My Genealogy Hound

J. FRANK VOORHEES, steward of the Montgomery County Home, descended from an old family who were among the earliest settlers in this county, and were pioneers of America. He was born in Whitemarsh township, July 6, 1859, and reared on the farm. He received his education in the common schools of the vicinity. Mr. Voorhees is the son of Jacob S, and Sarah E. (Jones) Voorhees, both of whom were residents of this county.

Jacob S. Voorhees (father) was born in Philadelphia, November 6, 1832, and was the son of Elias F. and Elizabeth (Swallow) Voorhees, both of New Jersey, and he was the soil of Roelof Voorhees, also of New Jersey. His father, Hendrick G. Van Voorhees, was born in Long Island, and he was a son of Garret Cortiss Van Voorhees, also of Long Island, and he was a son of Cortiss Stevens Van Voorhees, who was born in Holland in 1637, and who was a son of Cortiss Albert Van Voorhees, who, before 1600, resided in front of the village of Hess, Province of Deiught, Holland. In 1660 he landed on Long Island and settled near New Amsterdam, which is now known as New York City. He bought a large tract of land, and was a farmer by occupation. He was magistrate from 1675 to 1683.

J. Frank Voorhees is great-grandson of Roelof Voorhees, who was reared on Long Island, and afterwards moved to New Jersey, at which place he dropped the “Van” from his name.

Elias F. Voorhees (grandfather) married Miss Elizabeth Swallow, of New Jersey. Mrs. Voorhees was the daughter of Jacob Swallow, who was a farmer by occupation, and of Welsh descent. Their children were: Jacob (father); Martha (Mrs. J. Wolf); Mary (Mrs. J. Clark); Rebecca, died single; Elwood B.

Jacob S. Voorhees (father) was born in Philadelphia, and when but six years of age was taken to raise by his grandfather, Jacob Swallow, who lived in Montgomery county. He remained with his grandfather working on the farm, until the war of the rebellion, at which time he was thirty years of age. In 1858 he was married and settled in this county. In September, 1861, he enlisted in a Bucks county regiment in Company K, One Hundred and Fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel W. W. H. Davis, a part of the Army of the Potomac. He served with the regiment for three years and two months, and was never wounded in an encounter nor captured by the enemy. He helped raise the regiment, and himself recruited ten men and was a non-commissioned officer. Jacob S. Voorhees married Sarah E. Jones, daughter of William Jones, who was a resident of Bucks county, and was a farmer by occupation. Mrs. Voorhees was born in Montgomery county, and is of Welsh descent. Their children were: Sylvester; Wilhelmina; Rebecca; William; Sarah E. (mother). Mrs. Voorhees was a member of the Friends’ Society, and Mr. Voorhees a member of the Baptist church.

In 1861 Jacob S. Voorhees enlisted with Colonel Davis, of Doylestown, and served his country long and faithfully until the end of the war was near at hand. In consequence of all the hardships and the exposure he was forced to go through he received injuries from which he has never recovered. At the present time he is living retired at Audubon. After the war he returned home and engaged in farming. Politically he is a Republican, and has held quite a number of township offices, among then being auditor. At present he holds the position of postmaster at Audubon. He formerly affiliated himself with the Presbyterian church, and takes an active interest in the Mite Society connected therewith. Their children: J. Frank (subject of this sketch); Martha (Mrs. J. Jones Phillips, of Kennett Square. Mr. Phillips is secretary and treasurer of the Good Roads Company); Elizabeth (Mrs. E. Sweeny, her husband is deceased, he was formerly editor of the “West Chester Republican”); William E., (connected with the American Road Machine Company, Kennett Square); Jennie (Mrs. Razor, of Norristown); John H., merchant of Kennett Square, and a prominent man; Bertha, single, a stenographer employed by Mr. Linch, the florist; Walter S., who is acting in the capacity of clerk.

J. Frank Voorhees was reared on a farm, and attended the Philadelphia Market for fifteen years very successfully. When about twelve years old he was employed as a farm hand, and attended the public schools of the vicinity during the winter months. Mr. Voorhees is, one might say, a self-made man, for by his own efforts and honorable inclinations he has built for himself an enviable reputation. He married at the age of twenty-five years, and worked the Wetherill farm on shares, where he remained for eighteen years, doing the work successfully and satisfactorily. In 1900 he was appointed superintendent of the Montgomery County Home, at which place he has given entire satisfaction. He has increased the revenue of the home above any superintendent that preceded him. There are three hundred acres of land adjoining the Home, and there are about two hundred and ten inmates; about sixty females and the remainder male. He carefully looks after each little detail himself, and has a thorough knowledge of all the stock and everything connected with the Home. In politics Mr. Voorhees is a Republican, and has used his influence and worked for his party interests. He held offices both in the township and county for seven years, and was elected a state delegate to Harrisburg in 1896, and shortly afterward received his present appointment. He has filled each and every one of these positions with great credit to himself, and with entire satisfaction to all.

In 1882 he was married to Miss Elizabeth H. Boyer, who was born in Frederick township, this county, January 29, 1861. She is the daughter of Daniel S. and Anna M. (Davidheiser) Boyer. Mr. Boyer is a son of George Boyer, who was of Pennsylvania German descent, and by trade a weaver, and was one of the earliest settlers of this county. Their children: Levi; Lewis; Benjamin; Peter; Isaac; Daniel S. (father of Mrs. Voorhees); Catherine (Mrs. Jacob Renninger). Mr. and Mrs. Boyer and their entire family were members of the Lutheran church.

Daniel S. Boyer was reared on the farm, and after his marriage settled on a farm and followed that pursuit, to which he has given all his attention, and yet occupies the large farm in Upper Pottsgrove township. In addition to his farming he raises quite a good deal of stock. He is very prominent in his neighborhood, being widely known and respected by all. Both Mr. and Mrs. Boyer are members of the Lutheran church.

In politics, Mr. Boyer favors the Democratic party, but he has never aspired to office. Mrs. Boyer is the daughter of George Davidheiser, and was born in this county. Mr. Davidheiser was a farmer by occupation and handled flax extensively. He was a member of the Lutheran church. Their children were: Catherine (Mrs.____) resides in the West; Ellen (Mrs. I. Rhodes); Anna (mother of Mrs. Voorhees).

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel S. Boyer: Irvin D., a farmer; Sarah (Mrs. Hartshaw); Elizabeth (Mrs. J. Frank Voorhees); Horace, a farmer; Anna (Mrs. F. Wagner); Ella (Mrs. Wm. Booth); Lewis, a carpenter; Catherine, yet single.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. J. Frank Voorhees: Daniel J., born December 5, 1882, is a civil engineer; Gertrude D., born August 17, 1884, died October 28, 1892; J. Ralph, born October 17, 1887, died December 9, 1899; Blanche B., born March 13, 1894, residing at home.

Mr. and Mrs. J. Frank Voorhees are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Voorhees is also a member of the Royal Arcanum, Knights Templar, Masons, Knights of Pythias, I. O. O. F., Knights of the Golden Eagle, and the Beneficial Society, of Eagleville.