USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a history, Volume III > Part 27
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Sammel Roberts
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in the Aurora Theater and is a member of the board of directors of the Pennsburg Water Company. Politically he gives his support to the Democratic party, and he has efficiently "done his bit" as a local official, serving as councilman at the present time, his term to expire in 1924. During the World War he took an active part in all the "drives" and rendered valuable service in the management of the publicity department. Fraternally he is well known, being a member of Perkiomen Lodge, No. 595, Free and Accepted Masons, of East Greenville, Pennsylvania ; of Pennsburg Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Pennsburg; and of Lodge No. 130, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is an active member of the new Gossenhoppen church, which he served as a teacher and as superintendent in the Sunday school.
On November 10, 1914, at East Greenville, Foster C. Hillegass married Florence G. Moll, daughter of F. M. and Cora (Gerhard) Moll.
SAMUEL ROBERTS-A man of strong convictions, but controlled by sound judgment, Samuel Roberts was able to serve Norristown wisely and well during his long years of residence there. During the years of Norristown's greatest development he was in Council, and later as burgess he enforced the provisions of the ordinances he helped to pass. He was a successful business man, clear of mind and vision, a broad-minded, progressive, public-spirited citizen, always ready to lead or support every movement for the public good. His worth and ability were fully recog- nized by his contemporaries, and during the World War period he was called upon by the government to act as head of the fuel distribution agency. Perhaps no man in Norristown was so closely identified with relief organizations and with the agencies devoted to philanthropy and the upbuilding of the community.
Samuel Roberts was born at the home farm in Lower Merion, Mont- gomery county, Pennsylvania, November 21, 1860, and died at Highland Park, Florida, February 23, 1923. In 1867 he was brought by his parents to Norristown, where he attended the public schools, finishing with a course in architectural drawing at the Spring Garden Institute, Phila- delphia. Until the age of nineteen, he was his father's farm assistant, then entered the employ of Guest & Longaker, lumber dealers and planing mill operators. He learned the business thoroughly with that firm, later spending three years in a planing mill plant in Philadelphia. During the first half of the decade, 1880-90, he returned to Norristown and was engaged for some time with Bolton's Sons, also lumber and mill work dealers. Later he purchased an interest in the firm of Guest & Grater, lumber dealers, Main and Arch streets, Norristown, and became owner of the entire Guest interest. In 1892 that firm merged with Bodey, Jamison & Wainwright, forming the Grater-Bodey Company, of which Samuel Roberts became president, a responsible position he was holding at the time of his death at the age of sixty-three years. He was also a director of the Norristown Brick Company, a director of the Montgomery National Bank, and prominently identified with State and National
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lumber dealers' associations ; was president of the Eastern Woodworkers' Council Information Bureau, with headquarters in New York City, and president of the Manufacturers' Association of Montgomery county. While his business compelled his close identification with Norristown's housing activities, he did a great deal of building on his own account and erected some of the best dwellings in town. He was prominent in the development of the Hamilton Terrace tract, extending from Main to Marshall streets and from Buttonwood to Selma, his home at No. 531 Hamilton street.
Mr. Roberts occupied the attractive old mansion at the south corner of Main street and Forest avenue when he erected the show place at Port Indian, which he sold to Abraham Bergstresser. The Main street house was razed and modern dwellings erected on its site and on the extensive lawn running down to the Montgomery Cemetery entrance lane.
At the time Mr. Roberts resided at the east corner of Chain and Airy streets, he was a member of Town Council from the First Ward. He served in Council when there were such permanent developments as sewers constructed and streets paved. He was also identified with the erection of the City Hall. His service in Council was from 1891 until 1896, and in 1905 he was elected burgess, an office he held for three years. He was president of the Board of Inspectors of Montgomery County Prison, his political faith, Republican. At all times in his public service he was a true, loyal representative of the people and very watch- ful for the public good.
He was a member and a past master of Charity Lodge, No. 190, Free and Accepted Masons; a companion and past high priest of Norristown Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ; a Sir Knight and past eminent commander of Hutchinson Commandery, No. 32, Knights Templar ; member of Nor- ristown Lodge, No. 620, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; a founder and a director of the Norristown Club; member of the Norris- town Rotary Club, the Manufacturers' Club of Philadelphia, and presi- dent of the Associated Charities of Norristown until the year prior to his death, when he refused reelection.
Samuel Roberts married Emma Rylands, born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, August 8, 1861, who survives him, daughter of William and Sarah Rylands. To Mr. and Mrs. Roberts seven children were born, namely: 1. Helen, married Robert L. Evans, of Jeffersonville, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. 2. Joseph Donald, a resident of Atlantic City, New Jersey. 3. Samuel Wallace, of West Norristown, Pennsylvania. 4. Sarah H., married A. F. McKendry, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 5. John Willard, of West Norristown, Pennsylvania. 6. Jean, of Norristown, Pennsylvania. 7. Emma R., of Norristown, Penn- sylvania.
HORACE L. SAYLOR-"Usually the greatest boasters are the smallest workers. The deep rivers pay a larger tribute to the sea than shallow brooks, and yet empty themselves with less noise."-Secker.
Eng by E G. Williams & Bro NY
Borace DSaylor.
Teuns Historica! Pub Cr
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The capable, successful, and even the most prominent men are not always those who start with an ambition to accomplish great achieve- ments, but often they are men who at the outset of life place a just valuation upon honor, integrity, industry, and determination, thus earn- ing their deserved success in a quiet, deep, and practical way. With only these qualities as a capital, Horace L. Saylor entered upon a busi- ness career, and in the course of years has won for himself an enviable place in his community both as a business man and as a promoter of things worth while.
John Saylor, father of Horace L. Saylor, was born in Pottsgrove township. Early in life he removed to Schwenkville, where he success- fully conducted a blacksmith shop until his death in 1896. He married (first) Mary Willauer, to whom were born three children: Sophia, deceased ; Fietta, who married Henry F. Groff, now deceased ; John, who died in infancy. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Saylor married (second) Elizabeth Linsenbigler. They were the parents of ten children : Edwin, Benjamin, Godfried, Franklin, Emeline, Mary Ann, Warren, all deceased ; Horace L., of further mention ; Elizabeth, wife of M. S. Ober- holtzer, of Germantown; Adaline, wife of Milton Gable, of Philadelphia.
Horace L. Saylor, son of John and Elizabeth (Linsenbigler) Saylor, was born at Schwenkville, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, December 20, 1866. He attended school until he was fourteen years of age. After leaving school he devoted the next ten years, first as an apprentice and later as a master of his chosen business. On May I, 1880, he began his apprenticeship under the wise instruction of George E. Bear, mastering the marble and granite business, and with whom he remained four years. He spent the remainder of the ten year period in Telford with William Butterick; in Topeka, Kansas; returning to George E. Bear for one year; and then in Philadelphia, where he was associated with John Lachmer, the sculptor; and lastly in Honeybrook, Chester county, Penn- sylvania, where he was employed by William L. White. In 1890 follow- ing these years of preparation, he removed to Collegeville, where he established himself in the monumental business on Main street.
To begin this business he bought his first plot of ground, paying but thirty dollars in cash and giving a mortgage for the balance of seven hundred and fifty dollars. From such small acorns oaks do grow. On this lot he erected a house for himself and wife, and a shop where he began chipping stone. The house is of brick and granite and is now occupied by Dr. Samuel D. Cornish. Before two years had passed he had purchased an additional lot, moved the shop on part of it, and erected a small dwelling for his helper in his business enterprise. This same house, after many additions and improvements, is now occupied by Mr. Saylor and his family, while the shop has been moved on the opposite side of Main street on a lot which he had purchased. This shop he later replaced by a two-story building occupied on the first floor by the Amer- ican Stores Company, the second floor being an apartment. Thus we see that step by step he has utilized every available opportunity to for-
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ward himself, his family, and his community. From the inception of this venture he was successful, and for twenty-eight years continued in this patricular line of endeavor.
In 1918, having disposed of his monumental business, we find him turning his energies toward one of his two hobbies, which from the fore- going the reader can judge to be real estate improvement. In 1910 he had already purchased and improved a forty-eight acre farm located on Park avenue. He also purchased another lot on which he erected a cottage. On his own property he has a well and tower tank, by means of which sixteen of his neighbors are able to secure their water supply for drinking and household purposes. On April 1, 1920, Mr. Saylor built a large garage on a site comprising six acres and on which formerly stood an old shed. The building is 75x175x50 feet, built of stone, with a salesroom, machine shop and a storage capacity for fifty cars, with an additional building, 50x60 feet for storage. This enterprise is known as the Perkiomen Bridge Motor Company, and handles the Lincoln cars, Ford cars and tractors ; employs a number of men in the repair depart- ment, two in the store-room, a manager and a bookkeeper. It is on the finest location and is one of the best equipped suburban garages in the State. It is interesting to note here that when Mr. Saylor started this undertaking there were many who treated it in a pessimistic manner, but adverse criticism to the new project did not deter him from forging ahead but rather added encouragement, and thus the splendid results which have been the outcome of his further efforts prove conclusively that his foresight is unerring and that as an executive and a forceful business man he has triumphed against great odds.
About this time there arose considerable controversy concerning the location of a new post office building. The decision was made by the postal authorities when they accepted Mr. Saylor's plans to furnish and lease to the Government suitable quarters for the transaction of the business of the Collegeville post office. In May, 1922, he completed an imposing post office building of which the Government leases the first floor for its post office business, and the second floor of which is an attractive eight-room apartment. The Government official who had charge of the inspection pronounced it the best equipped post office in the State for the size of the town.
Mr. Saylor's next undertaking was the purchase of a lot on Main street at Third avenue in order to make it possible for the fire company to secure this site for their permanent home, and to secure the finest and most desirable location in the borough for a memorial to the veterans in the World War. The remainder of the lot will be utilized for building purposes. Within the last five years he has continued his real estate investments outside of his home town, and has purchased a number of properties in Philadelphia, where he has followed the same procedure in improvements. To say that Mr. Saylor is a leading spirit in College- ville is but the truth, for through these large real estate holdings he has contributed much toward the building of the borough, and he is always
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ready to give financial support to whatever in his judgment will aid in the welfare of his home community.
His fraternal organizations, to which he has devoted much time and energy during his life, and which he holds in highest esteem, are his second hobby. He is affiliated with the Free and Accepted Masons, being a member of Warren Lodge, No. 310, Free and Accepted Masons, of Collegeville. Among those who were actively interested in bringing the Temple from Trappe to Collegeville, we again find him one of the leaders. He and his colleagues devised a plan whereby funds were raised by bond subscription. When the Temple was completed he was the first master installed in the new building. He is also a member of Norris- town Chapter, No. 190, Royal Arch Masons; Hutchinson Commandery, No. 32, Knights Templar ; Lu Lu Temple, Mystic Shrine ; and has attained to the thirty-second degree in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. He is also a charter member of the Norristown Forest, No. 31, Tall Cedars of Lebanon. There were occasions when his loyalty to Masonry was challenged, and at such times he maintained the policy that Free Masonry neither protected nor encouraged crime. He belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Norristown Lodge, No. 714; Economy Lodge, No. 397, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past grand. During the construction of the present Odd Fellows' Hall he was an active member of the building committee.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Saylor has always been active in the affairs of his chosen party. He served as chairman on the street and bond committee when the trolley company extended its tracks to Trappe and saved the borough considerable at that time by his keen foresight. He is a member of the Town Council, and since January, 1914, has served as its secretary. He has been a party delegate to several of the county conventions. During the World War he was commissioned by William G. McAdoo to direct the sale of War Savings stamps in his community. In 1914 he began the office of justice of the peace, having first been appointed to complete an unexpired term, and at the following election in 1917 was the nominee of both parties.
Concerning his next political appointment, we quote the following from the "Collegeville Independent."
President Harding has appointed "Squire Horace L. Saylor Postmaster for Col- legeville." The appointment will be duly confirmed by the Senate. The new Post- master, who is receiving the congratulations of his friends, will be likely to take up his official duties in January, 1922. The position of Justice of the Peace being incom- patable with that of postmaster the "Squire" will resign as magistrate of the local court. Referring to his appointment as Postmaster the "Norristown Herald" correctly observes :
Mr. Saylor is a stalwart Republican and long has been active in movements for the upbuilding of the community, being one of the leading public-spirited citizens. It was due to his efforts that the ornate garage near the Perkiomen Bridge hotel was erected. It is easily assumed that the "Squire" will efficiently discharge the duties of Postmaster which, after all, are not measured by "stalwart" partisan politics-even though that kind of politics had to do with his appointment. Our American political system cannot be entirely divested of the influence which finds expression in the Jack- sonian motto: "To the victors belong the spoils."
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Mr. Saylor, being a modest man, rejected offers which might have taken him to wider fields in politics, but preferred to serve as best he could in his own community. He enjoys the game of politics, including its opposition, its abuse, its applause, always standing for right and honor, never lessening his loyalty to his party nor downing his spirit of honor and truth. "He loves to pit his brain against other men, rejoices to discover obstacles in his path, never despairs when things go against him and infinitely prefers the battle to the success itself."
The activities of the church have also received his time and attention, and in Trinity Reformed Church, where he holds membership, he is the president of the board of trustees and a deacon. Due to his vast experi- ence, he has been chosen to serve on the building committee for the new Sunday school building which is under construction at this writing. In the Forward Movement he was its local director in raising Trinity's quota.
In March, 1890, Horace L. Saylor was united in marriage with Clara Saylor, daughter of Benjamin and Lydia (Hunsicker) Saylor, the former a tinsmith by trade. Mr. and Mrs. Saylor are the parents of two chil- dren : Grace S., born April 28, 1892, and John DeWitt, born June 3, 1896, who died in infancy. The daughter graduated from the Collegeville High School in 1908, and from Ursinus College in 1912, where she received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. She has chosen teaching as her profession and has devoted a great amount of her time to music, being a vocalist of no small ability. She has conducted an orchestra in the State Institution at Vineland, and has been a soloist in Wilmington and Phila- delphia churches. Commercial teaching claimed her attention in 1917, since which time she has been teaching in Wilmington High School, Temple University, Philadelphia, and in the Germantown High School at the present time.
Both Mr. Saylor's wife and daughter are interested in fraternal affairs. Mrs. Saylor is a member of Radiant Chapter, No. 96, Order of the Eastern Star, in Norristown. Miss Saylor is a member of Unity Chapter, No. 246, Order of the Eastern Star, Philadelphia, and of the Ladies' Auxiliary of Pennsylvania Commandery, No. 70, Knights Tem- plar, of which organization she is secretary.
Looking back one notes that it has been a long, far journey from the humble country boy leaving school to learn the trade of stone cutter to the man enjoying the respect and admiration of his community. This could only be earned by such sterling qualities, straight forwardness and humane motives as he possesses. Although his boyhood was spent without the encouragement which means so much to a young man start- ing out in life, he never faltered, never once referred to the hardships he encountered. From the very beginning his eyes were not only on the immediate task at hand, but were also lifted beyond the present. This foresight characterizes all of his achievements. He was always ready, when once his mind was made up, to back his judgment to the limit, and with a mind accustomed to think toward the ideal and the beautiful,
Lewis Historical Pub Co.
Eng. by E & Williams & Bro NY
Sam & High
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having once formulated the idea of right and justice, he flung that idea into the ring and fought for right against wrong to a victorious conclusion. His life has always been governed by a moral principle, and in this virtue he has been consistent. As goodness has an effect on men's kind- ness which cannot be exaggerated, so his consistency stands out in the judgment of all honest people. In politics and in business, throughout the many remaining years (for Mr. Saylor expects to live to a good old age) these same qualities will continue to earn for him the oft quoted triad : "Health, wealth, and happiness."
NORMAN B. NUSS-A member of a family long prominent in North Wales, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, Mr. Nuss was born in this community, educated in the local schools, and is carrying forward his business career in his native place. He is a son of Henry and Andora Nuss, his father a painter by trade, and long active in this field of endeavor in North Wales.
Norman B. Nuss was born in North Wales, June 11, 1892. Upon the completion of his public school course he entered the employ of the North Wales "Record," in which connection he learned the trade of printer, and worked for a time thereafter as a journeyman printer, being identified with this paper for a period of five years. Then for a few years Mr. Nuss worked in Philadelphia in different printing establish- ments, after which he returned to North Wales in 1913. At this time he opened a job printing plant, and in 1915 founded the "North Penn Review," a weekly newspaper. Three years later he sold this sheet to the Lansdale "Republican," and thus the two papers were consolidated. Mr. Nuss has continued in the printing business, doing general job work and specializing in commercial and social printing. He has achieved a noteworthy position in the comparatively few years of his activity along this line, and is doing a prosperous and steadily increasing busi- ness. Politically Mr. Nuss holds independent convictions, supporting the party or candidate he believes best fitted to serve the people. Fra- ternally he holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Encampment, the Loyal Order of Moose, and the Sons of Vet- erans. He is a member of St. Luke's Reformed Church.
Mr. Nuss married, in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, November 10, 1917, Helen Refsnider, daughter of Elmer E. and Wilhelmina Refsnider. Mr. and Mrs. Nuss have one son, Elmer Norman, born September 18, 1918.
SAMUEL H. HIGH-Since 1899 Samuel H. High has been engaged in the practice of law in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and the years which have intervened have brought to him the respect, esteem and confidence of all with whom he has been in any way associated. He has always taken an active interest in community affairs, here and in his home community, Jenkintown, and has won a wide circle of friends who hold him in the highest estimation for the many sterling traits of character
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which he has evidenced in many ways throughout his long career as a citizen of Montgomery county.
Samuel High, grandfather of Samuel H. High, was a lifelong resident of Montgomery county, and for many years conducted a dry goods business on Main street, Norristown. He had a son, Harry S., of whom further mention is made.
Harry S. High, son of Samuel High, was a native of Norristown, and until his death was a carpenter and builder here, carrying on a success- ful trade. He was a Democrat in politics, but in no sense of the word an office-seeker. He married Flora B. Lightcap, daughter of Samuel and Mary Lightcap. Samuel Lightcap was a native of Pottstown, and it was here that he spent the early portion of his life. After his wife's death he removed to Milwaukee, where he resided with one of his sons until his death. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Harry S. High were the parents of five children : Mamie, wife of Henry S. Stiles, of Moorestown, New Jersey ; Harrison L., deceased; Walter L., of Norristown, secretary of the Reading Screw Company; Samuel H., of further mention; and Raymond, a manufacturing chemist of Philadelphia.
Samuel H. High, son of Harry S. and Flora B. (Lightcap) High, was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1875. He received the ele- mentary portion of his education in the public schools of his native place, and after graduating from the local high school in 1891 was tutored for one year preparatory to entering Franklin and Marshall College, from which latter institution he was graduated in 1896 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He studied law under the tutelage of William F. Dannehower, and was admitted to practice, July 1, 1899. He quickly acquired a practice and demonstrated ability as a skillful trial lawyer. In 1905 he associated with John Faber Miller, the firm being Miller & High, continuing until Mr. Miller was elevated to the bench in 1914, when the well known firm of Evans, High, Dettra & Swartz was formed. He is a director and vice-president of the Jenkintown Bank and Trust Company; solicitor for the boroughs of Hatboro and Jenkintown, townships of Cheltenham, Lower Moreland and Whitpain. He attends St. John's Lutheran Church of Melrose.
On March 22, 1905, at Norristown, Samuel H. High married Ada E. Pennypacker, and to them have been born three children: Samuel H., Jr., who graduated from Germantown Academy in 1923, and is now at Princeton, class of 1927; Gilbert, born February 3, 1911; and Sarah Elizabeth, born June 26, 1916. The family home is on the Old York road at Jenkintown, but in the summer time they reside at Brookside farm, near Willow Grove, Upper Moreland township, farming being his particular hobby.
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