping politically an independent attitude. He has served for some years as a member of the school board of Franconia township, is a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, Harleysville Beneficial Association, and is very active in the work of Emanuel Lutheran Church of Souderton, being a teacher and assistant superintendent of the Sun- day school.
Mr. Hallman married, in Milford township, Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania, on December 10, 1901, Emma Lydia Heller, born October 30, 1881, daughter of Elias B. and Lydia (Benner) Heller, of Milford town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Hallman have four children: Lester Clarke, born in Milford township, June 24, 1903; Henry Theodore, born in Milford township, September 17, 1904; Lydia Bernice, born January 26, 1913, died March 22, 1913; and Emma Ruth, born in Souderton, September 8, 1919.
OLIVER KRATZ BEAN-After being engaged in farming for many years, Oliver Kratz Bean came to Norristown, Pennsylvania, and estab- lished himself in the hotel business, from which he has since retired, retaining his interest in the affairs of the borough. He is a son of John J. and Mary (Kratz) Bean, the father having been supervisor of Wor- cester township for several years and in business as a farmer, and his father, Jacob Bean, had also been a farmer in the same township. The children born to John J. and Mary (Kratz) Bean were: Isabella, wife of William Krause; Sylvester, deceased ; Oliver Kratz, of whom further ;
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Elwood, a jeweler in Lansdale, Pennsylvania; Wilson, deceased; and Katherine, wife of Edwin Krieble, of Jeffersonville, Pennsylvania.
Oliver Kratz Bean was born in Norristown township, Pennsylvania, January 4, 1859, and obtained his education in the public schools at Wor- cester, Pennsylvania. He worked on his father's farm until he was nineteen years of age, then purchased a farm and managed it from 1878 until 1893, and from that year until 1902 managed his father's farm. He then gave up farming and moved to the Center Point Hotel, which he conducted until 1906, at which time he secured possession of the Isaac Yeakle Hotel in Norristown. This hotel he continued to operate for five years and then obtained a much more modern hotel, the Montgom- ery, and until 1920 was its well known proprietor. In that year he sold this building to the Norristown Trust Company, and it is now being con- ducted by the Young Men's Christian Association, and retired from active business.
In politics he is a Republican, and he was assessor from Worcester township for four terms, or a period of twelve years. He is a stockholder and director of the First National Bank in Norristown, having been so connected for sixteen years. He is also a member of Harleysville Bene- ficial Association, and a contributing member of the Montgomery Fire Company, Hancock Hook and Ladder Company, Fairmount Engine Com- pany, and the Humane Engine Company, all of Norristown. In religion he is a communicant in the Trinity Reformed Church.
Mr. Bean married, in 1882, at Worcester, Pennsylvania, Ella Schultz, a daughter of Solomon and Sophia (Krieble) Schultz. Mr. and Mrs. Schultz were the parents of the following children: Amanda, wife of Isaac Yeakle; Chester ; Katherine, deceased; Elizabeth, widow of Syl- vester Bean; Ella, who married Oliver K. Bean; Sophia and Salina, twins, the former being the wife of Harry Kratz, of Norristown, and the latter the wife of Henry L. Grater, of Worcester, Pennsylvania. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Bean, Walter, born at Worcester, May 28, 1888. He married Mary Rosenberger, and they have two children : John and Doris. Walter Bean and his family reside with Oliver K. Bean, at No. 1108 West Main street, Norristown, Pennsylvania. Wal- ter Bean is now engaged in the cigar and ice cream business at the cor- ner of Marshall and George streets, Norristown, which he has been run- ning since September 1, 1922.
J. HORACE ZIEGLER-An old resident of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, who throughout his life has had an active part in the pro- motion of its various interests, is J. Horace Ziegler, a native of Kulps- ville, Towamencin township, where he was born December 11, 1857. Mr. Ziegler attended the local schools of his home community as a boy, and remained with his father until he was thirty-three years old. His parents were Abraham K. and Amanda (Riegner) Ziegler, his mother being a cousin of General Hartranft. He is a member of a family of four children, his sisters being Emma Jane (now deceased), who mar-
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ried Samuel Kriebel; and Annie, who married Harry H. Krupp. His brother, E. Elmer Ziegler, is an attorney in New York City.
When he left the home farm, Mr. Ziegler went to Lower Salford township and purchased the Alderfer place, containing seventy-eight acres of land, and located near Lederach. The farm is now highly improved, and three modern dwellings are situated thereon, one of which he occupies himself and the other two are the homes of his sons, Waldo and J. Warren. While giving diligent attention to his agricul- tural interests, Mr. Ziegler has at the same time maintained many other interests of a varied character. He has conducted a stall in the Fairmont Market, at the corner of Twenty-second and Spring Garden streets, in Philadelphia, for the past thirty years, handling general farm produce. He has served as a director of the poor of Montgomery county ; was a charter member of the Skippack Volunteer Fire Department; a charter member and director of the West Point Horse Insurance Company ; and a director of the Reading Bone and Fertilizer Company. In his political affiliation he is a staunch Republican, prominent in the local councils of the party, and for twenty-eight years was the township committeeman. He was also tax collector of Towamencin township for four years. In religion he is a member of the United Brethren church, to which he has always given liberal support in its various activities, both in personal service and financial help.
Mr. Ziegler was married, at Skippack, March 2, 1882, to Lydia Alder- fer, a daughter of Benjamin and Sarah M. (Harley) Alderfer, her mother being one of the old pioneer families of Harleysville. Mr. and Mrs. Ziegler have a family of eight children, named as follows: I. Waldo. 2. Lillian, wife of Stanley Yerger. 3. Alverda, wife of Levin Geller. 4. Anna, wife of John Wiles. 5. J. Warren, who as a member of the med- ical corps spent eighteen months in France during the World War, taking part in the Argonne and other major engagements there. He is now employed by the Penn Trust Company, at Norristown. 6. Sarah Ada. 7. Manda Marie. 8. Emma Luella.
JOHN ELLIS HEEBNER ANDERS-After a number of years in farming experience, Mr. Anders established his large business in lumber, coal, feed and building supplies in Ironbridge, Pennsylvania, where he now resides. He comes of a family originating in Germany, and because of religious persecution came to America on the ship "St Andrew," in 1734, settling in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, near the home- stead in Towamencin township.
Rev. Edwin S. Anders was born July 16, 1857, becoming the pastor of the Schwenkfelder Church in Towamencin township and engaged in preaching since 1882. He also owns a farm of eighty-six acres on which truck and other farm products, such as wheat, corn, oats, hay, etc., are raised. He married Susanna Heebner, who was born August 17, 1857, and they had the following children: William, living at Lansdale, Pennsylvania; Ella, wife of Raymond Dresler; Vernon, of Towamen-
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cin township ; John E. H., of further mention ; Cyrus ; Lawrence ; Harvey, deceased ; and Raymond, living at Allentown, Pennsylvania.
John Ellis Heebner Anders was born April 2, 1888, in Towamencin township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and obtained his educa- tion in the public schools there and at Perkiomen Seminary, where he spent two and one-half years, 1904 to 1907. Then he worked for his father on their farm until 1913, and at that time purchased the business of A. R. Bean, in Ironbridge, and began the business in feed and build- ing supplies, which he has since maintained. The main building is three stories high, 50x80 feet, and in addition there are coal sheds, a grain storage two-story building, 35x150 feet, and lumber sheds, giving a total area of about one acre of ground.
Mr. Anders is a Republican in politics ; a stockholder in the College- ville Water Company, and a fraternal member of Camp No. 501, Wood- men of the World, of Lansdale, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Schwenkfelder church, middle district.
Mr. Anders was united in marriage, October 29, 1913, in Worcester township, with Elsie C. Benner, born January 16, 1889. Her parents were Milton B. Benner, a cattle dealer and farmer in Kulpsville, Penn- sylvania, and Minnie (Cassel) Benner, deceased. They were also the parents of the following children: Robert, of Hatfield, Pennsylvania ; Carrie, wife of Homer Heebner, of Worcester, Pennsylvania; Mayme, wife of Amos Rothenberger, of Worcester; Henry, living at Kulpsville, Pennsylvania ; and Minnie, unmarried. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Anders, Roland B., in August, 1915, who died in infancy.
ISAAC LONGSTRETH, whose life has been spent in useful and progressive occupations, is still broadly interested in the work of his farm and its varied activities, but has in recent years turned over the management of his affairs to younger hands, while he spends his declin- ing years in well-earned leisure. Mr. Longstreth is a son of John and Catharine (Kline) Longstreth, his father having been in his lifetime a prominent farmer of Trappe, and a director of the Pottstown National Bank. The family consisted of the following children: Rebecca, wife of Isaac Rhodes, of Trappe ; Anna; Henry, a Civil War veteran, but now deceased ; Morris, also a Civil War veteran, and deceased ; Samuel ; and Isaac, of whom further.
Isaac Longstreth as born in Trappe, Pennsylvania, on April 20, 1849. He received his education in the rural schools of his native place and then attended Freeland Seminary, at Collegeville, for two terms. In 1866 he obtained a position as school teacher in Berks county, where he remained for one year, then went to Chester county in a similar posi- tion. He went to Philadelphia in 1870 to learn the jewelry business with Mr. Heilig and stayed there until 1872, then went into partnership with Mr. Heilig, but in 1873 bought a business for himself at No. 1113 Ridge avenue and later was at No. 140 North Ninth street; where he remained until 1898. He then retired for a while, but later bought the old home- stead farm at Trappe, to save it from going under the hammer, as his
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brother, to whom it had been left by his father, went away and could not be located. There are fifty acres in this farm, which is now being conducted by his son-in-law, S. W. Stearly. They also have another farm of fifty acres, where they raise garden truck and wheat.
Mr. Longstreth married (first) Helen McCallan, of Philadelphia, who later died. They had four children: Isaac Arthur, who died in infancy ; Harry, deceased; Katherine, wife of S. W. Stearly, of Trappe, Pennsylvania, manager of the farms; and John, who died in infancy. His second wife was Elizabeth Campbell, of Philadelphia, and they have two children : Nellie P., and Hazel C.
The present home of Mr. Longstreth is located on the same spot where once stood the tavern of John Jacob Schrack, which was notable for the name Trappe being given to this place. As a German soldier once fell down stairs in this tavern, while under the influence of liquor, he said, "verdamt die treppe," which means "steps" in German, hence the name of Trappe.
FRANKLIN ADAM STICKLER was born at Limeport, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, February 13, 1866, the son of Ezra and Emmaline (Bader) Stickler. Ezra Stickler was born December 16, 1835, died December 29, 1917. The mother was born September 12, 1842, and is still living. Mr. Stickler's ancestors were among the early settlers of Pennsylvania, his paternal ancestor being Johannes Stickler (Stiegler), who came from the Palatinate, Germany, landing in Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, on September 29, 1733, in the ship "Pink Mary," from Rotter- dam. Johannes Stiegler's son, John Adam Stiegler, was a soldier in the Revolutionary army from Lancaster county. On the maternal side the first ancestor coming to these shores was Philip Christian Bader, a Moravian minister, born near Strasburg, in Lower Alsatia, who came to Pennsylvania in 1751 and served Moravian congregations in Lan- caster and Hebron (near Lebanon). During the Revolutionary War his Hebron church was used to store ammunition for the American army. His daughter, Justina Eleonora Bader, was one of the Moravian Sisters at Bethlehem during the Revolution, having charge of the girls' choir. Ezra and Emmaline (Bader) Stickler were the parents of nine children, as follows: Charles H., Pierson M .; Franklin Adam, the subject of this sketch; Harvey W., Jacob A., Edward M., William O., Milton E., and Ida E. Of these all but William O., who died in infancy, are living.
Franklin Adam Stickler attended the public schools of Upper Mil- ford, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, until he was twelve years of age. While yet in school, he spent his spare moments with the station agent and telegraph operator at Vera Cruz, Pennsylvania, learning telegraphy, becoming proficient in the Morse code at the age of ten years. After leaving school he secured a position in the iron ore mines of Pascoe, Lewis & Company, at Vera Cruz, where he remained from 1878 to 1881. In the latter year he obtained his first railroad position, that of extra telegraph operator on the Perkiomen branch of the Philadelphia & Read- ing Railroad Company. He worked at all offices on this line, resigning
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
on January 1, 1883, to become manager for the Mutual Union Telegraph Company (now a part of the Western Union Company at Norristown). On August 18, 1883, he entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, as telegraph operator in their Meadows Yard office, near Jer- sey City, New Jersey, where he remained till 1885, when he was trans- ferred to the Schuylkill division and worked as telegraph operator at Manayunk until August 19, 1885 ; was transferred to Phoenixville, where he served until February 22, 1888; then to Spring City, where he remained until July 28, 1891. On the later date he was promoted from telegraph operator to ticket agent and transferred to Norristown and placed in charge of the ticket office, under the supervision of A. S. Hall- man, freight and passenger agent. On the retirement of Mr. Hallman, on March 1, 1909, Mr. Stickler was appointed passenger agent at Norris- town, which position he still holds. Mr. Stickler has served the Penn- sylvania system continuously for forty years, and the Norristown pub- lic for thirty-one years, during which time he has acquired the reputation of being one of the best posted passenger transportation men in the rail- road service.
Never active in politics, Mr. Stickler is classed as a Democrat, with decided independent leanings in local affairs. He is affiliated with and takes an active part in the affairs of the following organizations: Amer- ican Association of Railroad Ticket Agents; Philadelphia Passenger Association ; one of the organizers and a member of the board of directors of the Norristown Association of the Pennsylvania Railroad Young Men's Christian Association ; Pennsylvania-German Society, whose vice- president he was from 1916 to 1918; chairman of the board of trustees and director of the Montgomery County Historical Society; a charter member of the Valley Forge Historical Society ; member of the execu- tive committee of the Montgomery County Fish, Game, and Forestry Association; Historical and Natural Science Society of the Perkiomen region ; chairman of the executive committee of the Veteran Employees' Association, Schuylkill Division, Pennsylvania railroad; secretary of Assembly No. 1, Mutual Beneficial Association, Pennsylvania railroad ; also the Schuylkill Valley Correspondent for the "Mutual Magazine," their monthly publication. Along with these various interests he finds time to take an active interest in the affairs of Trinity Lutheran Church, having served as an elder for the past sixteen years, editor of the weekly church "Bulletin" for fifteen years, and financial secretary for ten years.
Mr. Stickler was united in marriage, September 26, 1885, with Emma L. Kemmerer, a daughter of Daniel L. and Mary (Getter) Kemmerer, by the Rev. A. R. Horne, D. D., of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stickler, as follows: I. Irene M., born September 27, 1886, at Phoenixville, Pennsylvania; she married Walter A. Wilson, the managing editor of the Norristown "Herald." 2. Russell E., born October 2, 1889, at Spring City, Pennsylvania ; he mar- ried Elsie Lawton, and is in the circulation department of the "Herald" in Norristown. 3. Ruth M., born August 2, 1893, wife of Charles H. Beitenman, of Youngstown, Ohio, where he is connected with the Brier Hill Steel Company.
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ELMER F. ESPENSHIP-Meeting the oft recurring needs of the people in commercial circles and among the householders of the section, Mr. Espenship, of Norristown, is achieving marked success in the stor- age and transfer business. Mr. Espenship is a son of Warren and Mary (Francis) Espenship, his father, now a resident of Bucks county, Penn- sylvania, having been a farmer and carpenter throughout his lifetime. The mother is deceased.
Elmer F. Espenship was born in Lower Providence township, in this county, June 9, 1877. He was educated in the public schools of his native place and when a lad of twelve years left home and worked on various farms until the age of seventeen years. He then engaged in the butter and egg business in a small way at Worcester. While thus active he covered extensive territory in Montgomery and adjacent counties, and continued for three years building up a very considerable business. On January 16, 1898, Mr. Espenship enlisted in the United States Reg- ular Army as a member of Company K, 16th Infantry Regiment, and for thirty-three months served in the Philippine Islands. He was mustered out of the service in 1902 at San Francisco after enduring many hard- ships in the wild foreign country. Coming to Norristown immediately thereafter, he was active in the insurance business for about eight years, during four years of which period he was manager for the Colonial Insurance Company of Philadelphia. His next venture was in the livery business at Collegeville, in this county, where he handled moving and general trucking as well. He then came to Graterford, where he engaged in the hotel business, conducting what was known as the Grat- erford Hotel for one year. Then coming to Norristown he established a livery business here, doing trucking and moving from the start. That part of the business developed so much more widely than the other that he eventually discontinued the general livery work and has done exclusively moving and trucking for a number of years. Always on the alert for any kind of work in his line, he has developed a large and important interest, and for some years has also handled storage quite extensively. He has two storage buildings at the corner of Lafayette and Water streets in Norristown, one five stories high, 75x30 feet, and one two stories high, 75x35 feet. He makes a specialty of individual storage with separate compartments. He does also furniture moving, and the transferring of household goods is constantly increasing, and he goes to any point, operating three vans. Fraternally Mr. Espenship is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Loyal Order of Moose, and the Knights of the Golden Eagle. He is also a member of General Weaver Post, No. 52, Spanish War Veterans, and is a member of the Baptist church.
Mr. Espenship married, April 6, 1905, Laura Brunett, of Norristown, daughter of James and Nora Brunett, and they have two children: Warren Earle, and Marian Evalin. The family home is at No. 555 Hawes avenue, Norristown.
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FRANK WILLIAM BEHN, proprietor of the Behn Motor Com- pany of Royersford, Pennsylvania, was born in Battle Creek, Iowa, May 18, 1890, son of Peter and Eliza Behn. He was educated in the public schools of Battle Creek, and in Davenport Commercial College, his busi- ness life beginning in a Battle Creek bank, that place retaining him for several years. He then resigned his position, spent three years in farm- ing, and entered the real estate and insurance field, continuing until 1921, when he came east and located in Royersford, Pennsylvania, securing the agency for the Ford cars and tractors.
Mr. Behn operates as the Behn Motor Company, having been in business in Royersford since July, 1921. He sells Ford and Lincoln cars and Fordson tractors, Ford parts and accessories, and does a general garage and repair business. He is a member of Battle Creek Lodge, No. 446, Free and Accepted Masons, holding the thirty-second degree in Sioux City Consistory, No. 5, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; and is also a member of Abu-Bekr Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Sioux City, Iowa. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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