My Genealogy Hound

DAVID D. PROSSER, a very prominent citizen of Lower Saucon Township, Northampton County, was Postmaster of Hellertown during President Harrison’s administration, and served for four years acceptably to his constituents and fellow-citizens. In local politics he has been very active. In the fall of 1893 he was a candidate for County Treasurer, receiving the nomination unanimously, and he reduced the Democratic majority to fourteen hundred and seventy votes. He has been repeatedly urged to become a candidate for local positions, and is Vice-President of the Republican Club of Hellertown, a chartered chapter of the State Republican League. A particular study of the political and civic issues of the state has been made by him, and he is fully abreast of the times on leading questions.

Mr. Prosser was born in Philadelphia, March 21, 1836, and is a son of John D. and Sarah (Wurtz) Prosser. On the father’s side he is of Welsh descent, as the latter emigrated from Wales about 1831. He soon obtained work as a draftsman on the plans for Girard College, of Philadelphia. While in that city he met and married Miss Wurtz; and was influenced by her to remain in the United States, though his original intention had been to return to the land of his nativity. Politically he was a Democrat, and a leading man in the community. In religious faith he was a Presbyterian, and a member of the church of that denomination at Manayunk. Our subject is one of six children, the others being John and Susan, who died in infancy; Anamanda; William; Sarah; and John, the second of the same.

David Prosser received his education in the excellent schools of Philadelphia, and after completing his studies started to learn the carpenter’s trade. This pursuit not being to his liking, he subsequently went into a mercantile store, where he remained for some four or five years. On the expiration of that time he removed to Quakertown, Bucks County, and in the vicinity of that place engaged in farming up to the breaking out of the war. In June, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company D, One Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania Infantry, commanded by Col. W. H. H. Davis. He left Camp Lacy, Doylestown, for Washington soon afterward, and in the spring of 1862 went to the front on the Peninsular campaign, taking part in the many battles and engagements of the same, from Ft. Monroe to Richmond. When his three-years term of enlistment had expired, he received an honorable discharge and returned to Bucks County. He then resumed his agricultural pursuits, and was later employed as a clerk in the Troy Lung and Hygienic Institute, conducted by Dr. Stone. We next find him serving as private secretary for Addison Stewart, with whom he remained for nearly three years. At this time he returned to Bucks County, where his marriage was celebrated, and until 1878 he carried on a farm in that county. In 1878 he became a resident of this county, embarking in the tobacco business, in which he was successful for the succeeding ten years. Then followed his appointment as Postmaster under Harrison’s administration, and since that time political affairs have largely engrossed his attention.

In 1872 Mr. Prosser married Annie Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Moll, a resident of Geyreysville, Montgomery County. The worthy couple have had a family of eight children, six sons and two daughters, and the family circle is still unbroken. Their names are as follows: Sallie Lester, Thomas Moyer, David Davis, Elmer Oscar, Florence Doland, William Frederick Detwiler, Joseph Henry and Harrison Wannamaker.

Ever since the organization of Hellertown Post No. 271, G. A. R., Mr. Prosser has served as Adjutant of the same, and is a very active and interested Grand Army man. He holds membership with the Lutheran Church, and has been identified with the educational interests of the locality to a creditable degree. In every manner he endeavors to properly discharge the duties of citizenship, and his worthy qualities have gained the esteem of all who know him.