My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS J. RAMBO, for several years an extensive limestone operator, was born at Swedesburg, near Bridgeport, where he now resides, July 24, 1849. His parents were Nathan and Ann (Broades) Rambo.

Nathan Rambo (father) was born June 27, 1810, in Upper Merion township. He was a wealthy and influential citizen and took an active interest in politics and in public affairs generally. Nathan and Ann Rambo were married March 5, 1833. They had a family of seven children, as follows: (1). Eliza Ann, married Matthias P. Walker, of Great Valley, Chester county, and died leaving a family of children. (2). William B. Rambo, born April 15, 1836. He has carried on an extensive lime-burning business since 1857, operating his father’s kilns on the Schuylkill river, below Swedesburg. (3). Mary married David Schall and both are deceased. (4). Rebecca, married J. P. Hiester Jones, now deceased. (5). Emma P. is the wife of Thomas P. Merritt, ex-mayor of Reading, who was at one time a resident of Norristown. (6). Nathan married Clara, daughter of Thomas Walker. (7). Thomas J. Rambo completes the family.

Nathan Rambo (father) died March 1, 1858, in his forty-seventh year. His widow, born August 12, 1809, died July 23, 1889, having survived her husband more than thirty years. The remains of both lie in the cemetery of Christ Church, Upper Merion, to which church the family have belonged for many generations.

Jonas Rambo (grandfather) was a lifelong resident of Upper Merion and owned large tracts of valuable land, underlaid with excellent limestone. The property passed into the hands of his children. His wife’s name was Ann. They had two children, a daughter and a son. Their daughter, Mary, married Benjamin D. Hughes, of Bridgeport, and died many years ago. Their son was Nathan, already mentioned.

Thomas J. Rambo remained at home up to, the time of his father’s death, which occurred in Swedesburg when Thomas was but six years of age. Soon afterward the family removed to Norristown. He attended the public schools until fifteen years of age and later pursued a course in the West Chester Military Academy. When twenty-one years of age he joined his brother in the limestone business, under the firm name of Nathan Rambo & Brother and they were thus representatives of industrial interests for fifteen years, employing two hundred men. About 1885 they dissolved partnership and Thomas continued business alone for three years, when he sold out to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and built his present attractive home in Bridgeport, where he has since lived retired.

Thomas J. Rambo is a Republican in politics and is a member and vestryman of Swedes’ church. He also belongs to Washington Camp, No. 51, Patriotic Order Sons of America.

On October 30, 1890, Mr. Rambo married Ida M., daughter of John and Charlotte Bickings, of Norristown. They have no children.

The first ancestor of the Rambos in America was Peter, a native of Gothenburg, Sweden, who died in Philadelphia, in 1698, aged about ninety-three years. He came to America in 1638 with Peter Minuet, settling on the Delaware river. He was a prominent figure in the government of New Sweden until the conquest of that province by Peter Stuyvesant. Rambo was also an official under the Dutch government and when the colony passed over to the English he was appointed a member of the council, Captain Robert Carr being then deputy governor. In 1674 he was commissioned a justice of the peace, being one of the first to sit in the upland court. He held office under the Duke of York and subsequently under William Penn. He was friendly to the Indians and much beloved by them, acting occasionally as interpreter between them and the English and at times taking an active part in their councils. He and his family were intimately acquainted with William Penn and are referred to in Penn’s correspondence in 1684 and later. His will is dated August 30, 1694, and was proved in Philadelphia, November 19, 1698. He had four sons: Gunnar, born about 1649; Peter, born in 1650; Andrew; and John, born in 1661. Peter Rambo was a warden of Old Swedes’ church, in Philadelphia.

Peter’s son, Gunnar Rambo, married Anna, daughter of Peter Koch (Cox), and died in 1724. He was at one time a member of the Pennsylvania assembly and was a large landowner. His children were: John, Peter, Mounce, Gabriel, Andrew and Elias. He removed to Upper Merion about 1712.

Mons or Mounce Rambo was born in 1693. He was a famous hunter and his exploits exist among the traditions of the neighborhood. He is said to have shot deer in the vicinity of Swedesburg as late as 1770. On one occasion he shot a panther. In the graveyard of Swedes’ church is a large stone, with the inscription, “In memory of Mons Rambo, who departed this life, October 23, 1782, aged eighty-nine years.”