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ton power to put in tie field a force not exceeding 2500 men fora term not exceed¬ ing three months. Among the other acts of the second session of same Congress was one for the “payment of $4000 for the use of the daughters of the late Count de Grasse.” The old volume contains, also copies of Indian Treaties—one with/ the Cherokees, signed by Henry Knox, Secretary of Wai and by thirteen chiefs of the Cherokee fl RARE OLD BOOK. , nation; also one with the Six Nation Indians, signed by Timothy Pickering The Laws Passed by the Third Congress Indian Agent and fifty-nine sachems, chiefs and Signed by President Washington, aiid warriors of the Six Nations Among the curious Indian names to this last treatv are “Sonh-yoo-wao-na, or Big Sky,” *‘Se- A rare book, of value to antiquarians,has qni-dong-gnee, or Little Beard,” “Ken- recently come into possession of our towns jan-an-gns, or Stinking Fish,” “Jith- man Thomas Beekley, the well known con- ikoo-ga, or Green Grasshopper,” “Ti oob- ! tractor. It is a “rfiaty, musty” old vol¬ quot-ta-kau-na, or Woods on Fire,” “Sau- ta-ka-ong-yees, or Two Skies of a Length,” ume, “Printed in Philadelphia, 1795 bv and Kan-je-a-ga-onh, or Heap of Dogs.” f/hT £h,ld8> Printer of the Laws of the There are various other matters of inter- United States/’ and is entitled “Acts Passed at the Third Congress of the United rSf Pu -r^Beg,ln and Held at the City of Philauelphia, in the State of Penn- OneVThon0n ^DdayWthe ld of December, One Thousand 3eveh Hundred and Ninety- TTmtfd fiDtde °fi the IndePet>dence of the United States the Eighteenth.” The first thing m the volume is the official certifi cate of Edmund Randolph, Seoretary of , ate, to the 'Correctness of the copies of the laws therein printed; then follow the acts ufty-six in number, passed at the first session and sixty-five acts and seven reso- lntions passed at the second session of the third Congress. Each act is siened Prede"ck Augustus Muhlenberg An Inters! ing- History of an Old Hostelry. Tnh MV* House of Representatives; John Adams, Vice President of the United In the history of Gwynedd from its States and President of the Senate, or I.z,lrd’ President pro tempore of the earliest period this lias been a noted viciu- e6 fir8t SeS3ion’ or Henry Tazewell, jity, around which cluster many memor¬ President pro tempore of the Senate the able occurrences. In 1698 John Hum¬ T.,on 0f the Tbird Congress; the phrey settled here, and the Friends held said acts being approved by “Go: Washing- their first meeting, for worship. Men¬ T^n’ freSldent of tbe United States.’’ 1 he hist act passed by the Third Con- tion is made of a road being in use from gress. first session, is one changing the flag here to the Pennypack Mills in 1702. of the United States. This act is very Soon after 1704 the road was extended forty-two words, “That from and after the first day of May, anUo dotnim from the city, by this place, to the North one thousand seven hundred and ninety- Wales meeting house, a mile and a half five, the flag of the United States be fifteen distant. A bridge near by is mentioned TTn£en ’ alternate red and white. That the as having been constructed before 1711 » b a fif ee“ 8tar8’ white ia a blue field. Among the acts of the same ses [The road leading from here to Richland sion are one to provide a naval arma- was confirmed in 1717, and was the com pae“ :tfi h°“6 “avowing Major General La jmcncement of the present Bethlehem Fayette his pay and emolument' ..bile in road. From this point to Horsham meet¬ T?u°f the Pnited State,” one “to 'tt PC8t‘offlce and post roads with- ing house the road was confirmed in 1723, United States” and one “to compen¬ and the Goshenlioppen or Sumneytown sate Gen. Arthur St. Clair.” ^ road in 1735. We see by this date that The first act passed by the Third Con- through the construction of these several fien.,den'9 toJcall* call 11out ? Ctand 7 °station aathoris5a a corps the ofp resi-mi¬ highways and the extension of settle¬ litia in the four western counties of Penn¬ ments farther into the interior this spot sylvania, for a limited time.” This was was calculated before long to become, in done to suppress the Pennsylvania “whiskv consequence, an important f' cling insurrection” and gave President Washing centre. Hie tow/ Of Bethlehem; on the Xehigh j aged sixty years, was oueJ . river, tbfi'ty-eight miles distant, was eminent divines and scholars in the Lu¬ foundcjnn 1741, and all travel froin there theran church. Christian Dull removed and flic surrounding country, as well as to the Springhouse in 1772, where he was frojn Allentown, to Philadelphia, was rated in 1776 as holding ataveru,eight acres confined to the road passing by this place. of land, a horso and cow. The Revolution It is probable that it was not long after breaking out, he actively espoused the the latter date that the first inn was lo¬ cause of his country. Owing to the con¬ cated here,'but at what exact time and by nivance of some well-to-do people in this whom we are unable to say. Benjamin vicinity concerned in furnishing supplies • Davis kept a public house at this point of provision and information to the Brit¬ from 1758 to 1774. In April, 1758, Dan¬ ish in Philadelphia, General Lacey sta¬ iel Kunckler, on his journey from Beth- J tioned a portion of his men here for a lehem to Philadelphia, with six Indians short time to make arrests and intercept in his charge, mentions stopping here. and check such practices. In a table of distances on the Bethlehem The American army suffering greatly road, published in 1769, ‘‘Benjamin in December, 1777, for clothing, at Val¬ Davis’’ is mentioned as being sixteen ley Forge, he was appointed to collect miles from the city. The first stage line such supplies in his vicinity and forward passing through the present county was them at once for their use. For the part started in September, 1703, from Bethle¬ he had taken in the war, on the organiza¬ hem to Philadelphia, making one weekly tion of the Fourth Battalion of Philadel¬ trip and stopping at this inn. phia County Militia, commanded by Colo¬ The road from this place, by the pres¬ nel William Dean, he was chosen and ent Penllyn to Boehm’s church, was laid commissioned a captain of one of the com¬ out in the sirring of 1769, and mention is panies to be raised in his township. By made in the report of its “beginning near accepting these several charges he was a stone springhouse in Gwnedd road.” placed in a delicate position, much more Here we can perceive what has led to the so through a considerable majority of the origin of the name. This fact is further surrounding population being bent on re¬ confirmed in a description of the tavern maining neutral during the contest. in 1827, wherein mention is made of a Among his other duties was to report the “durable spring of water a short distance fines of delinquents for not attending the from the door, over which is a stone milk inusterings. No sooner did the war close house.” General Lacey mentions the than slander was busy to ruin his charac¬ “Springhouse Tavern’’ in his dispatches ter and business. In the Philadelphia of 1777, and the name is also mentioned Gazette, of February 17, 1793, he was in¬ in a report of a raid made in this direc¬ duced, in consequence, to have inserted tion by the British in February, 1779. anjadvertisement offering a reward of one: That it is a striking and a peculiar name hundred guineas for the author of a re-1 there is no question, and it must, there¬ port that he was “privy in robbing a col¬ fore, have originated here from just some lector.” Some of the neutrals, or rather, such local cause. disaffected, in attending the Philadelphia Christian Dull, or rather Doll, in the market, reported there that himself and German, of whom we shall give a few wife had been guilty of murdering one or | additional particulars, succeeded Davis more travelers, who had stopped at his [ as inn-keeper. He was a native of Perki- house, for their property. To this he re¬ omen, and his father bearing the same plied in the spring of 1789, and again of¬ . name, is mentioned in the census of that fered a similiar reward. He states as to township, taken in 1756, as having seven the latter that he had seven children, I children and renting from Solomon Du- “several of them young and helpless.” fl Bois one thousand acres of land, whereof That such reports were damaging to the •• two hundred are cleared. John Dull, keeper of a public house we do not wou- /,i who was drobably a brother, is mentioned del, even if they never have been proven, j 1 as a taxable and residing there in 1776. With it all, Christian Dull outlived many 1 It is likely that Catharine Doll was also ot his enemies, throve in business and at- f (Oue of those seven children. She was tained a good old age, closing his career married in this county to Charles J. as the landlord of the Springhouse Tavern I Krauth. Their son, Charles Porterfield about the beginning of 1822. Krauth, D. D., LL D., who died in 1883> He made a will, appointing John Rob- ^editors, but Roberts time. Tijis description of tHeeconomioa ? *" *823’ aS'e
JBipsville, down roTSie GwyliicTd line, I Company: in 1775., Hie embracing; two hundred acres/1 part or 4if Towamoncin inT 'which was on the southwest side of the was assessed for 148 ac highway* and five cows. In 1773, The family possessed an old Welsh Bi¬ one Hugh Hughes kept a tavern ble, printed in London in 1717, which near Kulpsyille. Morgan Hughes could read more readily than English. IIis death occurred in THE FORMER OWEN HUGHES PROPERTY, 1726. His .children were Dorothy, born TOWAMENCIN. 9 in 1698; Elizabeth in 1706; Benjamin, in The farm aud flue mansion is now the 1708; Katharrine, in 1709, and Edward in property of John J. Troxell. It is pn 1711. We lack the, knowledge to trace the northeast side of the turnpike, im¬ more than one branch of this family. mediately opposite the Anders’ farm. A Edward Hughes had children; Owen cross road, close to the dwelling divides born in 1736; Isaac, in 1738, Ann, in 1740,, the property. This was a Hughes estate and Elizabeth in 1743. Edward, the| from 1807 till 1885. The old history of father of this family, died in 1769, at the the land is as follows: age of 58. Again we trace the children 1685. By patent to James Claypoole, of only Owen Hughes, the oldest son. 1000 acres. There were John, born in 1767, and mar¬ 1714. Claypoole to Hugh Pugh, 280 ried Sarah Tennis; Catharine, who mar¬ acres. ried Isaiah Bell; Sarah, to Joseph Potts; 1743. Pugh to John Roberts,180 acres, Elizabeth, to Israel Tennis; Edward, to for £118. Ury Aaron, of Ililltown, aud Ann, to 1750. .John Roberts and Jacob Over¬ Adam Ulrich. It appears that the Owen hold to Abram Heidrich, fify acres, j Hughes, who acquired the property by Heidrich died leaving a widow, Catha¬ the will of his father in 1769, conveyed rine, who married a Lukeus. Conrad the same by his own will of 1796 to his Weber was her heir at her death, as says son owen. In 1805, this Owen in turn an old deed. made his will conveying to his son Ed¬ 1791. Conrad Weber sold to Christian ward, who in 1812 sold to Henry Snyder Weber 50 acres. 80 acres, retaining now 70 acres on the 1797. Christian Weber to John New¬ northwest side. The names Owen and berry. Edward were favorite ones in the Hughes 1807. Newberry to Isaac Hughes, son family and their frequent recurrence is of Owen Hughes. The latter belonged; apt to cause errors in the writen of the to the militia company of Captain John! genealogy. Springer in the Revolution. Isaac, No writer of local history has told us Hughes, born about 1772, married- the time when the Hughes family bought Rachel Tennis. His ownership contiuu-j their homestead, and this may never be ed during a long life. In 1855, his heirs,! known. The best supposition is that it Jane, wife of Joseph Supplee, of Worces-, was not far from 1725 or 1730, though it ter, and Eliza Hughes, conveyed their may have been some years earlier. It rights to Owen Hughes, who in 1885 sold; was 150 acres,comprising thepresent farm to John J. Troxell. of Aaron Snyder and the Oberholtzer farm, reaching from the Gwynedd line THE FORMER HUGHES PROPERTY—THE along the northeast side of the turnyike. OLD HUGHES TAVERN. It was part of lands earlier held by the The farm and mansion is now the resi¬ Claypooles, lather and son, but not im-l dence of William Anders. It is not the proved by them. oldest Hughes property, but was owned Whilst we are not certain that Morgan by that family from 1802 to 1868. The Hughes was tne purchaser, yet probabili¬ farm is pleasantly situated on the south-; ties point that way, as at the above dates, west side of the Kulpsville road, a mile: his sons were quite young men. At any southeast of that village. Here was the rate after his death in 1726, his son Ed¬ Hughes tavern, famous in its time asaj ward, seems to have become the owner, much frequented inn. It ceased tohavei and continued as such during his life¬ a license about 1844. time. The early house, was of stone, a I To go back to the beginning, we find little farther down the meadow bank I that in 1710, Demis Kemders, or Conrad, i than the present Snyder farm house. sold 275 acres to a Hollander named John WILL OF EDWARD HUGHES—1764: Lukcns. This tract ran from the cross j To my son Isaac; £150, to my daugh¬ road nearly up to Kulpsville or to the next ter Elizabeth, £55; to my daughter Ann, 'crossroad. In 1735 his son Joseph Lu-( £50; to my sou Owen, my messuage plan¬ kens succeeded in the ownership. The I tation of 150 acres, who is also to be my will of Joseph Lukens was made in 1777, [ sole executor. This will was made Octo¬ and ten years later his executors Peter! ber 22, 1764, aud witnessed by John Lukens, John Lukens and John May-j Evans and John Ambler. It was pre¬ berry, sold to Christian Weber. In 1802; sented for registry May 2, 1769. Weber sold John Hughes 107 acres forj £1350. In 1828, after the death of John Owen Hughes was the owner during the Revolution, and down to 1796, when Hughes, his other heirs, comprising, " he devised his estate to his son Owen, Sarah, his widow,Robert Kenderdine and, . comprising 148 acres. Owen Hughes was Mary his wife, aud Anu Hughes, convey¬ enrolled in Captain Springer’s Militia| ed to William Hughes. The latter was -$he owner for just forty years. The later I transfers have been: 1868. William Hughes to A. D. Har.e^; 1871, Harley to rationJof^rshippers, while'ln the George W. Haines; 1872. Haines to Har- fsnm whue paneison the pew doors ly again;1873,Harley to John D. Morgan; | the old numbers can still be traced. 1873, Morgan to John W. Monteith; 1873. Monteith to William Wheeler Hub- ■ Against every high raised back'rests bell; 1873, Hubbell to' Andrew Adders the unique bookfolder, recording the 100 acres. privileged rights of the fornmr mem- | bers through the figures 1, 2, 3, etc., burnt in with a branding iron. The psws in the eastern angle were re¬ served for the “Eldeste” and “Yor- stcher,” while servants, boys and strangers were relegated to the “Pon- kirche, as the unique hanging gallery was called. This gallery extends around three sides of the
THE OLDEST CHURCH. church, and is carried by projecting ashlars in the wall and supported by Thi '? Churcli _3ient Lutheran several hewn posts in the centre, the Landmark whoie being kept in place by iron The old “Trappe Church,” on the Reading turnpike, about nine miles straps which connect with the oaken supports. The east gallery was above Norristown, and in the village of Trappe, is the oldest Evangelicla used as a choir loft, and contained one Lutheran Church in America, and it of the first organs in rural Pennsyl¬ is one of the very few provincial vania. The entrance to this gallery churches which at the present day |is secured by a grated door, with a retains their primitive interior furn¬ ponderous lock, to keep out unbidden ishing, as well as the original exterior Iguests. No stoves were used during form. the provincial period, and it is said The quaint exterior, with rough- that only old or decrepit women were hewn walls, now plastered over, but wont to avail themselves of a foot 'formerly of local brownstone, with warmer. white pointed joints, the strangely- -- . CHURCH CENTENNIAL. - j angled hiproof, the stone porches on # ] - the south and west fronts, arched and Tlie Coming Program at Falling Spring — ||plastered; the octagonal projection to Presbyterian. lithe east, and the latin inscription over Until 1191 the Falling Spring Presby¬ ||the main door, are features which terian church was united with the ||have tended to make the old landmark church in Greencastle. In the year IIa favorite spot for both artist and mentioned it became a separate | antiquary. ^ pastorate. The 100th anniversary of I More interesting still is the interior. ‘this separate existence will be duly | There is the same high pulpit and (celebrated by the congregation on I sounding board of unvarnished wal- November 10th, 11th and 12th. The , nut, under which the Patriarch Central Presbyterian church, being an . Muhlenburg, at the age of 32, first offshoot from the Falling Spring, has s junded the notes of orthodoxLutheran jbeen invited to join in the services. I faith to the Germans in the province The program is as follows: I of Penn. Saturday evening, the 10th, an It was from this identical pulpit address by Rev. S J. Nicolis D. D.t that the fiery soldier preacher, Peter of St. Louis, on “Church and home Muhlenberg, and his diplomatic 100 years ago.” brother, Frederick Augustus, preach¬ Sabbath morning, 11th, Rev. J. A. er and statesman, both sons of the Crawford D. D. will give a history of Patriarch, expounded the faith to the the church. In the evening Rev. descendants of the early pioneers prior Drs. Nicolis, Crawford and J. Grier to the revolution. There is still the Hibben, the latter from Princeton, same altar or communion table, mov¬ will give reminiscences of their able on the floor, so at the same time pastorates. to conform to the requirements of the Monday evening, 12th, the personal Church of England: the same ancient history of some of the former pastors unpainted pews, the rough planed I will be given by Rev. H. R. Schenck. wood, polished smooth by the gener- This will be followed by a social jgatheriDg, in charge of the ladies, in the chapel. Date, AC/W'Fy 9
SUMNEYTOWN.
upper part of Montgomery county is A Brief History and Description of an on the property of Daniel Krause, re¬ Old Village. cently pfibred at sale. It bears the Sumneytown is one of the oldest date of 1757 and ^gs probably built villages in the upper part of Montgom- by Daniel Hiester, an uncle of Gov- ery county, it is situated on the north i ■iefnor Joseph Hiester. Daniel’s three side of the Swamp creek, about half at sons served in the army of the Revolu¬ mile south cf the borough of Greeni tion and afterwards became members Lane. of Congress. He (Daniel) was rated Nicholas Scull in 1758 mentions! Dorn’s Inn as located here at the fork here in 1776 as holding 130 acres of of the Maxatawny and Macungie roads, land, one negro, three horses, three now the Springhouse and Sumuey- cows and a tannery. So it can be seen towu and Garysville turnpike. ..that the farm was once ■worked by The village was named after Isaac ■ slayps, and that the house was built Sumney, who in 1763 purchased a large' long before slavery yms abolished in tract of land in Marlborough township Pennsylvania, __ which included part of the present site of the village. Shortly after the pur¬ chase he kept a tavern here, continued in the business for some time, and | From,. L * probably succeeded Dorn. The build¬ ing which be occupied was torn down in 1885 by the owner Samuel Barndt /PfriAJi: M. t'lt' .~«L 1 and in its stead he erected a large three-story brick building. The earliest mention we have found Bate, ■ \ of the name Sumneytown as applied to this place is found on Howell’s large map, published 1792, on which this A.n Old Bnrial Ground. place is so designated. About a mile and a half from Gwynedd On January 19, 1802, an act was on the Skippack pike near thajktter place, passed by the House of Representa¬ back from the roadside, is an ancient burial tives, creating the Eighth District, ground. The spot is situated in the most composed of the townships of Upper Hanover, Marlborough, Upper Salford •wierd region, and even in day time the and Franconia, The general elections p appearance of the black head stones, the were authorized to be held at the house J drooping trees and a dense forest on every aide walling in the cemetery, suggest the of John Sheid, at Sumneytown. very witching hour of night, when At what time the post-office was es- , churchyards yawn, etc. The inscription on tablisfced at Sumney town we are un- i two headstones read, Charles Kres, born able to say, but it was prior to 1827. 1694, died, November 10th, 1766, aged 72 Gordon in bis Gazetteer, in 1832,1 yearn. Barbara Kres, died, January 16th, mentions that Sumneytown containsB 1757, aged 62 yearn _ one tavern, two stores and twelve! dwellings. From 1828 to 1858 tbe c Bauern Freund, was printed here,when the proprietor, Enos Benner, sold out and the paper was moved to Penns-^ burg. Sumneytown was for a long time a| centre of powder and linseed oil manu-i; facture. The first powder mill in this! section was erected in the year 1780 by | Jacob Dast. It was located on the j East Swamp creek. Powder and high explosives are yet manufactured here and shipped to all parts of the country and to Cuba. possessed "Ellis Roberts. *u This place at present contains a post George Howell bought the neighboring office, one store,two hotels, an academy Peunbrook farm, lying across the WissrT- one church, a confectionery, barber, hickon, of John Davis. Between 1737 blacksmith, tinsmith, saddler, job and 1750 Howell obtained the mill site printing office, two cigar factories, and erected a mill. His mill dam is men¬ 'about fifty dwelling houses and a num¬ tioned in a conveyance ol 1753. Since ber of other tradesmen usually found the middle of the last, century there is a in a country village. complete chain of title of the various owners, With but one exception.
BENJAMIN ROSENBERGER. At some unknown date, between 1750 and 1760, Benjamin Rosenbcrger, a Ger¬ man, became the owner of the mill lot and another property of 41 acres to the I south, now the Ray farm. Rosenbcrger was a rover, a trader, speculator and dealer, owning many properties in this county, and not holding many long. His first appearance in our comity history was in 1739 as the purchaser of Morris LOCAL HISTORY. and Frick farms in Hatfield, at Line Lex¬ ington containing 125 acres. Next he held another farm of 112 acres in Hatfield iTho Sell ill! Mill, llj po.r Gwynedd, Former further southwest. Next he purchased (Owners— Howell, Itiaenberger, Seigfritz, the late Server farm, just north of Lans¬ tlio lSeavers, earners. Gross, JA;\ erings and dale, which he sold in 1700. Then he j Scliall. got down to gwynedd, buying a farm at Friends' Corner of Cadwalldcr Foulke in This mill sit natal on the Wissajhickou, 17GC, which he held ten years. After he about half a milif northeast of North got through with the mill on the Wissa¬ Wales, belongs iothe heirs of George hiekon he bought the latpr Heisler farm, near Kneedler’s tavern. Finally Roseu- I; Schall. Its wheels are now silent, and berger ended his roving career on a farm very little or no grinding lias been done he owed in Franconia in 1777, which he there for three years past. It, ranks left to his widow Helena. His sons I among the very old mill sites in Mont¬ were of the same speculative disposition, and they have left many descendants. gomery county. The present mill was built by John Levering Ileist, nearly JACOB SEIGFIilTZ. ( Seigfritz was the next owner, and also forty years ago, and Inter steam propul- a German. He bought of Rosenbcrger 11sion was attached. It never became a in 1762, who conveyed to him “a water roller mill, however, and the competition giist mill, house and piece of land.”, In of the more convenient later process that conveyance Seigfritz was termed a . mills, decreed its former business to dc- miller. Ho held the mill for thirteen years, or till the beginning of the Iievo- | part. It. is notable as having been the lotion as well as the 41 acre farm, which I j grist mill nearest the sources of the Wis- he bought of Rosenbcrger in 1769. After sahickon, among some twenty-threc that a time Seigfritz began to feel the pressure I formerly existed on that stream. The of debt, and the property was mortgaged J sources of the Wissahiekon are only two to the amount of £400 to Thomas White, j|miles away to the northeast in Montgom- of Philadelphia. This doubtless impelled j cry township, but its waters had attained /■ the sale of the property, and he received I a volume and a fall which in early times / £225 beyond the mortgage. In 1776 idieated this as a mill site. About sevrni- j Seigfritz remained in Gvvymdd, and was ] teen acres of fie ld and meadow, of irregu- assessed for a horse and two cows. He Iliar shape, arc attached to the prop- left descendants of note, some of whom erty, and the house and mill stand close¬ ( lived in New Britain at the beginning of ly adjoining on the southeast bank of the the present century, and were very poor. lowland biside the brook. The mill dam Simeon Seigfritz acquired an education I jis at a considerable distance up the and became editor and preacher, publish¬ j stream, near the Lansdale road, from ing a newspaper in the city of Wheeling. j which a long race led the water to its np. Oue of his sons, Rev. Thomas Seigfritz, j pointed work. an eloquent preacher, was pastor of the GEORGE HOWELR. Norristown'Baptist church a dozen years This a very old mill site, and the exact ago, but died in the prime of liis useful¬ I time when a mill was erected is invalued ness. F in obscurity. It is on land first conveyed BARNET REAVER; f ito Evan Hugh, a Welshman, in 1700,who The Beavers are supposed to be of Hol¬ r 'obtained a narrow strip all the way across lander origin, and the family is of long Gwynedd township. Edward Hugh be-L existence in Montgomery county. The ■ | came the next owner. He fore 1720 this name in old documents was shelled “Bic- . land along the Wissahiekon had become • « ber,” which is the same as that bornp by « .iff |ebber’s township” down 30ib, 1864, in ',liis 4oth year. Jonn-I.j of the Revolution. John Heist, during iilfc ownership, had built a wlo his appearance in Gwy new mill John .1. Kaufman succeeded !nedd before 1760 as the owner of the later in the ownership.l Hiesler’s tavern, now Kneedler’s. He Once more ihcjjjphnriff' intervened in the! died in November, 1762, whilst yet a maui person of Jacob Tyson, who sold to Sep of middle age. His estate was sold by] times Kriobcl in 1880. A year later: Sheriff Rodman in 1763 to the widow Iviiebel conveyed to Mrs. Amelia P. Magdalena, who later married Jacob Heis- Schall, wife of George jSohall. The lat¬ ler. Barnet Beaver, born in 1754, was ter died about a year ago at the age of one of the five children of John Beaver, seventy- five. and was a miller'by trade. He died in 1801 at the age of 47. The mill property remained in the hands of,tho Beaver fam-j ily for two generations, or from 1775 to 1822, or nearly half a century. Since that time the mill has had the singular experi¬ ence of being four times sold by the Sheriff and once conveyed by a bankrupt assignment. In 1806 John Beaver, eld¬ est son of Barnard, took the property at a valuation of £960, but transferred it to his brother Henry in 1808. Iu 1822, the mill and 19 acres were seized by Sheriff Philip Sellers as the property of John Beaver and sold to Peter Garner, who paid $710 subject to a dower payable to Sumneytown, a village in Marlboro, of Susannah, widow of Barnet Beaver. The powder mill fame,, started from Doon’s latter survived till 1847, reaching the age Inn, which before 1758 was situated at of ninety-one. the fork of the Maxatawny and Macun- THE CAHNERS. gie high roads. Tho village was named from Isaac Smnncy, who in 1763 purchas¬ The G" ''Mil's are an old family, who ed a large tract of lano covering the pres¬ have beei Gwynedd since 1790. They ent site of the village and succeeded Doon have since spread into Hatfield, Hilltown, as tavern keeper. In 1832 it had two , New Britain and Warrington. John Gar¬ stores, a tavern and a dozen houses. It ner, the progenitor, landed in Philadel¬ now has fifty houses, a church and an phia either in 1749 or 1751. He first ap¬ academy. The first powder mill was peared in this part of the country in 1769, erected in 1780 by Jacob Dast. when he bought the present farm of A. G. Ruth, on the county line in New Bri¬ Flues’ old silk mill on tho Wissahickon, tain. This he sold in 1783 to Philip Reed. below Ambler, is fast going to decay. It In 1790 he purchased the present farm of was transformed into a silk mill by Eber- j Simon Kuipe and other lands iu Gwynedd hart Flues in 1864. It was the former! of the heirs of John Davis. Charles Gar¬ Reiff mill from 1785, to 1838. There was ! ner, now living near the mill is one of his! a grist mill on its site over since 1748, j descendants. Peter Garner was one of when one was built here by John Burk. the eight children of John Garner. Abram II. Oassel, of library fame, In 1844, another Sheriff, James Wells, | furnishes an interesting sketch of the! seized the mill as the property of Silas Johnson family, of Franconia, to the; Garner an'-’ ,Jld it to Samuel Gross. A| llarleysville News. This Johnson family few years Gross was killed one win- was German, the name being spelled; ter morning by slipping from the water Jantz at first. Mathias Jantz settled on wheel, where he had gone to cut tho ice; a farm near Elroy iu 1734, buying 185 With an axe. | He left children, Mari¬ acres of John Williams. etta, Ann Eliza and Rachel, whose guard¬ ian was J acob N. Baker. Bereft of her husband, the stricken widow could not long hold possession. Again in 1852 the Sheriff, Philip Hahu, came along and sold the mill as tho property of Elizabeth Gross to Henry L. Freedley. In 1854, Freedley, who was not a resident or a miller, sold to John L. Heist. THE HEISTS. The Heists came here from Whitpaiu, and were sous of John Heist, w ho kept the tavern at Frankliuville and was Jus¬ ST. JOIN’S cum tice of the Peace there for many years. They were descendants.of the Levelings, proprietors there since 1730, John Lever¬ ITS EIGHTIETH ANNIVERSARY TO BE1 ing Heist assigned the mill to his brother CELEBRATED TO-MORROW. Dr. Daniel Levering Heist in 1865. Jqhn The Third Episcopal Church In Mont¬ A list of communicants written In 1818 gomery County—Early Rectors—Various [states that there were then 23, in 18:32 there were 17, and of these latter, the Rector writes, j Alterations—All Saints’ Chapel. “not more than 30 are regular in their at¬ tendance on the communion.’’ It was not until the Rectorship of Dr. Nathan Stem, [special to the public ledger. 1 who took charge of the church in 1839, that Nobbistown, Nov. 9.—In pleasing contrast la register was pui chased and the foundation with the days when It was the only church In [lor systematic methods laid. the place, St. John’s, Norristown, tc-mor¬ When he commenced his labors there were row celebrates Its 80th anniversary. “Near 38 communicants and at the end of his minis¬ one hundred houses, including public build¬ try, In 1859, there were 120. Now there are at ings, one Clergyman, live lawyers, five tav¬ St. John’s and Its Godchild—All Saints’s erns and a dally stage to Philadelphia, ” is Chapel—as noted in the last convention Jour¬ the graphic description of Norristown and its nal, 500. During the six years admlnistra- life as it existed in 1818, two years after St. 1 tion of one of ihe earlier Rectors there is not John’s Church was completed and four years a single record of the number of communi¬ after the borough of Norristown was incor¬ cants or of persons confirmed. It is possible porated, that these records had been kept on loose A stranger coming back from the days when sheets and subsequently lost. | St. John* s-was young would see the venerable The Rectors. edifice expanded quite beyond his knowledge, more than a score of other churches and ; The Rev. John Curtis Clay served as the first Rector of the church, he having been called on October 28, 1811. Resigning In 1817, he was succeeded by Rev. Thomas P. May, ‘Who died in 1819. Mr. May was a young man of great promise, aud his death occurred I while he was in his 27th year. He was suc- [ceeded by one of St. John’s famous Rectors, the Rev. Bird Wilson. From 1308 to 1818, Mr. Wilson bad served as JiKlge of Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Delaware counties with distinguished ability, resigning his high office In order to devote himself to theological studies under Bishop White. The Bishop ordained him to the dlaconate in 1819, and in the following October he was chosen to be Rector of St. John’s, which [office he held in connection with the Rector¬ ship of St. Thomas’s for a little more than two years. In 1821 he resigned to enter the Theological Seminary at New York, where he remained until hia death, in 1859. He had risen to high distinction during his life, the 'University of Pennsylvania having conferred upon him the degree ot D. D. In 1821, and Columbia College that of LR. D. in 1845. The B.ev. John Curtis Clay was then called REV. ISAAC GIBSON. a second time to the charge of St. John’s. It missions, sixty odd passenger trains daily to was during his second administration that Philadelphia, trolley cars, and a beautiful the Convention of the Diocese of Pennsylva¬ town of more than twenty thousand people. nia was held In St. John’s Church in 1824,and J The congregation of St. John’s dates back it was also marked by the last visitation of further than 1813, however, as it is recorded Bishop White to the parish in 1827, when the that the ehuroh was admitted to the Conven¬ largest class ever confirmed in the church was tion of the Diocese of Pennsylvania in 1812. received. There were 44 persons in It. Mr. IA charter giving the church a legal existence [Clay again resigning was succeeded in 1832 by i was secured a little later; in June of the fol¬ the Rev. John Reynolds, who also resigned lowing year James Milnor was engaged as lay in 1838. reader under a license from Bishop White, Dr. Nathan Stern was the Rector from 1839 and in August of the same year the first meet- to 1859. It was during his administration lug of the vestry was held. that the present Rectory was built, and in St. John’s Chnrob, consecrated by Bishop 1850 he reported to the Bishop that the Rec¬ William White in 1815, was the third Episco¬ tory, in consequence of the cost exceeding pal church In Montgomery county, St. somewhat the sum originally contemplated, Thomas's, Whitemarsb, having been built had been allowed to become private property, between 1800 and 1700, and St. James’s, but be Indulged the hope that the vestry, • ‘at Evansburg, in 1721. In this connection It is no distant day, would redeem their character interesting to note that some of the early Rec¬ by securing the building for the church.’’ tors of St. John’s divided their time between Through the active influence of its women, this parish and that of St. Thomas’s, While- the parsonage was subsequently purchased— marsh. The first service, it is supposed, was after Dr. Stern’s death, some years later. held in 8t. John’s early in November, 1811, Of Dr. Stern’s influence in the strengthen¬ when Jehu Curtis Clay, afterward in charge ing and building up of St. John’s, Mr. Gib¬ of Gloria Del, Philadelphia, was Rector, son, who is now the Rector, says: “When I j The details of the early history of the parish came to St. John’s, 13 years after the death , are rather obscure, as the ministers In those of Mr. Stern, I was met everywhere by evi¬ days did not keep books for the various uses dences of his deep spiritual influence, and I of the church, loose sheets of paper being . am. still meeting with lndicatiousof the fact used for registers, etc. Some of these leaves that St. John’s Church of to-day Is but a Were lost, naturally enough, in the course of fuller development of St. John’s as he left it. time, but a few have been preserved, and The Rev. John Woart became Rector early they show to somoextent the growth and con¬ in 1880, and continued until the end of 1883, dition of the church In those times. so that he served the church for nearly four years. Mr. Woartafterwards became a Chap¬ lain in the United Stales Array, and he died short time ago at a very advanced age.. organizations. "Tm furthering the work j Rev. Eaton Maxey succeeded Mr.Woart., church the Boyer endowment Is also jiis administration witnessed many valuable able. This is a fund of 820,000, and the p improvements to the churoh property, and ceeds of the Investment are divided between alter a few years of service he resigned in 1807. the charities and the regular expenses of th£ He was folio wedia few months later by George parish. W. Brown, who retired after a Bay of less than All Safnt3’ Chapel. One of the outgrowths of Mr. Gibson’s mln«f tVIn^869 Charles Mcllvaine, a son of the late Istry has been the establishment of a congre¬ BlshOp of Ohio, assumed charge of the con-; gation In the west end of Norristown. All gregation, but after a short administration, Saints’ Chapel was butlt upon land purchased, marked by much earnestness, zeal and de¬ for this purpose In 1889. The structure was votion in advancing the cause of thei consecrated by the Rt. Rev. W. O. Whitaker spiritual welfare of Urn parish, he resigned in January 31, 1892. A flourishing mission la 1872. On November 1, 1872, the present East Norristown also engages the attention of Reotor, Rev. Isaao Gibson, a Virginian byj many of the workers from St. John’s, and.! birth, was called from a oharge at Coving¬ steps have been taken to secure a site for th® ton, Kentucky, to the Pastorate of St. John s. erection of a chapel in that section in the neat Various Alterations. fu; ure. The churoh, as originally ereoted, was very In the Sunday schools attached to 8f»'J different from the present building. It was John’s, AlUSaints’ and the East Norristown at first 64 by 69 feet In size, with a low. square Mission there are now, approximately, 600 lower in the rear 18 by 18 feet, In the base of enrolled, and in the training of the young in whioh was the vestry room. In 1856, under these schools a large number of devoted men the administration of the Rev. Mr, Stem, and women give freely of their time and extensive improvements were undertaken, in talents. The Rev. W. Herbert Burk becama the progress of which 20 feet were added to Assistant Minister of the parish September 1.' the length of. the c'nurch, and the present 1894. handsome towetf ereoted aod the old one The officers of the church at present ares partly removed, leaving that seotlon intact Wardens, George B. Boggs and John D.New- whioh now oontatns the vestry room, bold; Treasurer, F. I. Naile; Secretary, T. S. A new organ was installed, the Improve¬ Adle; Vestry, B. F. Solly, T. S. Adle, Georgaj ments altogether involving aa expenditure of B. Boggs, John D. Newboid, P. Frank HuntetiJ £8000, all of whioh had been paid, it is atatad, F. I. Naile and B. Percy Chain. peiore the recoaaecratiaa «f iha ohureh hi B'shop Alonzo Potter on Good Friday, April 10, 1857. Iu 1S01 further improvements were inangu- From, rated, the present chapel was built, and th® present chancel and vestry room arranged. It required two years’ time and §9633 to corns plete the work, but the ohureh was quit® ftrfF7db&6. •. materially aided by a bequest of 819,000, S700J of which had been appropriated for tbe ini* provements. 1 In 1867 tbe Rev. George W. Brown Insti¬ Bate, tuted further reforms in the architectural schema of the church, the chancel, orgam chamber and other portions of the interior being altered at a cost oi over $1100. ST. JOHN’S CHURCH ANNIVERSARY Under tbe administration of the present Rector, Rev. Isaao GUsod, the policy of Historic Sermon fey the Rector, church Improvement has held conspicuous Diace. The handsome organ now in use was Rev. Isaac Gibson. placed in position in 1879. Iu 1885 some $109(1 were expended In making repairs and in adding Improvements to various parts of th® LETTERS FROM REVS. MAXCY AND KAYE ohureh. Io 1892 the chancel was beautified with an oak reredos costing about $600. This is a particularly fine piece of carving; Impressive Services on Sunday Morn- ■ and the Ladies’ Guild which furnished th® ing, Afternoon and Evening— Ad¬ means for this valuable and artistic feature of the decorations can well be proud of thelf dresses toy Rev. W. H. Burk, Mr. part in the work. The women of St. Johns, Derris H. Redner, Rev. Joseph. N. by the way,are not tbe least active in further* Ing the work of the parish, and ever since th® Blanchard, Rev. William N. Me-} organization of the Ladies’ Benevolent So¬ Vickar, D. D., and Mr. James C. ciety, in 1839, to the present time, their lively' co-operation has been a matter highly appre* Sellers. ciated by the vestry. Several thousand dollars were spent upomj There was a large attendance on Snnday at the Interior and exterior of the church during St. John’s P. E. Chnrch, it having been open¬ the summers of 1892 and 1893, the improve¬ ing day of the exercises in commemoration of ments embracing a new root to the church, the eightieth anniversary. In the morning new frescoing, new carpeting, etc., and in the the Hector, Rev. Isaac Gibson, delivered a work of raising money for this purpose iha various societies or organizations, particu¬ very interesting historic sermon, which we ! larly the women connected with the church,,, print in fall, in connection herewith. He bore a large share of the burden. was aided in the services by Rev. W. Her- The Boys’ Brigade, the Brotherhood of Sf.1 i bert Bnrk, assistant rector of St. John’s and 1 Andrew the Men’s Bible Class, the Ladles* All Saints churches. Among the congrega- \ Guild, St. Agnes’s Guild, the King’s Daugh¬ tion were Prof. Thomas May Peirce, wife and ters, the Sewing School,all serve to show tha® son, of Philadelphia. The former is a grand¬ the modern spirit of organization Is abroad ia St. John’s.and the effectiveness of its church son of Rev. Thomas May, one of the early work manifests the advantages of such rectors of St. John’s. Mr. Mathias Holstein Henderson, a grandson of_Mathias Holstein, a charter member of 1812, a resident of the West, was also-^iresent, together with Mrs. I in 1813 are early events pointing to~'fEe one we commemorate—the first".services in this Joseph Potts and Mrs. .Tnliet C. Walker, of | church in 1814. Philadelphia. Mr. Reynolds, of Erie, a son In 1812 the borough of Norristown was in¬ of the late Rev. Mr. Reynolds, was also among corporated, and in 1813 the foundation of St. the visitors whose families had at one time or John’s Church was laid and the building was another been connected with the church. In completed in 1814. The population of Nor¬ the morning letters were read from Rev. E. ristown at that time could not have been more W. Maxcy, a former pastor, now of Troy, N. Than five hundred. The Norristown Her- aid of 1816 recorded that the town then con¬ Y., and Rev. J. W. Kaye, of Philadelphia, tained “ Near one hundred houses, including until recently in charge of All Saints Mission. public buildings, one clergyman, five lawyers, The letters are also given herewith. I five taverns, and a daily stage to Philadel¬ The Sunday schools of St. John’s, All phia.” Saints and East Norristown Mission united in The building committee for St. John’s the afternoon anniversary celebration. Ad¬ j Church were Henry Freedley, Mathias Hol- stine and Levi Pawling. dresses were made by Rev. W. Herbert Burk On December 17. 1812, the charter was and Mr. Lewis H. Redner, of Philadelphia, signed by the following persons : Bird Wil¬ before a crowded house. son, F. Swaine. Levi Pawling, M. Holstein, In the evening the male societies entered John Zeiber, George W. Holstein, Henry the churoh from the vestry room door and Freedley, Sr., Henry Freedley, Jr., Morris marching down the west aisle and up the Jones, David Thomas, John Markley, George middle, singing, took seats at the front. The j Righter, John Righter, Thomas S. Markley. vestry and visiting clergy were also in the "Vestrymen named in charter: Francis Swain, Bird Wilson, Levi Pawling, Henry procession. Rev. Mr. Gibson and Rev. Mr. Freedley. Mathias Holstein, John Zieber, Burk read the service. Able addresses were George W. Holstein. made by Rev. Joseph N. Blanchard, Rev. St. John’s was the third Episcopal church Wm. N. McVickar, D. D., and Mr. Jarfies C. built in Montgomery county, St. Thomas’ Sellers, the latter of West Chester. Church, Whitemarsh, having been built be¬ The regular choir was somewhat strength¬ tween 1690 and 1700, and St. James’ Church, Evansbvrg, in 1721. ened, and the music at the services was very The first service was held in St. John’s fine. There were elaborate floral decorations. Church sometime towards the close of the This evening the female societies will take year 1814 and as Rev. Jehu Curtis Clay was part in the celebration. There will he ser¬ called to the rectorship Oct. 28, 1814, it is fair vices and addresses by Rt. Rev. O. W. Whit¬ to suppose that the church was then ready for aker, D. D., and the Rev. A. A. Marple. occupancy and that it was opened for the first On Tuesday evening there will be a gen¬ time early in November following. Unfor¬ tunately we have no record of the member¬ eral reception in the chapel. ship of the church at the time of its organiza¬ EEV. MB. GIBSON’S HISTOBICAL ADDBESS. tion. There is no record of communicants in Hitherto Hath the Lord Helped Us—Samuel, the first church register. The only early re¬ 1, 7-12. cord consisted of a few loose sheets of pa- To commemorate an event is to show appre¬ paper containing lists of the names of the ciation of its worth and the value of the re¬ communicants in 1818, 1821 and 1832. There sults which flowed from it, and the events was a register which contained baptisms, which are most commemorated amongst men marriages and deaths. The first list was by are not the very beginnings of great move¬ Rev. Thomas May, and comprised twenty- ments but some distinguishing fact which three names, and the other two by Rev. Jehu marks their progress towards consummation. I C. Clay, the latter consisting of forty-seven We do not distinguisbingly commemorate names. At the end of this list Mr. Clay the long line of events preparative of the wrote, “Not more than thirty of the above coming of our Lord, but we make promi¬ are regular in their attendance on the com- nent the factof his birth.So also we commemo¬ , munion.” rate the notable facts of his death and resur¬ There exists no later record of the comma- rection. : nicants of this church until the rectorship of We do not take national notice of the first Dr. Nathan Stem, who upon taking charge of movements of the colonies towards indepen- the church in 1839, purchased a new register de^e, but we fix attention upon the Declara- and laid the foundation of a systematic tioMaf Independence, as marking distinctly method, which has been faithfully observed proiss toward its attainment. In like to this day. spirit^B have chosen the opening of this According to Dr. Stem there were thirty House of God as an event giving proof of that eight (38) communicants when he became life and devotion of the people by which it Rector. During the next (10) ten years this was built, and as marking the beginning of number had increased to (123) one hundred an era of assumed prosperity. It is not there¬ and twenty three. In 1859 Dr. Stem made his fore the wood and stone that we honor last report to the Bishop and stated the num¬ in these services but the men and wom¬ ber of communicants then to be one hundred en who put them here. And in noting and twenty (120). At Easter 1867, the Rev. pages, the development of this building, we Mr. Maxcy reported the number of communi¬ are not simply paying tribute to the material cants to be (191) one hundred and ninety on dedicated to sacred uses, but to those wh o and in 1872 the Rev. Mr. Mecllvaine gave the under the inspiration of faith and love have number as (195) one hundred and ninety five. consecrated their time and substance to the Thej.resent number of communicants in the cause of Christ and to the glory of Almighty Parish in St. John's Churoh and All Saints God. Chapel, is about (500) five hundred. If we are in this spirit of commemoration to¬ I will now give a general view of the day the seemingly dry details, which I am to Ta™ns Rectorships in order of time. give, will glow with light and reveal afresfi to -The Bev. Jehu Curtis Clay was chosen the us, people and scenes, which will warm first Rector, Oct. 28, 1814. He entered upon his anew our hearts’ affections, and invite us to regular duties Jan. 1st, 1815, dividing his time fuller consecration to our holy calling. iat first between St.John’s Church and St. The formation of the congregation in 1812, ifiornas’s Church, Whitemarsh. On April sixth following, St. John’s Church was conse- a, # _oy Bishop_TVHfte, one of.. VjS" three_ I after the death of Doctor Stem, I was met ps who organised the Protestant Ejiisco- everywhere by evidences of his deep spiritual j Jhnrch in theso United States. influence, and I am still meeting indications -he first organ was placed in the ohurch of the fact that St. John’s Church of to-day jme time dnring the same year. Mr. 'flay re¬ is but a fuller development of St. John’s signed the Rectorship in 1817, and was cuc- Church as he left it. ceeded by the Rev. 'ftiomas May, a yioang man In 1849 Dr. Stem reported to the Bishop of great promise, hilt whose work was cat that “ a new and commodious rectory is in short by death on the 20th of September in the progress and is now rapidly advancing to¬ second year of his Rectorship, and in the 27th ward completion.” The year following, 1850, year of his age. he reported that the rectory, in consequence He was followed by Rev. Bard Wilson, who of the cost exceeding somewhat the sum before entering the Ministry of the church had originally contemplated, had been allowed by seerved with distinguished ability as Presi¬ the vestry to become private property; but dent Judge of Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, be indulged the hope that at no distant day since Delaware counties, from 1808 to 1818, the house would be secured by the vestry when he resigned his high office and devoted for a permaneut reotory, which hope was himself to theolog oal studies under Bishop; realized in 1860, through the efficient aid of White, who ordained him to the Deaconate the Ladies Benevolent Society, of which at in March, 1819. Ir>. October following he was that time Mrs. Angelia Bean was directress, j chosen to be Rector of St. ohn’s Mrs. E. H. Stewart Secretary, Rev. John Church, which office he hi to- Woart being rector. getber with the charge of St, -mas’ In +he year 1856 extensive improvements Church, Wbitemarsh, until the ; n of were begun upon the church building. The ilogi- 1821, when he resigned to enter the original church was.64x69 feet with a low r of cal seminary at Hew York as Pro square tower at the rear of the building 18x18, held Systematic Divinity, which position he in the base of which was the vestry room. until 1850, being then retired as Emeritus The improvements changed all this. Twenty until his! Professor, which position he held feet more were added to the length of the death, April 14, 1869; He had risen to nigh church, and the present handsome tower : distinction, the degree of D. D. having been was erected and the old tower partly removed, , conferred upon him by the University of Pennsylvania in 1821, and that of LL. D. by leaving only the part containing the old Columbia College in 1845. vestry room. The changes were com¬ The Rev. John C. Clay was re-elected rector pleted in 1857, and with the addition of a Nov. 15, 1821. new organ made a handsome improvement to In May, 1824, the Convention of the Dio¬ the property of the parish. The cost was cese of Pennsylvania was held in St. John’s about eight thousand dollars, all of which Church. The entertainment of such a large had been paid before the reconsecration of body of men for several days by so small a the church by Bishop Alonzo Potter, on community speaks well for the openhearted Good Friday, April 10, 1857. The contem¬ hospitality of onr fathers, and at the same time porary chnrch historian, Mr. John McKay, I makes evident the fact that Mr. Clay was a informs ns that the Bishop used upon that man of untiring energy. occasion a modification of the consecration April 22, 1827, marks the last visitation of and institution offices. Ministers present; - were Rev. John C. Clay, rector of Gloria Dei, Bishop White to this parish, and this visit j was not only notable for being the last but Philadelphia; Rev. George Mintzer, St. for the large number'be then confirmed. The James, Evansburg; Rev. B. Wistar Morris, , class was the largest ever confirmed in St. St. Davids, Philadelphia; Rev. George B. John’s Church, numbering forty-four (44) Reese, St. Marks, Milford, Pa; Rev. Bethel persons. Mr. Clay closed bis pastorate in this Claxton, Rev. B. B. Smyser, and Rev. Nathan church Jan. 1st, 1882, and was followed by the Stem. Rev. John Raynolds, who held the position The building committee consisted of Mr. until Nov. 2d, 1838. I find from the records Jacob Steinmetz, James W. Schrack, Wm. ' that he was active in his work, and the bap¬ Wills, Henry Edey and Rev. Nathan Stem.I tisms, funerals and marriages were of the About eighteen months after the completion ! i average number, but I find no trace of the of this important work. Doctor Stem died, j number of communicants or of persons con¬ He was in the prime of life, being only 55 j firmed during the six years of his pastorate. years of age and in fall tide of his usefulness; I can only account for this by supposing the when he was called to his rest. records to have been lost, as the habit among On January 12, 1860. Rev. John Woart took the early clergy of this church was to keep charge of the Parish and continued his labors | until December 21, 1863, giving him a pastor- j such lists of communicants, and of persons confirmed, upon loose sheets of paper, which ate of nearly four years. He afterwards be¬ came a chaplain in the U. S. Army. He was; habit has, I trust, disappeared from the whole j on the army’s retired list until a short time) church forever. Mr. Reynolds resigned the rectorship Nov. 2d, 1838. ago, when he died at a very advanced age. The Rev. Eaton Maxcv was made rector in He was followed by the Rev. Nathan Stem, who took charge of the church February 17, June, 1864. He came in the spirit of progres-1 * sive work. He was greatly aided in this by 1839. On the 18tb of May, 1840, a union was a liberal bequest of John Boyer, of about effected between '•Christ (Swedes’) Church, ($19,000) nineteen thousand dollars to the Upper Merion, and St. John’s Church, under church, (besides three thousand for the the pastorate of Dr. Stem, and a satisfactory alternation of services agreed upon, which worthy poor). Of the Boyer bequest about seven thousand dollars were appropriated to union continued until the spring of 1343, the building of the present chapel and arrang- when it was terminated because of the inabil- 1 j ing the present Chancel and Vestry Room, j y ty of the two vestries to agree upon a schedule The entire cost of the improvements com-! of services for the coming year. Dr. Stem J pleted in 1866 was $9333. On May 6th, the was a man of fine, robust character, and one year following, Mr. Maxc.v resigned, and on I ‘ thoroughly fitted for his work in this par¬ July 27 following, Rev. George W. Brown ) ish, which in all departments proved was chosen Rector. Dnring his brief Rector-1 most successful. He won and held for 'ship of about eighteen months the chancel 1 more than twenty yiears the love and was decorated and organ chamber built, and | respect of the whole community, and he much more was done to improve the interior , left a deep impress of his personal influence of the church building at a cost of $4109. upon the faith and practice of the church. The Rev. Charles Mcllvain, a son of the When I came to the parish, thirteen years 9.'war ~-ga■■■■Mwar late Bishop of Ohio, became Rector in June, Tie was an earnest TncT zealous pastor'! and was faithful In his efforts to advance the ay schools in active operation. St. John’s spiritual welfare of the parish. He resigned vT”“11 Saints“V andt East ixomstown,Norristown, and the num-- m .tune, 1872. 8 Of inGmhpT"? VAtirtntn/l 4-U^ 1_i. f \ f members reported to the last Con ven- The present Rector, Isaac Gihson, entered 600 la^i°dmg °iB?er1s aud teachers, was about. upon his duties November 1, 1872 Of the' h««’ bIJl musical development of the parish character of his work it is not fitting that flas kept pace with the general progress ct ranch should he said but, faithfulness as a his¬ John’s Church has been conspicuous for many torian requires that I should name the im¬ her chote the ?®ciency 0f tbe work done by provements which have taken place in the Sff. ’ a?d those who seek to elevate the church building and the extension of the tone and spirit of sacred song, should be re- work in the Parish. infrinnenfatv,lm^0rta?t c°-workers in the build¬ The policy of church improvements has ing up of the Kingdom of Christ. held a conspicuous place through all these A number of handsome memorials hnvp years. ! been placed in the church during the last ten 1 In November, 1878, the new organ was to ke6p green the memories of i placed in the church at a cost of $2800, in- thosethole whose lives were a blessing and whose | eluding the oM organ. TJ- ^ /aa rais0nd memories are an inspiration. I knowTf no mainly by the Organ-fund Society ; and the’ way to honor the departed loved ones more committee of purchase consisted of Mr. B walIs°of,?ht:ly,than>, tha\of P]aci^ S Z and 1 \ nrCl1D th0y worshipped t- a"1 for. whica they Wloved,hich to work such tokens of affection as tend to perpetuate their saws names and also to beautify the house of God his services without salary, in which free ‘1Sa congregation should at an early day service he had been preceded by Mrs. B E JiectorsRectors of this church,LU Mum0ry it wouldof the dodeceased a mosr Tn^8SKd^rSlHa?nah S!enimer Pomeroy, in 1885 the church was re-floored, re-pewed gracious thing, and add much to the sacren and “any other improvements memories of this beloved old church aaaed to the chancel at a cost of about $4000 rw,„tVe uee? compelled to omit a great many things which it would give me pleasure to hundhredh tr?e,,LadleS’T?aUd tarnished several hundred dollars. The improvement com¬ speak of, but I must content myself with this mittee consisted of Mr. H. E. Brown, Mr general survey of the past. (George D. Bolton, Mr. Geo. B. Boggs. I cannot, however, conclude without re¬ • , 1889 land was purchased inWest Nor¬ work2 4° recfut developments of parish ristown for the erection of All Saints’ Chapel workfn J fw.moder“ 8?lnt of organization for Jhhn^ w°v wascarried to completion, by Rev! work for Christ and his church has been felt Darish th® ass?stant minister of the h“o°dnSofU%- aDAd ,ith* chaPters °f Brother¬ hood of St. Andrews, the Boys’ Brigade* b« 1st. 1890 h d entered nP°n his work Octo- and the Men’s Bible Class, though oi hwiwM8' °haPel was opened for services recent ongin, are making themselves felt by the Rt. Rev. O. W. Whitaker, D. D Jan for good, while the Ladies’ Guilds and Auxil¬ ary, the St. Agnes Guild and the King’s Ge7 I1’*892' ^he building committee was Laughters the Mothers’ Meeting and the Girls’ Hunter’ ggS’ S' Adle and P- prank Ml oniyaK0Clety/nd Swing School are in The Rev. Mr. Kaye was made minister in full operation, and promise much for the ad¬ vancement of all the .‘interests of thl parish after^ite^/t "/v* ®aints.’ Chapel immediately tinned ^rfdTCatl0,n’ ln which office he con- Mr Pre®eat vestrymen are Mr. B. F. Solly, ntl1 June b 1894- at which time his tp "ri S>VAd,le' Mr- George B. Boggs, Mr voluntary resignation took effect. F ^ 1>7^ieWb0 a ’ ™r- P' Frank Hunter, Mr.' “rm^ the snmmers of 1892 and 1893 ex- F. I. Naile and Mr. P. Percy Chain the improvements were made in both the wardens being Mr. George B. Boggs and Mr Ulterior and exterior of St. John’s church at John D. Newbold ; treasurer, Mr. F I Naile • of nearly f°nr thousand dollars, the secretary, Mr. T. S. Adle. As a vestey it ij church improvement committee being John tere«tCtef tnd bif mteligent devotion to the in- D Newbold, T. S.Adle and B. F. Solly the nist^f the char.sh. I feel sure that as in th,s work as in all the other im- the past the vestries of this church have been provements which have taken place in zealous and liberal in their efforts to secure thl ladte-JT °.f parish, the assistance of the progress of the church, so the present the ladies societies has been freely given and vestry will not be fonnd wanting in those qualities which secure success. tte6irCiUnCh °ffiCiaIS have highly^ppreciated vstinrf a°°P°ration. From the organi- . While we commemorate the past we face the £*“<**« Laches’ Benevolent Society in thatnVstT fhe highvantage grounTtoThich tion ,lhe Present time the active coopora- pa8‘ h“ brought us. What we are that tions bL i6 IadlesJn their various organiza- past, under God, has made ns. Though we titms has done much to insure success. ‘“Proved we did not create our heritage and while we rejoice in it there is sounding^ 1893 a missi0G was start- our ears all the while a deep note of pathos have been Jt0rriS!°Wn and since then steps . Jbf ^en and women who built these walls ? to /eCUre lots for the erec- tion of a chapel, we trust in the near future and filled these pews, and worshiped at this altar, nave gone to their rest. They have MrP°W10H MndrhiaS meen donated hv W F^,^^6’ Mr- Jol“ T- ^cr and Mr. passed on to a toll realization of thei/hopes! They were our leaders in the church militant. no^tionEeef J‘ Hfrb?rt Bnrk was called to the Tb0yar® alsoour leaders to the church tri¬ position of assistant minister July 27, 1894 umphant. We love their memories, and we and entered upon his work Sep. 1st following’ • b°Pe t0. jom them in their fruition. Their Ch H iV1w Was th0 r fealty to the Lord Jesus withoutStaryn°ffthe PfriSu wonld be complete Zhtl K a not,ce of the Sunday school, pbnst- We are glad that they were our which from a very early day has been truly brethren according to the flesh, but we reioice the nursery of the church. Many of the in the fact of the higher kinship of the spirit most devoted men and women of the church We never saw the faces of many of then/ but Mve freely given their time and talents to we love to read the long lists of their names < deserve hkditran'Dg ragmen. They /auseV/th^611 Z .th® °harch reoords, be- ®,e7 high commendation for the diligence canse of their work m Christ, and because 1' Si ‘^Wel/do6 g0DC:it0 ie,ceive his benediction. 1their dwork.work° nTTmThere1Ch areth< Vat present:have dis threePlaved Sun- in Well done, good and faithful servants ” i These have reached their goal and |we are hastening on to join thenu __ , They have made parish history; weare still making it. What will be the writing when, In a record more lasting than any pages which mortal can pen, is the storv of the during some future' commemoration, the foursc&re yeans of dear old St. John’s. No records shall be read again from this pulpit? one who knows the story of the parish needs Will it be that the members of the ohuroh in to be told that not in vain have its children St. John’s Parish have lost the spirit of their , labored. The tasteful edifice in its happy lo¬ fathers? that they did not realize their high cation, with the lovely rectory by its side, the privilege and were indifferent to their God-im- terraced grounds, carefully kept as I recall them, the adjoining field of the departed poscd daties? that they placed society with its where so many of an older day rest from their fashions and social claims before the chnrch labors, all these are portions of the earthly and her grand work ? that they were spend¬ record. thrifts on the secular side, but parsimonious But who can tell, who hut God knows, the on the side of religion ? that they forsook the • story of the hearts which in the various ex¬ worship of the church for the pleasure of periences of life have been cheered and soothed and uplifted and strengthened parties and the attractions of theatres? Let through His blessing on the services and! us hope not, Let us pray not. Let us plead ministrations of rectors and people. The un-f with our Lord to preserve ns from this blight. seen and the unknown ever outreach the seen Let us gird up our loins and be strong for the and the known in parochial as in all other, battle, which is at hand. We are organized history. for a sacred conflict, let us train for it and be While we who have in various ways been identified with St. John’s may devotedly active in it. We stand amid the graves of de¬ thank God for all we know of its blessed past, parted Saints, let us be faithful in the work we may well rejoice that far greater is the full which they handed down to us. If we are story of its accomplishment. We shall know true to the faith odcs delivered to the Saints, more of that in “ the dav after to-day.” May true to the virtues exemplified by Christ and the Lord ever have in His holy keeping the commanded in his law of love ; true to our parish of so many prayers and efforts and! make it a perennial fountain of blessedness. baptismal and confirmation vows, then shall With kindest regards, with grateful mem-i we fill up the measure of Christly life and oriesand with earnest prayers for theabid-: rejoice in the success of our heavenly work. ing Divine presence in ia.ll the future of St. Then will the future realize the hopes of the John’s Church, past and generations to come will call us Yours sincerely and faithfully, blessed. Eaton W. Maxcy. Letters From Rev. Mr. Maxoy and No. 2539 North Sixth street, Philadelphia. Rev. Mr. Kaye. My Dear Mr. Gibson : In reply to the kind Christ Church, Troy, N. Y., Nov. 7, invitation of your committee to be present 1894—Mrs. H. H. Fisher, Mrs. Henry D. on Sunday, November 11th, to make an ad¬ Wentz, Mrs. Wm. H. Shoemaker, Mr. Walter dress to the Sunday Schools of St. John’s par¬ Childs, Mr. Muscoe M. Gibson, Sec’y, Com¬ ish, I would say, that my Sunday duties for mittee. the present and in the near future, make it Dear friends of St. John’s Church :—The Impossible for me to accept the invitation for exceedingly kind and cordial invitation the day and hour named. Trusting that your which you sent on Saturday was duly re¬ anniversary will be a pleasure and a profit to ceived and is most deeply appreciated. concerned, I remain, Among the most delightful experiences in Faithfully yours, ministerial life is the evidence of affectionate regard whioh after long separation still re¬ _ _ J. W. Kaye. tains its pristine vigor. That after so many years we should be remembered by any would be an occasion for grateful thought—to < be so very kindly remembered and to be the From, . Z .--.-kL,. > recipients of so urgent a request to be present at ah anniversary abounding in sacred mem¬ ories and traditions is oooasion for surprise; and grateful acknowledgment. As a re¬ newed expression of feeling in consequence of a previous necessitated Inclination it has enhanced meaning. It is therefore with pro¬ found regret that I am compelled to say that! It is utterly beyond our power for Mrs.'. Date, LLl&l/'' /. .£/? Maxcy and myself to be present. Very im¬ perative duties make it necessary that I should be in Troy and Albany at the time of Old Landmarks Razed. the anniversary in Norristown. It is very suggestive to me to note that The old Green Tree Hotel, and stables among the signatures to your highly prized invitation, not a single name is there which adjoining, in Lower Merion township are was on the communicant list when my rec¬ being razed to the ground. They are old torship closed. Possibly some of the matrons whose names I read there may have been landmarks dating back to Revolutionary among the fair maidens of the parish at that limes and are being demolished in order to time, but the present names are strange to give Ruben Smith, proprietor, additional me. And very few, it seems to me, can there be in the parish who can remember ground for the new bostelrie recently the young man who for so brief a period erected by him. The Merion Horse Com¬ was in St. John’s and the recipient of so great kindness from the good people there. pany ate the first meal partaken of in the A sustained health which has known hardly new hotel, on November 3. a day’s interruption has made the passing of the time so unnoticed that I can hardly real¬ ize the distance of the far off years, as in long lourneysthe smoothly running tram makes 'us oblivious of the hours and miles. But while 1 regretfully reply to your kind note, stating the inability to be with you next week, let me send assurance of very deep ap- . preciation of all that is implied in the renew¬ ed invitation which you have extended. On Sunday next and on the two following days, I shall among duties here be often thinking of the parish of earlier years, and I shall keep by me on eaoh of those days the program which happily contains not only the order of exercises but the list in which I recognize names which I gratefully recall and shall ever delight to remember. i
istltutes the top of the cave, 3638 ma- terials have evidently been washed in through the course of age3. From, ] Most of the ingredients of the deposit are soft and capable of being broken with the fingers. On exposure to the air, how¬ ever, they harden. Among the animals represented in the find of bones, teeth, etc., are the sloth or megalonyx; the mastodon or ancient elephant; the tapir, ilong extinct here but still found in the Date, :Jjt...Z.^ tropical regions of South America; the pre-historic bear and several extinct species of birds. The teeth are in the i - ■> best state of preservation and furnish in PRE-HISTORIITREMAINS. many cases the only means of identifica¬ tion, the enamel being as perfect as it was in life. IVALitTABDE FIND IN A PORT KEN¬ The lowest layer contains the greatest NEDY QUARRY. percentage of animal matter, but in so frail a condition that it Is extremely dif¬ ficult to preserve, mush less to identify jEones and Teeth, of the Mastodon, with any degree of accuracy. Several officials of the Academy of Sloth, Tapir and Other Extinct pi Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, includ¬ Animals.—An Ancient Cave Uncov¬ ing Dr. Samuel G. Dixon, the curator, ered by Blasting. and his assistants, Samuel N. .Rhoads and David MeCadden, have visited the quarry, Almost under the shadows of the hills and the most valuable finds, so far as occupied by Washington and his army size and positive identification are con¬ during the Winter of 1777-8, in the lime- cerned, have been removed to that insti¬ tution. There are, plenty of relies re- . [stone quarry of A. B. Erwin at Port Ken- s •* maining, however, find the chance visitor r nedy, a valuable discovery of remains of who is interested in scientific research pre-historic animals has been made re can find plenty to gratify his taste for original Investigation. cently. The relics already found are a It is probable that the revelations are very important contribution to scientific knowledge. by no means exhausted and that the re- i- moval of the tilted strata of limestone I The remains are deposited in what must and the careful scrutiny of the red clay f have been an ancient cave on the river cave deposit at a still lower level, will, aiae of what is now the quarry, and dis¬ show an abundance of organic remains, i tant two or three hundred yards from There is much room for speculation as to ' the present bank of the Schuylkill. The ■ the conditions under which these were W strata of limestone were tilted in such a deposited. The climate was tropical in ft way as to form a kind of arch in the hill¬ that age, as is evident from the nature of ; side, the space enclosed being nrobabiv the animals, and man had not yet ap- \. twenty feet in width and extending into peared. The river of that day, swelled H the hill quite a distance. The portion by the copious tropical rains, was many a already unearthed is about thirty feet in times larger than at present, and it may 1 length. A clear rill of water trickles be assumed that it rose almost to the 4 through the ancient cave, having its mouth of the cave just discovered. source in another portion of the hill, and There have been many visitors to the the action of water accounts for the fill- ■ quarry the past few days and the ex- u ingupof the cave, and the covering of i-1- tended notoriety the newspapers will I es tim0 such a depth. give the find promises to increase the ^ , c.ave i8 directly beneath one found in 1870, m which extensive remains of an¬ number. Many objects of interest have vj cient animal life were also found. In been carried away by them. The pet- 3 blasting the bed rock which formed the rifled wood, comparatively rare in this T vicinity, although very abundant on the boUom of the old cave, there appeared1 f : ■ other side of the Delaware, arouses much : under it and at a depth of perhaps forty ;«_, interest, and very fine specimens are feet from the surface of the hillside a ■ M M found. Among the more curious articles II reddish clay, and the debris of the Tria3- sic period, mixed with broken sandstone displayed are the teeth of a tapir, bears’ H land limestone. teeth and foot bones, deer horns, a tiger’s tooth, bits of ivory from the tusks of the | The face of this bank as exposed to view mastodon, and others difficult of identi- j and examined a day or two ago by the writer of this article, contains the fossil fication. The remains discovered no - doubt include new species and new genera g remains so highly prized by scientific in¬ not hitherto known to have existed in vestigators. The thoughtful owner of Pennsylvania and possibly some that are • the quarry has left tools suitable for delv¬ new to science, ing in the tough but easily broken mass act out ot it can easily be picked the ani- The lowest layers yet examined contain 1 mal remains and pieces of petrified wood. the comminuted remains of the wild-cat, raccoon and weasel tribes, with small ; The deposit which fills the ancient cave presents a peculiar appearance, the birds, bats, etc., the progenitors, perhaps, 1 of modern species, and many vegetable ”' 7,:mo uuugiuuieraie dgids- remains, but all so thoroughly Inter¬ fer?red,U ?ni;Slleinterspersedth with®)^D lsandstone,12“lra_te beinglime¬ stone, bones animal remains, and petri- mixed as to be scarcely distinguishable. Among the bones found are the teeth of B,® , ,Y0.ot^ ’ .alm°st every shade from pure the mastodon, round and almost perfect, de®P black being represented i i as tne pick slices off the face. The best - nearly six inches in length; the ear-bones I ®^cc.esa is met with near the bottom of of the sloth, the size of a dollar; a tiger’s I ^be layer, five or six. feet below what con- ear-bone, much smaller; the toe of a mas¬ todon and bird bones which must have belonged to feathered bipeds nearly as large as the ostrich of the present day.— {Norristown Herald. \ of the town and county irrespective of party. In short, we shall endeavor to make the Daily Register a readable daily journal and an ac¬ ceptable visitor. With this much in the way of an introductory, we commence the publi¬ cation of our little daily sheet, trusting that it will receive its full share af public patron¬ age. The paper itself was not quite as large as the Daily Herald when first issued but there was not much difference in size. Among other things it stated that the State Legisla¬ ture would meet at Harrisburg on the next Tuesday, and that the Legislature would be TWENTY YEARS AGO. the largest that had ever assembled in Pennsylvania, being the first Legislature To Editor Norristown Herald : after the adoption of the Constitution, in Hon. E. L. Acker, of this, borough, has 1873, the entire membership consisting of two shown me a copy of the Daily Register, hundred and fifty members, the same as now,, founded by him in this borough January 1st, the Senate consisting of fifty members and the House of Representatives of two hun¬ 1875, just twenty years ago, about seven years dred members. That our members, Messrs. after the Daily Herald, the announcement Rutter, Knipe, Richardson, Yerkes and Law, of whose twenty-fifth anniversary has just leave for Harrisburg on Saturday. been very extensively noticed by the press of The local news is interesting. Robert' the country. Dr. Acker was then the proprie¬ Iredell, Esq., Postmaster, states that the post- tor of the Norristown Register and Montgomery office will probably be removed to its new Democrat and Watchman, a weekly paper pub¬ quarters in the Music Hall building during lished in this borough and started by James the coming week. It was expected to get in! Winnard in the year 1800, about a year after by the first of the year but this could not be,. done on account of the room not being ready.! the Norristown Herald had been started by the grandfather of our townsman, Mr. F. The weather, for several days, had been D. Sower. On looking over the paper I find intensely cold, and making ice fast.; the following editorial as the reason of the Somebody the other day pronounced the', starting of the paper : following conundrum : “ Why is the water in The Daily Register.—After the existence the Conshohocken reservoir like John O’Cal- of the Weekly Register fornearly three-fourths lowran’s flea.” The answer was that when of a century, we venture to present to the public they came to look for it, it was not there. L this New Year’s Day, 1875, the Daily Register, This may do in an emergency, but it strikes' whose continued publication is now contem¬ us as far fetched and wretched. Lieut. Jacob! plated. It is hardly necessary to say why Geiger after a short illness died at Bridgeport. | this step has been taken, for the reasons will readily present themselves to the reader. William Sassaman, J. R. Hunsicker and; We had thought of this step heretofore, but Henry L. Acker, had bought Dr. Albanns| for satisfactory reasons it was deferred. But Logan’s farm in Norriton township for $9000, j' the time has come when the step has been of which thirty acres were to form Norris City I taken, and the little sheet is launched among Cemetery. the community to take its place and chances with kindred publications. The Norris Hose Company had been hold-, The Weekly Register was really founded in ing a fair at Odd Fellow’s Hall, and Company! the year 1800 under the name of the True Re¬ C. National Guards, one at Meeh’s Hall. Rev. 1 publican, by Messrs. Wilson and Palm. But W. Waller preached a sermon at First Presby-j this publication did not last long. It was a terian, subject, “Christmas Gifts.” Rev. j very diminutive sheet, about 10 by 12 inches. Joel T. Rossiter had received a call to the Afterward, in 1801, it was again started bv Mr. James Winnard, under the name of the First Reformed congregation of Baltimore. Weekly Register, and was for upwards of At St. John's Episcopal Church the Holy j' twenty years published by him. There were Communion was administered. At St. • during that time two papers published in the Patrick’s Chnrch, Rev. Father Monohan, \ borough. The Herald was established in Mass was said at 5.30 o’clock. The new Ger- [ June, 1799, and the Weekly Register, by Mr. man Reformed Church at Collegeville, Rev. Winnard. These were the two papers of the county for many years. The Weekly Regis¬ J. H. A. Bomberger, pastor, would be com¬ ter, in the course of years, had several pro¬ pleted and dedicated in about three weeks. prietors and publishers. It was at one time Daniel Yost, Esq., at one time a County Com- > published by Messrs. Patterson and Powell, missioner, narrowly escaped death from a then by Adam Slemmer. then again by falling tree striking him. He was 76 years of j Samuel D. Patterson, and finally Hon. John age. It copies from the Pottstown Ledger an! B. Sterigere became proprietor. On the 15th of February, 1853, the paper was for the first account of some old people in the county, i time Issued under the direction of the pres¬ Mrs. Elizabeth Thomson of Norristown, was ent editor—a period now of nearly twenty- 96 years old on the 16th of November. Daniel j one years. Shaid, of Sumnytown, was 93 old on the 31st Within this time, of course, the paper as It of December. Sirs. Hannah Gotwals of Wor¬ grew in years also grew in size, and the cester, was in her 95th year. Alan: Weekly Register is now among the largest sized papers in the state. W. Corson, of Whitemarsh, was in the office; The Daily Register starts small in size, but of the Daily Register on Saturday night; by its kind reception among the people it last and stated be was in his 96th year. will also grow in size until it shall become Jacob Fitzwater was in his 89th, Adam Slem- ■ among the largest of the inland dailies. Its co¬ mer 84. George Shearer, Plymouth, 84 ; Maj. temporary, the Daily Herald, has had for Daniel Fisher, Wbitemarsb, 80; John Jen-i some years the start, but it hopes by energy, kins, North Wales, 90; Lawrence Doran, determination and a courage that never flags to soon be up to it in size and present to the Norristown, 93. Annual meetings of Music , Democrats of the borough and county a sheet Hall Association, Norristown Library Com¬ not inferior to it. pany, Schuylkill Valley Mutual Life Insur-i The Daily Register of course will be strict¬ ance Company. Stony Creek Railroad Com¬ ly Demoeraiic in politics, and will endeavor pany, Norris City Cemetery Company, and a! to uphold what it believes to be sound prin¬ number of public sales of real estate, as welF ciples of politics and such as shall be pro¬ motive of the interests of the people, but its bargains in dry goods, etc., are among the ! course will be at all times respectful. advertisements. On the first page it pub¬ It will, however, also at the same time give lished a call for a meeting of the Democratic a large share of attention to local news and Standing Committee at the Rambo House. It shall be an advocate of^the general interests | also contains a defense of the contract of the
v .Montgomery Co niffy Almshouse,' some stric- tnres having been made in regard to it by the jtry from Worcestershire, England,’in Board of Public Charities. It stated that the 1683, and settled in Springfield, Delaware statements were inconsistent with the reports county. He was a promiuent Friend, of the Grand Jury who visited the institution at every term of court. Altogether the first and said to have been a preacher, filled a numoer of the Daily Register was quite a read¬ number of important places of public able paper. Dr. Acker published it a httle trust, being for several years a member over three years and then snsnended publica¬ of Assembly, Justice ol the Peace and tion, but continued to publish the Weekly Judge of county court. I Gazette till September 13,1879. A. R. c. | The Maris family descended from him is large, and inter-married with many [others. Among his descendants is Pro¬ I From, C y'..; 'tr oA.-■>. . j fessor George L. Maris, now at the head of the George School, Newtown. George Maris, the immigrant, died in 1705. ■ . Among his six children was George, who At A .A 1 married Jane Medlock, and the Gwynedd George Maris was the grandson of the latter. He left several children, and some Date, .■ Lr, ,7i St/.'/, 1 of his many descendants are persons of note. His children were William, Amos, Jesse, Jonathan, Ann, Hannah, Susanna, Rebecca and George. The lather of these LOCAL HISTORY. children was a thrifty personage, a noted speculator and dealer of his time, owning Tlie Dickinson Farm, Upper Gwynedd_The many different properties in Gwynedd for Old Shoemaker Saw' Mill on the Wissa- longer or shorter periods. hickon—George Maris—Mathias Lukens— MATHIAS LUKENS. The Lutz Family—Tlie Helfi’ensteins. \ In 1762, Maris sold to a more perma¬ nent owner, Mathias Lukens, who bought This farm, lying on both sides of the a plantation of 180 acres, which must Wissahickon, reaches almost to the have also included the present Beaver boundaries of the borough of North farm. The new owner is supposed to iWales, from which the farm buildings have been the son of Jan or John Lukens, who caine from Holland to Pennsylvania I are about half a mile northwest. A high¬ in 1688, and afterwards bought the later way, running from the Springhouse and Wampole farm in northern Towamencin. jSumueytown turnpike northeastward, He died in 1744, leaving a family of jdivides the property. The premises have children, of whom one was Mathias, born in August, 1700. jfor many years belonged to Albert Dick insou, whose house and barn are near the THE SAW MILL. [easterly bank of the Wissahickon, which The saw mill was here during the own¬ here flows through meadow land, frinced ership of Mathias Lukens, and it is sup¬ w.th woodland. The old sawmill, now posed that he built it before the Revolu¬ long disused, stood to the westward of tion. In the assessment of his property the dwelling. in 1776 it is mentioned, together with 130 The history of this property has never acres, two horses and six cows. He had >een written, nor can a complete chain of previously bought in 1760 fifteen acres of title be given now. The Dickinson farm Philip Richardson, and in 1761 two other or the greater part of it, was probably in- lots of George Emlen adjoining, and in eluded within the original patent to Evan 1762 another lot of ten acres, all adjoin¬ Hugh, who acquired 1,008 acres in 1701 ing and along the present turnpike. The strl yiT“ TCT *he county ^ a narrow last will of Lukens was made March 6, mi L iUgb Pugh’ one of his sons, ac- 1783, and in which he ordered his execu¬ iquiied this portion of his father’s grant tors to sell his property. lnciuding also the present Gordon and (Beaver farms, or 307 acres in all. In 1718 JOSEPH SHOEMAKER. mis tract was sold to Cadwallader Foulke In 1786, a Quaker, named Joseph Shoe¬ maker, bought the property, comprising ,l; for foultee!1 years. In 1832 Kobert Jones was the purchaser, who the 91 acres, of Joseph Lukens and John y®ar conveyed to his son John. Evans, executors of Mathias Lukens. Aftei the lapse of nearly a quarter of a Shoemaker was a worthy citizen and left came changes of ownership [a good memory. He was a member of among speculative parties in succession. Gwynedd Meeting. His last will was made March 8, 1823, in which he ordered n1fhe“PPer po,tion Y"as Pa>t of the patent j the sale of his property. His executors, 1701 866 aCleS made t0 William ^hu in Jesse Shoemaker and Isaac Jeans, sold it In 1755, David Cumming bought 108 I in 1828 to Thomas Shoemaker, who in acres of John Jones, who, in 1700 con¬ i 1830 conveyed to Emanuel Stitle, a na¬ veyed to George Maris. > tive of Germany, born in 1751.
GEORGE MARIS. EMANUEL STITLE. Geoige Maris was the great grandson He was a blacksmith, plying his trade 'ot George Maris, who came to this coun earlier at Line Lexington. Durum the latter period of his life he had his shop opposite the Rhoads’ toll-gate, and lived in the house*novv owned by Jacob Sell ad. His death took place in 1839 at the age-of 88, and he lies buried in the hilltop ceme¬ tery, of North Wales. Stitle, or Stidle, had a daughter, horn in 1780, who mar¬ ried a Reformed preacher, llev. Samuel Helffenstein. She died January 12, 1860.
REV. SAMUEL HELFFENSTEIN. We first hear of Helffenstein as pastor of the Reformed church, near 4th and Race streets, Philadelphia. He was born in 1775. He built the present large house A CENTURY AND A HALF OLD. on the turnpike, where he resided aud finally died, mostly renting the farm and The Sesqui-Centennial of the Old Goshen- mill to other parties. He was pastor of the Reformed congregation, worshiping hoppen Church—Complete Program. in the old Yellow church, North Wales, To-morrow (Saturday) and Sunday, for 17 years, or from 1826 to 1843. His December 1st and 2d, will be interest¬ death occurred October 17, 1866, at the ing days to the large Reformed and age or al years. His children were Isaac, Lutheran membership of the Old Jonathan, Albert, Benjamiu, Samuel and Emanuel. Of these Samuel, Jr., also was Goshenlioppen church, above Salford- a preacher, and also Albert. The widow ville. The 150th anniversary of the of Samuel now resides in Washington founding of that venerable church edi¬ City. Jonathan married a woman named fice will be appropriately celebrated by Bush. His sou, Samuel B. Helffenstein, two days’ servicss iu which the two was well known in this county. He was congregations worshipping there very a school teacher and newspaper man, pub¬ properly unite. The complete pro¬ lishing the Norristown Defender for gram for the two days follows many years. He was an ardent Demo¬ crat, whilst the rest of his family were SATURDAY, DEC. 1, AT 9.30 A. M.—LUTHERAN. Republicans. He died only a few years Organ Voluntary Hymn. ago in a private asylum. His uncle Al¬ Heading of Scripture and Prayer, Rev. D, H.J bert, the preacher, died in 1870 at the age Reiter, liuakertown. of 69. Samuel Helffenstein. Jr., died in Sermon by Rev. Geo. Gebert, Tamaqua, Pa. Hymn. 1869, aged 69. Addresses by neighboring pastors. Benediction. JOHN LUTZ. 2 P. M.— REFORMED. In 1855, Rev. Samuel Helffensteiu con¬ Invocation. veyed to John Lutz, of Whitpain, the Hymn. farm and mill for $6,620. the latter was Scripture Lesson. Prayer. descended from a German family. His Hymn. ancestor, Adam Lutz, made his appear¬ Sermon by Rev. L. K. Evans, Pottstown. Addresses by Revs. Eli Keller, D. I)., Zions- ance at Centre Square in 1760, when he ville; I. S. Etalir, Oley; J. E. Freeman, bought a farm to the east of the cross Boyertown : Tims. H Lein bach, Spiuners- roads. The jleath of John Lutz took tovvn; W. B. Werner, Schweuksville. Prayer. place November 3, 1861. During his Hymn. ownership he had built a n w saw mill). Offerings. Doxology. George W. Rodgers and Philip Gerhart Benediction. were appointed trustees for the heirs, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 9 A. M.—-REFORMED, among whom were sons Samuel, John, Invocation. Jacob, James, Charles and Thomas H. Hymn. Lutz. These trustees sold the farm, then Anniversary Sermon, by Rev. G. B.- Walbert, East Greenville. containing 69 acres, to Albert B. Dickin¬ Address by Rev A. L. Dechant., Penhsburg. son, who came from a Whitemarsh fam¬ History of the Reformed Congregation, by llie ily. For some time after Dickinson’s Rastor. Prayer. purchase, the saw mill continued in op¬ Hymn. eration, but gradually became disuse"'. Offerings. The large house, near the turnpike, and! Doxology. Benediction. a lot adjoining were detached many years ago, and now belongs to S. R. Gordon. 1.30 P M.—LUTHERAN. Organ Voluntary. E. M. Hymn of Invocation. Parts of morning services, Church Book, Epistle and Gospel for the day. The Creed. Hymn, Sermon by llev. G E. Spiekcr, D. D., of the Lutheran 'Theological Seminary, Mount Airy, Pa. Hymn. History of the Church, by Rev. Frederick Walz,1 Pastor Emeritus, Sellersville. Silver Offering. Hymn Benediction. A HRrEK HISTORY OF TH™C0Ub£h. Church history in 'Pennsylvania Would not l)o complete without a more or less extensive record of Old Gosh- enhoppen church, whose name and antiquity are known far beyond the limits of the county that contains this ! \ enerahle and interesting church site (and organization. This church is per¬ Date, ./a’/'J/ , i haps best and most intimately known among the Pennsylvania German speak¬ ing class, which includes nearly all of Eastern Pennsylvania, while church NEWS FHOlOMt people generally of all denominations are more or less familiar with the ancient religious landmark. OVEN THE STATE Jj. The congregation itself was organ- .iized 162 years ago—in 173# and the THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH j hist church was erected 150 years ago jj—in 1744. Including the present pas- ANNIVERSARY OF A CHURCH. * tors, Rev. C. R. Fetter, of Telford and Rev. J. L. Roush, of Penusburg, EXERCISES TO CONTINUE TO-DAY twenty-eight pastors, as far as known presided over the two congregations Four Murderers Sentenced at Greens- from the time of the founding of the burg —Plate Glass Manufacturers church down to the present day. The May Form an O.-ganization —Tlie Reformed congregation had 17 and the Lutheran 11. Their names and years Chester Police Arrest Several Mem¬ ol pastorate follow here, classified : bers of the Salvation Army—A Com¬ pany to be Formed to Generate Elec¬ REFORMED. . George Michael Weiss, 1716-’63 tricity From C’ulm. Jacob Reiss, 176.V6G. John Theobald Fra her, 1766-79. Jolm W ill mm SngolcT, 1779-’81. SalfordVILI.E, December 1. Frederick Dellcclter, 178l-’84. Frederick William Vonder-Sloot, itsi >«,; The celebration of the one hundred and John Theobald Faber, 1786-4 ’ b 8b’ fiftieth anniversary of the old Goschenhop- Nlclio las Pomp, 1789-’91. 1 pen Church began this morningaud ’(till con¬ i ln^is?llal3 Faber, Jr., 17i)l-’lS07 J. Albert Helffenstcin, lSOS-’ll. tinue to-morrow. The church is located near Albert /eat, 0 months in isu. this place, on the east hank of the Perkio- Frederick William Yonder Sloot Jr lSW’iv men creek, where the Lutheran and German Jacob William Dechant, 18l8-’33 ’ ” Andreas Hoirman, 1883-’56. Reformed congregations have worshiped in Robert v ancourt, 18>6-’63. harmony for a century and a half. Augustus L. Dechant, 1863-’94. The anniversary exercises this morning I iwhekan. were in charge of the Lutheran congregation. Jolin Conrad Andrea, 1743-'00. j Lucas Rails, 1751-’53. They were opened by an organ voluntary, I red crick Schultz, 1753-’59 followed by singing and the reading of John Joseph Roth, 1760-71 Scripture by Rev. D. H. Reiter, of Quaker- Frederick Niemeier, 1771-73 Conrad Ro ller, 1772-'!),1 town. The sermon was preached by Rev. Frederick Geisenhainier, 1795F97 George Gebert, of Tamaqua, Pa. Several | George Roller, 1798-1840. ’ ' Kngelhard Peixoto, 1841-’04 neighboring pastors were present and made V redenck Waiz, 1865-98. ' addresses. Of the pastors named but two sur- I The Reformed congregation conducted the afternoon services, Rev. L. K. Evans, of ' rp,y® ,in ad( !t;onto the present pastors. £ he t" o still living are Rev. A. L Pottstown, Pa., preaching the anniversary sermon. He was followed by talks from Deehant (Reformed!, Pennsburg, and neighboring pastors. The services to-mor¬ row will alternate in the same manner. Stolid'* Waiz' (Luther“). ORGANIZED 163 YEARS AGO. The organization of this church dates hack far beyond the history of Montgomery county, j The congregation itself was organized 163 (years ago, in 1733, aud the first building was erected just 150 years ago. Twenty-eight pastors have presided over the two congregations since the organization, and but two pastors besides the present occu¬ pants of the pulpits survive. The first build¬ ing erected was used as a school house as well as a church. It was of stone, two stories high and 35 by 50 feet in dimensions. It stood until 1808. It is related that during the early history of the church the worshipers were annoyed more orfless by the Indians, and they weut to churfeh armed, to defend themselves in sermon was delivered by "Rev. G. Ge! ease of ah attaqk. In the abrricjvstone of the of Tamaqua. Brief addresses were originafflhuildfng. which was torn down in by Rev. J. Becker, of Lansdale; 1858, two silver coins weref'found, one dated 1653 and the other 1695. The former was Fox, of Sumneytown, and Rev. J. I Velde- the pine-tree shilling of Massachusetts. llch, of Sellersville. The present structure was completed in The Reformed Congregation had charge 1858, and is a substantial stone edifice 50 by of the afternoon services, when Rev. L. 03 feet in size, surmounted by a spire 100 Evans, of Pottstown, preached a forcible feet high. It cost over $6,000. It will seat sermon. Rev. II. Stahr, of Oley, Pa., 800 people. and Rev. A. Dechant, of Pennsburg, also The graveyard surrounding the church is one of the pldest in the county. It contains delivered short addresses. Thank offer¬ the remains of many soldiers of the revolu¬ ings were made at both services. tion, and about seventy-five people killed by Oh Sunday morning the Reformed Pas¬ powder-mill explosions in that vicinity pre¬ tor again had charge of the services. Rev. vious ta 1859. %, George Walbert, of East Greenville, de¬ livered an anniversary sermon, and the pastor read a carefully prepared history From,. of the church, relating more particularly to the progress of his own people. The closing exercises of the day were held in the afternoon and were conducted .(jL. by Pastor Fetter, of the Lutheran de¬ nomination. Rev. G. Spieker, D. D., of the Theological Seminary, Mount Airy, Date, was the orator of the occasion. The his¬ tory of the church was read by Rev. F. Walz, Pastor Emeritus, of Sellersville. A jubilee hymn composed by Mr. Walz GOSHENHOPPEN GHURGH was sung on the occasion, and the gath¬ ering dispersed with a hearty hand-shak¬ ing on the part of the members and The 150th Anniversary of the visitors. The church was handsomely decorated with flowers and plants, with Organization. appropriate mottoes.
HISTOKY OF THE CHUKCH. A TWO DAYS’ CELEBRATION. Very soon after the early settlers ar¬ rived in the territory now included in up¬ Services Held Jointly by the! per Montgomery county those who held, to the Lutheran and German Reformed1 Lutheran and Reformed faith sought a place for public worship Congregations. and the education of their children. Across the country to the west, a dis¬ THE 150th anniversary of the organ¬ tance of several miles, the New Hanover Lutheran Church, the oldest in America, ization of the Goshenhoppen had been established in 1703 by Justus Church, In Upper Salford town¬ Falkner, who had been ordained and sentj ship, was celebrated Saturday and yes¬ by Andreas Rudmau, the Swedish Pro¬ terday. The church is owned jointly by vost at Philadelphia. Shortly after that, in 1732, the Indianfield Lutheran Church the Lutheran and German Reformed de¬ was organized, some six or eight miles to nominations, and the organization dates the east. Then at a point about midway back to 1732. Ever since that time thel between the two oldest Lutheran congre¬ two congregations have worshipped in gations in America, representatives of the Reformed and Lutheran faith united peace and harmony, the pastors alterna¬ in the purchase of a tract of forest land ting every Sabbath. in 1732, aud immediately built a log Notwithstanding the rainy weather and schoolhouse. As neither denomination the almost impassable roads leading to appeared able to sustain public worship alone, the two united, and have used the the old church, the numerous sheds on property in common to this day. Regular the property were filled with carriages, preaching service was held in the old the people coming from miles around to schoolhouse on Sunday, while during the participate in the jubilee services. The week it was used for school purposes. The country for miles around was two-day programme was in charge of 1known as Goshenhoppen, from which th Pastor J. L. Roush, of the Reformed de¬ church derives its name. The tract pur* nomination, and the Lutheran Pastor, chased by the two denominations com¬ Rev. C. R- Fetter. Promptly at 9.30 prised about 38% acres, for which the Saturday morning the big pipe organ paid a sum equal to $23.34 in our prese opened'the exercises with a voluntary. currency. Rev. J. Becker, Pastor of Lansdale Luth¬ The location of the church is a beauti¬ eran Church, made an address of welcome ful one, overlooking the fertile Perkiomen and read a selection of Scripture. The Valley on the west, and surrounded by rich farming community. As late as r
years ago the country for miles around was a dense forest. 1808-1811; Albert Zent.^ixmonths in 1811; Preaching services were held in the old Frederick WjVondersloot, Jr., 1812-18; schoolhouse until ]744, when the first Jacob Wm. Dechant,' 1818-33; Andreas regular church was erected of stone. In Hofl'man, 1833 56; Robt. Vancourt, 1856- 1751 the total membership of the two (63, Augustus.L. 'Dechant, 1863-94. congregations was 46. The first pastor of the Lutheran faith was Rev. Mr. Streiter, in 1743, and the first Reformed leader was Rev. George Michael Weiss, from 1746 63. The corner-stone used in the original structure is still intact, standing along¬ side of the present church. It bears a Latin inscription, the translation of which is as follows : “This house of God was erected by the liberality of the Reformed Lutheran peo- jpie.—,1. Conrad Andrea, 1743-50.” The school house above referred to stood until 1808, when it was demolished The 150th anniversary of the organiza-| and another one erected in its stead, tion of the Old Goshenhoppen Church, in? which still stands near by the present Upper Salford township, Montgomery coun- church. ty,was celebrated on Saturday and Sunday-: The first church erected stood for 113 years, when the necessities of a growing The church is owned jointly by the Luth¬ congregation caused its removal and the eran and German Reformed denomina¬ building of a larger house of worship in tions, and the organization dates back to 1858. The contents of the first corner¬ 1732. Ever since that time the tyro con., stone were in a good state of preserva¬ tion when opened in 1858. They includ¬ gregations have worshipped in peace and ed silver coins of the dates of 1652 and harmony, the Pastors alternating every! 1695, and a pint bottle of tasteless yellow Sabbath. liquid, supposed to have been wine. The building in which the services were Notwithstanding the rainy weather and held yesterday is a stone structure, two the almost impassable roads leading to the stories, 50x62 feet, surmounted by a old church, the numerous sheds on the spire 100 feet high. It will seat about property were filled yvith carriages, the 500 people. The graveyard surrounding the church people coming from miles around to parti¬ covers about five acres, and is one of the cipate in the jubilee services. The two- largest church burying grounds in the day programme was in charge of Pastor J. county. Several revolutionary soldiers L. lioush, of the Reformed denomination, | are buried therein, as well as about 75 persons who lost their lives in powder land the Lutheran Pastor, Rev. C. R. Fet- . mill explosions which occurred in the vi¬ ter. Promptly at 9.30 Saturday morning ' cinity at various times in the past. the big pipe organ opened the exercises The church record shows that in 1760 with a voluntary. Rev. J. L. Becker, a number of slaves were baptised and confirmed as members of the church. Pastor of the Lansdale Lutheran Church, Rev. Doctor Krauth, the first President made an address of welcome and read a of the Pennsylvania College at Gettys¬ selection of Scripture. The sermon was burg, was baptised in this church. The delivered by Rev. George Gebert, ofTama- present membership is about 350 Luther¬ an and 250 Reformed. qua, Pa. Brief addresses were made by The names of the various pastors of Rey. J. L. Becker, of Lansdale; Rev. W. the church and the years in which they B. Fox, of Sumneytown, and Rev. J. H. served their congregations are as fol¬ lows : Waidelich, of Sellersville. j Lutheran—Rev.-Streiter, 1743; ,7. The Reformed Congregation had charge | Conrad Andrea, 1743-50; Sencas Raus, of the afternoon services, when Rev. L. '1751-58; J. Joseph Roth, 1758-67; Freder¬ K. Evans, of Pottstown, preached a forci¬ ick Niemeier, 1771-72; Conrad Roeller, 1772-99; Frederick Gelsenheimer, 1799- ble sermon. Rev. I. S. Stahr, of Oley, 1800; Geo. Roeller, 1800-40; Engelbert and; Rev. A. L. D^chant, of Penns- Feixoto, 1841-64; Frederick Walz, 1865- burg, also delivered shoi^t addresses. |93; C. R. Fetter, present pastor. Thank offerings were made at both ser- German Reformed—Rev. George Mich¬ ael Weiss, 1746 63; Jacob Reiss, 1763-66; | vices. John Thebald Faber, 1766-79; John Wm. On Sunday morning the Reformed Pas¬ Ingold, 1779-81; Frederick Dellecker, tor again had charge of the services. Rev. 1781-84; Frederick W. Vondersloot, 1784- George B. Walbert, of East Greenville, 86; John Thebald Faber, 1786-89; Nich¬ olas Pomp, 1789-91; John Thebald Faber, delivered an anniversary sermon, and the -Tr.. 1791-1807; J. Albert Ilelffenstein. Pastor read a carefully p-epared history of the Church, relating more particularly to The his-1 the progress of his own people, ,tion had t 186000 fur tory will be published in the Item next having indulged in the luxury to b&y a small _ pe organ. This they used for i»auy years week; it came took late for this week. (until they had a chance to get a larger one from Sassaman’s church for a reasonable The closing exercises of the day were price. The old one was sold to Daniel Nase and erected in the church at Uniontown, held in the afternoon and were conducted Dauphin county, about the year 1848. Now by Pastor Fetter, of the Lutheran denom¬ it is in the first Lutheran church at Tamaqua. Soon afterward the stone house alongside the ination. Rev. G. F. Spieker, D. D., of the church was built as a residence for the school teacher and organist. It was occupied by Aa¬ Theological Seminary, Mount Airy, was ron K. Bernd about 30 years. the orator of the occasion. The history of In 1844 the congregation celebrated the
Af ubtcuberg and his faithfiil co- unde/ReV GeifsenhaLiel"a^Trappe ® when laboitrs bad made headway in spite of the ed G,aflf;f' r- Ma,tevrs werd uowPs?o 'armng11- many difficulties. They had organized the ea that Rev. Geissenhainer suDDlied this £ t.he.ra.n 'Syn°d °f Pennsylvania and adia- Parish from July 1799 to February MX) when cent states in 1748. In 1750 this congregation George Roller was licensed andtoorcharle and that at Indianfleld send each two dele- U,utl, uiv'e^^,0d t0 apP'y tor recepHonlnto At various times he supplied other con-we- that body, which was granted at the meeting Abputt he same time candidate Lu¬ Ild^^lfeTanT^ i cas Rauss Irom Siebenbergen in Hungary had arrived in Pennsylvania. He had sfudn ed in several Universities in Germany and ^as Pteparea to enter the ministry le was licensed and recommended to thesecongreoti- > proper inscriptions. His son Rev Rroi tions to which Tohickon was added to form a ler pastor in Berks county was Jequtsted to pastoral charge. In November 1751 Muhlen¬ berg administered the Lord’s Supper to th?s "i-e h| »oli1sUSS rahech^eSed l Trunnion* Lu®as Hauss was ordained at Trappe on November5th, 1752. He has done a good work here mainly by arranging of the & of the church Record in 1751. The 11108“ fnter- membei^nfainstaking part is the list of the members of the congregation. Foreach fami¬ J'ae- He remained until Ap. n iSfM. l e re! ' ly was a, special place. Above, the head of fiom1hpnh^Ca0UG,t.Of S0me difficulties arising 11 om the high politics at that war tiinp the family, than his wife and children, their moved to his house at Trappe, did for some I names, time and place of their birth, time of 1 immigration. At that time (1751) this congre¬ •1nd aIIoiSK10nai'y wo|kiu the neighborhood! gation consisted of the following heads tinn m6MoS Pasto,r olthc Lutheran congrega- I tion in Manayunk about 1871 s s famines to wit: John Michael R^her. JoVn Philip Gabel, Uonrad Schneider, John Martin In the fall of 1864 Rev. F. Waltz was ' ni,‘,as Bang> Joseph William Daub* teV°eUdS[LedY,ddm Feixoto's successor and en-' ! Ibaac Klein, George Weigele, Rilian Gaukler ed the field of labor on January John Leo Dergheimer, John Christoph Blck- He was solemnly installed in the India’nfield church by the order of the president of thp PhmndR:i1n,^dani Blckel,John Isaac Fillman, hrst conference by Rev. G. A SUantz h£I \i.Vrt P,.F IV-1 a n ’J 0hn George Wagner, George Martin 'Y,ag?er- Andreas Bayer Join pastorate covers 28 years and 3 months He I facLd^v of h?eCiaUy acc°unt of a defective | ges^^George HS er’ )'alentine Nun- iaculty of hearing and old age (72 vearsi r,. I Warm k^efSTene^le^r’ Michael consideration of his lone and^ffin.wl MathTas Knhii; ^muder, Peter Schwenk, t -viainias Kpbler. In the year 1751 Rauss was pastorate he was granted the position of ms sent by Muhlenberg up to Rheinbeck on the monmerTohwkHe P™ached hiPS° fareweU PSe?: I Hudson river to supply the chars© of Rpv c ADril?rnm fn,!<’1,lllm OU Easter Sunday, AP^il Jd. 1«93, and had the satisfaction at the 3 sPace of 6 months, while the 1 same time to install Rev. C. R. Fetter as hil R° at\®u,d to this parish and to asl successor having been elected and called by sist Rev. Brunholz in Philadelphia. Rauss the congregations. ™ '■> 1 wasnot quite regular in meeting his apSt. ments and sometimes offensively gross to This sketch of the history of the Old Gosh- his parishioners. For this rra«nn to enhoppen church was written by reouesJ tranged the people in Tohick and of the pastor and vestry of that congregation so that he thought it advisable to resign these l^thI> rXln dn,- ?“^r“^ LI a °i11 oy>T.-?r,Y’. u^v. F-WalzWalz at thpthe of.hA”R1.ve.rKar-)'and Jubilee of the erection ofthejlrst church here on December 2d, 1894. Rosina, Abraham, 'Susanna and Maria, | born between 1746 to 1757. From,i, CHRISTOPHER MESCHTER. The property passed from the Dresher family in 1771, when the widow and heirs I AA?:.' 2...(2?%X-i sold 111 acres to another Schwenkfelter named Christopher Meschter, who was . the owner during the Revolution. In Date, odJ.^yj.ci r^.. 1776, he was assessed for 100 acres, twoj horses, and six cows. He was enrolled! in Capt. Springer’s company of militia in' 1775 but there is no probability that hef LOCAL HISTORY. saw any military service. He was the son of Melehoir Meschter, the immigrant, The Heckler Farm, Towamenein—The Old and born in America in 1743. In 1773 he Kulp Place—The Dresher Plantation in married Rosina Kriebel and died in 1797, Colonial Times. leaving sons Christopher, Jeremiah and David. The present small farm of Israel D Meanwhile, the Dresher heirs had re¬ Heckler is only a fragment of a much tained a small tract of 23 acres, which they sold in 1772 to Christian Weber. It larger plantation in Colonial time, then was a narrow strip, now forming a part comprising 138 acres. The situation of of the Landes estate on the southeast the old stone house on a meadow bank side. by a spring, and at a distance from the After the Reyoluion came severe changes of ownership. The Schwenk- highway, was characteristic of the sites feiters had been possessors for half a cen¬ chosen by the first settlers. The barn is tury, when in 1784, Meschter sold to on the summit of the slope, at the termi¬ Daniel Bchambaugh. lire latter was nus of a lane, leading northeast for a few but a temporary owner. After the period hundred yards to the turnpike, at a point of five years he sold to Daniel Price, who over a mile southeast from Kulpsville. staid but four years, when in 1793 he con-1 The house is built in two parts, of which veyed 91 acres to Christian Weber, his( the western end is of unknown antiquity. neighbor on the southeast side. The The eastern part was built soon after 1820 latter added 41 acres to his own farm,and! by Jacob Kulp, succeeding an earlier log then the same year sold the fifty acres re¬ kitchen. In earlier times the property maining to Samuel Whistler for £400. included the Landes farm, that of David Whistler staid here his life-time. Death Kulp and also extended northwest to the came to him in 1819, and in February1 cross road. following the farm was sold at public sale, To go back to the beginning, in 1688, for $49.50 per acre to Andrew Anders. Penn’s Commissioners of Property grant¬ The latter retained twenty acres and the j ed the south part of Towamenein, com¬ same year sold the remnant of the muCti j prising 490 acres, to James Peters. This despoiled plantation to Jacob Kulp., was a piece more than a mile in length Kulp also came to stay a life-time, which I by two-thirds of a mile in width. It ended in 1845. His son Silas was the fronted for 220 perches upon the present heir to the same. A span of thirty-four turnpike above the Gwynedd line. In years and on October 20, 1879, Silas Kulp 171G, his son, Edward Peters, inherited ended his life. He left one child, Eliza- i this wild track and who, in 1723, convey¬ beth Ann, who married John II. Snyder,! ed the whole to three parties, Nicholas now a well known farmer living iu the! Lesher, Sr., Nicholas Lesher, Jr., and township, a mile to the northeast. In Jacob Hill. The share of the latter was 1882, Snyder and wife sold to Valentine j 189 acres on the northeast side, and of S. Ziegler. The latter removed to Lower: ' which he sold 55 acres to Christian Weber, Saiford, and in 1886 sold for $3250, the j a Hollander in 1728. The remaining thirty acres to Israel D, Heckler, the: 134 acres Hill conveyed to two Schwenk- present owner. Ziegler afterwards kept felters, George Dresher and and David the Lederaehville hotel and is now black-j Seipt, in 1735. smithing at West Point. GEORGE DRESHER. Silas Kulp was a stout man. His death Dresher may be said to have been the was from heart disease and occurred sud- first settler here, and ten years later Seipt dsnily on the hill above Towamenein crea¬ released his share to him. The Dresher mery, whilst in company of others in famiiy lived here for nearly forty years chasing a rabid dog. His brother, David afterwards, and Dresher died March 3, Kulp, resides on the northeast side of the f1774, leaving children, Christopher, Maria turnpike, opposite the former residence: and Rosina. Meauwhile, in 1752, he had of his father, Jacob Kulp, who had a sold his plantation to his son Christopher, turner shop near his dwelling. E. M, who had been born in Europe lu 1720. • Coming to this country with his father, ■VAJ -- * - -.•**%»; ‘‘ftf-afl in 1734, he married Anna Kriebel in 1744. ? jiw.,Js.7fix**SEE ''Mte His life-time was wholly within the Co¬ lonial period, as he died August 2d, 1770, at the age fifty, leaving children, George, m IK i 25
« pole assumed charge of the large Towa- ftnensing farm, and when twenty-three years ot age, in 1840, was almost unani¬ mously elected Justice of the Peace of his native township, receiving all but sixteen of the 200 votes cast, and might (have received them all, if he had “treated” some of the loungers who re¬ quested it. He and George Lukens were pioneers in enforcing, in the township, their principles against indulgence in in¬ THE OLDEST JUSTICE OF THE PEACE toxicants in the harvest field. But, al¬ IN PENNSYLVANIA. most invariably as was the custom, the non-observance on the- Wampole farm lost the proprietor no friends, and his \ BRIEF SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF SQUIRE “huskings” were the most successful I. W. WAMPOLE, OF NORTH WALES. social events of the season, one especially, North Wales enjoys the distinction, attended by men engaged in making the among other matters, of having within Springhouse and Sumneytown turnpike, its limits the oldest Justice of the Peace, and who so thoroughly enjoyed them¬ J and the longest in continuous service, in selves that another frolic was held the this county—’Squire I. W. Wampole. following evening, being long remem¬ And we have not heard the assertion I bered. In 1841 oar subject was still : that he is the oldest in the State dis¬ farming in Towamensing and continued puted. So busy has been his seventy- in such vocation until 1858, when he re¬ m jseveu years of life ; so important the moved to the steam mill at Mainland, many trusts he has discharged with iidel- which he conducted for nine years. lity, and so manifold his acts ofttimes Previous to this he had been elected jmore than kind in his judicial capacity Superintendent of the Union Brick or that we have made an effort to describe, Christ church Sunday school, a position them. His term of office expires next he filled for twenty-seven years. At; spring, and we hope that North Wales Mainland he declined the nomination for voters will make it possible for him to Justice of the Peace,but was much in de¬ succeed himself by a handsome major- mand as a clerk at sales, having officiated I ity- at as high as six in a single week. He ’Squire Wampole was horn a fanner in did the conveyancing for four townships > Towamensing on June 23rd, 1817, his while a miller. As an executor,adminis¬ j father, Frederick Wampole, being for trator and assignee he established a repu¬ j twenty years a director in the Montgom- tation for honesty and despatch, and was jery National Bank, of Norristown. The guardian of the Rev. Jacob F. Wampole, old homestead contained 137 acres, part now of Shamokin, his brother and sister of which—30 acres—was woodland. t-’V and many others, among them Isaac H. Here young Isaac went to school four Snyder, of Upper Gwynedd, and his two m'Snths each winter, until he was sixteen sisters, and was also the trustee of Jacob years of age, in Towamensing and Lower Harr, of Hatfield; Ann McGlathery, of irf Salford townships. He went eight win¬ Whitpain, and Mrs. Swank, of Philadel¬ ters to Thomas White at the Mennonite phia—the mother of the late Mathias Meeting House and years afterward was Swank, of North Wales. He was the as¬ one of three former pupils who bore the signee of John Lederach, of Lederach- old man to his last resting place. In ville, who held an eight-days’ sale of < 1838-’39 he, himself, taught fifty pupils u store goods and real estate in 1850, and f one term in the old Mennonite Meeting of Jacob O. Ziegler, of Lederaehville, who I House. in 1854 held a six days’ sale of merchan- I ’Squire Wampole was married in 1839 dise and real estate. to Mary Yocum, now deceased, the daughter of a well-known drover of that Previous to his removal to Mainland, f part of the country, who, returning from ’Squire Wampole was asked by William a purchasing trip to Ohio, became sick A, Slingluff, of the Montgomery Bank, to and died at Shippensburg, Pa. Six chil¬ resign his commission and succeed his & dren were born to them—Emily, promi¬ father as a director in that bank, but he nent in Methodist and W. C. T. U. work decided not to do so. He was a manager » in North Wales ; Sarah—grandmother of and treasurer of the Springhouse and '!’ J. L. Oberholtzer, the Lansdale baker— Sumneytown Turnpike Company, from ' who died in 1864 ; Mary Ann, wife of the building of the road, in 1847, until Abram A. Delp, of Lansdale; William, 1858, and was also a manager and treas- § who died August 3, 1887, for many years urer of the Montgomery County Mutual ( ' :'- V a dentist in North Wales ; Isaac, who Fire Insurance Company for many years I has been employed in the North Wales / ■ previous to engaging in milling at Main¬ Steam Mills for twenty-seven years past; land. ’Squire Wampole distinctly re¬ Harvey, a graduate of the composing de¬ members going to Philadelphia markets partment of the Record office, subse¬ by wagon, and doubts if, previous to the quently editor of the Malvern (Chester pikirig, there was a worse road in the county) Item, and who was last heard of comity than the now turnpike at the cor- in Georgia, where it is supposed he jihr of Main and School streets, North At eighteen years of Wales. He was a guest, on his trips, of the Sorrel Horse, Philadelphia, until Abel Lukens went to the city, when he ■enjoyed His hospitality. ' Me remembers, as Judge of Elections, being conapelled and held many high offices in the society. to take the returns of a spring election to He also became a member ot the Ameri¬ I Norristown through, sno w-drifts higher can Mechanics of Montgomery Square,in , "I than his head when on horseback. These 1848, continuing membership with thatf . drifts were generally in the vicinity of body during its location in Kulpsville,! { Centre Square. and also at Lansdale, where it now holdsf its meetings. From 1848 until 1867, hej April, 1867, saw ’Squire Warn pole and was the orders’ financial secretary. , his family residents of North Wales, During forty years’ services as a Jus- ! . where he had purchased from Michael 1 tree of the Peace, 'Squire Wampole has)- I Cramer his present home at the corner of decided 3,500' cases, only twenty of which f Second and Walnut streets. He was en- were appealed to the Montgomery county I gaged in the sale of real estate, in con¬ Court. In neighborhood quarrels, hei nection with conveyancing,from 1868 un¬ had a little trick that always served well til November, 1873, when the North its purpose, peace—telling the contest-1 Penn. Fire Insurance Company, and the ants he was “too busy to-day; comet North Wales Mutual Live Stock In¬ around to-morrow and ventilate your surance Company both of North Wales, troubles.” This invariably had the de¬ were organized, and he was elected sired effect, and disputants would settle | ecretaries of the companies, and, their differences among themselves, or aving little time to devove to real content each other with “not speaking as state business, ceased to actively prose- they passed by.” One of the most im¬ ute that vocation. As a real estate portant cases that ever appeared before: igent, he sold the Main Street Hotel, iiiin was Commonwealth vs. John King, Ninth Wales, to David Jones for $14,250; of Skippackville, who was remanded to what is now the “Idylwilde,” first to Court, where he received a sentence of ofan Cornly, of Springfield, for $6,000, seven years for stealing merchandise and nd then to Mrs. Mary Ray, of West money from merchants and others in hiladelphia, for the same figures the that section of the county. While in bit farm of 42 acres, adjoining North jail his conscience smote him, and he “ales, to the same for $5,500; the mill told where his stealings were to be found; f the late George Schall, to George —in tree stumps and bushes. Sure! Schlotterer, $9,000; the farm of the late enough there they were, and the investi¬ Henry Hallman to the Lutz brothers, gators also found a ham, said to belong $11,000, and then to Abraham Kriebel, to the father of James. Allebach, now of l Jr., for a little more than these figures ; North Wales, but which he refused to! Dr. John N. Jacobs’ hotel at KulpsVille, own, for fear he would have to prosecute; to Justus Scheetz for $4,600 ; and a num¬ ber of other properties in North Wales the thief. and vicinity. In 1876 he was elected school director of North Wales for an unexpired term of one year, and broke the first ground for the new school house, on School street. He also served a three years’ term from 1877. In 1869, the date of the incorpor¬ ation of North Wales, he was elected Justice of the Peace—-a position he has held continuously for the past twenty- live years—and Clerk of Council. The ’Squire writes an elegant old-fashioned hand, and his minutes of Council, and his deeds, and other manuscripts are models of neatness and legibility. In 1845, ’46, ’57, ’60 and ’66 he made trips The Thomas Saw Mill on the Wissahickon— to the West for speculation, and the in¬ The Dannehower Family. spection of five farms possessed by him in The saw mill now owned by Allan Wisconsin—three of 160 acres each, one of eighty acres, and one of eighty-two Thomas on the Wissahickon is about one- acres. It was while on the ’66 trip that fourtli of a mile eastward of West Point. he was stopping in Sterling, III., with For ten years past it has done a flourish¬ John Kline, a Montgomery countian, and ing business in the manufacture of lum¬ was taking a stroll around the town, that the sign of “George Hagey, jeweler,” ber, the raw material for which has been met his eyes. “Could this be George obtained from a circuit of several miles. Hagey, of Trappe, who went West years It is now the first saw mill in the stream, before ?” thought the ’Squire. Upon in¬ vestigation it proved to be he, and the and we believe, the only one on its whole two old friends, made known to each course. Attached to the mill and dwell, other by the merest accident, spent hours ing there remains fourteen acres, a frag¬ in each other’s company. ment of former farm ten times as large. In 1848 ’Squire Wampole became a The remaining tract is of irregular shape, member of the North Wales I. O. O. F., bordering the brook and raceway, a por¬ and has went through ail the “chairs” tion under tillage. The race course runs close to the West Point turnpike drawing the water fro_„ _ severartundred yards to the northea„, The mill has been John Dannehower removed to Kulps- remodelled, enlarged ,nd much improved ville in 1864,, where____ he died from the ef- by the present owner. fects of an accident April 28, 1870, at the It is not certainly known when a saw age of sixty-eight. Abraham, another mill was built here, but it is supposed to brother, removed to Montgomery town¬ be as old as this century and that the first ship in 1821, where died at an advanced sawyer was Henry Dannehower. Form¬ age. erly the property included quite a planta¬ Abraham Dannehower, the American tion comprising also the farms of Asher ancestor of this family, was born in Ger¬ Webster, George Dannehower, Joseph many. September 27, 1725. He came to Boorse, and some lots. America between 1740 and 1750. He was In tbe beginning of the white settle¬ buried at St. John’s church, Whitpain, ment of Gwynedd this was the lower his death taking place May 9. 1789. An¬ edge of the great grant of 2866 acres as¬ other ot his sons, George, lies in the same signed to William John about 1701, who yard, his death taking place July 1st, had the whole upper third of Gwynedd. 1793, in his 45th year. His son Abra¬ He built the present Dannehower farm ham, Jr., bought a farm in Eastern Gwy¬ house in 1714. His son John and widow nedd in 1779, situated near the Bethle¬ Jane fell heir to his unsold lands,amount¬ hem road, a mile north of the Spring- ing to 1400 acres, which were sooner or house. Tnis contained eightv-three acres, later sold to settlers in small tracts. It part of an original grant of 578 acres is not known when John Jones disposed from Penn to John Humphrey. There .ot this portion of his inheritance, but it he built a house the same year, which is was after 1728. In 1728 one David Cum- yet standing, bearing the date mark of ming bought 141 acres, including this 1779 and which is yet in the possession of mill site. In 1762 the first of the Danne- his descendants. e. m. howers made liis appearance in gwynedd in theperson of Abraham Dannehower who bought the plantation of Gumming! He was the owner during the Revolution, From, and in 1817, his name is on the list of eld- ^syloeDr^ dannehower had been born in This was a Democratic year, and Mar¬ libJ. For his 185 acres he paid £360. tin Van Bureu was chosen President. He built the saw mill at this point where 'The reaction against Jacksonism did not there was ample fall to the stream. His reach its full force till 1840. At the Oc¬ oiS5 e*te“de,d t0 75 years, or to July 12, 1838 He had a son Henry S. and one tober election Montgomery went heavily named John. The former obtained his j Democratic. Jacob Fry the Democratic father s Homestead, which is now owned candidate for Congress, received 3194 by George Dannehower, formerly an auc- tioneer. The other son John, born in votes to 1963 for Daniel H. Muivany, a 1802, obtained the mill and the Webster Norristown lawyer. There were ‘then farm in 1831. He had three daughters, only 21 voting districts, of which, Wor¬ °. whom the two oldest were familiar cester, Towamencin, Perkiomen, Ilors with the sawyer’s work, could roll the Hatfield and Harleysville only were logs aud tend the mill right readily in carried by the Whigs or Anti-Masonic |their father s abseuce, One of these party. The vote of Towamencin was daughters married Frank Baker, former, only 13 for Fry to 77 for Mulvauy. Hat¬ n °f L5,'lsdale- The second married field gave 49 for Fry to 58 for his oppo¬ George W. Hallman and the youngest nent. to James VV. Bisson. 8 For Senator,'Henry Meyers and Samuel , Hallman obtained the saw mill proper. Anderson were the candidates. Meyers ty, °* ‘11s father-in-law in 1864. This he ; got 3174 and Anderson 1992. sold to Henry S. Rosenberger in 1865 to¬ John Shager was chosen Commissioner gether with the farm. The latter was de. over William Brooke, and Jacob Yost, tacbed in 1866 by its sale to Asher Web¬ Henry Longaker and Samuel E. Lesch ster. 1 he present owner, Allen Thomas, were sent to the Assembly. pui chased of Jonathan Lukens in 1884. Chester county then gave only about His son, Lukens Thomas, is assistant iii 30 majority against the Democracy, and the mill, whilst anotUer--ion' is a well Delaware county was similarly close. known citizen of Lansdale, Arthm K At the succeeding Presidential election Thomas, publisher of the Ambler Gazette jin November a heavier vote was east, of which VanBuren received 3440 and Will¬ iam II. Harrison 2409. Towamencin gave ily 14 votes foFVanEI |h out of Ill cast, “To Mr. Johannes Schmidt and his' Bucks county was pa ch closer, giving wedded hou^e-wif^. Elizabeth Jorger. Harrison 3289,'and Vt ?»Buren but 3080. a daughter F has bt'en born into this, Chester county-gave irrison 045 majori- world. F, named Susanna, in the year ty and Lancaster 2b Berks piled up of our Lord Jesus 1787, the 23rd day 3384 for YanBuren ?he total vote of of April, at 5 o’clock in the evening. the State was 91,275 YanBuren and “This Susanna has been born and 86,976 for Harrison. £ christened in America, in the State of THE ELECTION OF 1835 Pennsylvania, in Montgomery county, in New Hanover township. Abovej At this election Joseph Reitner, Whig said Susanna has been baptized thel and Anti-masonic, was chosen Governor. 5th day of June, 1787. by Mr. Fred.| There were two Democratic candidatess Delicker, the witnesses being Johannesj George Wolf and Henry A. Muhlenberg. Schneider and his wife Susanna. In Montgomery county, Ritner had 3614, “She was confirmed by Mr. John Wolf 1747 and Muhlenberg 1599. Towa- Faber, in the year 1802.” mencin only gave 3 votes for Wolf, 11 for The hymn which follows is a very Muhlenberg and 118 for Ritner. That ancient and antiquated one, and it year the Democrats lost their county contains many obsolete idioms of the ticket. James Paul was elected to the German language, so that it cannot Senate, over two opponents, John B. easily be translated. Sterigere and Tobias Sellers. Jacob Fretz was chosen Commissioner, and Jonathan DESCENDANTS. Adamson, Director, over Peter Hox- worth and Samuel Leech. Hoxworth This Susanna Smithi has two de¬ lived in Hatfield. In the whole State the scendants living—Charles Smith, now vote was Ritner 94,111, Wolf 65,73^, living at Shannonville, at the age of Muhlenberg 40,418. Bucks county gave 77; and Angeline Smith, wife of George Ritner a plurality of 1007 qverWolf. Garey, now living at Port Providence, at the age of 64. She has eight chil¬ dren, twenty-three grand-children,and five great-grand-children. jfrom, ^-£.<£4,' . CZl/ From,.^ .v.(2u | Date, ./ & ^
A ‘ CHRISTENING PAPER.
TTa^fl l»v the German Such as Was osea wy LOCAL HISTORY. Settlers of Montgomery County. THE SPERRY FAMILY AND HOMESTEAD, Mr. George Garey, of Port Provr LOWER GWYNEDD—JOHN SPERRY AND dence, has iu his possession a relic HIS DESCENDANTS. which is of much interest to historians The Sperry family is one of long exist¬ generally, and of particular interest to ence in Montgomery county, aud having him it being the “Christening paper” its origin in Lower Gwynedd. We be¬ of his wife’s ancestor. i lieve those bearing the name elsewhere The document is very peculiar in ap-| are all the posterity of the Gwynedd I pearance, it being not unlike modern! stock. Like others, the name was var¬ wall paper, both in quality and design. iously spelled in the olden time—Speri, “Christening papers” were evi¬ Sperri, Sparey and Sparry. It is said to dently much in vogue among the be of Norman-French origin, and the early German settlers of Montgomery first immigrant caine from the eastern couutv, although they have passed out part of France, bordering on the Rhine, of use now This one was a printed now included in the German Empire. form, with blanks in wnich to write So far as the writer can ascertain, John the names, dates, etc., in much -he, Sperry or Speri was this immigrant, same manner as marriage certificates though “Rapp’s Collection” mentions a of the present day. it bears an im¬ Caspar Spery as coming in 1743. print at the bottom, showing that it The exact date of the coming of John was printed by J. Schneider & Co., Sperry to this country is not known, but Reading, in the year 1798-nearly one it was prior to the Revolution and he hundred years ago. . . had grown up children at the time of The printed form is designed in the that political convulsion. He brought shape of a heart, wnile two smaller over the sea a curious wooden chest, hearts at the bottom contain the words which is yet preserved by his descen¬ of an old German hymn appropriate dants. He was conversant with the to such an occasion as a christening. German language, as he left an old reli¬ It is all in the German language, and gious work, printed in Lubingen, Ger- the body of the document, translated, reads as follow : many, in 1768. ItH6ears”lfis name and | the date of 1778. 4He was a man of some land Jacob, who were members of the 6th ) meaus, and the first we hear of him in 'company of the 1st battalion-of Philadel¬ Gwynedd was in 1775, when he pur¬ phia county militia, of which John Shel- chased a tract of 272 acres of Edward mire was captaiu. The death of John Roberts, for which he paid £1,088, or Sperry, the immigrant, took place in Au¬ about $2,900 of our money. This com¬ gust, ISO?. Jt iy pot unlikely that his posed land also in Horsham, coverm^ birth may have occurred as early as 1725. ' ' ’ jthe present or recent farms of Ponsler aJJlJ DeHaven, the Brown place, the lots During his life time John Sperry had ol Patrick Cunningham and Charles M. greatly diminished his tract by sales to Clemens,together with the former Robin¬ various parties. The largest of these lay son and Week lots in Horsham. The on the southeast side, which afterwards boundaries and neighbors at that time became the Shoemaker farm, and later were : “Beginning at a corner of this the Brown property. This was detached j and Samuel DeHaven, and in line of in 1789, when 120 acres were sold to Edward Bright; thence by Bright’s Ezekiel Shoemaker. A si one barn ex¬ southwest 99 perches and southeast two isted there at that date and which is still perches, and then partly by Bright’s in existence, standing at quite a distance and Conrad Gerhart’s southwest 98 drum tiie three surrounding highways. perches : thence by Henry Bergey north¬ hi 1797 a further amount of twenty acres ; west 105 perches aud southwest 33 were soid tq Paul Kramer, a shoemaker perches ; thence by John Siuger north¬ I from New Britiap. This was the later west 96 perches; thence by Jonathan work lot, now belonging to Charles M. Jones^ northeast 133 perches aiul north¬ Clemens. At the time of Sperry’s death west 5^ perches; then by Margaret Foulke his remaining lands were 132 acres. northeast 103 perches to corner of this Cadwallader r ouike, executor of John and Samuel DeHaven’s ; thence by De- I Sperry, still further diuiinishcd the size Haven southeast 206 perches to beOn- lot' the plantation. A portion was con¬ niug. This was the southwest part of a veyed to John Sperry, Jr., in 1809, com¬ greater tract obtained by Edward Roberts prising 24 acres. This was on the Hor¬ in 1716, embracing also the former Dane- sham side, now the Fesmire place. It aower place in Horsham, now McKean appears that another piece was also sold Ingersoll’s. In 1748 Edward Roberts to the younger John Sperry, lying below conveyed by will to his son Robert, the Prospectyille road, in Gwynedd. the next transfer was in 1762, when Peter Sperry, another gon, obtained a Robert Roberts gave a deed to his son small tract in Horsham and Gw*ypedd. Edward for the plantation. It was then He lived in a house now demolished, a Roberts place for three generations,but standing in Horsham, east of the junc¬ the ownership of that family ended just tion ot the Welsh and Prospeetville at the beginning of the Revolution. The roads. John Week obtained another eastern portion of the estate, lying piece qf tvyenty acres on the Horsham wholly in Horsham, was sold in 1774 to side, comprising tl*e precept Jot of B. F.1 Samuel DeHaven, of Whitpain, who es¬ Taylor. tablished a tanyard, and started that yet Jacob Sperry was the sou who obtained unsettled claim against the American the original homestead by will of his ■ government for supplies furnished to father, but for which he paid $1,366 to’ Washington’s army. The Gwynedd por¬ the other heirs. It was wholly in Gwyn- tion, including also some land in Hor¬ edd, and comprised 62 acres. It fronted K sham, was, as above mentioned, conveyed jbhe Horsham border for just one-fourth to John Sperry a year later. of a ipilq. On the northwest side was a Wh auow little or nothing concerning long narrow stf'P, part of the land of John Sperry, except that his ownership John Smitiq v/bq qwped the present farm lasted thirty-two years,or till his death in of Samuel Dapehower. 1807. He was not a young man at the The ownership of Jacob Sperry lasted time ot his purchase, and he probably thirty-six years, or till his death, which lived to reach an advanced age. In 1776 occurred in August, 1843. He was an John Sparey was assessed for 100 acres elder of Boehm's church in 1821. Daniel three horses and five cows. Possibly hi« Fqulke was his administrator. Then the remaining land was assessed to the renter homestead descended to his daughter, thereof. In the assessment of 1792 are Hannah Sperry. At her death, iu 1857’ mentioned John Sparry, Jr., and Jacob her will qf October SGtlj. bequeathed the ? Sparey. His residence was at the later property to the children of 4.braham I PoifslerrDeHaven place, recently pur¬ DeHaven, whose wile was Mary, daugh¬ chased by 4-aron Sperry, one of his de¬ ter of John Sperry, Jr. These children scendants. Here is quite an old frame Were; William, born January 27, 1816 ; ' and log house, of u'ukugwq antiquity. > Mary, borp Juqs 8, 1818; Hannah, wife It is situated half a mile or more north of 1 ot Isaac Ponsler, bos'p October 19, 1822. the Springhouse, and a little distance These were the joint owners dpi'jqy jife. from the adjoining highways. A lane Their deaths occurred as foi
1805 I0ur children are mentioned: Char-' fBejger, son of Beniamin In i7iis lotte, wife of Amos Shutt; Eli Joseph and Jacob, all of whom were made executors land sold to Adam Smith. The’latter with directions to sell the property. This 7as,b,uta ^L'mPorary owner, as, soon after was done in 1866, when Charles Hen¬ 17Go be sold to Peter Frick. The Frick dricks took the mill and fifty-five acres fam.ly were thereafter the owners fj just about a century, or down to 18G7. for £7560, and immediately transferred the farm to Jacob Van Fossen, and the PETER PRICK. mill and a lot of ten acres to Amos Shutt. The latter died a few years ago and the mill is now owned by his son-in-law, J. M. Rittenhouse. The farm has come 5o„ia m,ke ?hot°mo°of into possession of Josiah Van Fossen, which fami y have thus held possession for three generations, or sixty-three det 0f t.he century. After the sale of the years. e. m. na.rm'S pfopsrty therc remained a long nanow strip on the northwest side of the ' fine andaChi n0Itheast t0 county, LOCAL HISTORY. by the FrS’s tC0“t"!u“ t0 be Possessed
The Frick Homestead and Family, Hatfield. Feter trick, the Immigrant. The Frick Peter Frick °f the Personality of Graveyard. John King and his Exploits. A £3* in Mr across the brook, though tlfere is no The former Frick homestead is about ■ tombstone bearing his name. The first half a mile southwest of Line Lexiugtor. name of his wife was Catharine The The lands attached are mostly level, or - hiUimHhis btother, Pet6r are F,ickm the and HatfielHMichael Fricki;=e e meadow like in character, and lie on taxables for 1792. Hatfield hst of both sides of the brook, anciently called the prick graveyard. Beaver Creclc, a branch of the Nesham- This spot on the southwest side of the iny, rising in Hilltown. On the sout-’’ west side of that stream abrupt bluffs iWc ncKkk'pT“,Sn plantation,take as" mayfrora ,be ^ sunnn««i ' arise, leading to much higher ground. e1rhewho°livedhadf !f0,^ed to Jacob Shoot- , who lived at the later Lewis Martin The present dwelling near the creek, ■ • place. In a deed of 1776, granting a presents a modern appearance, though ong narrow strip to George Shelve men the western poition is said to be very old t.on ,s made of it. It was only 544 feet* —perhaps built by Peter Frick, the wide but four, fifths of a mile long At the close of the deed is a paragraph men founder of the family. The eastern half tioning a small plot, “on the snnfk™ I is of brick, and at least seventy-five years side of this tract, which is included be old. A cross road, running to the Cow- Tween a small gutt and Beaver Creek I path, bounds this property on the north¬ , v Inch the said Jacob Shooter hath before this time granted for a burving ground west side. It is now owned by John K. to the society called Mennonitcs with Clymer. The farm has been much cur¬ ! the privilege of a road along the line from tailed in size since Colonial times. When he west corner of said tract to he said burying ground.” The old burvTm the Morris farm was detached in 1745, there was left 85 acres, but additions may wherewherelreTheT are the tombstones * aveyard of manyto this fami day* have been made by Peter Frick or his predecessors. f The first settler here bought in 1739 of Ebenezer Kinnersly, a largo laud holder or speculator. His name was Benjamin ,he S Rosenbcrgcr, a German immigrant, who held 125 acres, including also the present I HE WILL Op peter pirck. Morris farm, these having its northeast tJ'-deathof Peter Frick took place if front on the comity line. This site near 81*. when he was seventy six years on a spring and a llowing stream was the age. His will was made July 15 jg08 most natural oue for a first settler to It is quite peculiar in its wording and select for his habitation. Rosenberger or a ™wver 0t S' c?mpositi<™ of a Justice staid here but a few years, however, sell- or a lawyer. We give its main provisions ing iu 1744 to a Welshman, named David His son John was to have the homestead Rowland. The latter was the owner for ‘f be Vould pay out £425. If not the more than a quarter of a century. In 1745, the Morris property was detached by its sale to James Hunter, a storekeep¬ j-r EI er, wlio bought forty acres of John Rosen By this, it appears tbatthere were at least sutm-wntrnr nave a supply. three Frick brothers who came to America. The mother of King had some money, The legacies were nine, viz: To Jaeob, and said she would spend $1000 to keep who got£100;Peter,£94; Johu,£88;Henry, her son out of jail. She hired a good £82; Samuel, £76 and Anna £70. His lawyer, and the jury failed to convict, brother Michael’s children were Peter, owing to doubt about his identification. who got £85; and Peggy, £70; Jacob £70. Emboldened by his good luck in escaping The whimsical and minute varying of the justice, King next broke into Philip Sor- amount given to each legatee, is peculiar, ver’s store one night and secured and se¬ at least. These amounts together with the creted a considerable quantity of goods. He was defended by Sylvester N. Rich. plantation indicate that the testator had been a thrifty man, and had amassed con¬ This time the jury was not so lenient,and siderable property for a farmer in those he was convicted. His sentence was seven times. years in the Eastern Penitentiary. King served his time and when he got out he JOHN PRICK, SR. came back to Kulpsville, and ungratefully John Frick, son of Peter, had been stole his mother’s silver spoons. He born on the homestead in November,1768. thenceforth disappeared and was never The name of his wife was Catharine, born heard of afterwards. After his imprison¬ in March, 1768. He remained here dur¬ ment he revealed that a portion of the ing a long life, but in 1837, he sold the booty secured by the store robbery was farm to his son John for $4100, conveying concealed beneath a hollw stump; and to him 97 acres in four pieces. One of there, sure enough, it was found. Among these, however, was in another part of his criminal exploits was the snapping of Hatfield, leaving 85 acres in the home¬ a loaded pistol at Mary Eaverhart, which stead, which extended southwest to a if it had went off as intended, would have I road. Among his children were Peter, cost the woman her life. She is now a John, Rebecca, and perhaps others. Peter resident of North Wales, the widow of was born March 18,1798 and died Septem¬ Benjamin Van Fossen. ber 4, 1881; John was born July 15, 1800, Samuel Frick, another son of John and died February 13, 1884; Rebecca died Frick, senior, removed to Hilltown, and in 1845, in her 45th year. was the ancestor of the family in that The wife of the second John Frick was township. There is a post office of that named Frany, or Fronica, born in 1813. name, and where Benjamin Frick, his yet Her death took place in 1848. Ilis son sou, resides. Peter lived on the west side of the Ne Jacob and Henry, two other brothers, shaminy and on the northwest side of the removed to Richland township, Bucks cross road. This lot had been bought in county, and left descendants. Among 1795 by Peter Frick of the earlier King these is Charles E. Frick, of Philadel¬ 1 estate. It is now the property of Abra- phia. 1 ham Ziegler. Peter Frick, above mentioned, or tho A TALE OP ARSON AND ROBBERY. second of that name, had sons Oliver and About the year 1842 the barn on the George. The last went to Dakota. Oliver property of Peter Frick was set on fire married Elizabeth Ott, and died in Phila by a noted local criminal named John delphia. King, then a young man, living with his The second John Frick had a large fam¬ mother at Ivulpsville. The purpose of ily. These were as follows: Sarah, wife King was the robbery of the house of of Benjamin Rosenberger, now of Phila John Frick down at the homestead dur¬ delphia. Among their children were John ing the commotion created by the fire. and Allan, now in the grocery business, The elder John Frick, then an old man, Gcrmautown,; Lizzie became the wife of was known to keep much money about Oliver Althotise. now keeping hotel at his premises. This was at a time when Souderton. There were also Mary, there was less confidence in banks than Amanda and Ida, wife of Lincoln Kaler. now. It happened, however, that Frick Sophia married Levi Godshalk and re¬ had anticipated the chauces of such a resides in Philadelphia, where they havi robbery. He had a high opinion of a a family. neighbor, Mrs. Rachel Morris, a devout Mary married Henry Rosenberger, o Baptist lady, who kept a store on the Hatfield, a minister among the Riverl present premises of her grandson, Oliver Brethren. G. Morris, Frick had his money secret¬ Levi died when 12 years of age. ed under some rags in the garret of the Farncis, heretofore mentioned, died in Morris house. King might not have got 1866, the last Frick owner of the home-| it anyhow, as he was detected after get¬ stead. ting within the house and was rumaging Amanda became the wife of Samuel the drawers in the second story. He es¬ Kulp. caped by jumping on the porch roof and Catharine married Henry Delp. thence to the ground. He fired off his Emma married Joseph Bergey. pistols to deter pursuit. The immediate John married Lydia Crouthamel, and| motive of the attempted robbery was his now resides on part of the original Fric' desire to marry the daughter of Philip farm, which fronts the county line abovi Sorver, a Skippackville merchant- Old Line Lexington. " - Sorver asked him what were his expecta¬ tions about going into business. King rcpl e 1 that he had no money now, but! Aaron married Susanna Gbdsbalk. nf r r w the y°ungest, became the wife ui .Jolin Jiruey. I ot l0/ ?r stone, farther down the meadow. Modern improvements and a SAMUEL FRICK. yeaersCh ™°f haVC been ^ded in recent Samuel, another son of John Frick, Sr i7?vearsaS ^enra.humfn habitation for was the ancestor of the HilUown branch.’ 7 years. In Colonial days it was the tie died in that township about 1891 He married Mary Landis. His children wero Km,'S“V>t Pe,er We“* f“ ovelYfty Benjamin, John, George L. and Nancy. part ’of the™,' 1724 t0 I77s> This is a Ut these Benjamin married Margaretta wfn; f t , 50 acres> which in 1712 Funk, and Susanna Hedrick for his sec¬ the south i°hn, S°’d to John Griffith, or ed 1 ’ q,uarter of a tract which cover¬j ond wife. John married Susanna Swart- ed the wnole western corner of Gwynedd ley. George married Matilda Weaver. ,o,d padhTIS I -Nancy remained unmarried. /nr ,'t...G d obtained this wild land | Of these descendants of Samuel Frick, tor the nominal figure of five shillings Fiancis.son_of John,has the store and post By the date of 1723 Griffith had probably oftce in Hilltown, known as ‘•Fricks,” I m?fe, some imProvements, for he then 11 la,,,be,C,ame the wife of James Hart- Thp thS Sfme t0 Evan Roberts for £90. zell, of Chalfont. Sallie, another daugh- | The next year Roberts sold off the ,of John Frick, married Theodore I louer or southeast side of the tract com Haitzell, postmaster and merchant at ;'So acres, to Peter Wells for £65', ooimar, whilst Jacob remained single. 16 shillings. This comprised the present The children of Benjamin Frick were Samuel Henry H. and George. Of these, o?ftra^SeiPt,M“dthef“” lieniy has the job printing office in Hill- town, near the Frick store, Concerning Wells, who lived here from t0 be an old man- we know George L. Frick had a son Wellington nothing of his personality. His name is an!i°nt!iari'-ec- E1!a ?aker* of North wiles’, and now living in Lausdale. taionEnfgh1Sh °De’ though we find no men- n?, ,uf h,mTamonff die records of the THE FRICK HOMESTEAD. if5’ ,In 1776’ at the beginning of the Revolution,he sold the whole iso ,fra“cis fr*ck- bo,rn "> 1837, obtained acres to PhilipHoot, who appeared £ Gie homestead of his father in 1862. Ihis he held till his death in 1866. The elsewhere f0r h,! had next year his administrators conveyed the The boundaries then given were- ?hePF>-icW0 °harIet Craig for $4887, aud eginning in a line of land formerly be the Fnck ownership ended. It remains HootV ShePeLer LIeWCllyn> —CSffip t0r t!'aCe ;sucoee
POTTSTOWN 80 YEARS AGO. jtion was about 70. Jacob Dinikbcnee t.»0 anything about events of that time. They postmaster when the place was incorporated are Julia Thompson, aged 90, who resides fan 1815. He held the office from July 1. with her relatives, the family of J. II. 1808 to April 1st, 1818. Po3f master Maxwell, Esq , 152 High street, and Cath¬ jDunkhouse was a soldier of the Revoln- arine Carpenter, aged about 87. living with tion, was with Washington’s army (as was her son, William L. Carpenter, 331 Cherrv his father also) aDd witnessed the execu- street. tion cf Major Andre. He represented Ll.The public improvements \n Pottstown Montgomery county in the Legislature, in 1815 wore few and far between. The was a magistrate Feme time, and outlived .first was the stone bridge on High street, {p-U ether soldiers cf the war for American Independence from Pottstown. His death west of Manatawny street, known as took place in October, 1857, in his 97lb “Manatawny Bridge,” built by Montgom¬ year, and he sleeps in the old bnrial ery county—commenced in 1802 and com¬ ground of Zion’s Reformed Church. pleted in 1805, at a cost of $35,000. It was The first Burgess ot Pottstown was Rob¬ considered a very fine specimen of masonry ert McCiintock. He was a merchant and —few superior in the State. Toll was lived and kept store at the corner of High taken thereon several years, to defray the and Hanover streets, where J. A. Bunting’s cost of erection. The first toll-keeper was hat store is now located. The Town Conn- James Jack, who was succeeded by John crimen, chosen at the first borough election, Todd,afterwards member of the Legislature in April, 1815, were John Hiester, Jacob aud sheriff. He was father of Dr. John Lesher, William Lesher Jesee Ives, Henry Todd and C. W. Brcoke Todd, of this bor¬ Boyer, William Mintzer and Thomas P'. ough, There was a library in town be¬ May. John Hiester was chosen President longing to the Pottstown Library Com¬ of Town Council end Edward Stiles, Clerk. pany, chartered by the Legislature, Aug Of the Conncilmen, Gen. John Hiester, 29, 1810. By acts of the Legislature of who had been in the revolutionary army, Feb. 13, 18 L0 and March 20th. 1810, the lived retired, in a honse which stood at tire Perkiomen and Reading Tarnpike Com¬ north-west corner of High and Hanover pany was chartered. The pike was com¬ streets, on the site where Henry G. Knlp’s menced in 1811 and completed in 1815. building,(formerly John C. Smith’s) is now Tbe Schuylkill Canal was commenced in located; Jacob Lesher, retired, lived at the 1815 and completed in 1818. north-eaBt corner of High and Manatawny In 1815 and for many years previous to streets, now owned by M. D. Evans, Esq., j that date, and probably for two years end wife, which house Mr. Lesher built; I thereafter, until the construction of the Thomas P. May was a school teacher and | canal dams, shad and rock-fish were caught j lived in the old Etono honse (Buttonwood in considerable numbers, in the Schuylkill t hotel),fer merly located at tbencith-ccst cor¬ at Pottstown and higher up the stream. ' ner ot High and Washington sts , where Por¬ It is known that in one season ter’s drug store now stands; William Lesher, 2792 shad were taken and in an¬ who had been a merchant, tavern-keeper other 3701 were caught at the Potts¬ and butcher, lived in the old Dr. -VanBos- town fisheries. Seine3 were nsed, tbe fisher¬ kirk building, where Jacob Fegely’s fine men starting in with boats some distance mane'on now stands; neury Boyer, (great¬ above where the Hanover street bridge grandfather of John H. and James F. cow stands, sweeping their nets down to Boyer,) lived in the brick dwelling at the opposite Charlotte street, where they were north-east corner of High and York streets, drawn out at a wharf, or lajidins;, full, no now Willman & Lorah’s store; Jesse Ives, doubt, of the big, siTfery fis'ie-'. a mill owner and miller, (father of the late At the time Pottstown was chartered as Mrs. Charles Rutter,) lived in the stone a borough, there were foar hotels in the bouse long occupied by the Rutter family, p’ace, a biewery, distillery, three or four 72 South Hanover street; William Mintzer, wool hat factories, wo grist mills, poet- merchant and stage proprietor, (father of office, a weaver’s ibop, two blacksmith Frederick S. Mintzer, of Philadelphia and shops aud a few olhe small establishments of the late Henry, William and Joseph which gave employment to the people. Mintzer, of Pottstown,) lived in a house There were two Louses of religions worship which stood on the premises now owned by —the old Brick Chprch (now Zion’s Re> A. G. Saylor, 214 High street. Edward formed) and the Fiiqods’ meeting-house on Stiles was a school teacher, and taught King street. The hqtels were the “Rising “subscription school” in an old frame Sun,” on the comet of High and York building at the south-east corner of Walnut streets, where the toal office cf Metz & and Penn street?, where St. Paul’s Ref. Leaf now stands; the “Red Lion.” located : Church now stands. at the south east corrisr of High and Mana- j Henry Arms, who died about fifteen tawny streets, on ths premises owned by years ago. aged 87 years, was the last sur¬ Samuel S. Daub; the Farmers’ Hotel, on j vivor of the citizens cf Pottstown who the site of the Shnler House aad the fourth I voted at the first borough election in Potts¬ at eouth-east corner of High and Hanover town, in April, 1815. He was the father streets, now 1>. H. Keim’s store. The town of the late Prof. John W. Arms, of Potts¬ in 1815 contained setoe sixty or seventy town. There are only two persons now dwellings. living in Pottstown, who resided here in Some of the old houses built in Pottstown IS 15, and who are old enough to recollect previous to 1815, still standing in the place TT'
' are the following:—Theold Potts mansion, now called Mill Park, erected by John
Potts, in 1753-4; a portion of the honae at departure of the American army from the corner of High aDd York Btreets, now the Winter camp at Valley Forge was owned by A. K. Lorah and occupied by celebrated with imposing ceremonies on l Willtnan & orah’s store, huilt by John June 19, 1879, the orator of the day was Potts, between 1760 and 1767; the b'onse the late Henry Armltt Brown, a young now occupied as the office of the Pottstown man whose talents were splendid and Iron Company, built by Thomas Ratter, whose career in public life promised , before the revolution; a portion of the years crowned with distinction and use- I building, corner of High and Hanover fulness. Although but 35, he was one of | Btreets, now occupied by the store of D. H. the most gifted oratois in this commu- | Keim, built by John Potts, Jr., before the nity, and his address at Valley Forge revolution; the house now occupied by was probably his masterpiece. He died i Annie E. Richards, said to have been erect¬ from the effects of a cold contracted on ed previous to 1794; the old log house, a this day, and another martyr was added 1 story and a half high, standing in the rear to the role of patriots that had found of the residence of Mrs. Elizabeth Cassel¬ earthly Immortality in this* Montgom¬ 1 berry, 243 High street, built over a hun¬ ery County vale. It is fitting to quote dred years ago; the houses occupied by from this oration of Henry Armitt Mrs. Mary H. Davies and Mrs. J. S. Yost, Brown a few of the thoughts that this both on High street, built by Joseph Potts, historic region called to him on this previous to the year 1800; the house occu¬ memory fraught anniversary day. He pied by Mrs. Lsana Daub, 321 High street, Is describing the scene in Philadelphia, built by Mr. Kleckner, previous to 1800, •where the British army holds high car¬ and several others, which we have not space nival. at present to mention. “The time for the evening parade In 1815, soon after the incorporation of comes, and the well-equipped regiments Pottstown as a borough, the “bold soldier are drawn up in line, while slowly to the boys” who bad served in the “War of strains of martial music the sun sinks . 1812,” came home, a treaty of peace hav¬ In flaming splendor in the west. The ing been signed by "Johnny Bull” and streets are soon in shadow, but still “Uncle Sam.” after three years’ fighting. noisy with the tramping of soldiers and To this war Pottstown 3ent lh3 “Pottsgrove the clatter of arms. In High Street and Light Infantry,” commanded by Capt. on tlie commons, fires are lit for the Peter Hanley, (grandfather of William, troops to do their cooking, and the Eoglebert and Arthur Hanley,) with Chris¬ noises of the camp mingle with the city’s topher Shaner as First Lieutenant; Solo¬ hum. Most of the houses are shut, hut mon Bftstress, Second Lieutenant, and here and there one stands wide open, Wilder Bivens, Orderly Sergeant. A num¬ while brilliantly dressed officers lounge ber of young men from the place joined at tbe windows or pass and repass in the doorway. The sound of laughter and Capt. Keim’s company, of Reading, aud music is heard, and the brightly lit win¬ Capt. William Brooke’s company, from dows of the London Coffee House and the Limerick. Indian Queen tell of the parties that are A great many other historical facts and celebrating there the event they think so matters of interest in regard to Pottstown glorious, and thus, amid sounds of rev- j in 1815, the year it became a borough, elry, the night falls on the Quaker City. “What matters It to Sir William Howe might be given with this article. But we and his victorious army if rebels be have, perhaps,said enough to give tbe town staivlng and their ragged currency be a birthday “send off.” cn reaching the age almost worthless? Here is gold and j of four-score years. It would not be inap¬ plenty of good cheer. What whether1 propriate, perhaps, for Chief Burgess Eck, they threaten to attack the British lines or Eomebody else, to give the place a or disperse through the impoverished “birthday party” in honor of tha anniver¬ country in search of food? The ten re-1 doubts that stretch from Fairmount to sary of to-day, bnt we presume it did not Cohocksink Creek are stout and strong- . occur to any of our borough officials to do ly manned, the river is open, and sup- f so. Twenty years hence, on the 6ih of plies and reinforcements are on the way ; February, 1915, will bo another anniversary from England. What If the earth be ; for the town, and theD, when tbs first cen¬ wrinkled with frost? The houses of I i tury of the borough has been completed, Philadelphia are snug and warm. Here [ there should be and doitbUess will be, such are mirth and music and dancing and [ wine, and women and play, and the f a “centennial jubilee” given, as will duly pageants of a riotous capital! And so I 1 commemorate that .important event. with feasting and with revelry let the Winter wear away!" THE CONTRASTING PICTURE. Then another picture all sombre-hued and gray comes before the view-. “The wind is cold and piercing on the old Gulf Road, and the snow-flakes have begun to fall. Who is this that toils up yonder hill, his footsteps stained with blood? On his shoulder he carries a rusty gun, and the hand that grasps the stock is blue with cold. His com¬ rade, is. no better off, nor he who fol-
. . ■#5*5 re lows, (or both are barefoot, ami the'ruTs of the rough country road are deep and stream that 7 dances laughtor?Iaclen frozen hard. A fourth comes into view, 1 through the narorw valley, and the and still another. A dozen are in sight errant clouds that smile at their re¬ Twenty have reached the ridge, and flections in the quiet' pools, give an at- there are more to come. See them as mosphere of pastoral peace and beauty they mount the hil! that slopes eastward 1.n11."!e Summer time to Valley Forge. into the great valley. A thousand are All the steeps are green and rank with in sight, but they are but the vanguard the freshness of the foliage and the of the motley company that winds clown undergiowth is like a carpet unrolled by the road until it is lost in the cloud of nature’s tender hand to hide the traces | snow-flakes that have hidden the Gulf of war, and smooth out with her all- hills. Yonder are horsemen in tattered effacing touch the mounds and hollows (uniforms, and behind them cannon lum- that tell silently of sorrow and suffering. ; bering slowly over the frozen road, half The lofty hills, the vistas of skies and dragged, half pushed by men. They who ; meadows and water, all of the sights j appear to be in authority have coats tTolS°^n,1S languorous Summer time | of every make and color. Here is one make \ alley Forge too beautiful then to in a faded blue, faced with buckskin j impress the visitor with aught of gloom that has once been buff; there is an¬ or sadness. other on a tall, gaunt horse, wrapped In the dead of Winter it is as though in a sort of dressing-gown made of an natures varying mood had changed | old blanket or woolen bedcover. A few to brooding over the good and brave of the men wear long linen hunting- who suffered and sickened and died on shirts reaching to the knee, but of the the hills of Valley Forge. The scanty rest no two are dressed alike—not half sunshine finds its way but a little while j have shirts, a third are barefoot, many through the day into the gorge of Val- are in rags. Nor are their arms the j Iey Creek, and one or the other of the some. Cow-horns and tin boxes they opposing hills is always deeply shadowed. carry for want of pouches. A few have The solemn ranks of fir trees that cover swords, fewer still bayonets. Muskets mvite ™ck'nbbe.(i si(3es are black and carbines, fowling-pieces and rifles are mysterious against the snow and the to be seen together side by side. siTc-nce that wraps the undulating crests “Are these soldiers that huddle to- i is seldom broken but by the shriek of a gether and bow their heads as they ! hawk or the far-off bay of a hound. face the biting wind? Is, this an army No roar oj. wheels and hum of labor that comes straggling through the valley comes from the little village that sleeps in the blinding snow? No martial music leads them in triumph into a captured mfllsmil^ efhattw Uthonce °f gaveth® val!eywork- toGra hl!ndredsY stone capital; no city full of good cheer and ot toilers have been deserted for many warm and comfortable homes awaits years, and the rows of crumbling tene¬ j their coming; no sound keeps time to ments on the hills nearby are windowless j their weary steps save the icy wind rattling the leafless branches and the like Th<3 ft0Serine- chimneys lean ti fa'f int °f / ’Sa and seem about dull tread of their weary feet on the to fad into a comfortable resting place. frozen ground. In yonder forest must Jhe water wheels are rusting by the they find their shelter, and on the north¬ clam, and the flow falls drowsily over its ' ern slope of these inhospitable hills their crest always refraining a lullaby that I place of refuge. Perils shall soon as¬ chords with the monotone of the wind sault them more threatening than any swept forest all about. ! they have encountered under the win- Small wonder that the farmers’ fami dows of Chew'3 house or by the banks lies of the region tell tales among them of Brandywine. Trials that rarely have failed to break the fortitude of men diers^tbV116 rfIrltS °f Continental so™ await them here. abroad when the moon is dark and the storm sweeps through 1 “False friends shall endeavor to un¬ the black defiles of Mount Joy and dermine their virtue, and secret enemies Mount Misery. Ghostly sentinels pace to shake their faith-the Congress whom the vaguely marked redoubts, in faded they serve shall prove helpless to pro¬ tect them, and their country herself’ I TnZ* ^ sometim^the_si£^ I of fife and the roll of drums seems to Reem unmindful of their suffering- cold echo with elfin faintness from the parade J Sf'j. E,hnare Imitation and hunger Snftre th; PiOW has Kbeared Us crumbling way for more than a cen- ;and famine stand guard with «, y IN THE TRACK OF THE BLIZZARD. campUSwith° icy^fetters!' *g . The recent storm left Valley Forge m rare guise for the writer and artist ,,Of Vt WinterV112cer 3 shalsnali be pitiless—butthe nil who piunged through its drifted snows vain. Danger sbaii not- ^ ^ a ™fek a®°; imagination was not called that P‘ctu^e the country as it looked that vVinter that made it immortal. Rag- ged soldiers and rows of log huts were all. these hillsides needed to restore the TV inter landscape of 1777-78. Many of the Continental Army inu y a e the country roads had not been opened, and hills of Valley Forge ” are the shifting drafts blockaded nearly all but the road that winds up the valley where SUMMER AND WINTER. the sheitering hills protected the low n,°rdS that rins like a bugle land between them. But the slonea tw call, thrill with the spirit of Vni face the Schuylkill and Philadelphia ley Forge a century and more ago The ! where the village of huts and the ~ai steep slopes of .those shadowy hills, the j bazzaDiizzard,erdre indandbt ?hthea y’snow f6lt thewas fury Diled Ae in tempest-tossed heaps and windrows Is I \ FORT WASHINGTON.
rock. Could these myria3s TfflogfStfimv, high as a man’s Head, wherever an ob- be read, they would tell of the measured . structicm gave it foothold. This was the pace, of the General of the Forces, the lighter tread of.Martha Washington, the sort of weather that the Continental quick tripping of vivacious Mrs. General I army faced, and Valley Forge lay in its Greene, the hurried stride of the orderly, bleakness and Wintry solitude as when the flying feet of the splashed and the tattered flag of the new nation flut¬ wearied scout; of Anthony Wayne, his tered from yonder low mound. piercing eye and ruddy face, his whole Of course the first and chief place of appearance that of a man of splendid interest visited is the old Potts’ house, health and spirits, skillful, energetic, in the village known as the Washington full of resources, of sound judgment and headquarters. The house is near the extraordinary courage; of Muhlenburg, mouth of Valley Creek, which flows the clergyman who doffed his gown for north into the Schuylkill on the west the blue and buff of a brigadier, whose bank. The Schuylkill flowing from the stalwart form and swarthy face were so Blue Hills, bends here toward the east, familiar to the enemy that the Hessians where the current is rapid and the cried: “Heer liomrat teufl Pete” at banks steep. The Valley Creek cuts its Brandywine; of portly William Alex¬ way through a deep defile at right angles ander. Lord Stirling; of dark John Sulli¬ to the river, forming a natural boun¬ van, of New Plampshire, headstrong, but bold as a lion; of Baron Steuben, the dary on the west. The hill called Mount Prussian martinex. who came to teach Joy, at the entrance of this defile, the army; of Lafayette, tall, with auburn throws out a spur, which, running hair, the French boy of 20, with an old parallel to the river about a mile, turns man’s head; of Knox, stout as his wife, at length northward and meets its who laughed at him and was chaffed banks. On the side toward the city in return: of the great Nathaniel Greene, , this ridge encloses a rolling tableland, the Quaker blacksmith from Rhode and upon this plain and slope were mark¬ Island: of the Pole Pulaski: of dashing ed out the lines of redoubts and en¬ Lighthorse Harry Lee, of Allen McLane, trenchments and the encampment, fac¬ and a host of others as brave and devot¬ ing the southeast. The house of Isaac ed, who left their indistinguishable Potts stood at the northern foot of the autographs on this door stone, and their ridge, in the creek valley, not far from names more plainly in the hearts of their the river. It was a comfortable stone countrymen, and 'even more lnperlsh- mansion, built in 1759 by John Potts, ably. father of Isaac. They had a forge about There have been few changes in the half a mile up the creek, and from their Washington house, beyond replacing ! rude smithy came the name of Valley a floor and plastering the 'walls' anew. Forge. The forge was burned by a The doors, with ponderous bolts and party of Hessians about two months be¬ locks, are the same that Washington’s fore the army encamped there, but the hands moved, and the window sash and Potts house was not banned, and stands little square panes are unchanged since to-day as stanch and comfortable as the days when tired and anxious eyes . ever. The old-fashioned portico over the looked through them at the soldiers’ door once sheltered the sentinel who huts upon the hills. The front room j stood guard night and day in. front of below stairs was the parlor; the rear the headquarters of the commander-in- room overlooking the camp was Wash¬ chlef.ar.d the broad stone step has been ington’s office. Two of the chairs were worn by the feet of six generations. used by him. A recess in one of the WASHINGTON’S PIE ADQU ARTE RS. windows holds a cupboard or box Such a hollowed door slab Is a his¬ which was built in there by Washingtor tory writ in stone. Never a jack-boot for keeping his State and mint; papers, and the rough sawn boa: or dainty bottine stepped across the are put together with workmans! threshold but its trace was left In the
Ti grab' :• * rr an.-: v.f- > -« almost .as rough. The'-wans are ming~ and said ”1750.” Jabez' Rockwell’ was with paintings and engravings presented but the patriotic ihan who sf. by interested people, but none of them 177b proved the winner of the fir* are relics of the war time. In corner choice, and the “1750” crowd was oi cupboards are exhibited relics dug up on course in the lucky ten. A cheer was the camp ground, cannon balls, pewter given for the Declaration of Independ¬ plates, rusty bayonets and flint locks ence and the winner, in which the boyish and two powder horns made by soldiers Marquise de Lafayette heartilv joined. while encamped here. Jabez fashioned his prize into a powder norn and carried it until the close cf TALE OF A POWDER HORN. the war. The fix-st opportunity he had One of the powder horns has given a to draw the stopper in battle and ram new story to the history of Valley a charge home with his clinking ramrod Forge, which ' has not before been was on the field of Monmouth, and the printed except in a country newspaper. powder horn was filled and emptied map It is a cow horn, fitted with wooden times until the service or young Jabez plug and stopper, and bears the follow¬ ended with Yorktown. ing inscription, scratched with a pocket In 1784 Jabez married a Sarah Rundel, knife:— a relative of Isaac Van Wort, one of the captors of Major Andre, and in 1795 he “Jabez Rockwell, Ridgeway, emigrated to Pennsylvania and located Conn. He’s Horn—Made in Camp near the present site of Milford, Pike at Valley Forge—First used at County, He died in 1847 and his descend¬ Monmouth. June 28. 1778. ants live at Honesdale, Pa. Last at Torktown 1781. THROUGH THE HEADQUARTERS. The grandson of Jabez Rockwell, Mr. C. F. Rockwell, has the diary of this In the rooms upstairs there is little young soldier, which contains the his¬ furniture. The back room contains a tory of the powder horn. This diary has magnificent collection of photographs and never been published and this storv is engravings of Washington portraits ■ full of human interest and adds another all that were made between 1772 and anecdote of Washington to the collec¬ 1777, including the work of Gilbert Stuart, tion, so that it must be told as Mr. William Birch, Rembrandt Peale,Charles Rockwell has written it out from his AVilson Peale, Charles. Peale Polk, Jean i great-grandfather’s diary. Antoinne Houdon, who made the Jabez Rockwell was a farmer’s son of Washington life mask and James Peale, Ridgeway, Connecticut. Pie was but The portrait by Charles Willson Peale i fifteen years old when a recruiting was painted while Washington was in : party came though his village in charge the room in which the pictures are now I of Benedict Arnold. He was too young hung, at the request of- his wife. to be allowed to enlist in the ranks so The fireplace in the kitchen is as large he marched away as a fifer. But he as a hail bedroom in a modern fiat and I says, “In a fight in most cases, I put my far better ventilated. Witbin its eight j fife in my pocket and took a gun.” feet of yawning emptiness tnere is room I Young Rockwell was in Arnold’s divis- for a bed and bureau, and the back logs ■ Ion at the battle of Saratoga, when he that once smouldered in these depths 1 was wounded, with his fife in his pocket must have been sections of forest trees. as usual. Later he was transferred to A log audition was built by Washington Washington’s army, in whose service for a dining-room and is as solid to-day he remained until the close of the war. i as then, with walls clay-plastered, Pie was present at the surrender of through which the logs obtrude like the Yorktown, and was in camp in Valley ribs of a mastodon. There is a mystery Forge through the memorable Winter. to this house, as there should be in every The camp butcher at Valley Forge well regulated rhansion that dates back kept the horns of the cattle he killed a, century and a half. A narrow staircase for provisioning the soldiers until he leads from the kitchen down beneath the had ten horns suitable for powder ground to a cave, or arched and brick- I flasks. But he had received applications walled room, sixteeix feet hig'h and twen¬ for the ten from thirty clamorous sol¬ ty feet long. diers, who had none, and the butcher With the flickering light of a lantern was sorely perplexed on the score of a to guide the stumbling footsteps down fair - allotment. Pie suggested dividing the subterranean passage there is an at¬ tnem by lot in some way and as the mosphere of the weird that would make soldiers had no coins to flip up it was a fine color for a smuggler’s yarn. No proposed to cut thirty small sticks of one knows for itfhat purpose the original different lengths, the ten longest drawn Potts built this chamber—probably for to be the winners. the emergencies that might arise with a : There was some squabbling over this, ! hostile band of Indians sticking the front and it was finally decided to ask the door full of whizzing arrows. A passage commander-in-chief to make a decision once led from the cave to the river, a J and restore peace. When on that same 1 quarter of a mile away. This is con¬ afternoon Washington, accompanied by I firmed by the omnipresent “oldest in¬ Lafayette, took in that part of camp in habitant,” but half a century or more his tour of inspection, he was asked by 1 ago the tunnel was blocked up by a too , an embarrassed private to decide the practical occupant, who feared that his distribution of'the horns.- The YPenefa! children might wander like little moles seemed pleased and .willing to encourage into unknown dangers, or for some other any division of a harmless sort, readily reason perhaps not so sensible. There consented and dismounted. He entered is a great chance for imaginative con¬ the hut and took from his pocket a pen¬ jecture concerning this cavern, but the cil and scrap of paper and said:— smuggling theory is not very plausible, for lack of motive. “I will write a number between 1500 The house and grounds are now pre¬ and 2000, and the ten that guess nearest served for future generations through to the number shall be declared the ' the efforts of the Centennial and Memo¬ winners.” i rial Association of Valley Foi-ge, who The assemblage was highly delighted, I v ere aided in 1886 by the Patriotic Order and the guessing began. One man with or the Sons of America, which came to the rescue and paid the $3000 mortgage a very long head acted on the theory upon the property. Until that date a that the General had written the num¬ family had always lived in the headquar¬ ber of the year in which the Declara¬ ters. It was then decided to build a tion of Independence had been declared house for the janitor on the lawn near and promptly guessed “1776.” Three or by, which was done with a portion of four others reckoned -that the number the $-5000 appropriated by the Pennsyl¬ vania Legislature for the purpose of re- IP#
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^jy\6 (U or*£s AT (VtjCPH MIU-C^-» HUT storing the HamptOtl hits UllcUgC 0> m<3 HiinJCi tj, - in vam, but the guardian “tept and his heart is wrapped up in Valley his secret, and in the Summer covered Forge. f the mound with dry leaves that no ON THE ROAD ALONG THE VALLEY. relic hunter might disturb it. On Deco¬ One way to visit the intrenchments ration Day he laid a wreath beside til that are left is to walk,- up the valley headstone,' and then covered the grav road and then climb the -rocky side of with a leafy pail again. His loving Mount Joy on the left and cross the hands planted the rosebush, and for summit to the more gradual slope where many Summers it has blossomed and the American defenses faced the British scattered its white petals above rhe Army in Philadelphia. The valley is at ! sleeping soldier, and the breezes have the rear of the camp, and there was I breathed gently here, and have let the never a fear of an attack from that quar¬ petals lie t and the rosebush flourish. By' chance the guardian of the Valley ter. A regiment could have decimated h orge property found the grave and an army, cooped up as the enemy must the rosebush, and he has made himself have been in the narrow defile, with a a watcher over the resting place in the towering hillside to climb, as steep al¬ shadows of the fir trees. There is no most as a house roof. Looking up the lettering on the stones. The “unknown creek the landscape is rarely beautiful. dead” lies here, until the last great mus- The hills close in far in the distance, and itter roll shall give him a name and a from their embrace the water rushes reward. down beneath an ancient covered bridge THE LINES OF EARTHWORK DE¬ to mirror the slumbering hills in Sum¬ FENSES. mer and reflect their shadows from the gleam of the ice in Winter. Last week On the east side of this hill, which is the black water flowed in a narrow chan¬ on the east side of Valley Creek, are two nel between the icy shc*es, and the redoubts and the foundations of the slopes were mottled with the drifted soldiers’ huts. Fort Washington, or snow. These hills were clothed with yel¬ low pine timber before the Revolution. Poor redoubt, is nearest the hill, and Much of this was cut off to feed the saw commanded the road leading to the rivu- mill at the mouth of the creek and the where the army crossed. This a square soldiers cleaned the rest awav for fuel earthwork, similar to the defense on the and building their huts. Several growths hill at Whitemarsh, and is now marked have been cut off since then, and now by snow-covered ridges, overgrown with the hills are covered with young spruce, forest trees. Fort Huntingdon, or Hem- chestnut and oak forests, with here and lingdon’s redoubt, is a dHfcire earth- there a patriarchal tree towering in soli¬ \vork of the same size nortJSlst of Fort tary immensity in the midst of the in¬ Washington, with three miles of table fant generation. land between them. They are but A little distance above the village on mounds, and are the only clearly defined the left side of the road is the grove landmarks which the crumbling hand of from which Isaac Potts heard the voice Time has left to guide the pilgrim over of General Washington in prayer one these hills. The interior lines of in¬ day. The incident has been told too trenchments can be dimly traced in often to be repeated in detail. The com- places, but the plow had leveled nearly mander-in-chief was on his knees, ac¬ the entire system of defenses. The line cording to the story told by Potts, pray- of defense from the west shore of the mg' lor the cause of his country’s free- Schuylkill to the base of Mount Joy qom and the welfare of his suffering the hill mentioned at the angle of Val¬ army. To-day the solemn voices of the ley Creek, occupied commanding ground fir trees seem to whisper with more of and the earthworks and fortifications meaning than elsewhere on the hills, and thrown up under the direction of General the music of the splashing water that Duportail, were extensive and skilfully runs by softens from mirth to a soft constructed. song. This is imagination perhaps, but The interior line of works and abattis was semicircular in form, crossing from V riarf a~e?room for fancies in this utili- north to south, with one star and two Further up the valley Is the Washing¬ square forts, from which the army could ton spring, that had bubbled from the have successfully covered a retreat west¬ rocks at the foot of the hill for centuries ward. High on the shoulder of Mount —cold and pure and sparkling. Tradi¬ Joy a second line girdled the mountain tion says that the commander and liis and then ran northward to the river sodiers drank from this rocky basin, broken only by the hollow through which and when water was sometimes the only the Gulf road descended to the Forge staple left in the commissary depart¬ The officers took quarters near Washing- ment, tradition must be allowed to stand ton s house, and on the opposite side of "for history in this instance. the creek the artificers of the armv were There has beeai but one Revolutionary quartered in huts, with large log build- grave to visit for years and years, a unJrt fi°r^WOtKSh°ps- The bake-house, used for the double purpose of furnishing mound in a field by the camp ground — bread for the army .and as a place for on the other side of the hill. Within holding court-martials, was wltnm a few the last year, however, Mr. Hampton yards of these workshops. discovered a lonely mound cn the valley In the woods above Port Kennedy, on side of the slope, the existence of which the river side of the road, the founda¬ is now first revealed to the public. The tions of the huts are still plainly visible, story of this grave in recent years is though covered with a growth of under¬ a tender little romance. It lies half war brush. The shallow cellars seem to be in up the slope, and when the writer vis¬ lines or streets, running north and south, ited it the snow was heaped above it and can be readily traced. The Northern I waist high. The wrtite shroud was and Eastern troops are said to have i cleared away until two rough stones placed their log cabins much deeper in showed the humble mound, almost level I the earth than their Southern comrades, with the earth around it. The grass ' and therefore were better protected from above was withered and brown, and the the cold, and the mortality less than rude stones, picked from the hillside, among the soldiers w'hose huts were al¬ were gray with weather and age. By most entirely above ground. These little the head was a withered rosebush. This hollows in the snow have a world of is the story of the rosebush:— pathos to-day. More than other remains r or many' years one man alone knew at Valley Forge, they tell of the every¬ where this grave lay. He is an old man, day lives of the men who huddled to¬ a veteran of othe late war, and a son uf gether in just such weather in these cel¬ patriot sires.} Many people had searched lars, with log walls about them. Down this little street they used to trudge half a dozen in tandem, with grapevine
• i only pair of stockings—his breeche sufficientjfffeient to cover his nakedness,-naked:__ his I /opes over their shoulders'dragging their shirt hanging in strings, his hair dis¬ firewood on sleds from two and three hevelled, his face meagre, his whole ap¬ miles away. pearance pictures a person forsaken and EVERYDAY LIFE IN CAMP. (discouraged. He comes and crys with Dr. Waldo, a. surgeon in a Connecticut an air of w retchedness ahd dispair, I am sick, my, feet lame, my legs' are sore, regiment, lived in one of this line of huts, my body covered with this tormenting and kept a diary through most of the itch, my clothes are worn out, my con¬ six months’ encampment. He must have stitution is broken, my former activity been an exceedingly interesting man. Me is exhausted by fatigue, hunger and wrote philosophical reflections and moral¬ cold. 1 fail fast. I shall soon be no more, izing by the opage, grumbled over petty and all the reward I shall get will be, discomforts, then reproached himself at ‘Poor Will is dead!’ length, and probably did his duty in spite of his growling. Here are some ex¬ “NO MEAT, NO MEAT.” tracts from his journal:— “ December 21.—Preparations made for “December 14.—The army, who have huts. Provisions scarce. Mr. Ellis went been surprisingly healthy hitherto, now homeward. Sent a letter to my wife. begir to grow sickly from the continued Heartily wisKed myself at home. My fatigues they have suffered this cam¬ skin and eyes are almost spoiled with paign. Yet they still show spirit of alac¬ continual smoke. A general cry thr’ the rity and contentment not to be expected camp this evening among the soldiers, from so young troops. I am sick, discon¬ ‘No meat, no meat.’ The distant vales tented and out of humor. Poor food, echoed back the melancholly sound, ‘No hard ldging, cold weather, fatigue, nasty meat, no meat.’ Immitating the noise of cloaths, smoaked out of my senses—the crow's arid owls also made a part of the devil's in’i I can’t endure it. Why are confused Musick.” we sent here to starve and freeze? What “What have you for our dinners, boys? sweet felicities have I left at home—a charming wife, pretty children, good Nothing tut fife cake and water, sir. At beds, good food, good cookery—all agree¬ night, gentlemen, the supper is ready. able, all harmonious; here all confusion, What is youij supper, lads? Fire cake smoke, cold, hunger and filthiness. Here and water, sin” “December 32.—Lay excessive cold and comes a bow! of beef soup, full of burnt uncomfortable! last night. My eyes are leaves and dirt. Away with it, boys! started out from their orbits like a I’ll live like the chamelion—upon air. rabbit’s eyes occasioned by a great cold Pah! pah! cup! Patience within me! and smoke. Our division are under You talk like a fool! Your being sick marching orders this morning. I am covers your mind with a melanchoilic ashamed to say it, but I am tempted to gloom, which makes everything about steal fowls if I could find them, or even you appear gloomy.” a whole hog, for I feel as if I could “See the poor soldier when in health. eat one. But the Impoverished country With what cheerfulness he meets his about us affords but littlfc matter to foes and encounters every hardship—if employ a thief or keep a clever fellow barefoot—he labors tho’ the mud and in good humor. But why do I talk of cold, with a song in his mouth, extolling hunger and hard usage when so many war and Washington—if his food be in the world have not even fire cake and bad. he eats it notwithstanding with water to eat. The human mind is always seeming content—blesses God for a good poreing upon the gloomy side of for¬ stomach and whistles It into digestion. tune.” But harke patience a moment. There “This evening a party with two field comes a soldier. His bare feet are seen pieces were ordered out. At 12 of the thro’ his worn out shoes—his legs nearly clock at night Providence sent us a naked from the tattered remains of an little mutton, with which we immediate¬ ly had -some — broth illmade and _a fine
I 'stomach - who eat pumltin Pie and roa: :iea. and yet curse for- remedy if they would.” t^ne for ufng ™ yow ill, curse her no I r%I weAt'An^w^ tn' ,4—Properly accoutred more least ^he reduce your allowance x went to work at masonry—none of mv to a bit of fire cake, a draught of cold S to Dictate me—and° before water and cold weather.” night (tfclng found with mortar and “Dec. 23.—This evening an excellent stone) Ij almost completed a genteel «\y/r *1 the Violin in that soft kind ev^rmnae/Lt0 ,m>; magnificent Hutt-howi or MirMck which is so finely adapted to I AAri ’ AA r8 bad short allowance of food stir up the tender Passions, while he was p aying in the next Tent to mine fniglit r°SS my back ached before ss?iS^i kind of soft Airs, it Immediately “I was]called to relieve a soldier tho't called up in remembrance ail the en¬ hebHutt ilgpPh\eXpir’d 1Cached dearing expressions, the Tender Senti- 1 lent snfa- H 'ias an hKilan-an excel- ments the sympathetic friendship that tur’cl filinATan^ an °hedient, good-na- has given so much satisfaction, sensi¬ ble pleasure, to me from the first time I doubtlef|°aIoth?res « fhfai?ed.r the. heart and affections of faithfully—he has fought tm I t“® tenderest of the Pair. A thous- +leiy Pe°P!e who disinherited his ? agreeable little - incidents which lZef£h*rs-]finished his pTilrim- have occurred since our happy con- he v as discharged from the War of ed tit°At’aiia:nd whic.h would have pass- I A£® and Death. There the poAr fallow ®d totallj- unnoticed by such who L?s not Superior now to a clod of Earth— his mouth wide open-his eves itaHn^ PassfonalofeTS t0 the soft and sln°ere V'fX?’ - Were now recalled to Was he affrighted At the sclAf of Death ' and ?1Ied me with those tender or the consequences of it? etc etc etc” emotions and Agreeable Reflections which cannot be described and which geA?',rPA'I Apll('yet‘ foy a Fu’rlow; Sur- in spite of my Philosophy forced out mumpinA andnsffikay” home-came back Ihl Sffihe,!ic tear- I wiysh4d to have* tne JMusick Cease—and yet dreaded its I dST&'iS? loose «^ht of thAse aear ideas, which gave me pain and toA manAaofStblhe Boston surgeons had Pl“De'Are24t RCttSame distant,” etc., etc. anri I™?-4Hutts go on Slowly. Cold aad -moke make us fret. But mankind ; MPas? ,«=», w| are always fretting, even if thev have Fnp-bn^11 example of scandal to the New ffi°seofhLifeth W ProP°rtion the Bless- Dife. We are never Easy—alwavs ESS??™ at the Providence of our All- wise and Benevolent Being—Blaming ou- llrlSfPPS hke a Pipccand a F^ol or Sau!tin" friends But I more kth°,n wlnyth!ng' that vexes a man vti1 4?ot smoke continually blow- ln his Dyes, and when he attempts Wind°”d ^ 1S met by a °°'d and Piercing OFFICERS RESIGN. ismmm ' Dec- 28.—Yesterday upward of fifty as well as other People’s—and if a great deal of follv In it -there. ,s AfSAfwJA General Green's Division re¬ signed their commissions—six or seven of °"r PeSiment are doing the like to-day Ali his is occasion’d by Officers’ Fami¬ ij£#cfSrss^ laii lies being so much neglected at home on I^Dve.” and not ashamed to say that I - account of Provisions. Their wages will not by considerable purchase a few tri- i»!?lhtaS ^etpyoffit
WTien the Officer has been fatiguing | ” vTuik’s°lfiu|e^.' * Pbyal' °f Rum ”3' thro wet and cold and returns to toS hfm1 7h6re ih® finds a letter directed to him from his wife filled with the most heart-aching: tender Complaints i &'tf°r Horse-S«PPer:niSodg’d? ..... 12s Woman is Capable of Writing—Acquaint- SLFFERINGS OF THE PATRIOTS the incredible difficulty J\ith which she procures a little Bread Famished for want of food, the sol¬ tor herselt and children-and finally con¬ diers were no better off for clothes cluding: with expressions bordering- on <^Ay J'T® in want of everything tT‘,r °i5 Procuring a sufficieAc? of They had neither coats, hats shirts' f°od keep soul and Body together nor shoes, wrote the Marquis’ de La¬ ofrvery littl Winter—that her money is ?»LV£ry ,tt,e consequence to her—that fayette. .‘‘The men,” said Baron St«„ she begs him to consider that Chari tV i)nn’thAer? V,teraUy llaked, some of them begins at home—and not suffer his fan'in¬ .1?rP)the fullest extent of the word” to perish with want in the A'idtt V Pis a melancholy consideration ” Plenty. When sucVsay. iA the tffl nAs / Senn ?rds of R^keringf ’ffi hundreds they constantly hear from thtir fam¬ j or oui men are unfit for dutv onlv r.... ilies, what man is there—who has tnA 1 1 want of clothes and shoes” w f° least regard for his family-whose sold W^ington htawelfcon the 23d of Deceg- 'v’°,jld not shrink within him? Who wouM ber. We have (besides a number n-p PP^ cHshearten(?d from persevering- in men confined to hospitals for waAt of the best of Causes-the Cause of shoes, and others in farmhouses on tvio. his country-when such Discouragements same account), ■ by a field retifrn ^® a» these 1y in his way, which his Coun- lday’ made no less than 2989 mAn Sbw in -.via camp unfit for duty, because they are ! barefoot and -otherwise naked * Our | numbers sincepthe 4th instant “from the hardships and'exposures they have un- l dergone, numbers having been obliged for want of blankets to sit up all night by fires instead, of taking rest in a i natural and common way, have de¬ creased 2000 men.” By the 1st of Feb- \ CHURCH DEDICATED. ruary that number had grown to 4000, and there were fit for duty but 5012, ofi: one-half the' men in camp. “So,” in the words of the Hebrew prophet, “they An Epoch in the History of labored in the work, and half of them held the spears from the rising of tha morning till the stars appeared.” an Old-Established Upper Naked^ and starving in an unusually i rigorous Winter, they fell sick by hun- ' Merion Congregation. dreds. “From want of clothes their i feet and legs froze till they became | black, and it was necessary to ampu¬ tate them.” “Through a want of straw or materials to raise them from the wet. THREE SERVICES ARE HELD. earth sickm ss and mortality have spread I through their quarters to an astonishing j degree. The small-pox has broken out. j Notwithstanding the diligence of the physicians and surgeons, the sick The Dedicatory Service Bead by Eev. and dead list his Increased one- I third in the last week’s return, which. | Joseph Taylor, of Philadelphia—A was one-third greater than the preced¬ ing, and from the present inclement | Sketoh of the Structure and weather will probably Increase in a. much greater proportion.” Well might Washington exclaim, “Our sick naked, ! the Ohurch History. our well naked, our unfortunate men. in captivity naked! Our difficulties and distresses are certainly great, and such as wound the feelings of humanity.” Special Despatch to "The Press.” THE DEPARTURE FROM THE VALE Radnor, March 3.—The addition built to OF DEATH. the Gulph Christian Church in Upper The army had marched from Merion Township, Montgomery County, Whitemarsh to Valley Forge on De¬ cember 11, camping for several days was dedicated this afternoon. Services on the Gulf hills fourteen miles from were held In the morning, the dedicatory Philadelphia, where the army remained services in the afternoon, and an even¬ Until the 18th, when the march that left bloodstained tracks in the snow by ing service concluded the meetings for hundreds was painfully resumed. It was the dedication day. six months later, on June 18 that George The morning service opened at 10.45 Roberts! of Philadelphia, came gallop-, ing up the Gulf road covered with dust ; o’clock with an organ voluntary and a and sweat, with the news that the hymn, then the Rev. E. E. Mitchell, of British had evacuated Philadelphia. Six: Philadelphia, read the Bible, which was brigades were at once in motion—the rest Of the army, prepared to follow j followed by prayer. Rev. James Maple, with all possible dispatch early on the D. D„ of Milford, N. J., preached a ser¬ 19th. The bridge across the Schuylkill mon at each of the three services. At was laden with tramping troops. Can¬ non rumbled rapidly down the road to the morning service the sacrament of the river. The scanty baggage was the Lord's Supper was administered. packed, the flag at headquarters taken At the afternoon service the Rev. J. down, the last brigade descended the rlverrbank, the huts were empty, the i Maple took as his text the eighteenth breastworks deserted, the army was off verse of the first chapter of Isaiah: far Monmouth, and the hills of Valley “Come, let us reason together.” After the Forge were left alone with their glory sermon the Rev. Joseph Taylor, pastor of and' their dead. the Free-Will Baptist Church, of Phila¬ •There i% not space here to tell of the brighter side of the Winter, the news delphia, read the dedicatory service, and olj the French alliance which was cele¬ the pastor, Rev. John B. Clark, made the brated with wildest enthusiasm, and the dedicatory prayer. The collections taken arrival of Baron Steuberj, the German up at the three meetings amounted to vetoran, who with infinite patience, $200. caife and labor, in a few months, trans- The addition, or rather new building, foiyned this untained yeomafiry into a, disciplined and effective , army. , ^ ^ as it is .twice as large as the original one, has been erected in front of the old church, copying the design of the ex¬ tension made to the "mother church,” St. Martin’s, at Canterbury, England, the idea being to preserve as much as From,.. possible of the old building, which has been a landmark in the neighborhood since its erection, in 1835. The church is located at the crossing of the Old *p . Gulph Road and the Matson Fork Road, about half way between Radnor Station of the Pennsylvania Railroad and Con- shohocken, being about two miles from Date, .- either place. The corner-stone of the new additio THE MOHTER CHLRCH— MARTIN’S, EXGLAND. L was laid on the 23d of last September dow was put up by the church. and has the. figures 1894 cut in it. The The side windows on the left of the main entrance in front of the new build¬ pulpit are “In memory of William' Nob- ing is through a vestibule in a stone iett;” “In memory of I. H. Supplee and tower, which is sixteen feet square and his wife, Catharine F. Supplee, and forty-eight feet high, containing a bel¬ Frederick Light and family.” fry in which thexe is hung a 1500-pound In 1830 Frederic Plummer began bell. The choir loft is over the vestibule preaching in the Gulph Mills school- in a second story of the tower and faces house, which is still standing just be¬ the pulpit. The wooden ceiling acts as a yond the church building on the Mat- sounding board, throwing the sound down son Ford Road, and often under the into the main room. ti-ees, when the schoolhouse would not The new part is forty feet wide and hold the people, and the weather per¬ sixtv feet long, built of Conshohocken mitted. On July 21, 1832, it was decided stone, laid flat and pointed. The part to organize a Christian church. An or¬ of the old building remaining has been ganization was made on that day with dashed and colored to correspond with twenty-five members. They soon found the new part. The pulpit is placed on that they could not be very successful the dividing line between the old and without a house in which to worship. new buildings. There are rolling parti¬ Accordingly, a meeting was held, Oc¬ tions back of and alongside the pulpit tober 14, 1834, at which it was decided platform, which can be raised, throwing to purchase the site now occupied,-which both rooms into one. The mapistexy is was done, and the first Christian church under the pulpit platform, and a robing in Upper Merrian, know as the Gulph room alongside is formed by the rolling Christian Church, was erected. It was dedicated in 1835. This building, the partition. The new room is furnished in selected most part of which still stands back of yellow pine and is wainscoted five feet the new addition, was forty feet wide, fifty feet long and one story high. high. It has an openwork ceiling, panel¬ About twelve and a half feet of the ed In yellow pine, arches over the pul¬ front of the old building was taken pit. with yellow pine columns on each down, so that the entire building to-day side of the open space. is ninety-two and one-half feet long, There are side entrances into each with the original width of forty feet. room from a vestibule which extends on There was a stone set in the front both sides of the dividing line between of the original building, in which was the rooms. The outside vestibule door cut:— opens from a porte cochere. The main room is lighted by eight memorial win¬ FIRST CHRISTIAN dows of stained glass, three on each MEETING HOUSE side and two in front, one on each side IN of the main entrance. UPPER MERRIAN, A window has been placed "in memory A. D. 1835. of John Ross, Janet Ross, his wife, and their deceased children.” Another "in On taking down the front of the oid memory of George McFarland and his building last year this stone was taken wife, Mary McFarland, presented by out and reset over a basement door their sons.” The Sunday school has a in a side wall of the old structure, wh«'re window on which is, “He shall gather it now is. The part of the old building the lambs within his arms.” One of which remains will be used for the Sum the end windows is “In memory of H. day school. Immediately following the and E. A. Carlon.” The other end win¬ dedication of the church in 1835 °R^v D. Flemming commenced his labors ~as
• • ^ pastor of thep&uTpK ’-Christian Oterch, and remained*' -six years, until October created and is the only deed I, 1811, when he was succeeded by Rev. on record in this county conta G. P. Hawk, who stayed' s<*yen . years, until April 1, ’848, when Rev.’ Jacob clause. A portion of the Rodenboug'h became pastor.. He remain¬ thus: ed eleven years, until April 1, 1859, when Rev. William Bradley became pastor “Whereas the Creator of the earth bv for one year. On April 22. 1860, Rev. parole and livery? of seizen, did enfeoff Jacob Rodenbough returned and stayed the parents of mankind, to-wit, Adam four years, until April 1, 1864, when Rev. and Eve, of all that certain tract of land J. G. Noble was elected. He was suc¬ called and known in the planetary system ceeded by Rev. John Conrad, who was by the name of the Earth, together elected pastor on April 1, 1867,' and con¬ with all and singular the advantages tinued twenty-two years, until 1889. Rev. John Blood was pastor from July 1, 1889, woods, waters, water courses easements to April 1, 1890, when the present pastor, liberties, privileges, and all others Rev. John B. Clark, took charge. the appurtenances whatsoever thereunto BUILT BY RICH AND POOR. belonging or in any wise appertaining to have and to hold to them the said Adam The cost of the new improvements has | been about $8000. The congregation, and Eve and their heirs of their bodies which is composed mostly of working lawfully to begotton.iu flee tail general for people, had raised about $2000 among ever as by the said feoffment. Recorded themselves in ten years. This fact be¬ by Moses, in the first chapter of the first coming known to several of their wealthy book of his records, commonly called neighbors, it was determined to assist Genesis by reference being thereunto the church in building a larger place had, will more fully and at large appear of worship. The Building Committee was told to proceed with their plans and the “And whereas said Adam and Eve died additional sum needed was contributed, seized of the premises aforesaid in fee mostly by residents of Philadelphia who tail general, leaving issue, heirs, children own farms and Summer places in the born of their bodies, tq-wit, sons a ‘ ' vicinity. The building was dedicated/ daughters, who entered in the same free of debt. ^ premises and became thereof seized as tenants in common by virtue of the do¬ na uion aforesaid and multiplied their seed upon the earth, and whereas in pro¬ cess ol time the heirs of the said Adam and Eve, having became very numerous and finding it to be inconvenient to re- mam m common as aforesaid, besought themselves to make partition of the lands and tenements aforesaid, to and amongst themselves and they according¬ ly did make such partition.” The deed then goes on to explain how hhvwm- was Purcbased from the Indians by William Penn in July 1685. The property remained in the Penn family until 175! when it was purchased THE YEAR ONE.' by Solomon Gnmley, then a squatter. It ffD m the Grjmley family ever since and the present deed conveys the pro¬ A Land Deed as Old as the perty, which consists of thirty acres of land, from Solomon K. Grimley, to Earth. James Z. Koons, his son-in-law. The original tract purchased from the Penn’s consisted of over one hundred acres. A REMARKABLE DOCUMENT.
It Conveys Property in Tills County and Describes It from From, the Beginning of Creation. A MOST REMARKABLE deed was placed on record in tlie Recorder of Deeds office at noon to-day. The Baie, . paper describes the transfer of a tract of several acres of land and improvements in the township of Upper Salford, this r a a i«i county. The unusual feature of the deed is that SUPPLEE’S it dates from the time the world was *fT -
le Structure Was Erected Long' introduce o mill was cx-Director of Before the Revolution. the Poor Hetodersoil Sihppiee, who has been its owner for many years. ' The output was about eighty-five barrels of flour per day. I The Fire Supposed to Have Origi¬ The origin of the fire is unknown, but it is nated In a Heated Journal In the supposed to have been caused by the new Upper Story—Loss $12,000 to $15.- (machinery on tire top floor, which was in 000—Xo Insurance on Building or loperation until 9 o’clock. It is probable that a journal became overheated. Contents. The heat of the fire made steam of the The flour mill at Gulf Mills, one of the water in the boiler and, as the safety-valve oldest in Montgomery county, having been happened to be open, steam was blown off erected in 1747, was destroyed by fire early until 2.30 o’clock. 1 this morning. It stood directly opposite the I monument recently erected in the vicinity by t | the Sons of the Eevolntion as a memorial of the j encampment of Washington’s army in that place in 1777, prior to their going into winter ; From, quarters at Valley Forge. At that time, as during the memorable winter at Valley Forge, a considerable portion of the supplies of flour and feed used by the army was obtained from this mill. It is somewhat remarkable that it had undergone no extensive repairs since its Date, erection until those which were just completed prior to the fire. There has been for a num¬ ber of years a gaping crack in one of the side walls, but it was not, apparently, suffi¬ cient to impair the strength of the building. local history. Among the more recent owners were Wm. B. _ _ Thomas, JohnLeedom and Wm. Pngh. The Old £lliger House Near Fort Wash¬ Superintendent Webster, of the grain mill, ington—Caspar Sehlater. while engaged about midnight in putting corn into the hopper, noticed a light through the i At the junction of the new road from window. He at once concluded that someone j Ambler with the Bethlehem turnpike was advancing with a lantern. He saw flames Stands a two-story stone house, now just issuing from the roof of the flour mill about vA-ndre,d 7ears old* Ifc bears tbe date 150 yards distant. i of l/9o, and the initials of “S. C. H.” it He gave an alarm, arousing the families of is supposed to have been built by Caspar George Johnson and Joseph Noblet, nearby, ' Sehlater, Jr., his last initials being placed and they were soon joined by farmers of the i first At any rate he owned the premises immediate vicinity. As the fire progressed about that time. For many years it had and its lurid glare illumined the sky, many j been known as the Dr. Elliger property. persons came to the grounds, some of them a ! believe the house is now occupied. distance of miles. The roof, of shingles, was During the Revolutionary war this soon consumed and so rapidly did the flames ground was owned by Dr. William Rey- spread that by two o’clock nothing remained j ^r>id LPh,iIad®ii>hia- who bought it m but the four stone walls and a smoldering 17<0 of Charles Maycock. In 1791 Rev- mass of flour intermixed with the machinery" nolds sold to Caspar Sehlater, Jr., a house Though the Gulf Creek is in close proximity, and lot of ten acres for £112, 10 shillings. no apparatus was at hand to extinguish the I he price indicates quite an inferior house flames. The contents of the mill were highly ihe boundaries then were ; “Beginning conbustible, and it was impossible to save any at comer in the great road to Philadelphia* of the contents. thence due south fifty perches to corner It was feared at one time that the residence of this and Methusaleh Evans’ land (now nearby would ignite. There was a force of Jacob Rumer’s) thence by Rumer’s and men ready with buckets of water, but their Caspar Schlater’s other land southwest 53 services at that point were not required. perches to comer of Jacob Springer • by The loss is estimated from $12,000 to $15,000 same northwest 17 perches to corner in with no insurance. great road ; thence up the same north, 53 The contents included about eight hundred perches to beginning.” It will be seen bushels of wheat and one hundred barrels of that this lot bordered the present turnpike flour, besides bags, tools, measures, etc. for 875 feet. Operations were resumed only yesterday This Caspar Sehlater was the son of after a suspension of a month, while new Caspar Sehlater, Sr., who was supervi¬ apparatus for flour making was introduced sor of Upper Dublin in 1765. In 1776 including two roller machines, a separator Caspar Sehlater was assessed as owning Mid a purifier. fifty acres, two horses and two cows. He There was also an engine in the basement had nine children. The elder Sehlater md a boiler in a small adjoining structure was an immigrant from Germany, who which was also burned. A water wheel was came to America in 1751 and settled in lestroyed as was also the expensive elevator Upper Dublin near Fort Washington. He had four sons, tfespar, herein mentione the property'in’1765. John, Ulrich and Jacob. John Schlater Among the earliest owners here was was the ancestor of the AVhitemarsh Welshman namfed Hugh Jones, who in branch. 1728 sold to William Roberts, another The Schlater ownership lasted for a Welshman, and probably a Quaker, 200 long time. He held considerable land in acres. The recitals of later deeds say the vicinity. In 1834 he made a will that Roberts in 1741 received a patent
ordering his executors to sell, which they ' *!* from Thomas Penn for 105 acres. His did in 1836 to William Spooner for $5635. lands covered the present Styer farm, a Two houses were included and eighty part of the Stockdale and Duffield farms, acres. Spooner immediately transferred that occupied by Mr. Long, the Weidner to a Germantown innkeeper, bearing the farm and all lands down to the Plymouth queer name of Israim Engleman, who road and out to Sandy Hill. It is thought held it for nearly twenty years. With that Roberts made the first improvements. the completion of the railroad came a His lands became lessened before his great rise in the value of property, so death, in 1749. Fifty acres had been sold that by 1855 Engleman was able to sell to in 1748 by his son, Joseph Roberts, to Dr. George Elliger for $15,000. The latter Henry Conard, comprising the north was a noted homeopathic physician of corner, and in 1738 three acres were sold the city, who had many patients during by himself to the same party. In his the war time and afterwards. He was, we will of 1749 he devised his remaining 150 believe, a native of Germany. The second acres to his son, Jacob Roberts. Caspar Schlater was a man of affairs, Peter Conrad was one of several sons something of a scholar, and did a large of Henry Conrad and Catharine Streypers, amount of business in the way of settling one of the pioneers of AVhitpain. His estates. He held important county offices, wife was Hannah Wood. They had such as treasurer and commissioner. He children, Tacy, Rachel and Catharine. was a member of Boehm’s Reformed Of these, Tacy married John Styer, May church, of which he was a ruling elder 10th, 1787. Rachel died young. Catha¬ for many years. rine, born May 9, 1776, married Caleb Tradition says that Dr. Elliger paid the Evans, December 13, 1798, and died $15,000 all in gold dollars in 1855. His September 5, 1811. Peter Conrad was son-in-law, J. M. Piersol, was a liomeo the owner of the farm during the Revo¬ pathic physician at 1110 Spring Garden lutionary period and on down till the street, Philadelphia, and enjoyed a large close of the last century. He was a black¬ practice from 1860 to 1880. e. m. smith by trade and was assessed for 116 LOCAL HISTORY. / acres. His will was made April 10, 1794. His daughter Catharine, wife of Caleb fhe Clialkley Styer Farm, Wliitpain -The Evans, and John Styer, husband of his Old Peter Conrad Plantation. daughter Tacy, were made executors. This is one of the original homesteads The property went to these two daughters )f Whitpain and is on the southern in nearly equal portions. Catharine Evans jorder of that township, half a mile got fifty-nine acres of the lower or south¬ north of Narcissa. The surface slopes to east part, on which stood the original ;he westward from Sandy Hill towards the house, whilst Tacy Styer got fifty-six acres .diacent lowlands of Plymouth. The on the upper part, on which are the pres¬ general nature of the soil is a sandy loam ent farm buildings. m a high state of cultivation. Two high¬ Coming down another generation, in ways border the farm and one intersects 1831 Tacy Styer conveyed her share to it, or rather two intersect it, as one field Charles Styer, father of the present own¬ is northwest of the road to due J3ell. er. The latter was born July 27, 1797; The farm buildings are of modern con¬ married Hannah Roberts in 1823, and struction. Formerly there were at least died July 27, 1856. He had children, three old houses on the premises, of Isaac, Chalkley, John, Tacy, Rachel, which one is yet standing near the Blue Lydia, David and Charles. The latter Bell road, and another existed until very was drowned in the Conestoga whilst ■recently. The latter had an antique ap¬ bathing. He was then a student of Mil- pearance, though one end bore the date lersville Normal school. Of the others, of 1808, and was built by Peter Conrad. John was a soldier in the Civil war, where Possibly the other portion was the he was killed. He had a portion of the loriginal home of the pioneer. This stood old plantation, which was bought by his a few hundred yards eastward of the brother Chalkley. In 1871, the latter present farm buildings. Here was a fine bought twenty acres of Peter C. Evans, spring of water, and doubtless here the on which was the original house, and on original settler dwelt. Another old house the death of his father also acquired his stood where the latter now stands. The lands, which he has greatly improved. present farm is composed of several pieces, His American ancestor on the paternal so that its history is not easy to relate. side was Jacob Styer, who came to AVhit¬ The wife of Clialkley Styer is the fourth pain from Berks county in 1768 and died in descent from Peter Conrad, who bought here in 1777. His children were Jacob,
\ / ' \
■ Henry, John, David, Stephen, Leonard | and Barbara. - By his marriage to Tacy ' "Henry Pastorius.” Conrad John was led into the Quaker j It will be seen that the premises then fold, and his branch of the family have j bought extended back for nearly three- been Friends ever since. Early in their a mde and bad a frontage of, married life they owned the present farm { 1,/00 feet upon the present highway, of Aaron Styer, a mile northwest of Blue : probably comprising part, or the whole, Bell. The barn they built in 1792 bears f ot the later farm of R. C. Beyer. It ' their initials. Their children were Jacob, \ comprised also the premises of Michael Stephen, John, Charles and Tacy. Peter McCloskey. (Conrad) Evans, above mentioned, was Owen Nicholas owned this farm for 20 born in 1799 and was the son of Caleb years and then removed to Merion. In - Evans, who married Catharine Conrad, H24 he sold to William Robinson, or daughter of Peter Conrad. The wife of Robeson, Jr. In old documents the Chalkley Styer was Catharine, daughter name is spelled both ways. Of the latter we of Peter C. Evans and Margaret Jenkins, know nothing, save that his life ended in and whom he married in 1863. the spring of 1746, whilst he was yet a By the assessment of 1761 Jacob man of middle age and when all his • Roberts, then owner, was credited with children were minors. He probably was ninety acres, of which fifty were in forest. ailing from some lingering desease, as he He had two horses, four sheep and two was weak in body” on Feb. 4th, when cows. His children then mentioned were his will was written, but which was not ' five in number. e* m. presented for registry till May 13th of the LOCAL HISTORY. same year.
will on WILLIAM BOBINSON. The Robinson Farm, Wliitpam—Its Con¬ fiscation for Treason— John Robeson— , .^n document mention is made of Israel Robinson. ■ ins wife Sarah, to whom her husband de¬ vised two cows, a sorrel horse, six sheep, On tlie southeast side of the Skippack and the use of his plantation for four turnpike, half a mile southeast of Centre years m lieu of cost of bringing ud and Square, is the old Robinson homestead. educating tne minor children. After that The site of the original dwelling and 47| penod she was to enjoy one-half of the acres are now the property of George W. pronts ot that portion of the farm which Stong. Here is a square-built, two-story Joliii become the Pr°Perty of her son stone house, with evergreen trees in front, and in the rear a one and a half¬ ‘To son George a lot of 10 acres off the story kitchen. The barn is of modern 1 I southeast corner of the plantation”—-now construction, but the old stone wagon j tne McCloskey property. This son George house is a relic of the past. The surface ; was then under 16, at which age he was of the farm is mostly level, but some por¬ to he apprenticed to a trade, tions s!op| towards the south. i ‘/To youngest son, Joel, a lot of 10 acres ■’ This has been the site of a human hab¬ j adjoining the Skippack road, beginning itation for more than 175 years, and here vuthm a perch of the corner between was one of the original homesteads of the' and Thomas Fitzwater’s laud, ex- township. The first story of the present tending back towards mv dwelling house house is very old. It is certain that there to an oak by a gate leading to my house was a house there in 1724, and probably and from the place of beginning down niany years previous. Part of the orig¬ the said road as far as will be sufficient inal plantation is now the property of ,to contain 10 acres.” This was part of the Lorenzo Zimmerman, on the southwest 1 nwif6!1 be.°T>C; ?ey er property. 11 was side. ?01/by J0/1 Robinson to Abraham Wentz O',ven Nicholas, a Welshman, was the m 1761 Joel was only a boy at the time first settler here,and wdio made the earliest of his father s death and was to be ap- improvements. Penn’s commissioners of renticed to a trade at tiie age of 16. property, Edward Shippen, Thomas Jo son William one gray mare, reserv¬ Story and Francis Logan, sold 311 acres es to my daughter Hannah the first colt. to Ralph Jackson in 1702. In 1704, two , Also to U iliiam a lot, part of the tract I years afterwards, Jackson sold one-half I now live on, the west part thereof ex¬ of this tract, or 1551 acres, to Owen Nich¬ tending .along the great road leading to olas, of Radnor, for £113. The bounda¬ Swedes ford, 49 perches, and then 200 ries then given were: ‘ ‘Beginning in line perches along lands belonging to George of William Palmer, being a corner of Iitzwater and William Hawkesworth • Ellis Pugh; thence by Palmer’s line of ' thence as many perches along on the marked trees northeast 233 perches to Qtner two sides as to contain 61 acres. corner in line of Richard Whitpanie, lo my eldest son, John, three working then northwest by same 107 perches to horses and one old gray mare. Also the reputed line of Thomas Fitzwater; . remainder of my land, together with the thence southwest by same 233 perches to house and barn where I now dwell, con¬ line ot Ellis Pugh; thence southeast 107 taining; 110 acres. To enter into posses- perches to beginning. Witnessed bv Samuel,_ Harry and John Moore, before ^‘°year«en ^°Im sba^ arrive at the age of IBAHE ‘V '
1 ‘To eldest Jang above mentioned, was the John Robeson “To daughter Hannah £30. who went to the British, unless there “To youngest daughter, Sarah, £20.” were two of same name in the same This will was witnessed by Thomas 7 neighborhood. If this supposition is Fitzwater, Sr., Thornes Fitzwater, Jr., correct it would indicate that John Robe and John Chillcot. son died between 1779 and the sale of his In the assessment of 1761 John Robin¬ land in 1782. Administration was granted son was rated as the owner of 100 acres. on his property May 29, 1782 Of these 40 were in forest and 12 were In this deed to Milne, the preamble sown to winter grain. The farm was says, “late the estate of John Robeson,an tenanted to Andrew Cramer, who had attainted traitor, seized and sold according three horses, six sheep and four cows. to law to the said Edward Milne for the The wife of Robinson bore the name of sum for £705, subject to the payment of Sarah. In the same list is the name of ,21 9-20 bushels of good, merchantable George Robinson, as owning 60 acres, of wheat annually, payable to the Trustees which 40 were in forest. John Robinson of the University of Pennsylvania.” is also assessed for five acres—whether We have record of another John Robin¬ the owner of the above farm, or another son, who lived in Whitpain, that married man of the same name, the writer does Mary Morgan, widow of Jesse Morgan, not know. thereby obtaining a grist mill and 50 John Robinson was born in 1728. In acres. This lie sold in 1762 to Mathias 1750, when he took possession of the Troxell. It was the present mill near farm, he married. According to the Custer station. Morgan had died in 1757 records of Plymouth Friends’ meeting, Edward Milne was the owner for the this marriage took place on the 3d of ensuing 10 years. In 1792 he sold the March, to Mary, daughter of Samuel farm to Frederick Boulange. In 1799 Evans, of Norriton. It was witnessed by the yearly rental to the university was Sarah Robinson, Owen and Rowland released for the lumpsum of $517. Before Evans, John Lukens and 24 others. that date, however, Boulange was de¬ ceased. On the 14th of August, 1798, TIIE TREASON OF JOHN ROBESON. Israel Robinson and Catharine Boulange, When the Revolution came on, John the administrators of Frederick Boulange, Robeson proved a sympathizer with the sold to Deborah Timmenum for £150. British government,and gave his adhesion _ There is no record of a deed to Israel Rob- to the royal cause by overt acts of treason. jTnsdhV buflie subsequently acquired the He joined the army of the enemy within farm and probably immediately attei- this state in 1777. In consequence he waids. , i I,. was tried, found guilty and his property This Israel Robinson was born Oct. ru, confiscated. It is not stated that he was 1761, and married Jane Davis, Rov. 10, j arrested jn person. Probably if he had 1782. He had children, John, William gone so far as to join the English army, and Marv. He died the owner , of the he would not voluntarily have placed £ Hg.31, 1820, to l.is 5OTU ye.av. himself again within the power of the This Robinson family were Quakers, and American authorities. buried at Plymouth. From the record of The old record says : “At a meeting of an old Bible in possession of Mrs. JenneRe supreme select council, held in Philadel¬ V.Ajt, Wood, of “Norristown, we learn.that phia, Jau. 28th, 1779, Israel Taylor and William Robinson died Feb. 10, 17S5,and John Robeson, cordwainer, of Whitpain, that his daughter Mary died May 5,1' JO. were ordered to be arrested for high treas¬ This may indicate that William Robinson on in aiding and assisting the enemies of was the father of Israel Robinson. the state and of the United Statesof Amer¬ According to the provisions of the v.ill ica by having joined their armies within of Israel Robinson, made m 18-0, ms this state.” John Robeson died three estate went to his widow Jane during her years later, at the age of 54. life, and then to his granddaughter, Jea¬ The subsequent deed to Edward Milne nette Robinson, excepting a lot upon was given by William Moore, president which John and Sarah Robinson were of the commonwealth, conveying a house living, “which I bought of William , .and 75 acres of land, “beginning at corner jof late John Robinson, deceased, (of which John Robinson was born August 20, 1784, and died in his 38tli year, May T?. ( the premises are a part) in line of Abra¬ ham Wentz, deceased ; thence by line of 1821,or less than a year later than his Wentz southwest 124 perches; thence by father. He married Jane, daughter ol now or late Thomas Fitzwater southeast John Lozier, and after her death married 80 perches ; thence by same 50 perches a second wife. OI southwest; thence by Mathias Barnhart Jenuette Robinson, the daughter 1805 southeast 8 perches; thence by Joseph John Robinson, was born Dec. Hallowed and William DeHaven north¬ and married William Wood Feb. m W-m east 80 perches ; then by John Robinson She is yet living in Norristown m gooo th northwest 22 perches and northeast 94 health, though past 90, being one ot perches and northwest 73 perches to be¬ oldest persons in that borough. ginning.” TW mihn.rdsl A Longabaugh, sonnn^ ’ '-jiinr1 'T® /- !»"' °f AViiliam Wood, bought ofthcKot Tenements, or must give way to gay inson estate, which he held for nrajnyl Summer villas and “modern improve¬ years, i In 1864 he sold to John Wilson} ments,’’ most dreadful phrase to the Jor.es, who, the next year, conveyed to| lover of antique and the worshipper of Edward A:. Good, subject- to a mortgage j ancestors. of $5,000 payable to Jennette Wood. In*1 On Monday last a hardened band of 1866 Good sold to William M. Cline. Tht workmen began to tear away the rude two last transfers have been : 1871, Cline and massive walls of the “Spring House Tavern,” the oldest shelter for man and to Edward A. J. Harley; 1S94, Harley tc beast in the country round, and probably George W. Stong, to whom was conveyed next to the Blue Anchor Inn, on Dock 4., acres. Dr. Longabangh married Street, Philadelphia, the most ancient ! AsenathIcltll Wood.Wood, dnncrhf.prdaughter nfof WillioivWillian inn in this country. Indeed, its be¬ Wood. E, M. ginnings are lost in a fog of local tra¬ dition, and the oldest inhabitant of Gwynedd Township never heard from his grandfather just when the first cask of ale was tapped in the Sprir^ House Tavern. It is certain that in 1G9S the From, .O low-rafted house was the popular resort for the wagoners and travelers on the pike road, and that the gushing spring in the cellar was known for many miles QXA-7^. for the sweetest, coldest water that ever tempted a dusty-throated pilgrim to forsake the foaming mug of a stronger j Date, brew. Until two months ago the house had been occupied as a tavern and dwelling for more than 200 years without a break •' 'rJ in the succession of dwellers therein. Indeed, half a century ago-, the tavern was used as a school house for a time, and one old man of the neighborhood LAST DAYS OF THE says that in his boyhood, seventy chil¬ dren learned the “three R’s” in the old place. They must have been wee and precocious youngsters, for it would be SPRIG' HOUSE INN. difficult to pack seventy infants In long- clothes in the little tap-room, down stairs. The Ancient Tavern, Two THE SLEEPY HAMLET, opring House is a bit of a hamlet a Centuries Old, to Be mile and a half back of Penllyn, on the North Penn branch of the Reading about twenty miles from Philadelphia’ Rebuilt consisting of a hotel, a store, black¬ smith shop and a few dwellings, whose back yards stretch away into billow¬ GRAY WALLS WITH A PAST. ing acres of farming land. On the hills around are many fine Summer houses owned ,by wealthy Philadelphians; but Sprung House, proper is clustered about Beneath the House the Spring Still the fork of the roads that lead, one from Bethlehem to Germantown, and ^ Plows That Drew the Trav;ler of the other to Allentown and to the ham¬ lets of Three Tuns and Horsham the Long Ago—Once the Another tavern at Spring House dated back to 1719, and flourished until de¬ Center of Life. stroyed by Are eight years ago. But ( the origina! inn with the spring house I asstanding a part c ™of" .1““the buildingP naahid "bee!Deen “any. yeara before this There is no more beautiful region of respectably ancient date. rolling green hills and the smiling fresh¬ ness of farming country in all Pennsyl- Th»emh°USe 1S ™odest- to say the least. The mam room below stairs is not more vama than the fertile fields of Mont- than twenty feet square, raftered with ?hr?n7w°,Ty ‘hat were settled 4 rough hewn logs cut from the foS thrifty Welsh colonists more than two that a.re stiil sound at heart. The fire uaS°- The local nomenclature beais witness to the nativity of the So™ TS C°rner is made from rough abs> gathered from the fields “Northttwr8i in“Gwynedd’” “Penllyn”and framed Y ' and one of the verdure- twoand ternubenturles6!?63 of-^ U'hughh tI?e -backsooty logs,layers and framed stone farm houses or grav- gabled barns looks like the hall-mark the J-at SaVOrK °f broiled rashers and the steaming burden of the crane. There of centuries to prove that they builded is one room upstairs, an attic, with a weH and for posterity in those long-gone steep pitch of walls where the roof days. Even in Montgomery County peaks and two multi-paned windows at however, the practical hand of the pro- the ends. Back of the main room is the sale present sweeps away the landmarks spring house or cellar, and above it a of °e‘Wht1Ch clinS musty memories small room, entrance to which is made °fthi rly times, and ancient houses are by a short stairway and a low opening when6StW demo.lished or refashioned through which the guest must have when they no longer yield rental as crawled on .hands . and. knees with "ST M: e *
SPRING HOUSE INKS 200 TEARS OLD.
Here two long rows of market foil: were candlestick held high. The upper story Ranged front to front, the table placed be- can only be reached by this awkward tween, ascent, and a bibulous royster, over¬ Where bags of meat, and bones and crusts of taken in his cups, must have elected to bread, —. , ! sleep by the fire rather than attempt And hunks of bacon all around were spread; One pint of beer from lip to lip went round, this laborious journey. And scarce a crumb the hungry house-do- A PICTURE DRAWN IN VERSE. found; Torrents of Dutch from every quarter came, The tavern was not intended for use Pigs, calves and sour-crout the important | as a sleeping place. Food and drink, , the pleasure of talk and the cheer of theme ■ . While we. on future plans resolving deep. a welcoming blaze were furnished, but Discharged our bill and straight retired the guests for the most part were the sleep.” farmers and teamsters who were en I route to the Germantown market with Wilson emphasizes the frugality j their huge Conestoga wagons, produce the Pennsylvania Dutch farmers who: laden. These hardy forefathers slept he met here, but it is probable that in their wagons and their lumbering saw them on their way to market a arks were drawn up in long lines before had he fallen in with the "two lo House I the tavern in market time. Most of the row's of market folks ’ at Spring j farmers • carried their provisions with on their way back, their capacious poc them and ate in the open air, along ets lined with silver shillings, one plot rough tables, furnished by the landlord. of beer would not gotten further tha In October, 1804, Alexander Wilson, the the first lip- , , „ ornithologist, with two companions, on The Bethlehem Pike originally ran ■ a walking tour from Philadelphia to full half mile from the Spring He" Niagara Falls, stopped over night here, Tavern, but the spring itself was and in his poem, “The Foresters,” gives necessary for horse and man that ; this account of the place:— road w'as shifted to run close by ^ inn and its ever-flowing fountain, ‘•The road was good, tha passing scenery gay, til the North Penn. Railroad Mile after mile passed unperceived away. through the region, in lSr>7, this pi Till In the West the day began to close, was an important center of travel, a ' And Spring House tavern furnished us repose. Err the long stone barns for stabling j Ul ' , _;/ - j tough stone walls are nearly two feet the cross roads show that Spring House I thick, part of the weather-work shin¬ was a flourishing rendezvous. In 1698 gling of the roof has been undisturbed John Humphreys settled at this place, for more than a century and the square- and the Friends held their first meeting. J shouldered, sturdy old chimney, fashion¬ Mention is made of a road from the ed of picked-up stones, has laughed at stone spring house to the Pennypack the gales of 200 years. Mills in 1702, and soon after the road The chief claim of the Spring House was extended from Philadelphia by has been that it was almost the only this place to the North Wales Meeting- one of the very old taverns about Phila¬ I house, a mile and a half distant. delphia that had not been improved or altered since the first stones were laid. SOME EARLY HISTORY. It is a rough and cramped little box of a place, but stout hearts have pledged Soon after pike roads were opened faith beneath its mossy roof, true hands from Spring House to Richmond, to Hor¬ have given the clasp of good fellowship sham Meeting House, and the Goshen- before its hearthstone, loving eyes have hoppen or Sumneytown road was con¬ I £5sworn fealty over clinking glasses by structed in 1735. Bethlehem began to Lljits little windows. jmd_ the hearts and be a town in 1731, and all travel from Ti:hands arfcT eyes have been part of the the Lehigh River, and from Allentown to soil not far away for five generations. The Judge on his circuit, the parson Philadelphia, was centered in the road on his parish rounds, the sporting squire passing by the Spring House. The old out with his hounds, some city dame, records show that Benjamin Davis kept rambling along with her ponderous coach the tavern from 1758 to 1772, and in April, and four,young Lochinvar and his timor¬ 1758, Daniel Knuckler, on his way from ous charmer bobbing on the pillion be¬ Bethlehem to Philadelphia with six In¬ hind him, fleeing parental wrath, the booted drover,' the clumsy Dutch farmer, dians in his charge, mentions stopping the Welsh plowman, a veritable Canter¬ here. The first stage line passing1 bury pilgrimage has passed through the 1 through the present county was started door of the Spring House, the open door’ in 1763, between Bethlehem and Phila- that is now no more. | delphia, making weekly trips and stop- It was of such a place that Longfellow ! ping at this inn. General Lacey men- wrote:— j tions the “Spring House Tavern” in his “As ancient is this hostelry | despatches of 1777, and the name is also As any in the land may be, Built in the old Colonial day. I mentioned in a report of a raid made by When men lived in a grander way. the British in 1778. Of course General With ample hospitality. Washington made his headquarters i here. The patriot leader could never “A region of repose, it seems, | have passed the open door with the A place of slumber and of dreams, great fire leaping redly within and the Remote among the wooded hills; II For there no noisy railway speeds, odor of “broilers” wafted through, with¬ 1 Its torch race scattering smoke and out dismounting from nis famous white j gleeds. charge and making his headquarters at But noon and night the panting teams least for over night. ■ Stop under the great oaks that throw Christian Dull succeeded Benjamin Tangles of light and shade below.” Fw * ww' of w qr-sr ~r W WW 9 ^ Davis as innkeeper and waxed mightily in the land. He came from Perkiomen way and moved to the Spring House in 1772, where a few years later he was rated ;as owning a tavern, eight acres of land, a horse and a cow. But Chris- From, / Tx .• : tian bull was an ardent patriot and l; when [the Revolution outflamed he raised supplies, obtained a captain’s commis- * /M t sion got himself much disliked by his neutral neighbors. So, no sooner did the war close than slander was busy to ruin his reputation and business. In Date, the Philadelphia “Gazette” of 1783 mine host Dull inserted an advertisement, • offering a reward of 100 guineas for the : author of a report that “he was privy in robbing a collector.” Some of the disaffected neighbors while attending the ' Philadelphia market reports! that Inn¬ HANCICK’S TDMB TO STAY keeper Dull and his wife had been guilty 1 of cutting the throats of more than one l traveler who had stopped at their house ' 1 for their valuables. To this Mr. Dull I Montgomery Cemetery Will Keep the ' replied by another advertisement offer- ■ 1 ing another reward. These malicious r,e- i ports, of course, damaged business, but Famous General’s Remains. f J Christian Dull throve and outlived most I of his enemies, closing his career as a i. | landlord in 1822. A NEW MAUSOLEUM PLANNED After that another and larger hotel was l- 1 built near by and the original Spring | House was not much longer the social focus for the life of the country round. Pennsylvania Commandery Loyal For the last twenty-five years the inn Legion Will Have Charge of the has been part of the Hallowed estate and is now being enlarged to serve as a Grave and Will Provide for more commodious dwelling house. The Perpetual Care. few hundred yards to the nor "^jie storm of popular indignation which ! the old stone house*)n which 'stirred Norristown since it was sug- ; lived in boyhood, together with "l old ^estcd that the remains of General Win- ’ spring house which supplied the1 little field Scott Hancock should b4 removed i farm, nothing remaining of the tter from Montgomery Cemetery to the Na¬ building but its low barren walls' Ad- tional Cemetery, at Arlington, has been joining the Hancock vault is the receiv¬ abated somewhat by the assurance that ing vault of the cemetery, and a weep¬ the resting place of the famous general ing willow growing between them lowers shall remain, undisturbed. The proposi¬ its drooping boughs over both. In the tion to remove the remains from the spot same cemetery repose the remains of which General Hancock himself desig¬ Generals Zook and Slemmer, and a tall nated as his burial place lia4* had the granite shaft marks the grave of Gen¬ desirable effect, however, of giving rise eral John F. Hartranft. A number of
GENERAL HANCOCK’S TOMB AS IT APPEARS TO-DAY. / other distinguished soldiers are sleeping I again to the movement to provide a their last sleep beneath the shade of thep more substantial monument A llan the trees in the quiet old burying-ground. crumbling tomb which nowJMjirks the HANCOCK CHOSE HIS BURIAL PLACE. spot. Steps are to be tal^^p to place General Hancock was born in the vil¬ the care of the grave in the hands of lage of Montgomery Square, in the Pennsylvania Commandery, Military Montgomery County, on February Order of the Loyal Legion, and when 14, 1S24. but when he was a few . this is done a new mausoleum will be days old his parents moved to Norris¬ built. town. where he spent his boyhood. He AN UNPRETENTIOUS BURIAL PLACE. had a great love for the old town in Hancock’s tomb is in a quiet, unpre¬ which he passed so many happy years, tentious spot in the old Montgomery and often expressed the desire to be Cemetery, a half-mile west from the buried in Montgomery Cemetery. His centre of Norristown. It is on a gentle wife was a native of St. Louis, and was slope facing the receding line of green anxious that the family burying ground) hills across the Schuylkill Valley. A should be located in that cit,y._ But Han-| cock’s preference was for the old ceme¬ Norristown arose in indignation over i the proposition. Protests were made by j tery’near liis childhood home, and when societies, and Colonel Read was heartily his daughter died, in 1888. he had erected a tomb for the reception of her seconded in his opposition to the remov¬ remains, specifying that he should be al. It was decided, if necessary, that laid by her side upon his own death. the cemetery company should issue an His wife and son were buried in St. injunction restraining any un authorized person from breaking the seal cf the Louis, according to Mrs. Hancock’s vault. The whole borough was shocked preference. at what was regarded as an outrage in The characteristic simplicity of the : attempting to thwart the wishes of Geri- great soldier was shown in the direc¬ j oral Hancock as to his place of sepul¬ tions he gave for the erection of the ture. Letters were produced written by tomb. As originally planned it was to 1 General Hancock himself in which he cost $8000, although a plain structure, expressed the desire to be buried in hut this was too much for Hancock’s Montgomery Cemetery, and outlining his means, and a modest little tomb was wishes concerning the construction of built, at a cost of $700. the tomb, which was being superintend¬ A SEVERELY PLAIN TOMB. ed by his friend Benjamin E. Chain. By his own direction the structure was , Thep came a letter from H. B. Han- j very plain, and, following his wish, the j cock, the General’s twin-brother, stating ; only place in which the family name i that he was unalterably opposed to the. I was displayed was on the lintel in the . removal of the body and would not give interior, upon which was carved “W. S. his consent to it. As.it is held that the Hancock.” The front of the vault, jut¬ eldest brother 'has the prior right to ting from the mouna in the rear, was j the remains, Colonel Read and his built of plain sandstone, about nine feet I Associates in charge of the matter con- high and six feet across. A grated iron | tend that, the removal is not possible door and another or wood open to a i j without his consent. Thereupon they small vestibule in front of the plain j I started the movement to have the future white marble slabs which close the in- < ■ care of the remains-transferred to the ner vault. The severe plainness of the i Loyal Legion in order to guard against tomb is in keeping with its surround- j any attempted removal in the future, i ing.s. It is located in an out-of-the-way ; and to provide that the tomb shall here¬ nook at one corner of the cemetery, j after be kept in a proper state of repair. away from the more pretentious granite i TO BUILD A MORE FITTING MEMORIAL. shafts which beautify the main portion : of the burying ground. By the side of j Recognizing that the repairing or dup¬ the vault is the receiving vault of the j lication of the present tomb would not cemetery, the rough, unhewn stones of of itself do justice, to the memory of which are coated with whitewash. I General Hancock, Colonel Read has de- Across the path are the unmarked ! | cided to postpone improvements until the graves of a few children, and a plain j Loyal Legion, is placed in charge of the picket fence angles around the corner | remains. The plan also contemplates the of the graveyard. But it is a quiet i I purchase of the site where Hancock spot, ha flowed by memories of both the | spent his early childhood, and the resto- life and death of the illustrious soldier : ration of the dwelling house, with the • whose remains repose in the plain little view to maintaining it as a memorial. tomb. J Colonel L. W. Read, who has taken such an active interest in the matter, FALLING SLQtVLY INTO RUIN. was an. intimate friend of General Han¬ When General Hancock died, on Feb- I cock. Ho was chief surgeon in the Third • ruary (J, 1886, his body was taken to Division, Fifth Army Corps, under Gen¬ Norristown from Governor’s Island, N. ! eral Crawford. In December, 1863, he Y., and placed in the vault beside that ! extracted from General Hancock’s body ■ of. his daughter. Year by year since : the bullet which, he had received in the his interment the soft sandstone front 1 battle of Gettysburg on July 3, and i of the vault has gradually crumbled which almost cost the General his life. and cracked, and threatens to become a Colonel Read has been foremost in the rbin in a comparatively short time. opposition to the removal of Hancock’s Efforts were made at different times to body, and he will probably be appointed raise means to provide a more fitting I by the Loyal Legion to act in superin- j tomb, but nothing has ever come out of tending the work of remodeling the it. Early last spring, however, Col¬ tomb. onel L. W. Read, of Norristown, applied -srtr-.rrr^ to the two surviving brothers of General Hancock for permission to rebuild the vault at his own expense. The con¬ tracts for the work were given out, but it was stopped by a letter from Colonel '.John Hancock, the General’s younger brother, in which he stated that permis¬ sion had been given to the Second Army Corps Association to remove General Hancock’s body to the national ceme¬ tery at Arlington. The Association also declared its purpose of carrying out the removal, and applied to Hilary B. Han¬ cock, of Minneapolis, the twin brother of General Hancock, for his approval. NORRISTOWN WANTS THE BODY TO STAY. History of “ Olfl China Hall The old China Hall property lying along the Delaware river, a few miles below Bristol, Bucks county, which is Special to The Inquirer. k shortly to be turned into a pleasure re¬ NORRISTOWN, Pa., June 15—The sort, has a rather interesting history. Montgomery Cemetery, at the upper ,, Over 60 years ago the hall was built, and end of -this borough, where Generals occupied as a college, to which young Hancock, Hartranft, Adam J. Slem- mer, “the hero of Fort Pickens,” and men from all parts of the country came other prominent participants in the to complete their education. It contin¬ war for the Union are buried, owes ued as an educational centre for a num¬ nearly all of its beauty to nature and ber of years and became very widely very little to the hand of man. The known. At the breaking out of the late proposition to remove the body of war most of the students left and went General Hancock from the .Hancock tomb to Arlington on the Potomac off to the war. The college was closed calls public attention to the usual and remained in a state of idleness for management of cemeteries through¬ over a year. Then the Government oc¬ out the country and to the absence cupied the hall, and fitted it up as a hos¬ of taste in such directions, a lack pital, whither wounded soldiers were which is due to the want of knowl¬ taken, many being carried there by edge as to how grounds of this kind should be cared for. Montgomery steamers all the way from Fortress Mon¬ Cemetery would be much improved roe. Union and Confederate soldiers alike If fhe managers would buy the back ' were treated within the walls of the old volumes of “Garden and Forest” and building, and the dead heroes of both endeavor to apply in practice the armies were buried along the shore of sound principles laid down in its the Delaware in front of the hospital. pages. The approach to the cemeterv Afterward the Government bought a is oyer a long avenue lined with ma- tract of land near by, and re-interred the p e trees, and the effect is very frood Rut beyond this and the beautiful lo¬ dead there. After the war the old hall cation there is not much to be said was used as a school for colored soldiers’ in favor of the cemetery. There seems orphans, and continued so for a number to be almost no care or intelligent di- — of years. This year the property has rection beyond what the lot-holders [ been leased to a corporation, and will be ahllf eS+>F1Ve’ The mana§'ers prob- fitted as a pleasure resort. ablj take the view that the cemetery > tr « > yf V e V t . .•«'£*
doeyesS ngrnotitnC °walwaysed With stand tar - uprightThe fenceand Driveways of Cinder and Wafer- which Ci6tS •1S Covered with poison ivy Washed Walks-A Beautiful Co- ness to reSmoveParently nobody’s b^' cation Which Man Doesn’t Make m?ntnnral Hai tranft’s grave and monu- the Most Of-Bare Surfaces and a S of the bh ffCared‘f?r l0t on the *. Schuylkill River, VJRKS ll* HANCOCK TOMB. lartranft lot the daisies are permitted > grow unmolested by the cemetery eople, and this encouragement of the goes, tne tomb itself is far better than est makes the keeping- of every lot its surroundings in the care of the y Private owners more difficult, company. The surrounding slovenli¬ [uch of the ground in the immediate i ness is unnecessary, as a couple of icinity remains in a crude and un- ! ;gardeners in two days’ time could rushed state, and the water washes i imake the whole presentable. The sex¬ i the neighboring walks have not ton, who talked emphatically of the een repaired. impossibility of anybody removing the body, did not think that he was called The Hancock tomb is at the head of :Upon to pick up some dead limbs of ravine m the corner of the ceme- ■ trees that were lying upon the bare; W’ n®x!- the town. The public hub- ;and water-washed face of the bank pb which has been caused by reports penetrated by the vault. No grass! its condition is due more to the grows on the sod roof of the adjoining ant of taste and public spirit on the receiving vault of the company. Just 1 ^rt pt the cemetery management ! across the narrow driveway from the tan it is to the tomb itself It is Hancock vault, in the fence corner ue that the sandstone, of which the aie a number of children’s graves iult is built, shows some slight signs some of them with the plainest of degeneration near the top There gravestones, some of them without ■e small horizontal cracks and the any stones. These were the children one in one or two places has crum- of parents who did not own lots and ed away. But so far as appearance who have only been able to buy space for a grave as it was needed. There are fresh flowers on many of these
' ■ ‘ fi:.. mournful little graves, crowded to¬ gether in the least desirable corner of the cemetery, in close proximity to the tomb of the great soldier and the people’s candidate for President of the I FromS^? a . United States. The freshness of these flowers contrasts strongly with the unsightly withered wreaths and em¬ blems that are crowded together in¬ side of the Hancock vault or stacked up against the fence. Worse than the flowers are the two lithographs of General Hancock that, with execrable taste, are permitted to stand inside1, of the vault, facing the spectator. The flowers are reminders of Decora¬ tion Day, but, if nobody else will do it, the soldier hands that placed them there should return to take the flowers AN ANCIENT INN. away as soon as they are withered. The soldiers could easily be convinced that the lithographs are a mistake. In spite of all the disadvantage of THE OLD SPRTNGHOUSE TAVERN 1 situation and the present unsightli¬ GWYNEDD TCWNCHiP Ob . ness of the surroundings, the _ Han¬ cock tomb and the immediate vicinity THIS COUNTY, ,■ I M could be made to take on an attractive appearance by the expenditure of a small sum of money and a little labor. Surgeon-General Reed, who cut out Workmen are tearing ? way tl mas- the ball which entered Hancock’s leg, at Gettysburg, says that General Han¬ Jsive walls of ’he “Springhouse lav- cock chose the location for several reasons. One was that his daughter |ern,’' the oldest shelter for man and dreaded the thought of being buried j beast in the country rcv’"d/ ?.nd nmb in the ground. A vault became nec¬ essary and a vault of course had to I ably next to the Blue Anchor Inn on be built in the side of a hill. Another reason was that the adjoining land be¬ 1 Dock street, Philadelphia, the most yond the cemetery fence belonged to a ancient inn in this country. Indeed, life-long friend of the soldier and that the outlook was upon scenes with its begtnings are lost in a fog of local which he was familiar in boyhood. The selection spoke of that attachment to tradition, and the oldest inhabitant ol the soil which is so strong in some Gwynedd township never heard fro m individuals, families and nations. Per¬ haps General Hancock was disap¬ l his grandfather just when the first cask pointed somewhat late in life to find that_ the ties which bound him to ! of ale was tapped in the Spring-house Montgomery bounty were . 1s^nff | tavern. It is certain that in 1698 the than the ties that bound his old ac¬ quaintances t him. Norristow was j lowraftered house was the popular re¬ not give him p majority when he was a Presidential candidate. °nAr sort for wagoners and travelers on the sion in his la it years he visited^ Ar pike road, and that the gushing spring lington with he idea of selecting a burial place there. But nothing cam in the cellar was known for rainy of it and now it would be a nnstak to attempt to remove the body. Neve miles for the sweetest, coldest water theless it is rot improbable that the , that ever tempted a dusty-throated attempt will be made unless the ceme tery company the people of Noma ; pilgrim to forsake the foaming mug of town and the family unite to keep the tomb and its vicinity in better con¬ stronger brew dition. Dr. Reed, of Norristown, is, Until two months ago the house one of several members of the L y Legion acting as individuals r®a<^y had been occupied as a tavern and assume care of the vault provided the necessary authority 13 given thenn dwelling for more than 200 years General Hancock s nephew and stall without a break in the succession of officer, Captain Griffen °f.New York is wealthy, and is ready to do what¬ ' dwellers therein. Indeed, half a cen¬ ever is necessary. The Loyal Legion presented Mrs. Hancock with a fund tury ago, the tavern was used as a of some $21,000 and the people of schoolhouse for a time, and one old Boston gave her a house in man of the neighborhood says that in ' S"1?, lif son ,S5.y'mavr.«d his boyhood 70 children learned the again and of the only two grandchil-! dren one is a cadet at West Point. It, “three K’s’’ in the old place. They is plain that apong the family, friends and people of Norristown includin must have been wee and precocious thp cemetery [company, wnicn is le sponsfble for the disordered conffitlon of the vicinity of the tomb, there should be little difficulty in Placing the tomb in order. That ist:he oinly and it ought to be done at FrouPgsters, for^Mvoufo1"ye dfflfkult ms cups, must havT^leme^Tl^^ pack 70 infants ia long clothes in the little taproom downstairs by the fire rather than attempt this laborious journey. Springhouse is a bit ot a hamlet a The tavern was not intended for mile and a half back of Penllyn, on the North Penn branch oftheRead- j Use 88 a sleeP‘ug place. Food and I drink, the pleasure of talk and the ing-' ab3ut 20 miles from Philadelphia, I consisting of a hotel, a store, black¬ I cheei*of a welcoming blaze were fur- | nished, but the guests for the most smith shop, and a few dwellings, whose back yards stretch away into ,!pf- ”erethe farmers and teamsters billowy acres of farming land. On who were enroute to the Germantown the hills around are many Sue Sum market; with their huge Conestoga wagons, produce laden. These hardy mer houses owned by wealthy Phila¬ fo-efathers slept in their wagons and delphians; but Springhouse proper is them lumbering arks were drawn up clustered about the fork of the 'roads | m long lines before the tavern in mar- that lead, one from Bethlehem to Ger- man town, and the other to Allentown | ket time- Most of the farmers car ried their provisions with them and and to the hamlets of Three Tuns and ate m the open air, along rough ta Horsham. Another tavern at Spring house, dated back to 1719, and flour¬ b'e3 biruishtd by the landlord". In ished until destroyed by fire eight °.•’» 1-°4> Alexander Wilson the years ago. But the original inn with c-r lithologist, with two companions, the springhouse as a part of the build¬ oat. iking tour from Philadelphia ing had been standing for many years to Niagara Falls, stopped over night here, and in his poem, “The Fore- before this respectably ancient date. sters, ’ gives this account of the place. The house is modest, to say the least. The main room below stairs is "The road was good, the paSBing ge6n6ry not more than 20 feet square, raftered gay, Mile after nile passed unperceived away with rough hewn fogs cut from the! 7111 m the West the day began to olose. forest, that are still sound at heart And Springhonse tavern furnished a. ve. - he fireplace in one corner is made ~ ’ peee. * Here two long rows of market folk* were from rough stone slabs, gathered from i5^ 8een' k-IC the fields, and bk«kened by the sooty Ranged Amt toTioiTl.llie Klbht pfaoed be * layers of two ofcntuiies of huge back tween, logs, and the fat savors of broiled '.There bags of meat, r.c oon@3 and ornate of bread, rashers and the steaming burden 01 And ornate of bacon all around were spread the crane, There is one room upstairs: Xjl“> pinto: .a; from !ip to lip went round an attic with a steep pitch of walls And Boaros s crumb the hungry house-dog where the roof peaks and two muiti- i’annd; paned windows at the ends. Back or Torrents of Dutch from every quarter same, Pigs, CBivea «w*d soar-kront the important tht main room is the springhouse or theme, cedar, and above it a siall room, en¬ White we on future plans resolving dees, trance to which is rnade by a short Discharged our b'll and straight retired to sleep.” stairway and alow opening, through wh.ch the guests mmt have crawled Wilson emphasizes the frugality of on hands and knees with candlesticks the Pennsylvania Dutch farmers held A h. The upper story can cnly whom he met here, but it is probable be reached by this awkward ascent, tnat he saw them on their way to anc.abifriiipus royster, overtake jn’ market, and had he fallen in with the _
iongfrows ol market tolKs11 at jijj ; in a report of a raid made by the | I s pringhouse on their way back, their ® j British in 1778. Of course General i l capacious pockets lined with silver >•/ 'Washington made his headquarters I | shillings, one pint of beer would not jD nere. The patriot leader never could I ■ Have gotten further than the first lip. A have passed the open doer with the I The Bethlehem pike originally ran great fire leaping redly within and I a full halt mile from the Springhouse the odor of “broilers” wafted through, I tavern, but the spring itself was so without dismounting from his famous I necessary for horse and man that the • i» white charger and making his head¬ road was shitted to run close by the I quarters at least for over night, inn and its ever flowing fountain. Christian Dull succeeded Berjamin I I Until the North Penn Railroad came Davis as innkeeper and waxed might¬ through the region, in 1857, this p ily in the land. He came from Per- place was an important center of kiomen way and moved to the Spring- travel, and the long stone barns for house in 1762, where a few years later stabling at the cross roads show that he was rated as owning a tavern, 8 . Springhouse was a flourishing rendez- acres o: land, a hone and a cow But vous. In 1698 John Humphrey set- | J Christian Dull was an ardent patriot tied at this place, and the Friends and when the Revolution out flamed ; held their first meeting. Mention is ne raised supplies, obtained a captains | made of a road from the stone spring- . ommission and got himself much house to the Pennypack Mills in 1702, ' rnisliked by his neutral neighbors. So, and soon after the road was extended o sooner did the war close than slan¬ from Philadelphia by this place to the der vss busy to ruin h;s reputation I North Wales meeting house, a mile and business. In the Philapelph a p '■nd a half distant. Gazette of 1783 mine host Dull in¬ , j Soon after pike roads were opened serted an advertisement, offering a B from Springhouse to Richmond, to reward of joo guineas for the author Horsham meetinghouse, and the of a report that “he was privy in rob¬ I Gdshenhoppen or Sumneytown road bing a collector. ” Some of the dis¬ was constructed in 1745. Bethlehem affected neighbors while attending I began to be a towr. in 1731, and the Philadelphia market reported that >. travel from the j Lehigh River and Innkeeper Dull and his wife had been from Allentown to Philadelphia, was guilty of cutting the throats of more . |'v centered in the road passing by the .than one traveler who had stopped at: Springhouse. The old records show their house for their valuables. To I that Benjamin Dkvis kept the tavern I this Mr. Dull replied by another ad 1 from 1758 to 1772, and in April, j Bvertisement offering another reward. 1 1756, Daniel Knuckler, on his way These n\a!icious reports, of course, I i from Bethlehem to Philadelphia with damaged business, but Christian j, |j six Indians in his charge, mentions Dull thiove and outlived most of his sto'ping here. The first stage line enemies, closing his career as a land- j passing through the present country lord in 1I22. was started in 1763, between Bethle-1 After thit another and larger hotel hem and Philadelphia, making week¬ was built near by and the original ly trips and stopping at this inn. 1 Springhouse was not much longer the \ j General Lacey mentions the “Spring social focus fir the life of the country j house Tavern’’ in his despatches of * round. For he last 25 years the inn EL 1777, and the name is also mentioned has been part f the Hallowell estate and isnowbeuig enlargedTo ser^as for a stock company unde^SeTrtTe"”oF^%S‘’ a more commodious dwelling house. Vine Company of Pennsylvania, in which were interested such men as Governor The rough stone walls are nearly two McKean, Colonel Samuel Miles, Robert feet thick, part of the weather-work Morris, Stephen Girard, Citizen G met, shingling ot the roof has been undis¬ Aaron Burr, Dr. Rush, Alexander Hamil¬ turbed for more than a century, and ton, Casper Wistar, Dr. Edward Shippen tbe square-shouldered^ sturdy old j and Peter Muhlenburg. The enterprise chimney, fashioned of pick-up stones, j failed, the stock being purchased at the has laughed at the gale* of 200 years. ! ninth Sheriff’s sale, by John Righter, a son* The chief claim of the Springhouse in-law of Legaux. Legaux died on Sep tember 25, 1827, has been that it was almost the only At the time of Washington’s visit the one of the very old taverns about constitutional convention was in session in Philadelphia that had not been im¬ Philadelphia. The General had along proved or altered since the first ■with him a number of distinguished stones were laid. friends on this trip, as is shown by the following entry in Legaux’s diary, for July 22, 1787: “This day General Washington! 108th ANNIVERSARY General Mifflin and four others of the aon- yention, did us the honor of paying us a visit in order to see our vineyard and bee
THE ANNIVEBSARY OF THE VISIT OF GEN¬ houses. In these they found real delight, Asked a number of questions and testified ERAL WASHINGTON TO MT. JOY CELE¬ their highest approbation with my manner BRATED. of managing bees, which gave me a great deal of pleasure.” A portion of this diary is still intact and in the possession of Miss An interesting anniversary celebration 0 Righter. j the visit of General Washington to Mt After being shown around the grounds. Joy, the colonial dwelling erected by Peter General Washington and the party took dinner in the old mansion, as mementos 01 j Legaux at Spring Mill was quietly eelebra, which occasion, there is still preserved the ted on Monday by Miss Lucressa Righter, table from whieh they ate, a large tumbler The present owner and occupant, who is a of honey, which was on the table and the granddaughter of Legaux. chairs upon which the guests sat. Legaux came from France in 1785. Mies Righter and her brother, John Righter, exhibited a number of the family After prospecting for a suitable location in relics to a few visitors who called. Among the neighborhood ot Pottstown, he pur¬ the exhibits were Legaux’s sun dial, ther¬ chased the Mount Joy properly which was mometer, the lightning rod he placed on a part of what had been known as the the house, still in U3e- his three wires used “Manor of SpriDgettbury,” so called in as a meridian; his diary and other papers. Th visitors were also conducted through honor of Guilema Maria Springett, the an underground vault, the only one remain, maiden name of one of Penn’s wives. in£ of those constructed fo- storage of Since that time the property has been f owned by Department Governor Mark" ; tqaa, later on hv the Morrises, the well- . known Whitemarsh Township family, and Samuel Miles, a Revolutionary officer, who was once captain of the First City Troop, of Philadelphia. It was he who named the place Mount Joy. The grounds surround ing the old mansion still bear evidence! of the extensive vineyard which once existed there. The place was a source of supply old tannery were built by John Lester, “QUfiKEtJTOWfj.” the latter for his son Shipley, in the ! year 1792. Shipley afterward ’built ^ Read Before the Buckwampum Lit> I the house now owned by Eliza Lott, and * erary and Historical Association his brother Thomas the one owned bv at Durham, June 15, ,895, by Joshua Bullock. Miss Lizzie Yost. The tradition is, that when Solomon1' Quakertown, as its name indicates, i Lreas, the leader ot the local rebellion off' ■ was settled by the Quakers or Friends. 1799 against the payment of the tax onj K appears to be a difficulty ia as- window glass, was convicted of treason]] I certaining the names of those persons it was ordered that he should hecxecutli ■ who erected the first buildings on the ed at the Cross Roads in Quakertown,I M site of the borough. Ii appears that! the intersection of Broad and Main! K the “Commissioners of Property,” by streets. The gallows were prepared, but 1 I letters patent, dated in the year’l728, he was afterward reprieved by Presi¬ I gianted unto MorrisMorris one thousand dent Monroe. K acres of land, on part of which the bor- In 1799 the government sent a body I ■ ough of Quakertown is now located. He of one thousand soldiers to suppress the I ■ built part of the house lately owned by rebellion, and they encamped for some I ■ Joshua Foulke and now by William Den- time at the spring in the meadow ini ■Sgler, also the old spring-house which has front of the house now owned by H. W. I ■ recently been removed. .Morris sold a Weiss. Relics of their stay are still I ■ portion of the land, including the build- extant. ■ mgs, to his son-in-law, Abel Roberts. The first meetings held by the Society 9 He (Roberts) in turn conveyed the same of Friends in the vicinity were held at ■ to his son-in-law, Samuel Nixon. Either , private houses until 1723, when a small ■Abel or Samuel built the present house, meeting house was built on land donat¬ ■and Samuel lived there until his death.’ ed by Edward Bolton, near where Wm. Ip wo of his daughters built the older part Shaw now lives. In 1730 they built a ■ of the large building now occupied by' I larger house on the present site, upon ■ Mary Steinhauer, and his widow mar- & land leased of Morris Morris, in just !(Jricd William Edwards, who lived in the what year we cannot say, but in 1759 ■ old log house that stood at the corner of I Morris deeded ten acres of land to the ■ Broad and Sixth streets, which house I society, and the next year the house was ■ was probably also built by him. enlarged, .0 Benjamin Green came into the place I Ihe traditional love of the Indians for ■ about the year 1790, and bought and ) the followers of Penn induced them to ■ built an addition to the old frame house ' make the shade of the great old oaks ■ that used to stand where Charles Doll’s £ surrounding the meeting house their ■ buildings are now situated. His son ‘ resting place. Some of the older people - William started the- first store in the who have now passed away could re¬ ■ place in old house built by Moses Shaw, member them sitting under the one jwthat stood where Jane Kinsey’s house | that stood at the south end of the house, ■ now stands, and occupied it until he stringing their beads. The tree was five j built the large brick house at the corner feet in diameter, and was blown down) of Broad and Main streets, in 1S05. within the past two years, much to the His brother, Dr. James Green, built the d regret of all who knew it, Istone house recently occupied by Han- ‘J Davis, in his history of Bucks county, p nab Mather, and another brother, Dr. speaks of the longevity and healthful 1: Benjamin Green, built the large brick - nesss of the citizens of this vicinity. To ! one owned by the Kinsey heirs. corroborate that statement it was found | William Green was the first postmas- that within a distance of two hundred ; ■ ter in the place, in 1803, and held the yards on Main street there were nino| || office many years. persons whose ages averaged 86 yearsl 1 Hie first tavern was kept in the old and one month, seven others who! frame house bought by Benjamin Green, 8 averaged 74 years and four months, and a and was kept by a man named Zavitz §j eight others who averaged 62 years and during the Revolutionary War. The I three months. All but six of these! next was the old Red Lion, built by' - owned the houses wherein they lived, Euocli Roberts and kept 'by him for- | and all but one were capable of attend¬ ing to their household and out door duties regularly. The records of the meeting show that a MiiTORABL °!>e time there \vei e four .id forty children, ten each, every oncl Descendants of Peter legaux Celebrate the of whom grevy up to full manhood and! Anniversary of Washington’s Visit. Special Despatch to “The Press.” womanhood, and made good and useful Spring Mill, July 22.—To-day was the citizens wherever their lot was east. At one hundred and eighth anniversary of the wedding of the heads of two of these I a visit paid by General George Washing¬ families, in 1799, seventeen of their I ton to the vineyard and bee colony of Peter Legaux,a unique Frenchman, who children, nine of one and eight of the! settled near Spring Mill, Montgomery other, mostly grown, attended the wed¬ county, one hundred and ten years ding. aJ=°- ^he colonial residence which he then built on an eminence a short dis¬ 1 he temperance element was not very I tance back from the Schuylkill River, ■ong in the earlier days. It is in evi¬ and which he called “Mount Joy,” was dence that at the funeral of one of then yesterday the scene of a quiet but inter-l esting anniversary celebration held by' most respected and wealthiest citizens! the present owner and occupant of the ( there was a kettle of “buttered rum” set! place, Miss Lucressa Righter, a grand¬ j between the gate and the house for all;' daughter of the old Frenchman, Legaux. | to partake of freely. Peter Legaux was a man of unexcep- tional qualities and possessed no little The changing of the people from the inventive skill, the fruits of which were old ways seems to have been slow work, manifest in his management of a bee for the report of the committee of the colony and vineyard. In 1785 he emigrated to this country monthly meeting that had charge of from France, with the intention of this matter for several years, was, in settling m the vicinity of Pottstown. 1804, “That our testimony against the ffe’ ?!?Jvever’ was 80 much pleased'with ..™ount Joy” situation, then called use of spirituous liquors has not gained the Manor of Springettbury,” that he much strength since last year.” So far! Purchase and established him¬ as known, it was notuntiUho year 183-ll self there in the already aged mansion, when Richard Moore built the first large■ lhe name “Springett” was in honor <-f of Venn's wives’ maiden names, dwelling in the upper section of liie.fy! ”VJi’e7rna Maria Springett. At the time county without the use of any spiritu-| of Washington’s visit the constitutional ous or malt liquors among the workmen ^TJ%ntion ,was m session in this city. ha,d aIone' with him a uum- Things have changed since then, but oer of distinguished friends on this trip, there are still six places licensed to sell as is shown by the following entry in strong drink within the borough. Legaux s diary, for July 22, 1787: “This Quakertown was incorporated in 1854, Tw'ffl) Geaeral Washington, General with 45 freeholders. The population in dpi®, = tv l°U7 °thers of the convention, order tnhe h°n°r -°f Payin& us a Visit m 1870 was 803, and in 1890 it was 2200 order to see our vineyard and bee houses. The village of Richland Centre forms a| In these they found real delight, asked a number of questions and testified their part of the borough. of rnfn appr0l?ation v-ith my manner There are many industrial establish-! of managing bees, which gave me a meats, shops and stores, eight churches great deal.of pleasure." A portion of and a Friends’ meeting house. Quak- session« €,r of MissStU1 Righter. intact and in pos¬ ertown has long enjoyed a reputation foi After being shown around the grounds i good schools. The Friends early open General Washington and the party took nfrwn- the ?ld mansion, as mementos a ^school for a higher grade, which be¬ +£ occasion, there is still oreserved came quite popular, Here also Rev. A. the table from which they ate R. Horne opened a-normal and classical taMebIeand°^he°ncTiWhich ^ ™ ^ guests ?at. ‘h h 1 Up°n which the school which was very euceesslul. The owned6 hvar>time* the Property has been first teachers’ institute of the county rr»™edi + Department Governor Mark- w is held at Quakertown in 1830. The ??aJh hter on by the Morrises, the well- h Township family, town has at present ten schools and Mlles’ a Revolutionary three- school buildings. Viio?r’^-yh°mWas once captain of the we1?1 nClty i,Troop’ of Philadelphia. It h4L who named the place Mount Joy. The grounds surrounding the old .mansion still bear evidences oil the ex> tensive vineyard which once existed there. The place was a source of supply v,®toci company under the titleof Company of Pennsylvania, in which were interested such men as Gov ernor McKean, Colonel Samuel Miles Robert Morris, Stephen Girard Cit zen Genet Aaron Burr, Dr. Rush, Alexande? Hamilton, Casper Wistar, Dr. Edward Shippen and Peter Muhlenburg. The enterprise failed, the stock being v'ur- chased at the ninth Sheriff’s sale bv John Righter, a son-in-law of Legaux^ i? ed on SePtember 25, 1827. To¬ day visitors at the place were shown many relics of the active old Frenchman a*?d w®re taken through one of the"old wine storage vaults underground. The old stone meeting house in Lower Merlon township, Montgomery Countv, which has withstood the passing of 200 3rears, will be the scene of a great cele¬ From, bration commencing on September 27 of this year. Historians and Friends and many outsiders who hold the proper veneration for age have signified their bp*- r intention to take a part in the festivi¬ ties attending the old building’s anniver¬ sary. The little congregation that still Date> ...o/:?.^r.....:^.J/* remains (about 20 are present at the regular weekly meetings) have already planned extensive preparations to take care of the visitors. The meeting house would be well crowded with 200 Deonle tstr/fyi/ffl//s'- ’ ■«\ ;
--Si
OLD LOWER MERION MEETING HOUSE. eo a large tent will be erected on the adjacent grounds. Horses and carriages will be cared for in the hospitable style of years ago, which was, of course, lim¬ ited to horses, for carriages are an in¬ novation of a later da!te. The women Coming Anniversary Service at the will maintain a generous tabic during the two days which the celebration is de¬ signed to last, and the occasion Will be Lower SVlerion {VSeetinff House. in the nature of a historical jubilee. On Saturday morning, September 28, essays and poems, for which the house and its memories simply ample subjects,', HISTORIC HOUSE OF WORSHIP will be read, and prominent speakers of i the Friends’ Society and otnefs~are ex-1 pected to address the people. >The his-1 Friends From Many States Will torical service will occur in the afte Take Part in Exercises Celebrat¬ noon. Miss Walker, of Chester County, whose family has furnished members of ( ing the Anniversary of the the meeting since it was established,! has accepted the onerous duties of his Venerable Edifice. torian, and her writings are replete wit lntereofiug and' accurate—Wrorrflation. t),!6 Ie*e? questiou of the exact age of siune tiioci: srui stands before’ tne meet¬ ing house, on which the demure Quaker tied by'her^ be undoubtedly set- TTw.f :y.uL,thi' more robust matrons ERECTED IX 16S5. sed to alight from their horses. Lux- c°riloi'-stone bears the date of 7,7.7 vel!Jcifs were unknown in that dw C0URtr.v, and the women of thc sn rec-0rds in the Possession forced to ride on sober and, per¬ month . Ciety .,11ndlcate Jobe as the wh,er* building operations were haps antiquated steeds. 'This stone commenced. About October 1 the build¬ nTTof aIs?.as ? Place to mount, and ing was completed, and there still re¬ 10 other object in the city can boast of mains some discussion as to whether a more intimate acquaintance with the September JS or October 5 should be de.icat© but plaiuly-shod feet of real the date of the celebration. One his¬ colonial dames. torian has stoutly asserted that the In the interior stands an old oak ta- corner-stone date refers to the building ble, curiously carved and heavily con¬ preceding- the stone structure, but his structed, on which it was the ancient assertions have been generally disclaim- ThfT1 1° lay, the marriage certificate, roi'i™, celehratl0n "uH end with a ihe last coapm to lay their certificate leligious service on Sunday, September there were Benjamin Hunt and Hester I rr- „h0.me prominent • speakers among f rme. who entered wedlock more than ' the Society of Friends who have been 60 years ago. Miss Price was a direct invited and have signified their intention descendant of Edward Rees, who had of attending are Isaac Wilson, of Cana- presented the land to the first congre¬ rwoiT1 ?eiSS0nV0f 0hio’ and John J- ss,011’ William Penn and his august nf 77’ *SGW ^ork- The committee contemporaries have worshiped in the sr, ! ^gemev^tS-?r0116ists of 10 persons, Lower Merion Meeting House, and the iand George W . Hancock has been ap¬ pews and floor, although replaced many pointed chairman. Owing to the ab- times since then, still retain the in¬ Isenoe. of several of the members the : terest occasioned by the Quaker Gov¬ umi:nHmei '711 not cbe called together ernor s presence. thi last part of this month. A QUAINT BURYING GROUND. 7^i ei Merion meeting house is only about 14 feet high to the roof, and • burying ground next to the meet¬ ing house bears many evidences of age. ! '%&**}*& length is 36 feet, with a width of 20 feet. It is built of pointed Inscriptions are few, and those which do exist are half-buried in the ground. h,TVe been )mP«rted from J-iH.gian.a,EStiJS**? but when repaired in 1829 it Many sturdy citizens of whom Philadel- was plastered outside in imitation of pu.ans have every reason to be proud large cut stone. The walls were built rest m that graveyard with no words to with an eye to endurance and stability perpetuate their memory. Among those and are a full two feet in thickness.’ who are known to rest there are the ancestors of the Roberts and George pL e Sa77 Klte> S(*ured from Edward Kees for the moderate sum of $2.50, a families, including Jesse George, who log cabin formerly stood and the dedicated to the city that part of Fair- Quakers worshiped there until the TT?unt ti r\ now kn°wn as George’s erection of tne present meeting house ScestnPf- 7l!es of C°lonel Bowman’s Before that time meetings were held in ancestors lie there, as do those of the the house of Hugh Roberts, the original famSiel °f the Levick and the Zell of the old Roberts family in this State and an ancestor of George B. Roberts’ In the days when the stone meeting president of the Pennsylvania Railroad,’ house was erected the country about was the first to be married in the his¬ was settled almost entirely by Friends toric meeting house. • aad ln s°une old letters one can read historic buttonwood trees. bow tne devout ones came early to be sure of a seat. The gallery was n use A cluster of staid old buttonwood trees then, but for many years it has not har- surround the house, and one of these i bofed a single worshiper, except upon °if 7Ul1 and ancient growth, was extraordinary occasions. Death and Iplantwl by an ancestor of Colonel Wen- backsliding have seriously impaired theii leH 1 . Bowman. Some six or eight numbers, but the members of the dimin¬ rears ago a stroke of lightning demol- ished congregation steadfastly adhere tc wSVwne °f 7hes“ ,trees and impressed their ancient faith and venerable meet tuuWy on the minds of the devout mg house.__ Quakers that their modest place of wor- ;hip had been spared through the long entunes by tile kind care of Provu xnce During the Revolution, while the THE STATE'S OLDEST MILL >ntish occupied Philadelphia, the in- abitants of Lower Merion suffered se- erely irom the depredations of the >ntish soldiers Midnight raids wore Quaint Grinder of Ancient Grists on requent, but the little Quaker meeting onse was never molested. h the Banks of the Pennypack, To the lover of antiquity the house nd its Possessions form a fertile field m research The small leaded window anes ate the true products of the sew ONCE A WHARF FOR SHIPPING Meant* century^ and many like them ow exist in England, silent reminders f tae^merry days of King Charles A Reminiscences Recalled at Cramb- | U»S Flour and Saw Mills of J.
;! - Holmesbnrg Now Regarded as Sacred Relics.
The old stone grist mill on the bank of the picturesque Pennypack Creek, at ITolmesburg, which has withstood the ravages of time for 198 years, is at last to be partly taken down as a dangerous ruin. Workmen are now at work re¬ moving its towering gable ends, and a ; brick elevation which rises above the second story of the side walls immedi- , ately over the main entrance, on the west side of the mill. a A train of interesting recollections of © the early settlement of Holmesburg and t* the surrounding country is sure to pass a in rapid review through the mind of 3 the old-timer as he stands on the great Cft Ed slab of roughly-fashioned stone which © forms the top step leading into the old 3 mill, and looks down on what was once © the basement, where the water wheel stood. The ground—for there is now no longer any floor there—is overgrown 3 M with tall, rank weeds; but the water o from the old race still flows rapidly and ►3 in a large volume through the forebay d and out at. the tail race back into the 3 H Pennypack again, just as it has been ce doing since 1697, when the mill was built. Lying around on the ground d inside are some of the charred timbers 3 and heavy iron work of the once re- j volving water-wheel, together with por¬ o t* tions of the crumbling walls. 0 Time did not work ail this destruction, however, for had it not been that a fire k swept through the mill in 1880 those j w old-timers would yet have been in place, F and the walls would have been as solid p as when the mill was built. ONCE THE CENTRE OF GRIN GROWING. ; Not a vestige remains of the two floors where the miller of the olden i days trod and watched the revolving! burrstones as they ground the' grist brought by farmers from far and near, j The mill, which is said to be the oldest in the State, was once the centre of a I wheat-growing country of great extent, for it was the custom in those days to bring grain from across the Dela¬ ware River in New Jersey to be ground there, as well as the wheat and corn that grew in the domain of William Penn. And in those early days the miller invariably collected his pay in tolls, tak¬ en in the proportion of one-fifth from some tew sucn trees yet remain. each grist ground. Naturally, therefore, PONDEROUS r.UT TOPPLING DOWN. the ^mill which did a large business Part of the old log-carriage and saw- had much 'more Hour to sell than was frame. built of heavy timbers, still re¬ I demanded for consumption in the imme- call the days when the monotonous ! diate neighborhood. screeches from the mill echoed through Tradition had it also that in those days the neighboring wooded hills and glens. the Pennypack had depth of water suffi¬ These, too, are silenced now; and pon¬ cient to float, at high tide, small sailing derous as everything around the old mill vessels, such as small brigs and brigan¬ looks, it would not be safe to venture tines, trading with the West India Isl- inside of it. , ands. These vessels could work their Valuable water-power and all the at¬ j way up from the Delaware River, about tending rights go with these mills. It one mile distant, and take in cargoes was strong enough to drive the wheels of barreled flour for their foreign trade. and machinery in those early days, but i Back of the old grist "mill stands the would hardly alone, it is said, drive t' tumbling ruins of the old frame saw¬ more powerful machinery needed i mill, which did duty sawing logs for an electric plant in these days. the settlers when that country abound¬ The mill properties belong to Geor ed in the finest white oak and hickory j ennock, who inherited them from ' known to exist on this continent, and father. Friend Pennock—for he belc J to triat society commonly called Quakers' of the county away from the “stone hills.” I —Has such reverence for the old mill It is not a very inviting section of country, tuat he _vvill not suffer a single stone unless one is up there for no very practical more to be taken from the gables than purpose: but it is Pennsylvania’s “Sleepy Pe. building inspectors shall order to Hollow,” and if it is ghost stories and be takeg down. romances and tragedies one is looking for, ,-T£e “'ll stands on Mill street, east i then it is worth the hardship of sticking of the Bustleton branch of the Pennsvl- | to a carriage seat for a few miles of the anM is re?arded by the 1 trip, even though the day be hot and the citizens Oi Holmesburg as a sort of sa- j wheel tracks worse than an old Philadell cied ruin that should be left standing, j j phia cobbled street. The tragical story of Abraham Bertolet’s taking off is an incident that formed the subject of volumes of talk in its time. The older people still remember it distinctly— until you find from the next man who tells of it that there is an essential difference in some of the details; although they all agree in the main facts, viz.: that United States Enrolling Officer Bertolet was shot, that William Howe shot him and was hanged for it, and that the criminal was burled over there in the cornfield underneath the Date, CldAtjJ^L. cedar trees. i The scene of the tragedy is a little one- story-and-a-half stone house about three miles or less from Perkiomenville. It is like lots of other houses in the same neigh¬ borhood, with its front yard full of old- fashioned flowers, arranged in all the beau¬ THE TRAGEDY tiful simplicity of no arranging whatever. Grea.t stalks of pink and white and purple hollyhocks in all their richness of velvety r OF DEEP CHEEK color, and blue flags, and phlox, and sweet- williams, and honeysuckle seemed piled into the bit of a yard, and over the whitewashed A REMINISCENCE OF THE CIVIL WAR picket fence in such confusion and in such extravagance of bloom, as to suggest the IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. thought that a man with a hay wagon load of the flowers couldn’t have driven up and tossed the beauty in more richly or with WHERE BILL TOWER IS BURIED greater profligacy. A fine big ash tree stood at the back of the house, giving grate¬ ful shade to the place. Near one corner of J The Deserter 'Who Murdered Captain Bar- the yard was an old well, with a wooden ' tolet, the Enrolling Officer, in 1803, and (windlass and its moss-covered bucket; and j the whole picture was one that the ob- Was Convicted and Hanged in Philadel¬ ■ perver would associate with anything else phia—His LonelyGrave in Frederick Town¬ in the world rather than a crime thaUmade widows and orphans almost in the twinklin'* ship Recalls an Incident That Aroused of an eye. Great Excitement Among the Stone Hills. It was in “sour cherry time” thirty-two years ago that It happened. “Whose grave is it? Why, ain't you ever William H. Howe enlisted in Company A heard of the time we had up here In '63, 116th Regiment, August 8, 1862, Colonel ! with Captain Bertolet and Bill Howe? Heenan commanding. The regiment for sev¬ That’s where Bill is buried.” eral weeks had been in camp in a woods at The subject of remark was a little mound Hestonville, and on the 31st of the month j in the corner of a field in Frederick town¬ it was mustered into service, with seven I ship, in the upper end of Montgomery coun¬ hundred muskets, and soon ordered to the ty. A "ough, flat stone, taken probably defenses of Washington. About two months from the ground near by, marked the head later the regiment was sent to Harper’s of the grave, and a smaller one indicated the Ferry, where it was attached to the “Irish' foot. There was no inscription to tell of Brigade,” and the history of those gallant the man’s virtues or his people; no “zum soldiers gets the names of most of them that andenken,’’ or “Hier ruhet,'’ as is the fash¬ survived its long list of battles and skir- ion in the graveyards hereabouts; simply i miskes into the stories of such memorable the grass-covered mound six feet long, and actions as Fredericksburg, Ckaneellorsville, Its rude markers to tell to-day of the close Gettysburg, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor' of the tragedy of Deep Creek. Petersburg and Appomattox. It gives the It’s a long, hard drive up into that coun¬ names of the two hundred and twenty-nine try. The road from Perkiomenville leads ■ of its soldiers who died in service an hon¬ Into a rugged, hilly and unresponsive land; ored place on “fame’s eternal campin'* one that produces abnormal crops of boul¬ ground.” a ders and cedar trees. The farm houses and “Bates’ Plistory" contains only a few barns do not compare favorably with the words of the military career of William traditional Pennsylvania Dutch buildings Howe, but they are awfully eold-blooded of the same character. Dilapidated worm There really isn’t room in the single line j fences, thickly hedged with blackberry that tells his name, residence, date of en¬ bushes or poison ivy, abound there, instead listment, and “Remarks,” to recite his of the business-like post and rail fences | bravery at Fredericksburg, where he was of the prosperous farmers in other parts -ive to bring the regimental colors to look him up. Howe was a deserter. itc the field; of the deadly work he did with ' The enrolling officer lived up at the an Ijjnfield rifio, when he had discarded his “Swamp,” or New Hanover, as it is musket, and gone on the field again with now called, and it was his business to ar- j the skirmishers, and stayed all the rest of rest such as were neglectful of their obli¬ the day and all that night; for he was a gations to the government in the manner good shot, and he was proud of it. His life Howe was. One evening Bertolet and three in the hills along the Perkiomcu had given men arrived at Weand’s tavern, a mile or him a practical use of his gun that made so from Howe’s place. Up in Frederick the y him very good company when there was people will tell you to-day of the stop they shooting going on, although his reputation made, how the men drank more or less, was none of the best until he went into the while their valor grew with every drink. , army. Bertolet boasted openly that he had come * That’s all left out of “Bates' History,” for Bill Howe, and that he would take him 2 to which you’ll he sure to be referred the alive or dead; if they had to shoot him, he’d ‘ ■ first thing when you ask after William carry first-rate across the saddie-bow. Howe. It was left to his counsel and Of course, Howe had his friends, and one 1 friend later on, at the time of his trial by of them was Augustus Bitting, who, by the ij court-martial, to find out that he had some j way, was also enlisted in the same company I strong points, and that personal courage with Howe, and who had come home with j and an indomitable will were a couple of him. (It might be mentioned in passing that £ them. When near to capture he swam the “Bate’s History” is singularly uneommuni- I Rappahannock, and escaped under circum¬ cative about Bitting; it says that his name J stances that would have appalled most was not on the muster roll at the time of men. its disbanding.) But Bitting remembered ’■ And then to have ail that good record ■ his friend all right, and put him on his guard spoiled by his unwillingness to take his about the intended effort to grrest him at ' chances with the regimental doctor—so it his house that night of June 21, 1863, and so, was said afterwards—in an attack of in¬ when Bertolet and his men called on Howe flammation of the bowels. Doesn't it seem ! somewhere about midnight, they didn't ex¬ strange that meu will do remarkable deeds, ■ actly surprise him. will be heroes of Arctic expeditious, hunters, Indians fighters and the like—and yet at " Just alongside the door at the back part | some crisis will fail utterly, and the whole of the house is a little many-paned window. fabric of their greatness come tumbling Looking inside you can see a door opening * about their ears? out from the stairway which..leads into the
THE SCENE OF TRAGEDY. the 26th day of December, 1864. Then be second .story. The men were working and about twenty others who were afflicted the door outside, trying to force it—so it wa determined to go to Washington for treat¬ afterwards reported—when Howe eai ment; but unfortunately he overlooked the downstairs armed. He looked through th formality of getting the kind of leave he window and saw a man with a lan should have gotten, and still more unfor¬ standing about eight or ten feet away on tunately, he failed to recognize that the further side of the slab stqne pavem' 116th Regiment had claims upon him which directing the operations of the men at were somewhat binding. He went home door. It was the work of a moment to from Washington instead of going to rejoin two shots at the breast of the man with his command, and was there nearly two lantern, to dash hack up the stairs, ju: months when Enrolling Officer Bertolet eame out that window in the end of tlte ho take to the woods and escape the an
■ " • JK \v* Ur
which the imprudent enrolling officer naq planned. Bertolet received both charges and fell dead. Then they carried the dead man around i to the further end of the house and laid him under a cherry tree—“Do igt die platzj so it was Indicated to me—while one of the deputies hurried off to Enos Boyer’s and got a wagon in which they drove home with their ghastly burden. Howe eluded capture until the 18th of July when he was apprehended in a saloon in Allentown. An acquaintance, Milton Rich¬ ards, saw him and Augustus Bitting go in the door of the place. He informed a police officer who then made the arrest. The fol¬ lowing day he was taken through Norris¬ town to Philadelphia, where in the following February he was tried by court martial for killing Bertolet. Notwithstanding the able presentation of Howe's good reoord by his counsel, Edmund Randall, the court found him guilty and sen¬ tenced him to death. The execution was to have taken place on June 24, 1864, but a A Sketch of the Foundation stay was secured and additional efforts on technical grounds were made to save the and Development of This doomed man. His counsel applied for a writ of habeas corpus to bring Howe before Enterprising Town. court for his discharge on the ground that he was not amenable to trial by court mar¬ _ tial. The case of Archibald Tore, a noted one in the Irish rebellion of 1798, and almost identical with Howe’s, was cited in support of With the first edition of this paper, the motion, but Judge Cadwalader refused The Herald has prepared for its read¬ to interfere. The execution was again fixed for Friday, August 20, 1864, and the prisoner ers a brief synopsis of our flourishing returned to Fort Mifflin. town, its industrial, educational and \ Later on he was removed from there after an almost successful attempt to escape by general business advantages. Potts-1 means of tunneling, and confined in the town lies along the north bank of the Eastern Penitentiary, where he remained p Schuylkill River, 20 miles from Norris¬ 'i until the morning of the day set for the exe¬ cution. Then an ambulance and a guard of town, 18 from Reading and 36 from I three men took him back to the fort, where Philadelphia. It was first laid out in ! his crime was expiated. As Howe stood facing the sally-port of Fort Mifflin, looking September, 1752, by John Potts, son of out into the sky for the last time, he read Thomas Potts, who purchased 990 j a brief address in which he defended his action stating that he had not sought the acres of land of Samuel McCall, and ’ death of Bertolet and gave his reasons for , was known as Pottsgrove. The follow¬ | leavlng*his regiment, and said that liis sen¬ ing year (1753) Mr. Potts built a fine j tence of death was undeserved. Then he turned toward the wall, the cap and noose mansion on the west side of Manatawny j were adjusted and in a few miuutes the last Creek, which is standing in good pre¬ act in the tragedy of Deep Creek was over. servation, owned by Henry H. and ■ It was a great day in that part of the Jacob H. Gable, and known as Mill county when Howe was buried. Excitement Park Hotel. ran high in a community like that at the time of the shooting and during the progress The original town of Pottsgrove as : I of the trial. The sympathy of the public i was with the accused man all through and laid out only extended to Charlotte against enrolling officers in general, and street, but when it was incorporated as ! more enthusiastic residents are said to have the Borough of Pottstown, in 1815, the urged resisting Howe's arrest to the last. So it may be imagined that the closing scene limits were made larger and extended in the affair would be calculated to draw out from Manatawny to Adams streets on I a great crowd of people. The funeral ser¬ vices were held in Keeler’s Church and ware the east, and from the river to Beech conducted by the Rev. Henry Wendt, who street on the north. Its original area then ministered there, but the Council rc- \ fusing ’ to permit the interment in the was 268 acres but in 1888 it was again churchyard, the body was laid in that narne- extended and now contains over four ' less grave m the hills, within a stone’s times that extent of territory. throw of the scene of the tragedy that was his undoing. Among the early residents may be mentioned the families of Potts, Rutter, Dewees, Hockley,Gilbert, Paul,Thomp¬ son, Warley and others. The first public house stood between King and Chestnut streets west of Hanover. been running in severalTdepartmentsT The first house of Worship was built The Philadelphia Bridge Works of Cof- by the Society of Friends, and was rode & Saylor, occupying large shops in located on Kino; street on the site of the eastern suburbs, adjoining the the present meeting-house of that re¬ Pottstown Iron Company, was likewise ligious denomination. The Old Brick a strong factor in our general prosperity Church (now Zion’s Reformed) was until it passed into the hands of re¬ built in 1796 and is the oldest church ceivers, since which it has been lying edifice in town. almost dormant. On September 10, 1784, the County of The Warwick Iron Company com¬ Montgomery was formed, and in Octo¬ menced the erection of their furnace in ber, 1793) th» first post-office in the 1875 and completed it in 1876 and this county was established at Pottsgrove industry has worked uninterruptedly, with Jacob Barr as post-master. The except for repairs from the date of its name of Pottsgrove P. O. was continued erection to the present time. until January 28, 1829, when it was Probably one of the soundest and changed to Pottstown. In 1830 the busiest of our iron industries is the ceusus gave the borough 676 inhabi¬ Ellis & Lessig Iron and Steel Company tants; in 1840, 721; in 1850 it had more which operate a large puddle and plate than doubled itself and numbered 1664; mill and nail factory in the western suburbs. This is but a young industry ini86o it contained 2380; in 1870 it had in the iron age of our country, but has 4125 and in 1880, 5305; in 1890 it grew to worked its way up to the front and now 13,285, and is estimated now at about enjoys unexcelled prosperity. The 16,000. Glasgow Iron Company with its puddle , and plate mills at Glasgow and its steq?& In 1842 the borongh was divided into plant above town is also an important two wards, the East and West wards; in factor in our town’s development. 1871 the East ward was divided into the The Mechanic’s Boiler Works of Softer Bros., show what pluck and in¬ Middle and East wards and in'1882 the dustry and good mechanicship can ac¬ Middle ward was divided into the Sec-! complish. The four Sotter Brothers ond and Third. The extension of the came here from Reading several years borough in 1888 created four new wards ag© and established themselves in busi¬ ness in the old building (now torn down) the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth. on Beech street and began their In January, 1889, the East ward was career as boiler manufacturers. In a divided the Fourth and Fifth and in few years they found their quarters too j 1891 the Eighth ward was divided into small and bought a tract of land adjoin¬ ing the Warwick Iron Company and j the Eighth and Tenth wards. erected commodious shops where they The oldest iron works here were built have enlarged their business, until to¬ in 1846 by Henry Potts and Hon. David day their products are sought for the Potts, Jr., known as the Pottsgrove Iron world over. They have not been idle since starting and ran all through the Works, now the Potts Bros.’ Iron industrial depression which affected our Works. These works which now in¬ country from shore to shore. Several clude a puddle and boiler-plate mill, is smaller iron industries: Guest’s foundry, Milligan’s foundry, Stillman & Saylor’s an old stand-by of our borough, and is machine shops, etc., round up our iron running steadily at the present time. manufactories and Pottitown may be The Pottstown Iron Company was or- distinctive.y classed as an iron town. *. I ganized in 1866, the first rolling mill Within the past year efforts have been made to locate other diversified indus¬ ! now owned by the company neverthe-1 tries here and the erection of the Ban¬ less having been constructed in 1863 by nockburn Textile Mills at Bramcotewas William Mintzer and John E. Wotten. the first step towards placing our town The works have been continually en¬ in a position, so as not to rely directly >' on the iron trade and its flucuatioirs larged and now include the Upper and Since then several shirt factories, Hope puddling mills, the plate mill, hosiery mills, etc., have been started, nail factory, 65 and 112 inch mills, together with cigar and cigar box facto¬ universal mill, blast furnace, steel plant, ries, and this new branch of industries has also opened an avenue of employ¬ etc. This is one of the finest and most ment for our female population, which complete plants in the country, and was aids greatlv in the general prosperity the main stay of Pottstown until it the town. Pottstown affords superior passed into the hands of receivers sev¬ advantages for, the location of ind’ trial works of all kinds, lying withir eral years ago, since which it has only - '7 ' 1' S' ,,Schpol,apreparatoryschoolfor *OREFATHERS’ DAYAT MERION]
■ Thereare22schoolbuildingsand57 | careersbeartestimonytothatfact. -- and eacharesupremelyhappy. mto thecoffersofourbusinessmen and thethick!ypopulatedcountrydis¬ ft/ lrf2rd,’Sp,nn£City-Boyertown, tricts, ofwhichPottstownisabusiness prices. Ourneighboringtownsof can purchasetheircommoditiesatcitv and NewYork,thustheretailtrade Grand Bi-Centennial CelebrationtobeHeld by cheaperrents,enablethemtosell wholesale pricesandtheslightad¬ ditional freightcharges,counteracted abled togettheirgoodsatthelowest the largecities,ourmerchantsareen- tan stores.Lyingwithinshortreachof ness housesareequaltotheMetropoli¬ vantages, andmanyofourleadingbusi¬ conducted institutionsinthecountry. and conveniencesuntilthe“Hill”1s regarded asoneofthefinestandbest proprietor toerectadditionalbuildings increased patronagehascompelledthe Date From,,. ?... Meigs Studentsfromallpartsofthe fully conductedbyhissonProf.Tohn Meigs in1852andnowablysuccess¬ United Statesattendthisschoolandthe college, foundedbytheRev.Dr.M. tion andextendedpatronageisThe cided interestintheirwork. w:1Jtha.very fewexceptions,takede¬ attended duringtheschoolyearof’94- female. Thenumberofpupilswhich force of62teachers,12maleand50 schools, whicharepresidedoverbya entenng, professionalandbusiness very bestinthestateandlarge number ofgraduateswhoareyearly schoois, churches,publicparks,etc. of residence,andenjovssplendid 95 nearlyreached3000andthescholars, nia lines,whichpassthroughthetown delphia &ReadingandthePennsylva¬ splendid railroadfacilitiesinthePhila¬ pma andhavingtheadvantagesof . Anotherinstitutionofhighreputa- The townisalsohealthfulforaplace easy touchofNewYorkandPhiladel- Pottstown hassplendidbusinessad¬ The publicschoolsareamongthe , .{1 P°up, theProductsofsoil tu-lairply Wlthourmerchants competition withPhiladelphia -— =t } *>• Ijwere includedinthe“WelshTract,"extend¬ ■ amapinthePennsylvania Archives, second • old-timepedimentsacrossthegablesand ti Montgomerycounty,aboutonemilewest j eestryhaveastrainofWelshbloodinthem. ..Day nextyear. his companyoffortypersonsandseven¬ up theSchuylkilltoPencoyd,wherefirst ing westwardfromtheSchuylkillandnow acres inthenewcolony.These10.000 rowed uptoPencoydinboats.Fivedays AVelsh settlementwasmade.According.to the Lyon,beingasmallvessel,proceeded August 14,1682.Accordingtooneaccount the shipLyon,arrivinginSchuylkill chased fromWilliamPennatractof10,000 Jones, ofMerionethshire,NorthWales,pur¬ preacher wasHughRoberts. honor withPencoyd. after thearrivalofshipLyonEdward of theSchuylkillandCambriansires another theLyonanchorednearmouth teen familiesembarkedfromLiverpoolin before thearrivalofWilliamPennhimself. Merion tohavethedateofarrival men, poetsandsoldiersofPennsylvaniaan- some ofthebest-knowncharactersinAmer¬ From theseWelshforefathersaredescended Haverford, TredyfiErin,Whiteland,Cain, were fourscoresettlements.TheWelsh number ofyearsthemostprominent Jones andfamilysettledatWynnewood, Delaware andChester.EdwardJones in thecountiesofPhiladelphia,Montgomery, Merionethshire, NorthWales,twomonths Lower MerionarrivedintheSchuylkillfront upon whichthefirstWelshcolonistsof Philadelphia CityHall.Itistwomilesfrom Gwynedd, Uwchlan,Nantmealandothers. named thetownshipsofMerion,Radnor, ately amongtheWelshcolonists.Fora settlement inPennsylvania,disputingthe claimed tobetheearliestregularQuaker 5ce nextmonth. gable facingoldLancasterroadmaybeseen from thecityline.Thestyleofarchitecture from Narberthstation,onthePennsylvania Pencoyd, orManayunk,andone-halfmile Wayne Tavern,aboutsevenmilesfromthe old LancasterroadadjoiningtheGeneral fathers’ Day.MerionMeetingHouse,suc¬ ship LyoncelebratedinfutureasFore¬ ican history.Nearlyallthegreatstates¬ Welsh -Tractsorapidlythatin16S6there lennial ofthefoundingthisancientedi- forfathers andkinsfolkofsomePennsyl¬ little flyingporticoesoverthedoors.In pointed gablesandsteep,slopingroof,with is quaintandpicturesque,displayingthree cessor ofthelogbuilding,standson Preparations areinprogressforthebi-cen- 1695, onthesiteofastillolderlogchurch. |)]dest churchinPennsylvania,wasbuilt vania’s proudestfamilies.MerionMeeting peaceful graveyard,enclosedwithasub¬ wood trees,maplesandevergreens.Inthe meeting housestandsafinegroveofbutton- the tabletbearingdate1695.Around Railroad. ItisinLowerMeriontownship, sacre ofPaoli. tember 14,1777,afewdays before themas¬ of thebattleGermantown. TheAmeri¬ stantial stonewall,resttheremainsof nial celebrationwillclear many obscure cans encampedinaneighboring fieldSep¬ series, vol.X,itappearsmarked onaplan is mentionedinRevolutionaryhistory.In an intelligentcelebrationof Forefathers’ points inlocalhistoryand render possible To-day isthe213thanniversaryofday1 Lower MerionFriends’MeetingHouse,the In 16S1JohnapThomasandEdward A QuakerMeetingwasorganizedimmedi¬ Colonists fromWalespouredIntothe A movementhasalreadybeenstartedin It isexpectedthatthecoming bi-centen- at theOldMeetingHouseNextMonth. very stone id tbe comrno- ■ id every bit of ground in I sesses Interest. About a I red bridge, on a bluQ on I IlUiMA). ■ the Wissahickon, stands I tot quite as grim and gray I Fancy it, because a busy Bre now, but conclusively outline and composition 7 'l Itich historians attribute to Date 0st side the Wissahickon up past Indian Koek, but manv neople onfoot
the MONASTERY
ever trouDie to » catch a glimpse of tbe staid old No one knows when it wa was not there In 1684, and it v 1739. Historic Interests Cluster About The meditative monks w^o ■ the Wissahickon Monastery, floors and enjoyed religious I in the surrounding solitudes Fits Hunkers. Sworn to ceub
A Quaint Old Pile of Stone in Which the Monks Lived.
ot all the old buildings still standing in eastern Pennsylvania, wnose walls and 'casements haye witnessed the joys and sorrows of colonial days, tbe old “Monas¬ tery of the Wissahickon” tells a strange and most romantic story. Popular super¬ stream, stition has built upon the meagre details was a wildernTsMSdeed^SHSHf at Germantown was miles away aud Kox- many legends. borough was still a primeval forest. Directly back of the monastery the farmer’s cows graze contentedly over all stones week theik pillows, that remains ol its former tenauts. The Belore the monastery arose John Kel- monks were buried, it is said, by weird I’lus, a strange old ascetic, lived in a cave midnight rites, but no stones were erected across the creek. He gathered followers to mark their resting plaoes and their af'out him, and the good people ot the city mounds have at last been levelled with spoke mysteriously of the "Hermitsof the tbe ground. Eventually members of the I Ridge.” The strange acts and moody brotherhood lapsed Into coniugality and silence of the monks gave a full impetus the others joined tbe principal colony at to the popular superstition. Glad in cowl Ephrata. ______and gown they would march in single hie During the more than 100 years that into Germantown, with their heads nave passed siuce the last monk moved bowed aud long gray beards reaching he- away the house has passed through many low their waists.’ Beds of any sort * ere hands and bsssserved a variety of uses, hut too luxurious for the sturdy recluses, and the name of monastery still clings to it. ,until a comparatively recent period the Monastery avenue, leading from tue In¬ stones that served for pillows remained on dian Rock Hotel to Ridge aremie, takes the monastery floors. us name from the home of the monks of long ago. Vague stories of an underground pas¬ sageway leading far into the hills were IMMORTALIZED BY FANNY KEMBLE told by gossiping people of tuat day, aud I The monastery and the surrounding dungeons possessing all the tortures of 'ho grounds have always been a favorite place Spanish Inquisition were supposed to ex¬ with people who appreciate the wild ist among the rocks that form the monas¬ beauties of nature. Toe famous access tery foundation. These legends have and authoress, Fanny Kemble, who- re never been substantiated, but as the sided in Philadelphia for some years, de- property has never been in the hands ot iigLted in visiting the bistoricstone house. persons disposed to oonduct an investiga¬ W ith Pierce Roller, who afterward became tion, no one knows but what the cells and her husband, she roamed through those dungeons may still exist under the feat of woods and wrote a poem on the Wissa the merry pleasure-seekers who throng bickon, in especial reference to raa-t ro¬ that part of the park. It is more than mantic spot. Tnis poem was read before probable that the monks had arranged Congress at Washington by William- D. some safe retreat from the Indians who Kelley, during his speech advocating wandered through those woods. Cer- Government aid to the Philadelphia Gen” tainly, the old blockhouse, long since de¬ tennial. stroyed, which stood on the banks of the The monastery now has the appearance creek a mile below, bore the marks of of an old but well-kept farm house. It is many a sayage battle. Indians there three stories high and1 some of the old were, and of woodsmen not a few, who windows have been walled in with st-me. perished there because the policy ot Wil¬ All around it are remnants of buildings of liam Penn was imperfeotly supported. a later date, which haye not been able to Assault after assault might have been withstand tbe test of time. Leaning made against the big stone monastery columns and gable ends, all built of stone, without result, but the fathers were prone form a convincing proof of the honesty of to ways of peace and meditation. purpose and knowledge of architecture THE POOL, FOR BAPTISM. which marked the builders of the monas¬ tery. The old roof was of the sloping va¬ A shady pool in the Wissahiokon, just riety, extending down to the second story, below the bridge that leads to Kitchen's which marked all the structures of that lane, was named by the monks "Baptis- time, but the storm of 1887 tore off the tenon,” and there, with only the rocks eaves and demolished the roof. This has and trees to witness the ceremony, they since been replaced in modern style. The performed the sacred rites of baptism. blackened stones at theToot^of the hluf How they Jived and what they did are are the remnants of an old mill which .old in the reoord of the Dunkard colony stood for time out of mind, but was finally it.ll in existence at Ephrata, but to the burned, while being used in the manu¬ >eople ot Philadelphia they have left only facture of flax. Some of the old machinery in interesting old structure adorned with is still discernible among the stones. to the cities and the West, inspired by the same longing for opportunities of piling up possessions more rapidly than the toil of the farm can yield. One rarely finds a town left to decay in our thickly settled region of country. Vplley Forge is dear and familiar, in name at least, to every American, as soil forever consecrated by the martyr¬ dom of the Revolutionary Army. The name tells its story of patriotism and self-sacrifice, such as the world has seldom seen, and the wooded hills about Valley Creek are thick sown with the memories of Washington and his,ragged, starving Continentals. The quaint stSne-
THE STON E BRIDGE. A Deserted Village.
Historic Valley Forge, Once the Busy Scene of Thriving Industry, Is Sinking Rapidly to Decay with Mills and Factories Abandoned. ~ -
The tales of vacated towns, melan¬ louse that was the dwelling nander-in-Chief through the. a«W choly wrecks of a transient, restless Winter, the grassy mounds that once ’ivilization, are familiar in the annals of mounted the clumsy artillery “V Western life. There, cities have arisen American Army, the one renjain g in the night, tumultuous with the fevered grave-stone of a Connecticut militiaman excitement of the gold-seeker and with and the dimly traced cellars of the the exhaustion of treasure field, the tide street of log huts on the hill slope ar of frontier humanity has swept on, leav¬ visited by hundreds of sightseers eacn ing long streets of dwellings, business blocks, churches and saloons to crumb¬ y But Valley Forge has more than his¬ ling desolation. The abandoned home¬ toric charm. The little town s obers steads scattered through New England In one of the most beautiful va'lejs tell still sadder stories ,of_ the,migration Pennsylvania, and its prosperity^ • SHODDY” MILL. part of its past. The massive stone mills ( are silent, the broad water tumbles over the old dam in play, instead of bein- fettered to turn the wheels of factories” and the rows of stone tenements where hundreds of busy men and women lived mini’ and went to and from the mills, are Another Goldsmith may find at Van tenanted by two or three families, one Forge another “Deserted vm„ Yalley to a dozen or more dwellings. Valiev romantic and sweetly met as Forge is again a farming hamlet, and English hamlet pictureTbTtte^St,^ the village that grew up in manufactur¬ poet. For more than 130 years vfjg ing industries is deserted. The relics of saws* jsw ?*,j r mi
started a slitting Forge was; the home of artisans,' and in one of them, where iron ore from only within the last decade have the across the Schuylkill was worked. sounds of forge and machinery ceased to echo from the environing valley hills. In 1814 the property passed to John Rogers and Joshua Malin and con¬ The creek winds down a narrow valley for three miles, and then spreads tinued to be held in the Rogers family .lake where the green hills recede down to the present day. The slitting j s. -4% form a basin half a mile from where mill was enlarged and rebuilt about J the stream' leaps into the Schuylkill in a 1820 and a three-story stone building,: riotous welcome of cascade. The water¬ erected for the manufacture' of hard¬ power is sufficient to operate half a ware. This is the building that stands lozen factories, and the stream’s utility by the dam. raa discovered as far back as 1757, when There was not enough revenue in the •-he original forge gave the valley its hardware trade and the mill became a lame. _ Close by the river there stands a ing blossoms, -ambling collection of mill buildings that s been reaues lave stood idle for half a dozen years. jbe exhibited The mill nearest the stream was oper- before the aed as a dye and print works, with ir owners. the creek for motor power. Adjoining is Is an extensive plant flanked by a tall oir Robert formerly brick stack that leans toward the road * , Washington at a startling angle, and defies the law man. Tall, of gravity with an air of confident reck¬ distinctive lessness. This was formerly a paper pulp as the skill, mill and a hundred hands were em¬ art, and, alt! ployed in the cluster of buildings. Both is already of these industries were moved nearer .j-f Is a Baltlmc to the city many years ago under the ',~:n by resid stress of competition, and the mills left ving appears for the vines to festoon their gray and ompany, wit weather beaten walls and the cluster¬ iard; he h ing foliage to hide their angles and ugli¬ tenor vole ness. At the Just above these mills, the old stone he has left 1 dam crosses the stream, and backs the hole career t flow Into a lake half a mile long that sparkles like a turquoise in its darkly green setting. By the moss grown dam stands the five-storied stone mill where weaving of cotton and woolen fabrics was carried on for three-quarters of a century, until 1882. The massive wails are good for another century, but the windows gap empty in the weather tinted sides, and the silence of desolation is about the place. This mill is very old. It was in direct line of succession to the first forge in the valley, and the story saw factory after a few years, w] riTji.pt grn buck to that r.Mriv- Ttu>a^ Potts and liis brother- John, those stout James Wood operated in connection pioneers who founded Pottstown be¬ with a rolling mill which he built In 1821 he began to make cast steel for longed to a family among the earliest turning into saws. Next the mill came to settle in this region. The original into the hands of a gunmaker from “Valley Forge” was built about half a Sheffield, Eng., and 20,000 muskets were mile further up the stream than the turned out in a few years. The gun- ‘“present dam, and was in active maker added two stories to the mill and operation in 1757, founded and owned by left it as it stands to-day. The rolling the Pott’s family. The farmers of Mont¬ mill was washed away by a freshet gomery and Chester Counties were sup¬ plied w-ith whatever iron work, they and this was the end of metal working needed, and all was peace and mild pros¬ in Valley Forge. About 1830 the stone perity until the Revolutionary War. mill was turned into a cotton factory A marauding band of Hessian troop- and cotton goods, bed ticking, etc., were ! ers swooped through the valley in the made in large quantities. Autumn of ’76, and reckoning not with¬ Until 1857 the mill saw no more vicissi¬ out reason, that the humble forge by Valley Creek was of service to the tudes and then the failure of the lessee American army, raided and burned the left the place idle for four years. With log hut. But the Potts family had no the opening of the Civil War Joseph idea of abandoning the pleasant vale, Shaw began the manufacture of Gov¬ and when the war was over, a second ernment kerseys and from the sixties forge was built near the site of the until 1882 the rows of stone tenements present dam and mills. The building of were filled with operatives and woolen a new dam inundated the ruins of the fabrics were fashioned without an in¬ old forge whose remains were lost to terruption. The pulp mill and a shoddy future historians. Business throve, and mill near the railroad station gave em¬ the second forge was abandoned for ployment to the whole town and Valley more extensive operations and the ruins Forge was as prosperous a manufactur¬ were to be seen in the twenties. Several ing village as could be found in Eastern of the old army buildings were left on Pennsylvania. the Chester County side and near the Then one by one the mills were closed. end of the century John_ and They could not compete with the Indus- iv trl,es. alons' the Schuylkill near Phila¬ ness. delphia and when the pulp mill was Of course, there is a ghost In the row. moved away and the others were aban¬ No “haunt” who appreciates the value doned the village sank into rural re¬ of sifitable surroundings could pass these pose The operatives drifted away, and, deserted places. A year ago last Winter as the center of a smiling farming coun¬ the station agent at Valley Forge was try and a resort for visitors in the Sum¬ waylaid by a negro while going to his mer time. Valley Forge is still alive. home at night, and shot the highway¬ J he people hope that the mills will be man through the heart in self defense. reopened, but the place will never regain The negro lived in one of these lonely ns ancient prosperity. The visitor hopes old ruins and his spirit naturally that factory life will not again invade =n*iintpri former home. No negro T valley and mar the peaceful beauty family would dwell in this house ot the landscape and destroy the tangled for free rent and a bonus. Several wilds around the mills and the dam and years ago the superintendent of the the tenements. woolen mill, Clugstone by name,was mur¬ These rows of crumbling dwellings look like__a bit from the old Spanish dered at night at his home in the vil- lage, and this crime adds a bit more
A ROW OF TENEMENTS. to the uncanny atmosphere that e /quarter of St. Augustine, or an alley- shrouds the old houses. i side in an Italian town. The walls are It is said that the spirits of th» dei dull and gray, some of them half hidden Revolutionary soldiers flit along the hi in vines and moss, and the undergrowth sides on stormy nights and visit t] from the woods in front has crept to shadowy spots where they once gather the worn stone doorsteps. One row of a around the camp fire, aid thlt ghost dozen dwellings faces the lake and the camp fires have been seen flifkerir willow trees on the bank, and looks among- the trees on starless nights toward the tumbling fall that pours over the faint echo of a challenge and corn the high stone dam with a never ceas¬ tersign from the lips of spirit sen tine ing song that is a lullaby to the village lor® fe°F e °f ValIey For^ have five by night. Beyond the dam is single for so long in this reputed realms < arch of the stone bridge, beneath which haunting martial spirits that a ££(>■ the water dashes laughing, and back or two m the deserted tenements by th of the stream is the rising slope of easiness.^0 them « woodland, where Washington once knelt to pray, and the wall of the old stone The unacclimated Summer visitor ma mill. be excused for shuddering at the though The pine forest is always crooning: of a midnight ramble through the val drowsily with the wandering breeze and ley, nor is it to be expected that th murmurs responsively to the song1 of colored valley dwellers are proof agains the stream. The scene is very beautiful the fear of “ha’nts.” For they can fn in the Summer time, and it is good for thft10n ereater ea-se than thei people with nerves and worries to be white brethren, owing to racial inherit there. In this row of houses last refer¬ ance, and if no colored member of th. red to there is one family of colored Valley Forge community is willing t< people and their over-abundance of liv¬ stir out of doors after dark wlthou ing room rather accentuates the ioneii- firmiy grasping in his right hand lef hin laig ur a graveyard rabbi i killed in de dark o’ de moon,” it’s reall no one else’s business. longer used a9 a hotel. It has b<__ at various times, a summer boardin: bouse, or a private residence. From,, How many of our friends and neigh¬ I bors are aware that the vicinity of' the “Black Horse” was the scene of a battle or skirmish ? ■K|’ What is known of this action is E - mostly derived from a letter of Gen¬ §_ Date, S; $ eral James Poiter, recorded in Vol. " . VI. of the “Pennsylvania Archives.” _ The autumn and early winter of 1717 was an exciting period. With MERION CHAPTER’S the startling events of the Brandy¬ Fifth Pilgrimage. wine, Paoli and Germantown follow¬ ing each other in quick succession, it Merion Chapter, Daughters of the is no wonder that many minor hap¬ American Revolution, made their fifth penings have been lost sight of.— historic pilgrimage on Tuesday after¬ Among these were the operations of noon, Sept. 3rd. They visited the General Potter on the west side of “Old Black Horse Tavern,” corner of BcVlr ’ the Schuylkill. It appears that Block- EH. Old Lancaster Road and City Ave¬ ley and Merion suffered greatly from oL. nue, thence proceeded to “Wynnstay” jjrM' ■ • the ravages' of British foraging-par¬ where they were entertained by the ties, and that General Potter was Misses Wynn and Mrs. Compton. jtept quite busy in protecting the in¬ t. • ■ r Miss Hannah Wynn Compton dis¬ habitants anti aunoyiqg tfie enenqy. it * played a grape-shot, dug up on the General Potter’s letter is herewith r spot, a relic of the Revolutionary skir¬ given entire, with the spelling unal¬ mish at the Black Horse. tered. It is well known that some of A vote of thanks waspassed to Miss the bravest of Revolutionary officers Kate Scbeetz of Mill Creek, for her were better adepts witlr the sword kindness in sending the Chapter sev¬ thaq the pen. 41s0. that the scribes eral pieces of the “Dove Mill” paper, of a hqndyed years ago pai4 far less jS, ! with water-mark of the dove with the attention to tjie niceties of orthogra¬ olive-branch, such as was used by the phy than school-children do to-day. Government in early days, when the The “Archives” and other old docu¬ U. S. capital was at Philadelphia. ments are notorious for their misuse Following is the historical paper. of capitals and their peculiar phonet¬ THE BLACK HORSE AND WYNNSTAY. ics ' „• This letter of General Potter is Our fifth historic pilgrimage has found on page 97 of Yob VI- “Penn¬ brought us in sight of the “Black sylvania Archives,” first series. It Horse Tavern,” on the Old Lancaster reads as follows ; Road, corner of City Avenue, just Sir. Last Thursday, the enemy within the borders of Lower Merion march out of the City with a desif township, on a portion of the histor¬ to Furridge ; but it was Nessecere: ic 5,000 acres settled by the early to drive me out of the way ; my ad Welsh. vaiiced picqoet fired on them at thi This antiquated hostelrie, with its Bridge ; another party of one Hun ample proportions, its picturesque dred attacked them at the Black Ho roof and chimneys, its pretentious pi¬ I was en Camped on Charles Tho; azzas and its quaint accessories (as son’s place, where I stacconed t iron-barred shutters and brass door¬ Regments who attacted the eoei knocker), is well-nigh as ancient as with Viger. On the next Hill I sta the “General Wayne,” about a mile' cooed three Regments, letting the firi further up the road. The General line kuow that when they were ov Wayne claims to be at least 185 years powered, the rnilst Retreat and for of age. It is safe to set down that behind the sacohd hue, and in thai of the “Black Horse” as 180. Quite maner we fprqie$ and1 Retreated ft a good “Black Horse,” even yet! four miiegi; and qu every Hill we 4? The old building, however, is no puted the ipatter \yith tl^erp. My peo- er Merion and beyond UonsLonocKen. [ple Rehavpd Well, espealy three Reger Your historian was puzzled by the mpota,CQmmaoded by the Cols Cham¬ word “Bridge.” It is generally be- I bers, Muriey and Leacey. His Ex¬ lieved that, at that time, there were cellency, Returned us thanks in pub- no bridges across the Schuylkill.— j lie orders :—But the cumplement The “Middle Ferry” was at the site would have Been mutch more substan- of the present Market Street Bridge, tale had the Yalant General Solovan the “Upper Ferry,” the Spring Gar¬ Covered my Retreat with two Devis- den Street Bridge,” and the “Lower sions of the Army, he bad in my Ferry” was “Gray’s Ferry.” But, Reare ; the front of them was about from the Obituary of Col Edward bhe half mile'in my Rear, but he gave 11 ston, in the Saturday Evening orders for tltepi to Retreat' apd joip Pod, of February 21, 1824, it appears tl)e army wt)Q vvere op the other sidg that Washington had caused the erec¬ fit the $chuylkiij, about one mile and tion of a temporary bridge across the § Half off from me j thus the enemy Schuylkill to facilitate the passage of Qot leaye to Plunder the Countrey, bis army. The exact date of its con¬ VVhech the have dun without parsi- struction is not given. ality or favour to any, leaviog none We all know the location of“Chas. of Nesscereysof life Behind them that Thomson's place.” It was at Harri- the conveniantly could Carrey or des¬ ton, near Bryn Mawr—in fact, Chas. troy. My loss in this Action I am Thomson’s mansion was the original not able to Assartaia as yet; it is not Bryn Mawr, built by the Welsh so mutch as might be expected. The scholar and preacher, Rowland Ellis killed ldon’t exceed 5 orb1'; taken pris- in 1704. uers about 2Q ; wounde^ abqut '2Q ; A few days after this successful skir¬ wpb the epetpy- acknowledged the got mish, General Potter encamped in the wprsf; of this Action ; there light Chester County. His letter of des¬ hors Sphered lqutcb fqr they Charged cription is dated December 15, 1777. PS- The next day, he wrote another let¬ I am your Excellanoy’s ter to President Wharton, telling bow most obedant his (General Potter’s) battalion bad Humble Servant, crossed the Schuylkill and had a skir¬ mish with the enemy near Chestnut Ja. Potter. Hill. In this letter, he speaks of the R. S. His Excellaucy was not with barbarities inflicted upon the person the i^rmy' when this unlucky neglect and property of CoJ. Anthouy Mor¬ hapned: the arrqy was'op theye 'march ris, whose house was want only' des¬ apd be had not come from his Quart¬ troyed and who was cruelly slashed ers at Whit marsh- and cut with a sabre. No one can phester Copnty Camp at IJepd study the history of that period with¬ Quarters, Dec. 15, 177?. out being shocked by the needless Direct^ . ! barbarity of British warfare. This On public service. was only a short time after the atro¬ cious Massacre of Paoli. His Excellency ThomasWharton,Esq. This Col. Anthouy Morris was the at Lancaster. ancestor of Mrs Anna M. Holstein, . Thomas Wharton, Jr., was then the County Regent for Montgomery President of the Supreme Executive County, Daughters of the American Council, that is, President of the Revolution, and Chapter Regent lot Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, un¬ Valley Forge Chapter, D. A. R. Mrs. der the Constitution of 1776. Gene¬ Holstein is also Regent of the Valley ral Potter, himself, became Vice-Pres¬ ident in 1781. Forge Centennial and Memorial As¬ sociation. From this letter of General Potter, It was while General Potter was it would seem that the action, begun conducting his operations on the west at the Black Horse, was continued bank of the Schuylkill that he receiv- throughout the greater part of Low¬ I ed aid from Col. Edward Heston,foun- j der of Hestonville. This ought to I be of particular interest to Merion while reconorEeriug Hie enemy's moveH Chapter, as four of Col. Hestons aesy" ments, to be taken prisoner,by a troop, cendents have entered the chapter on of British.horse. A brqtal trp.opeV the strength of that aid. cut him.in the bead with a sword, From the Saturday Evening Post, givipg him a mark which he carried of February 21, 1824, we learu that, till his death. This capture took while General potter was encamped place on the aid Ford Road, near the near the “Qulph,” Cornwallis left his •
I ei -A- ?reat number of' Tarnous coar- I acters, Revolutionary and otherwise I lias been in possession or the Wtadel- were descended from I>. Wynne, | man family. On Scull and Heap’s among them John Dickinson, author Map of 11d0 appear the names" Wen n” of the “Farmers’ Letters,” and Gen aud Stradelman ” This is enough to rrals John and Lambert Cadwallader. ; show that the Pennsylvania German The old Wynne mansion still stands element followed the Welsh and ap¬ down there in the hollow, as you may peared in Merion, at quite an early see, alongside the antique Pennsylva¬ date. Now, the Pennsylvania Ger- nia barn. I ,ula“ element, particularly during Co¬ That old mansion, during the Rev¬ lonial and Revolutionary days, was olutionary period was occupied by the i a decidedly strong on>. jts' great iu family of Lieutenant Thomas Wynn fluence in building up the Common¬ |of the 1 Philadelphia Flying Camp”! wealth of Pennsylvania has never had a great-grand-son of the first Thomas full justice done it, except, perhaps Wynne. i y Judge Samuel W. Pennypacker. While Blockley and Merion were It is to be hoped that we may be able , suffering from the ravages of British to give it proper attention when we I foraging.parties aud while Lieuten¬ j come to study up the "Old Dutch ant Wynn was away from home in Church, near Ardmore. the service of his country, a number Michael Stadelman and William of English soldiers attacked the old Stfdelman are both mentioned in the Wynn mansion. It was bravely de¬ ‘ Colonial Reeords”as “dieting”Amer- fended by Mrs. Thomas Wynn as- iean soldiers. i sisted only by her children and ser¬ Just above the "Black Horse ” on vants The English it is said, at Poe “O^d Lancaster Road,’’ in the length broke into the house and search¬ shadoiy of ^n enqrrpous qld chestnut ed high and low fur valuables, even tree, stands a modernised house onoe cutting open the beds. But the mai- the residence of a Revolutionary sol¬ auders found nothing that they want¬ dier, Jacob Latch. It is told of him ed, except Some loaves of bread and that, while his company were at Tal¬ a barrel of liquor. The last vanquish¬ ley Forge, he obtained a furlough ed them. They fell helpless, to be came home and spent his holiday captured by a party of American sol¬ making shoes for his destitute com- diers who came that way. The story rades. goes on to say that a skirmish fol¬ And just above the Latch House lowed, in which three or four British stood, until recently, an old barn, for were killed. These were buried in many years the property of the Har¬ the vvqods pack of the old house. It vey family ft is said that, at one is tq he regretted that we Jo not know tinie, two American soldiers, being more of the details—.the brief outline puisued by a British foraging-party ot the tale, such as we have, certainly took refuge in this old barn and hid contains the elements qf dramatic in¬ beneath the hay. The British sus terest. peoted their place of retreat, and with Of course, the Chapter is proud to the customary barbarity, slashed’thro’ say that among the members are des- the hay with their swords until they cendents of this brave “Colonial had found the Americans, and then Dame,” who defended her home, ana mercilessly hacked them to death.— of her Revolutionary husband,’who These were among the unnamed and fought for his ancestral domain. And unnumbered patriots, of whorq we we can appreciate our high privilege can find no record, put Who just as iu being entertained on that portion truly gave their lives that our nation of Dr. Thomas Wynne’s h istoric land- might live, as any hero whose deeds grant, which is still held by his des- are recorded in tablets of marble or ■cendents to the seventh generation. brass. ' It is not to be supposed that this ■ And it is these local annals, con¬ brief paper has exhausted the history cerning people and places that we of this immediate neighborhood. know, which really constitute histo¬ The “Old Black Horse’’ adjoins a ry. The Daughters of the American large farm which for about 150 years Revolution are teaching this lesson to every locality in the land. ■water power is sufficient to o._ dozen factories, and the stream’s uti discoveied as far back as 1757, w ___ original forge gave the valley its name. Close by the river there stands a ra collection ol mill buildings that have Fi'om idle for half a dozen years. The mill the stream was operated as a dye ai works witli the creek for motor power, -€ joining is an extensive plant flanked by tall brick stack that leans toward the road a startling angle, and defies the law of gravi with an air ot confident recklessness. T' Date . was formerly a paper pulp mill and a h. , $k/L&/<£..z^«r dred hands were employed in the cluster buildings. Both of these industries were moved nearer to the city many years ago under the stress of competition, and the mills left for the vines to iestoon their gray and weather-beaten walls and clustering foliage OF VALLEY FORGE to hide their angles and ugliness. ABOVE THE HILLS. Just above these mills the old stone dam NOTES OF TEE VILLAGE WHERE WASH¬ crosses the stream, and backs the flow into a lake half a mile long that sparkles like a INGTON WATCHED AND PRAYED. turquoise in its dark green setting. By the moss-grown dam stands the five-storied stone mill where weaving of cotton and woolen And too, It Was There Where Thou¬ fabrics was carried on for three-quarters ot a sands of Brave Bearers of Mashers century until 1882. The massive walls are good for another century, but the windows Hungered and Suffered From the gap empty in the weather-tinted sides, and the Biting Blasts of a Cheerless Winter silence ot desolation is about, the Diace. and All In the IVame and for the >•'. This mill is very old. It was in "direct Cause of Freedom. line of succession to the first forge in the valley, and the 6torv must go back to that early day. I Isaac Potts and his John, Valley Forge is dear and lainiliar. in name those stout pioneers who founded Pottstown, at least; to every American, as soil forever belonged to a iamily among the earliest to consecrated by the martyrdom of the .Revo¬ settle in this region. The original “Valley lutionary Army. The name tells its story Forge,” was buiit about half a mile further of patriotism and sell-sacrifice, such as the up the stream than tne present dam, and world has seldom seen, amt the wooded hills was in active operation in 1757, founded and about Valley Creek are thickly sown-with owned by the Potts’ family. The tarmers the memories of Washington and his ragged, ot Mont-ornery and Chester counties were starving Continentals. The quaint stone- supplied with whatever iron work they house that was the dwelling of the Com- needed, aDd all was peace and prosperity un¬ mander-in-Chief through the dreary Winter, til the Revolutionary War. the grassy mounds that once mounted the A SWOOP OF HESSIANS. clumsy artillery of the Americau Army, the A maraudiug band of Hessian troopers one remaining giave-stone of a Connecticut swooped through the valley in the autumn militiaman and the dimly traced cellars of of ’7ti, and reckoning not without reason, the street of log huts on the hill slope are that the humble forge by Valley Creek was visited by hundreds of sight seers each year. of service to tbe Americau Army, raided and WHERE XT SLUMBERS. burned the log hut. But the Potts family But Valley Forge has more than historic had no idea of abandoning the pleasant vale, charms. Tne little towu slumbers in one of and when the war was over, a second forge the most beautiful valleys in Pennsylvania, was built near the site of the present dam and its prosperity is a part of its past. The and mills. The building of anew dam in¬ massive stone mills are silent, the broad undated the ruins of the old forge, whose rife, water tumbles over the old dam in play in¬ mains were lost to future. historian- i' stead of being lettered to turn the wheels of Business throve, and the second for* 1 factories, and the rows ot stone tenements was abandoned for more extensive operation where hundreds of busy men and women and the ruins were to be seen in the twen¬ Jived and went to and from the mills, are ties. Several of the old army buildings were tenanted by two or three families, one to a Itft ou the Chester county side and near the dozen or more dwellings. Valley Forge is end of the century. John and Isaac Potts again a farming hamlet, and the village started a slitting mill m oue of them, where that grew up in manufacturing industries is iron ore Irorn across the Schuylkill was deserled. The relics of the thinning years worked. In 1814, the property passed to are picturesque in neg'ect, and have lost John Rogers and Joshua Maliu and contin¬ the prosaic air ot order and prim prosperity ues to be held in tbe Rogers family down to that are horn ot the utilitarian and money- tbe present day. The slitting mill was en¬ grabbing mind.I larged and rebuilt about 1820, and a three- i Another Goldsmith may find at Valley story stone building erec'e! for the manufac¬ Forge another ‘‘Deserted Village” as roman¬ ture of haidware. This is the building that tic and sweetly melancholy as the English stands by the dam. hamlet pictured by the English poet. For A CHANGE. more than 130 years Valley Forge was the Ib wefe turned out in a few years, rhimir maker added two stories to the mill and"left Eft* £?pected that the colored valley it as it stands to day. The rolline- Irna®h®d away ,by a f'reshel this*was Thl deafer"'e*«e*rthany ta*"gbost*^!tla ®<* of metal working in Valiev Kru-Jk ! 1 }S3? the stone mill was turiied into a ored'me^nhers'of the* Valter^ ^no'coh cotton factory and cotton goods,bed ticking etiC;nM?r?eff a.cLe in large quantities. tDiii loo/ toe mill saw do more tudes and then the failure of the lesspe left else s business. ’ u s raa‘ly no one I. ;“=>nlSf 01 athein© idCivil(qvnr yWar,Sney 1Josephar- ^tththeop'en- Shaw be^an the manufacture of Government ker-ev«; Kin^/^0m lbe sixties until 1882 the row^of I stone tenements were ailed with operatives and woolen fabrics were fashioned without aay mtenuption. The pulp mill and a shoddj’ mill near tbe railroad station crov’A From,. [ ®™P,t>Jment lo the whole town and Valiev' ij vunSfo"as a?^I?roSDerous a manutacturin" , syivlnil? he lound in Eastern Fenn- . Then one by one the mills were closed 9^Z22..^,>771 M T-bey could not compete with industries I - along the Schuylkill, near Philadelphia,“and i pu)p ™?u was moved away and ! p others were abandoned, the village sank '“t0 ru,al repose. The operatives drifted Date, 6 T*5 . away, and as the centre of a smiling farni- K ^og country and a resort for visitors in the summertime, Valley Forge is alive. The ‘ E,??L?(!pe tuattbe mills will be re-opened, -a a . ■ but the place will never regain its ancient yV yile- visitor bones that factory life will not again invade tbe valley and . mar the peaceful beauty of the landscape REOPENING OF A CHLRCfl h ^ Md£S,i,0JL the tauS|fcd wilds around0the /, milishand the dam and the tenements. MOULDERING TENEMENTS. * A Red Letter Day in the History of > i jtphe!lH°f",L0f, ,cru™ blLn= dwellings look 1 *Iae a bit from the old Spanish quarter oi T'-J,Ug^Uoe’ ‘V an “Itey-side in an Italian Trinity Lutheran. towD. I he walls are dull and gray, some cl them haif hidden in vines and" moss! and r the undergrowth from the woods in front has crept to the worn stone doorsteps. One ALL DAY SERVICES YESTERDAY . Ihl' dozen dwellings faces the lake and the willow trees on the bank, and looks toward the tumbling fall that pours over [ i the high stone dam with a never ceasing Prominent Clergymen Take part ,n An song that is a lullaby to the village b v nigh" Imposing Even,-The Work of ,he Re- Jbjood .tbe dam is a single arch of the stone budge beneatu which the water dashes bonding Committee Approved - Sketch laughing, and back ot the stream is the of Pastor and t hnich. om?fone mm °OC"and aad tbu wal1 cr ^e The pine forest is always eroonin°- drowsily Under the most auspicious circumstances i with the wandering breeze and murmurs re- and in the presence of an audience that I sponsiyelj to the song of the stream. The I scene is very beautiful in the summer time blled every available space, the re opening < and it is good for people with nerves and , worries to be there. In this row of houses exercises of the Evangeiical Lutheran , last referred to there is one family of colored Church ot the Trinity were held yesterday people and their over abundance of living I room rather accentuates the loneliness. morning. The church has been closed fur A GRIM SPECTRE IX IT. I Of course, the, e is a ghost in the row. No .several months, during which time tl “haunt” who appreciates the value of suit¬ able surroundings could pass these deserted main audience room has been thorough) places. A year ago last winter the station remodeled, and the expressions of approvi agent at N alley Forge was waylaid by a negro while goiDg 10 his home at night, and shot the Highwayman through the heart in the congregation and the visitors yesterda seif defense. The negro lived in one oi these lonely old ruins and his spirit naturally heTrTl T bUi,diDg eommittTe tha haunted bis former home. y -heir work had been well done. The ex No negro family would dwell in this house for free lent and a bonus. Several years a^o ens, improvements undertaken and car the Superintendent of the woolen mill, ciu"- ned to successful completion were full, Mone by name, was murdered at ni°-bt at his home in the village, and this erim"e adds described in Friday’s Times b a bit more to the uncanny atmosphere that Promptly at 10.30 o’clock yesterday enshrouds the old bouses. it is said ihat the spirits ot the dead Hevonftionary soldiers flit along rue hill- ing ot A. W. Geiger, president; Samuel F sides on siormv nights and visit the shadows spois whc-rc ihev or.ee gathered - yce, secretary; William Stahler tre aiorr el 1 he camp tiie.aud that ghos; Iv camo ure^; George Wo,f.S.R. Fisher fires nave b.en seen ’licking among tna lreeson starless niehis ac-d th-i faint echo of a challenge nod countersign f.-ntn he Mrs W H H *• M*’cl-3L L Marchand m spirit sentinels. The peo j.o of v»;i«v Forge have lived for so long In this reputed aisle of the church, followed by the folh^10 realm ot haunting martial spirit that a ghost or two in the deserted tenements by the slream do not cause them much uneasiness A T man’ H- L- Banker n The unacclimated summer visitor may be excused for shuddering at the thought ot a midnight ramble through the vaiiey, nor is ■ry d VTT’A;J-WeddeI1-J^b LT n and H- E JacobSl D — ' 1)36 offlcers took seats in Winchester Barton sang a baritone ffews reserved for theca, while the ^clergy¬ The organ was presided over by Mrs. K. men advanced to the pulpit. Jacoby, the church organist. Both the The epistle for the day was taken from vocal and instrumental music were of a Galatians 5th chapter, 16th verse, and high order. the Gospel for the day from St. Luke, 17th Early on Saturday morning a telegram was received stating that the Rev. T. L. .Seip, D. D., LL. D., 1 president of Muhlen¬ berg college at Allentown, had met with an accident which would prevent him irom being present and preaching the morning service, as had been arranged. In response to an urgent telegram from Mr. Fichthorn the Rev. Dr. Fry, of Reading, kindly con¬ sented to fill the place thus made vacant by Dr. Seip’s accident. Mr. Reuben Baer, a prominent layman of Trinity church, at Lancaster, was also in attendance. He donated one of the hand¬ some memorial windows, in memory of his brother, the Rev. Charles A. Baer, who was a former pastor of Trinity church, Norristown. In the afternoon the Sunday school held its session in the church, and the time was devoted to addresses by Revs. Fry and Jacobs, and an interesting history of the. Kev. A J. Weddell, Pastor Emeritus, with the school since 1851, and his reminis¬ chapter, 11th verse. Both of these were cences were of a pleasing character. The read by the Rev. I. C. Hoffman, of Chester, exercises were interspersed with hymns by The sermon was preached by the Rev. the scholars. Jacob Fry, D. D., LL. D , pastor of Trinity The Evening Exercises. (Church, Reading. He took for his text The evening session was largely attended, (Ephesians, 5th chapter, 27th verse: “A the congregations of Grace and St. Paul (glorious church, not having spot or wrink.e Lutheran churches uniting in the services. or any such thing.” He congratulated the j Their pastors, Revs. Robert Roeder and J. 'congregation on having preserved their S. Niemann assisted in the exercises. building, and having made it so cb eerful Dr. Jacobs gave a scholarly address on and attractive as the changes wrought. He the subject ‘‘The Debt of Christianity to referred to all who bad assisted in the the Lutheran Church,” and Prof. Baugher work, and praised the pastor, congregation gave a vigorous talk on “The Young People and the humblest Workman who had a and the future of the Lutheran church.” share or part in the duties assigned to him. The Rev. Mr. Roeder in a “hort address Referring directly to the text selected he extended the congratulation of the sister divided his remarks into two main thoughts churches to Trinitv church on the beauty _First, showing what constituted a glori- , of the edifice and the great improvement ous church; second, bringing to the minds , that had been made by the changes. of his hearers the process by which this | There were liberal offerings by the con- glorious church is attained. For over halt gregatiou at both services. an hour the eloquent doctor held his hear¬ The Present Pastor. ers with rapt attention, and at the conclu¬ The Rev. Andrew 3. Fichthorn is a sion of his discouise the Rev. Mr. Fich native of Lawistown, this State. He was thorn announced the gifts that had been educated at GettysburgCollege, graduating presented to the church to beautify and in 1881 and received bis ministeral educa¬ adorn it. tion in the Gettysburg Seminary, graduat¬ After the closing hymn had been sung ing in the class of 1887. He was Professor the Consecration services were read and of Greek and Latin at Carthage college, in the doxology cling. The clergy and vestry Illinois, for a year. Later he had charges filed out in the order in which they ha at Lutherville and Tyrone, this s'ate. At a entered, after which the audience dispers- congregational meeting held in May, 1894, he was called to Trinity church, Norris-j The regular choir, under the leadership town, and assumed his duties here June 1, ( of Mrs W. F. Dannehower, was augment¬ 1894. He has been particularly successful ed by a number of well-known vocalists. in his work here, and has added materi At both morning and evening servicej'rof. ... i '7* * — — ■jfeHAS: lo the strength of the coneregation. He is Augustus Church at Trappe,'and the Eev. exceedingly' popular among the young C. W. Schaeffer officiating. The first ner- people of hie church, and his progressive manent council of the church consisted of ideas and popularity have borne fruit in Christian Nace, Madison Craig and George the splendid house of worship in which he Bayer, elders; and Samuel High, Levi now presides. Eckels, Levi Strahley, Philip Heavuer, Historical Sketch. Josiah Christ man and Frederick Gilbert, The following is the principal partofan deceased. i j historical sketch of Trinity Church, pre¬ The first communions in the new church pared by Rev. A S. Fiehtborn : were held.oneon theitthof January 1850,the The beginning of Lutheran effort service beiug in the German language, and in Norristown takes us back to another a week later'in English. Some of the year 1845. In the fall of that the original communicants are represented j year services with a view to establishing a in the congregation by their decendents to¬ | Lutheran' church were held in the old day. Two are still living, Mrs. Christiaua j Academy building at the corner of DeKalb Charles, and Margaret Walker, now j and Airy streets. The services were held Margaret Case. From this period to in German and the enterprise ended in dis- August 21, 1859, the records show ibat the i aster, for the Eev, William Eally, who had history of the congregation was simply a . charge of it, contracted small-pox, was dis- chronicle of rapidly changing pastorates. t abled for a considerable time by that dis¬ In 1851 Mr. Henry Lehman, who has been ease, and with his illness all attempt at ser¬ identified with the congregation from its vice ceased. earliest beginning, began his long service as After an interval of three years—in 1848 superintendent of the Sunday school, a y —the ministerium of Pennsylvania, then in position which he still holds. session at Easton, appointed the Eev. A. The election of Eev. Charles A. Bier to T. Geisenheimer missionary to Norristown. the pastorate on August 21, 1859, marked He assumed the duties of bisoffice July 11, the beginning of anew era in the history of 1848. Services were held in the store room the church. New life showed itself in at the corner of Swede and Chestnut every department. The" congregation and 1 | streets, belonging at that time to Philip Sunday school outgrew their limited | Geilinger, who gave the mission the use of quarters and the agitation of the question ; the room free. Soon after a congregation of a new building began. During the year j was organized and at a meeting held Sep- 1863 the old church was tom down and a '! tember 4,1848, a Board of trustees, consist¬ building committee^ consisting of the Rev. ing of Henry Lehman, Samuel Hoffman, Mr. Baer, William Kerper, Mr. Poley, [ William Kerper, Henry Kerr and John E. I Henry Lehman and Samuel High, secured Breitenbach, was appointed to solicit sub¬ additional ground on1 the present site and scriptions, buy a lot and build a church. ! arranged for the building of a new struc¬ ' Subscriptions to the amount of $650 had ture, the contract for which was assigned lj to Samuel Huston Son. The corner j been secured and a vacant lot at the corner & stone was laid August 6, 1863, Dr. ! of Chestnut and Church streets obtained, I Krotel, Dr. Krauch and others when trouble began, brought about by the ! officiating with the pastor, and perennial language question. The de by courtesy of the congregation of the mand was made fty the German First Presbyterian Church the services after V element in tho congregation that the morn- tbe formal corner stone laying were held b . iQg service should invariably be in Ger¬ there. While Mr. Baer was absorbed in man. This demand led to division. The the building project he contracted a fever, missionary and partof themembers bought presumably from a visit to the Gettysburg ^ 1 60 feet of the lot on which the present field immediately aft r the battle, and his . I church building stands, for $1325, and con¬ consecrated and promising career was tracted with Bolton & Christman for the brought to a close by its fatal termination : building of a stone church 42x55 feet, to on September 9, 1863. The following pas¬ J cost $2648. The corner stone was laid torate—that of the Rev. Christopher Knauff April 17, 1849. The Eev. Mr. Geisenhei¬ —was memorable chiefly for the defection mer gave up the mission and removed from of that gentlemen to the Protes ant Episco¬ K , Norristown, being succeeded by Eev. E. S. pal Church after a brief incumbency of W. Wagner, who took charge on the seven months The pastorate of the Eev. R 27th of August following. Early in H. L. Baugher, who succeeded Mr. Knauff, j October the basement was finished, a was marked hv a number of changes of a B | Sunday school organized there and services progressive character. The new church, \ in German and English began. December completed at a cost of $15,916 85, was dedi¬ 30, 1849, the church was finished and dedi¬ cated Dec. 11, 1864. Lutheran vestments cated; the Rev. C. S. Welden, of Chester were introduced, tbe use of the service be¬ county, the Rev. H. C Miller, of the gun, the first pipe organ purchased by an i'fm tui ization of young people, and au ag- music by the church choir /Sive campaign carried on to make tlie were welcomed byJRev. Mr. Focht, of cnurch Lutheran in deed as well as in ren Hill. A poem, “Whitemarsh,” was name. submitted by Rev. Matthias Sheeliegh, D. The pastorate of Rev. A. J. Weddell be¬ D.. of Fort Washington. The feature of gan March 1, 1868, and lasted nearly 20 the forenooh WaBa paper by Levi Streeper, years. During its progress the Luther of Notristown, on “Lafayette at Barren Union was organized by Mr. Weddell as a Hill.” Mr. Streeper, now a resident of means for the social and intellectual devel¬ Norristown, lived many years at White- opment of the young people. It has played marsh, teaching school and being engaged an important part along these lines, and in business, and is conversant with the has made itself most helpfully felt in solv¬ hitherto unwritten revolutionary history ing financial problems of the congregation of the township. His paper was prepared during the period of its existence. from fragmentary sketches narrated by the Brief reference was made to the pastorate oldest inhabitants in his boyhood days and of Rev. Hiram F. Peters, who succeeded Mr. now recalled. The details of several inci¬ Weddell, and the sketch closed with the dents in Gen. Lafayette’s movements in following: “Let us close the story with the Whitemarsh were gotten from eye wit¬ prayer, the echo of one made here nineteen nesses. years ago, that past successes and such General Lafayette arrived at Barren Hill bitter experiences as have entered into the from Valley Forge on May 17, 1778, and congregational life pondered on may lead went into camp about a fourth of a mile to more love for one another, more loyalty below the church, having been detailed by to our church and faith, and greater con- Washington to intercept disloyalists who ! consecration to the cause of our dear Mas- were going into Philadelphia by river and | ter, Christ.” / by road to supply Howe’s troops. Scarce had Lafayette pitched tents and HISTORIANS IH SESSION posted pickets before Howe was apprised, on the morning of the 19th, of his presence. Howe detailed,^Grant, with 5300 men, to An All-day Meeting of the Montgom¬ capture Lafayette and his army of 2500, ery County Society. and on the night of the 19th Grant set out for Barren Hill, going over, a circuitous route via Germantown, Chestnut Hill, the “LAFAYETTE AT BARREN HILL" Bethlehem, Skippack and Watson ford roads. Howe and 7500 men followea the next morning, accompanied by Admiral An Interesting sketch by L*vi Streeper— Howe and General Clinton, going as far as History of a Lost Church—Dr. Corson Chestnut Hill, where he halted to meet Tells About Early Abolition in Mont¬ Grant on his return. gomery uounty—Other Interesting Docu¬ A man named Stoy, who was asleep in ments. Mather’s mill, where he was employed, A public meeting of the Montgomery was awakened by the clatter of horses’ County Historical Society, partaking of the hoofs and, surmising that the cavalcade was made up of British toops after Lalay- nature of a basket picnic, is in progress to¬ ette, he went with all possible haste on foot day at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church at in the direction of Lafayette’s oamp, to Barren Hill. Prominent local historians warn him of the danger. Stoy aroused from Montgomery and adjoining counties Rudolph Bartol, to whom he communicat¬ are present. Participants in the event were ed his suspicions, and the latter flushed the journey begun by Stoy, who dropped from accompanied by well-filled lunch baskets, sheer exhaustion. Bartol reached Lafay¬ and when intermission was announced at ette before daylight with news of the noon tables containing the constituents of a approach of the British, and Lafayette and substantial repast awaited the historians, his staff rode up toward Plymouth and having beeD prepared under the supervis¬ saw Grant’s army coming over Cold Point. ion of a number of ladies in attendance, He was surprised at the number of the who were materially assisted by the vil¬ English, and hastening back to camp pre¬ lagers, who gave the visitors a warm reoep- pared at once for immediate evacuation. tion. When Grant reached Plymouth a British The meeting opened at 10 o’clock, Hon. Hiram C. Hoover, president of the society, sympathizer told him that Lafayette had broken camp and was retreating. Grant presiding. Devotional exercises were con¬ then halted his men for a conference of ducted in the historic St. Peter’s Church by officers. According to the statement of Samuel Maulsby, who was an eye witness, Grant did not resume the march for a halt' hour, but when be did his army included a The story seems strange now7~tiut in the number of Americans who had turned last century a congregation of the Reform¬ traitor. Between Plymouth meeting and ed church existed on the spot, or near the SpriDg Mill Grant halted and prepared for I same, where the St. Peter’s Lutheran action. About the same time Lafayette Church at Barren Hill now stands. Reli¬ was quietly slipping out of the clutches of gious services were held'more or less regu the pursuing party, and when Grant moved . 3 larly At that time there were several of on, ready to surround the Continental | the early settlers held to that faith where i soldiers,he saw Lafayette’s command wind¬ there are none now. ing its way up a hill on the other side of I Many of these early emigrants were truly ' the Schuylkill, protected by a battery pious, and though not able to bring their posted on the crest of the hill, the battery ministers brought with them Bibles, cate¬ having been sent in advance. Lafayette' chisms, hymn and other devotional books; was accompanied by a small band of in some cases pious schoolmasters. Indians, who kept some distance in the The first knowledge we have of a congre¬ rear on the retreat. As Grant’s troops ap¬ gation is from the record made by the Rev. peared in view the redskin’s fired a volley Pauius VanTlecq, pastor of the church at ;into his ranks and dashed into the river Samminie (Meshaminy) Bensalem. Bucks | and soon overtook the fleeing Frenchman. county, and Jarmentown (Germantown),! This was probably the only volley fired at Philadelphia. On June 4, 1710, Pauius j an enemy on Montgomery county soil dur¬ \ anVlecq visited this place and and organ¬ ing the revolutionary period. ized a congregation. On December 25th of Early Days of Abolition in Montgomery the same year he ordained Evert TenHeur County. ven (DeHaven) and Isaac Dilbeck elders, Dr. Hiram Corson, of Plymouth Meeting, and William DeWees and Jan Aweeg, •ubmitted a paper on “Early Days of Abo- deacons. (tion in Montgomery county,” a history of In 1711 the congregation was composed • le beginning of the finally fierce struggle of the following persons Hans Hendrick hich began about the year 1830 and con- Meels, Isaac Dilbeck, Jan Aweeg, Antonie inued until 1861. “Though we did much Geert Yerkes, Geertrung Reinbergh, Mar- rom 1830 to 1831,” says the aged doctor, ritye Blomorse, van Isaac Dilbeck, it was not until the latter year that the Catrina (Catharine) Weels. Wm. De- ght was active in Montgomery county.” Wees, Elizabeth Scbipbrower, Evert Ivery religious denomination except, the TeuHeuven, Aunchen Barents, van J. Piet- | Quakers, says the doctor, opposed the use orse, Maria Selle, Garret TenHeuven, Wil¬ j of their churches in the interests of aboli- liam DeWeea, Johannas Jodden, Johannes | tion, and the masses hurled bitter denun¬ Ravenstock, Geertrung Aweeg, Elsye ciation at the anti-slavery people. Meetings Sehel, Sabila Ravenstock, van Hendrick were held in the Quaker school house at Tibbin, Marguretta Bon, von Kasper S taels. Plymouth and elsewhere in the county. How long Mr. VanVlecq labored here we Dr. Corson’s exhaustive|paper recites the incidents in the first seizure of a runaway do not know. About this time he visited slave in Montgomery countv and others as the section of country where the old Norri- they followed, and refers to the capture by ton Presbyterian church now stands, about slave hunters of Jane Johnson and her two eight miles from here, and preached to the sons and the imprisonment of Passmore people of that place; also preached to a con¬ Williamson for interference in behalf of gregation known as the Skippack Reform¬ the captives. The paper recalls the hid¬ ed church and baptized their children. ing of a fugitive for two weeks in the house When the Rev. George Micnael Weiss, of “good old Ben Ross” in Norristown for the first ordained Reformed minister, ar¬ two weeks because of the murder of “Old rived in this country September 21, 1727,be Goreuch, and deals with a fierce fight for found John Philip Boehm preaching and freedom by John and Jim Lewis and laboring here without license and ordina¬ their final purchase by friends here. The tion, to which be seriously objected paper gives the names of several groups of So well pleased were they with Mr. abolitionists whose headquarters were at Boehm’s ministrations that in July, 1728, Plymouth meeting, Norristown, Pottstown, they sent a petition to the Classis of Am¬ Upper Providence and other places sterdam, New York, asking Classis to or¬ The host Church of Whitemarsh, dain and install Mr. Boehm as their pastor. Under date of June 20, 1729, the Amster¬ Hon. Jones Detwiler, of Blue Bell, con¬ dam Classis replied, declaring that in view tributed a valuable historic paper on “De of the attendant circumstances, that all the Kerck op Wytmess” (the church at transactions of Mr. Boehm he declared law- . Whiternarsh.) Following is a synopsis of ful, and be was accordingly ordained in Mr. Detwiler’s paper ; New York November 23, 1729. TCIttle Stono Meeting House to The congregation was supplied by the Be Celebrated This Week Rev. John PhilipBnehm until his death at the house of his oldest son, Anthony Wil¬ at LowerlMeri on. liam Boehm; on the 29th of April, 1749, in Hellertown, now Lehigh county. There is a little stone meeting house The pamphlet called “Letters of Warn¬ in Lower Merlon, Montgomery' county, which, on Friday next, will be the ob¬ ing” issued by Rev, Boehm in 1742, ject of peculiar interest to members of was approved by the elders. William De- the Society of Friends, and to all whose Wees and Christopher CRtinger were elders patriotism makes Colonial landmarks and Michael Clime and Philip Scheror were worthy of reverence. On September 27, deacons. 28 and 29 will occur the celebration of the structure’s 200th anniversary', and After the death of Mr. Boehm the con preparations of a somewhat elaborate gregation was frequently supplied with the character have been made for the Rev. Michael Schlatter, the first mission¬ ■ event. ary of the Reformed church sent by the I The meeting house is so small as to Svnod of Holland, who arrived at Boston be almost tiny. It measures but 14 August 1, 1746, and died in Philadelphia in ; feet from floor to roof, and is more than November, 1790. 36 feet long and 20 feet wide. The This is the last that we have any record walls, constructed of painted stone and, of. It is sad to relate that many of the in later years, plastered in imitation of early records are lost. Those kept by cut stone, are the walls of two centuries Boehm were left in an old iron-bound chest ago, when walls were something more and found their way into the garret of an than' mere partitions—they are two feet old house that stood on the corner of Sec- | thick. The window panes are the small ond and Quarry streets, Philadelphia, leaded diamonds of that old day, and which together with its contents was de¬ the stone mounting block still holds its stroyed by fire. place where the earliest of Colonial Those of Rev. Schlatter were nearly all dames were wont, on First-day, to destroyed by fire in his residence at Chest¬ alight from their staid and sober steeds nut Hill during the time the British occu¬ when they came to meeting. pied Philadelphia in 1778. THE FIRST MARRIAGE. My subject has been the lost church at In the building yet remains the heavy Whitemarsh. Though organized fifty carved oak table on which it was the : years before the present Lutheran, it has custom to lay the marriage certificate been lost to that branch of the Christian of newly wedded couples. The last church that fostered and nourished it for couple whose certificate lay there were nearly a century. Yet another has grown Benjamin Hunt and Hester Price, three¬ and flourished in its stead, and we trust score years ago, when the bride, appro¬ and feel that the true gospel all that time priately enough, was a descendant of has been .preached. The present church Edward Rees, who presented the site has grown, lengthened its cords and to the congregation for the modest strengthen its stakes. charge of $2.50. On this site before the Other Documents. ambitious stone building was erected, Amongst other historical documents sub¬ the Friends worshipped in a log cabin, mitted during the meeting were a poem, and prior to that time, meetings were “The Schuylkill,” by Elwood Roberts, of held in the house of Hugh Roberts, the Norristown; and a sketch, “Last Half of first of the Roberts family in the State. the Century,” by George Bartholomew, of The first man married in that meeting Barren Hill. The meeting was one of the house was an ancestor of George B. most successful in the career of the society. Roberts, President of the Pennsylvania ArJEJCwrr*-. . •* W V \ Wl 'iTvC - - l - J*- Railroad. The structure has also the distinction arising from the circum¬ stance that William Penn attended many meetings there. INTERESTING FEATURES. From, • . The celebration, commencing Friday, will present most interesting features on the following day, when to the nu¬ . merous assemblage expected essays and poems, for which the house and its memories supply ample material, will! be read, and prominent speakers of the; Bate., ■ \ 'y'"'’ Society' will be heard. In the afternoon the historical service will be held, and Miss Walker, of Chester county, whose! family has furnished members of the' meeting since its origin, will act as1 historian. Her researches will proba-l biy settle the important -question of the* WHERE PEHN WORSHIPPED building’s exact aga Religious service! will be held Sunday, when well-known! AN OBJECT OF PECULIAR INTER¬ Friends will be present. The Meeting now numbers no more; EST TO FRIENDS. than a spore of persons who attend; regularly,! but the celebration will not Two PTn n fired til "Anniversary oftlio lose in significance for all that. X cuu so much "to save Dy ms constancy and valor. It is natural, therefore, that one turns with a curious interest and reverencejto the home of his ancestors,an humble • farmhouse, where they- loved and joyed, labored and sorrowed, as did their neighbors, little anticipating what high honors and great fame was in store for one of their family. As is well known, the paternal ances¬ Date. —ta——- '{cp) S tors of Ulysses S. Grant were of Puritan 1. j blood and lived in Connecticut for 170 . , years, although his father, Jesse Grant, THE SIMMON floMksTEAD^ERECTED BEFORE TnE REVOLUTION. [The home ol the mother of General Grant, showing the old bake oven to the be battle of GeJmantowm] “°ther baked bread f°r Washin8tm^ soldiers after j son ot JNoati Grant, was born in West¬ SIMPSON II0MESTEATX moreland county, this state. Exactly what elements of his character a close ■ FHE HOUSE IN WHICH THE MOTHER observer would ascribe as being inherit¬ ed from his father’s family, we are un¬ OF GENERAL GRANT WAS BORN. aware. They doubtless had a due influence in the characteristics of the fhe Oven in Which Bread Was Baked for renowned captain, who led the armies the American Soldiers After the Battle of ' of the republic to victory against her in¬ Germantown—General Grant Twice Vis¬ ternal foes and was twice elevated by ited the Place. j his countrymen to fill the highest office The homestead of the Simpsons in! ; in the gift of a great nation. His given 1 lorthern Horsham would not possess name—Ulysses—that of the Greek hero ' nore than the usual historical interest of of old Homer’s unequalled epic poem, inch old houses and properties^ except was not known as a first name in Penn¬ or the illustrious descendant of the fam- sylvania at that time, and is some indica¬ ly, Ulysses Simpson Grant. His story tion of the intelligence and culture of the vill be forever associated w'ith the annals New England stock. But it is evident >f the great republic whose integrity lie that General Grant, like nearly all great fearr1 ’ I. . „ __ men, derived most of Ids characteristics from liis mother’s family, His profile, personal appearance anit physical struot- i hastening to join the waters oftEfi Little nre bear a resemblance to his relatives Neshaminy. A bit of green meadow long residing in Bucks county-=-the extended bn the south and east of the Simpsons, the Weirs, McKinstrys, Simpson dwelling. An oven attached to Houghs, etc. His modesty and unassum¬ the log house was here in the time of the ing diffidence, his personal integrity and Revolution, and from which the wife of his lack of fluent speeeh, were no doubt John Simpson, Sr., handed outlier whole more especially derived from the mater¬ baking to the American soldiers retreat¬ nal side. Men of his equable, unexcit- ing from the fight at Germantown. able, unimaginative temperament, even The old house shows signs of antiquity though gifted with unusual abilities, and may be considered in several por¬ often pass through life unnoticed,through tions. The main house is of stone, of lack of assurance, of brilliancy of parts two stories, about 30 by 20 feet in dimen¬ and fluency of speech. It is only after sions, containing two rooms on the first reaching middle life, and being placed in floor and three on the second. The lower circumstances that arouse the latent capa¬ rooms have old-fashioned fireplaces. In bilities of such men, that the world the smaller or northern room of this hears of them and their talents and house it is said Hannah Simpson was judgment are developed. born. The windows are not the original Hannah Simpson, the mother of Gen¬ ones. There is no date stone upon the ! house. It is thought to have been built | eral Grant, wasHborn in Montgomery i ; by the younger Simpson when first county in the extreme northern corner of . married. Even then it has seen a cen¬ Horsham, about half a mile from the tury of time. At the angle attached to Bucks county line. Her father’s name the west end is the older and more hum¬ ‘ 'vas_ Jol>n Simpson, Jr-) bom here jn ble house, of logs, supposed to have been 1 T1?e ll0use in which he resided is m. the home of the first John Simpson, and ■ still standing, a short distance south of erected by him a dozen years before the Steever’s mills, on the eastern side of the Revolution. Its erection may have been I turnpike leading to Prospectville from earlier. In its rear is a large room, now Gbalfont. Less than a mile to the north used as a workshop. This has been is the hamlet called Pleasantville, con¬ added at an unknown date to the one- taining a few scattered houses, a black¬ story portion. On the meadow bank, smith shop, a store, where is the post- east of the dwelling, is the old stone office called Lureka. Formerly a tavern springliouse, wherein gushes forth the sign of the “Green Tree” indicated a spring whose locality doubtless decided public house, but which is no longer the site of the dwelling of the original licensed.. One-fourth of a mile further pioneer. The Simpson barn was very north is the Pleasantville Reformed near the turnpike. It was succeeded by church, known as the “Brick church.” a barn erected by an owner named Jones, I he present turnpike, formerly known as i who succeeded the Simpsons. Its ruins the old Butler road, formerly ran at some < might have been seen fifteen years ago. distance east from the Simpson house ' A new frame barn north of the dwelling diverging from its later course for a con’s is of modern construction. During the siderable distance. A marked depression r period just previous to the removal of in the fields yet clearly shows its former John Simpson in 1817, the old log part direction, which was changed in 1855, of the house was the home of James when the turnpike was constructed. Griffith, who was a blacksmith, and had | The old stone house in which John married his eldest daughter, Mary. The Simpson resided is now the home of place of his shop is yet pointed out to the Emanuel Stocker, who owns the farm of northward of the house, and close to the forty-three acres. It is as it formerly former line of the Butler road. James was, except for a new roof and dormer Griffith,with his wife,afterwards removed windows added by the present owner, to Ohio. this farm is only the central part of the former Simpson estate. The latter also JOHN SIMPSON, JUNIOK. included a farm of fifty acres on the As to the personal characteristics of the! westerly side of the turnpike ; also the I maternal grandfather of Grant, he was farm formerly held by William Dunn, i . described to the writer of this by one bordering the county line, now held by I who knew him, as a man of medium his son-in-law, Charles Thompson, com-1 size, of rather slender build,and of ruddy, prising sixty-nine acres. Besides, there sandy complexion. He was generally U were six acres, which later were attached i rated a first-rate man by his neighbors, ■ tiOto t.llPthe £\fP0X7£»T»Steever property on theJ-~ north.„ i. InT fy whom he was esteemed as clever and all,the Simpson lands comprised 173 acres obliging, and possessing ordinary abili¬ enough for a comfortable maintenance, ties. He was, however, addicted to the or upon which to grow poor, according drinking habits of his generation, then to the vigor or the negligence of the old very common, and considered of no style of farming. Nearly the whole especial detriment to a man’s reputation. estate sloped to the eastward. A brawl¬ When on “sprees” he was occasionally ing stream, after passing the mill, flowed quite wild and turbulent. His boyhood* through a ravine towards the east, |j> L was during tHe stirring scenes of American Revolution. In a list of tax- Ul Hereafter they proceeded o'n' tlieir' jouF ney quietly and fewer questions werej I ff-e From, ( MEETING HOUSE. — Lower Merion Friends to Have a Fitting Celebra¬ Date, tion of the Event. — ——— i- SERVICES BEGIN TO-DAY. A BI-CENTENNIALr Celebration at the Old Stone Meet . ‘ ingr House Next Week. Several Prominent Members of the The old stone meeting house in Lower Merlon township, Montgomery county, Society Will Make Addresses which has been tw'o centuries a church, will next week be the scene of a great of a Historical Character and Others Will Bead Poems. Special Despatch to “The Press.” | Ardmore, Oct. 4.—The 200th anniver¬ sary of the erection of the old stone Quaker Meeting House in Lower Merion Township will commence to-morrow and continue several days. The ancient structure is in as perfect condition to¬ day as -when erected, and defies the rav¬ ages of time, and worship is held there every Sunday, Friends driving to the place from miles around. One of the features of the celebration will be the erection on the grounds con-J nected with the meeting house of a mammoth tent, which will accommo¬ date about 1000 persons. It was at first intended to have that part of the cele¬ bration confined to worship held in the The Old Stone Meeting- House. meeting house, which has a seating ca¬ pacity for about 350, but in view of the celebration, the little congregation there fact that there will be a gathering of fo/thc eve""63 extensive preparations prominent Friends from all over Penn¬ The women will care for the visitor* sylvania, as well as large delegations in old fashioned hospitable style horses from New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and carriages will be cared for and a Maryland and other States, it was decid¬ bountiful table spread. A historical ser- ed that all meetings be held in the tent. vlce will be attended by many distin¬ guished members of the Friends’ Soci¬ The programme will be simple and ety, and Miss Walker, of Chester coun¬ Quaker-like in its character. The cele¬ ty, will read a paper on the history of bration will open with a characteristic the meeting house, which will be of period of silence and then will follow much interest. on different days impromptu remarks, prepared historical addresses, etc. An historical paper on the old Merion Meet¬ ing House will be read by Mary J. Wal¬ ker, of Chester Valley. A poem will be read by Dr. James B. Walker, of Phila- 1 x #V ~ , .•IVr '.•o'? *V»** •iM iA -«r *=-- 5?' rr*j qv*) >i t l&k It'lL L, 4^ *■ ^ ^7 ->—^ _ '^l EXTERIOR OF THE OLD FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE IN LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP. delphia, and another paper will be rea 2 by Dr. Allen C. Thomas, of Haverfoi College, on the comprehensive subject ( “The Work of the Society of Friends ( the World.’’ During the exercises Isas IT. Clothier, of Wynnewood, will rea a paper on the influence of the Societ of Friends at the present day. Anothf poem will be read by Dr. Francis I Gummere, of Haverford College, an there ■will be a number of interestin \~^L social reunions. Among those who ai expected to be present at the anniversar 1 celebration are such prominent men bers of the Society of Friends as Joh J. Cornell, of New York; Isaac Wilsoi of Canada, and Levi Benson, of Ohh all well-known speakers at importai assemblages of the old Quaker stock. A large committee of women ha\ charge of the hospitalities of the oi casion, and among other features wi □ be a continuously well-spread table o the grounds. The old meeting house is a small, bi substantially built structure, with peaked roof, and is built in the shape < ii^hEL' a cross. On the front of it is a table: containing the inscription:— o- -o Improved 1829. It is a matter of historical record tl lU Wiiliam Penn regularly attended 1 Marion Meeting House, and the bench still shown where Penn and his conter poraries used to sit. The meeting house is only 14 feet higl 36 feet in length and 20 yards wide. Tt walls are about two feet thick and tl windows and window panes are now ju: as they were two centuries ago. Over half a century ago the old bulk ing was rough-casted, and the roof ws put in proper repair. It was proposed t -- - have the cement or ine ejtrerror ui rrre j the building of this house, but it was walls scraped off in grderthtit «« build Tor many years the only house of wor- ing might be restored to the prlmnive Iship within* the present county of Mont¬ condition and look as far as possible just gomery. The property was held for some as It did 200 years ago. At different■ P& years by deeds in the form of leases and rlods some slight alterations have been releases, the first actual deed being made in the Interior, hutgreat pare has given in 17-»5. A lot containing half an heen taken to preserve its original sim 1 acre was conveyed by Edward Reese to Inficity, and the bench occupied by Wil¬ the trustees of Merion preparative meet¬ liam Penn and his associates remains to¬ ing for graveyard purposes. In 1801 and day* jus? as It did when the founder of TSu-t John Dickinson conveyed to the trus¬ Pennsylvania worshiped there. It is tees two lots for the use of the members a matter of historical record that the , and for the graveyard. Lite of the Lower Merion MeeUng Hous “No records are extant which give the : i exact date of the erection of this meeting irss i house. The stone upon the gable states j it was erected in 1695, but when this I stone was placed there is also uncer¬ nresent stone building. Another matter | tainty. But in the minutes kept by of record is the fact that In September, women Friends there is record of ‘eight 1777 during the dark days of the war, shillings paid for cleaning Merion Meet¬ tv,a' American army encamped in a field adiomfnl the L?wer Merlon Meeting ing House, 12th of 12th month, 1695.’ "A paper has recently been found con¬ House and were there about the time taining the names of subscribers and the of the massacre of Paoli, and many of the fighting Quakers of the army used amounts contributed in the year 1713 to repair to the old meeting house for for building the meeting house. These evidences prove that a meeting house WThe‘oid burial ground connected with was standing here previous to 1695, that the meeting house is a place of historic some part of this present structure was Interest! The tombstones contain the begun in that year, and that the build¬ names of some of the oldest and most ing was probably completed in its pres¬ prominent Philadelphia families. ent form in 1713. The meeting held here to-day, truthfully ‘-ommemorates the erection of the oldest part of the pres¬ J ent building.” A poem read by Dr. James R. Walker, HAVE AN of Philadelphia, was marked by noble sentiments happily expressed. It paid deserved tribute to Penn's Treaty of Peace with the Indians, to the influence ; ENJOYABLE DAY. of Friends on mitigating the asperity of theological discussions, and promot¬ ing the cause of peace, and it struck a note of confident hope in the further progress and ultimate triumph of that jTwo Thousand Turn Out to cause. Dr. Allen G. Thomas, of Haverford Celebrate a 200th College, read a valuable paper on “What the Friend Has Done.” The author pic¬ tured vividly the condition of civilized Anniversary. society two hundred years ago; against this cruel state of society, trie voice of George Fox, like one crying in the wil¬ derness, was heard teaching that God HISTORICAL PAPERS READ. speaks directly to every human soul, independently of priests or kings. That tea.cning affirmed the dignity and the liberty of every man. Hence Friends were largely instrumental in securing Mary Walker and Isaac H, Clothier the freedom of religious worship which is now almost universally enjoyed, in Eeeall Interesting Facts—Many abolishing slavery, in securing just treat¬ ment for the Indian, in ameliorating the condition of prisoners, in arousing ! Relics of Old Times Exhibi¬ public opinion against war, in promoting.) arbitration and in enlarging the sphere j ted at Lower Merion of woman. The speaker then appealed to all within Meeting House. the reach of his voice to rise to a sense of the duty of the hour. “Perhaps,” he said, “the day has gone by for adhering , to some of the peculiar customs by 1 Special Despatch lo “The Press.” which their principle of simplicity was ! exemplified, but the necessity still exists ; Narberth, Oct. 5—More than 2C00 mem¬ for the proclaiming of the fundamental bers of the Society of Friends assembled truths.” to-day at the meeting house in Lower A concluding poem was then read by Merion Township, to begin the celebra¬ Dr. Francis B. Gummere, of Haver¬ tion of the 200th anniversary. They, came ford College, after which a few mo¬ in carriages from Chester, Delaware and ments were spent in silent meditation, concluded by an earnest prayer by one Montgomery Counties, and large num¬ of the women. bers by trains from both east and west. Isaac H. Clothier, of Philadelphia, fol¬ Both branches of the society were rep¬ lowed with an eloquent presentation of resented, for their early history is the the work and principles of the Society heritage and glory of both. Many came of Friends. Among other things he early in the day, although the exercises said:— did not begin until afternoon. “We are among the representatives of a society which, though one of the The exercises began with a historical smallest in numbers from its foundation paper by Mary J. Walker, of Chester until now, has yet commanded a measure Valley. "We are here to-day,” she said, of attention and exercised an Influence “to recall the good and lasting work of in the world entirely disproportioned to our Welsh ancestors. A difference of the size of its membership. Reviled and opinion exists as to the exact time of persecuted, first in England, then in this country, and held u p to "p ub lfc 'scdrn ; and ridicule, the society grew while per¬ secution lasted and not until it ceased did its growth lessen. But though never ABINGTON CHURCH BURNED large in membership and numbering to¬ day in England and America perhaps less than 150,000 souls, its influence has been A LANDMARK ON THE OLD YORK extraordinary in the World. John Bright said: ‘I am a member of a small but ROAD DESTROYED. somewhat remarkable sect, a religious body which had a remarkable origin, and in its early days at least a somewhat remarkable history. It is of all the relig¬ ious “sects the one that has most at NOTHING BUT THE WALLS STANDING heart the equality and equal rights of man.’ “It is fitting that on this anniversary occasion we should recount that which- ONE OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CON- cannot be dwelt upon too often—the sim¬ plicity and sufficiency of the faith of the GRESATIONS. Friends, and its potent influence on mankind by reason of its very sim¬ plicity. That has been the corner-stone, the essence of the faith of the Friends— A LOSS OF$25,000 WITH $15,000 INSURANCE simplicity of faith and of life.’’ Many interesting historical relics were exhibited in the church to-day. The original deed of a lot of one-half acre by Edw'ard Reese to the trustees of PASTOR HENDERSON’S SERMON TO HIS | Lower Merion Meeting was examined FOLDLESS F-0CK, I with great interest. The marriage cer- 1 4 j tificate of Jacob Zell and Hannah Lever- ! ing in the year 1783 was another object [ of interest, as was also the oaken table Tha Abington Presbyterian Church, the on which such documents were spread home of the old“st Presbyterian congrega¬ out to be signed. The last marriage tion in Montgomery county, for more celebration in this old church was that of Benjamin Hunt and Esther Price, than a century a landmark on the Old York sixty years ago, Esther being a grand¬ road, in Ablngton villag a mile and a half j daughter of Edward Reese, who first above Jeuklntown, was destroyed by flre^arly deeded the land for this meeting house. yesterday morning, with lls contents. Only In the attic are preserved some old the walls, erecled nearly 100 years ago are lest school desks, a relic of the time when standing. The fire was discovered by the a school was kept in the church long crew of a nignt trolley cal’ on the Old York before the days of our public schools. Some of those present to-day were road line of tne People’s Traction Company Professor Huxley, of Haverford College; about 3.10 o’clock. Dr. John Hopkins, Dr. Joseph W. An¬ Samuel Yogt, the motorman. and William derson, John L. Giffen, of New York; Kenny, the conductor, aroused the vlll; ga Mr. A. Zell, of New York; Isaac Sharp¬ and led the way to the church, Yost having less, president of Haverford College; nis lialr singed in a vain effort to save the John Wildman, of Langhome; Allen Sunday school pia o. Fiitcraft. of Chester; Philip P. Sharp¬ less, of West Chester; Rufus M. Jones, Unable to Save the Church. editor of “The American Friend;” Davis Unable to stop the fl i nes the crew of the Orum Young, Councilman Roberts, of trolley car sped to Jeuklntown and gave the Philadelphia; George B. Roberts and alarm. Tne fire department responded, but family, Joel J. Baily, John B. Garrett were unable o do more than prevent the and family, Isaac W. Roberts, Matilda E. Janney, Mahlon Dickinson. Joseph B. spread of the fl imes to the manso beside the Hancock, Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. !Pugh, church. Isaac H. Hillburn, Samuel S. Ash, Sam¬ T e tire seemed t have started In the annex uel Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Chambers, at the rear of the church, used as the church of Overbroc-k: Henry Hall and wife and parlor and the Bible class room. It spread Samuel D. Hail, Thomas Hall and Lydia rapidly to the main building, and about D. Hall, of Swarthmore; James V. Wat¬ about 4.39 o’clock the spire fell, carrying son, George Watson, Hannah Levick, George Dickinson, Joseph W. Thomas, down the large bell, which was broken Into of King of Prussia P. O.; Hannah A. pieces. The pipe organ,Sunday-school org n Zell, T. EllTcood Zell, Justice .Tones, and piano, the library and the lurnlture of Lewis J. Levick, Paul Jones Fry, Ed- the parlor were destroyed. ; ward W. Heston. Paul Jones Hoffman, By diligent efforts the pulpit desk, the j George Vaux, Howard W. Lippincott I cushions of the pews and a nnmb.-r of hymn- I and many others...... r II fll n i ' \lfl books and smalt Bibles werosaveu. The loss Is rs lm a ted at between 825,009 and $30 tOO, and there is an insurance of $15.090. Rev. John R. Henderson, the Pa-tor or the church, who was Installed last June, lives In the mnnie, about 109 feet from the church. His first knowledge of the fire was the shouts ot ttie night car crew, which awakened him. Nearly ali the men o’ Abington village and a number of farmers bound Into Philadelphia with produce did what they could to save the church, but the annex building was llkea fur- naee when i hey reached It. Incendiarism Suspected. The origin of the fire Is ue. k .own. Incen- dlarism Is suspected by seme, who reler to the iwo attempts to burn the Methodist Church at Wdlow Grove, about two weeks aso. _ j _^ 1< I - he reInfa been fire In one of the heaters located a short dlstanoa from the place the pie broke out all of last w-ek. tint on Satur¬ stalled. Mr. Treat continued In the obarge day both heaters were overuauled by a firm the long period of 47 years. He died and was er plumbers from Jenkmtowu. and the Are buried there in Novernb -r, 1778. During the ivas built Iresh Saturday afternoon. p rio.l covered by tils pastoral George White- Many think the flames were started by a fleid and David JBralnerd. ‘The Apostle to lefectlve flue uud s imuldered for sereral the Indians, ’’ visited Ablngton several times. in our a* The memorable schism between the Synods An Appropriate Sermon. of New York and Philadelphia occurred In ■ , I? I“ornlne l’a»t»r Henderson gathered D41, and it was not u .til 1758 that they were his flock together In the Ablngton school- reunited. An lulerr g utm of throe years fol¬ house, nearly opposite the church. He had lowed Mr. Treat’s decease, Various Ministers a congregation of about 150 persons, and they officiating, took a moat hopeful, encouraging view of the In 1781, the R-v. William Mackey Tennent, situation. D. D., whs chosen Pastor and Installed. For I Mr. Henderson preached an appropriate years he was a member of the Board of Trust- I sermon. His ext was X< iiah, Ixlv 11- "Our ees of Princeton College. The Abinglon Con- I holy and our beautiful house, where our lam- gr gallon was Incorporated by what Is termed, j jers praised Thee, Is burned up with fire, and a private Act of Assembly, passed February! all oar beautiful things are laid waste.” A 22j, 1785. Tno original church having be- j second text was Nehemluh, II, 17 and jg, c.me too small for ibe wants of the congrega. I ‘‘Then I said unto thorn, ye see the lion, a new stone siruc ure was commenced distress that we are in, how Jerusalem Hath In the spring of 1793, nearly opposite.on the waste and the gates are burned with west side ot the York road; It was occupied fire; come, let us build up the wallofJeru- lor worship in the following October. bttlomt tiiat w© b© no tuoro u reproach. Dr. Teuuent died in December, 1810, aad Then I told them of the hand of my his remains repose In the old graveyard. God, which was good unto me; as also the After ad Interval of two years the Rev, Wm, King i words that He had spoken unto me Dunlop was chosen Pastor and assumed And they said, .Let us rue upaud build- so Charge July 2, 1B12- He died of consumption Uhey •treugtheued their hands for this good In December, 1818. The Rev. Robert Steel re¬ work, * ceived the Charge Novemoer 9, 1819, and oon- | To Rebuild at Once. tinued In the pastorate tor the long period of Following a sermon which put enoouraee- nearly 43 years. At a meeting held M»rohl2 meet Into the heart of every mem her of the 1833, it was resolved to enlarge the eiiurob’ congregation, there was a conference and the which was don- tee following summer at a' trustees of thechuron were supported In the cost of nearly $1900. Dr.Steel died September movement to rebuild at once. 2. 1862, and the Rev. John Jo. Withrow, D.D., This evening there will be a meellng of the was installed Pastor in May, 1863, remaining E ders and Trustees lo consider plans for re¬ until November, 1858, when he came to the building. It Is thought the walls of the Arch Sired Ciiurcti In this city. main building, wbics are said to be nearly He was succeeded by the Rev. Samuel T. 100 years old, can be used again. Lowrie, D. D., In May, 1S69, who left lu July] It will be necessary t i ralso from $5100 to 1874, to accept a professorship in the Theo¬ $10,000 In add iilon to the Insurance to build logical Seminary at Allegheny. The Rev. L. the proposed new structure. W. Eckard, D. D., was Installed May 25,1875; The burned library ooutilned a number of he resigned a lew years ago to accept u call 10 very eld books of considerable value. Easton. He was succeeded by th& Rev. Llewellyn S. Fulmer, who remained but a A CHURCH WITH A H STOHY. s .ort time. The present Pastor, the Rev. J. R, Henderson, was only receutly installed. Its Congregation Was Organised in 1714 Abington lias beets the parent of Hunting¬ Ablngton Presbyterian Ch tren was are-i don Valley Church, built lu 1889; or Graoe izeil in 1714 by the Rev. Mulachl Jones The Church, Jenklutown, and of Carmel Chapel, first session book gives the origin,1 member¬ at E ige Hill village. The handsome brown ship asexaclly three score and teu, and these sandstone structure Just destroyed was were chit-fly So >lch-Irish. Mr. Jones had erected In the place of the former church In come to the c toay of Pennsylvania from 1863. It had stalued glass windows, and the Wales, and. Joining the Presbytery of Phlla t«1 al length was 118 feet.. The tower and delphla (wnlch had been been In existence spire were built of dressed stone, 180 feet In eight years and bad 11 name- oa Its roll) im¬ height, and from Its elevated position formed mediately began work at Abing on. Half'an a conspicuous landmark for miles around. acre of ground having been secured, for which The Ablngton Church It the oldest In the a deed was - Iren August 15, 1719, a lo-church Presbytery of Philadelphia North. The au¬ was very probably soon utter erected ’the first tumnal meeting of that Presbytery was held house of worship possessed by the denomina¬ In that building on and Wedcwda;^ tion within the present limits of Mo itgomery county. It stood wi bin the graveyard atthe intersection of the Old Y n kandSu qu-hamaa street roads until April, 1793, when t, was su¬ perseded by a more sightly and substantial structure. a. C \ Mr. Jones continued his labors there with t From,. apparent euoeexs for 15 years, or until his death, which occurre ■ March 26 1719 lle 1 'Tr being 78 years old. With one exception’his tombstone Is the oldest there containing an ii; O uU( Krv* A ' ( /£/, / inscription, and It Is mentioned thereon lhat "He was the first Minister In this place ” For t wo years after Mr. Jones’s decease, the Date, Rev. Jededlah Andrews - ccaslmally ’offi. £ eta ed. In December, 1731, the Rev. Richard Treat was orualned a Minister and duly ju. ".HI ■imith and .Nathaniel Harvev, wTirT'aUo" ave some excellent music during the CH EL¬ IS HAM. xercises. The following history was hen read by Miss Carrie Speck, Princi- >al of George K. Heller School, who has —Tue jubilee eelebration commemor¬ ieen a teacher in this school since 1876 : ative ut tue building of the first free school in Montgomery coumy, Ueld on The first school house in Cheltenham last Saturday uttenioon at Uie George K. i ownship was built in this place in 1795 tidier public school in this place, was a | from this it might appear that previous giauu success. the day was almost I o that date Cheltenham township was perlect, one of those beautilul Indian : without educational advantages. Such ouLuiner days, auu as was anticipated by lowever. was not the case. me committee having ihe matter in In 1748, a school house was built in cliarge, lire large school building was Bristol township about 400 yards eastol ' entirely inadequate to accommodate one- f ront gate of Ivy Hill Cemetery, for the uaii 01 those wuo attended. Tue aud- iccommodation of Bristol, Cheltenham, ■ lence was made up ot people from all Germantown and Springfield townships parts ol Cnelleuiiain towusuip who were md neighborhood adjoining. In 179J i glad or me upporiuuity to Uo honor to so Anthony Williams, great-grandfather ol important an event. The meeting was Thomas Williams, the president of our called lo older at 2 o’clock by the local Ischool board, gave land and money for a Uirector ui '.lie school at this place, who ■ebool house. It was built in Philadel- nominated ihomas Williams, Esq., of ■ hia county very near the Cheltenham < 'gouiz, as chairman ol the meeting, who ine. At his death he bequeathed 250 in a lew well chosen remarks welcomed .! pounds to be held in trust for the main- the large audience to the celebration ot enance of the Williams School, as it was idle bunding oi the “first free school in •ailed. That trust is still in existence. dneiieohaui township” and in Mont¬ In 1796, Benjamin Rowland, Freder¬ gomery county. The exercises com ick Altemus, and Samuel Miles deeded meuced with singing by the children of o Thomas Fletcher, Caleb Hallowed, me local school ol a by inn, entitled, “Our John Thompson, John Jones, Amos 'ochool blouse,” set to the tune ot Italian Jones and W illiam Bailey, Trustees, for - ti\uiu,aud composed for the occasion the sum of five shillings, three-fourths oy the Superintendent of Cheltenham of an acre of land on which a school district, Trofessor Shroy. The singing house had been erected in 1795. Pre- was led by tour brass horns, under the vious to 1842, this building, called the leadership of Professor Shroy, assisted taMi - oy Messrs. Fred. Buckhalter, Lawrence r- THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE. THE NEW SCHOOL HOUSE. RMiiitown School house, was the only meeting it was decidecTtblake no actioE s |public school in Cheltenham township. on the school question until the next ■ Children who could not atteud this township election, in 1837. In that year i 1 school were allowed to go over the line a vote was taken on the question of • I | to neighboring townships. adopting the Common School system The building was of rough stone and but it was lost, there being 12 votes for ! contained only one room in which was a schools and 34 votes for “no schools.” [J B|desk lor the teacher and long desks and In 1838, another vote was taken and was * £ ■ benches for the pupils. There was an carried by 16 majority there being 56 - ^ (open fire place in one end of the room votes for school aud 40 for “no schools.” EJj and, it is said, the school master lived in Thus the Common School System was ^ ' one end of the building and taught adopted. The first board of directors |! school in the other. consisted of Joel Mann, President; G. K. Hcdler, Secretary, John J. Williams, j At that time the free system of edu- Treasurer ; Thomas Rowland, Bartholo¬ * cation bad not been adopted and the mew Mather and William Gillingham, |! pupils were required to pay for their tu- grandfather of Mr. Joseph Bosler, of ition as well as for materials. The cost Ogontz. Although the new law made of tuition was about three cents a day. I the schools public, patrons were stiil fj The outfit of a pupil cost about one dol- obliged to pay one-half the tuition and lar. Each pupil was required to have purchase the books used by their child-- I an English Reader or Mew Testament a ren. It was not until 1855 that the ■ Comly’s or Byerly’s Spelling Book, and board of directors passed a resolution to Pike’s or Rose’s Arithmetic, also a slate, Ji furnish a uniform system of teaching. l| a pencil, six sheets of foolscap paper Previous to 1844, teachers had been I stitched together, a small ink bottle in examined by the directors but in that | a cork stand and a goose quill. Those year Hon. E. L. Acker was elected sup- M who could not afford to pay’were adrnit- erintent of schools in Montgomery coun¬ 1 ted free. These were termed “poor ty. During the period from 1844 to the r scholars” or “eouuty scholars” and thev present, there have been four superin¬ were ill-treated by their companions. V tendents, Hon. E. L. Acker, Rev. Rob¬ T This caused hard feeling and the schools ert Cruikshank, Prof. Abel Rambo, and I were despised by the lich and shunned Prof. R. T. Hoffecker, oufr present super¬ ■ /\‘! by the poor. intendent In 183(5, at a meetingof the inhabitants 1 We know very little of the early school I of Cheltenham, John J. Williams, father masters. The first of which we have any of Thomas Williams, Thomas Rowland record is Rev. Samuel B. Wylie. His Jacob Myers, George K. Heller, Samuel Fenton and Comly Shoemaker were con¬ stituted a board of directors. At a later life was a noble ami inteiesting one."'He' teaching on alternate Saturdays^bu^i I was born in Irelaud. but impelled by the tie vote being the result, the matter was I love of freedom emigrated to America j? postponed and teachers taught twenty- I in 1797. He landed in New Castle, * four days to the month. The sessions I Delaware, and having missed the ship J were long, also, the hours being from 8 for Philadelphia, walked with one com¬ I P. M. to 11.45 and 1.30 P. M. to 5. In panion to that city. They crossed the 1856, the scnool was painted by the N bridge of floating logs over the Schuyl teacher, Mr. Sickel, the board furnish- 0 kill at Market street and went on to ing materials. James Sickel left Chel- ] Broad street, which was then lined with tenham in 1858. He.is now one of the !| cultivated fields. There they were told assistant superintendents ir. Philadel- j that Philadelphia was a mile farther on. phia. Miss Toban, the primary teacher, I During the same year, 1797, Mr. Wylie married Mr. Joseph Sickel and was sue secured the position of teacher in the ceeded by Mary G. Sickel, a sister of I Milltown school. After leaving here he Joseph Sickel. taught in the University of Pennsylvania Following Mr. James Siclsel came I amfin 1803 was installed pastor of what Joseph Parks, George H. Browning, 5 is now the Wylie Memorial Presbyterian Andrew Glanden and B. F. Saurman. R Church. During his ministry he was These four we have not been able to f appointed Prolessor and was eminently trace. successful in fitting young men for the In 1857, it was decided to build an ad J ministry. He died in 1852 in his eight¬ dition to the Milltown school and a new ieth year and was succeeded by his son, room was added iu front of the old . dev. T. W. J. Wylie, D. D., who still building with a hall-way between, the 11 fills his father’s position^ new room to be used tor the primary di- I Ot the period from 1797 to 1838 very yision. Sallie Livezey was the first 'I little is known. There was no church teacher in the new room. She taught I iu the town at that time and the Baptists [ untii 1863 when she resigned in order to and Swedeuborgians held service in complete her education. She afterward the school house. 1 he first Methodist taught in another school of Cheltenham sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Ire¬ township, but poor health compelled her land in the school yard, the prejudice to give up teaching and she died of con-1 against Methodism being so intense that sumption soon after. Iu 1862 Thomas i they were not allowed to occupy the Plummer, a former teacher, taught the H building. In 1832, the tide turned and principal school until another teacher^ the Methodists were given the use ofthe could be secured. After leaving the*? school, to the exclusion ol the others. school room, he filled the office of book- 1 They shortly after built a church iu the keeper. He has since died. The nextl I town. The only teachers of that period teacher was William G. Mjller who} - whose names we know were Benjamin taught until 1865. He afterward en i ■ I Roberts, a great-uncle of the present gaged in mercantile business and died in! j ! principal, John Robbins, Giles Winders 1892. In. that year it was decided to I and Robert Ashton. have a lady principal and Annie L. g The list from 1837 to 1855 is imperfect Roberts was appointed for one month j also as no records of that period can be on trial, her continuance in service to f found. During that time the school was depend on her ability to control the I taught by Juhn Campbell, Joseph Me youth oi Milltown. .She taught success- 'j ; gargee, William Flowers, Henry Bolton, fully until 1869. She then gave up jj William Staley, Thomas Plummer, Mary teaching and married Robert Croasdale, J I J. Crocket, afterward Mrs. Piummer. a lawyer in Philadelphia. After his « Jonathan Hyatt, and.William Ashmead. death she again entered the profession g ’ About that time the room was divided and had charge of the primary depart- :•] j' by a partition so that a primary division inent of the Audenried School of Chel- il * might be opened. Joseph Fletcher tenham township and afterward the I Sickel was placed in charge ofthe prin¬ Friends’ School at Abington. She now 1 cipal school, as it was then called, and has charge of the Friends’ Preparatory 9 : Elizabeth Toban, the primary. Mr. School, at Westfield, New Jersey. Miss 1 Sickel taught about three years. He is Roberts was succeeded by Lizzie Magee, I now principal of the Jefferson Grammar who taught one year. She is still a i ’ School in Philadelphia. He was suc¬ teacher, though not teaching contin- 1 ceeded by Davis Boggs and William uously. Porter. Following these came James In 1870, Ella Randall became teacher. 1 F C. Sickel, a cousin to Joseph Sickel. She taught until 1872 when she married ThVsalary of the princTpaUteacher a Thomas O. Rowland, of Cheltenham, j this time was $30 a month and that ol vvhereshe still lives. the primary teacher $lo a month. I Mr. Joseph G. Trank next assumed At this time the Saturday school ques charge of the school and taught until the I tiou was discussed by the directors an g, winter of 1873. Teaching was adopted vote taken for abolishing the custom ol by him as a profession and he is now teaching at Jenkintown. Sallie J. Kratz dary Department, aud ly succeeded Air. Trank and taught until of Newtown Primary. Through the ef¬ 1876. She taught m Whitemar^h town¬ forts of teacher aud pupils an organ was ship, after leaving Cheltenham. She placed in the school in 1883, and the fol married Thomas Long and now lives at a lowing year a library was started, It King of Prussia, this county. Next V now numbers 2<)0 volumes. Iu 1890 the catne James L. Dungan. He taught School Savings Buik was introduced four years at this place and afterward and in five years about two thousand in Philadelphia where he lived for some dollars have been deposited. time. After the death of his wife and During the present term more than daughter he went to Erie, where he still 150 pupils have been enrolled and from resides. The next teacher was E. Ella present indications a fifth teacher will Mauger who taught until poor health oe an imperative neces.-ity at uo distant forced her to resign in 1881. She is still day. ' a successful teacher and has a private Probably a list of the directors will school in Sharon Hill, Delaware county-r prove of interest. Clara Fitch followed Miss Mauger and • The following have served since 1838: taught until 1882. She is now Mrs. Joel Alann, John J. Williams, George Vere and when last heard of was living K Heller, Thomas Rowland, Sr., Win. at Southport, New York. Gillingham, Bartholomew Mather, A. R. Miss Fitch was succeeded by the pres¬ Kulp, John Thomson, A. Hnnt, Dr. ent principal. In the primary department Charles Bolton, Heorv Vanhorn, Laao Miss Livezey was succeeded in 1863 by Shoemaker, Robert Haines, John Cooke, Carrie Roberts who taught until 1876. John Ervein, William Birchall, Thomas She then gave up teaching She is now Williams, B. Rowland Myers, Reuben living in Byberry. Miss Roberts was Myers, Albert J. Engle, William C. succeeded by Carrie V. Speck, who Powell, Lvnford R iwland, James taught the division until 1882 when she Brooks, William G. Bosler, Robert Shoe¬ was promoted to the principalship and maker, William K. Bray, T. T. Mather, the primary was given to Ella H. Clem¬ Edward Ai. Davis, Sr., John McCabe. ent, William H. Myers, Edward M. Davis, In 1883, the old school house was torn dr., Charles Evans, Henry Birchall, down and the front part of the present William G Audenried, William Conaru building consisting of three rooms was Col. John H. Bringhurst, Isaiah Drain, erected in its place. The new building William Murphy, James Day Rowland, was named the George K. Heller School George D. Heist, Thomas Williams, Jr., in honor of George K. Heller, who was William Briscoe, Rev. Richard Mont¬ director for thirty-three years during gomery, Jacob Loper, S RUINS OF AN ANCIENT PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN POTTERY, SHOWING KILN, E y through Montgomery, Bucks, and Lancaster versed in local history. Upon our accepting-! counties in Pennsylvania—the centre of the his urgent invitation to dine he devoutly pro¬ German-speaking community—will prove not nounced a blessing upon the meal, while his only entertaining, but profitable as well. There good woman deferentially stood behind his may be seen the old graveyards, with their chair with her apron to her eyes in silent quaint tombstone»carved with figures of guard¬ thanksgiving. The words being spoken in the ian angels and the ever-present tulip, the favor¬ Pennsylvania German dialect, I could not un¬ ite flower, in conventionalized forms. Should derstand them, but it was evident that they he stop at any of the farmhouses for rest or re¬ deeply affected the participants. After a mT freshment, the traveller will be enabled to gain ment of silence he proceeded to relate many an amusing anecdote of his ancestor, the old some insight into the habits of the people, potter, which my companion translated to me so different from those of their English- as the meal progressed. speaking neighbors, and he may, perhaps, Most interesting to the student of ceramics are the ruins of the old potteries which abound be favored with a glimpse of their curiously in this section, with their crumbling walls and illuminated baptismal and marriage certificates the remains of the low, dome-shaped stone kilns, which almost invariably were built within an apartment at one end of the house in which the potter lived. Many of the older structures have almost entirely disappeared, and are only marked by low mounds of rubbish, hut the spot where the kiln once stood is usually indicated by a circular depression surrounded by a low wall of d6bris. If you happen to be versed in the language, your informant will point out the site of the old pottery and inform you that his great-grandfather made beautiful earthenware here a hundred years ago—pie dishes, quart mugs, and even tea sets of red clay covered with figures of tulips and vines, birds and animals, or encircled with mottoes and rhymes. In rare instances the more recent establishments are still standing, and as they were fashioned on the same patterns as the older ones, we are enabled to gain an excellent idea of those that flourished in the middle of the eighteenth century. One of these, which was in operation from about 1830 to within three or four years, was recently partially de- stroyed by fire, and, as the walls are partially removed and the roof has disappeared, an ex¬ cellent view of the kiln may be obtained, as PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN DECORATED PIE DISH. shown in the accompanying illustration. In some of the farmhouses examples of the which repose in the antique bureau drawer. An old pottery ware still survive, but they are gen¬ invitation to join the family at dinner, for e-ally treasured by their owners as family they are a hpspitable race, will be extended to relics, and as a rule they cannot be purchased Often a fabulous value is placed upon them him, should he happen alone at midday, and One old farmer.having been asked to sell a piece this will afford him an opportunity to study the in his possession, replied: people at their best and, perhaps, to gain a sight ‘-^.^‘bdred dollars will bur her. If she is not of some of the old crockery which has descended pt w? a {KasHs*** a— down for a hundred years as heirlooms in the bought equally good specimens ?rn«/eht 1 have family. On one of my excursions iu this section oors at prices ranging fro n S, In,. Delgh- Frequentiy these ol l p eces » ? S,5’ I chanced, with my German guide, upon a manufacture, the earliest 5 110 dates rambling old structure which was occupied by a im-ht having been m«dc in ?7«ofarTVro’JKht to continue down to 1849 when ^ lese dates grandson of one of the pioneer potters of ing that, the manu the district, himself well advanced in years, but remarkably active, intelligent, and well h ■ v' . ■'**; S?*1-- 3 disconiiniied about fifty years ago. o From a study of these extremely interesting a objects we may learn something of the processes m of their fabrication. The larger circular dishes, up to eighteen inches in diameter, were made in c the form of shallow milk pans, with sloping X) to J3 XJ c_ 4-'. m a to «►- CO m X5 it aj ‘tZ XJ c- OJ O (U «—« _o W-- H Ja tc CQ m •fr— to W—i washington’s headquarters. . —- or more ago was there ; distingms/ Ar ing spirits in this movement was the people from all over the country vis** late Col. Theo. W. Beau, of Norristown, the spot when iu this part of Pennsyl¬ F. G. Hobson, of Collegeville, and vania ; eminent Philadelphians are 1 ’ -' r-4-1 - "TEelatBEP is at prese now historic. This forge was burned Treasurer of the organisation. U by the British two months before the We have no doubt but that it was army encamped there, and the new the work of this association also which works erected soon after the close of suggested the propriety of forming a the Revolutionary War, were built Commission (which was done by the near where the present woolen factory Legislature in 189S), for the purpose now stands. of setting apart forever certain historic The iron used at the Valley Forge, land around Valley Forge as a public was made at Warwick Furnace, in park. To this the Transcript has ,'V’\ Chester County, and hauled there by referred on more than one occasion. teams. From 1757 the place seems to The Memorial Association has re¬ have been known as “The Valley ceived but one appropriation from the Forge,” though in most legal docu¬ State. That was in 1889 and the ments of that day, it retained the amount was $5000. In 1893 Governor name of Mount Joy. m: I Pattison vetoed the appropriation, and This name, tradition asserts, was K|in 1895 there appeared to be no money bestowed ou the bluff near the Schuyl¬ for the Association. kill, by Wm. Penn, who, while explor¬ The original plot contained about ing the place, lost his way on the hill one-and-a-half acres. Since one-and- south of Valley Creek, which he a-half more acres, including the Wash¬ named Mount Misery, but when he , ington Spring used, during the Conti¬ reached the top of the opposite emi¬ nental Army Encampment, were added, nence he found out where he was, and making three acres. Later on two gave to it the name of Mount Joy, to ^commemorate the incident. This more acres were purchased, containing manor, PenD granted to ms daugnter a house and a stone barn. The latter Letitia, and until the Revolution, some was used as a hospital during the en¬ part of it was held by the Penns. It campment. The Association’s holding was upon Mount Joy that the American now includes the old Headquarters army was encamped. The same year iu which this house janitors’ lodge and about five acres of was erected, John Potts built a good ground. There are 13 directors of the grist mill upon the creek near where association ail of whom attend to 1 the P. & R. R. R. is now located. their duties and visit the Headquarters When the new dam, as it was called, at their own expense. All services was made, it raised the water level and are rendered in a patriotic way, except covered the foundation of the forge the Warden who lives upon the which the British had burned. Mrs. property and receives $30 per month. Hannah Ogden, of whom the Head¬ On the 19th of December, 1777, the quarters property was purchased, American Army went into position at stated that the grist mill was burned Valley Forge. Mr. Leasing says in 1843, by a spark from a locomotive. “On the cold Wintry journey to Valley Her father then built a smaller one Forge, Mrs: Washington rode behind higher up, which was afterwards used her husband on a pillion. He was ou as a paper mill. his powerful bay charger and accom¬ THE HEADQUARTERS HOUSE panied by a single aide-de-camp, followed the last remnant of the army from cellar to attic, is in good preser¬ that left the encampment at White- vation, and appears to-day almost pre¬ marsh.” General Washington occupied cisely as it did when Washington was this house as his Headquarters for six domiciled witnin it. The doors, with bolts and locks, are the very same his months, until June 19th, 1778. This building was erected by John hands have moved , the floors, except Potts in 1759, and when selected by a portion of the one in the office room, General Washington for his head¬ are those over which the Great Chief- quarters, was the home of his son, tian has walked in many a weary Isaac Potts, then the proprietor of the hour ; the window glass and sash are j Valley Forge. They had a forge upon unchanged since the days when anxious the creek, about half-a-mile above eyes looked through them at the j mouth, which was first known soldiers’ huts upon the hills. Mount Joy, and^later as In 1886, the P, 0. S. of A. nobly J V . came to the aid of the Association, and paid the $3,000 mortgage upon the I property, which cleared it of all en-1 cumbrance. Until that date, a farnih f >! fx __ ' I _HKHRI_ ad constantly resided in the Head- The present residence of Mrs. Mary quarters. It was then decided to erect Jones, near the bridge over the creek, was the headquarters of General Knox, a small house for the janitor, which A was done with a portion of the $5,000 and was then owned by John Brown, who was also proprietor of Mr. Richard appropriated by the Pennsylvania ■" Legislature for the purpose of restoring Peterson’s place. Crossing the bridge I the buildings and grounds. One-and- a short, distance up the stream, is the a-half-acreS have recently been pur¬ residence of Mrs. Edward Wilson. chased from Mr. Nathan Jones. This This house was General La Fayette’s addition increases the extent of the headquarters. Ilalf-a-mile from this Headquarter lawn, and includes with¬ place, on the road leading to Centre- in it the noted “Washington Spring.” ville, is the farm, and home of Miss In the woods above Port Kennedy, Rebecca Davis, now, June 1891, in her 92d year. She says that Generals on the river side of the road, the Steuben and Du Portale had their foundations of the huts are still plainly ,v headquarters in this building, and that visible, though covered with a growth their names were beautifully carved of underbrush. The shallow cellars on a door up stairs, but have now seem to be in lines or streets, running entirely disappeared. She supposes north and south, and can be readily they have been planed off by some '• traced. The Northern and Eastern family occupying the house. troops are said to have placed the log General Wayne’s headquarters were •J cabins much deeper in the earth than on the farm owned by Wm. Henry their Southern comrades, and therefore Walker, descendentof Joseph Walker, were better protected from the cold, who resided there in 1777-’78. The and the mortality less than among the “Sons of the Revolution” have recently soldiers whose huts were almost en- placed a stone at the corner of a field T tirely above ground The and road leading from Centreville to place where Baroq Steuben Valley Forge, to mark its location. drilled the soldiers, was also part of Upon it is inscribed : “COO yards east from this stone is the headquarters of this woods. There is but one plainly marked Major-General Anthony Wayne.” grave now seen upon the encampment This old house, though modernized, ground ; it is in a field opposite this is one of the most interesting of the piece of woods. A common river group of officers headquarters that stone, with the initials “J. V •> aie cluster around Valley Forge. Mr. cut upon it. This grave has always Walker’s mother stated to the writer beenen wellwen preservedpresei vcu. that when she came there in her early Not far from this locality, upon the married life, no changes had then been same road, is the home of Wm.Stephens. made. Corner chimneys were in each At the time of the encampment,, it of the two parlors, the handsome wide ! hall had also had a corner chimney was occupied by his ancestors, Abijah and a quaint closet, m rue nau unuei was made the Stephens, and the stairs, A shaped. having solid walls General Weedom or quarters of each side running back to a point, and later of Baron General Varnum with a uairi door in front, was DeKalb. . always sly ie, . *; : ho. •• Hessian Closet.” | Near the orchard opposite this resi¬ placed j It V\ a.' -aid i hat j/i isuuers were dence on the river side, is what now there for ule keeping. Many odd. appears to be, a steep cone shaped nooks and corners were all through hill. This was the “Star Redoubt,” the house. A millstone lies near the ! and commanded the river crossing. kitchen door, that had done good Across the road from this point was service for the patriot soldieis when an orchard in Revolutionary times, grinding grain in the little mill neat and here tradition says, many graves the house. were made. During the generation Moses Coates lived above “Moore following, these events, cattle and Hall.” At his house, Generals Gates horses would frequently sink into and Mifflin, and Colonels Davis and them. The old orchard is now gone, Ballard, were quartered. “Besides and frequent ploughing has lemoved all I their attendants, they had a guard of traces of graves. | twenty-four men.” Officers also had General The headquarters of their headquarters at Jacob Penny- Moore’s Muhlenberg was on Edwin | packer’s. There were many other was then the property of I officers headquarters, but these names ■randfather, John Moore. were the nearest to General Washing- ton's head qua rfersT A- your Jhistorian with a copy of the Assesso <■ The outerline of earthworks extends List for Blockley Township in the year from near the head of the dam, across 1783. This was the first list taken after the the top of a ridge along the line of the Revolution. The assessors were Edward Davis property through farms that are Heston and Thomas George. now owned by Mr. Mullen, the Zook The original list is in an excellent state of and Kennedy estates down to the river. Outside of this line of earth¬ preservation. As might be expected, the works, on the Zook property, in the paper is yellowed with time, but the pen¬ rear of the lime quarries, “Fort Folly” manship is still clear and distinct. The was located, (so called because of its handwriting is beautiful. It is true, as so position). Forts Washington and often asserted, that the penmen of Revolu¬ Huntingdon are on the eastern slope tionary days wrote with far more elegance of Mount Joy. The road leading to than is usual now, provided, of course, that the river where the army crossed, these Revolutionary writers were good pen¬ passes in front of these two latter men in the first place. The quill-pen of old named Forts. The brown sandstone that marks what is called the “Sullivan times gave a freedom and grace which the Bridge,” where the troops crossed on modern steel-pen has never yet equalled. June 19th, 1778, stands near the river, Edward Heston, the Assessor, was a Revo¬ on land formerly belonging to the lutionary soldier. We have already had an Stephens’ estate; freshets and high account of his services. Also, we know of waters of many years have washed the him as the founder of Hestonville. Mr. earth over it, until the top is now Edward W. Heston, of Cynwyd, holder of level with the earth. About three or this historic assessor’s list, is the Revolu¬ four inches in front of it, is a white tionary Edward Heston’s grand son. marble stone, which the river is rapidly covering. Upon this is inscribed : The list of “ Land and Housekeepers ” “Spencer and Sullivan’s Bridge, 1777- contains the following names. Many of ’78, erected by Schuylkill Boatmen in these are quite familiar to residents of old 1840.” In front of these stones, a Blockley and Merion: piece of timber lies in the river, said John Thomas, David Jones, Sebastian to be the remains of what is known Wilfong, Joseph Jones, Peter Wilfong, as the “Floating Bridge.” A short Jonas Supplee, Nathan Supplee, Nathan distance below these stones a log hut Rhoads, Henry Read, Samuel Pearson, Lydia Morris, Aron Hilbert, Isaac Gray, is found on the land belonging to Wm. Lydia Musgrove, Henry Campffer, Mary Stephens. It is known as the “Slave Coulton, Edward Williams, David Seldrack, Hut,” and has stood there ever since Frederick Smith, William Seldrack, James the encampment. ■ #»> Underwood, William Sanders, John Supplee, Mary Blanklev, Joseph Lees, Jr., George Gray, Joseph Lees, Barbery Roop, Ezebella Turner, Joseph Saltback, Peter Jones, James Worrel, Joseph Coughran, Rich’d From,.. Crain, Robt. and Richard Crain, Thos. George, Jacob Balort, Amos George, Con¬ rad Hoover, Willm Roberts, Thos. Roberts, 4| Able Moore, Willm. Bispham, Willm. Rose, Andrew Yocum, Marlin Walter, Gil- lion Roop, Joseph Hibbert, John Saltback, Date, Michael Loots, John Bare, Mary Smith, Rebecca Sandown, John Neven, Peter Rose, John Hough, Robt. McGugan, Adam Rhoads Abrah. Harding, Margary Warner, Henry Smith, Thos. Rhoads, John Davis, AN OLD ASSESSOR’S LIST. Peter Ott, Joseph Watson, Ann Green, John Pywell, James Wallis, Willm. Toms, John George, Robert Craig, Jacob Slone, The First One Taken After the Revo¬ Christian Miller, Malon Hall, John Heck- lution. ! ler, Jonathan Supplee, Thos. Tomson, Isaac Kite, Edward Heston, Jacob Reeves, Thos. At the last monthly meeting of Merion Waters, Jacob Waggoner, Chris. Keller, Chapter, Daughters of the American Revo¬ Jesse George Jos. Boulton, Abrah. Streeper, lution, the following historical paper was John Peck, Isaac Warner, Wilson Warner, read by the historian, Miss Margaret B. Peter Evans, Christian Leech, Jacob Hofi- man, James Jones, Silas Gilbert, Daniel Harvey. Bowan, Henry Felton, Willm. Davay, Mr. Edward W. Heston, of Cynwyd, Joseph Hall, Jacob Fawood, Morris Fowler, Montgomery county. Pa., has kindly favored een Oetaineafor'a* numbeF’o? years "By 11800, JaCOD Amos, 'fill Willm. Elliot, Robert Platt, Edmund Phis- the British, in their horrible prison-ship ick, Phenias Roberts, Willm. Peters, Rich. ” Jersey.” Probably the old farm was Peters, John Lukins, John Penn, Willm. leased during his absence. Hamilton. Some of the entries in the assessors’s list The list of “ Inmates ’ of the above- are very curious. Thus it appears that named housekeepers’ families and of “ Single slaves were kept in Revolutionary days, even freemen ” includes the following names : in the free, Quaker State of Pennsylvania, I] John Thomas, Jr , David Jones, Francis under the heading of “Negroes and Mul- I Letherman, Andrew Supplee, Matthew Mc- lattes.” It will be seen that George Gray ] • Crate, Edward Haley, David Seldrack, Jur., owned two, as his personal property; Re¬ George Hansil, John Lacock, John Strad- becca Sandown, widow, one; John Penn, ling, Peter Worrel, David George, Francis Gent., three, and William Hamilton, one. Higgings, Phenias Roberts, Jos. Sellers, Another curious circumstance is, that, on Martin Waller, Jr., Abra. Smith, Ben. large plantations, only a small number of Smith, Arch. Watson, Tbos. Campble, Jos. “horned cattle” were kept. Thus David ! Campble, Mourton Garrett, John Hall, Jos. [Jones, with 200 acres, had but 8; John , King, Jont. Kite, Willm. Kite, Arth. Kite, Thomas, with 135 acres, only 4 ; Jonas Sup¬ Mich. Cate, Adam Keller, Abra. Keller, plee, with 11U acres, 2; Edward Williams, Isaac Roberts, Willm. Warner, Joshua Levis, with 100 acres, 3, and so on. The largest Will. Miller, Will. Leech, John Leech, number held by any one person was 11. Moses Wells, Thos. Clarrige, Charles Arnold, These cattle belonged to George Gray, of Rich. Whitfield. Gray’s Ferry, who possessed 300 acres in It goes without saying that the above- Philadelphia county, and 246 acres in Ches¬ named are valuable to the genealogists of ter county. Mr. Edward Heston gives it as to-day. Many of these names are also his opinion that the reason for this singular found in the “ Pennsylvania Archives, state of things, in early days, was that no second series,” in the lists of Revolutionary attempt was made to cultivate grass for pas soldiers. ture and hay, but that cattle were obliged to In the assessor’s list, the occupation of depend upon scant patches of meadow for William Warner is given as “ Soldier.” grazing ground. From this your historian supposes that he Improved methods of farming, introduced may have been a volunteer in the Continen¬ into Pennsylvania since the Revolution, are tal Army for a lengthy period of time. The largely due to Judge Peters, of Belmont. other residents of Blockley, who fought for To this eminent jurist belongs the credit of Independence, were mostly “ Associators,” importing gypsum as a fertilizer, in 1797. or members of the “ Philadelphia County Judge Peters was, during the Revolution, Militia.” The same battalion, in various a member of the Board of War. Later, years, included both Blockley and Merion, President of the Philadelphia Agricultural which latter territory was not cut off from Society. Philadelphia county until 1784. In the assessor’s list appears the name, It is to be regretted that the Revolution¬ Richard Peters, Gent. He holds 180 acres ary records are not complete. From such of land, with one dwelling house. Owns 70 data as available, your historian has found ounces of plate, 2 horses, 5 horned cattle, 6 the following names in Col. Heston’s Asses¬ sheep and has 7 white inhabitants in his sor’s List, which also appears in the lists of family. Revolutionary soldiers resident in Pennsyl- Among other residents having a quautity vania: of plate may be mentioned John Penn, Joseph Jones, William Rose, Peter Rose, Gent., 224 ounces; William Hamilton, 60 John Davis, Peter Ott, Morton Garrett, ounces; Edmund Phisick, Gent., 37 ounces; Christian Miller, Isaac Kite, William Kite, George Gray, Gent., 70 ounces, and Isaac Anthony Kite, Abraham Sireeper, Isaac Gray, Gent., 30 ounces. Warner, William Warner, Thomas Camp¬ Why have modern critics raised a cry ble, Joseph Campbell, John George, Thomas against that old-time abbreviation, “Gent,” Roberts, George Hansell, Henry Smith, and defined it as a “ vulgar fraction of a James Wallace (Wallis),Abram Smith, John gentleman ?” Such critics can hardly be Hall, Joseph King, Isaac Roberts, Peter familiar with old records. That abbrevia¬ Evans, William Leech, John Leech, Jacob tion is historic. It belongs to our Colonial Hoffman, Charles Arnold, William Miller, history just as much as “ yeoman ” or “ free¬ James Jones, Joseph Hall, Jacob Johnson, man ” or “ redemptioner ” does. It is found William Elliot. in the “ Colonial Records” of two hundred As the great majority of names sound years ago. In several old documents, John ap familiar to us all, it seems quite probable Thomas, one of the founders of Merion, is that the majority of these Pennsylvania sol¬ described both as “yeoman” and “ Gent.” diers were actual residents of Blockley. Your historian is somewhat inclined to think Thomas Wynn was a Revolutionary sol- that the “ Gents.” were the real gentlemen, ! dier, sometime resident of Blockley. His and that the modern outcry against the name does not appear on the assessor’s list, antique term is merely a rhetorical fid. but the 100 acres of land, marked as the True, it has been abused in trade-signs ; but j “ Estate of Thomas Wynn, deceased,” were these signs were not composed without good held, or rented by Thomas Waters. This authority in the first place. If all our men ' Thomas Wynn, deceased, was the father of are becoming “Gents”—that only means the Revolutionary soldier. This patriot had the triumph of patriotic principles, and the 1 __ ' democratic levelling upward for which the fro*m the ‘‘ Middle Ferry”atMarke^^^^ I . American Revolution prepared the way. and the “ Upper Ferry ” at Spring Garden I Of the above-named “ Gents.” John Penn street, is quite historic. A ferry existed at I merits special notice. He was the grandson this spot’-as early as 1682. It was kept by I of William Penn, aDd the last royal Gover¬ Benjamin Chambers, and his passengers I nor of Pennsylvania. His residence was the were mostly Swedes. During the Revolu- I “ Lansdowne Mansion,” which he built upon tion a bridge of boats was built, first by the I his extensive property in what is now the British, afterwards improved by the Ameri- I West Park. “ Lansdowne ” was destroyed cans. Over this bridge of boats Washing- I by fire, July 4, 1854, through the irrepres¬ ton passed in 1789, on his way from Vir- I sible small boy and the firecracker. ginia to New York to be inaugurated as ■ Strange to say, the Commissioners of Fair- President. The bridge was gayly decorated 1 mount Park seemed ignorant of the historic in his honor. Martha Washington also had I character of the walls, and ordered them a triumphal passage over this bridge, on her I demolished. Horticultural Hall stands on way to join her eminent husband. Thomas I the spot. Jefferson at one time resided in the neigh- I In the Assessor’s list the number of acres borhood. After the. Revolution “ Gray’s I given for the Lansdowne property is 240. Garden’ ” became a place of popular resort. I * The name “ Lansdowne ” is derived from In 131>2 “ Fort Hamilton ” was erected near * John Penn’s English title of “ Lord Lans¬ Gray’s Ferry. downe.” “ William Peters, Est.” is mentioned in I John Penn was popular in Pennsylvania. the Assessor’s List. This was part of the I Although the Revolution deprived him of Belmont property, which itself was part of I office, he was not an aggressive Tory. He the 1000 acres purchased in 1681 by Dr. I spent the last years of his life in Philadel Thomas Wynne and John ap John (Jones). I phia, dying in 1795. William Peters, the father of Richard 1 Washington visited Governor Penn, at Peters, was a Tory. He returned to Eng- I Lansdowne, in 1787, during the sitting of land where he died. the Constitutional Convention. Joseph Bona¬ Among the residents of Blockley who I parte, ex-King of Spain, lived here in 1816. aided the Revolutionary cause by holding I The last owner of the place, before it passed civil office may be mentioned (besides Rich- I into the hands of the Park Commissioners, ard Peters, George Gray and William Bing- I was Lord Ashburton, whose family name ham), the following: was Baring. This well-known family of Jesse George, a member of the Commit- I bankers gave the name to Baring street. ( tee on Correspondence. Lord Ashburton with Daniel Webster, ar¬ Phenias Roberts, a member of a commit- I ranged the Webster-and-Ashburton treaty, tee to collect supplies for Revolutionary I fixing the 49th parallel as the northern soldiers. boundary of the United States west of the At the risk of doing injustice to many I Great Lakes. worthy names, your historian passes on I After the death of Governor Penn, Lans¬ rapidly to speak of an another curious fact I downe became the property of William shown by the Assessor’s List. That is, that I Bingham, an eminent patriot. He was carriages were few. Evidently people trav- I agent of the Continental Congress in the eled mostly on horseback. Almost every I West Indies, durirg the Revolution. After¬ householder kept several “ horses and I wards, captain of a troop of dragoons; also, mares.” Under the head of “ Riding I Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Rep¬ Chairs and Coaches.” it is recorded that '■ resentatives and United States Senator. His Isaac Gray, Gent., had 1 chair ; John Sup- I wife, who had been Miss Ann Willing, was plee, farmer, 1 chair; George Gray, Gent.,1 | famous for her beauty and accomplishments. chair; Jacob Waggoner, inn keeper, 1 chair ; f William Hamilton was a Tory who barely William Peters, Est., 1 Phaeton; John :;j escaped conviction for treason. He resided Penn, Gent., 1 Coach, 1 Phaeton ; Will- I at “ The Woodlands,” now Woodlands iam Hamilton, 1 cnair. Cemetery. He was a nephew of Governor Following is the list of “ Non-Resident- I James Hamilton. The Woodlands property ors,” owning property in Blockley : had been purchased by-Andrew Hamilton, Ann Emlen, Will Smith, Joseph Dean, I I Sr., about the middle of the 18th century. George Clymer, Edward George, Thos. I Here resided Andrew Hamilton, 2d., his son Willing, Samuel Powell, David Beveridge, | William, the Tory, and the latter’s nephew, Sanders and Reaves, Joseph Ogden, Thomas I I William. This family gave the name to Marshall, Jr., Nathan Thomas, John Sellars, I : Hamiltonville. The property extended to Pick’s Lands, Wilfong’s do., Widow Shaw's I Nangansey, or Mill Creek, now mostly hid do., Marsh’s Land, John Ross’s do , Huft’s I den in a sewer throughout its course in West do., Sarah Pawling, Willing and Francis, I Philadelphia. This c/eek we already know Jacob Plankingham, Francis Lees in its upper branch as “ George’s Run.” In the above list is found the names of I Georg From Date, 4 . in >-i c o 3 a. CL . j. - V-T y-V. f o CO 4z O v_<-P CA 1 ^ o U> Oo C/J I . Cn o o o . > r3 > > !<* ! 2 2 j. C/3 t-t <- O o w CO * & P o rT cr rD — < jy. —: i/j W C r-r fD *3 r& g; o C/3 p' CC p P O in CL s o K D A 6 55 C/2 > a O) p CO o CD cL o C/3 C- C/3 r* p o HH 4/3 p l""1 n> rD a> r& cro^ G> c JZ,.' a 2 c ■■ Rector, Rev. Herbert— J day of small things,” will remember th A History of the Parish Itheu Rector of Lower Merion, To hiu Believing that it will be interesting and we are largely indebted, under God, fo ’•profitable, I have taken pains li > gather the beginning of a strong and growing or some facts of oor Parish History, and I Sanitation. I quote his woids with grea pleasure. ■ need make no apology for taking the time (to make you acquainted with them. They “I had been for some time anxious foi . will show much reason for encouragement; I the opportunity to extend my labors ii and the earnest work and deep interest'of 8 some location that would be of permanent many in the past is a pledge and a promise 1 |j usefulness. My attention was directed, for the future. This discourse and this only in the autumn of ’58, to the borougli sketch will appear in our little Parish pa- i *- of ( onsnohocken, five miles from Norris¬ per. And I trust that this copy (Feljru- town and six from iny present residence. aijjj, 1896) will be preserved and that the' There I commenced a regular Sunday af¬ spirit of the sermon and the gathered facts j ternoon service, and have had the pleas- will both be an inspiration and a help to 1 ^^ seeing a manifest increase of the greater things as the months and years go ; congregation, as well as other evidences *>y- that the. work of the Lord is prospering. As in the case of most parishes; there', A Sunday School has been organized, now has naturally been more interest in making I I numbering about 60 scholars, with good than in writing, history. Many incidents and efficient teachers, I have baptized two and events, therefore, are lost in the pas-1 adults and eight children, and have ad- sage of time. We have three main sources mitted four persons to communion. Hith¬ of information in our present labor of . :■. erto we have been worshipping in a school . love: The minutes of the Vestries, al¬ house— rented for the purpose—but much ways faithfully kept: the Journals of the | too small to accommodate those who Diocese: some records in the Parish Reg- ; weekly throng there.” ister, especially a few precious pages lie- “The Vestry, composed of active, zeal¬ gun by Mr. Cresson and continued by Mr. ous men, are now anxious to build a plain Lukens. I shall quote from all these in¬ church, in order to meet what are the real discriminately. wants of the Parish, and as a blessing has 1858. “The first service of the series attended our efforts so far, they rely upon which resulted in the establishment of being able to accomplish it. Up to this Calvary Church, Conshohoc-ken, was held time we have 29 families, 16 communi¬ In the old school house, July 25, 1858, cants, coimected with the church. A Rev. Wm. H. Rees and Rev. M. Hurst of¬ handsome silk gown was presented to me ficiating; Rev. J. W. LJaxton also present by the ladies of the parish. A melodeon August 15, Rev. E. L. Lycett first attend¬ has been procured to aid in the psalmody ed, and October 3, he entered upon the of the church. The weekly collection pays regular charge of the Mission. October ail incidental expenses. A considerable 10, a Sunday School was started with 15 sum of money was handed to me without scholars. December 17. At a meeting an intimation as to its use, but I presume held this evening it was decided to organ was intended as a manifestation of grati¬ ize a Parish under the name of Calvary] tude for services which had been aitogeth- Church.” Articles of association were . *r voluntary. And now, if it be asked J proposed and considered at this time. where the support of a minister is to cornel 1859. The first notice of our parish or from, should a church building be ob¬ borough which I can find in the Journal of tained? 1 answer, from where the sup¬ the Diocese of Pennsylvania—then em¬ port of most ministers comes from at the I 111 bracing the entire state—is in the report early organization of a church among the •f the Rev. Edward L. Lveett. Rector of poor. What they cannot do for them¬ TEm Church of The Redeemer, Lower selves must be done for them. Certainly I ® Merion, for the year 1859, the same con¬ a place containing 1500 inhabitants (many vention at which were presented by the ' of whom are anxious to enjoy the advanta- I Standing Committee the Charter and Ar¬ ges of their own church, and yet have none ticles of Association of Calvary Church, within three miles, and which is so near Conshohocken, among others. All who to Philadelphia) should not be destitute are familiar with our i-arlv history in “the m of church privileges. When the churches 125 • [, *>' ‘ ./ the Rev. Mr. Lycett “appointed Dr. Ried,| at Norristown andSSSSRIISBdl Rector’s Warden. July 19, 1859, a plan, it was with much less to encourage them^l for a church building was submitted to| than has been seen in the present enter-B the Vestry and by them adopted, and th prise. And if, in the providence of God P Finance Committee directed to proceei the present means of supplying this want,! With its erection as funds would permit. br the services of a volunteer laborer,! | The work of church building proceeds, should cease, we may surely hope that,! [steadily, there being then the same earn! with what can be done by themselves, and .1 justness and generosity manifested, which; what aid could be secured from other:: i has always and in a very marked degree, sources, the services of this church, com- ' characterized our beloved Parish,, espec¬ menced so auspiciously, will be sustained, ially in the line of permanent improve until, like the neighboring parishes, it be- | ments. First service in the new churc comes self-supporting. We have begun. , February 19. Bishop Bowman present a and by God’s blessing we intend to con¬ the p. m. service, and Rev. Mr. Stuar tinue and to carry on the work, nothing preaching in the evening doubting that we shall ‘reap in due sea- ' 1860. The young parish was represent- eon if we faint not.” ed for the first time in the convention o) “February 27, 1859, was held the first', 1860, and by Messrs. Walter Cresson and communion, eight communicants. March Theodore Trewendt. The Rt. Rev. S. 27, two adults baptized. April 24, Easu Bowman, Assistant Bishop, reports a vis Day, twelve communicants. April 25 itation and a confirmation of seven per¬ first election of Vestrymen under the sons. April 10, the Rev, E. L. Lycett charter.” It will be interesting to recall was elected Rector, but his relations to their names: J K. Reid, M. D., c E another parish prevented his acceptance, Morris, Edwin Jeffries, G’has. Davis, Wm though an arrangement was entered into by Brown, Walter Cresson, A. B. Shipley which his services were continued. Theodore Trewendt. Wm. P. Cresson j’ The report of Mr. Cresson, Senior War B. Morehead. Mr. Walter Cresson was I den, to the convention of 1860, is interesc etecte^urch Warden, and subsequent]v| Ingi"as'^tfreTifsl one in aetaii from the ristown, in and tor the county ol .vior field itself. It is as follows: gomery, in Deed Book No. 120, page 436, | Congregation, families, 31; baptisms, 14: etc. confirmed, 8; communicants, 18; several November 12, we read that "Convoca¬ have removed the past year; burial, 1; tion services began on this evening and Sunday School teachers, 7; scholars, 50. , Sf^Mwere continued the two following days Referring to the report of Ilev. E. L. ■ with pretty good success. Ly«ett of last year, I would add that the 1862. The Warden’s report for 1862 re¬ _ , 1 ft expectations then held have been realized, hi ■ ports the parish as more than holding its and that we have succeeded in building, own. Financially, $204.87 was realized upon a lot presented by one of the Vestry and paid over to the officiating minister. [I think Mr. Cresson himself], a plain Mr. Cresson says: “The church is still gothic church, with seats for about 250 under the pastoral care of Rev. E. L. Ly- persons, at a cost of less than $2500, on ; ■ : cett, Rector of the Church of the Redeem¬ which, when our present subscriptions are er, Lower Merion, who has held sendee collected, we shall not owe more than $500, regularly, on Sunday afternoons, on Fri-j which we trust the liberality of our friends day evenings during Lent, and on the will enable us to liquidate this summer. evenings of Thanksgiving and Christmas Twenty-one pews have been rented. days. There was also, in November last, Rev. E. L. Lycett has continued his ser- a series of services by the Southern Con¬ jy vices, to the volunteer offering of which vocation.” July 15, 1862, we find record ! the existence of our organization is mainly of a "very successful festival by the ladies due; we have hitherto, in consequence of of the church, who handed over $208.42 , the efforts required from us to erect the to pay bonded debt with interest. : church building, been unable to offer him We can easily imagine the pleasure withl any salary in acknowledgement of his which the following report was made, af¬ kind and successful labors among us; but ter the labor and self-denial necessary to| we have made an appropriation from the ’ such a result. pew-rents to that object, and we trust tha t, 1863. At a regular meeting of the Ves¬ consistently with his obligations to his own try held Jauuary 20, 1863, after directing! Parish, he may be able to continue his the secretary to express their thanks for | | services here.” the services of Mr. Orlando Crease and Rev. Mr. Lycett also speaks encoura¬ the choir of St. David’s, Manayunk, on ging words in his report for the same tb«» occasion of the consecration of the year. He adds: “My attention has been chui'cEYand tins was By given during the past year to a very de«- ly time when such musical services were | titute neighborhood (the village of Spring rendered by Mr. Crease and his associ-l Mill), situated on the banks ot tne schuyi- ates), the Vestry received the following), jkill, where I have held frequent services report from the Wardens, and it was ad¬ week days. 1 have also baptized their vised that it should be filed for future ref¬ children, visited their sick, and buried erence: ■their dead. The statistics of these labors “To the Vestry of Calvary Church, Con- |will appear in Calvary Church report.” shohocnen.” The Wardens respectfully 1861. In 1861 the same clergyman re¬ report that on the 7th of the present ports: “1 still have charge of Calvary ;month, our church building which was ; Church, Conshohocken. In that Parish I 'freed from debt by the successful efforts have performed the following official du- of the ladies of the congregation, was con¬ ; ties, besides preaching once on Sundays, secrated to the service of Almighty God, and occasionally on week-days at Spring |by the Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, D. D., Mill, since the last report. Bishop of the Diocese, there being present Baptisms, 9; confirmed, 3; communi¬ lf the Clergy, Rev. Messrs. Lycett, Clax- cants, present number, 20. Amount, of ton, Yocum, Clemson, and Laverty, and salary promised, $300.” On May 26, the Rev. Dr. Newton, who preached the Bishop Bowman again visited the parish sermon. The pleasure of the services was! land confirmed three persons. July 16, very much increased by the presence ofl ‘Mr. Walter Cresson reported that the the organist and choir of St. David’s,| deed for the church lot had been entered Manayunk, whose performance of the ser-j Ion record in the Recorder’s office at Nor- was admirable and deserving special i have seemed to put so far in the back¬ hanks.” Walter Cresson, ground of our stirring, onrushing, public m J. K. Ried, and private life. More than once as I have Wardens turned over faded and yellow leaves with ‘In the evening after the Consecration their records of the triumphs of the Prince [service, convocation services were begun of Peace in this quiet community, have I and continued next day aud evening.” thought of those eventful years when the Bishop Alonzo Potter confirmed two per¬ ink was fresh on these pages. What anx¬ sons. The Rev. It. L. Lycett adds to his iety in all hearts. What tension in all report for this year the following words: minds. Personal affection, family ties, ‘A service on Sunday afternoons and private interest, public weal, all, all were some few extra services on week-days, involved in the struggle and none could have been conducted by me at Calvary foresee the result. Easy to say after¬ Church, Conshohocken. My connection wards, “There could be but one issue.” with Calvary Church is about to be dis¬ But that sublime certainty did not exist solved in order that they may procure a while the conflict raged. Peace came at resident minister of their own. In retir¬ l ist, and it came none too soon. And to¬ ing from this interesting field, I may be day we rejoice that breaches have been pertnitted to record my gratitude to Al- healed and we now live and work and mightj God for what 1 have been permit¬ worship—one people under one flag—a ted to see accomplished as the result of banner more precious, more beautiful to mv missionary labors in Conshohocken sight as it is dear to the heart because it j and my anxious hope that much spiritual has been bathed in blood and sprinkled good may attend the labors of the rninis- with the dust aud ashes of war. Itei- who may be called to succeed me There is nothing of special interest in there.” the journal of this year regarding Calvary September 1. “Notice received from Church. The Rev. Mr. Tetlow is the Rev. E. L. Lycett that he would discon ,astor, and the parish shows a little gain tinue his services after this month. The j TnJrumbers. church was closed through the winter.” 1866. The resignation of Rev. John l" believe this is the longest period with¬ Tetlow was accepted with regret January out services from 18.18 to 18J0. for the ' 23, 1860. At the same meeting of the Vestries seconded and by ttuiT peopiS'k Vestry the Rev. Thomas S. Yocum was wishes and support, have acted with called to the parish, who “entered upon promptness that deserves commendation his duties, as Rector, April 1.” Mr. Yo¬ in filling vacancies and in keeping the cum held services at Swede’s church in church open for public worship. the morning and here in afternoon. 1864. Convention report shows that the Rev. T. S. Yocum in charge. Sunday church was closed from October, 1833, to School increased to 75 pupils, and commu¬ April, 1834, and there was a consequent nicants to 28. falling off in numbers, though, perhaps, 1867. February 20, 1867, there was or¬ this was the cause and, the closed church ganized a Parish Aid Society with suit¬ the consequence. The pastor is the ‘ Rev. able constitution and by-laws. We judge John Tetlow, deacon, elected minister, that the constitution was healthy and the with a salary of $500, March 22. Church by-laws duly observed, from the good opened April 3. Services morning and i work afterwards accomplished by this as¬ | evening until the end of November, when ; sociation. But much of such work while, the latter were discontinued.” like the sub-walls of a towering building, 1865. I am tempted to turn aside a absolutely essential, is hidden from sight moment in looking over the convention and makes no showing even in simple an¬ journal of 1865 to note the patriotic ad¬ nals like these. But the results of this dress of the late and beloved Bishop Ste¬ and the various parochial organizations vens, also the resolutions on public af¬ from that day to this appear in Rectors fairs, introduced by the Hon. Horace Bin- and Vestries encouraged, in money raised ney, particularly on the tragic death of and expended, and general parish interest President Lincoln. But the time does not kept alive and indefinitely increased. suffice, on this occasion, even to turn back “February 24. Thirteen persons were a leaf of history and to think again of the confirmed by Bishop Vail, of Kansas, out- momejitousevents own Bishop Stevens being absent in Eu- rope.” communSBJanawe have rea”h"d 18G8. Referring again to the Parish the number of 45. The attendance on ;Aid Society, I And this minute on the services is generally good. “We note in Secretary’s book of a Vestry meeting held the same report that pew rents have risen July 21, 1868. “It was unanimously con¬ to $633.50, and that $676 have been paid ceded that the organization was a very for clerical services. excellent one; and should, by all means, During the summer of 1871 the church be continued, as it had been the means, Iwas renovated under the direction of a I thus far, of advancing very materially the } competent committee, who report to the I pecuniary interests of the church. Funds Vestry on October 17th, that “so much had been furnished through it, sufficient progress has been made as to lead us to j to pay the expenses of certain improve¬ expect the opening of the church for ser- j ments, which it would have been very dif¬ vice on Sunday next;” a hope which, it j ficult to procure by Sunday School collec¬ seems, was realized, and the people again tions alone.” rejoiced in the results of this united and 1869. As the parish grew and the Sun¬ earnest labors for the glory of Ood and the day school increased the need was more advancement of His church. apparent of some kind of a parish building. 1872. The church record for 1872 is The first steps were taken by the appoint¬ made by Rev. T. Wm. Davidson, Rector, ment, January 21, 1869, of a committee to who had been ordained Deacon June 23, take the matter in charge, certain plans 1871. The report states that the salary having been suggested and proposed. Dr. is $800, Sunday school teachers, 17, and Reid, Mr. Jeffries and Mr. Lukens were scholars 131. The generous disposition named as such committee. of the people, always characteristic of y'.. ~No report irom uaivafy-onuruii appears them, is shown in the increased number of in the Journal of 1869. July 20, there offerings for extra-parochial objects. One were reported subscriptions towards a lot item $56.09 for “Chicago sufferers” re¬ for the parish building amounting to $812.- calls one of the most serious a»d tragic 50. conflagrations of history. 1870. April 18, 1870, the committee Rev. Mr. Davidson writes: reported the purchase of a lot of William “During August, September and part of P. Cresson, 60 feet by 120, for $1000, the October, the carpenters, plasterers and - deed for which was then submitted. Of fresco painters, in whose hands the church the total sum for the lot $197.50 was con¬ has been placed, completely changed its tributed by the Parish Aid Society. internal appearance, and have made it one The Rev. Mr. Yocum continued in of the most beautiful and comfortable ■ H charge until after convention, May, 1870. churches of the size in the Diocese, 1871. The report for 18T1 is again by exacrcost OI me improvements 1 am%i I the Warden, who says: able to learn, but judge the sum to be “This church having been vacant since about $1200, all of which has been paid,! the resignation of Rev. T. S. Yocum, leaving the church free from all indebted¬ which took effect at the end of May last, ness.” it falls upon me to make the annual re¬ Rev. Mr. Davidson continued in charg port of the parish. The seryices of the of the parish until June, 1872. From tha Church have been fully maintained on time until December services were kep Sundays, and four times on other days. up by supplies from the city. December 1,S| This was done during last summer by 1872, the Rev. A. E. Tortat became Rec-jf such supplies as we could get from week tor of the Parish. to week, and in the month of September 1873. The journal of 1873 is very in-1 we made an arrangement with Mr. T. W. teresting. Sunday School shows marked Davidson, Student of Divinity, who has increase with 21 teachers and 145 scholJ since acted as lay reader, and taken full ars, communicants 52. The Rector is the charge of the services and Sunday school, Rev. A. E. Tortat and the salary has in—jj to our great satisfaction. The school is creased to $1000. Total offerings and ex-1 now in very excellent condition, with 13 penditures, $1174.88; value of property, attentive teachers, and 95 scholars. Of the : #10,000. general comparative statistics I can say The new minister says: “I became Rec¬ but little. tor of Calvary church on December 1st An attempt has been made to get up a 1(1872), and this report only includes my ■\1 ,. v y >5 V • **• A V > V-v/aV.* *! ' olfleial acts since then, the church reeeiv-- levelling services were begun on ( ni»ui*> ing supplies from the city the previous six night. months Being so long without a shep¬ 1875. The Rev. Mr. Tortat’s reports to herd, the sheep have scattered and be¬ convention for 1874 and 187n inform us come discouraged. The long winter of that the number of communicants for chilling discouragement, however, is grad¬ those years respectively was 11 and 98; ually passing. The genial breath of God’s Sunday school teachers 28 and 26; schol-1 I Spirit is blowing upon us. and melting the ars 200 and 210. In 1874 parsonage and hearts of this people, into a family of ac- improvements cost $4130. Same items, I Itive and cheerful workers, who are now 1875, $1113.15. Regarding the rectory,! I busy sowing the seeds of joyful harvest. | we read; “During the past year my con¬ | By next September they will have a par- gregation has built a very comfortable and [sonage erected at a cost of over $4,000, unique parsonage at a costof nearly $5000, chiefly their own liberal gifts. Thesepeo-, and the Ladies Parsonage Aid Society has pie have taxed themselves to the utmost carpeted it in part, and have undertaken for this object, and they deserve the “ma¬ to pay the interest on the remaining in¬ terial” sympathy of all liberal givers. debtedness. Considering their means, the We greatly need a building for Sunday, 1 people have done nobly, and the whole Infant, Night and Parish School, where work is quite encouraging.’’ we can have a library and reading room, The crowded condition of the church and to draw the workmen from the taverns, en- the need of a parish building are reitera¬ | tertain and instruct them, and finally ted with emphasis. The Rector deplores, Dring them to God.” The report closes! • as every right minded person must do, one | with some estimates of the cost of such an marked feature of social life here, “the enterprise and an appeal for the assistance large number of young people who roam |of liberal givers, through the streets nightly, get into bad April 1, 1873, ground was broken for ® company, frequent taverns, etc.,” and ex¬ Jthe new rectory, and the work, greatly ad- presses the desire that means may be lvanced by the Ladies’ Parsonage Aid So- found “to entertain and instruct them, Iciety, was completed during the season ( and gradually win them to Christ.” The Rector and his wife took possession j 1876-7. November 15, 1874. Bishop J , the first of November, and found no*; only : Stevens had confirmed 21 persons. Janu-! a comfortable home but everything neces¬ ary 9, 1876, he confirmed ten persons. sary to begin housekeeping. This year a. rpj^0 number of communicants in 18,6 new heater was placed beneath the church wus 105, Sunday school holding its own. at a cost of $351.30. Also several rooms; There was again a slight falling back on - in the rectory were carpeted by tho ladies ing to changes. “The Rev. A. E, Tol- in addition to the $500 in cash pledged tat’s official relations with the parish as and paid by them. Rector ceased on January 1st, A. IT, 1877, 1874 March 10, 1874, there was an an¬ he having resigned on account of ill- niversary concert at the residence of Mr. health. Theo ore Trewendt for the Parish Aid So-', The Rev. James J. Creigh assumed ciety. There was a tea at Washita Hall, charge on Easter Sunday, 1st of April, June 5. and thus the ladies kept things A. D., 1877. The Rev, O. Perinchief, rnovi A $650 organ was purchased, Rector of Swedes’ Church, held services in paid i r and put into the church in place: the afternoon from January to April, 18, <. of th sorry little melodeon that had so 1878. Bishop Stevens visited the parish loug time duty to the bast of its reedy and February 10, 1878, and confirmed 9 per¬ limit9 ability. The instrument from sons. During the year 1878 the Vestry of force of habit, associated with “the day of this parish had several meetings in which small things” still does excellent service in the old subject “Increase of Revenue” was the Infant School. The brief record of the theme. As the outcome of these de¬ the parish contains an interesting account liberations, resort was had to the use of of Pie opening of the new organ, with envelopes,-and the urging upon all mem¬ many words of appreciation of those who bers of the congregation the importance of so kindly assisted on the happy occasion. systematic giving. The hist paragraph of We learn also that gas was introduced into the circular issued at t hat time is worthy the borough and church this year, and H()^i pra'HieTv^as it is certainly the * and other parochial uses.” of all successful parish financering. "If T*» Vestry records of the year show I jeach member of the church will give, un¬ ooiv- L-nf discussions of the proposed build I der this systeiii, as much as: he or she is ing, me getting of bids, seeming subset I able, there will no longer be a deficiency. tions. Mention is also made ol Severn I ; One of the foremost duties of a Christian dm atione from persons outside t ■;» parish j . jis to contribute of his substance liberally Doing (he year the contra A was lei and I (I for the promotion of the Master’s work, lie construction began. land those who attend this church surely The itev. Jas. J. Creigh resigned tic | have not failed to recognize that that Rectorship, like his predecessor, b.'eaus ■ I work is done here under promising condi¬ of ill-health, and liis refignation was a« - t tions. Those who desire it to proceed copied with regret, to take effect Jamnirv with greater energy may help to obtain 1, 1881. : that result by giving the present scheme 1881. The Journal for 1881 bears Pel their practical approval.” familiar and much-loved ■ name of tin- i!rv j John Cressou, Secretary. A. B. Atkins, D. D., who took dr : - .•i| By order of the Vestry. the parish, March 13, 1881. C.nnjmni I There is a very touching minute on the emits r 'port 'd 80, officers an 1 tea -h :• | Vestry records of this year for December jd the Sunday school and Bible UIass|20, pi - 17th on the death of Mr. .James Wrigley, pils 206, 40 persons were confirmed June ! who served as a Vestrymen of this parish j 24. The item of “otherinformation”gives j for twelve years, "and who” it is record¬ 1 the fulfilment of last year’s prophecy, as ed, "was rarely absent from our business ’follows: "The commodious and admira¬ [meetings, and always interested himself bl¬ bly arranged Parish Building erected by ithe welfare of the church. I sometimes the self-denying efforts of the Parishioners \ wonder why more of our young men do aided • by gifts from friends outside the p( not strive for and hold themselves ready : parish, was formally opened at Christmas •itoearn such honest commendation, and j (1880)” The statement of the treasurer BJthat higher praise which the Master him- j of the Parish Building shows the follow- | self will give to all "good and faithful ser- : ing items: Building, #6600.83: outside. jvants.” It takes time, it costs labor and : #231.70: finishing, $1429.27: organ, #336.- ■ t often makes us much trouble to do our 82. Total cost, $8618.62. church work. It is much easier to stand 1882. In 1882 the Rector reports that (aside add to let others do it ail. But oh, (“the mortgage with accrued interest, ■ that is not.the best, nor even a good way, #1612.50, and the floating debt of $500 J because we know it is not tie1 right way: have been paid, and that the parish is now >|and 1 am sure that among the surprises of entirely out of debt. In addition to this (the day of judgment the greatest will be the Sunday school room and Library room the accounting for things not done which have been decorated and carpeted, the fi God gave us the ability and call to do. organ removed from the body of tin* 187.1. In 18%) a strong, but apparently church to the niche by the side of the : fruitless appeal for outside help towards a chancel, and the church aisles carpeted, m Sunday school building was made. J’ for all of which there is no indebtedness; The Journal 18 ^9 makes reference to the Confirmed, April 16th, 18 persons. Men’s Guild and the Women’s Guild, 1883. The Rector reports 18 confirma¬ which have always proved so efficient in tions in 1883, and that there are 170 com¬ our parochial work. "These two associa¬ municants, and the property has grown t» tions were organized during Lent,” says #20,000. June 12, a meeting was held to y the Hector, “and have already done good consider the re-building of the church. 4 work in the parish.” Eight persons con¬ 1884. In 1884 he says "the chancel of firmed. the new church was commenced on the 1st 1880. 1880’s Journal says that "the of May, and will be completed about the Parish Library of secular and religious 1st September. It will give us fifty-six books, numbers more than 800 volumes, additional sittings. In two or three years J, chiefly donations. It is ‘the purpose of we hope to see the new church entirely the Parish to erect next year a large and finished.” I commodious building for Sunday school This year there were 30 confirmed bv Bishop Stevens. Services were held 1888. the following preamble and resoiu the parish building during the summer of lion were unanimously adapted: "Where¬ 1884. The new church completed; as, it is the desire of th > Rector of this church was re opened September 1st. church, and it believed of a large propor 1885. This promise of a renovated | tion of the congregation also, to have the church was fulfilled. It was completed choir of men and boys suitably rolled when September, 1884, and “used for the first engaged in the services of the Sanctuary, time on the last Sunday of that month. It and as the importance of such provision is cost $5000, all paid. The furniture (most- S apparent since it is contemplated to seat ly memorial gifts), was presented by j the choir in the new church building with friends of the Rector. A liberal parish¬ in and in front of the chancel, and it is al¬ ioner presented an excellent furnace, there¬ so believed that the robing of the choir I by largely promoting the comfort of the would be conducive to greater order and worshippers.” decency, and attractiveness in the church 1886. In 1886 the communicant listwas service, it is Resolved, That such vest¬ 219, 37 persons having been confirmed ments as the Rector may approve shall be ■ this year and last. Financial condition procured for the use of the choir, to be I Aggregate value of property of the parish worn when the new church is opened for ■ real and personal, $25,000; encumbrances, divine service, and thereafter whenever I mortgages on church edifice, none; on said choir is engaged in the solemn servi- other buildings, none.” ces of the sanctuary.” 1887. In 1887 the Rector says: “Re¬ “Easter Day 188S, the last service was* joicing at the steady on ward growth of this held in the old church building.” parish, we cannot expect much further Workmen commenced removing the I progress till we have a new church, our pews and on Monday, April 9th, the work fl pressing want being pews and sittings of tearing down the church building was 1 May it please the Great Head of the begun. This being preparatory to the I Church to move the hearts of the people erection of a new church on the same h towards the speedy accomplishment of this ground occupied by the other building. A | most desirable obje ;t.” fine new organ was purchased this year, I At a meeting held October 18, 1887, we the old one having been sold to another _ learn that Mr. W. II. Eastham had been congregation. engaged as organist. • The coriior-stone of the new church was 'A 1888. At the first meeting of the Ves¬ laid by Bishop Whitaker in the presence of 1 try January 10, 1888, “the Rector an¬ a large congregation. nounced that two of the officers of the 1889. The work of building was pushed 1 church had subscribed a sum sufficent to with energy by the contractor Mr. Samuel I have the new church put under contract, Davis, and was ready for consecration, 1 according to plans and specifications fur¬ having been entirely paid for, in September, » nished by Mr. Burns. A building com¬ 1889. The 26th day of that month wasset fj mittee of three was appointed to make the apart for the ceremony. The church was I contracts and have the work under way crowded, and the service was conducted by " which was accordingly done. . The con¬ the lit. Rev. 0. W. Whitaker, 1). D. The I sideration and perfecting of plans, raising Bishop was assisted by the Rector, subscriptions, making contracts, etc., Dr. Atkins, i)rs. Walsh, Watkins, Apple- called for frequent meetings of the Vestry on, Conrad. French, and Rev Messrs. and made great demands upon their tiiue Brown and Burton; Dr. Glazebrook of as upon their means and of the congrega¬ Elizabeth, N. J., being the preacher. tion- Butthisdid not preventthe advance¬ There were also present Dr. Iiuddbrow, I ment of the Rector’s salary, nor the pur¬ Rev. Messrs. Duane, Hill, Gibson, Marple, chase of two small houses by the Rectory, ivellar, Miller, Milnor, Latimer, Sylvester, for the purpose of making it larger and Franklin. Edwards, French, Bonne]],1 Bug- | more commodious for Rectors and then la ic. Hunt and Tor tat. j families. The change is not less apprecia- The ladies of the Parish entertained the 1 ted. I feel sure, by the present than by the v sitors with their well known graceful 1 former occupants. and so end ' 1 one of the hap ■ p!ost day.s in the history of our Parish. In 18S9 there were reported 221 I.UpTitnun i can is. Sun da) School and Bible Classes,teachers, 30, attendance, 384. Total expenditures. $4011.90. The furniture ol the old church was 1 donated to the mission at^Royersford, for which grateful acknowledgements were made. .Vmtf 1890. The next year we find the total expenditures of the church swol¬ len to the grand sum of $52,638 of which $48,072.21 was for Church building fund. This year the beautiful window 0 theHon. Alan Wood, Jr., was put in place, which, like the other memorials erected when the church was built, added much to its attractiveness and churchly appearance. 1892, In 1892 an elegant electric light was placed on the corner of the church at considerable expense, an outlay which could have been avoid All the circumstances connected ed had it been possible to foresee the with that event so sad for you, so hap¬ lighting of the streets in the same py for him, are too fresh in the mem¬ : manner. T- ^ ory of a loving people to need re¬ I 1892. The Vestry received on counting here. 1 had never met \ 0111 April 6, 1893, a gift of $225 from late Kector, but l am sure that he Miss Lukens’ Bible Class to start a fully deserved vour affection, and the fund to liquidate the mortgage ol tributes of the Vestry, the Clergy, the $6000 on the Rectory. The Vestry press, and, best of all. of the many who tendered their thanks for the donation rose up to call him blessed. His fun¬ and ordered the money placed at in¬ eral was conducted in this Church, terest for the object named. Rev. Edward Niver and Rev. James Mention might be made here of the Lamb officiating. Bishop Whitaker i revision of the Charter accomplished was unavoidably absent. 1 he inter¬ this year, and the vote of thanks on ment was at Alexandria. Va. Rev. Mr. [he part of the Vestry to Messrs. Row Lamb preached a memorial sermon on land Evans and James B. Holland loi ! [ Sunday soon alter tire burial, and I their services in this important mattei j j feel constrained to repeat a few of his 1894- Early in 1894 there was a! words, which followed a most appre¬ shadow casi upon the Parish, but few ciative sketch of tire life and charac thought that it was the shadow of that ter of Dr. Atkins. “Now to you, this Visitor who knocks at the doors of l sorrowing congregation, let nre sav rich and poor alike. The health of that the greatest honor you can do to 1 he Rector, Rev. Dr. Atkins, was evi¬ si the teaching of your late Pastor, is to dently not as good as formerly. 1 his 1 follow it out. became more apparent as the months Like him, you may, by following rolled on. The Vestry, on several K the example of Christ, not only get occasions, took sympathetic notice of nearer the Master yourself, but be en- the fact, and urged a complete rest in ■ abled as well to bring other souls to the hope that their Pastor might re 1 Christ. Remember if you are to bless gain his strength. Their advice was >thers. /you must be blessed yourself. followed, but, as it proved, it was too | if von /are to lift others up, you must late. Dr. Atkins entered into “ the lifted up yourself. ' I restJihatremaineth ’’October 22,1894, Mar God teach us by the examphji h:aving reached the age of threescore r E'V. 133 ot those win have gonebefore^^to as proved a valuable helper in cimrcml live, love,' trust and work for Christ, work. I have organized, and teach every Sunday, a Men’s Bible Glass that when, called upon to depart hence in the Lord, it may he said of us: ! We have regular and special week da\ , s'lservices, besides the Holy Communion { dik-ssed are the dead who die in the j on Sunday mornings—a service that I ■I Lord, tor ,they rest from their labors. ” I is as plain and simple as can be For the remainder of the year the I I have baptized 39 adults and chil- Ij | Parish was supplied by Rev. E. H. j dren ; presented 11 persons for Con-1 1 Supplee, who also preached a memor- firmasion : solemnized 7 marriages : 1| | 1;al sermon which was printed, and -J: buried 12 ; have preached twice on 1 m, ho no a has himself passed through ! Sundays, and on some occasions three I B the shadows of earth and entered into j times, besides the week day lectures I ■ light. and addresses, and much Pastoral I 1895. 1 he rest ot my story is soon work. I have aimed to visit even 1 I told—the beginning ot anew tale ye. household twice in the sear. If this | I to be written. Very unexpected! j V has failed in any instance for any rea | ■ your present Rector found himself ir. i son it will be made up the present I Hj this 1 hurch on the first Sunday of the iy sear, with a better knowledge of my I Hi New Year, being the day of Light,the fl people and where to find them: I feast ot the Epiphany. The war n 1896. And now, Beloved, I re- I welc me which you extended to him. 9 turn to our theme. We can do morel a stranger, and afterwards, to his fain V than we base, or seem to have, the! il\ will never be forgotten. And!' ability for in this place, if we are wil-l when on the j 9th of January an invi ling to consecrate ourselves to the* tation was extended to remain with . svork. God is ready and waiting to* ..gaii you to do here the Master’s work, he 1 pour us out a blessing. I have at con-! 1 was already disposed to accept the call 1 iiderable pains searched all the record:-! H This was done soon after, and m within reach, and have gone over, aiH work as Rector ot the Pa ish was be- : some length, with you the interesting! ■ gun on the gist Banda,/ In Eebrnar . j annals of the Parish, our Parish, k’ With s me trials that we ahvat s ex- V I have not told it all. The completeH peet and some that 1 had little rea;.n I record is written in books which artH to anticipate, I cannot but feel that H imperishable, with ink that fades not.B ■j the year lids been a useful, as it has a books to which none of us have accessH ■ bus , one. I-he re was. as in the cases' now, but which will be opened here I ■ of my predecess ir, some earlv reap— I after. It is all written there ; and nol Bing where others had sovn. ami 1 one ever spoke a word,dropped a tear,! there has been the constant, earliest I H studied a problem, took a step, ut i> I • and lot ing endeavor to scatter every-1; ,.f tered a prayer, or gave a penny for! ■ where the good seed, looking for good the good o this Parish, but the re-! ground and content to wait lb r the H J membrance of it is kept safely some- if fruit. H where. What 1 have recalled has! 1 _The Rectory. th iron - h 1, renovated 1 been to increase the inteiest of us all! and greatly Tfnproved by thong_ j in the work ot Christ and His Church! liberality, was occupied on the day be¬ land to plant in all our hearts and the la fore Easter. The congregation are j hearts of our children, the laudable! lemmded that its doors will ever open i lesire to do something real and sub- [1 easily to every visitor and every call ] tantial towards the making of our fu-i of the Parish. j are history. May God bless us all] Services have been multiplied with ] nd give us the desire and ability to;j more frequent opportunities for break¬ iring our little loaves to Jesus thai'HG ing the Bread of Life. A parish pa¬ nay bless and break them for the go al . per, which seems a welcome visitor 10 of men and for the saving of immor R your homes—I hope it is so—has been t U souls. started. The Brotherhood of St. Andrew has a good working chapter, and also the Girls Friend!v Society. 1 he old Guilds have continued their good work, and the Chancel Guild N the early spring of last yea.r the I members of half a dozen families in the city went out into the beau¬ tiful heart of Montgomery county twice in a single week to join their From, /Ift.U. country cousins in the final scenes which closed the records of two aged ladies, the last of a large family, who W'ere committed to the sacred soil of historic White Marsh Cemetery, and so, for the first time in its history, the quaint old homestead, built with its solid walls and queer little windows be¬ Date, fore Washington became President, was left cold and solitary. The thicket of old-fashioned vines and shrubs blossom all untended and untrained, and the pel¬ Ikmong tha treasure trove of that an¬ lucid waters of little Rose Valley stream cient attic, as we explored its dingy dash over the stones where the mill cnee depths, nothing was discovered more in¬ stood (for this w'as the house of the teresting than the packages of letters miller), and swirling along under the and the old city and country newspapers bridge of the Bethlehem pike close by, which lined boxes and trunks, left un¬ wander about the borders of Ambler opened for more than fifty years; the until they find the Wissahickon, half a books, prints and' other literary flotsam, mile away. Then, a little later, the rela¬ yellow with the stain of time, much of tives came again and, with weeks of which came in the substantial sea chests careful labor, the accumulated household fiom Holland with the young miller, so belongings of a century or more wmre long, long ago. gathered from their corners, divided or Among this material, which X have arranged for the inevitable scattering hardly yet begun to study since I stored which attends a country auction. 5 4- onmir in o mrv^om o t f i n tVionn orn THE SPRING HOUSE MODERNIZED. •fix Saraigq 'JSraT/L?life' __ THE WATERS OF PELLUCID LITTLE ROSE VALLEY STREAM DASH OVER THE STONES WHERE MILL STOOD. AND SWIRL ALONG UNDER THE BRIDGE OF. THE IIETIILEHEM PIKE CLOSE BY. sprightly young maidens, and these I Evidently" the quilting party was the especially prize, as they so exactly re¬ most wildly hilarious and highly ap¬ flect the social conditions In the early proved form of social enjoyment, not to part of the century through the plen¬ say dissipation, then in vogue, hut there teous and peaceful White Marsh Valley. were also many other popular diversions “Susan D. G-’s compliments to Miss woven into the homely and simple lives Margaret and Miss Eliza A-, and re¬ of the country folk, which, in their sea¬ quests the pleasure of their company son, took the form of “apple cuttings,” to a quilting party on Thursday, the six¬ “apple butter boilings,” “corn huskings,” teenth of August.” (Dated August 6, “flax pullings,” “flax spinnings” and1 1821.) “turkey shoots,” all of them, while at¬ “Miss Margaret A-, your company is tended with much and varied cheer for requested to a quilting party on Tuesday; the first of August. M. K-. the participants, having a direct bearin-'*’ “Spring House, Juljq 1S20.” __ upon the needs of the household. ° 1 The historian of the county draws a pretty picture around the wide-mouthed chimney places, on early winter evenings after the busy time of sowing the winter fand the extension of Church wheat had gone- TJ5^ and the- fuel Cheltenham, all parts of the county from the woodlands was split and piled were easily reached and through traf- high near the kitchen door, the cider fiic leading to the towns upon the pressed, the soap and; candles made and' stored, and roots distilled against the day Schuylkill and Lehigh Rivers was great- ! ly augmented. of sickness. He tells us that nearly everything of use in the family wag produced at home, The earliest regular conveyance*trav¬ the flax grown, swingled and spun, and' ersing the Bethlehem road was the so the spinning wheel had its hour after "stage waggon,” driven by George Klein, the supper table was cleared, the daugh¬ making one trip weekly each way in ters knit the socks and the men shelled 1763 from the “King of Prussia” tavern, the corn by the feeble light of tallow in Race street, to the “Sun Tavern,” dips, while the cobbler, who boarded at Bethlehem, and return. ’round, hammered and sewed the boots During the operations of Washington's, and discoursed the gossip of the country forces in the period of the British, oc-' Side. cupancy of Philadelphia, and later -the The skilled arts were represented at Bethlehem road became a great chan¬ every crossroads by the blacksmith, the nel of military communication. The wheelwright, the shoemaker, tailor and supply depots, hospitals, prison camps village weaver. and recruiting rendezvous were, .mainly] at or near Bethlehem, and., the quiet The early mills, built upon every abun- little Moravian community was stirred mu off e artier days V grind- with greater excitements than have-ever befallen it, either before or since. " Ing grain, for the export of flour in colo¬ In 1707 “stages” left upon Wednesday nial times was encouraged by the Eng¬ from Lehrer’s.. Tavern,.-the lish, who equally obstructed the develop¬ moriijnss, sign of the "stage waggon,” for Bethle- ment of Iron working and cloth making hem _ __ industries upon any considerable scale, and so .the grist millers for generations The following year_fhe man line made had a ■ great lead in prosperity which the trip through in one day. made tfxem usually the financial heavy¬ Jn 1802 Bethlehem and Allentown weights in their townships. The Farm¬ stages left the city from the "Franklin” ers’ Mill upon the Wissahickon, near anl “Camel” taverns. Flourtow’n, was built in 1705. Lane's In the meantime strong opposition | mill, upon the Perkiomen, near the stone stage lines had been put on the York bridge, in 1708; Norris’ Egypt Mill, at real to lieil'lehem via Easton, leaving1 Norristown, In 1715; Spring Mil , the “White Swan” tavern,in Race street,] White Marsh, in 1750, and Davis Mill, near Third, daily at 6 A. M., stopping] in Upper Dublin, in the same year. at Willow Grove, Doylestown and Stony Forty years befori the coming of Penn Point to change horses. This line, own-, this fertile region, which later developed ed by John Nicholas, was running in into Montgomery county,- was already 1820 from the “Green Tree" inn,50 North well populated with a thrifty leaven of Fourth street, but five years later It Europeans, Its northern part by the was absorbed by an opposition com¬ Germans, its centre and southern sec¬ pany, which only retired from business tion, nearer the settlements of the In 1851 after 58 years of service. Delaware, by Swedes and English and its eastern part by French, Scotch, Irish¬ In 1820 the “Union Line,” a combina¬ men and Hollanders. tion of stage owners, ran. its coaches1 from the White Swan and another lino] The first important highvvay traversing started from Yohe’s Hotel, upon Fourth this land of plenty was Ihe Klng’s roafl, street, above Market, bath ’ using the afterwards called ^the old E®thle Bethlehem road. hem road. It was projected In liOland Flourtown, which the wheelman paus-: completed through In ten years, over its rough and sinuous course the market ing upon the verge of the bluff overlook-1 ing the White Marsh Valley will see, a|-5 wagons toiled and jolted to the city couple of miles away, close bv the wivl for a century,, less a couple of years, low-girt Wissahickon, was once a noted and then it became a turnpiked road, a part of the property of the German¬ staging terminus with great expeotar town and Perkiomen Turnpike Company, tions. Between 1820 and 1830 half a whose route commenced in Second street, dozen daily stages, including Jacob| continued through Germantown and Acuff’s Mail Line, halted here each way.i Chestnut Hill and then upon the Beth¬ some of them going to Spring Housel lehem road to Plymouth Meeting and and some to Broad Axe, and the oldi Perkiomen Stone Bridge, a work paid tavern, being just about good driving for through a lottery conducted by distance, was much resorted to hy sup¬ General Peter Muhlenberg, the “Duyvel per parties from town. Pete” of Revolutionary fame. The total cost of the road, twenty-five miles in all, In all the circuit of her glorlon* envi¬ was $275,000. ronment Philadelphia claims no section The Welsh road, leading toward the more entrancing than this well cultivated Delaware at Holmesburg, was commenc¬ interval between the highlands of Ger¬ ed in 1712 and the Limekiln road at or mantown and Chestnut Hill and the prior to 1716, and about the same rougher upland region, in which are the time the Ridge road, commencing at foothills of the “South Mountain.” Al¬ Ninth and Vine streets, was piked though great tracts have been bought through to the Perkiomen, thus giving and “improved” by the sweepihg away a good route via Roxborough. Barren of the humble homes of the bygone cen- Hill and Norristown. With these im¬ * to make room for costly modern, proved highways and the Sklppacknoaa • -r H 9 - ' 1 w*" 4£ , - .-S' '= _ Used the Meeting House as a Hospital — las, while the droning flour mill is Large Assemblages Once a Year—Many still and its waters escape from the once placid ponds, the Ironworks but a Very Old Graves in the Graveyard. ruin and the low-browed tavern a thing At Friends’ Corner, Gwynedd, at the of the past, with the pageantry of their intersection of the State Road and the i troop-trainings but a memory (for this Springhouse and Sumneytown Turnpike, , was a great cavalry neighborhood), there eighteen miles from Philadelphia, on a yet remains a wealth of interesting land¬ marks for the explorer, and his swift little knoll sloping gently to the south¬ wheel will find a better surface than west, is situated Gwynedd Friends’ Meet¬ ever before along Bethlehem pike, as he ing House, which is a most interesting rolls up the miles between Stalilnecker’s, place to visit from the antiquarian’s at Flourtown, and Spring House, six standpoint. miles up the road. Note that from Flour- The grounds surrounding the meeting town there is a good road upon the right to and beyond Camp Hill. house are shaded by huge trees, em¬ At the “Trenton cut-off” the short line bracing in variety the oak, shellbark, of the Pennsylvania Railroad from button ball, walnut and maple. Among Downingtown to New York, is tb* hand¬ the leafy branches of these the some new Fortside Inn, filled, in sum¬ first birds of summer skip and mer, with city folks. Here the Skippack turnpike bisects the Bethlehem road, and carrol, and build their nests and brood the old fort is to be seen upon the hill¬ their young, and at night is sentineled side a little way beyond, Its exact site the moping owl, who “does to the moon being defined by a tablet set in the stone complain of, such as wandering near wall by the roadside. Here the main her secret bower, molest her ancient, part of the American army was en¬ solitary reign.” Indeed, the quietude of camped from October 20 to December 11, 1777, marching thence to Valley Forge. the grounds is so striking that the visitor The old house, one of the best in the starts back with the feeling of one who valley, used' by General Washington ns has come into a forbidden place. headquarters, is still an inhabited home. Along the entire upper end of the ’ It is to the south of the hill upon which grounds extends a row of open sheds the fort was built and well back from the road. with a roof of moss-covered shingles. The Butler turnpike leads upon the These sheds are for the accommodation right ovpr to the "Three Tons,” upon of horses. Sumneytown pike. What was a familiar sight in days Only last year the original “Spring gone by, and what is now nearly ex¬ House,” which is said to have been the old¬ tinct in this vicinity, what was knovvu as est of all the early taverns then in exist¬ a “horse block” is still standing near ence, the “Blue Anchor,” in Dock street, only excepted, was modernized 'the turnpike. The “horse block” is a At Spring House corners the Sumney¬ sort of platform, built of large flat town pike crosses, leading left to Gwyn¬ stones, and is ascended by means of three edd Corners, and from that point the broad stone steps, and was for the pur¬ State road is direct through Centre pose of mounting horses—-it being Square, Washington Square and Spring- customary in olden times for bflih men town (on the Reading pike), to Norris¬ and women to ride horse-back to meet¬ town. The L. A. W. route to Bethlehem con¬ ing. The horse being led up along side tinues from Springhouse through Mont¬ of the “ horse block,” it could be gomery Square, Seilersville, Quakertown, mounted with little difficulty. Coopersburf and Allentown, with more Three meeting houses have been built or less experience of cood« bad and la- here—two of which have, after serving 1 different ridingt as places of worship for many years, been, in their turn, torn down, and an¬ other, larger and bearing more on the order of the architecture of the day, erected in its stead. From, AC The first meeting was established here about 1700. The present meeting house was erected in 1833, and is still in a iC>Ac rid.. m.L^. fa- grand state of preservation. It is built of stone, with pebbled walls. Pebbled walls are now almost a Date, “thing of the past.” The pebbles to be found on the walls of the meeting house to-day are those which were put on when the building was erected, and, from all appearances, they are very GWYNEDD FRIENDS’ MEETING. likelv to remain for numbers of years to come. The First Meeting Established Here About Washington used the meetiug house at 1700—Gwynedd Township Purchased in this place as a hospital before the battle 1698 and Distributed Among the Original of Germantown. Settlers—Three Meeting Houses Have Before the erection of a meetiug house Been Built Near Where the Present House at this place, meetings were .held at of Worship Now Stands—Washington -different houses. The records of all Wmm- ■ " w Gwynedd Friends’ Meeting marriages are kept in a tire-proof safe at r closd of their meeting, and they one an Norristown meeting, as are also records aljpagreed to go to the Quaker meeting of births aud deaths and all other valu¬ the lollqwing First-Day. They were able papers connected with the meeting, o well satisfied with their mode and although the old records of Gwynedd manner of performing divine worship, meeting are to be found at Sixteenth that they never met again in their usual and Race streets, Philadelphia, in the form of church worship. Their meet¬ Orthodox library. These records were, ings now increasing, they continued to for many years, kept in Albertson’s bank, hold them at the houses of Hugh and Norristown, and they begin in 1698, the Humphery for some time, aud in the date of the first minute of Gwynedd year 1700 they built a meeting house monthly meeting. near where the present one now stands, In the year 1698 Gwynedd township and held meetings there by consent of ljj was first purchased of Robert Turner, Haverford Monthly Meeting. by William Jones and Thomas Evans, The interior of the building is plain, and distributed among the original harmonizing, with the exterior aud I settlers, who were William Jones, Thomas characteristic of the society that worships Evans, Robert Evans, Owen Evans, in it. The high-backed benches, orj Cadwallader Evans, Hugh Griffith, pews, as they would be called by Edward Foulke, Robert Jones, church people,” are of hard wood and John Hugh and John Humphery. are free from paint or varnish. These The two latter belonged to the society J benches are arranged peculiarly; those | | of Friends; the others being church nearest the wall being elevated, and people. sloping gradually to the centre of the j It is said that John Hugh and John room. On the backs of many of these j Humphery began early to hold religious benches can be seen the initials of former meetings at their home on the First-Day “meeting goers,” accompanied by very of the week. The other inhabitants old dates. These have been carved with belonged to the church of England and pocket knives. The reading desk of the held meetings at the house of Robert secretary is attached to the back of a JEvans. As. they had no officiating bench and is supported by wooden unister, Cadwallader Evans (whose de- hinges, aud is in itself a curiosity. Deep scqpdents still reside on the old home- galleries extend entirely round the build¬ ste%l) was' in the practice of taking his ing. A partition in the middle of the bibid with him. But (according to his building divides the men, who occupy own relations) as he was going to his the one-half of the building from the brother Robert’s to meeting one day, women, who likewise assemble in the when he reached the road which led to other ; it being the custom of the where John Humphrey and John Hugh Friends for each sex to conduct a portion held their meeting, a voice seemed to of their meeting in privacy. whisper in his spiritual ear: “Go down aud see how the Quakers do,” Once a year Quarterly Meeting is held which circumstance he mentioned at the here, and Friends from three other meet-1 - ings _ er to assist the members of found some marked as follows . meeting and to participate in this M. J., 1788 ; L. F., 1749 ; M. C., 1770; special service. The building is some¬ M. L., 1751 ; there are several of the times on these occasions taxed to its ut¬ latter date. From another we gain the most accommodating capacity. information that “James White, who It is here that many couples have was known to manv in this vicinity, died passed meeting,” and later been June 28th, 1859, in the 104th year of his joined in the bonds of holy matrimony, age.” His wife, Elizabeth, died May according to Frieuds’ ceremony; here 23d, 1830, in the (14th year of her age. also have the remains of many dear ones In the “Mathers row” is an old tomb been viewed for the last time on earth. stoue bearing K. F., 17G9. Another Immediately back of the meeting house tomb stone tells of the death of Jacob is situated the burying ground, and Roberts, who was Justice of the Peace for many years in Gwynedd, and who truly indeed died the 20th of 8th month, 1851, aged 95 “There the wicked cease from troubling, years, 4 months and 27 days. Still an¬ There the weary beat rest.” other informs us that Cadwallader £he graveyard is also shaded by large Roberts was born 11th month 3rd, 1777, trees, aTTcI runmning vines entangle 'tile .and died 2nd month 19^h, 1871. foot of the trespasser. In the centre of these grounds, where “ reigns the silent dead,” is a giant chestnut tree, which is many times older than any living person. This tree From, . measures 18 feet 4 inches in circumfer¬ ence. In the days when graveyards were not so plentiful as at present, the remains of persons who died at quite a distance were brought here for interment. Although there is no tomb to mark Date, the place where many, weary and heavy laden, have found sweet repose, during the period at which the yellow fever pre¬ vailed in Philadelphia, scores of people were brought here for burial, and it is 'valley Jorge campground very evident that both English and American soldiers of the Revolution sleep here. Remains of the Occupation fcy For many years Cadwallader Roberts Washington’s Army. had entire charge of the graveyard, but for the past seventeen years Hugh Fore¬ man, who has been a member of the HUT HOLES AND HSSTORiG TREES. graveyard committee for over forty years, r -• 1 has acted very acceptably as its overseer.’ TJie Waterman Memorial Which, is to On several occasions coffiu handles have Be Dedicated Next April—A Field been found while engaged in digging Thickly Dotted With Patriot graves, indicating that at some prevh Graves—The Historic Ground Should . ous time a grave had been located at the Become the Property of the United same spot ; while it is a frequent occur¬ / /W'lifta rence to uuearth the side of a coffin in States Government. WvB making excavations. A new strip of land has lately been purchased and Nothing strikes tho thoughtful visitor to added to the old burying ground. Valley Forge more forcibly than the excellent The oldest tomb stone in the buryino- preservation of the forts and earthworks ground is dated 1714. The inscription Fort Washington and Fort Huntingdon i_ on it reads as follows : the breastworks in their vicinity are in l good condition as one would expect to find HERE LIES THE BODY OF them after the lapse of twenty-five or thirty MARTHA, DAUGHTER OF years. Nearly a centnry and a quarter has in¬ HUMPHERY AND ANN tervened since their construction, and their BATE, HIS WIFE. DE¬ outlines are still distinctly marked, so that it PARTED OF THIS LIFE, needs no great stretch of the imagination to APRIL 25th, AGED 3 see tho work in progress. What vast labor it C -i YEARS, 6 MONTHS, 1714. must have been to those who undertook it in the mo:k inclement season of the year, and a This grave stone does not stand erect, notably hard winter at that. Lower down the but lies flat upon the grave, and is over slope the fortifications which once existed one foot in thickness. have been leveled by tho plough, but enough There are several other very old graves remain to demonstate tho unconquerable here. Among the number are to be spirit which animated the officers and soldiers tho American army, which guaranteed fromthe^fiegtfimng the. ultimate success of the while they had no permanent si cause in whose behalf they wrought. remained here until all their dw< were The written history of Valley Forge deals completed. In his general orders dated D*c. very largely with the commanding general 17, 1777, he said, in support of his plan for and his principal subordinates. It dwells - the encampment: upon Washington’s Headquarters and those ' “ We must make ourselves the best shelter in our power. With alacrity and diligence, who were nearest him in command. It de¬ huts may be erected that will be warm and scribes the fortifications which remain intact, dry. In these the troops will be compact, but it says little of the encampment where and more secure against surprise than if lay, far below, the half-starved, ill-clad, suf¬ divided, and at hand to protect the country. fering soldiers, whose valor and devotion to These cogent regions have induced the Gen¬ duty made freedom a possibility. It touches eral to take post in the neighborhood of this very lightly upon the rude huts in which camp, and, influenced by them, he persuades himself that the officers and soldiers, with they passed long months, the daily routine of one heart and one accord, will resolve to sur¬ drill, and the laborious work of cutting wood mount every difficulty with a fortitude and and transporting it to camp, often from a con¬ patience becoming their profession, add the siderable distanco. Even now the visitor to sacred cause in which they are engaged.” Valley Forge goes to the headquarters and the It is interesting at this time, when describ¬ forts, and ignores the fact that the dust of ing the remains of these huts, to recall their thousands of brave men who perished, lies be¬ dimensions and style, as given by Washing¬ neath the sod or the waving wheat or the ton. They-were, he says, to be 14 by 13 feet freshly-pi owed cornfields on the Stephens, each, the sides, ends and roofs made with logs; Davis and Todd farms. the roofs made tight with split slabs, or some These all lie-outside of the purchase by the other way ; the sides made tight with clay ; Valley Forge Park Commission, and yet they a fireplace made of wood and secured with are full of interest to all who are desirous of clay on the inside eighteen inches thick ; this acquainting themselves fully with the details fireplace to be on the rear of the huts ; the of this remarkable episode of the Revolution- door to be in the end next the street; the door ary War. to be made of split oak slabs, unless boards The tract of woodland on the farm of I. can be procured ; the side walls to be six feet Heston Todd, on the river side of the road and a-half feet high. The officers huts are to from Port Kennedy to Valley Forge, though form a line in tho rear of the troops, one hut not of very great extent, is worth a carefal to be allowed each general officer ; one to the examination. It is in the woods that the hut staff of each brigade ; one to the field officer holes are to be found in their greatest perfec¬ of each regiment, and one to every twelve tion, because here tho disturbing influence of non-commissioned officers and soldiers. Gen¬ the plough has not been felt. This locality eral Wayne wrote to Judge Peters, of Phila¬ was the cavalry camp, and here General delphia, December 30, while these huts were Steuben, who had recently arrived in this being erected : “ We are busy in forming a country, drilled the raw recruits until they city. My people will be covered in a few days. attained perfection In military movements. I mean as to huts, but half naked as to cloth¬ The cavalry camp was on high ground. ing.” The view from thi-c point, although not to be Until their work was done, Washington re¬ compared, perhaps, with that from the sum¬ mained in his tent without a fire except that mit of Mount Joy, is magnificent. It takes of logs outside. To facilitate the work he in all or nearly all the ground covered by the offered prizes to those in each regiment who fortifications and the encampment, and should finish their labor most quickly, secur¬ much more. The hut holes are distinctly ing the best results. Until all was done he marked and can be readily counted. They felt that he must remain under the old oak are probably twenty-five in number, and are tree where he had pitched his tent. When very much like those on the ground occupied the work was complete he made the Potts by Wayne’s troops of the Pennsylvania line. mansion his headquarters. The tree stood In the central part is a mound where, possibly, until five years ago, a portion of its trunk may have been a bakeoven. Just beyond the having become dry and doted. One day Mr. line of huts in the direction of Washington’s Todd was notified that the tree was burning, Headquarters is the cavalry parade ground and he hurried to th® spot to find that some where Steuben exercised his men and horses one had wantonly struck a match and set the so vigorously, day after day, that nothing dry wood on fire. It was not extinguished would grow upon it for many years, the earth until it had ruined the tree. The stump re¬ was so packed and trampled. mains and will mark the spot for a long time Just across the road in a field of Mr. Todd to come. is the stump of a massive oak, which is From this tree to the grave of John Water¬ readily seen to have been the largest tree in man is bnt a short distance. It is on the hill¬ all the country round. It is described as hav¬ side and is in a perfect state of preservation, ing an enormous spread of limb, even at the having been cared for during a quarter of a time of the encampment, a hundred and j^century by Mr. Todd himself. TheJralio eighteen years ago. Under this tree was hnnter, with the vandal’s instincC" wasrein- pitched the tent of Washington while his ning the headstone and footstone, common men were engaged in the construction of the rough pieces, found in the vicinity, by chip¬ huts which were to serve as their habitations ping off pieces to carry away as mementoes. for the winter. He had too keen a sense of The Sons of the Revolution asked and ob¬ their privations to enjoy himself under a roof tained permission to place a wire screen over ' - ■ - m t e grave to prevent farther desecration. The dred yards aWaJ* and step from grave to grave headstoDe bears theinitials “ J. W.” and the without difficulty. The old house on this date 1778. Waterman, a citizen of Rhode farm was General Huntingdon’s head¬ Island, died on April 23, and it is expected quarters. It was pulled down in 1812, when that the monament to his memory for which the present residence of h Heston Todd was an appropriation of $2000 has been made by erected, and the ODly building remaining as it the Legislature of the State and which is to stood in tho days of the encampment is a por¬ be erected in the fall, after the crop of grain tion of the old springhouse. has been removed, will be dedicated on that William Stephens narrates interesting remi¬ date in 1897. niscences of great political meetings held at In this connection it should be mentioned 1 alley Forge from time to time in past years. that Mr. Todd has donated to the state of They occurred usually in the vicinity where Rhode Island a tract of land thirty feet square is now the Camp sehoolhouse, on the slope not including the grave, with a strip ten feet wide far from Fort Huntingdon. At a Harrison extending therefrom to the road, the only re¬ gathering in 1840. Daniel Webster was one of striction being that the monument shall be the speakers, many thousands being present. erected beside the grave, not upon it, and he is In 1,844 another was held. It was the Polk- : ready to give more if it shall be needed. The Clay campaign, and delegations came from 3? visit of Governor Lippitt and his wife with a surrounding towns for many miles. The number of Rhode Island officials a few protective system was the issue then as now, months ago, will bo remembered, and the and there was a monster procession in which M. dedication next spring promises to be an im¬ various industries were represented, and the portant event, which will bring to Valley process of manufacture went on in tho moving Forge strangers from all sections of the coun¬ column, nails and many other articles being try and especially from New England. This, made. In 1852, during the Scott-Pierce cam” the only gravo marked, is but one of many in paign, an ox-roast was a prominent feature. tho vicinity, for tradition has it that three This portion of the program was carried out thousand of Washington’s men died of small¬ in a small earthwork where are now clay pits pox during the winter. on the slope of tho hill. Many thousand peo¬ From this spot can be seen, a half-mile dis¬ ple were present. tant, a partly dead tree under which was erected William Davis remembered in connection a framework gallows and on it wore executed with the bakeoven still to be found in the three spies of Howe who came from Philadel¬ woods on the Cyrus Davis farm, where phia to inspoct the camp, and were captured Wayne’s command was encamped, that the within the lines and hanged after the formal¬ sheep ran in and out of it, and were occasion¬ ity of a court martial. ’Squire William Davis ally found there seeking refuge from storms. who died in 1883, in his eighty-seventh year, There were large iron doors at that time on the uncle of Cyrus Davis, the present owner1 the oven, which have since been removed. ’ j of the farm on which Wayne’s troops were Practically evary foot of the soil on the encamped, remembers seeing the timbers of three farms mentioned in the previous portion : the scaffold lying under the tree, weird re¬ of this article is hallowed ground, if the snf- minders of the event, and his father, William | faring and death of patriots who sacrificed all j Davis, a boy of fourteen years at the time of j for their country can make it such. It j tho hanging, detailed tho circumstances of should become the property of the state, or, : which he had boen an eye-witness. William piemiably, perhaps, of the general govern¬ i Davis, the son, gave these and many other in¬ ment, which owes it to future generations to teresting particulars to Mr. Todd, as he re¬ f- preserve intact, as far as may be, the relics ceived them from his father. that remain of the occupation by Washing- Lower down, a hundred yards or more, is j ton’s army. Dwellings then in use, like the the level plain on which General Winfield original portion of the'residence of William ' Scott Hancock, Governor John F. Hartranft Stephens, should be carefully guarded as and other prominent officials reviewed the memorials of Revolutionary times. In any ‘ military and civic societies on the occasion of other country such action would have been the Centennial Celebration of the Valley taken years ago, and it ought not to be post¬ Forge Encampment on June 19, 1878. There poned any longer. were five thousand men in line, commanded Washington’s Headquarters is the property by Genera] David McM. Gregg, including or¬ of the Centennial and Memorial Association, ganizations from Philadelphia, Norristown, which will take care that it remains substan¬ West Chester, Reading, Wilmington, Phcenix- tially as it now is for ages to come. The ville, Media and elsewhere. Btenry Armitt museum of Revolutionary relics is of much Brown was the orator of the day. There was value, and should be made as complete as «! ;-r a celebration of a somewhat similar character possible. The Valley Forge Park Commis¬ fifty years previous, when a half century had sion has secured about 250 acres of land in¬ expired, many of the participants in the en¬ cluding most of the fortifications which ' campment being present, but the exercises remain in good condition. An appropriation were held at a different spot and dinner was to make needed improvements on this tract served in the woods above the village. The should be forthcoming from the next Legisla¬ exact date was July 29, 1828. ture. Without this tho money already ex¬ Many soldiers were buriod in this field. pended would be practically thrown away William Davis stated that a person could walk The ground covered by tho encampment the whole distance from the grave of John should bo secured by the United States gov¬ Waterman to the Todd mansion several hnn- ernment and set apart forever for public use ■ I as a memorial of heroic endurance and self- In the Philadelphia newspapers that the I sacrificing patriotism. The three proprietors Washington will had been sold with a col- ! lection of manuscripts, and brought $1,300. need not clash. Each would have its own I How It came in possession of the seller she sphere of action and all would be working for a never discovered. [ common purpose—to preserve as an inalienable Miss Scheetz still retained some other ! inheritance of future ages the ground sancti- valuable relics. Among these is a copy, , fied by the deeds of heroes done in the cause yellowed with age, of the Alexandria Times, of their country. announcing the death of George Washing¬ ton. The slippers mentioned above, once worn by Martha Washington, are of white satin, with pointed toes and very high heels, taper¬ ing Into a mere pivot under the Instep. A From, czl l • modern belle could not walk in such a shoe. The satin, of course, is yellowed by time, but it shows little signs of wear. The innei (h sole is as fresh and clean as the day It was made. The edges of the slippers are bound with a.stout silk galloon. Mrs. Washington must have been quite small, or else had very 3/ /f 6 small feet, as the size of the slipper Is not more than two and one-half, according to modern measurements. Among the other relics lately In posses- of Miss Scheetz is a lock of Charles Thom¬ son's hair. It is long and frost white. Miss1 Scheetz’s mother was one of the kindly A GOLIiEGTIOH Op neighbors who prepared the venerable Secre¬ tary's remains for burial, and wrapped the winding sheet around him, as was the cus¬ VALUABLE RELIGS tom In those days. It will be remembered that Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Con¬ tinental Congress, lived in Lower Merlon, MARTHA WASHINGTON’S SLIPPERS AND on Mill creek, only about a mile from the Scheetz mills. The body was buried in THE GENERAL’S WILL. the family graveyard, near Bryn Mawr, and reposed there for years until it was sur¬ reptitiously removed to Laurel Hill. Miss Scheetz lived until recently on the HOW THE LATTER DISAPPEARED historic Scheetz property, long famous as the site of one of the earliest paper mills It Was Borrowed From Miss Kate Sbeetzs in the American colonies. The Scheetz man¬ sion, a picturesque stone structure, near the by a Woman, and She Never Saw It Again. creek, stands deserted—the mill buildings Afterwards She Was Surprised to Bead are crumbling into ruin. But the beautiful, That It Was Sold in a Collection for $1,300. romantic woods surrounding all are as lovely and charming as ever. Miss Scheetz, the last of her fnmiiy, resided in a cottage In Miss Kate Sheetz, of Mill Creek, Lower the edge of the woodland, which resounded Merlon, was the proud possessor of a pair to the tread of five generations of her name. of Martha Washington’s slippers. There is no doubt as to their genuineness. Miss It Is generally believed that the first paper Scheetz received them direct from her grand¬ mill on the American continent was erected aunt, Mrs. Blllington, of Alexandria, Va„ by William and Nicholas Rittenhouse, on the who received them as a present from Mrs. Wissahickon, in 1690. Miss Scheetz says Washington herself. that Horatio Gates Jones wrote this date in Mrs. Billlngton, of Alexandria, Va., was j his pamphlet on the subject and afterwards an old-time seamstress, and long sewed for became convinced that the Scheetzes settled the Washington family. On the death of on Mill creek even earlier. Be that as It General Washington Mrs. Billlngton, with may, Scheetz’s paper mill was at least the the assistance of her two nieces, the Misses second In the colonies, If not actually the Scheetz, of Lower Merlon, prepared sixteen first. It is known that five brothers, named suits of mourning for the bereaved relatives. Schutz, came from Switzerland very early in The gracious Lady Washington always the history of Pennsylvania and brought the treated Mrs. Billlngton as a valued friend, art of paper-making with them. The name so that the latter became possessed of a, Schutz, meaning “hunter” In English, was number of priceless souvenirs. Among these afterwards modernized into “Scheetz.” From the “Minute Book of Property,” in was Washington's will. This document was for years in possession vol. XIX of the Pennsylvania Archives, sec¬ of the Scheetz family, of Lower Merlon. ond series. It Is lea'rned that one Hans No doubt ever arose as to its authenticity. George Shutz received a warrant for a tract It is believed that Miss Scheetz rescued it of land on the west side of the Schuylkill in • 1717. On Scull and Heap’s map of 1750 from some old rubbish that had accumulated “Schultz's paper mill” Is marked In the pres¬ among the effects of her aunts, the above- ent locality of the ruins. In early colonial mentioned Misses Scheetz, and her grand¬ days the Scheetz family made writing paper. aunt, Mrs. Blllington. Later they manufactured all the paper for Some years ago a woman visitor asked Benjamin Franklin’s printing presses. At Miss Scheetz for the loan of Washington's various times other mills were erected on the will on the pretence of having a copy made. Scheetz property, and these were rented to Miss Scheetz was foolish enough to let it other parties, who made different varieties go oat of her hands and never got It back of paper. One of these mills was noted for again. In 1891 she was surprised to see | MAI ST; HO' it by a A *#va ' charmingwoodlands,asprimevalineffect ; |partofthesame“worthlesscommons.” . :Ardmore. I army.CongressofferedMr.Blcklng,Incon- . thepulp.TheDoveMillwasatdifferent I herdooristhefordwhereWilliamPenn’s i Icouldnotturnhereyesinanydirection » enoughappearsthedesigntoartisticmodern l spotsteemingwithhistoricinterest.Near \ whereWilliamPennhimselferectedamile¬ i throughthewoods,oneithersideof ! “worthlesscommons.”Hadhetakenthe I amongPhiladelphia’smillionaires,assome j thenorthernpartofwhatIsnowcity ' quiteademandforthesearticlesInpre-Rev- I themanufactureofplayingcards.Therewas ' slderationofhisservices,atractlandIn | ridgepaperfortheuseofContinental I runbyFrederickBlcklng,whomadecart- [ tlonaryWaroneoftheSeheetzmillswas j millpaper,showingthewater-mark.Crude Philadelphia. Blcklngrefusedtoaccept times runbytheSeheetz,BlcklngandAmies used Inthemanufacture.Thesewerecutup of thefinestpropertiesonBroadstreetare commons hisdescendantsmighthavebeen on thebacksofcards.DuringRevolu- olutlouary days,asInvitationswereprinted tain lake,stillremainsinallitspicturesque rack andruineversince. paper mills.Thepropertyhasbeengoingto families. WiththecollapseofUnited and bleachedthethreadsmingledwith note paperfortheUnitedStatesBankwas was “adovewithanolivebranch."Bank¬ early governmentpaper.Thewater-mark loveliness, surroundedbyadensegrowthof also madehere.Silkhandkerchiefswere was theDoveMill,wheremadeall though manymilesawayfromanoisyrail¬ States BankcamethefailureofSeheetz or threeballsfromthePenncoat-of-arms. old Gulfroadpassesthroughthecreekand rapid Millcreek,withoutrestingthemupon esting areanumberofpiecestheoldDove many historicrelics.Amongthemostinter- stone, markedwith"threeappledumplings,’’ road. Yetitisonlyaboutonemilefrom design hasbecomepartofthehistory Seheetz shouldhavebeenthecustodianofso United States.. adorned ourearlygovernmentpaper,that eyes. But,crudeasitis,inasmuchie The mostfamousofalltheSeheetzmills The Dovemilldam,beautifulasamoun¬ It seemsquiteappropriatethatMiss Miss Seheetz,fromherromanticcottage, | .. | From,.*'’■)>•’. ^ Date,.£j..b. arches, coolinsummer,shelteringwinter,j gled throughhisearlylife,acompanionwith long, dustytunnel,fullofgreatbeamsand1 spanning thestreamwhichbabbledandgur¬ Norristown —TheDekalbStreetBridge, whom dullmomentswereunknown.Thej covered woodenbridgeofhischildhood,j Which WasBuiltin1839. Floods CarriedManyoftireMoreHistoric Ones Away—TheSwedesfordBridge,Below valued structuretocollapse.Uglvandun-j over it,andhow,whenthecircuscameto] stream lesttheir-weightmightcausethej town, theelephantsmustneedsfordthe! bridge shookandquiveredasteamsrattledi and gloomyeveninmidday.Howtheold ONE BYTHEYMEPASSINGAWAY THE WOODENSTRUCTURESTHATSPAN fear, asonetraversedthepassage,darksome ble curiosity,notaltogetherunmixedwith whose darknookscausedthrillsofenJoya~ SOJVIE QUAIflT Who doesnotremembersomequaintold THE UPPERSCHUYLKILL. 1 i'-<-i.■...----_ OLD BRIDGES 143 cost $31,200 when new. With its odd pas- | sage way for foot travelers in the centre.a trol- I ' r!' k °n one side and a narrow driveway ; on in. other, this bridge presents a style of ! architecture quite different from the usual models. It was made free in 1884. The owne.s >f thes6 toll bridges naturally opposed D ti. ■ utmost the efforts made to extinguish tin rights, and a combination of companies had a law passed by the Legislature back in the 70's proliib- ! : ing the erection of a highway bridge within 8,000 feet of an existing toll bridge. This was done so quietly that it excited no at¬ tention, but when the people of Norristown clamored for the freeing of the De Kalb street bridge, or, in lieu of that, the building of a borough bridge close by, the owners brought out their trump card in the shape of the new law and laughed at the opposi¬ tion. Ultimately, however, the toll rights were condemned and bought off by the coun¬ ties of Chester and Montgomery. There are now no noteworthy bridges be¬ tween Norristown and Phoenixville. The ugly one at Port Kennedy, built in 1849, is an : excellent specimen of the hideous affairs ' which can never become picturesque should they last for centuries. There was once a chain bridge at pawling, built, it is said, _before the Revolution, which was washed away about the beginning of the present century. A new wooden one was built later on, which broke down in 1819, and another met with like sad fate. The present struct¬ ure has been standing many years. The bridge at Phoenixville is notable for i many reasons. It occupies the site of a very old ford, which existed nearly two centuries ago, and where Lord Howe crossed the river after his battle of Brandywine on bis way to Philadelphia. A British battery was erected where the Reading Railroad station stands, and solid shot were flung across the river at the American forces beyond. Many a soldier of both forces fell hereabouts. Directly above the bridge is one of the old Commis¬ sioners dams, built in 1793 to improve the river channel, consisting of piles of loose stones, the object being to divert the cur¬ rent. Phoenixville dates from 1732, but long be¬ fore that settlers were numerous hereabouts The mineral deposits were well known at an early date, and in 1083 Charles Pickering mined for gold in these hills, with what re¬ sult history fails to state. The bridge was built in 1845, and is therefore fifty years old It is very ancient in appearance, and is one of the most picturesque objects along the river There ar ” oteworthy highway bridges above this n> , although numerous struct¬ ures of the Port Kennedy type disfigure the landscape. The handsome stone viaduct of the Reading Railroad at Black Rock, which cannot be seen from the car window, and the lofty bridge of the Lebanon Valley Road, west of Reading, are notable exceptions to the dull succession of useful if ugly struct¬ ures nhich span the Schuylkill north of Phoenixville.