Roberts' Bios: Vol I

JOHN WILLIAM LODGE, M. D., of Lower Merion township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he was born on February 12, 1838, is descended on the paternal and maternal sides of the family from early settlers of the state of Pennsylvania, and is a son of Thomas Garrett and Susan (Evans) Lodge.

Abel Lodge, ancestor of Dr. John W. Lodge, was a native of England, and came to this country with William Penn on his second visit to the province. He settled at Kingsessing, where he purchased a large tract of land, a portion of which is still in the possession of his descendants.

John Lodge, grandfather of Dr. John W. Lodge, was a native of Kingsessing, received a common school education, and during the active years of his life followed the occupation of farming. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth Reid, at the old Swedes' church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by the Rev. Nicholas Collin, May 29, 1793, and among the children born of this marriage was a son, Thomas Garrett Lodge.

Thomas Garrett Lodge, father of Dr. John W. Lodge, was born at Kingsessing, March 28, 1811, and was the youngest of a family of several children. After receiving a good education in the schools of the neighborhood he followed his father's pursuit, that of farming, in which he was highly successful. He was a man of exemplary habits, and was well known for his rectitude and probity of character. He was one of the organizers of St. John's Protestant Episcopal church of Merion, in 1861, and served as vestryman up to the time of his death. On December 20, 1832, he was married to Susan Evans, daughter of Joseph and Mary Thomas Evans (a descendant of John ap Thomas, who with Dr. Edward Jones was the agent through whom many of the early settlers purchaser their land from William Penn), and ten children were the issue of this union, five of whom still survive.

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One of their sons, Joseph Evans Lodge, was first lieutenant in the Third Regiment United States Cavalry, and another son, Louis K. Lodge, was for many years superintendent of the central division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and also held an important position in the service of the company at Altoona, Pennsylvania. The first ancestor in this country of the Evans family, of whom Mrs. Susan (Evans) Lodge was a member, was Robert David, who came from Wales with a colony from Merionethshire during the early settlement of Pennsylvania.

Before emigrating to this country he purchased two hundred and eighty acres of land in Merion township, then a part of Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania, and a portion of these lands deeded by William Penn to Robert David, by deed dated March 18, 1681, is still in possession of the family. His granddaughter Elizabeth Roberts married John Evans, who came from Wales in 1711, and their son Nehamiah Evans was ensign in the 4th Company, 3rd Battalion, Revolutionary army. Thomas Garrett Lodge died January 23, 1894, and his wife Susan (Evans) Lodge died in the year 1880.

Dr. John W. Lodge, only surviving son of Thomas G. and Susan (Evans) Lodge, was born at the family homestead in Lower Merion. He was educated at Lower Merion Academy, the West Chester Academy, and at Charleston (South Carolina) College. He graduated in his medical studies in 1859, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession. In 1861, at the breaking out of the rebellion, he was commissioned captain and assistant surgeon of the Second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Reserve Corps, and was sent to Easton, Pennsylvania, to organize a camp and military hospital, which was to be established at that place for the Pennsylvania Reserves.

In August, 1861, he was ordered to the command of General Nathaniel P. Banks, on the Upper Potomac, and later he served with his regiment in the Army of the Potomac. For a time he was medical officer on the staff of General John F. Reynolds, and in August, 1862, he was appointed executive officer of the military hospital at Hestonville. In 1864 Dr. Lodge filled a similar position at the south hospital, and was acting surgeon of the United States Volunteers.

After the war Dr. Lodge was elected one of the consulting surgeons of the Philadelphia Hospital. At the present time (1904) he is one of the physicians of the Bryn Mayr Hospital, and one of the surgeons of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. During the many years of his professional career he has taken an active interest in all organizations that have for their object the advancement and ethics of the profession. He has had a wide experience in hospital and general practice, and stands high among the medical practitioners in his section of the county. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion.

Dr. Lodge was married April 4, 1866, to Miss Sarah J. Simmons, born September 5, 1839, a daughter of Anthony Hathaway and Sarah (Davis) Simmons, and granddaughter of Colonel Anthony Simmons, one of the judges of the district court of Philadelphia. To this marriage was born one daughter, Carolina Alexander. Mrs. Lodge died November 23, 1901.

JOHN BLATTNER, of Worcester township, Montgomery county, an energetic and successful farmer, has won for himself a creditable place and a competence in the business world, though he came to America as a boy with no resource save his inheritance of a sound body and a vigorous mind.

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He was born in Wittenburg, Germany, September 16, 1842, a son of Anthony and Lona (Herman) Blattner, his father being a farmer. Mr. Blattner was one of three children, his brother remaining in Germany, and his sister coming to America, where she married Andrew Gaysor, in Philadelphia. He attended school until he was fourteen and then worked on his father's farm, until seventeen years of age, when he came to America. He went to Norriton township, Montgomery county, where he worked on the farm of Henry L. Heebner for about four years. He was next in the employ of Dr. Martin for a time, after which he was employed for two years by Dr. Krause. Following this, he worked for five years for Charles Kreble, and then bought the property where he now lives.

This farm consists of fifty-two acres, and in addition he owns two other pieces of land in Worcester township, one consisting of twenty-eight and the other of forty-two acres. Dairying is the principal line of his farm work, and he keeps on an average on the home place about sixteen head of cows. He is a careful manager, thorough in all his methods, and confines his operations to the business lines with which he is thoroughly familiar, and in which his practical experience and sound judgment win him success.

Mr. Blattner is highly regarded in the community and is thoroughly in touch with the spirit of his adopted country. While not a member of any church he is tolerant in his views and is ready to co-operate in any good work, either in the church or outside of religious organizations. In politics he is a Republican and follows the course of public affairs with much interest.

On December 08, 1869, John Blattner and Elizabeth Cassel were married by the Rev. S. M. K. Huber. Mrs. Blattner was a daughter of Abraham and Susanna Cassel, and was one of a family of seven children, as follows: Isiah, born March 8, 1842: Elizabeth, born October 18, 1843, the wife of John Blattner; Cornelius, born June 23, 1845, deceased; Abraham, born March 23, 1847, now living at Skippack; Susanna, who was born January 30, 1849, and married Herman Wise, a shoe dealer of Norristown, and who has had nine children, three of whom are dead; Benjamin, who was born December 15, 1853, and is a farmer of Worcester township, represented elsewhere in this work; and Mary, born January 12, 1855, the wife of Michael Kreeble, a farmer of Worcester township, and the mother of three children.

John and Elizabeth (Cassel) Blattner have become the parents of nine children, as follows Charles, who is a farmer in Belfry, born June 25, 1871, married Rachel Green, and has had two children, of whom Bertha, three years old, is living; George, born August 5, 1872, and living on one of his father's farms, married Annie Fisher and has four children, Elizabeth, Frances, Florence, and George; Joseph, a farmer and huckster of Worcester township, born September 15, 1873, married Emma, daughter of Anthony Shultz of Belfry, and has two children, John and Elmer; Abraham, born April 16, 1875, died September 11, 1875; Mary Ann, born October 10, 1876, died August 14, 1877; Frank, a milk dealer of Norristown, born November 28, 1877, married Lina Shultz, daughter of Wilson Shultz of Lansdale; Aaron, born July 1, 1879, and living on one of his father's farms, married Alice, daughter of Anthony Schultz of Belfry; Ella, born March 6, 1882, is at home; Margaretta, born July 11, 1885, died in March, 1904.

JOHN K. KRIEBLE. The branch of the Krieble family represented by John K. Krieble, a valued and influential citizen of Worcester township, Montgomery county, was founded in the United States by Melchoir Krieble who came to Pennsylvania in 1734, accompanied by his wife, whose maiden name was Anna Diescher, daughter of Christopher Diescher. They resided on the old Rittenhouse property in Towamencin, township, and there they reared a family consisting of four children David, Susanna, Melchoir and Rosina Krieble, Melchoir Krieble, the father of these children, died February 14, 1790, at the advanced age of eighty years, and his wife, Anna (Diescher) Krieble, died December 26, 1789.

John K. Krieble, a descendant of the above named couple, was born in Gwynedd township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, May 31, 1847. He pursued his studies in the common schools of

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the neighborhood until he attained the age of fifteen years. Two years later he entered the Treemount Seminary which was under the preceptorship of John W. Loch, a capable educator, and after a one-term course of instruction in that institution he attended Freeland Seminary for two terms, thus completing his education at the age of nineteen years.

Being thoroughly qualified for the position of school teacher, both by the excellent educational advantages he had received and the faculty he possessed of imparting knowledge to others, he chose that vocation as a means of livelihood and served as a teacher in the townships of Towamencin, Gwynedd, Worcester and Lower Providence, and he also taught the high school in North Wales for one term, his entire time of service in this capacity covered a period of nine years. He then engaged in the grocery business in the city of Philadelphia, later removed to Norritonville, where he continued in the same line of trade for five years, and finally located on his present farm in Worcester township where he conducted a general line of farming and dairying until 1901, when his son A. R. Krieble rented it. His farm consists of forty acres of rich and arable land, and his dairy is equipped with fifteen head of well selected cows.

Mr. Krieble is a member of the Schwenkfelder church, a member of the Farmers Union, and a Republican in politics. Mr. Krieble was united in marriage, November 18, 1871, to Katie L. Reiff, born March 31, 1849, a daughter of Abraham and Sallie (Landes) Reiff. Mr. and Mrs. Krieble have seven children: 1. Abram R., the eldest born December 21, 1872, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he attended the common school of Worcester township until the age of fourteen years, when he was graduated in the second class. He subsequently attended the normal school at West Chester where he prepared himself for the position of teacher, after which he served in that capacity, having charge of the primary class of Metz's school, in Worcester township, for one term, and of the "Meeting House school," in Franconia township, for one term. The work proving uncongenial he returned home and has since devoted his attention to farming pursuits. 2. Susan Helen, the second child, born July 28, 1874, became the wife of Wilson K. Heebner, son of Jacob D. Heebner, and a machinist by trade, residing at Norristown, and their family consisted of two children, one of whom is now deceased. 3. Charles C., born March 5, 1877, is a graduate of the Schissler Business College in Norristown, married Elizabeth Costigan, daughter of George Costigan, and is now employed in Norristown, where he resides. 4. Mary R., a twin of Charles C., is engaged as a dressmaker by private families in Philadelphia, Norristown and adjacent towns. 5. Isaac R., born September 27, 1881, is also a graduate of the common schools of the township, has taught three terms of school in Montgomery county, and was graduated June 25, 1904, from Perkiomen Seminary, near the head of his class. 6. Addison R., born October 21, 1884, is a graduate of the common school and when he attended the age of seventeen years attended one term at the Schissler Business College at Norristown; he secured employment in Philadelphia but after a short period he was forced to resign on account of ill health. He is at present at home on the farm with his brother. 7. Jacob Wallace, born June 30, 1889, is attending the common school from which he expects to graduate soon.

The father of Mrs. Krieble, Abraham S. Reiff, was born January 16, 1817, and her mother, Sallie Landes) Reiff, was born October 4, 1820. They were united in marriage January 23, 1842, and nine children were born to them Mary L., born March 31, 1843; Susan L., born January 22, 1845; George L., born December 8, 1846; Kate L., born March 30, 1849; Abram L., born March 23, 1851, and died July 31, 1887; Sarah L., born May 17, 1853; Annie L., born August 23, 1855; Jacob L., born October 30, 1857; and Isaac L., who was born February 8, 1860, and is deceased.

HENRY S. SASSAMAN, a justice of the peace residing at No. 371 North Evans street, Pottstown, Pennsylvania, is a member of an old family of German origin long domiciled in the upper section of the state. He was born in Douglass township, Berks county, May 24, 1843. He is the son of Christian and Maria (Sassaman) Sassaman, both natives of the vicinity in which their son was born. They had six children, four sons and two daughters, as follows: Willoughby; Augustus, deceased; Mary, wife of Henry Hoffman; Lucy, wife of Joel W. D. Whitman; Henry S. Sassaman; and John S. Sassaman.

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His brother, Augustus S. Sassaman, was a practicing lawyer in Berks county for many years, and was once elected assistant law judge for a term of ten years in the Berks county courts. He died at the age of sixty-one years.

Christian Sassaman (father) was a tanner by trade and later a farmer in Berks county, where he died, March 17, 1890, aged eighty years. His wife died in 1893, lacking two months of being eighty years of age. They were members of the German Reformed church, as are all the family.

John Sassaman (grandfather) was born in Germany and came to America at the age of fourteen years, settling in Berks county, where he followed blacksmithing and afterwards farming. He died in Berks county, aged sixty-eight years. His wife was Barbara Geyer, who was born in Swamp, New Hanover township. They had three sons and one daughter.

Henry Sassaman (maternal grandfather) lived in Berks county and died there as an advanced age, leaving a large family of children.

Henry S. Sassaman was reared in Berks county on his father's farm, and lived there until he was forty years of age. He attended the public schools of the vicinity and followed the occupation of a teacher for nearly twenty years in the winter months, commencing work of this kind when he was but sixteen years of age. He also followed milling through the same period, gave some attention to farming and engaged in other pursuits prior to his removal to Pottstown.

On November 4, 1861, he married Sarah Neiman, daughter of Frederick and Charlotte (Yorgey) Neiman. The couple had eight children Emma, Franklin, George W., Ada M., Ralph, Henry, Lucy E. and Maurice E. Emma died at the age of twenty-five years. Franklin married Anna Emes. They live at Reading, where he is employed in a puddling mill. They have five children living: Lottie, Edith, Lester, Stanley and Ruth. George W. died at the age of nineteen years. Ada M. married Charles A. Keim, now deceased. They had two children, Franklin L. and Lillie G. Franklin is a student at Girard College. Ada M. married (second husband) William Bergey. They have three children, George A., Henry Emerson Bergey and an infant son. Ralph died at the age of nineteen years and two months. Henry died at the age of five years and six months. Maurice E. married Nettie Maiger.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sassaman and their children are members of the Reformed church. He is a member of the Order of Heptasophs. Politically he is a Democrat. Mr. Sassaman is an assessor and has served twelve years in that capacity. He was judge of elections in Douglass township, Berks county. He went to Pottstown in 1883 and was elected justice of the peace, in which office he is now serving his eighteenth year, having been appointed twice to fill vacancies and elected the remainder of the time. He has always been very careful in his decisions and few if any, have been reversed.

On November 15, 1883, Mr. Sassaman met with an accident which has crippled him for life. While cutting wood to build a fire the ax glanced, and cut him on the knee of the right leg, the injury confining him to his bed for eleven months. He has no action in the knee. He owns a substantial brick residence, No. 371 North Evans street, in which he resides.

DR. AUGUSTUS WITHERS, physician and druggist at the corner of High and Charlotte streets, Pottstown, was born in Strasburg township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, November 6, 1829. He is the son of Michael and Mary (Smith) Withers, both of whom were natives of Lancaster county. The couple had eight children, of whom five are now living: Clara Amelia, widow of Colonel Emlen Franklin, of Lancaster; and Josephine and Louisa (twins), the former the widow of John H. B. Wagner, and the latter the widow of Dr. A. J. Carpenter, of Lancaster; Anna, widow of Bernard Wolfe of Pittsburg; and Dr. M. Augustus Withers.

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Michael Withers (father) was a miller when a young man, and later in life he engaged in the lumber and coal business in Lancaster, which he continued until he retired from active pursuits. He lived in Lancaster the greater part of his life and died there in 1891, aged about seventy years. His wife died in 1865, aged sixty-three years. Both were members of the Lutheran denomination.

George Withers (grandfather) was a native of Lancaster county. He was one of the first iron-masters in the state of Pennsylvania, and also carried on farming, at the same time operating a mill, himself, and his brother doing business together. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and his widow drew a pension for many years on that account. His wife was Anna Kindig. He lived to a good old age and left two sons and two daughters. He was of German descent, like most of the people of that section of Pennsylvania.

Chester Chapin Smith (maternal grandfather) was a Connecticut man and died young. He had an only daughter. His widow married Joseph Ehrenfried and they had no children. He was state printer for Pennsylvania, having been appointed by Governor Ritner, and published a paper at the same time.

Dr. M. Augustus Withers was reared in Lancaster. He attended Franklin Academy, and graduated from Yale College in 1818. He then studied medicine and was graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1851. He began practicing medicine in Lancaster, continuing there for three or four years. He removed to Safe Harbor, staying there a year or two. He removed to Pottstown in 1859 and bought a drug store. He has been a resident of that borough ever since, conducting the drug business and practicing medicine at the same time. Dr. Withers had begun and finished the study of medicine in 1849 with F. A. Muhlenberg, of Lancaster. He practiced for a time at Millersville.

Dr. Withers entered the army as an assistant surgeon from the state of Pennsylvania in the fall of 1861 and served two years, half the time as assistant and then being promoted to surgeon of the Seventy-sixth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers.

After the war he returned to Pottstown and has carried on the drug business ever since, but gave up the practice of medicine about twenty years ago.

In 1857 Dr. Withers married Mary Louise Musselman, daughter of Henry and Anna (Eshleman) Musselman. They have one daughter, Anna Mary, now the wife of Horace Evans, president of the Pottstown National Bank. They have two sons, Louis W. and George W. Evans. Dr. Withers and wife are members of the Protestant Episcopal church. He is a member of Stichter Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and is a past master of the lodge. Politically he is a Republican. He is a member of the County and State Medical Societies.

Dr. Withers is principal owner of the Pelican State Manufacturing Company at Windgap, Pennsylvania. He resides in the property in which his store is located. He erected the store building in 1883.

George Withers (grandfather) and his brother Michael were both extensive landowners in Lancaster county, and, as already- stated, were prominently identified with its iron and flour milling industry. Both were men of independent means. They owned and operated the Mount Eden and Conowingo Iron Furnaces, the first built in 1808, the second in 1809. Both took an active part in public affairs and each held a number of public positions.

DR. CLARENCE MARMADUKE CASSELBERRY is one of the most prominent of the younger members of the medical fraternity of that section of Montgomery county adjacent to Pottstown, where he was born October 5, 1875. He is the son of Marmaduke Burr and Amanda Elizabeth (Yocom) Casselberry, the former a native of Montgomery county and the latter of Berks county. The couple had four children, one son and three daughters, namely: Gertrude (deceased), who was the wife of Dr. D. Walter Spence; Ella, wife of Ellsworth Lincoln Edwards, of Pottstown; Dr. Clarence M; and Mary Elizabeth, wife of Robert J. Scott, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

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Marmaduke B. Casselberry (father) was a general merchant, subsequently a tanner, and still later a banker in Pottstown, of the M. Burr Casselberry & Company's Bank, previously known for many years as John W. Casselberry & Company, bankers and brokers. The past ten years or more he has lived retired. He and his wife are Lutherans. He was among the emergency men in Pennsylvania during the Rebellion, when the state was menaced by the Confederate forces for a short time. Mr. Casselberry is an active Republican and votes the ticket of that party. He was member of the board of health of Pottstown under the administration of Burgess Jesse Evans.

Richard Casselberry (grandfather) lived in the central part of Pottstown. He came originally from Evansburg, a few miles above Norristown, the ancestral home of the family. He was a farmer by occupation. He married Elizabeth Miller and they had a large family. He was prominent in politics and an active worker in the Republican party.

John Yocom (maternal grandfather) was a native of Berks county, conducted a general store at Amityville, and was also engaged as a farmer. He removed to Pottstown and entered the iron business, in which industry he was interested until the time of his death. He died suddenly while going to a fire near his home on High street, when he was about forty-eight years old. His wife was Hannah Caroline Miller. They had several sons and daughters.

Moses Yocom (maternal great-grandfather) was also a native of Pennsylvania, being of Swedish descent. The founder of the Yocom family in this country was Peter Yocom, who came from Sweden in 1638 and settled near Philadelphia. His children were: Peter, born in 1678; Moses, born in 1679; Catharine (unmarried) born in 1682; Charles, born in 1683 in Philadelphia; Swan, who settled a few miles above Philadelphia; Jonas, who was the head of Dr. Casselberry's family on his mother's side; Andrew; John; and Julia, who married a Morgan, one of the Welsh settlers of that vicinity. One of the Yocoms married a Miss Ball, who was a sister of Washington's mother. Peter Yocom, the founder of the family, is often mentioned in William Penn's letters.

Dr. Clarence M. Casselberry was reared in Pottstown and attended the public schools for some time. He then prepared for college at the Hill school, Pottstown, and then entered the University of Pennsylvania, being graduated from the medical department of that institution in 1897. He became an intern at St. Joseph's Hospital at Providence, Rhode Island. From that place he went to Boston and practiced in that city four years, being connected with The Boston Emergency Hospital there, as attending surgeon. He returned to Pottstown in 1902 and opened an office there, and is now successfully engaged in the practice of medicine.

He is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Transfiguration, Pottstown. Dr. Casselberry is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Ancient Order United Workmen, and also vice president of the Montgomery County Medical Society and a member of the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.

Politically Dr. Casselberry is a Republican, although he has never sought office and is more devoted to the duties of his profession than to merely partisan pursuits.

ISAAC MATHER. It is but seldom that a community is privileged to enjoy the neighborship with one who has witnessed nearly a century of life, and who is yet spared and in full possession of his faculties. Yet such a remarkable instance of longevity is seen in the person of the venerable Isaac lather, of Cheltenham township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, who now (in 1904) is approaching the beginning of his ninety-ninth year, and who during all his remarkably long career has enjoyed the esteem and affection of all about him for its nobility of life and usefulness.

The history of the family from which he comes is full of interest. The Mathers of the present day, among whom is Isaac Mather, trace their lineage through a long line of worthy ancestors, all of their trained in the belief of the Society of Friends, and practicing its teachings in their daily lives. The American ancestor was Joseph Mather, who came from the town of Bolton, in Lancashire, England, as one of the servants of Phineas Pemberton, who settled in Falls township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, Eleventh-mo. 1682. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Russell, of Cheltenham, Sixth-mo. 8, 1697, the marriage taking place at the house of Richard Fall, in Cheltenham. Among those present who signed as witnesses were joint Russell, Samuel Richardson, Henry Baker, Phineas Pemberton, Richard Wall, William Gabitas, Evan Morris, John Goodson, John Jones, Isaac Norris, Samuel Carte and Everard Bolton, and others. In 1720 Joseph Mather went on a visit to England, when the meeting furnished him with a very favorable certificate. He died in Cheltenham in 1724, and his widow administered upon his estate. She was a minister at Abington, and died Ninth-mo., 1730.

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By the death of John Russell, father-in-law of Joseph Mather, in 1698, his tract of three hundred acres came into the Mather family. Richard, son of Joseph, still held it in 1734, and he with others built the first grist mill at Shoemakertown, in 1747. Isaac Mather erected the mill at what is now Chelten Hills Station in 1769, and about the same time Richard and Bartholomew Mather built a grist and saw mill on the stream crossing Washington Lane. Of the original tract, Richard Mather held 123 acres in 1776, and Bartholomew Mather ninety-three acres. For several years past the neighborhood in which the Mathers settled has been building up rapidly, and is adorned with handsome residences. The Ogontz Seminary for Young Ladies, the Cheltenham Academy for Boys, as well as many private holdings including the John Wanamaker tract and others, are a part of the original blather homestead, as is also the homestead property of the present Isaac Mather.

The present Isaac Mather was born in Whitemarsh township, October 27, 1806, the eldest son of John and Martha (Potts) Mather. He acquired his education in the common schools of that day, and subsequently attended a private school at Gwynedd which was taught by Joseph Foulke, and was known as Gwynedd Friends' Boarding School, which was attended by many outside of the Society of Friends, drawn to it on account of its wide reputation for thoroughness and the enforcement of discipline. When Isaac Mather had completed his school studies he learned the trade of a miller with his uncle, Charles Mather, at what was known as Mather's Mill, near where the borough of Ambler is now located. He continued in that business until 1841, conducting successfully for many years a milling business on Washington Lane, in the township of Cheltenham. Since 1841 he has devoted his attention entirely to agricultural pursuits, residing on the old homestead near Jenkintown.

Isaac Mather married, May 13, 1830, Ann L. Hallowell, who was born in the same year with himself (1806) on September 23. She was a daughter of Israel and Mary (Jarrett) Hallowell. Three children were born of this union 1. Martha, born First-mo. 31, 1833. 2. Israel H., born Fifth-mo. 9, 1834, who married Sarah C. Lloyd, daughter of John and Sidnea Lloyd, and to them were born two children: (a) Annie M., who married Charles Jarrett, and to them were born five children- Samuel M., Martha M., Caroline, Charles, and Isaac M.; (b) Howard, who married Caroline Yerkes, and to them were born three children- Sarah C., Franklin H., and Emily T. Sarah C. (Lloyd) Mather died Fourth-mo. 22, 1867, and Israel H. Mather married (second) Hannah Larzelere, daughter of Nicholas and Esther Larzelere, and to them was born one child, Esther L.; she married Franklin Shelby, and to them were born two children Franklin and Hannah I. 3. Isaac P. Mather, born Ninth-mo. 14, 1848.

The parents of this family, Isaac and Ann L. (Hallowell) Mather, lived together in affectionate companionship for more than a half century. It was given them to have their lives extended over the most remarkable period in the world's history.

They witnessed the beginning and development of much that now enters into modern life. In their young married life there was no cooking stove or sewing machine, and in many homes the spinning wheel was still used. In the field was no reaper, and grain was cut with the cradle, and threshed with the flail. For travel there was only the horse, for there was no railroad. The newspaper and the magazine were only seen in the cities, and the family library comprised a few books. In 1804 the Jenkintown library was started. Mr. Mather bought a share in 1827, and is still a member. He was always a great reader, and very much interested in the library, being president a considerable portion of the time.

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Mr. Mather suffered a sad bereavement in the death of his estimable wife, who peacefully passed away on July 4, 1882, in her seventy-sixth year. She was a perfect type of the Christian wife and mother, and her life was in all things an example of true womanhood. She was a modest, sincere and consistent member and elder of the Abington Friends' Meeting, in which her husband has been during all his life an active member, and for the greater part of the time an elder. His life, now prolonged far past the scriptural limit, notwithstanding his sorrows, has been blessed. He has enjoyed to the present time good health, retaining his mental faculties to a remarkable degree. Ever held in affection and reverence by a large circle of friends, his cheeriness of spirit has never forsaken him, and now, in the far-spent evening of life, he looks forward with unfaltering faith to

"The day that hath no evening,
The health that hath no sore;
The light that hath no ending,
But lasteth evermore."

ABRAHAM H. HENDRICKS, district attorney of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, was born at Collegeville, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, December 21, 1866. He is the son of Joseph H. and Catharine (Hunsicker) Hendricks, both natives of Montgomery county. They had five children, one son and four daughters, as follows Ella M., wife of F. G. Hobson, of Norristown; Bertha, wife of Rev. Charles Wehler, of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, Abraham H., of Pottstown; Miss Sarah C., of Collegeville; and Lizzie, who died in infancy.

Joseph H. Hendricks (father) was a school teacher in young manhood, and is now pastor of Trinity Reformed church of Collegeville. He celebrated his fortieth anniversary as a minister in April, 1902. He is also pastor of the Skippack church.

Abraham H. Hendricks (paternal grandfather) was a native of Montgomery county. By occupation he was a farmer. His wife was Catharine Hunsicker and they, had six children. At the time of his death he was more than seventy years of age.

Rev. Abraham Hunsicker (maternal grandfather) was also a native of Montgomery county and was of German descent. He was a farmer and a Mennonite preacher and was the founder of Freeland Seminary, now Ursinus College. His wife was Elizabeth Alderfer, who lived to her one hundredth year. He was more than sixty years old at the time of his death.

Abraham H. Hendricks lived in Collegeville until 1893. He attended the public schools there and was graduated from Ursinus College in the class of 1888. He began reading law in the office of Bickel & Hobson of Norristown in the same year. He was admitted to the bar in June, 1890, and has practiced in Pottstown ever since.

On October 21, 1890, he married Miss Ella T. Miller, daughter of Addison T. and Lucinda (Dismant) Miller. They have one daughter, Miriam E. Hendricks. Mr. Hendricks is a member of Trinity Reformed church at Collegeville and his wife of St. Augustus Lutheran church at Trappe.

Mr. Hendricks belongs to Warren Lodge, No. 310, Free and Accepted Masons, and is past master of the lodge; to Pottstown Chapter, No. 271, Royal Arch Masons; to Nativity Commandry No. 71, Knights Templar; to Manatawny Lodge, No. 214, I. O. O. F., and Excelsior Encampment, No. 85. He is first exalted ruler of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, No. 814, of Pottstown; past regent of Pottstown Council, No. 351, Royal Arcanum, and representative in the grand council for four years; also a member of Washington Camp, Patriotic Order Sons of America, of Pottstown; and of the Fraternities' Accident Order.

Mr. Hendricks is one of the most prominent Republicans of Montgomery county. He was solicitor of the borough of Pottstown for three years, until March, 1899, being elected by a Democratic town council: and in the fall of 1898 was elected to the office of district attorney, and re-elected

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in 1901, being the only district attorney of Montgomery county that ever served two successive terms in the position.

The name Hendricks is of wide distribution in all parts of the United States and the family are undoubtedly of Dutch origin, their first ancestor in this country having settled at Germantown. The family name is said to have been originally Hendricksen.

The father of District Attorney Hendricks was born December 21, 1834, in Upper Providence township, his maternal grandfather being Rev. John Hunsicker and his maternal great-grandfather Rev. Henry Hunsicker, both very prominent and influential Mennonite bishops in their day in eastern Pennsylvania. He was at first, on reaching manhood, a teacher, becoming assistant in Freeland Seminary and vice-principal of the institution, founded by Rev. Abraham Hunsicker, whose daughter he married in the fall of 1858. While engaged in this occupation, at a meeting of the Christian Society in 1860, he was chosen to the office of minister. On June 25, 1861, he was ordained. The Christian Society, of Collegeville, was the outgrowth of a disownment by the Mennonite church of Rev. Abraham Hunsicker, Israel Beidler, Abraham Grater, and Henry A. Hunsicker and about forty of their followers, by a branch of the Mennonite church of which they had all been members. The charges against them were founded on their liberal views of Christian doctrine, church fellowship, education, and kindred matters. The schism gave rise to the building of the Christian Meeting-House at Collegeville, which was opened to worship in 1855. Of this church Mr. Hendricks became the pastor in 1862.

The charge subsequently known as Trinity Christian church, with its branches at Skippackville, and Iron Bridge (formerly Rahn's Station) remained independent until 1888, when all became connected with the German Reformed church in the United States, although the Skippackville congregation was not formerly made a part of that denomination until 1892.

The Collegeville church was very advanced in its views on slavery, intemperance and on popular education. Mr. Hendricks is one of the oldest pastors in the county. He is a pleasant and popular speaker and is highly respected by the entire community in which he has been so active a spirit during his long lifetime.

District Attorney Hendricks is one of the best-known lawyers of Montgomery county. He has performed efficiently the duties of the responsible office which he has held and has been especially active in the effort to put a stop to lawlessness in all sections of the county, doing all in his power to discover and punish the authors of the mysterious assaults and murders which have occurred from time to time in the last few years.

HIRAM B. FEATHER, one of the leading grocers of Pottstown, was born in Falkner's Swamp, New Hanover township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, June 18, 1846. He is the son of Jacob and Carolina (Bitting) Feather, both natives of Montgomery county. Jacob and Carolina Feather had four children, two now living Hiram B. and Mary, wife of Jacob S. Wagner, of Falkner's Swamp.

Jacob Feather (father) was a shoemaker by trade, but spent the greater part of his life on a farm in New Hanover township. He died in May 1884, aged sixty-seven years. His wife died five weeks later, aged seventy years. In religious faith he was a member of the Reformed church and his wife was a Lutheran.

Isaac Feather (grandfather) was born in Montgomery County. He was a weaver and in his younger days was engaged in the hotel business. His wife was Mary Bickel. They had four children. At the time of his death Isaac Feather was about seventy-five years of age and his wife lived to the age of ninety-four. Isaac Feather was of German descent.

The maternal grandfather of Hiram B. Feather was Isaac Bitting. He was born in Montgomery County. His wife's given name was Elizabeth and they both lived to an advanced age, leaving a large family.

Mr. Hiram B. Feather has lived all of his life in Montgomery County, except one year spent in Philadelphia and one year in Berks County. He attended the district schools and later the Washington Hall Seminary at Trappe. For the next four years he taught school. He attended Pierce's Commercial School in Philadelphia. After clerking one year in Reading and two in Pottstown he opened a grocery store of his own in Pottstown, which he has conducted very successfully ever since.

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November 28, 1872, Hiram B. Feather married Miss Sallie G. Hartline, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Gauser) Hartline. They had three children, two sons and one daughter, all of whom died in early childhood. Mrs. Feather died in May 1897, at the age of forty-eight years. She was a member of Trinity Reformed church to which Mr. Feather also belongs and in which he is an elder.

Politically Mr. Feather is a Democrat. He is a director of the school board, which position he has held for more than fourteen years, and he is now serving his sixth term as treasurer of the board. He is also a member of the board of health. He resides in the house adjoining his store, 213 Charlotte Street, which he built in 1893.

DR. JOHN TODD, a prominent physician of Pottstown and one of the best known medical men in the county, was born at Collegeville, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, April 30, 1830. He is the son of John and Christianna (Bachman) Todd, both natives of Montgomery county. John and Christianna Todd had six children, four sons and two daughters: Dr. John Todd; William, of Norristown; Christianna, wife of Horace Royer, but now deceased; Emily, wife of H. W. Kratz, of Norristown; Samuel N. of Boyertown; and Brooke, of Reading, Pennsylvania.

John Todd (father) was a farmer and lived in Upper Providence township at Freeland, now Collegeville, where he died in 1863, aged eighty-five years. His wife died in February 1887, aged seventy-six years. He was a Presbyterian and his wife was reared an Episcopalian. John Todd was sheriff of Montgomery county one term and treasurer one term. Under Governor Porter he was appointed appraiser of damages in connection with the Pennsylvania Railroad. In politics he was a Democrat.

Andrew Todd (grandfather) was born in Ireland but removed to America and settled in Montgomery County early in life. He was born of Scotch-Irish parents. He was the first justice of the peace in Montgomery county and held office as long as he lived. He was a farmer. He died on the farm near Collegeville, when nearly eighty-seven years of age. He was a brother of the father of Mrs. Abraham Lincoln.

John Bachman (maternal grandfather) was a native of Montgomery County and died in middle life. He had a small family.

Dr. John Todd was reared in Montgomery county and attended first the district schools and later Freeland Seminary, now Ursinus College. He taught school for about three years. In 1854 he began the study of medicine at Harleysville and graduated from the Pennsylvania Medical College in 1857. He practiced thirteen years at Boyertown before going to Pottstown, where he has been since 1870. The Doctor has had an extended practice and his records show that he has been in attendance at almost five thousand births.

In March 1857, he married Miss Amanda Smith, daughter of J. K. Smith, a hardware merchant of Philadelphia. Her mother was a Keeler.

Dr. John Todd and Amanda (Smith) Todd had one child, a daughter, Amanda, who married George Kramer, of Philadelphia. They have three children: Jacob, Stanley and Mabel.

The second marriage of Dr. John Todd occurred November 23, 1862, to Sarah M. Heller, daughter of Daniel and Mary Heller, of Boyertown. By his second marriage he had seven children: (1) Blanche married Irvin Culp, of Philadelphia, and they have two children, Robert and Helen. (2) Bertha married Lyman Byers, of Atlantic City, and they have three children, Blanche, John and Clarence. (3) Sarah married Maurice Gilbert, of Pottstown, and they have one child, Marion. (4) Mary married H. I. Schotter, and they live in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. (5) Clara died at the age of three years. (6) John, an electrician, married Miss Effie Davis and they have three children: John, Geraldine and Ruth. (7) Florence died at the age of three years.

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Dr. John Todd and wife are members of the Lutheran church. Dr. John Todd is a member of Stichter Lodge, No. 248, Free and Accepted Masons; Phoenix Chapter, No. 194, Royal Arch Masons; and Phoenix Commandery, No. 15, Knights Templar. Politically he is a Democrat.

Dr. John Todd was burgess of Pottstown for several years, a member of the town council nine years and was elected to the constitutional convention, which did not convene. He is a trustee of the Bringhurst Trust Fund and is a director of the Security Company. He was a delegate to the Democratic national convention in Chicago, in 1896.

Dr. John Todd is a member of the Pottstown Medical Society and is president of the Hospital Staff.

WILLIAM M. HOBART, the son of John H. and Mary (Mintzer) Hobert, was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, September 16, 1840. His father was a native of Philadelphia and his mother of Pottstown. John H. and Mary Hobart had six children: Robert Enoch, deceased; Captain William M.; David Potts Hobart, of Williamsport; John Henry, of Philadelphia; and two who died in infancy.

John H. Hobart was an attorney in Norristown for many years and afterward removed to Pottstown where he practiced for some years, dying there in March 1888, aged seventy-eight years. His wife died in 1860. In religious faith they were Episcopalians. John H. Hobart was a graduate of West Point Military Academy but never entered the army. During the emergency in the Civil war he took a company and went with it, but saw no further service. He was district attorney of Montgomery County for a number of terms, first by appointment and afterwards by election.

Robert Enoch Hobart (grandfather) was born in Philadelphia. He was a dealer in real estate and insurance. He was married at Pottsgrove, by Rev. Slater Clay, to Sarah May Potts, born January 18, 1770. In his later years he removed to Pottstown, where he completed the house on the hill commenced by his brother-in-law, David Potts. In 1825 he became one of the incorporators of Christ church of Pottstown. Robert Enoch Hobart was a member of the legislature, and while serving in that capacity he died at Harrisburg, March 17, 1826. His wife died January 2, 1826, and both were buried in the family graveyard.

Enoch Hobart (great-grandfather) was born in Philadelphia, April 25, 1768. He was educated as a lawyer and practiced in that city. His wife was Anna (Pratt) Hobart, of Philadelphia.

The founder of the Hobart family in this country was Captain Joshua Hobart, who came from Hingham, England, and settled in Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1633. Captain Joshua was distinguished in the early annals of Massachusetts as a member of the house of assembly for twenty-five years, and speaker in 1674.

William Mintzer (maternal grandfather) was a native of Pennsylvania, and his history is in the biographical- sketch of General William M. Mintzer in this work.

Captain William M. Hobart lived in Norristown until he was sixteen years of age, attending Treemount Seminary and the Hill school of Pottstown. He enlisted in Company C, Fourth Pennsylvania Regiment, and served three months as a private, and then re-enlisted as first lieutenant of Company A, One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, serving nearly four years. He was mustered out as captain of Company A. He took part in all the battles of the Army of the, Potomac in which the Second Corps was engaged.

After the war he was engaged in civil engineering in the oil country of Pennsylvania, where he built railroads. He remained thus employed for four years. He then accepted a position with the Pottstown Iron Company, where he remained twelve years. Becoming interested in the lead and zinc mines of Missouri he went west. He still owns an interest in the Montgomery Lead & Zinc Company and other enterprises.

December 18, 1867, Captain Hobart married Miss Elizabeth Wills Rutter, daughter of Charles and Mary (Ives) Rutter. They have four children: Anna P., married Joseph Hartshorne and resides at Stowe. They have one child, Josephine. Mary Ives (deceased) was the first wife of Joseph Hartshorne and they had one daughter, Merriel. Elizabeth Rutter and Samuel Osborn Hobart are the younger members of the family. Captain Hobart and wife are members of the Episcopal church. Politically he is a Republican.

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MISS ANNA E. RICHARDS, daughter of George and Anna (Sands) Richards, of Pottstown, occupies the family homestead. Her parents were both natives of Pennsylvania, her father having been born in Montgomery county and her mother in Berks county. They had four children, two sons and two daughters: Sophia M., wife of Dr. Thomas Lancaster, of 1303 North Broad street, Philadelphia: Mark H. Richards, deceased; Matthias E. Richards, deceased; and Miss Anna E. Richards.

Matthias E. Richards served in the army during the whole of the Civil war, being on General Bartlett's staff and a major in the Ninety-sixth Regiment. He participated in all the battles of the Virginia campaign. Before the war he was an attorney-at-law in Pottsville. He studied in Lawyer Gowan's office and practiced there a number of years. M. E. Richards Post, G. A. R., was named for him, as was also the public fountain on High and Charlotte streets. He was one of the first defenders of the Union from Pennsylvania.

Mark H. Richards was for many years a real-estate agent for the Reading Railroad Company. He was an active man in politics, being formerly a Whig and afterward a Republican. He took an active interest in school matters in Pottstown and one of the schoolhouses is named in his honor. He was a justice of the peace in Pottstown. Both Matthias and Mark Richards were public-spirited men.

Dr. Thomas Lancaster, M. Richards, the husband of Sophia M. Richards, came from England when about twelve years of age and Philadelphia for many years. He now lives retired in that city. Mrs. Thomas Lancaster died January 13, 1904, at the old home in Pottstown and her remains were interred in Philadelphia, at St. James the Less cemetery.

George Richards (father) was born in New Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, on June 17, 1788. He was educated in Montgomery County but when be became of age he went to Philadelphia and entered a counting house as clerk. He became a shipping merchant and part owner of several vessels running between the United States and South America. In 1811 he made a voyage to Cuba, and another to Porto Rico in the same year. In 1812 he made a third voyage to La Guayra, the seaport of Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, South America. Here he witnessed the terrible earthquake that shook the city of Caracas. He was at one time taken prisoner by order of the king of Spain for shipping tobacco. Spain thought that the privilege of shipping tobacco belonged exclusively to her.

He engaged in farming in New Hanover township for some years and lived retired in Pottstown for the remainder of his life. He owned the home at No. 213 High street, where two of his children were born and which house has been in the family for more than seventy years. He died there August 19, 1873, aged eighty-five years, two months and two days. His third wife, Anna Sands Richards, died April 6, 1843, aged thirty-nine years. In religious faith he was a Lutheran and his wife was a Baptist.

George Richards was a Mason for many years and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a member of the Pennsylvania legislature, being senator from Pottstown district. He was also burgess of Pottstown and interested actively in all public affairs.

His first wife was Miss Sophia Herman, daughter of Rev. F. L. Herman. They had one son, Dr. John Richards (deceased). His second wife was Maria Mathias.

John Richards (grandfather of Anna E. Richards) was born April 18, 1753, and died November 13, 1822. He was a member of the fourth congress, 1796-97; state senator, 1801-07; member of the Pennsylvania convention on federal constitution in 1787. During the Revolution he was appointed a magistrate before whom the people were obliged to take the oath of allegiance to the government. He was a member of Lodge No. 8, Free and Accepted Masons, one of the very oldest in Pennsylvania, which met at the Valley

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Forge encampment in 1777 and was attended by General Washington and many distinguished American officers. His wife was Sophia Hubener, whom he married May 2, 1775. They had a large family. One of their sons, Mark Richards, was a prominent resident of Philadelphia. Sophia Hubener was the daughter of John Hubener. The parents of John Richards were Mathias and Margaret Richards.

The founder of the Richards family in this country was John Richards who came from Germany and bought land in New Hanover township, Montgomery county.

The maternal grandfather of Miss Anna E. Richards was Othniel Sands, and his wife was Catharine Sands. He lived at Amity where he owned a sawmill. In religious faith he was a Baptist. He died well advanced in years, leaving a large family.

Miss Anna E. Richards is the only remaining representative of the family now living in Pottstown.

CALVIN FEGELY, of the firm of J. Fegely & Son, wholesale dealers in hardware, coal, iron, etc., 60-62 High street, Pottstown, Pennsylvania, was born in Pottstown, September 16, 1858. He is the son of Jacob and Mary (Hunsberger) Fegely. Jacob Fegely was a native of Berks county and Mary, his wife, was a native of Chester county. They had seven children, three sons and four daughters, three of whom are now living: Calvin; Mary, wife of George Gilbert of Lehighton, Pennsylvania, and Susan, wife of Dr. Charles M. Vanderslice, of Pottstown.

Jacob Fegely (father) was a mill-wright by trade but he worked at his trade only a few years. In 1853 he came to Pottstown and established a coal business in partnership with his brother Isaac. The firm continued so for a member of years when William Swinehart became interested in the business, and they began dealing in lumber also, and later Isaac withdrew and Samuel Fronehiser became a member of the firm, which was known as J. Fegely & Company from the time of Mr. Swinehart's connection with it, this arrangement continuing until about 1886.

In the year mentioned the business was divided, Mr. year taking the lumber department and Mr. Fronehiser retiring from the business. The firm then became J. Fegely & Son, Mr. Fegely's son, Calvin, being associated with him. In 1878 hardware was added to the business, first in a retail way, and, since the son became associated with the firm, a hardware business has been conducted along both wholesale and retail lines.

Jacob Fegely continued in the business to the time of his death, in November 1901. He died at the age of seventy years. His wife survives him. Both were members of Emmanuel Lutheran church. He was church treasurer until his death, a period of forty years. He was a member of the town council one year and a school director one term. Politically Mr. Fegely was a Democrat. Jacob Fegely was one of the organizers of the Warwick Iron Company and its treasurer for many, years. He was also one of the directors of the Electric Light Company, Pottstown Market Company, Pottstown Cemetery Company and of the Pottstown Hospital. He was president of the Iron National Bank, and one of its organizers; of the South Bethlehem Bank and of the Security Company of Pottstown. He was always active in support of institutions and enterprises whose tendency was towards the development of Pottstown. He owned a farm in Chester county. He erected one of the handsomest residences in Pottstown, at No. 63 High street. He was also the owner of the Merchants' Hotel, now the largest in Pottstown.

Jacob Fegely (grandfather) was a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania. He was of German descent, and a farmer by occupation. He died at the age of eighty-five years. His wife, Susanna Fegely, died at the age of seventy-nine years. They had seven children. He was a Lutheran in religious faith and was church treasurer for many years. After retiring from the farm, he resided in Pottstown ten or twelve years previous to his death.

Conrad Fegely (great-grandfather) was a resident of Berks county, living there his whole life.

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John Hunsberger (maternal grandfather) was a native of Chester county and a farmer by occupation. His wife was Rebecca Hunsberger. He died at the age of seventy-five years, she at the age of eighty-seven. They had five children.

Calvin Fegely has resided in Pottstown all his life. He attended the public schools of that borough in the different grades, and later the Hill school for two years. He followed farming one year and in 1874 became bookkeeper in his father's store. He has continued in the business ever since, becoming a member of the firm in 1886, and carrying on the business the same as it was prior to his father's death.

On April 14, 1878, he married Miss Lillie Hetzel, daughter of Samuel and Susanna (Wartman) Hetzel. The couple have had four children: Minnie, who died at the age of nearly ten years; Florence, who married George W. Zimmerman, of Collegeville; Anna and Jacob.

Mr. and Mrs. Fegely are members of the Lutheran church. Politically he is a Democrat. The family resides at No. 55 High Street, the old homestead which he has remodeled.

He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Fegely is a director in the following corporations: Security, of Pottstown; the Pottstown Water Company; the Pottstown Passenger Railway Company; and the Cold Storage Company of Pottstown.

Mrs. Fegely's father, who is deceased, was a glassblower by trade, and later worked in the rolling mills as roller for many years. His wife, who is a native of Montgomery county, is still living in Pottstown. The couple had four children, all of whom are living: John, Jane, Daniel and Lillie (Mrs. Fegely). Jane is the wife of Daniel Weidensaul.

(Picture of John M. Vanderslice)

JOHN MITCHELL VANDERSLICE, of Collegeville soldier, author and lawyer, was born in 1846, and spent his early life upon a farm adjoining Valley Forge Campground. He was educated at Freeland Seminary, now Ursinus College, at Collegeville.

Before he had reached the age of seventeen years he enlisted in the service of his country during the Rebellion, becoming a member of the famous Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, a regiment which was at one time commanded by Colonel (afterwards General) D. McM. Gregg, and was thoroughly disciplined by that officer. Mr. Vanderslice served with this gallant regiment until the close of the war, when he returned to Freeland Seminary to review his studies, remaining there until 1866. He then entered the office of Theodore Cuyler, Esq., at that time one of the foremost lawyers of the city of Philadelphia. After three years of study he was admitted to the Philadelphia bar in 1869, since which time he has been in constant, active and successful practice, having been engaged in many important cases. He was at one time counsel for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, which position he resigned in order to be able to give more attention to his other clients. His practice has been mostly in the civil courts, although he has tried two murder cases, being successful in both of them.

As a youthful soldier, John M. Vanderslice won special mention from his superiors on several occasions. He was awarded a congressional medal for distinguished gallantry at the battle of Hatcher's Run, in February, 1864. At the time of the surrender of General Robert E. Lee to General Grant at Appomattox, he was a prisoner of war with the Confederate army, having been captured in a sabre charge under General Gregg, at Farmville, two days previously, after having his horse killed, the third one during a week.

Mr. Vanderslice has been for many years secretary of the Survivors' Association of the Eighth Cavalry, by the members of which organization he is held in the highest esteem. He was one of the early members of Post No. 2, Grand Army of the Republic, of Philadelphia, and was for several years its adjutant. He served for six years as assistant adjutant-general of Pennsylvania, and was one year department commander. During these seven years, owing to the organizing and executive ability of Mr. Vanderslice, the membership of the Grand Army in Pennsylvania was increased from 4,500 to 25,000.

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In 1883 he was appointed adjutant-general of the organization, during which year the total membership was increased a hundred thousand. He was for three years editor of the Grand Army Scout and Mail, and was also one of the commissioners appointed to organize the Soldiers' Home at Erie, Pennsylvania. He was for seventeen years one of the executive committee of the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Commission, and he inaugurated the movement for state appropriations to erect monuments to mark the positions of the various regiments during that memorable conflict. He was secretary of the committee upon inscriptions, and his familiarity with the official reports and the studious attention which he gave to all the details of the work, caused him to be known as one of the best informed men as to the battle.

When the Memorial Association transferred the battlefield of Gettysburg to the United States authority, Mr. Vanderslice was upon motion of General Daniel E. Sickles selected to write a history of the Association, and of the battle. This work was distributed bar the Association among the several state libraries, and many thousand copies were afterwards published and sold by the author. It is the recognized authority upon the history of that great conflict.

Mr. Vanderslice has always been an ardent Republican in politics, and is considered an eloquent and forcible speaker, having made speeches in several states during national campaigns. He served for six years as a member of Philadelphia Councils, and, although bitterly opposed because of his independence, he has always been elected by increased majorities, receiving the votes of his fellow citizens without regard to their politics. He successfully advocated many improvements for the city, it being through his determined efforts that asphalt pavement, now so general in the city, was introduced, and improvements made in the water and other departments.

In religious faith Mr. Vanderslice is a Baptist. He is a member of Grace church, Philadelphia, Rev. Russell H. Conwell, pastor. Mr. Vanderslice frequently delivers lectures before literary and other societies. He is a past department commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, a past master workman of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and past regent of the Royal Arcanum.

Mr. Vanderslice married, in 1870, Caroline Cecilia Hainer, daughter of Dr. James Hainer, now deceased, of Collegeville. She is a graduate of Pennsylvania Female College, of which,. the late Dr. J. W. Sunderland was president She is not only a fine classical scholar, but an accomplished musician. Her father's people were among the Welsh Quakers who settled that section of Montgomery county at an early date. Her grandfather and father were well known physicians in Montgomery county, and her brother is also a physician, practicing in Collegeville. Her mother's family, the Downings, were direct descendants of Cotton Mather.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Vanderslice are: Miriam, Stanley, Ethel and Edith, all deceased, and Clarence and Mabel, living. Clarence is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and. was admitted to the bar in 1898. He enlisted a few days afterward as a private soldier in the Spanish war, in the Sixth Pennsylvania Regiment, the services of which were confined to drill and discipline. He married Florence Livezey, of an old Pennsylvania colonial family, her ancestor, Jonathan Livezey, having come. from England to the province in the time of William Penn. Miss Mabel is an accomplished musician, having had instruction at the Philadelphia Musical Conservatory, and afterwards by Professor Henry Gordon Thunder.

It is worthy of note that the Vanderslice family has been represented by some of its members in every war in which the country has been engaged, from the time of the Colonial Indian wars to the late Spanish-American war.

The Vanderslices are one of the oldest families in Pennsylvania. Reynier van Der Sluys came from Harlingen, North Friesland, Holland, and settled in Germantown, in Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania, about 1700. He and his son Adrien were made citizens September 29, 1709, along with Daniel Pastorius, Dirk Keyser, and several other aliens. Their petition for citizenship was pending for several years. Reynier Van Der Sluys died in Germantown in 1713.

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His will, witnessed by John Cadwallader, his attorney, and Daniel Sprogel, is on record in Philadelphia in the register of wills' office. His wife Anna, also a native of Harlingen, survived him some years and died in Germantown. Reynier and Anna Van Der Sluys had six children, Adrien (Arnold), Henry, John, Anthony, Anna and Elencha.

The third son, John, bought a tract of land from John Ruloff Vanderwerf on the Skippack Creek, in Worcester township, Philadelphia, now Montgomery county. The deed was dated May 13, 1726, and recorded in deed book 2 F, page 258, at Philadelphia. John Van Der Sluys died in 1742. He and his wife Frances had five children, Anna, Mary, Reynier, Jacob and John.

The will of Frances is on record in Philadelphia. The vendue bill of the property of John's estate is in the possession of Governor Pennypacker.

The second son of John and Frances Van Der Sluys, Jacob, born in 1731, married Ann Francis. Jacob took title by patent recorded in Philadelphia, in patent book A, volume II, page 189, to a tract of land upon the west bank of the Perkiomen, on the road from Shannonville (now Audubon) to Phoenixville. This land is now a part of the Gumbes estate. Jacob Vanderslice was a school trustee in 1768 and for many years afterwards, of Providence township, then Philadelphia, now Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He died in 1793, leaving four children: John, Catherine, Debbie, and Thomas.

Thomas Vanderslice, born in 1736, served as a trooper during the Revolutionary war, and afterwards lived at the old homestead, dying there. It is still standing at the entrance to the Gumbes property. He married Tacy, daughter of Captain Joseph Richardson, a great-grandson of Samuel Richardson, who came from Jamaica, in 1684, and was a judge and also a member of the colonial council. Tacy Richardson's great-grandmother was a daughter of judge John Dean and Catharine Aubrey, born in 1637, Thomas and Tacy Vanderslice had nine children, as follows: Edward, Anne, John, Thomas, Marcus, Augustus, Mary, Jacob, and Joseph. All but two of these, with their parents, are buried in the graveyard of Lower Providence Presbyterian church at Mount Kirk.

Edward Vanderslice (grandfather) married Elizabeth Pawling, daughter of Benjamin and Rebecca (Lane) Pawling. Benjamin Pawling's father, Joseph, was the son of John and Ephia (DeWitt) Pawling. John Pawling owned two grist mills and a large tract of land upon both sides of the Perkiomen, near Schwenksville, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, including Pennypacker's Mill, and what is now the home of Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker. John Pawling died in 1733, and his will is recorded in Philadelphia, in book E, page 243. He was buried in Pawling's private burying ground on the farm near Gratersford, now owned by Enos Schwenk. He and his brother Henry, who in 1713 settled at Pawling's Bridge, near the junction of the Perkiomen and the Schuylkill river, were the sons of Henry Pawling, an English officer who resigned his commission and, having married Neetje Roosa, settled at Esopus, New York, and afterwards served in the colonial service. He was the sheriff of Ulster county, New York.

Rebecca (Lane) Pawling, wife of Benjamin Pawling, was the daughter of Samuel Lane. Samuel Lane's father was William, and William's father was Edward Lane, who came from Jamaica in 1684 and took tip several thousand acres of land on both sides of the Perkiomen from the Skippack creek to the present Germantown turnpike, embracing the present site of Evansburg and Collegeville.

The Lanes and Pawlings are buried in the churchyard of St. James Episcopal church at Evansburg, of which their families were the founders, and which was partially endowed by the Lanes.

Edward and Elizabeth Vanderslice had six children, Benjamin Pawling, Tacy, Rebecca, Marcus LaFayette, John Van Rensselaer and Samuel Lane.

Marcus Vanderslice (father) was born on the Pickering creek, near Kimberton, in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1813. He married Margaret Mitchell, and had nine children, as follows: Ellen, Thaddeus Lawrence, Ann,

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John Mitchell, subject of this sketch; Theodore Pennypacker, Louisa, Elizabeth, Gertrude and Arabella. He was among those who early and strenuously advocated improved educational facilities in the public schools. He was in his youth an organizer of the Son's of Temperance in Phoenixville, and was an earnest and zealous member of the Abolition Society, aiding in assisting many escaped slaves along what was known as the "Underground Railroad" to freedom. He was in his early life a farmer, but afterwards engaged in business in Philadelphia, where he died in 1876. During Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania he served two months with the emergency troops, although he was then fifty years of age, and his two eldest sons were in the United States service. Margaret Mitchell was the daughter of John and Margaret (Dennison) Mitchell, who came with other Irish Protestants from county Donegal, Ireland, and settled in Chester county in 1790. They are buried in East Vincent Baptist churchyard, in Chester county. Margaret (Mitchell) Vanderslice was from an early age a very active Baptist, aiding in the establishment of three Baptist churches, one of them being the Grace Baptist Temple, Philadelphia. She died in 1896, aged eighty-one years.

GEORGE BAUER, of 356 South street, Pottstown, was born in Wittenberg, Germany, December 19, 1830, his parents being Johan V. and Rosina (Limbach) Bauer, both natives of Germany. George Bauer was one of five children, four sons and one daughter, all now deceased except himself.

Johan V. Bauer (father) was a weaver and a farmer in Germany, and died there at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife came to America at the advanced age of eighty-five years and lived with her son, George, until her death, November 12, 1889, at the age of ninety-three years. Both were members of the Lutheran church. Even in her extreme old age Mrs. Bauer could read fine print without the aid of glasses, which she never used for any purpose. The grandfather, John Bauer, was also a weaver and was born and died in Germany. The maternal grandfather was a farmer in Germany, where he died.

George Bauer was reared in Germany on his father's farm and received a good common-school education. In accordance with the law in Germany he served two years in the regular army and in 1857 came to America. He lived in Philadelphia for more than ten years. He and his brother-in-law, Leonard Schurg, then opened a bakery in Pottstown, the partnership continuing for three years when it was dissolved and Mr. Bauer bought the bakery at No. 267 High street. He remained with this establishment, conducting the business very successfully for sixteen years, since which time he has lived retired at his present home.

August 5, 1859, George Bauer married Miss Barbara Schurg, daughter of John and Clara (Horning) Schurg. They had no children. Mrs. Bauer died at noon, on Friday, July 24, 1896, at the age of sixty-seven years, two months and twenty days. She was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran church of Pottstown, of which Mr. Bauer is also a member, and in which he served as an elder for six years. Politically Mr. Bauer is a Democrat.

George Bauer is the only one remaining to represent the family name in this country. He began life as a poor boy and by hard work and economy, combined with good business management, he has accumulated a competency for old age. He is one of Pottstown's honored citizens and is held in high esteem for his correct life and good qualities of head and heart.

HENRY POTTS LEAF, of the firm of Metz & Leaf, dealers in coal, lime, sand and feed, at Pottstown, Pennsylvania, was born April 15, 1835, in the borough in which he now resides. He is the only child of William and Mary Ann (Lightcap) Leaf, both natives of Montgomery county.

William Leaf (father) was a miller in early life and later had charge and was part owner of an omnibus line on Fifth street, in Philadelphia. He followed this latter occupation for many years. He sold out this business to the first city passenger railroad company, of Philadelphia and became its superintendent. After some years he went to Washington as superintendent of the Georgetown and Washington Railroad. He was afterward superintendent of the Union Line, Philadelphia. He left Philadelphia to accept a position in Newark, New Jersey. He had charge of the Orange & Newark Railway, of the Pennsylvania System, for many years, or until within a few years of his death, when he retired to a farm two miles west of Pottstown. He removed to that farm in 1876, and died there at the age of seventy-one years. His wife died one year previous to his death, at the age of seventy-three years.

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George Leaf (grandfather) was a native of Montgomery county. He was a general merchant and owned property in the county. Both he and his wife, whose maiden name was Leonard, died in the prime of life, leaving a family of ten children. The children were reared and cared for by their aunt, Anna Leonard, whose parents were Quakers.

John Lightcap (maternal grandfather) was also born in Montgomery county. His wife was Sarah Lightcap and they had several children. He died when he was about seventy years of age.

Henry P. Leaf was two years and six months old when his parents removed to Indiana. They resided six miles west of Indianapolis until Henry was ten years of age, when they removed to Philadelphia. As the family lived in that city for several years, until 1859, Henry P. Leaf received the greater part of his schooling there, attending the Hancock grammar school. He learned the art of wood engraving and followed that occupation for several years.

In 1859 he took up his residence on a farm two miles west of Pottstown and remained on that place for thirty-one years. In 1890 he went to Pottstown and lived retired for a few years. Since 1894 he has been engaged in the coal, lime and feed business in partnership with Samuel Metz, the firm name being Metz & Leaf. He is a stockholder in the Citizens' Bank of Pottstown, and also in the Glasgow Iron Works.

In February, 1858, Henry Potts Leaf married Miss Esther A. Weber, daughter of William H. and Ann (Bean) Weber. They, had five children: Mary, who died at the age of three years; Annie, who died at the age of eight years: William; Sarah W.; and Leonard. William Leaf is employed in the machine department of the Stetson Hat Works in Philadelphia. He married Annie Kerlin. They have two children living: Esther and Ruth. Sarah W. resides at home and Leonard is a clerk in the Pottstown National Bank. Mr. and Mrs. Leaf are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Leaf is an elder in the church and has been for a number of years. He is also a church trustee. During the Civil war he enlisted at the emergency call and went to Chambersburg. He saw no active service. In politics Mr. Leaf is a Republican. He resides at No. 171 Hanover street.

REV. IRWIN BISHOP KURTZ, pastor of the Emmanuel Lutheran church of Pottstown, was born in East Greenville, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, July 19, 1867. He is the son of Augustus E. and Elizabeth (Bishop) Kurtz, both natives of Montgomery county. Augustus E. and Elizabeth Kurtz had eight children, five of whom are living: Rev. Irwin B.: Calvin B., of East Greenville; Lillian E., wife of Charles Dimmig, of East Greenville; Alvin, of East Greenville; and Melvin, who entered the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Mt. Airy, from which he expects to graduate in 1906.

Augustus E. Kurtz was a tinsmith by trade and followed this occupation all his life. He was the first burgess of East Greenville. He died in April, 1901, aged sixty-five years, and his wife survives him. In religious faith they were Lutherans. Augustus Kurtz was succeeded in business by his son Calvin, who still carries it on.

Michael Kurtz (grandfather) was born in Falkner's Swamp, New Hanover township, Montgomery county, and was a farmer. He died at the age of seventy-five years.

Michael Kurtz (great-grandfather) was born in Germany and became a resident of Falkner's Swamp, Montgomery county, where he died.

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William Bishop (maternal grandfather) was a native of Montgomery county and died there at the age of thirty-five years. He was a farmer. He married Mary Samsel and they had two children, a daughter and a son.

Rev. Irwin B. Kurtz has lived all of his life in Montgomery county. He attended the public schools of East Greenville, the Perkiomen Seminary, the West Chester State Normal School, the Keystone State Normal School, of Kutztown, and Muhlenberg College, from which he was graduated in 1890 as valedictorian of his class, which was the largest class graduated from the institution up to that time. He afterward engaged in teaching for some time and then entered the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Mount Airy, Philadelphia, graduating in 1893.

He was immediately called to be assistant pastor to the late Rev. Daniel K. Kepner, pastor of Emmanuel church, and after being in that position two years he was called, in 1895, to the Augustus Lutheran church at Trappe as pastor. He served that congregation more than two years, and at the death of Rev. Daniel K. Kepner, in May, 1897, he was called to succeed him as pastor of Emmanuel church in Pottstown, where he has since remained. The church at present has a membership of more than sixteen hundred persons.

October 9, 1894, Rev. Irwin B. Kurtz married Miss Mary E. Faust, of Allentown, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, daughter of J. Tihlman and Ellen (Druckenmiller) Faust, the former now deceased. They have had three children: Luther Augustus, who was born and died at Trappe; Irwin Faust Kurtz; and Ellen Elizabeth Kurtz.

Rev. Mr. Kurtz is a member of the Royal Arcanum and also the Alpha Tau Omega, a college fraternity. Politically he is a Democrat. Mrs. Kurtz is a descendant of the Jaegers, who were noted theologians in the Lutheran church, both in Germany and America. Rev. Mr. Kurtz preaches in both the German and the English languages, alternating the two.

GEORGE C. HOLLENBACH, of 428 High street, Pottstown, Pennsylvania, was born in Lower Pottsgrove township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, November 7, 1849. He is the son of Bernard and Margaret (Saylor) Hollenbach, natives of Wittenberg, Germany. Bernard came to America at the age of eighteen years and his wife at the age of four years. They had one child, George C. Hollenbach.

Bernard Hollenbach (father) was a machinist and an engineer on the Reading Railroad. He was fatally injured by the explosion of a boiler and died about six months later, in 1851, at the age of twenty-seven years, nine months, and some days. His wife is still living. She married (second husband) John G. Miller and they now reside in Pottstown, having recently moved from their farm in Lower Pottsgrove. John G. Miller and Margaret Saylor Miller had three children: Catharine, wife of John S. Umstead, of Pottstown; Elizabeth, deceased; and Rosa, wife of John Benner, of Kansas. Bernard Hollenbach was a Lutheran and his wife belonged to the same church. She afterwards united with the Methodist church. She died December 31, 1903.

The paternal grandfather of George C. Hollenbach died in Germany, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. He had two sons, Bernard and George. The latter was drowned at sea in 1861.

The maternal grandfather of George C. Hollenbach was George Conrad Saylor. He was born in Wittenberg, Germany, and came to America with his family, locating in Pottsgrove township where he engaged in farming. He resided in the same place until six months before his death when he went to live at the home of his son, John, in Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he died at the age of sixty-six years. His wife was Catharine (School) Saylor, a native of Germany. She died in Pottsgrove township and was more than seventy years of age at the time of her death. They had three children. George Conrad Savior was a soldier in Germany.

George Hollenbach was reared in Pottsgrove township and had charge of sheep from the time he was nine years old until he was thirteen years of age. He then worked four years on the canal and at boating for the United States government for three more years. He returned to his home and worked in a paper mill several months, and then on the telegraph line for two years and also followed various occupations. He lived in Sanatoga from 1872 to 1900 and was postmaster there for eighteen years. He also engaged in the general merchandise business in 1876, bought and sold horses, and fattened horses on the farm. In 1890 he leased the Mill Park Hotel farm and stockyard and lived there until 1893, when he retired and moved to his present time. He owns property in Pottstown and in Pottsgrove township.

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Mr. Hollenbach is a director in the Citizens' Bank, and a director in the State Mine in Northampton county. He is also interested in and a director of the copper mines at Ringing Rocks, two miles from the center of Pottstown, where a syndicate has control of seventy acres of rich copper mines.

George C. Hollenbach was superintendent and general manager of the Ringing Rocks Railway Company. He is still interested in farming, owning two farms in Lower Pottsgrove township, one of thirty-seven acres and one of forty acres, he superintending the conduct of the same. He is the owner of nine separate residence properties in Pottstown; two in Sanatoga; also a small farm of five acres at Sanatoga; and a farm of forty-five acres in Upper Pottsgrove township. He was one of the organizers of the United States Graphite Company, of which he is a director.

June 8, 1873, George C. Hollenbach married Miss Mary Steinbright, daughter of Henry and Mary (Nace) Steinbright. They had two children: Harry U. and George. George died at the age of twenty-three years and nine months. Harry U. Hollenbach married Mary Schmick and they live in Pottsgrove township, where he is a machinist. They have two children living, George C. and Florence. Two of their children died.

Mr. and Mrs. George C. Hollenbach are members of the Emmanuel Lutheran church, in which he has served as a deacon and an elder for a number of years; and was superintendent of the Union Sunday-school at Sanatoga for twenty years. He belongs to Madison Lodge No. 466, I. O. O. F., and was past grand for thirty-one years. He also belongs to the Knights of the Mystic Chain, Sparta Castle, Faglesville, and also to the Patriotic Sons of America, the Brotherhood, the True Blues and the Royal Arcanum.

Politically Mr. Hollenbach is a Republican and he represented the seventh congressional district in the state legislature in the sessions of 1893 and 1895. He served on the ways and means committee, the game and fish, and the insurance committee. He was a school director in Pottsgrove township for a number of years, was auditor in the same township and he served as a member of the Republican county committee.

Mrs. Hollenbach's father was born in Germany and her mother in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. They had two sons and one daughter: John Steinbright, of Norristown; Henry, of Gwynedd township; and Mary Ann, wife of Mr. Hollenbach.

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