Abstracted from: “Biographical
and Portrait Cyclopedia of Montgomery County, Pa., “ edited by Samuel T.
Wiley, (Phildelphia, Biographical Publishing Co., 1895).
Sketches of John,
(father); John G., and William Franklin Dannehower.
Surnames:, Bealer, Breisch, Cressman,
Groff, Johnson, Zink, Brown, Davis, Douglass,
Fremont, Headley, Harrison, Saxton, Stackhouse, Subers, Swane.
Wm. Franklin Dannehower, a well
known and popular member of the Montgomery county bar, is the youngest son
of John G. and Susanna (Cressman) Dannehower, and was born Dec. 17, 2854
in Zeiglersville, Montgomery county, PA. Like so many prominent citizens
of the Keystone State, Mr. Danenhower is decended from German acestors,
resolute pioneers who left the Rhenish provinces of the Fatherland at an
early day to find a new home in the western world. There were three
brothers of the name (Dannehower) who came over together and settled in
different parts of Pennsylvania, from whom have descended all of the
Dannehowers of America, as far as known. For several generations a branch
of the family has been resident in the county of Montgomery, in the
northern part of which John, paternal grandfather of the subject of this
sketch was born and reared.
John Dannehower, b. Sept. 5, 1783-d.
June 11, 1846
He was married twice, first to
Elizabeth Groff, (Oct. 1, 1791-Jan. 9, 1824
They had eight children: Elizabeth,
married Benjamin Johnson; Sarah, married John Bealer; Hannah, wedded Jesse
Roller; Jacob, Jesse, John G., father; Henry G.; and Phillip. John
Dannehower was married a
second time to Elizabeth Zink.
He was a miller by occupation, and
owned and operated a grist mill, flaxseed mill and other enterprises in
Marlborough township.
He also owned a tannery in Bucks
county, and was likewise engaged in saw-milling and farming, being one of
the largest real estate owners of his section. Politically, he was a
Jacksonian Democrat, and in religion a member of the Lutheran church.
His son, John G. Dannehower,
(father), became a clerk after which he followed huckstering for a tme,
and then purchased a farm near Zeiglersville and engaged in agricultural
pursuits. In 1856, he purchased and removed to a hotel in Tylersport,
which he successfully conducted until about 1883 , when he leased the
hotel to his son, Jacob P. Dannehower and retired from active business. He
was a Democrat in politics and held a number of offices. In business
affairs, he was always successful, being selfmade man or rate good
judgment, and at the time of his death, and for many previous, was
treasurer of the Tylersport Mutual Live Stock Insurance company.
John G. b. 12-6-1816-d. June 14,
1884 was buried at Indian
Field Lutheran Church, Franconia twp.
He married Susanna Cressman on March,
4, 1838. She was daughter of Jacob B. Cressman. She died Jan. 23, 1895
They had eight children:
1.Matilda, wife of Roller R. Cressman,
born May 9, 1839 d. Dec. 19, 1865
2.Catharine A., second wife of R.R.
Cressman. Born Dec. 28, 1841. then to David T. Breisch of Trumbauersville,
PA.
3. Benjamin, b. Feb. 2-1843-d. Jan.
2-1846
4.Hon. John C., b. Feb. 8-1845- d.
Dec.-20, 1884
Jacob P., Feb. 2, 1847-d. march 7,
1892
6. Henry, Oct. 1, 1849
7.daughter, died young
8 William F. b. Dec. 17, 1854-d. xxxx
John C. was a wholesale manufacturer
of cigars with R.R. Cressman, served for a number of years as a justice of
the peace, was twice elected to the State assembly, and died Dec. 20, in
1884.
William Franklin Danenhower was reared
by Tylersport, this county, and obtained his elementary education in the
public schools. He afterwards attended the Kutztown State Normal School
one year, and in 1871-72 was a member of the Excelsior Normal Institute at
Carversville, Bucks County. In the spring of 1872, he entered Lafayette
college, and was graduated from the insitution in the class of 1876, with
the degree of A.B., being selected as one of the commencement orators. In
the autumn of 1877, he became a law student in the office of G.R. Fox at
Norristown, and while studying law acted as editor of the Weekly Register,
and was special correspondent of several leading New York and Philadelphia
journals, besides acting as clerk in the prothonotary’s office at
Norristown. Having completed his preparation for the bar, Mr. Dannehower
was admitted to practice June 7, 1880, and since that time has been
continuously engaged in the duties of his profession. He has figured
prominently in a number of important cases before the courts here, among
which may be mentioned the appeal from the assessments of the mercantile
appraisers, assessing butchers with mercantile taxes, in which Mr.
Dannehower acted as attorney for the butchers’ association, and secured
a decision exempting its members from the payment of these taxes. He has
also been connected with several trials for capital offenses, in all of
which he has shown legal ability and acquaintance with historical
jurisprudence. For some years, he has enjoyed an extensive practice in the
orphans’ Court, but is a good general practitioner and very successful
in that line. In 1890, he acted as solicitor for the coroner, sheriff and
treasurer. He is solicitor of the Lansdale Trust and Safe Deposit Co. and
of the borough of Green lane, and was for seven years solicitor of the
borough of Pennsburg.
In politics, Mr. Dannehower is an
ardent Democrat, and served for two years, 1886-8, as chairman of the
standing committee of his party in this county. He was a candidate for the
office of district attorney in 1889, but was defeated by only 128 votes.
He was one of the organizers of the
Montgomery County Bar association of Norristown, and has been its
secretary since its formation in1885. He is also a member of the law
library committee, and of the committee to revise the rules of court. In
religious faith, Mr. Dannehower is a Lutheran, and has been secretary of
the church council of Trinity Lutheran church for a number of years. He is
also a member and trustee of the Jefferson Club of Norristown, and served
as its president and also as secretary for several years.
William Franklin Dannehower married on
Nov. 30, 1886 to Bessie B. McCarter, daughter of Col. Sam McCarter of
Norristown.
Their children:
Frances B., b. Nov. 23, 1887
Wm Franklin Jr., Jan 18, 1889
Gilbert Lane, July 23, 1891
(Also Frances Cressman married Mr.
Dannehower).
From "Montgomery County
Sketches," vol. 2
p. 253
WILLIAM H. DANEHOWER
Jacob Danehower, the grandfather of
William H. Danehower, the subject of this sketch was a native of
Montgomery township in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He was descended
from one of the early settlers of that section of the county, was educated
in the schools of the township, became a farmer, and followed that
occupation through life. He married Catharine HALLMAN of the same
township, and they had 11 children, all of whom are deceased but one.
Among them was George H. DANEHOWER.
George H. Danehower (father) was born
on the homestead in Montgomery township in 1812, and died in 1899. when he
was but two years of age, the family removed to Gwynedd township, where he
obtained a fair education for those days and became interested in
agricultural pursuits, which he followed until incapacitated from age. He
was a leading man of his township, and was much respected by everybody
that knew him. He was a Democrat in politics, and was active in support of
its candidates and principles, although he declined on several occasions
to hold offices when they were offered him. He attended the Lutheran
church. Mr. Danehower married Catherine PHANDER, of an old family in
Gwynedd and Horsham townships of German descent.
His wife died at the age of 39 years.
She was a daughter of Philip PHANDER, of Horsham township. Mr. and Mrs.
Danehower had the following children:
Charles, Phebe, Catherine, deceased,
Jacob, George and William H., subject of this sketch.
William H. DANEHOWER was born on the
homestead in Gwynedd township, January 30, 1851. He was educated in the
public schools and then devoted himself to farming on the homestead, which
occupied him until 1882, when he removed to his present home in
Hatfield.
Mr. Danehower married in 1882
Catherine A. BEAVER, daughter of Frederick and Margaret BEAVER, farmers of
Gwynedd township. The children of Mr. and Mrs. DANEHOWER: George H. and
Frederick R., both unmarried.
Mr. Danehower is a Democrat in
politics, and is a member of the Lutheran church. He has held to the same
principles, religiously and politically, as his forefathers. He is a man
who stands high in the community and is thoroughly respected. His farm
contains more than 60 acres, and he is very successful in the management
of it.
Abstracted from Montgomery County Sketches, vol. 2.,
p. 165.
JOHN LEVIN BROWN,
son of Jacob Jennings and Amanda Elizabeth (SAXTON) Born, was born Dec.
23, 1863, on a farm that had been in the Brown family for several years.
It was located in Middletown township, Bucks County. He attended public
schools and until his 18th year pursued his studies. He then went to
Philadellphia and engaged with Wm KING & Co., wholesale and importing
grocers, with whom he was employed for a period of 8 years. He then
engaged as traveling sales man for four years.
He married Nov. 14, 1892 Rachel SWAYNE, daughter of Thomas B. and
Rosa (STACKHOUSE) HEADLEY, farmers, of Bristol, Bucks County. He settled
in Woodbourne, in that county, remaining there a year after his marriage,
and erecting a dwelling for a home. He established a general store at
Penllynn, where he was postmaster.
Mrs. BROWN was affiliate with the Society of Friends and
formerly attended Langhorne Meeting at Langhorne, Bucks County.
Jacob Jennings BROWN (father) son of Samuel BROWN, was
born on the Brown homestead, Bucks county. His children: Wollston, married
Ida, daughter of William DAVIS, Philadelphia; George FREMONT, married Dora
SUBERS, Lower Makefield township and resides at Bristol; William SAXTON,
married Elizabeth JOHNSON, of Falls township, Bucks County; Harry
HARRISON, maried Florence WORTHINGTON, a noted hotel proprietor; Mary,
married George DOUGLASS, of Hulmeville, Bucks county; John L. subject of
this sketch.
“Biographical Annals of
Montgomery County Pennsylvania,” Ellwood Roberts, editor, (New York,
1904).
P. 534
John Beans Carrell, M.D., subject of
this sketch, received his early education in the Oaks Grove public schools
in Warminister township, Bucks County; and afterwards spent several years
at the Morrow Excelsior Institute at Hatboro, Pennsylvania. Rev. G.H.
Minns was his tutor for two years, and he then taught the public school
which he attended when a child for two years. He graduated from Jefferson
Medical College in Philadelphia, in 1876, and after his graduation spent
some time in the New York city medical colleges and hospitals. After
practicing in Johnsville, in the vicinity of his home, for a few months,
he entered into partnership with his preceptor, Hon. I. Newton Evans, M.D.
This partnership continued about seven years. Since then Dr. Carrell has
continued the practice of his profession at the same place very
successfully. He married, March 31, 1880, Lizzie S. Danenhower, daughter
of Abram and Sarah Danenhower, of Warminister, who is a member of an old
family of Bucks and Montgomery counties, of German descent. Dr. and Mrs.
Carrell are among the best known and most respected residents of Hatboro,
enjoying the confidence of its entire community.
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