My Genealogy Hound

HORACE B. RIGHTER. The Righter family is of German origin, tracing the American ancestry to one of three brothers, who, with two sisters, came to Philadelphia. One of them located in Lower Merion township, settling on Mill creek, where he owned a grist mill. He was John, great-great-grandfather of Horace B. Righter. The Righters were Friends, the two sisters being preachers in the Society.

John Righter had a family of children, including Anthony Righter (great-grandfather). Anthony was a millwright by trade, residing in early life in Lower Merion, but living later in Whitemarsh township, on the property purchased by his son John. Anthony Righter married Catharine Taylor, the couple having nine children: John, Morris T., Isaac, Joseph, Anthony, Richard, Mary (Pontzler), Catharine and Elizabeth (Nuss). He died at the age of eighty-nine years.

John Righter (grandfather), was a native of Lower Merion, being a farmer and later engaged, near Spring Mill, in burning lime, hauling much of it to Philadelphia. After the construction of the canal large quantities were shipped in that way, three hundred thousand bushels in one year. Later he retired from the lime business, and became a successful farmer at Spring Mill. Originally a Democrat, he became a Republican, was interested in the Underground Railroad and was generally active in neighborhood affairs. He died in 1869, aged eighty-three years, his remains being interred in Barren Hill cemetery. His wife was Elizabeth Le Gaux, and their children were: Peter L., Isaac (died young), Joseph, Anthony P., John A., Charles C., Lindley V., George W., and Lucressa R. Mrs. Righter died in 1867, in the seventieth year of her age.

Peter Le Gaux (maternal great-grandfather), a native of France, came from the province of Lorraine to America in 1785. He was an attorney-at-law, having been admitted at Matz in his twentieth year, and at the supreme tribunal, Nantes, in 1768. He was a member of the Masonic order, a member and correspondent of several academies of science and arts in Europe and America, a meteorologist and a man of considerable literary ability. In many respects Peter Le Gaux was a very remarkable character. He died at Spring Mill, September 27, 1827.

John A. Righter (father), was born at Spring Mill, September 16, 1821. He attended neighborhood schools until seventeen years of age, remaining with his father until 1847. Having married in 1845, he engaged in mercantile business until the war of the Rebellion, becoming interested in the meantime in soapstone quarries in Lower Merion, which he operated for twelve years. Selling the farm and quarries to Howard Wood and Clement Griscom, he lived a retired life from 1876 to his death in 1900. Mr. Righter was a director in the Tradesmen’s National Bank, in Conshohocken. An ardent Republican, he was poor director for three years, and for many years a school director in Whitemarsh. He was a member of Charity Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Norristown. Mr. Righter was married, December 11, 1845, to Rebecco Kirkner, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Kirkner, of Barren Hill. They had four children: Daniel, Horace B., Joseph K., and Kate, now Mrs. Michael K. Wood, of Conshohocken, whose sons are Frank A. and John R. Wood, the last named being cashier in the Tradesmen’s Bank of Conshohocken.

Horace B. Righter was born February 2, 1856, at Spring Mill. He attended the neighborhood schools, was a student in Professor John Loche’s boarding school at Norristown and in a private school in Philadelphia. He became a remarkably fine penman. When seventeen years of age he went to Altoona, Pennsylvania, to learn the machinist’s trade but remained only six months and after his return clerked for D. O. & H. S. Hitner for fourteen years. He then entered the employ of the railroad company, at Conshohocken, and two years were thus passed after which he assisted his father in the recorder’s office as clerk for fifteen years. He was then elected to that office in 1899 and served for one term. He is active and prominent in local political circles and served as a member of the county committee for several years and has been a delegate to the county conventions of the Republican party. He is a Mason and belongs to the same chapter in which his father held membership. Of kindly, genial disposition he has made many friends in the various public positions he has filled.

On the 12th of December, 1900, Mr. Righter married Miss Lettie Lentz, of Spring Mill, daughter of George W. and L. S. (Funk) Lentz. Her father, who was proprietor of a hotel, was born in Whitemarsh township and died April 19, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Lentz had two children, Lettie and Daniel H. Mr. and Mrs. Righter have a daughter, Florence A., born December 3, 1901, and they reside at No. go3 West Marshall street, Norristown.