My Genealogy Hound

ANTHONY HEEBNER SEIPT. Few men have achieved greater distinction in the mercantile and financial circles of Montgomery county than the late Anthony Heebner Seipt. He is to be numbered among the group of men who have been actively identified with the growth and development of Montgomery county during the past forty years.

Mr. Seipt was of German extraction, both of his parents being members of the sect known as Schwenkfeldians. This denomination consisted of the followers of Casper von Schwenkfeld, a Silesian nobleman of the sixteenth century. Its members were from among the more influential elements of Silesian society, but their weakness of numbers had exposed them to the attack of the Roman Catholics of the province, and to the persecution of the other more powerful religious parties. Finally, after more than a century of endurance, weakened in numbers and reduced by the many confiscations of land and property, little more than their homesteads remaining, many of them took refuge in seeking freedom in Holland, and a year later determining to build up a community in America, a small colony of them landed September, 1734, in Philadelphia, and from there spread out to Montgomery and Berks counties. In spite of their extreme conservatism they have been recognized by historians as a powerful factor for good in the development of these counties. Among these pioneer Schwenkfeldians were David Seibb, (the name in the following generation being anglicized to Seipt) his wife and two sons, Christopher and Casper. From the latter is descended George Seipt, father of Anthony H. Seipt, the subject of this sketch.

Anthony H. Seipt was born in Towmencin township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, October 2, 1825. His father, George Seipt, was a prosperous farmer; his mother was Anna Heebner, daughter of one of the Schwenkfelder ministers. His early youth was spent on the farm, to which his parents moved a year after his birth. Receiving a limited education in the schools of the township, he began his mercantile career at the age of twenty-three, purchasing a store at Franconiaville, now known as Elroy. Three years later he located at Providence Square, where he remained four years. He then resumed business at Skippack, having Ephraim Z. Keeler, as partner. By reason of Mr. Seipt’s remarkable energy his business reached phenomenal proportions, when in 1867 he sold his store, retiring from active mercantile life in order to more thoroughly devote his attention to other interests.

His successful mercantile career had served to stimulate his activity in other directions. He was actively associated with a number of the progressive developments and improvements in the county, occupying an especially prominent position in its railroad advancement. In addition to his connection with the Stony Creek Railroad, he was active both in the inception and development of the Perkiomen Railroad. He was president of this road from 1867 to 1888, during a period which was probably the most successful in its history as an independent road. He was interested in various other local improvements, especially in that of the public highways, serving for a number of years on the board of directors of the Perkiomen and Sumneytown Turnpike Company.

In financial circles Mr. Seipt occupied a prominent place. His keen judgment and conservative opinions in such matters were well recognized and highly esteemed. For a number of years he was a director of the Montgomery National Bank of Norristown. He was one of the organizers of the Montgomery Trust Company, and until his death a member of its directing board.

On March 6, 1852, Mr. Seipt married Lydia Detwiler, daughter of Abraham and Mary Detwiler, who died on March 1, 1883, during a stay in Jacksonville, Florida, after a brief illness. Their children were: Mary Ann, who died in infancy; Emma Jane, and Manilius D.

Emma Jane, the daughter, married Dr. Samuel Wolfe, December 27, 1877, now residing in Philadelphia. Manilius D., the son, resides in Nashville, Tennessee.

On November 20, 1888, Mr. Seipt was married to Mrs. Mary Heckler, who survived his death, which occurred on August 31, 1902, at his home in Skippack, Montgomery county, the immediate cause being due to apopletic complications. He was an unusually robust man, and remained active until his last illness. Mr. Seipt had a remarkable personality, which attracted a wide circle of friends. His integrity and absolute firmness in business, his energy, his sound judgment and his kindliness, won the respect and esteem of those with whom he came in contact. He was a devout Schwenkfelder, and out of his wealth, every dollar of which had come as a result of fair dealing and uprightness, he contributed liberally to various philanthrophies, usually without allowing mention of his name. This fact calls attention to one of his strongest traits of character-his retiring disposition. He preferred to live in a remote part of the county rather than to locate in a place where the opportunities for advancement were immensely greater for a man of his capabilities. This same trait manifested itself in his political career. Despite his wide acquaintanceship and influence he could never be induced to permit his name to be presented. In politics he was a Republican, but did not allow his views to become partisan.