My Genealogy Hound

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.

* * * *

ISRAEL HALLOWELL, eldest child of Jonas W. and Esther L. (Fenton) Hallowell, was born at the family homestead near Bethayres, March 31, 1863.

His early mental training was obtained at the Abington Friends’ School, where he attended up to the age of fifteen, when he entered the Friends’ Central High School at Fifteenth and Race streets, Philadelphia, where he attended for three years. In the autumn of 1882, at the earnest solicitation of the late county superintendent, Professor R. F. Hoffecker, Mr. Hallowell taught the Mt. Pleasant school in Moreland township. Not intending to make teaching his avocation, Mr. Hallowell, however, passed a successful examination and received a teacher’s certificate from Professor Hoffecker, and again taught school in Moreland township during the winter of 1883. In 1886 Mr. Hallowell engaged in farming on his own account on the homestead, in partnership with his brother James F. In 1887 James F, withdrew, and Israel has continued the management of the homestead farm successfully to the present time. Mr. Hallowell’s interest in educational affairs has always been of the active kind. In 1889 he accepted the appointment to fill the unexpired term of Henry Morris, in the Moreland township school board; in 1891 was elected a member of the board to succeed himself, and has since been consecutively elected and served on the board to the present time. In 1898 he was chosen by the board as treasurer, and has since filled the position to the entire satisfaction of his colleagues. Mr. Hallowell has also taken an active interest in all such enterprises that have tended toward the advancement of his neighborhood. He is a member of the board of directors of the Huntingdon Valley Building and Loan Association; a member of the board of directors of the Fox Chase and Huntingdon Turnpike Company; and has served as assistant clerk of the Abington Friends’ meeting for a number of years, and as clerk of the same since 1897. Himself and family are members of the Abington Friends’ meeting.

Israel Hallowell was married, January 22, 1890, to Ruth A., born June 26, 1866, daughter of George and Ann Elizabeth Branin, and their children are: George B., born July 25, 1891; Alice E., born December 10, 1894; and Mary Elizabeth, born January 2, 1902.

* * * *

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

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.