My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH W. HALLOWELL, a prominent citizen of Jenkintown, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, was an honored representative of one of the most prominent families of the county a family most of whose members were Friends, and distinguished for integrity, devotion to principle, and longevity.

He was born at Meadowbrook, February 18, 1823, son of John R. and Ann (Jarrett) Hallowell. He was a descendant of John Hallowell, who came from Nottinghamshire, England, in 1682, with William Penn and a company of English Friends. John Hallowell settled near Darby, and was one of the original members of the Friends’ Meeting there. In 1696 he purchased from Silas Crispin, executor of the estate of Thomas Holme, a tract of 630 acres of land in Abington township, adjoining Upper Dublin township, and extending along the line of the manor of Moreland for more than a mile. His first dwelling on this tract was a rude cabin constructed partly in the ground and on the side of a hill, resembling the cave dwellings built by some of the first settlers of Philadelphia. He was twice married, his first wife being Sarah, who bore him one child. His second wife, who was Mary Sharpe, was the mother of nine children, three of whom were born in England, and the others in America, viz.: Sarah, born 1677; Thomas, 1679; Mary, 1681; John, 1685; Elizabeth, 1687; Hannah, 1689; Samuel, 1692; Benjamin, 1694; and Jane, 1696.

Thomas Hallowell, second child of John and Mary (Sharpe) Hallowell, married in 1702, at Darby, Rosamond Till, and because the progenitor of a numerous and useful family. Their children were: John, born in 1703; Mary, 1705; William ______; Rosamond, 1709; Elizabeth, 1711; Sarah, 1714; Thomas, 1715; Samuel, 1717; and Joseph, 1719. William, the third son, was twice married. His first wife was Margaret Tyson, born 1708, died 1753, a daughter of Matthias (or Mathew) and Mary Tyson, and she bore her husband twelve children: Thomas, born in 1730; Rosamond, 1731; Mathew, 1733; William, 1734; John, 1736; Tynear, 1739; David, 1740; Mary, 1742; Isaac, 1744; John, 1746; John (3d), 1749; and Joshua, 1751.

John Hallowell (3d), named above, resided until his death on the old homestead, which has been in possession of the family since 1783, when he purchased it from Robert and Rachel Paul, the deed being dated April 19 of that year. Prior to the Revolutionary war he owned and operated a mill on the Pennypack creek. In 1793 he was a victim to yellow fever, contracted while he was on a business trip to Philadelphia, where the disease was epidemic. He married, November 3, 1774, Martha Roberts, born March 9, 1753, daughter of Thomas, Jr., and Letitia Roberts, of Milford township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. The children of this marriage were: Isaac, born in 1776, who married Mary Fletcher; Israel, born 1777, who married Mary Jarrett; Ann, born 1781, who became the wife of Joseph Williams; and John R., further referred to below.

John R. Hallowell, youngest child of John and Martha (Roberts) Hallowell, was born in 1785 on the family homestead, which he subsequently purchased, and which was afterward the residence of his son, Joseph W. Hallowell. In his early life he worked in his father’s mill. He married Ann, daughter of William Jarrett, of Horsham township, Montgomery county, and to them were born children as follows: William J.; Lydia, who became the wife of Morris Paul; Martha, who became the wife of Edwin Satterthwaite, who was a grandson of Betsy Ross, the woman who designed and made the first (stars and stripes) American flag; Joseph W., further written of below; and Penrose.

Joseph W. Hallowell, son of John R. and Ann (Jarrett) Hallowell, received his early education in the schools of the neighborhood, and also attended the select school of the renowned teacher, Benjamin Hallowell, a relative, at Alexandria, Virginia. Soon after completing his studies he came into possession of about one hundred and fifty acres of land at Meadowbrook, on which he resided for a number of years, and until his son Edwin S. married and took charge of the conduct of the farm, and who successfully managed it until Mr. Hallowell sold it to Thomas Wanamaker. Mr. Hallowell also owned a fine farm of 212 acres on the Doylestown turnpike, and in 1884 he built a handsome country seat at Jenkintown, where he passed the later years of his life, and where his family still reside.

Mr. Hallowell was one of the incorporators and for many years a director of the Jenkintown National Bank, and also a director of the York Road Turnpike Company, of the Jenkintown Water Company, and of several building and loan associations. He was a prominent member of Abington Monthly Meeting of Friends, in which he was an elder and a trustee. He never sought official station, nor ever held an office except that of school director. In politics he was a stanch and active Republican. He was a man possessed with a marked individuality, and was an important factor in promoting the numerous local enterprises with which he was identified, and in other ways advancing the material, moral and spiritual interests of the community. He was particularly interested in educational affairs, and rendered valuable service in maintaining and improving the public school system. To this add his personal beauties of character as a model citizen, an affectionate husband and an indulgent parent, and he stands forth as a splendid type of American manhood. His death occurred April 39 1904.

Mr. Hallowell married, May 20, 1851, Miss Hannah S. Lloyd, born March 9, 1831, a daughter of John and Sidney (Paul) Lloyd, both old residents of Moreland township, and descendants of old and highly respected families. Of this marriage were born the following named children:

1. Edwin S., born June 6, 1852; he married, March 2, 1881, Miss Mary Linton, born June 1, 1853, a daughter of Charles and Hannah (Waterman) Linton. Of this marriage were born nine children:

1. Florence, born March 2, 1882; died May, 1884; 2. Lydia, born December 29, 1884, died May, 1891; 3. Hannah L., born September 6, 1886; 4. Mary L., born September 12, 1888; 5. Emma L., born December 18, 1890; 6. Francis S., born December 15, 1891; 7. Rebecca, born August, 1893, died December 23, 1901; 8. Josephine, born December, 1894, died August, 1895; 9. Edwin Joseph, born September 16, 1900.

2. Emma L., born December 21, 1854.
3. Fannie, born August 12, 1856, died March 2, 1900.
4. Anna, born September 28, 1865, married William Penrose, born July 31, 1847, a son of Jarrett and Tacy Ann Penrose. Of this marriage was born one son, Joseph Hallowell Penrose, born July 31, 1903.