My Genealogy Hound

ELLWOOD HOOT, son of Peter and Maranda (Wilgus) Hoot, is a native of the western part of Gwynedd township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He was born on the Hoot homestead, September 25, 1851. He remained on the farm until his eighteenth year, attending the public school in the district, and working at intervals on the farm. His father having died when he was quite a youth, his grandfather Philip Hoot, gave him a home whereon he remained until he grew to manhood. He went to Illinois where he engaged in farming and taught school one winter. He decided, however, to return to the East. Resuming work on the farm, he attended Washington Hall Collegiate Institute at Trappe, teaching school in the winter in order to obtain the means to complete his education. He had charge of the public school near “Friends’ Corner,” Gwynedd, for three years. The building has since been changed and enlarged and owned by the Gwynedd home for convalescing children. A new school house was erected on the Gwynedd turnpike road near Gwynedd station. He then accepted a position at the Jeffersonville school, two miles above Norristown, where he remained two years. He then had charge of the “Eight Square” school in Gwynedd township, near Lansdale, for three years. He married Eleanor J., daughter of Peter and Mary Hendricks Wanner, of Jeffersonville, on August 21, 1878, who died November 13, 1881, and was buried at the Lower Providence Presbyterian church cemetery. They had one child, Eleanor Naomi Hoot, born September 28, 1879. Mr. Hoot married on September 1, 1888, Ida L., daughter of Asher and Sarah (Shaffer) Webster, farmers and wood dealers, of West Point. Their children: Raymond, born September 27, 1889; Kenneth, born January 9, 1899, died February 1, 1904, and was buried at Wentz’s church, in Worcester township.

Mr. Hoot taught school and operated the home farm or a part of it until 1883, when, on the death of his grandmother, the farm, which contained eighteen acres of land at the junction of the Morris Road and the West Point Turnpike, was sold, and he removed to the village of West Point where he engaged in the real estate business, which he has pursued successfully since that time. In 1880 he was elected a justice of the peace, and has continued in the position by successive re-elections to the present time. In addition to his real estate business, he is employed in the settlement of estates and other business of that character, being a useful and valuable man in the community, whose confidence and respect he enjoys to the fullest extent. He owns three acres of fertile land which he cultivates.

Peter Cassel Hoot (father), born September 30, 1825, died January 30, 1859, and was buried at Wentz’s church, Worcester township. He was the son of Philip and Elizabeth (Cassel) Hoot. He was born on the original Hoot homestead, in Upper Gwynedd. He was employed on the farm and in attending school, until he reached manhood. He married Maranda Wilgus. Their children: James Peter, Ellwood and Peter Wilgus Hoot. James Peter Hoot married Sallie Roberts of Quakertown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged for several years in teaching school, and also practiced as a physician. He died June 22, 1876, and was buried at the Friends’ meeting house grounds, Quakertown. They had one child, James P. Peter Wilgus Hoot, who was never married, died May 8, 1904, and was buried at Wentz’s church, Worcester; Ellwood, subject of this sketch. He is a member of St. Luke’s Reformed church, North Wales.

Mr. Hoot has been secretary of West Point T. R. Co. since 1883; secretary and treasurer of the Farmers’ Mutual Live Stock Insurance Company of Montgomery county since 1889; a director in the Lansdale Trust Company; the Jenkintown Trust Company; manager of Line Lexington Mutual Fire Insurance Company and Montgomery Mutual Insurance Company of Norristown.