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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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DR. HERBERT A. BOSTOCK, of 353 East Main street, Norristown, is a native of England. He was born in Staffordshire, near Birmingham June 27, 1875, being the son of Edward and Mary (Johnson) Bostock. They had four sons: Edgar H., of New Martinsville, West Virginia, manager of three glass factories located in Martinsville, Buckhannon and Cameron respectively : Dr. Herbert A., of Norristown; Prank, manager of the glass factory at New Martinsville; and Daniel Earnest, a pupil in the public schools of Norristown.

The father was an apprentice at the glass trade, and owned a large hotel at West Bronwich. He came to America about 1884, and located first at Rock Island, Illinois, and later went back to England, sold his hotel, and returned to this country, settling in Norristown, which is still his summer home, although he is employed in the glass works at New Martinsville. His wife died in 1898, aged thirty-six years. She was a member of the Episcopal church, and an active worker therein. Her husband and children are also members of that church.

The paternal grandfather of Dr. Bostock, who was a native of England and a chemist, died in that country aged ninety-two years. He had two sons and a daughter. The maternal grandfather of Dr. Bostock was Charles Johnson. He was born in England, and died there in middle life, leaving two daughters.

Dr. Bostock was twelve years of age when he came to America, and grew to manhood in Norristown. He attended the public and high schools. After graduating he took up the study of pharmacy in the drug store of Lowenberg, and remained in the drug business more than four years. He was manager of the drug store of Charles B. Ashton, in Bridgeport, at the time of his retirement from that business. He spent one year at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, and studied medicine under Dr. J. J. Kane, attending Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and taking the four years’ course, graduating in 1898, and passing the state board examination that summer. He has practiced his profession in Norristown ever since.

Dr. Bostock belongs to Curtis Lodge, No. 239, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; also to the Best People on Earth of Elks. He is secretary and treasurer of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew of the Episcopal church in this county. He is also secretary and treasurer of St. Mark’s Guild of the Holy Trinity Chapel, and librarian of Holy Trinity Sunday school. He is a member of the Montgomery County Medical Society, of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and is county physician for Norristown and vicinity. Dr. Bostock is a fellow of the Forbes Anatomical League of Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia.

He was given the degree of Qualified Assistant at the examinations held by the State Pharmaceutical Examining Board. He is examining physician for the John Hancock Life Insurance Company in the country districts in the vicinity of Norristown. Dr. Bostock takes an active interest in sports, and is secretary of the Norristown Football Association. He is a Republican in politics, and an active worker in the fifth ward, in which he resides. He has occasionally been a candidate on the party ticket in that ward, but as it is strongly Democratic he was never elected.

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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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