My Genealogy Hound

JACOB EDWARDS, a well known farmer of Plymouth township, residing near the borough line of Norristown, is descended from an old Bucks county family of Welsh origin. He is the son of Samuel and Margaret Edwards. He was born August 4, 1848, in Upper Dublin township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, near the village of Fitzwatertown. The family removed when he was a mere child to Whitpain township in said county, where they farmed for two years; to Plymouth township, near Hickorytown, where they resided four years; to Spring Mill, in Whitemarsh township, two years; and at other places in or near Norristown for the next half dozen years. Samuel Edwards then bought a farm of thirteen acres at Springtown, about two miles from Norristown, where the family remained about seventeen years, and then removed to Norristown, where they have since resided.

Jacob Edwards was reared on the farm, but on coming of age engaged in business as a contractor, being a part of the time in partnership with his brother George in Norristown. In 1901 he bought of the Shoemaker estate the twenty-eight acre farm which had been the home of John Gallagher, a well known resident of the vicinity, in his lifetime. He resides on this farm, which is under a high state of cultivation and very productive. Everything about the farm is in excellent order, and he and his wife are devoted to the management of the farm and the interests of their family. Mr. Edwards was educated in the public schools of the different townships in which the family resided during his boyhood, and although he never had the advantage of what may be called a high school education, he acquired considerable knowledge, and is possessed of much ability in figures, being able to solve any ordinary question arising in business dealings with surprising quickness and accuracy. The Edwards family were originally Democrats in politics, but Mr. Edwards often votes independently. He has never sought or held office.

Mr. Edwards married, December 21, 1870, Debbie, daughter of Henry and Ann Elizabeth (Hallowell) Refsnyder. Mrs. Edwards was born December 24, 1847, near Jarrettown, in Upper Dublin township. Mr. Refsnyder died March 2, 1904, and was buried at Horsham. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Edwards were: Annie Parry, born January 16, 1872, married, March 16, 1897, Louis A. Irons, the family residing at Arch and Freedley streets, Norristown, and having one child, Mable Ruth, born July 4, 1900; Jacob Brumheller, born April 19, 1875, married July 29, 1897, Margaret Hanselman of Pottsville, they having two children: Russell J., born in 1898, and Marguerite, born July 28, 1901; Phebe Allen, born November 19, 1877, and resides in Norristown.

Mrs. Edwards is the granddaughter of John and Deborah Hallowell, whose children were: Martha, born November 24, 1821, married Edmond Stout, and removed to the state of Delaware, where the family reside; Anna, born April 2, 1824, died July 12, 1843; Ann Elizabeth, mother of Mrs. Edwards, born October 1, 1826, married Henry Refsnyder and died August 13, 1857; John Edwin, born May 1, 1834, died in infancy; Caroline E., born May 7, 1837, married Charles Briggs, who died May 10, 1903, and is buried at Southampton, Bucks county; Rebecka, married Elias Ott (both dead).

John Hallowell, grandfather of Mrs. Edwards, was born 9th mo. 19, 1784, and died July 21, 1881. Deborah, his wife; died November 20, 1866, aged sixty-three years, two months and four days. They lived near Horshamville, in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and were buried at Barrett’s Chapel, Delaware, with Martha and Edmond Stout, as were also most of their children.

John and Martha (Conard) Hallowell, great-grandparents of Mrs. Edwards, also resided in Hoarsham township, and were members of the Society of Friends. John was born December 15, 1753, and died January 26, 1829. His wife was born February 15, 1745, and died August 28, 1808. Their children were: Rebecca, Samuel, George, Elijah, Mary, John, grandfather of Mrs. Edwards, and Hannah.

The children of Henry and Ann Elizabeth Refsnyder, parents of Mrs. Edwards: Debbie Lizzie, born August 15, 1849, married George Ashton, and had one daughter, long since deceased, and married, second husband, Morris Lord, and has two children, Martha, married Firth Brown, and Edna; Mary, born August 13, 1851 married James Phipps, and has one son George; Amanda, born January 24, 1854, died December 14, 1875; John H., born February 14, 1856, married Roxanna Miller, of Minnesota, and resides in the state of Washington.