My Genealogy Hound

BENJAMIN QUILLMAN, one of the business men of Norristown, was born at Judgesville, July 10, 1846, and came to Norristown in the spring of 1857, being then in his twelfth year. His father having purchased the good will and fixtures of the Verandah Hotel on the corner of Market street, held possession of the place.

Benjamin Quillman attended the public schools for a few years, when he was sent to the private school of Mr. Davis and Mr. Supplee, and finally to the Treemount Seminary under Professor Loch, which seminary he left at the age of seventeen. He was then apprenticed to the printing business at the Register office, edited by Dr. E. L. Acher. After serving an apprenticeship of three and a half years, during which time he served the weekly paper to the town subscribers, he worked on the Norristown Herald, but for a short time only, paying more attention to the job printing under Ashenfelter & McClellan. Relinquishing the printing trade, he became connected as clerk with his father at the Rambo House, which his father had purchased. Remaining in this business for about five years, he became clerk with his brother in the grocery businesss at the corner of Main and DeKalb streets, and afterwards at the Odd Fellow Hall grocery on DeKalb street. In 1885 he bought the stove and tin roofing business of James M. Hoffer, at the corner of Main and DeKalb streets, and having purchased the adjoining property opened a hardware store in connection with his stove and roofing business, and in which he still continues. Mr. Quillman is the senior member of the firm of Crisman & Quillman, electricians, of Norristown.

Mr. Quillman was married to Miss Caroline V. Bard, a daughter of one of the oldest residents in Norristown, November 1, 1870. Five children were born to this marriage, one of whom died in infancy. The two sons are connected with the father in the hardware business.