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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company; Elwood Roberts, Editor.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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CHARLES H. STINSON. The Stinsons are an old family in Montgomery county, being of Scotch-Irish descent. Hon. Robert Stinson was prominent in politics in the early part of the last century, being for many years a justice of the peace, and serving as an anti-masonic member of the legislature in 1836. He married Elizabeth Porter, daughter of Stephen Porter and niece of General Andrew Porter. The Porters were a prominent family of Norriton township, and while none of the name remain in this vicinity, many of the old families are connected with them by descent or intermarriage. Hon. Robert Stinson (grandfather) had several children, as follows: Margaret, Stephen Porter, Mary H., George W., Charles H., John E., Elizabeth, Francis G., Robert Burns and Jane. All these children are now deceased except Francis G. Mary H. Stinson left a considerable sum of money to found a home for aged women which is located on Swede street, Norristown.

Charles H. Stinson (father) was born in Norriton township, June 28, 1825. After some time spent in the select schools and academies of that day he became a student at Dickinson College, Carlisle, graduating in the class of 1845. In 1846 he entered as a law student with his brother, George W. Stinson, and remained with him until the death of the latter in 1848. He completed his studies under Addison May, then of Norristown, but later of West Chester, and was admitted to the bar, May 22, 1849. He entered at once upon the practice of law, taking very soon a leading rank in his profession and becoming very successful therein. During the later years of his life he was counsel for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in Montgomery county, during which period the Schuylkill Valley and Trenton Cut-off branches of that line were constructed, each extending through the county and each giving rise to many damage suits which were defended by M;. Stinson with great ability and shrewdness, his son, C. Henry Stinson, and William F. Solly, then engaged in the active practice of law but now the judge of the orphans’ court at Norristown, being associated with him in the conduct of many of these cases.

Charles H. Stinson was a prominent Republican from the formation of the party in 1856. Having refused the nomination for state senator in 1864, he accepted it in 1867, and with Dr. Worthington of West Chester as his colleague, he was elected to represent the counties of Montgomery, Chester and Delaware, then forming the district. He took an active part in the work of that body in 1868, was elected speaker in 1869 and re-elected in 1870 to that position, in which he presided with that dignity and fairness which always characterized his bearing toward those with whom he came in contact. Having declined the appointment of additional law judge of Montgomery and Bucks counties, tendered him by Governor Geary, on the death of Judge Henry C. Ross in 1882, he accepted the appointment of president judge from Governor Hoyt. In the fall of that year he was named by acclamation by his party for the position but the district being Democratic at that time, his opponent, Hon. B. Markley Boyer was elected, although Mr. Stinson ran considerably ahead of his ticket. Judge Stinson was given an opportunity to exercise that philanthropic spirit which characterizes the family, in the capacity of member of the board of trustees of the Norristown Hospital for the Insane, a position which he held from the organization of the institution until his death, being its honored president from the time of the death of ex-Governor John F. Hartranft. In this position Judge Stinson was influential in the adoption of many improvements on the old hospital system, among them the placing of a woman at the head of the department for females in that institution, which innovation has resulted in great benefit and is being extensively imitated throughout the country. In every relation of life judge Stinson was faithful in the discharge of duty. He died rather suddenly, March 10, 1899.

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This family biography is one of more than 1,000 biographies included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

View additional Montgomery County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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