My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL F. JARRETT. The Jarretts are among the oldest families in Montgomery county, their ancestor having come, it is said, from the Highlands of Scotland to America more than two hundred years ago. The first Jarrett in this country was John Jarrett, who in 1700 settled in Horsham township, and in old records the family coat of arms appears in connection with his name. In the early records of Abington, Horsham and other meetings in this vicinity, the name occurs frequently, and its members have intermarried with those of the older families, not only of Friends, but of other religious denominations.

In the records of Gwynedd Monthly Meeting the name is frequently found. One of the descendants of the settler was John Jarrett, who was born in 1719 and married Alice Conrad. Their children were: John, Mary, Elizabeth, Hannah, Rachel, William, Alice, Jonathan, David, Jesse, Tacy and Joseph. Of these children Jesse married Elizabeth Palmer and they had six children, as follows: Mary, who married Isaac Shoemaker; David, who lived to be about ninety-three year of age; Alice; Joseph, Tacy, who married James Kirk ;and John, who became a merchant in Philadelphia. David Jarrett (father) was born in Whitemarsh township, October 24, 1797, followed the occupation of a farmer in Upper Providence township, removing in 1836, and locating in Plymouth township. He died October 20, 1890, his remains being interred in Plymouth Friends burying-ground. David Jarrett was a member of the Society of Friends. He was a Republican in politics and served for several years as a school director. He married Rebecca Farra, daughter of Atkinson Farra, of Norristown. She was born January 31, 1798, and died February 11, 1872. Their children: Jesse, born September 27, 1822, who married Ann G. Bean and died in 1898; Samuel F., born November 19, 1825; Charles P., who was living in the south at the outbreak of the Civil war and becoming an officer in the Confederate service, was killed at the battle of Shiloh; Atkinson F., born September 13, 1830; Elizabeth, born July 15, 1833; John, who married Margaret Loeser; Lucretia, who was born January 26, 1838, married Joseph Umstead; Chalkley, who married Elizabeth Bisson; Atkinson, who married Amanda Skean; and John Jarrett, is deceased.

Samuel F. Jarrett served for three consecutive terms as county treasurer, being the first Republican ever elected to this office in Montgomery. Born in Upper Providence, and reared in that township and Plymouth, he remained with his father on the farm until he was twenty-four years of age. He then engaged in farming in Lower Providence, continuing there until 1853. He purchased in that year his farm in Norriton, two and a half miles west of Norristown, to which he removed and where he now lives. He is one of the most successful farmers of his generation in Montgomery county. On June 3, 1849, he married Amanda Crawford, whose parents, Joseph and Rebecca (Francis) Crawford, lived in Lower Providence. They had two children: Emma, who died in infancy; and Anna R., wife of Dr. W. H. Reed, of Norristown.

When Lee threatened Pennsylvania, Samuel F. Jarrett enlisted in the Norris Cavalry and was in the emergency service two months in Maryland. He was always an active Republican, and in 1872, when many Democrats were dissatisfied with the nomination of Horace Greeley on their party ticket for president and either remained at home on the day of election or bolted the ticket, he was on the Republican ballot for county treasurer and was elected by a majority of twelve votes. He was given the nomination by his party the next year and was again elected. The constitution of the state having meanwhile been changed (1874), and the term of county treasurer extended to three years, Mr. Jarrett was again nominated and re-elected by an increased majority. Although he did not again seek or hold public office, he has always taken an active interest in county politics and has been the trusted and valued advisor of the party leaders. He has always been recognized as one of the most substantial and reliable citizens of the county, his high reputation for integrity and veracity and his excellent sense and sound judgment causing him to be universally esteemed. He has been for many years a member of the board of directors of the Peoples National Bank of Norristown, and a stockholder in six other banks of the vicinity. He is also president of the Norristown Farmers’ Market Company. He is a life member of the Historical Society.