My Genealogy Hound

FRANCIS H. LUBBE, one of the old and staid citizens of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, where he has resided for many years, is a native of the Fatherland, having been born at the village of Steinbeck, in the parish of Enger, county of Herford, in the province of Westphalia, kingdom of Prussia, Germany, April 9, 1820, a son of Herman and Catherine (Kleinman) Lubbe. Herman Lubbe (father) was a farmer by occupation, and was a loyal son of the Fatherland, having served in the Prussian heavy cavalry. He was well known for his probity of character and Christian principles, and was a consistent member of the Evangelical Lutheran church of his native village, where he died in 1847 at the age of forty-eight years. His faithful wife came to the United States and died at Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1869, aged seventy-three years. This worthy couple were the parents of eleven children, as follows: Francis H., Henry, Herman, Catherine, Anna, Christina, Casper, Elizabeth, and three who died in infancy. Of the above mentioned children, Herman and Anna came to this country with their mother.

Francis H. Lubbe received his educational training in the schools of his native village, which he attended up to fourteen years of age, when he was confirmed and became a member of the Lutheran parish church. He remained under the parental roof for some time, and upon the advice of his parents decided to learn the trade of carpenter, and accordingly began a six years’ apprenticeship. He served his master faithfully for that period, and upon the completion of his apprenticeship the young mechanic started out as a journeyman, traveling abroad, as was the custom in those days in the Fatherland. Having been disciplined to practical and methodical methods while at home, Mr. Lubbe kept a diary of his experiences and travels which in course of time became somewhat voluminous, and which he hoped at some future time to put to practical advantage. In the course of his travels he eventually found himself in Sweden, where he remained for some time, and while there was apprised of the death of his father. Having a desire to visit the United States and not wishing to return home, since the death of his father meant many radical changes in the family, he suddenly decided to sail for the new world. This was in the year 1848, and Mr. Lubbe accordingly made arrangements with Captain John Foster, of the good ship “Monroe,” of Norfolk, Virginia, from the harbor of Breiner Haven, and thus secured passage. The vessel finally sailed for America, and after a tedious voyage of sixty- three days landed at Baltimore, Maryland, whence the young German made his way to Philadelphia in quest of employment. He was not successful in his search, and continued his journey to Bridgeport, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he had previously learned that a friend of his resided, and in this town he finally secured employment. He subsequently came to Conshohocken, and during the succeeding winter found employment here with Mr. Hallowell. The following year he was employed at Haddington, Philadelphia, and other nearby places. He lost little time through idleness, and by his methodica1 ways and frugal habits accumulated the requisite sum to establish a home soon after his marriage, and in 1853 settled at Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, where he has since resided.

During the half century of his residence in Conshohocken, Mr. Lubbe was for a number of years successfully engaged in building and contracting, in which line of enterprise he continued up to 1878, when he engaged in the real estate and conveyancing business with an office in Conshohocken, and this line of industry he conducted up to within recent years, when he retired from active business pursuits owing to the increasing infirmities of age. He was for many years actively connected with several building and loan associations in Conshohocken, and was instrumental in the organization and establishment of the electric light company of the borough, serving as its president for a number of years. It can be justly said that he seldom withheld his aid from any worthy enterprise having for its object the advancement and progress of the neighborhood.

Mr. Lubbe is a Republican in politics. He has served as treasurer of Conshohocken for two terms, as a member of the school board, and also as a notary public for over twenty-five years. Fraternally he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for many years. He is now one of the oldest deacons of the First Baptist church of Conshohocken, being one of its charter members, and has served as its treasurer for over thirty years. He has rendered substantial aid in the erection of the new edifice of the First Baptist church now in course of construction in Conshohocken, his donation making the rebuilding of the church possible. The achievements which Mr. Lubbe has accomplished are both worthy and commendable, and his life has been honorable and upright, commanding for him unqualified confidence and regard. The hope which led him to seek a home in America has been more than realized, and as the result of his capable business energies he is numbered today among those who have acquired sufficient competence to enable them to put aside the active duties of life.

Francis H. Lubbe was married March 10, 1853, to Anna Louisa Custer, who was born February 17, 1831, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Osborn) Custer, of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. To this marriage were born three children who attained years of maturity: 1. Charles C., born June 6, 1857; he was given excellent educational privileges and had attended two years at the University of Pennsylvania, when he was awarded a scholarship at the National Naval School at Annapolis, Maryland, through the intercession of the Hon. Alan Wood, Jr., and graduated from the institution with honors. His brilliant career was suddenly ended by accidental drowning on August 4, 1879, while trying to rescue another person from the same fate at Atlantic City, New Jersey. 2. Ella C., born July 2, 1861, became the wife of David H. Ross, son of John and Jane (McNichol) Ross, and they are the parents of two children: Anna Janet, who died in infancy; and Francis L. Ross, born December 2, 1900. 3. Wilmer F., born October 10, 1864; he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where in addition to the regular course he pursued a post-graduate course in civil engineering. He then entered the employ of the Westinghouse Electric Company, and was making a creditable record, having constructed his tenth power and electric light plant in the brief period of his career, among them the power and electric light plant at Conshohocken, when he was stricken down with typhoid fever which terminated his life on February 6, 1889.