My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL B. CONVER. Jacob Conver, grandfather of Samuel E. Conver, the subject of this sketch, came to this country with a Captain Reed, during the Revolutionary war, and afterwards married the Captain’s daughter. Among the children of the couple was Samuel (father). He was born in Hatfield township, in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania.

Samuel Conver was educated in the public schools. On leaving school he became apprenticed to the shoemaker’s trade and later to the carpenter trade, which he followed with success. In politics he was a Democrat, and held many offices of no particular importance. He was a man whose counsel was wise, and was greatly valued by his neighbors. He married Miss Catharine Baler, and the children of the couple were: Margaret, William, and Samuel E.

Samuel B. Conver was born in Hatfield township, on the Conver homestead, December 31, 1847. He attended the schools of the township for a period of thirteen months. He then learned the carpenter trade with his father. He followed that occupation for some years with success, becoming a contractor as well, and continuing in business for nine years. He then engaged in the planing mill business at Hatfield. In 1878 he decided to engage in the undertaking business. After learning it he entered an embalming school and became proficient in that art, so much so that he is esteemed one of the best embalmers in the state, and his services are often engaged in this capacity outside of his own neighborhood. He has interred in all, during his more than a quarter of a century’s service as an undertaker, over seven thousand bodies. In 1868 he married Susan Dresher, daughter of Jacob and Catharine (Weil) Dresher, of Worcester township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Conver have had four children, as follows: Reuben, Lillian, both died young; Jennie, married Oscar J. Fry, they having two children; and Samuel, who is a student at Princeton College in the law course.

Mr. Conver is a Republican in politics. He is one of the best known men in Montgomery county. He has held the office of member of the town council of Lansdale, and also that of assessor. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also of the Masonic Order. He is a director in the Lansdale Cemetery Company, and is also connected with other corporations. He and his family attend the Lansdale Reformed church.

Mrs. Samuel B. Conver is of Schwenkfelder stock. The other children of her parents were Mary, born December 24, 1851; Samuel, born October 10, 1856; Jacob, born April 8, 1867; Reuben, born April 20, 1869, died May 4, 1869. Susanna, Mrs. Conver, was born September 20, 1850. Jacob Dresher (grandfather of Mrs. Conver) son of Abraham and Susanna (Seipt) Dresher, married Regina, daughter of Christopher Kriebel. Their children were: Reuben, born 1824; Susanna, 1825; Jacob (father) March 9, 1828; Abraham, 1830. Abraham Dresher (great-grandfather) was the son of Christopher and Anna (Kriebel) Dresher. He was twice married, first to Eve Schultz, they having five children, Daniel, Anna, Susanna, Regina and Abraham; and (second) married Susanna, daughter of Caspar Seipt, their children being George, died in infancy, and Jacob, grandfather of Mrs. Conver), born May 13, 1790, died March 23, 1833. Christopher Dresher (great-great-grandfather) was the son of George Dresher, the immigrant, who with his wife Maria and three children came with the body of Schwenkfelders to this country in 1734. He died March 3, 1774; and she died March 18, 1762. Abraham, his son, born May 14, 1750, died July 30, 1811, aged sixty-one years.