My Genealogy Hound

DANIEL R. COFRODE, deceased, was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, September 25, 1841, a son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Howell) Cofrode. He was for many years one of the prominent and public-spirited citizens of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where he was instrumental in the organization and forwarding of many enterprises which had for their object the well-being of the community, and by his generosity and open-handedness contributed materially to various charitable organizations, and also to the needs of poor and deserving individuals.

Jesse Cofrode (father) traced his origin to German ancestors who lived lives of usefulness and activity. He was a resident of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, an iron worker by occupation, and by industry and perseverance was enabled to provide a comfortable home for his family, which consisted of his wife, Elizabeth (Howell) Cofrode, and seven children, all sons, all of whom are now deceased but the eldest, Joseph Cofrode, a resident of Philadelphia. Jesse Cofrode died at his home in Dauphin county at the age of eighty-four years.

Daniel Cofrode was reared and educated in Dauphin county. His first business was canal boating, but the greater part of his life was spent in bridge building. For many years he was superintendent of the Cofrode & Saylor Bridge Works, of Pottstown, Pennsylvania. This company was established in 1877, its buildings and improvements covered an area of about thirteen acres, and they gave constant employment to nearly one thousand men, thus making it one of the leading industries of that section of the county. Subsequently he formed a partnership with Mr. Lewis Evans, under the firm name of Cofrode & Evans, contractors, and at one time they required the services of six hundred workmen to carry out their contracts in the specified time. They were actively engaged in bridge building until the death of Mr. Cofrode, February 3, 1893, in the fifty-second year of his age. He was one of the organizers of the Citizens’ Bank of Pottstown, of which institution he was president from its organization until his death, and he also served as director in a number of other institutions. He attended the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a strong adherent of the principles of Republicanism. He was an active and zealous member of the Masonic fraternity, having filled all the chairs in both the blue lodge and commandery. He was a member of Stichter Lodge. F. and A. M., was one of the instigators of Nativity Commandery, and originally belonged to Hutchinson Commandery of Norristown.

On May 12, 1870, Daniel R. Cofrode married Miss Susanna McBride, daughter of Daniel and Jane (Long) McBride, the latter named having been the daughter of Joseph Long, a resident of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, and the former a son of Daniel and Rachel (Bird) McBride. The McBride family have resided in America for many generations. Daniel and Jane (Long) McBride were natives of Delaware county, where Mr. McBride conducted a successful business at his trade of blacksmith. They were the parents of twelve children, three sons and nine daughters, six of whom are now living.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cofrode, as follows: Jane E., who became the wife of Cleaver Root; D. Frank, who is employed in the custom house in Philadelphia; he married Miss Evelyn Atchison, and they reside in Pottstown; and Florence H., who resides with her mother in her home in Pottstown. Mrs. Cofrode is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which she takes an active part.