My Genealogy Hound

ABRAHAM H. MARCH, head of the A. H. March Packing Company, of Bridgeport, his residence being at 618 Swede street, Norristown, is a native of the last named borough, where he was born March 18, 1858. He is the son of Reinhart and Caroline (Hallman) March, also natives of this county. The couple had ten children in all, seven sons and three daughters, only six of whom are now living, as follows: Elmira, wife of Enos Getman, of Norristown; Reinhart P., of 1803 Berks street, Philadelphia; George W. March, a well known builder and business man of Norristown; Professor Jerry March, widely known as a musical instructor, now residing at 704 North Sixteenth street, Philadelphia; Abraham H.; and Alice, wife of Louis Martin, of 2223 St. Albans Place, Philadelphia.

Reinhart March (father) was a wheelwright by occupation, living in Norristown for many years. He also conducted a hotel at various times. During the Rebellion he enlisted in the Fifty-first Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry and served three years, lacking two weeks. He was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, during General Grant’s memorable campaign near the close of the war, from which injury he afterwards died. He was a private and participated in most of the battles in which the Army of the Potomac was engaged. He was about forty-five years of age at the time of his death. His widow died in 1875 at an advanced age. Both were members of the Lutheran church.

The paternal grandfather of Abraham H. March was a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, and was of German descent. He died in middle age.

William Hallman (maternal grandfather), was born in Limerick, where he spent most of his life and died at the age of ninety-two years. He was a farmer and had a large family of children.

Abraham H. March, at the age of nine years, was placed with a farmer, remaining there and performing the ordinary duties of farm life until he was seventeen years of age, attending at intervals the district schools of the neighborhood. He then engaged as a clerk in the grocery store of his brother Reinhart, in Norristown, for about two years, withdrawing from that occupation to conduct a butchering business for fifteen months. Relinquishing that business he purchased a grocery store on Marshall street which he conducted for seven years and a half. His next change was to operate his brother-in-law’s pork-packing business at Bridgeport, which he purchased on July 18, 1888, and has conducted ever since. The establishment was incorporated July 1, 1902, under the name of the A. H. March Packing Company, of which Mr. March is the president. The plant is one of the most extensive and thoroughly equipped in eastern Pennsylvania, twenty-five or more men being employed, and its product having a high reputation among dealers and consumers wherever it is known. Mr. March is an active and progressive business man, achieving success through his energy, attention to business and judicious methods of operation.

On June 1, 1879, he married Miss Louise Charbonnier, daughter of Mames and Laura Charbonnier. The couple have had six children, as follows: Leon, Abraham, Paul, Frank, Earl and George. Leon died at the age of six months, Abraham in his eighth year, and Frank at the age of two years. Mr. and Mrs. March are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church of the Trinity, Norristown, in which he is also a deacon.

Mr. March is connected with several philanthrophic and benevolent institutions, including the following: Charity Lodge No. 190, Free and Accepted Masons; Norristown Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Hutchinson Commandery, No. 32, Knights Templar of Norristown; Philadelphia Consistory, Masonic Temple, Broad and Filbert streets, and Lulu Temple, Spring Garden street, Philadelphia. He is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason. He is senior warden of the blue lodge; past high priest of Norristown Chapter, and past commander of Hutchinson Commandery. He is also a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In politics Mr. March is a Republican but has never sought or held office.