My Genealogy Hound

PROF. J. HORACE LANDIS, A. M., County Superintendent of Public Schools in Montgomery county, is a native of Grater’s Ford, where he was born October 20, 1854. He is the son of John and Anna (Hunsicker) Landis.

John B. Landis (father) was a native of Upper Providence township. He was born in 1814. After receiving an ordinary education in neighborhood schools he learned the trade of a plasterer, which he followed for many years at Trappe, Norristown, and elsewhere in the county, Later he engaged in farming at Grater’s Ford, where he owned a fine farm of 140 acres. During the latter years of his life his time was employed principally in the management of his farm. He was an active Republican in politics, earnestly working to promote the success of its principles and candidates. He was a member of Trinity Reformed church, Collegeville, although the family were originally Mennonites. He married Anna, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Hunsicker. She was born in 1817. Her mother, Elizabeth Hunsicker, died a few years ago at the age of ninety-nine years. Mr. and Mrs. John B. Landis had the following children: Elizabeth B. (deceased); Mary M., Anna (deceased); Hattie, Hannah H. (deceased); Abraham, Katie H., Benjamin, J. Horace, subject of this sketch; Henry, Josephine, Frits, A. Lincoln, Elias (died in infancy). John B. Landis died in 1896, and his wife in 1897. The Hunsickers are an old family in Montgomery county, the progenitor in America being Valentine Hunsicker, a native of Switzerland, who came to this country in 1717, and about 1720 settled in Perkiomen township. His descendants are now to be found in a majority of the townships of the county.

John Landis (grandfather) was born in Montgomery county, near Branchville, in 1775, and died in 1831. Early in life he removed to Upper Providence township, and purchased a large farm on which he spent the remainder of his life. In politics he was a Whig. He married Mary Beitler, of an old Chester county family. The couple had four children: Abraham, John, (father), Jacob, and Hannah, who married Daniel Longacre. The Landis family trace their ancestry back to Holland, whence their progenitor emigrated to this country at an early date. Some branches of the family spell the name Landes.

J. Horace Landis was reared on the homestead farm, alternating school study with work in the fields during the summer season. The foundation of his education was laid in the schools of Perkiomen township. He followed farming for a time, and then entered Ursinus College, where he perfected himself in several branches. Having a desire to become a teacher, he became a student at the Millersville State Normal School in Lancaster county, graduating therefrom in the elementary course in 1877. Soon afterwards he took a post-graduate course at that institution, subsequently entering the University of Pennsylvania. In 1895 the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by Ursinus College. While attending the various institutions of learning which have been named, Professor Landis taught school at intervals, and during vacations. He served for several years as principal of the public schools of Mauch Chunk, the county seat of Carbon. He was also principal of the Schwenksville and Landsdale schools, both in Montgomery county, filling all these positions very successfully, and being generally recognized as one of the leading educators of the county, and taking a very active part in the annual institutes. In 1892 he was elected principal of the Conshohocken public schools, filling the position in the most satisfactory manner, and being chosen by successive re-elections until his appointment to the office of county superintendent, made vacant by the death of Professor Reuben F. Hoffecker, in December, 1903. He had under his charge as principal of the borough schools of Conshohocken about twenty-five teachers, and under his management the various departments attained a high standard of efficiency. On Christmas day, 1879, Professor Landis married Lizzie K. Kratz, a daughter of Michael Kratz, a well-known business man of Greenlane, Montgomery county. The couple have one child, Vesta K., who has for some time been engaged in teaching in the public schools of Conshohocken.

In politics Prof. Landis is an earnest Republican. He is a member of the Schwenksville Mennonite church, Schwenksville, Pennsylvania. His selection as county superintendent at a time when a number of competitors were seeking the honor, was a high tribute to the esteem in which he was held not only in Conshohocken but throughout the county. He had shown himself in his management of the Conshohocken schools to be an able, progressive and popular teacher, and it was generally felt that the educational interests of the county would be safe in his hands. It was his aim in the position to secure for the borough schools what was attainable in the way of buildings, books, furniture and other educational equipment. During his principalship, Latin, German, typewriting, sewing, vocal music and manual training were introduced into the Conshohocken schools, and the buildings devoted to school purposes were very much improved. As a teacher, Professor Landis enjoyed the confidence of his pupils and of the entire community. He greatly extended the course of study, and elevated the educational standard of the borough. He had no difficulty in interesting the pupils in school work, and in securing the full cooperation of parents and directors in school progress. In the position of county superintendent Professor Landis has very thoroughly fulfilled the expectations that were entertained at the time of his appointment. He has pursued a wise, liberal and progressive policy, laying more stress upon originality in research on the part of the pupils of the schools under his supervision than upon mere memory work. He has sought to increase the usefulness of the schools in every possible way, favoring a generous policy as regards school buildings and equipment, and encouraging teachers and pupils to cherish the highest and best aims. He has been in the position of county superintendent what he was as a teacher-alert, progressive, and ever ready to do his utmost to promote the interests of education.

Professor Landis is a member of the Masonic order. Mrs. Landis belongs to a family long resident in Montgomery county. Their first ancestor in America was Valentine Kratz, who came to Pennsylvania early in the eighteenth century, settling in what is now Skippack town- ship. The family are of German origin.