My Genealogy Hound

ALBERT MATHIAS FRIEND. In business life success depends so entirely upon individual merit that when one has attained a position of prominence, as has Albert M. Friend, a well known and influential citizen of Ogontz, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and a member of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, it is an unmistakable evidence of ability, natural and acquired. He was born in Philadelphia, May 2, 1858, a son of Jacob and Fredrika (Jouss) Friend.

John Friend (grandfather) was a German by birth. He came to this country from Hesse Darmstadt in 1839, and settled where is now North Penn village, a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He brought with him from Germany his wife and five children, the mother of his children, whose maiden name was Miss Deemer, being his second wife. Their children were: Barbara, who married William Nevins, and they were the parents of one son, William. Hannah, who married John Smith, and their family consisted of five children, namely: John, William, George, Henry, and Edward. Jacob, mentioned hereinafter. Mathias, who married Dora Dothinger, and their children are Emma and Annie. Margaret, who married Peter Noll, and three children were born of this union: Albert, Charles, and Emma. John Friend, father of these children, was a wheelwright by trade. He began business on his own account at North Penn village, continuing at that occupation until his death in 1859, in the seventy-first year of his age.

Jacob Friend (father) came to America with his parents from Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, in 1839, locating in Philadelphia. He learned the art of leeching and cupping, and was thus employed to the time of his marriage, when he went to Louisville, Kentucky, where he engaged in the hotel business. During the Civil war Mr. Friend took sides with the Union army, and served in the engineering corps in the vicinity of his home. After the close of hostilities he returned to Louisville, remaining there until his death, September 3, 1871. He was united in marriage to Fredrika Jouss, daughter of Christian and Margaret (Muench) Jouss, of Philadelphia. Their children are as follows: Lillian, who died in infancy. Albert Mathias, born May 2, 1858, mentioned hereinafter. Barbara, born February 22, 1861. Caroline and Amelia (twins), born December 15, 1869. Charles, born April 1, 1872, married Margaret Fisher, no issue.

Albert M. Friend acquired his educational advantages in the schools of Louisville, Kentucky, which he entered at the age of four years, remaining there until thirteen years of age, when his father died, and thus his opportunities in the way of education were comparatively small. In 1871 he came to the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he obtained employment as an office boy in a banking house, and by his industrious habits and obliging demeanor, as well as his fidelity to duty, he advanced rapidly and learned the routine details of the various positions which he filled from time to time. In due course of time he began business on his own account, that of banking and brokerage. He is a member of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, at Third and Walnut streets, and conducts a very successful and extensive business, having long since, by honesty and upright dealings, established himself on a prosperous basis. For many years Mr. Friend was an active member of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, and is now an associate member of the Old Guard, “State Fencibles.” He is a member of the Union League and other social organizations, and is also prominent in Masonic circles, being a Royal Arch Mason, Knight Templar, a Scottish Rite Mason, and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He is a Republican in politics.

In 1884 Mr. Friend married Clara Tappen, daughter of Alfred W. and Sarah Jane (Lewis) Tappen, of Virginia. Mr. Tappen now resides in Ogontz, Pennsylvania. Two children have been the issue of this union: Ethelyn, born February 5, 1889, died February 24, 1894; and Albert Mathias, Jr., born February 27, 1894.