USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a history, Volume III > Part 20
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LEVI C. ROSENBERGER-Acting as he has for many years in the dual capacities of station agent and postmaster at Colmar, Levi C. . Rosenberger is without doubt one of the best known men residing in this section of Montgomery county. A native of Hatfield township, his birth occurred April 30, 1873, his father being John H. Rosenberger, a Mennonite farmer, who died September 29, 1910; his mother, Nancy (Clemmer) Rosenberger, passed away December 15, 1917.
Levi C. Rosenberger acquired his education in the public schools of his home community, and when ready to take his place in the business world began by learning telegraphy, as an employee of the Philadelphia & Reading railroad. For thirty-three years he has continued his con- nection with that company, the past seventeen of which he has been station agent at Colmar. On March 13, 1911, Mr. Rosenberger was appointed postmaster at Colmar, and so satisfactorily has he performed his duties in that position that he has been retained in it ever since. In his political affiliations he is a Republican. In the social and religious life of the community Mr. Rosenberger is a prominent figure, and main- tains membership in a number of organizations, among which are: The Patriotic Order Sons of America, the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, and the Free and Accepted Masons. He belongs to Shiloh Lodge, No. 558, oi Lansdale, and the Royal Arch Masons, Chapter No. 301. In his religious affiliation he is a member of the Baptist church, in which he is an active worker, and a member of the board of trustees.
On December 8, 1894, at Lansdale, Mr. Rosenberger married Martha Sapp, daughter of Tobias and Elizabeth (Detwiller) Sapp. Of this union five children were born, as follows: I. Claude, born March 26, 1896, saw active service in France during the World War, as a member
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of the signal corps with the 231st Battalion, and was made a second lieutenant during his service there; he is now station agent at Wissa- hickon, Pennsylvania, of the Philadelphia & Reading railroad. 2. Roscoe, born July 5, 1898, enlisted in the Navy, serving on the cruiser "Cleve- land," during the World War. He is now in the real estate business in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 3. Gladys, born November 16, 1902. 4. John Paul, born April 3, 1906. 5. Sarah Catherine, born November 3, 1910. The mother of this family passed away February 17, 1916, at the age of forty-one years.
MERRI CLAUDE MOLLIER, D. C .- Reputed to be the most skilled worker in the art of pearl engraving in the world, Merri Claude Mollier, the son of a sculptor, taught and trained in Paris, specialized in the carving of pearl shell, and rose to a topmost place in his profession. On August 19, 1909, when it was desired to present Archbishop Ryan on the fiftieth anniversary of his birth, with a bust of himself in pearl shell, Mr. Mollier was sought as the one most capable of making it. More than twelve tons of shell were examined before the proper material was found and selected, and after months of work he wrought one of the most exquisite carvings of its kind now extant.
His father, Eugene Albert Mollier, a Parisian sculptor, a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts, lived in France until twenty-five years of age and then came to America, locating at Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1891 and remaining until 1898, since which time he has been a resi- dent of Philadelphia. His mother is Felicite Victoria (Janet) Mollier, born in Normandie, France.
Merri Claude Mollier was born in Paris, France, October 21, 1880. His first schooling was in the Renard School of Paris, from which he was graduated, and in which he was a first-prize winner at the age of twelve. He then attended the De Vosges High School and later took a professional course in the same school. In 1895 he came to the United States and studied sculpture in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under his father's instruction, working at his art for fourteen years. Meanwhile, in 1906, he had become an American citizen and was imbibing American ways of making money. Three years later he entered the National Col- lege of Chiropractic at Grand Rapids, Michigan, and was graduated with honors in 1910, since then practicing his profession with a growing clien- tele up to the present (1922), with an office in Trappe, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Mollier is president of the legal board of Chiropractics for Penn- sylvania. His fraternal relations are with the Columbia Lodge, No. 91, Free and Accepted Masons of Philadelphia ; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 714, of Norristown; Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Palestine Encampment, No. 51, of Philadelphia ; and is past district deputy for the third district. His club is the Acacia Club of Masonic Lodge, Collegeville, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Mollier was married (first), at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 27, 1902, to Elsie Wilhelm, daughter of Harry and Margaret (Fink) Wilhelm, who died at the birth of their child, Elsie Margaret,
M. C. Malin 2.6
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born February 4, 1908. He married (second), September 2, 1914, Anna (Hamilton) Allen, widow of Nathan Allen, of Philadelphia, and they are the parents of two children : Claudia Victoria, born August 30, 1915; and Eugene Albert, born August 25, 1916, both of whom have shown remark- able musical talent.
HARRY FORSYTHE STAPP, M. D .- When Dr. Stapp faced the problem of a career, heredity and environment were on the side of med- icine, four generations before him having been physicians, and it was this profession that he chose. That he made no mistake is proven by the fact that daily he is adding to an already extensive practice. Since establishing himself in Pottstown, which he did in 1915, he has always combined with his professional activities those of a public-spirited citi- zen, associating himself intimately and influentially with the leading interests of the borough.
Harry Forsythe Stapp was born in Keansburg, Carbon county, Penn- sylvania, September 2, 1881, the son of Dr. Assapa Milton and Martha (Brobst) Stapp, the former a graduate of Bellevue Medical College in 1871. Dr. Stapp, Sr., was born in Lehigh county, and after receiving his degree practiced in later years in Detroit, Michigan, where his death occurred March 8, 1888. He was a Democrat in politics, and was deputy sheriff during the Jesse James riot that took place in Eastern Pennsyl- vania. Besides Harry F., he had one other son, Claud, who is now with the Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company, of New York City.
The early life of Dr. Stapp, whose name heads this review, was spent in the Lutheran Orphans' Home at Germantown, his parents passing away within less than a month of each other when he was but seven years old. He later entered the Kutztown Normal School for a prepara- tory course, afterwards entering Baltimore Medical College, from which he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1904. Imme- diately after receiving his degree he located in the practice of his chosen profession at Bethel township, Pennsylvania, where he remained for six years, going thence to Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania, and still later to Sapulpa, Oklahoma, where he remained until he removed to his present location, in 1915, at Pottstown.
Mr. Stapp affiliates with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Pottstown Lodge, No. 814; the American Medical Association; the Pennsylvania State Medical Association ; and the Montgomery County Medical Society. Dr. Stapp is interested in all out-door sports, and during his school and college days played on both the football and base- ball teams. His particular hobby is automobiling.
On August 29, 1909, at Bethel, Pennsylvania, Dr. Stapp was united in marriage with Sarah May Wagner, and to them have been born two children : Margaret, born January 21, 1911 ; and Harriett, born Decem- ber 7, 1913. The family home is at No. 312 King street, Pottstown.
WILLIAM G. HOWER is one of the citizens of Bryn Mawr, Mont- gomery county, Pennsylvania, who came into the world as a member Mont-32
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of a family which had already set for itself high standards of achieve- ment and had won success in varied lines of human endeavor. His father had made the Hower name a prominent one among the success- ful newspaper men of the county and it has been Mr. Hower's task not so much to achieve as to maintain the family name and honor. Few men were better known or more highly esteemed in the Bryn Mawr of a generation ago than was the late Frank A. Hower, father of William G. Hower.
Frank A. Hower, for years the popular and efficient editor of "The Home News," a weekly paper published in Bryn Mawr, was one of those who early recognized the fact that Bryn Mawr had a future growth and development before it and from 1877 to the time of his death, October 23, 1902, his career was closely identified with the growth of Lower Merion township. Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, February 29, 1848, one of the four sons of Dr. Joseph B. and Margaret E. (McNaughton) Hower, Frank A. Hower received his education in the public schools of that city, graduating from the grammar school at the age of fourteen years. His education was not completed with the termination of his school training, however, for he at once entered the printing office of the Lancaster "Examiner" in order that he might learn the printer's trade, and in that connection an active, observant boy of fourteen was sure to find much to learn. He found the work to his liking and made the most of his opportunities, but the outbreak of the Civil War caused an interruption in the routine of his work. On May 26, 1864, he enlisted in Company K, 92nd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, then the 9th Regiment Cavalry, as a bugler, and with that unit he served throughout the period of the war, being mustered out with the company at Lexing- ton, North Carolina, July 18, 1865. After the close of the war he returned to Lancaster where he resumed work at his trade, but his military experience had greatly enlarged his field of vision and he was anxious to enlarge and vary his experience in his chosen line of activity. He went to Reading, Pennsylvania, where he found employment as a compositor, and later went to Coatesville, Chester county, Pennsylvania, where in partnership with Dr. William George, he founded the Coates- ville "Times," which is still published in that town. After the paper had been in existence for a short period of time he disposed of it and became actively connected with the publication of the Rochester, New York "Herald," and the Sunbury, Pennsylvania, "Express." In 1876 he removed to Philadelphia, and recognizing the fact that Bryn Mawr had a future, located there. On June 1, 1877, he established "The Home News," a weekly publication which is still one of the best of its kind in the county. His publication office at that time was in a cottage on the grounds where later was built the Bryn Mawr Hospital. At first he had no printing material, type or presses, but gathered the local and other news of interest and had the typesetting and presswork done at Parkes- burg, by William F. Potts. Several years later Mr. Hower fitted out a printing office in a building that stood on the ground owned by the Humphrey estate, opposite Dr. Charles T. Goentner's property, on Lan-
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caster avenue, Bryn Mawr. After conducting business here for about two years he sold the paper to Samuel A. Black, and on July 1, 1881 established the "News," a weekly publication, in a building situated north of Lancaster avenue, on Robert's road, where he remained until January, 1883, when the office was removed to the Old Temperance Hall, Lancaster avenue and Buck road. The business was conducted in that building for nineteen years, but when Mr. Hower was about to issue the silver anniversary edition of the paper on May 22, 1902, the building was destroyed by fire. After this catastrophe the type was set in the parlor of his residence and the presswork was done in Philadelphia until a suitable location could be secured. On August 8, 1890, Mr. Hower again purchased "The Home News" from the heirs of Samuel A. Black, and consolidated it with the "News." On August 18, 1902, the office of the paper, as well as the residence, was moved to its present location, on Lancaster pike, a short distance east of the Bryn Mawr depot and in that location Mr. Hower continued to publish his newspaper to the time of his death, October 23, 1902.
In politics Mr. Hower was always an adherent to the principles of the Republican party and whenever an election was about to be held he was found working for the entire Republican ticket whether local or national, using the columns of his paper to further their election. Sen- ator Matthew Stanley Quay and Senator Boise Penrose often consulted him upon matters of vital interest to the party, counting him as one of the best co-workers in the political arena. His political acumen was recognized at numerous times by being called upon to officiate at confec- ences of the State and National leaders of the Republican party, and whenever his party controlled the apportionment of office he was fore- most in the ranks to plead the cause of some friend or official appoint- ment, notwithstanding that he had been earnestly solicited at various times to become a candidate for at least some county office. In 1889 when the Haverford district was created by the division of the Bryn Mawr district, he was elected committeeman and continued in that office until 1901. For a number of years Mr. Hower was a member of the Knights Templar, Knights of the Golden Eagle, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and Typographical Union, but as his business enterprise occupied all of his time he allowed himself to run out in the orders. At the time of his death he was a member of Colonel Owen Jones Post, No. 590, Grand Army of the Republic, being one of its charter members. He was also a member of the Bucks-Montgomery Press League, the State Editorial Association, and the Pen and Pencil Club.
On June 4, 1879, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Frank A. Hower married Anna M. Grubb, daughter of William B. and Catherine E. (Hag- erty) Grubb. Their children were: William G., of further mention ; Frank A., Charles M., James S., Thomas, Harry V., Catharine M., Anna M., and Mary M.
William G. Hower, son of Frank A. and Anna M. (Grubb) Hower, was born March 5, 1880, at No. 2205 Spruce street, Philadelphia, the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William B. Grubb. William
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G. Hower has resided in Bryn Mawr since he was an infant, and attended the public and high schools of Lower Merion township. When war was declared against Spain, in 1898, Mr. Hower enlisted in the 6th Regi- ment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served as company clerk and corporal of Company B until the regiment was mustered out of service at the end of the war.
In 1914 he was appointed sealer of weights and measures of Mont- gomery county, which position he still holds. During the World War Mr. Hower was the registrar for the East Bryn Mawr district, and recorded the men under the draft law. He was a member of the Food Administration for the county, helped on the Coal Administration and on the United States Secret Service. He assisted the draft board of Lower Merion township with his newspaper, and gave his aid to the Red Cross and Liberty Loan campaigns. Three of his brothers, Charles, James, and Harry, enlisted at the beginning of the war and the first two named served in the 28th Field Artillery, which gave such excellent service in the battles in France.
In politics Mr. Hower is a Republican and has represented his dis- trict on various occasions at conventions of his party. He has always taken an active part in public affairs and is a booster for Bryn Mawr and Lower Merion. He is an ex-president and member of the Press League of Bucks and Montgomery counties, member of the Montgomery Newspaper Association, member of the Pennsylvania State Editorial Association, Pennsylvania Weekly Newspaper Association, National Editorial Association ; General Weaver Camp, No. 52, Spanish-American War Veterans; Colonel Owen Jones Camp, No. 45, Sons of Veterans ; Norristown Lodge, No. 714, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Bryn Mawr Fire Company ; member of the Ways and Means Committee of the Pennsylvania State Association of Inspectors of Weights and Measures; and a member of the Board of Directors of the Bryn Mawr Business Association. His publishing and printing business has con- tinued to prosper, and under his personal direction "The Home News" has grown from a four-page paper to an eight-page and very frequent editions of twelve and sixteen pages.
On July 12, 1902, Mr. Hower married Emma Wright, daughter of the late William and Augusta Wright, of Philadelphia, and upon the death of his father, in October of the same year, he took over the pub- lishing of "The Home News," which he has continued to date.
ELWOOD M. STOVER-One of the foremost citizens of Kulps- ville whose activities of a business nature are contributing to the general welfare and who is serving the people as postmaster, is Elwood M. Stover, a member of the firm of Kulp & Stover, and a director of the Citizen's National Bank of Lansdale. Mr. Stover is a son of Jacob C. Stover, who for many years was a prominent farmer of this section and lived to the advanced age of eighty-four years, passing away in 1920. The mother, Rebecca G. Stover, is still living and resides in the old Daniel Johnson place. Five children were born to these parents: Isaiah
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M .; Elizabeth, wife of Daniel Johnson; Amanda; Elwood M., of further mention ; and Peter M.
Elwood M. Stover was born in Towamencin township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, March 31, 1874. His education was begun in the public schools of his native place, and as a young man he had the advantage of a course at the West Chester State Normal School. For a number of years he was active in the agricultural interests of his native township, then in September, 1909, he came to Kulpsville. At that time Mr. Stover became associated with Warren B. Kulp in their present mercantile enterprise, the general store of Kulpsville, which is one of the most progressive and successful interests of this nature in the county. Mr. Stover has supported the principles and policies of the Republican party from his coming of age, and while never an office seeker, he accepted the appointment of postmaster of Kulpsville in the year 1909, and is still serving in that capacity. Fraternally he is well known, being a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Kulpsville, and past grand of his lodge; also a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America, of Kulpsville; of the Loyal Order of Moose, of Lansdale; and a member of the Odd Fellows Club, of Kulpsville. For many years Mr. Stover has been identified with Christ Lutheran Church, of Towa- mencin, of which he is one of the deacons.
Mr. Stover married, on June 22, 1910, Mary E. Allebach, daughter of Jacob and Pauline Allebach, the father now deceased, and the mother a resident of Lansdale. Mr. and Mrs. Stover have one daughter, Alice, who was born December 23, 1911, and is now attending the schools of Kulpsville.
WILLIAM J. BINDER-At the close of the Civil War in which he served enlistments in 1863, 1864 and 1865, until honorably discharged at its close in 1865, William J. Binder returned to the printer's trade which he had abandoned at intervals during the war. In 1866 he returned to Pottstown, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and there entered the newspaper field. He is a son of John Binder, son of Jacob, son of John, son of Jacob, son of Moses, son of Casper, son of Rohland, of the Kingdom of Württemberg, Germany.
The founder of the family in Pennsylvania was Moses Binder, who came from Württemberg, Germany, with his young wife, Anna, in the ship "Frances and Elizabeth," landing in Philadelphia, September 21, 1742. He settled in Sassamansville, New Hanover township, Mont- gomery county, Pennsylvania, there died and was buried in the cemetery of the Lutheran church at Falckner Swamp, he having been an active official member of that church. Jacob Binder, great-grandson of Moses Binder, the founder, was a farmer. He married Susanna -, and they were the parents of a large family of children, among them John, of whom further. Both Jacob and his wife lived to advanced years, she to very old age.
John Binder, son of Jacob and Susanna Binder, was born at Yellow Springs, Chester county, Pennsylvania. He learned the carpenter's
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trade, also was a farmer for a few years, but the greater part of his life he was engaged in teaching. His youth was mostly spent in Montgom- ery county, but in 1835 he returned to Chester, the county of his birth, where he resided until 1856, when he moved to Pottstown, in Mont- gomery county, where he taught a private school, and there he died in 1866. He taught in both Chester and Montgomery county schools and also operated the farm he owned in East Nantmeal township, Chester county, during the summer months, while residing in that county. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and until the Civil War was a Democrat in his political faith. He then embraced the Republican doctrines, to which he adhered until death. John Binder married Anna Mary Steltz, born at Falckner's Swamp, New Hanover township, Montgomery county, and they were the parents of four chil- dren : Aaron M., a soldier of the Civil War, serving in Company A, 2nd Minnesota Veteran Infantry, 14th Corps, now deceased ; Elizabeth, now deceased, married David Herst, of Easton, Pennsylvania ; Tamsen, now deceased, married Jeremiah H. Binder, of Pottstown; William J., of further mention.
William J. Binder, son of John and Anna Mary (Steltz) Binder, was born in East Nantmeal, Chester county, Pennsylvania, September 30, 1843, and there spent the first thirteen years of his life. In 1856 Potts- town became the family home and that town has since been his home. He finished his public school study with graduation from Pottstown High School, and entered the wonderful Hill School of Pottstown, class of 1858, then conducted by its founder, Professor Matthew Meigs, LL. D. At the age of eighteen he began learning the printer's trade in the office of the Montgomery "Ledger," founded April 1, 1843, and there remained for four and a half years. In 1863 he enlisted in the 26th Emergency Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Jennings command- ing, and also saw service with the 197th Pennsylvania Regiment in 1864. In 1865 he was a private in Company E, 105th Pennsylvania Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Miller commanding. He was with the Army of the Potomac at Petersburg and in the campaign which ended with the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, his service under these commands being about eleven months. He was honorably discharged in June, 1865.
In that year he was employed as a printer in Indianapolis, Indiana, but in April, 1866, he returned to Pottstown and there bought a one- half interest in the Montgomery "Ledger," a newspaper owned by Lewis H. Davis and William L. Williamson, which they published jointly for thirteen years, when Mr. Binder became sole owner. On October 1, 1873, he established the "Daily Pottstown Ledger," in part- nership with Lewis H. Davis. In 1879 he became sole owner of the "Daily Ledger," and continued the publication of the "Daily Ledger," until April 5, 1920, when he sold the newspaper and job printing depart- ment to Paul L. Diefenderfer, and retired from the newspaper business after a continuous period of fifty-four years. For thirty years his son Hilton S. Binder was associate-editor. Mr. Binder, the dean of the news- paper publishing business in Montgomery county has honored the pro-
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fession and although now an octogenarian continues to take a lively interest in the affairs of the community and nation. He has prospered in "basket and in store" and is an honored citizen of the thriving borough whose charter dates from 1815. He published a "History of Methodism in Pottstown" in 1902, but newspaper making and publishing has been his business to the exclusion of all other affairs of a business nature. He is an official member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and of M. Edgar Richards Post, No. 595, Grand Army of the Republic. In politics he is a Republican.
Mr. Binder married December 26, 1867, Mary A. Hilton, daughter of James and Margaret (Walmsly) Hilton. Mr. and Mrs. Binder, the latter now deceased, were the parents of nine children: Hilton S., deceased ; May E., married C. C. Hinchman ; Ella M., at home ; Bessie A., at home ; Edith H., married G. W. Nagle; Laura D., now deceased ; John K., a reporter; Florence M., married C. S. Nagle; Chester M., now deceased.
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