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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.

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LEWIS S. ALDERFER. Abraham Alderfer, grandfather of Lewis S. Alderfer, was born in Lower Salford township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, he being a descendant of the Alderfer family who settled in that section of Pennsylvania at an early date.

He was educated in the schools of that day in his neighborhood, and on leaving school engaged in the occupation of farming, which he followed all his life. He married and reared a family of children. Among them was Jacob, father of Lewis S. Alderfer. He was born on the homestead in the same township, and grew to manhood there, being educated in the neighborhood schools. He then betook himself to the occupation of farming, like his father, which he also made a life pursuit. He was a Whig during the existence of that political organization, and later a Republican in politics, exerting himself to secure the triumph if its principles and candidates. He married Miss Susanna Swartley, of Hatfield township. The couple had the following children: Levi (deceased), Mary, Lavina, Amandus, Susanna, Jacob, Amanda, John, Abraham, Philip, Elizabeth, Sarah, Emeline and Lewis S., the subject of this sketch.

Lewis S. Alderfer was born in Lower Salford township, April 14, 1860. He attended the public schools, and on relinquishing school study turned his attention to farming on the homestead, which he continued for several years very successfully. He then commenced farming for himself in Towamencin township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he remained for twenty-two years, and in 1902 retired from active life and came to his present home in the borough of Lansdale, where he purchased a handsome property, and erected a modern mansion with all home conveniences.

Mr. Alderfer married, in 1881, Miss Mary E. A. Heebner, daughter of Benjamin Heebner, of Worcester township. She is now deceased. They had one child, Alvin, who is unmarried. In 1900 he married (second wife) Angeline (Detwiler) Romig, widow of James Romig. Mr. Alderfer has no children by the second marriage. Mr. Alderfer is a Republican, and is regarded as an upright man and a good citizen by all who know him. He and his wife attend the Mennonite church.

On the 25th of May, 1764, John Clements sold a grist mill in Lower Salford, on a branch of the Perkiomen, to Frederick Alderfer, who conveyed it to his son John, July 1, 1777. Although it does not appear that the Alderfers were the earliest family in the township, they have become very numerous and influential in that section of Montgomery county, holding a considerable amount of real estate. There were twenty-six voters of the name in the township in a recent year. In the assessment of 1776 the name of Frederick Alderfer occurs. He was a miller, holding 490 acres of land, and having two sons, John and Jacob. The mill property which belonged to the early Alderfers was on the north- east branch of the Perkiomen, a mile north of Lederachville.

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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

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