My Genealogy Hound

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.

* * * *

CHARLES MATHER, a conveyancer of Jenkintown, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, was born in Cheltenham township, Montgomery county, March 19, 1823, a son of John and Martha (Potts) Mather, the latter named being a daughter of Zebulon Potts, who was an officer in the Revolutionary army, the first sheriff of Montgomery county, and a member of the senate at the time of his death.

The Mather family are of English ancestry. Joseph Matther, the great-great-grandfather of Charles Mather, came to America in 1682, previous to the coming of William Penn, and settled in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he served for four years with Phineas Pemberton. In 1697 he married Elizabeth Russell, of Cheltenham township, a daughter of John Russell, and after his marriage resided on the Russell homestead, a tract of three hundred acres of land situated in Cheltenham township, and there spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1724. Their children were: Isabella, Elizabeth, Mary, Richard, John, and one other son who died in early life.

Richard Mather, the great-grandfather of Charles Mather, was born in Cheltenham township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, in 1698. He learned the cabinet making trade, but never followed that business, residing on the homestead farm the greater part of his life. In 1727 he married Sarah Penrose, daughter of Bartholomew and Esther (Leach) Penrose, and their children were: Joseph, Bartholomew, Elizabeth, Sarah, Richard, Benjamin, Mary, Isaac, Esther, and Hannah. Richard Mather, father of these children, died July 17, 1776.

Isaac Mather, grandfather of Charles Mather, was born in Cheltenham township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, July 9, 1749. He acquired a common school education, and afterward served an apprenticeship at the trade of millwright. In 1769 he erected a mill near what is now Chelten Hill Station, the mill being now the property of John Wanamaker. He subsequently removed to Whitemarsh, Montgomery county, and there engaged in the milling business for a number of years. He spent the autumn of his life on the homestead farm, where his death occurred in 1808. He married Mary Morris, daughter of Joshua Morris, May 17, 1770, and they had issue: Susanna, Mary, Joseph, John, Sarah, Joshua, Charles and Isaac.

John Mather, father of Charles Mather, was born at Whitemarsh, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, February 13, 1776. He received a common school education, and his business career was devoted to milling and farming. A portion of the latter years of his life were spent on the homestead farm, and the remainder in Jenkintown, where he died on August 7, 1865. His wife, Martha (Potts) Mather, who died on August 2, 1873, bore him the following named children: Isaac, born August 27, 1806, married Ann Hallowell, and resides on the old homestead, now in his ninety-eighth year. Edward, born July 24, 1808, married Hannah Paul, and died March 26, 1901. John, born June 27, 1810, not heard from since 1838. Martha, born May 19, 1812, died unmarried on September 13, 1886. Daniel, born December 6, 1816, died May 12, 1817. Rebecca S., born January 18, 1819, widow of Charles Mitchener. Elizabeth H., born November 21, 1820, became the wife of Samuel W. Noble, and died September 12, 1897. Charles, born March 19, 1823, mentioned hereinafter. Jane, born May 13, 1825, died July 23, 1897. Ann, born August 31, 1827, unmarried, and living at the present time (1904).

Charles Mather, youngest son of John and Martha Mather, acquired his education in the Friends’ School of Jenkintown, and afterwards engaged in agricultural pursuits until he attained the age of twenty-one years. He then went to Rochester, New York, was there employed for two years, and at the expiration of this period of time returned to Jenkintown and purchased a spice mill in Philadelphia which he operated for three or four years. He then sold his spice mill, and for the following five years was engaged in the manufacture of printing ink. He was next engaged in the advertising business, which he conducted until 1861, when he returned to Jenkintown, and since that date has been engaged in a conveyancing and insurance company. He is secretary of the Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Jenkintown, and of the Mutual Home Insurance Company of the same place. He served as justice of the peace for a number of years, but resigned this office to become a notary public for the Jenkintown Bank. He was one of the first borough councilmen, and served one term as burgess. Politically he is a Republican, but takes no active part in political matters. Socially he is a charter member of Friendship Lodge No. 400, Free and Accepted Masons. He is an honored resident of Jenkintown, and is respected and esteemed by the whole community.

Mr. Mather was married to Alice O. Warner, daughter of William and Maria (Pierie) Warner, of Philadelphia, in that city, by Mayor Swift, on December 31, 1846. To them were born the following named children: Mary W., born October 22, 1847. Charles, born April 18, 1849, married Annie Bates, daughter of George and Margaret Bates, and they are the parents of four sons: Charles, born August 19, 1883; Pierie, born January 18, 1885; Raymond, born June 28, 1886; Otis, born January 30, 1890. William W., born April 4, 1852.

* * * *

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

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.