My Genealogy Hound

EUGENE EDGAR NICE, son of Harper and Mary Kelter (Large) Nice, was born July 30, 1852, in Cheltenham township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where his parents were at that time engaged in farming. When he was seven years of age his parents removed to Whitpain township, where his father having purchased a farm containing eighty acres, lying in Whitemarsh and Whitpain townships, from Emanuel Wentz, engaged in its cultivation. While living at this place he attended the public school at Shady Grove, and also the school of Thomas Arrott, an institution for boys and young men at Penllyn, which had quite a reputation in its day. When he was sixteen years of age he left school and entered as an assistant in the general store of Charles F. Wilson, in Jenkintown, with whom he remained a short time when he went to Philadelphia. In that city he entered the establishment of Felton, Rau & Sibley, extensive manufacturers of paints and varnishes, at Fourth and Cherry streets. He remained with this firm until 1873, acting in the capacity of collector and general businessman in office. On January 1, 1875, he associated himself with Charles Chipman at Second and Spruce streets, Philadelphia, in the manufacture of paints and varnishes, in which neighborhood he has continued to conduct the business, and has been eminently successful.

Mr. Nice married, November 4, 1875, Hester, daughter of Albert Gallatin and Hannah (Keisel) Wertsner, of Whitpain township. Their children were: Herbert Edgar, born May 17, 1877, died July 10, 1877; Anna, married November 4, 1903, Joseph Allen Potts, of Philadelphia; Blanche, who resides with her parents; Jesse Layton, engaged with his father in the paint business. In 1889 Mr. Nice purchased a country place in Lower Gwynedd township, at the corner of Penllyn Road and Mount Pleasant avenue, Ambler, known as “Old Oaks,” where the family spend their summers, their city residence being at Seventeenth and Diamond streets, Philadelphia. He and his family are members of the Baptist church at Broad and Berks street, Philadelphia, of which the Rev. Russell H. Conwell is the pastor. Mr. Nice is very active in church affairs, and has served in various capacities, always endeavoring to advance the interests of the church and the congregation. In politics he follows the traditions of his family and is a Republican, although he has never sought or held office.

Harper Nice (father) was the son of John and Sarah (Harper) Nice. He was born at Milestown, in Cheltenham township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1815, on the old Nice homestead. He died November 1, 1894. He was educated in the pay schools of the vicinity, the era of public schools not having as yet come, and was a farmer by occupation. He married, February 27, 1840, Mary, daughter of Jesse Large. Their children Lemuel Dowdy, born March 21, 1841, died January 3, 1894, married Rebecca Fisher, and resided in Philadelphia; Jesse Large, born June 12, 1842, died October 21, 1899, married, October 9, 1861, Mary Catharine Rossiter (of an old family long resident in Whitpain township) and resided at Camp Hill; Catharine Large, born December 26, 1843, married, November 5, 1867, John U. Slingluff, and resides at Sidney, Nebraska; John, born August 1, 1845, died September 12, 1863; Jacob Large, born April 13, 1848, married March 18, 1869, Irene Whitcomb, of Upper Dublin township; Harper born March 25, 1850, married, November 25, 1874, Annie Elizabeth Stout, residing near Broad Axe, in Whitpain township; Eugene, subject of this sketch; Sarah, born July 25, 1854, married, July 6, 1875, Henry Fassett, son of Joseph Phillips and Rebecca (Shaw) Conard, farmers, residing near Blue Bell, in Whitpain township; Horace Humphrey, born April 8, 1857, died November 4, 1859.

John Nice (grandfather) was the son of John and Margaret Nice. He was born November 8, 1767, and died September 29, 1851, being a native of Bristol township, in Philadelphia county. He followed farming throughout his life. He married, March 18, 1794, Sarah Harper, born October 18, 1775, died April 30, 1852. The couple had fifteen children, of whom Harper Nice (father) was the thirteenth.

John Nice (great-grandfather) was the son of Anthony Nice, who came to the province of Pennsylvania in the time of William Penn, and took up land. The Nice family from their first coming to Pennsylvania in colonial times have always stood well in the communities in which they lived. Honest, industrious and thrifty, they have always maintained their reputation as the best of citizens. The present generation are equally worthy and equally respected with any that have gone before.