My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM H. SLINGLUFF, cashier of the Montgomery National Bank, and treasurer of the Norristown Insurance & Water Company, is the son of John and Wilhelmina (Gilbert) Slingluff, of Norristown.

John Slingluff (father), born August 3, 1839, in Norristown, was the son of William Hallman and Mary (Knorr) Slingluff. He was educated in the public schools and at Elmwood Institute, Norristown, then under the charge of Rev. George Deering Wolff. At the age of sixteen years he engaged in learning surveying and conveyancing in the office of J. Morgan Albertson. Later, however, in 1856, he entered the Bank of Montgomery County as a clerk, and was, during the remainder of his life, closely identified with the interests of that institution. On November 7, 1868, he was appointed cashier of the bank, and November 20, 1875, was elected its president, holding the position until his death. He organized the Montgomery Trust Company in 1884, being its president until 1890 and a member of the board of directors until his death. He married, September 3, 1862, Wilhelmina, daughter of Frederick and Mary Gilbert, of Norristown, their children being: Mary, widow of Howard Boyd; William H., and Helen G. John Slingluff was identified with many business enterprises in Norristown, holding many positions of trust and responsibility. During the Rebellion he enlisted in Company E, Thirty-fourth Regiment, an emergency organization, serving until August, 1863. He was a member of the Masonic order in its various branches, holding nearly all the offices in these, and took much interest in everything relating to the welfare of the community in which he lived. He was killed in the Exeter wreck, a few miles below Reading, May 12, 1899, with many other citizens of Norristown, when returning from the dedication of the Hartranft statue, on the Capitol grounds, at Harrisburg. He was a man of practical business qualities and one of the foremost public men of eastern Pennsylvania. In addition to his connection with the Montgomery National Bank, he was president of the Norristown Water Company, treasurer of the Norristown Gas Company and the Montgomery Cemetery Company; president of the Junction Railroad Company and of the Citizens Passenger Railway Company, and a director in the Plymouth, Perkiomen, Stony Creek, Philadelphia, Germantown & Norristown, and Philadelphia, Newtown & New York Railroad Companies. He was a trustee of the Norristown Hospital for the Insane, succeeding General Hartrnaft at his death, in 1889; president of the board of prison inspectors for nearly twenty years. He was a Democrat in politics until 1884, but from that time supported the Republican party and its candidates. He was a Democratic candidate for congress in 1880. He was president of the Montgomery Fire Company and its chief engineer, and took a prominent part in the introduction of the fire alarm system into Norristown, and other improvements in connection with the Norristown fire department, having a large share in bringing it to that condition of efficiency which it has attained. He was treasurer of the State Fireman’s Association, and at one time president of the Norristown school board. In every position which Mr. Slingluff held he was courteous, painstaking and efficient, being recognized as one of the most useful and influential members of the community.

William H. Slingluff (grandfather) was born in Whitpain township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, March 19, 1805. He was reared on a farm purchased by his father when he was but two years old, near the village of Broad Axe. He worked on the farm and taught school. He was at one time clerk in his brother Samuel’s store, at Rising Sun. He became prominently identified with the banking interests of the county, in 1825 entering the old Montgomery Bank, chartered in 1814, and for more than forty years the only banking institution in the county, as junior clerk and watchman. He became cashier four years later and was elected president in 1868, resigning that office November 20, 1875, when his son succeeded to the position. He was thus actively identified with the bank for a half century, and then accepted the office of vice-president, serving in that capacity until his death, which occurred April 14, 1880. The bank building, erected in 1854, was largely designed by him. He was one of the originators and first treasurer of the Norristown Water Company, and was actively identified with many other local corporations. He was a Whig until 1860, then joining the Democratic party. He had been the Whig candidate for congress in 1844 but was defeated, the Democrats being largely in the majority in the county at that time. He served for many years in the town council and on the school board. He was a public-spirited and progressive citizen, being actively interested in every enterprise that promised to promote the public welfare. He was a man of strong individuality, was generous and kind-hearted and always ready to extend a helping hand to the deserving. On December 15, 1833, he married Mary Knorr, daughter of Matthias Knorr, in Gloria Dei Church (Old Swedes), Philadelphia, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Jehu C. Clay. Matthias Knorr was a farmer and lumber dealer, grandson of John and Hannah Knorr, who came from Germany prior to 1698. Matthias Knorr married Mary Keyser, a great-granddaughter of Dirck Keyser, who came from Amsterdam, Holland, in 1688, landing in New York and locating at Germantown, Pennsylvania. The children of William H. and. Mary Slingluff were: Sarah S., wife of Jacob L. Rex, of Norristown; Mary M., wife of Hon. A. B. Longaker, who was a judge in Lehigh county but now resides in Norristown; John (father); Clara S., who married Dr. Henry Pawling, of Norristown, and after his death, Hiram H. Fisher, now also deceased; and William F., a well-known business man of Norristown. Mrs. William H. Slingluff died November 17, 1891.

John Slingluff (great-grandfather) married Mary Hallman, daughter of Anthony and Mary (Streeper) Hallman, she being a great-granddaughter of William Streeper, who once owned five thousand acres of land in Philadelphia county. John and Mary Slingluff had eight children, the youngest of whom was William H. (grandfather).

John Slingluff (great-great-grandfather) was one of five children of Heinrich Schlengeluff and his wife Anna Christina. He was born in America. His personal appearance was notably fine, his features being clear-cut and his eyes a bright blue.

Heinrich Schlengeluff (great-great-great-grandfather) was a native of Waldich, Germany, and emigrated to England and afterwards to America. He landed at Philadelphia, August 19, 1729, and purchased land in Salford township. His wife was Anna Christina, of Swedish descent. They made the voyage on the ship, “Mortonhouse,” James Coultas master, from Rotterdam, but last from Deal. The immigrant also spelled his name “Hendrick Sligloff.” One son accompanied them from Europe, Paulus, the Swedish for Paul.

William H. Slingluff, the subject of this sketch, though a young man, has achieved for himself a prominent position in the community. His ability as a financier has been well proved in the various trusts which have been committed to his keeping. He has been for a number of years the treasurer of the Norristown Insurance & Water Company, and very important improvements, including the introduction of the new filtering plant in 1901, are largely due to his progressive ideas.

Mr. Slingluff was born August 31, 1865, in Norristown. He attended the public schools and later the Treemount Seminary of Dr. John W. Loch. From this institution he went to Bethlehem, where he attended Ulrich’s school which at that time was a popular place of learning. He next became a student at Lehigh University, where he remained until December 26, 1884, when called to the more active duties of life in connection with the banking institution in which three generations of the family have been employed. He became a clerk for the Montgomery Trust Company, but was, after a time, transferred to the Montgomery National Bank, in the same building, as cashier’s assistant. He was appointed to the position of acting cashier in 1890, and to that of cashier which he now holds, in 1891.

Mr. Slingluff married, in October, 1892, Miss Main Derr, daughter of Henry A. and Ellen S. Derr, both now deceased. They took up their abode in the west end and now reside at the corner of Main street and Franklin avenue, in the house lately owned by the Pattersons. Mr. and Mrs. Slingluff have two children, Eleanor D. and Marjorie D.

The Derr family to which Mrs. Slingluff belongs is of German origin. Franklin Derr, (grandfather) accumulated a large fortune in the marble business. His grandfather settled at Shamokin, Pennsylvania, and his son John went to Montgomery county and learned the trade of a tanner with Jacob Schneider, marrying his daughter Elizabeth, and removing to Hamburg, Berks county, where he established a tannery and followed that business, in connection with farming, until his death, which occurred May 24, 1827. The couple had twelve children, of whom Franklin was born at Hamburg, July 1, 1815. He became a resident of Norristown about 1833, and after learning the trade of a marble mason soon established himself in business. He furnished the marble for the courthouse in 1855, and that for the Montgomery Bank and other edifices, purchasing extensive marble quarries in Upper Merion township in 1857. He also furnished stone for the Philadelphia post-office and for extensions to Girard College. Mr. Derr married Sarah Ann, daughter of Henry Kerr, of Norristown, who died in 1853. Their children are: Henry A., who married Ellen, daughter of Florence and Ann Sullivan, of Norristown; Annie E., now the widow of Charles W. Holmes; and John J., (deceased) who married Elizabeth, daughter of George West. Franklin Derr died March 16, 1877, in his sixty-second year.