My Genealogy Hound

LOUIS M. CHILDS, recognized as one of the principal leaders of the Norristown bar, is a native of Pennsylvania, descended from an early English ancestry. The family originated in Hartfordshire, one of the most beautiful and interesting counties in England, and the progenitor of the American branch came from the village about ten miles distant from the city of London.

From the original Childs stock came John Childs, the paternal grandfather of Mr. Childs, born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, who was a farmer in Norristown township, and died in 1826, in early manhood. His wife, who was Ann Moore, survived him sixty-five years, dying in 1892, at the venerable age of upwards of ninety years. Joseph Foss, maternal grandfather of Mr. Childs, was of German descent, and his ancestors came to Pennsylvania early in the eighteenth century. He was a farmer by occupation, and a member of the Society of Friends. He and his wife, who was a Jones, both died early in life and on the same day, leaving two daughters.

Jacob Childs, father of Louis M. Childs, was a native of Montgomery county and was born and reared upon a farm in Plymouth township. He removed about 1844 to Norristown and became one of its most useful and enterprising citizens. He was actively engaged in mercantile pursuits, and for some years in the iron manufacturing business. He was prominent in public affairs and served as a member of the town council for the unusual period of thirty-six years, and was for some years president of that body. He also occupied the position of borough treasurer for the period of six years. He married Lydia Foss, a native of Chester county. Both of Quaker descent, they affiliated themselves with the Society of Friends, but were not members. Mr. Childs died in 1886, at the age of sixty-four years, and his widow still survives, making her home in Norristown. They were the parents of five children: Mary, deceased; Louis M.; Walter F. and Emma H., (twins); and Lillian.

Louis M. Childs, eldest son of Jacob and Lydia (Foss) Childs, was born in Norristown, August 19, 1852. Studious from the first, he laid the foundation of an excellent education early in his youth, graduating from the high school at the age of fifteen years. He graduated in a higher course in 1868 and again in 1869, and when only seventeen entered the sophomore class in the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1872, in his twentieth year. For a year afterward he was engaged in his father’s iron establishment and he then entered upon a course of law reading in the office of S. R. Fox, and was admitted to the bar of Montgomery county in March, 1870, and has since then been actively engaged in his profession, maintaining offices at No. 505 Swede street, Norristown. With ample equipment for all the departments of law, civil and criminal, he entertains a preference for those of commercial and corporation law, for which he has developed genuine talent and aptitude. His abilities found almost immediate recognition, and he entered upon ample employment in conducting the legal affairs of various important financial and commercial corporations. He has been phenomenally active in connection with banking affairs and has successfully reorganized several banking companies, in some instances finding it necessary to conduct litigious proceedings, which served to prevent insuperable difficulties. Among the institutions thus reorganized, involving severe and protracted labor and requiring deep knowledge not only of law but of business methods, were the Tradesmen’s National Bank of Conshohocken, in 1889, and the Doylestown National Bank in 1903. Mr. Childs has been for some years, attorney for the Tradesmen’s National Bank of Conshohocken, the National Bank of Norristown, the Jenkentown National Bank, the Montgomery Trust Company and the Bucks County Trust Company. He has also been for several years counsel for the Norristown Water Company, the Norristown Gas Company and the Standard Oil Company.

Mr. Childs has always been an active and efficient advocate of the principles of the Republican party and he has wielded a potent influence throughout his county in maintaining its organization and aiding in its usefulness, but without aught of personal ambition or self-seeking and has never sought or held a public office.

Mr. Childs was married, in September, 1889, to Miss Alice G. Hibberd, a daughter of Norris and Eliza (Moore) Hibberd. Of this marriage have been born three children- Alice H., Marjorie and Louis M. Childs. Mrs. Childs is a member of the Presbyterian church, and her husband is an attendant there. The family home is at No. 15 Jacoby street.