BULLETIN ni^T0RICAL50ClETY MONTCOMERY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA Jv^oRmsrowM S9MERY PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY AT 1T5 BUILDING )65f DEKAL8 SIKBBT NORRI3TOWN.PA. FALL, 1959 VOLUME XII NUMBER I PRICE $1.50 The Historical Society of Montgomery County OFFICERS Hon. David E. Geoshens, President Geoege K. Beecht, Esq., Vice-President Hon. Alfeed L. Taxis, Vice-President De. Edwaed F. Goeson, Vice-President Eva G. Davis, Recording Secretary Mes. H. Donald Moll, Corresponding Secretary Mes. LbRoy Buebis, Financial Secretary and LibraHan Lyman a. Keatz, Treasurer TRUSTEES Kieke Beyan, Esq. Habey L. Cheistman Mes. H. H. Feangine Donald A. Gallagee, Esq. Heebeet H. Gansee Hon. David E. Geoshens Kenneth H. Hallman Nancy P. Highley Fostee C. Hillegass Aethue H. Jenkins Hon. Haeold G. Knight Lyman A. Keatz William S. Pettit Mes. F. B. Wildman, Je. New Building of The Historical Society of Montgomery County Occupied in 1954 THE BULLETIN of the Historical Society of Montgomery County PUBLISHED SEMI-ANNUALLY—SPRING AND FALL VOLUME XII FALL, 1959 NUMBER 1 CONT ENTS Foreword 3 Montgomery County History, Edward W. Hocker Chapter I—The State's 15th County Established 5 II—Two Revolts Suppressed ^ 15 III—Political Issues of the 1790's 22 IV—First Churches and Schools 26 V—Glimpses of Early Celebrities 32 VI—The First Turnpikes 42 VII—The First Borough 47 VIII—The War of 1812 49 IX—Improvements Along the Schuylkill 53 X—^Religious Controversies 59 XI—Patriotic Commemorations 63 Reports 68 PUBLICATION COMMITTEE Mrs. LeRoy Burris Mrs. H. Donald Moll Charles R. Barker, Chairman FOREWORD Montgomery County celebrated its 175th anniversary, Sep tember 10, 1959. In recognition of this century and three quarters of advancement and development, the Norristown Times Herald presented to its readers, under the date of September 11, 1959, a commemorative edition of 104 pages containing a comprehensive history from the days of the early settlers to the present generation. The history, compiled and written by Edward W. Hocker, the dean of Montgomery County historians, was especially pre pared for the Times Herald. Much of it was originally pub lished September 10, 1934, when the county marked its 150th anniversary. It was brought up to date in the 1959 edition, which was only possible due to the fact that The Historical Society of Montgomery County had in its possession the only copy of the 1934 issue of the Times Herald remaining to be found. All others, within the course of 25 years, having been destroyed by time or otherwise lost! Eventually the same end could be expected for the 1959 edition. The Historical Society of Montgomery County is assuming the responsibility of pre venting a repetition of the misfortune. Accordingly The Historical Society of Montgomery County, with the permission of the Times Herald, is reprinting the history in its publication, the Bulletin, Volume XII, Fall 1959-Spring 1961, (4 numbers), to preserve this valuable material in a more permanent form than newsprint. Although a departure in policy in using other than primary source ma terials in the Bulletin, it is deemed that an exception is in order to reproduce this history for the enlightenment and enjoyment of future generations. This history of Montgomery County includes material pre sented in the department "Up and Down Montgomery Coun ty", which the author, Edward W. Hocker has ably conducted in the Times Herald under the pen name of "Norris" from 1921 down to the present. The Historical Society of Montgomery County salutes and thanks Mr. Hocker for his accomplishment through the years in the field of local history, and presents his work with pride in its Bulletin and to its members and friends. JANE KEPLINGER BURRIS Librarian Montgomery County History Edwakd W. Hooker CHAPTER I the question of dividing Phila delphia county. In March 1784, The State's Fifteenth this committee reported a bill making the boimdary along the County Establishment northern line of the Northern Bonndar; and Coontyseat Jiiberties, extending from the Controvergles Delaware River to the Schuyll^I, while west of the Schuylklll the With the devastation and dis boundary was to be the line tress of the Revolutionary War separating Blockley Township safely past, the people of rural from Lower Merion township. Philadelphia county, then ex Thus east of the Schuylklll the tending into interior Pennsyl s uthern boundary of the new vania as far as the Berks county coimty would have been a short line, began to agitate the estab distance below Germantown. The lishment of local government committee recognized that in with which they could be in more most of rural Philadelphia there intimate contact than was pos was a demand for separation sible when the seat of nearly all from the city, for the farmers government functions was far believed they were being unduly away in the city of Philadelphia. taxed to maintain the city. To travel to the countyseat in volved a full day's journey from The bill located the county- the upper part of the county as seat of the proposed county In it was then constituted—a jour Norriton township, "in the neigh ney beset with many difficulties borhood of Stony Run, contiguous because of wretched roads and to the river Schuylklll" In the infrequent stage coaches. locality Indicated there was at In 1782 petitk'ns reached the that time no "Ulage and not state's Assembly that a new coun even a tavern. However the CTni- ty be formed comprising that versity of Pennsylvania, which part of Philadelphia county owned the land in that region, northwest of Skippack and was ready to lend its aid by pro Perkiomen"Creeks togethei with viding a site for county buildings parts of Berks and Chester coun and fostering the establishment ties Pottstowr was proposed as of a town. the coimtyseat. It was now the Taking as the lower boundary principal village In northern the line proposed in the bill, the Philadelphia county, though countyseat was nearly central Trappe and New Hanover were with regard to the length of the older communities. county, though not as to the The Assembly refused to ap breadth. Nevertheless the site did prove the suggestion, bu it ap not meet with the approval of pointed a committee to consider the people of Germantown and BULLETIN OP HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY Chestnut Hill, and in the summer Byberry townships, in what Is of 1784 they held meetings pro now Philadelphia, and from testing against the countyseat Springfield, Moreland, Chelten site, though upholding separation ham and Abington townships. of rural Philadelphia from the Oh September 10, 1784, the bill, city. with the Moreland rider and giv The Assembly adjourned on ing the name of Montgomery to April 1, and reconvened on July the new county, passed the As SO.. Now the bill • was amended sembly, receiving 36 votes to 16 to carry the southern line of the against it. At. that time the As new county much farther north, sembly consisted of only one so as to leave Germantown and chamber. The state had no gov Chestnut Hill in Philadelphia ernor, but executive power was county. The new boundary was vested in the Supreme Executive drawn along the line between Council. Horsham and Montgomery town Thus Montgomery county came ships, between Whltemarsh and into existence as the 15th county Plymouth, and. west of the of Pennsylvania. Schuylklll, between Lower and Expressions of dissatisfaction Upper Merlon. about the countyseat continued to However, this amendment fail reach the Assembly for some time ed of passage. Then the boundary after the passage of the act. Pe was located virtually where it Is titions from Lower Merion. Chel now—along the southern and tenham, Springfield, Moreland -eastern borders of Moreland, and Abington townships asked Ahlngton, Cheltenham, Spring that these townships be permit field and Lower Merlon town ted to remain in Philadelphia ships. county. On February 17, 1785, a When It was evident that this meeting was held in Whltemarsh, line would be adopted a petition composed of delegates from dif was sent to the Assembly from ferent townships in the new Moreland township asking for a county, at which the Assembly •change. A long, narrow strip of was urged to locate the county- land belonging to Moreland town seat near the junction of Skip- ship and included in the ^new pack and Bethlehem roads, at county extended southeastward the village of Whltemarsh. How between Byberry and Lower Dub ever, the Assemb^ declined to lin townships, which remained in make a change. the old county. The 300 inhabi , The new county, which was tants of this strip preferred to 30 miles long and about 15 miles stay in Philadelphia county, and broad, had perhaps 20,000 in the Assembly complied with their habitants. The first census, in request, a rider being added to 1790, showed it then had a popu the bill running the boundary lation of 22,924. The county com line across the strip instead of prised 28 townships, which were around it. the only municipal units, no The bill was debated by para borough being incorporated imtil graphs at intervals in August and 1812. •early September, and numerous Why Montgomery county re } titions foi and against the ceived the name it bears, is a measure were received. Remon question that has never been strances against the bill came satisfactorily , answered. Three from Oxford, Lower Dublin and' theories have been offered. MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER • The most popular explanation county the Supreme Executive is that the name is a tribute to Coimcil elected Colonel Thomas General Richard Montgomery, Craig, formerly of Northumber who fell early in the Revolu land county and an army officer tionary War in the attack upon in the Revolution, to serve as Quebec.