My Genealogy Hound

NOAH FAGLEY, a farmer and assessor of Fagleysville, was born December 29, 1829, in New Hanover township, Montgomery county. He is the son of John and Susan (Slichter) Fagley.

John Fagley (father) was a tanner and lived all his life in New Hanover township. He was a Democrat, although not much of a politician. He married Susan Slichter, and they were members of the Swamp Lutheran church. They had seven children, of whom three are now living: Frederick, Eli, and Noah.

John Fagley (grandfather) lived and died at Swamp, where he was a prosperous farmer. He married Maria Linsenbigler, and he and his wife were buried at Swamp. His son, John Fagley (father), died at the age of seventy years, and John’s wife at the age of ninety-one years. John and Maria Fagley had five children. They were members of the Lutheran church. Jacob Slichter (maternal grandfather) was a farmer in Limerick township, and died many years before Noah Fagley was born. He and his wife were members of the Reformed St. James church, and are buried at Limerick, John Fagley (grandfather) was one of the early settlers in Upper Pottsgrove township, and the village of Fagleysville was named for him.

Noah Fagley attended school until he was eighteen years of age, Governor Hartranft was one of his school-mates, and they were boon companions. He learned the trade of tanner, and followed it for four years. He then became a farmer on the place where he still follows that occupation.

On November 23, 1851, Noah Fagley married Esther, daughter of John and Catharine Bertolet. Mr. Bertolet was a farmer in Frederick township, and a very prosperous man, giving strict attention to business, and looking well after all the details of farm life, not only during the time he was engaged in the planting, culture and harvesting of crops, but at all other seasons.

Noah Fagley had the following children by his first marriage with Esther Bertolet, of whom six are living, as follows: William (deceased), who left a widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Fagley, and three children; he was a store keeper in Philadelphia, and died in March, 1903, aged fifty years, having been born in 1853. A son born July 22, 1855, died in infancy. John, born June 29, 1856, married Miss Shinn (first wife), and had four children, who survive; he married (second wife) Amanda Fegley, they residing in Limerick township where he is a farmer. Horace, born February 1, 1858, unmarried, and living at Limerick Square, where he is employed as a farm hand. Elmira, born August 4, 1859, married Henry Swinehart, they residing in Frederick township, where he is a farmer, and having three children. Susan (deceased), born January 31, 1861, was buried at Swamp. Noah, Jr., born November 2, 1862, died March 15, 1863. Francis, born January 31, 1864, married Mary Reigner, had one son, Calvin, and died at the age of thirty years. Esther, born November 8, 1865, married Jacob Brendlinger, they residing in New Hanover township where he is a farmer, they having four children. Daniel, born May 12, 1867, married Amanda Richard (first wife), left one son, living, and Laura Keyser (second wife), they residing in Pottstown, where he is employed at the Warwick Furnace, and having two children. A. Elizabeth, born May 12, 1870, married O. J. Bickel, they residing in Pottstown where he is engaged in the agricultural works, and they having one child.

Noah Fagley’s first wife died many years ago. He married (second wife) Mary A., daughter of John and Annie (Denner) Geiger. Mr. Geiger was a farmer and blacksmith, and resided in Limerick township. He and his wife have both been deceased for many years. Mrs. Fagley (second wife) was also previously married, and had two children by that marriage, of whom Frank G. Hunsberger survives. He is unmarried and a baker by trade, residing at present in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Fagley died February 10, 1904.

Mr. Fagley is a Democrat in political affiliation. He has held the office of assessor in the township for about twenty years. For a period of fifteen years he was a school director, and for ten years or more was secretary of the board. He owns two farms in New Hanover township. He has lived upon the farm which he now occupies more than a quarter of a century. Mr. Fagley and his wife are members of the Swamp Lutheran church, Rev. John J. Kline, pastor, which celebrated its bi-centennial on November 29, 1903. It is believed to be the oldest Lutheran church in America. In 1896 the farm buildings and all their contents on the property belonging to his son were burned.