My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM S. TRIOL, treasurer of the borough of Jenkintown, is a native of the city of Philadelphia, where he was born April 26, 1847. He is the son of Francis and Jeannette (Somerville) Triol.

The father’s family are of French ancestry, and the mother’s of Scotch. The grandfather was a native of France who came to Philadelphia. Francis Triol (father), was born September 30, 1819. He resided most of his life in Philadelphia, but was a resident of Jenkintown for twenty-five years. He was a house painter by trade. The later years of his life were spent in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he died November 2, 1892. Mr. Triol’s maternal ancestors left Scotland on account of religious persecution and settled in France. From that country his grandmother came to America, locating in Philadelphia, Her first husband was named Clark. He was the manufacturer of the varnish which was used in beautifying the carriage in which Washington made his long tour. Jeannette Somerville (mother of Mr. Triol) was a native of Philadelphia. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Triol: William S., subject of this sketch; Mary T., widow of Harry Swink; Thomas M., since 1872, a resident of Montana; Lee D.

William S. Triol was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia. In early life he became interested in agricultural pursuits on the farm of Reuben Davis, near Norristown. He also has a war record, having enlisted in 1863 in the Fifty- ninth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, serving in the Ninth Corps of the Army of the Potomac until the close of the war, and participating in its various movements. He was mustered out of the United States service at Readville, Massachusetts, August 10, 1865, and then returned to the home of his parents, who were residing at that time in Frankford, a suburb of Philadelphia. In January, 1866, Mr. Triol re-enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at Philadelphia, and served in that department of the navy upwards of four years. He was with the Asiatic squadron in China, Japan and Africa, on the steamer “Oneida.” After two years’ service he was detailed as one of the guards of Genera1 Van Valkenburg, who was at that time United States minister to Japan. After spending a period of seven months in connection with this duty, Mr. Triol returned to his ship, until the vessel was run into by the Pacific and Oriental steamship “Bombay” and sunk, 122 officers and seamen being lost in the disaster, one of the worst that ever occurred to a vessel of the American navy. The fatal collision happened on January 24, 1870. Mr. Triol was one of fifty who were rescued. He was sent to the hospital at Yokohama and subsequently to New York, where he was discharged, after a varied and remarkable experience, from the United States service.

Mr. Triol went to Jenkintown soon afterwards, reaching that place on July 1, 1870, and has resided there ever since, having thus been a citizen of that borough for a period of thirty-four years. For some time he conducted the painting business previously managed by his father, but sold it and has not for some time followed that occupation. For nine years he has held the position of janitor at the Jenkintown National Bank, and he has filled the office of borough treasurer since 1898. He also served as a member of the school board of the district for four years. Fraternally he is a member of Peace and Love Lodge, No. 337, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Jenkintown; of Jenkintown Council, Junior Order of United American Mechanics; and of Lieut. John H. Fisher Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Hatboro, Pennsylvania. In politics Mr. Triol is an active and earnest Republican, exerting himself to secure its success at the polls, and advocating its principles and general policy.

Mr. Triol married, in Philadelphia, on July 9, 1872, Ella Ml. Dean, daughter of Charles A. Dean. The couple have had five children, of whom only one survives, Miss Jessie Dean, a teacher in the public schools of Jenkintown. The family are members of the Jenkintown Baptist church.