My Genealogy Hound

ALBERT G. SAYLOR, of 214 High street, Pottstown, Pennsylvania, was born in Limerick township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, about two miles from Trappe, November 16, 1826. He is the eldest son of Henry and Mary (Groves) Saylor, both natives of Montgomery county. They had five children, as follows: Susanna (deceased); Albert G.; Azariah, of Collegeville; Dr. Henry A. (deceased); and Ada Eliza Saylor, of Pottstown.

Henry Saylor (father) was born July 20, 1800, and lived on the farm near Limerick Square all his life. During the early part of his life he combined huckstering with farming but afterwards devoted himself entirely to his farm. He died April 21, 1877, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife survived him until 1880, being at the age of eighty years, four months and eighteen days, at the time of her death. Henry Saylor was a Democrat in politics and served as assessor of his township. Both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. Henry Saylor married Mary A. Groves, daughter of John Groves, in 1821. She was born in Montgomery county.

Henry Saylor (grandfather) purchased a farm in Limerick township in 1708, and it is still in the possession of the family. He lived nearly all of his life in Montgomery county and died in middle age. He was buried at Trappe. His wife was Susanna Schrauder, and they had two children: Henry and Susanna. The family is of German extraction.

John Groves (maternal grandfather) spent most of his life in Montgomery county.

Albert G. Saylor has lived all of his life in Montgomery county. He was reared on his father’s farm in Limerick township, attending the old-fashioned schools. He afterwards taught school for a short time. He entered the general store of Mr. Henry McKinty, at Douglassville, Berks county, as a clerk, and three months later took a position as clerk for Daniel H. Beecher of Pottstown, remaining with him for four years. His next position was with Frederick Bickel for whom he worked until Mr. Bickel sold out his business to Mr. Umstead Wells, Mr. Saylor remaining with him until after his marriage. In 1850 he opened a notion and millinery store in Pottstown, and in 1860 he added dry goods. Until 1884 he was actively engaged in his business and then, after carrying on the store for thirty-four years, he sold it to Landis & Snell. Since 1884 Mr. Saylor has lived retired.

In December, 1848, Albert G. Saylor married Miss Mary Ann Oberholtzer, daughter of Henry and Mary (Bechtel) Oberholtzer, of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. They had two children: Henry D. and Mary A. Henry D. Saylor is an attorney and is at present consul general at Coburg, Germany, transferred from Dawson, Yukon territory. He was state senator from Montgomery county. He married Dora Gerhart and they have three children: Albert G., Harold D. and Dorothy. Mary A. Saylor died April 11, 1883, at the age of twenty-one years, six months. Mrs. Mary Ann (Oberholtzer) Saylor died in May, 1869, in her forty-fourth year. She was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Transfiguration.

November 6, 1888, Albert G. Saylor married (second wife) Miss Mary Ann Sassaman, daughter of Jacob and Salome (Stauffer) Sassaman of Berks county, Pennsylvania. Both are members of the Lutheran Church of the Transfiguration.

Mr. Saylor belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has been a member of this fraternity for more than fifty years. Politically he has always been a free and independent voter.

Mr. Saylor is a stockholder in the National Bank of Pottstown; in the Iron National Bank and the Security Company of Pottstown; and has been interested in the Pottstown Cold Storage Company and a director in the same since its organization. He is secretary and treasurer of the Pottstown Fire Insurance Company. He has also been secretary of the Pottstown Cemetery Association for thirty years. He is a stockholder in the March-Brownback Stove Company. He owns a number of properties in Pottstown and has been a useful and helpful citizen to the borough. Since his retirement from business he has devoted a great part of his time to securing manufacturing establishments and other industries for his city. Mr. Saylor started with practically nothing, for when a lad of seventeen he came to Pottstown with but fifty cents as his capital. He has builded his own fortune and is a self-made man whose success is creditable and enviable. He has been treasurer of his church council for more than thirty years and for many years he was superintendent of the Sabbath-school. He has often represented his church at the synod and he is a member of the church council.