My Genealogy Hound

MATTHIAS L. MARCH, of the firm of I. F. March’s Sons, lumber and coal dealers, Bridgeport, was born in Douglas township, Berks county, Pennsylvania, July 10, 1862. He is the son of Isaac F. and Sarah (Levengood) March, both natives of Pennsylvania. He was born in Montgomery county, and she in Berks county. They had nine children, seven sons and two daughters: Matthias L.; Ellsworth L.; Irvin; Isaac; Morris; John, deceased; Annie, wife of Harry Koch, of Birdsboro, Pennsylvania; Linton, and Mary.

Isaac F. March (father) was reared on a farm. He learned the trade of a miller, but spent most of his life in the lumber business at Birdsboro, which has been his home for many years and where he has lived retired since 1893. He and his wife are Lutherans in religious faith. He was treasurer of Berks county one term.

John March (grandfather) was also a native of Pennsylvania. He died at an early age leaving a small family. Matthias Levengood (maternal grandfather) was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania. He was of German descent. All of his life was spent on a farm, and he lived to be seventy-two years of age. He married Elizabeth (Reinert) Levengood, and had sixteen children. Matthias Levengood (great-grandfather) was a soldier in the War of 1812. Adam Levengood (great-great-grandfather) was the progenitor of this branch of the family in America. He came to the United States when he was eighteen years of age (1733) and settled in New Hanover township, Montgomery county, dying there well advanced in years. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.

Matthias L. March was raised in Berks county, and after receiving a good common school education taught school for six years. He learned the miller’s trade in his father’s mill, and followed the occupation for a number of years. In 1886 he went to Bridgeport, which has been his home ever since. He founded his present lumber and coal business and has devoted his whole attention to it since that time.

On February 20, 1883, he married Sarah J. Ludwig, daughter of Hiram and Ellen (Lorah) Ludwig. They had two children: William Allen and Ethel Naomi. Mrs. Sarah J. March died September 5, 1888, aged twenty-seven years. She was a member of the Lutheran church. On October 25, 1894, Mr. March married Miss Lilla M. Keiger, daughter of John and Annie (Vandegrift) Keiger. They have three children: Matthias Russell, Anna Levengood, and John Ellsworth March. Mr. and Mrs. March are members of the Lutheran church. He is a deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Trinity, Norristown, and superintendent of the Sunday school.

Mr. March is a member of Charity Lodge, No. 190, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is past master; also of Norristown Chapter, No. 190, Royal Arch Masons, of which he is high priest; and Hutchinson Commandery, of which he is past commander. He also belongs to the Philadelphia Consistory. Politically he is a Democrat. He was burgess of the borough of Bridgeport in 1888, and served as school director for about five years, from 1889 to 1894. He is a director of the Norristown Trust Company of Norristown, a director in the Norristown Brick Company, a director in the Paxtang Cemetery Company, vice-president of the Fame Building and Loan Association of Bridgeport, and vice-president and a director of the I. H. Brendlinger Company of Norristown, Pennsylvania.