History of Norristown, (Montgomery County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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Local History Notes:

NORRISTOWN, a handsome town, capital of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, on the left bank of the Schuylkill river, 91 miles E. from Harrisburg, and 17 miles N. W. from Philadelphia, with which it is connected by railroad. The situation is elevated and beautiful; the town is regularly planned, and built in a neat and substantial manner. Brick and stone are the materials employed almost exclusively. The new court house, which was commenced in 1851, will be one of the most splendid and costly buildings of its class in the United States. The material is a native marble, of a light gray color, and the cost is estimated at $150,000. It contains a handsome county prison, a bank, a public library, 9 or 10 churches, and 3 or 4 flourishing boarding schools, 2 of which have large and elegant buildings situated on high ground in the S. E. part of the town; 4 newspapers are published here. The Schuylkill river is crossed by two substantial covered bridges, about 800 feet in length, one of which leads to the borough of Bridgeport, on the opposite bank. Gaslight has been introduced, during the present year, 1853. Norristown is the E. terminus of the Chester Valley railroad, 22 miles in length, which intersects the Columbia railroad at Downingtown. The improved navigation of the river affords facilities for the trade of this town, which is active and increasing. The Reading railroad which passes along the opposite bank of the river, opens a ready communication to the coal mines of Schuylkill county. The abundant water-power of the river is used in two large cotton factories, which employ several hundred operatives, and in several rolling mills and nail factories. Pop. in 1850, 6024.

Biographies:

Samuel Reed Fisher, clergyman, was born in Norristown, Pa., June 2, 1810. He attended the German Reformed seminary at York, Pa., and was graduated from Jefferson college in 1834. In 1836 he was granted a license to preach by the synod of the German Reformed church, and the same year was ordained pastor at Emmittsburg, Md. He was editor of the Reformed Church Messenger, published at Chambersburg, Pa., 1840-80, and was appointed stated clerk, which position he held until his death. He had the special management of the Reformed Church publications, 1845-81. He was twice married: first, on April 5, 1837, to Ellen C., daughter of Daniel C. May, and secondly to Mrs. Naomi Kerns. He received the degree of D.D. from Franklin and Marshall college in 1853. He published: Exercises on the Heidelberg Catechism (1844); Heidelberg Catechism Simplified (1850); a translation from the German, The Rum Plague (1853); and The Family Assistant (1855). He died while attending the general synod at Tiffin, Ohio, June 5, 1881.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Henry McCarter, illustrator, was born in Norristown, Pa., July 5, 1865; son of Marshall J. and Anne (Bowden) McCarter. He was a student at the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts under Thomas Eakins, 1883-89; meanwhile illustrating occasionally for the Century and other magazines. In 1889 he went to France and studied under Bonnat, Rixens and Alexander Harrison. His illustrations for Zola's" Lourdes" and Paul Verlaine's poems, which appeared in 1894, at once established his reputation as an illustrator. He returned to America in 1891 and made numerous notable drawings for Scribner's Magazine. In 1895-96 he was again in Paris, studying under Merson. Among his more important drawings may be mentioned the illustrations for An Easter Hymn (1895); a series of drawings of Coney Island (1895); The Sea is His, a series of colored drawings for Scribner's Magazine and a number of mural decorations.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

David Rittenhouse Porter, governor of Pennsylvania, was born in Norristown, Pa., Oct. 31, 1788; son of Gen. Andrew Porter. He attended the academy at Norristown, and became secretary to his father in the surveyor-general's office at Harrisburg in 1809. He removed to Huntingdon county; engaged in iron manufacturing and in agriculture, and was married in 1826 to Josephine, daughter of William McDermott. He was a representative in the state legislature, 1834-36; state senator, 1836-38; was elected governor of the state in 1838 by the Democratic party, and was re-elected for a second term in 1841. He advocated the completion of the main lines of canals and rivers across the state from east to west, endeavored to secure the payment of interest on the public debt and suppressed the Phildelphia riots of 1844. He returned to his iron business in 1844, and was subsequently interested with Gen. Sam Houston of Texas in the organization of a railroad through Texas to the Pacific coast, but the outbreak of the civil war ruined the project. He died in Harrisburg, Pa., Aug. 6, 1867.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

George Franklin Huff, representative, was born in Norristown, Pa., July 16, 1842; son of George and Caroline (Boyer) Huff, and grandson of George and Anna (Mull) Huff, and of Henry K. and Caroline (Kreps) Boyer. He attended the schools of Middletown and Altoona, Pa., and learned the trade of car finishing. He afterward entered the banking business at Greensburg, Pa. He was a member of the Republican national convention in 1880; a state senator, 1884-88; a Republican representative from the 21st district in the 52d congress, 1891-93, and a representative at large in the 54th congress, 1895-97.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor