My Genealogy Hound

J. HOWARD WEBER, of Worcester township, was born November 14, 1864, at North Wales, Montgomery county, being the son of John M. and Barbara (Custer) Weber. He attended the Ander’s school in his native township until he was seventeen years of age, when he went to work on the farm for one year. He then started to learn his trade of blacksmithing, serving the required term of three years with William Johnson, of Gwynedd Square. He went to Philadelphia and was employed by the Rapid Transit Company for one year, when he returned to Gwynedd and engaged in the blacksmith business for himself for eight years. After an absence of one year, he again returned to Gwynedd Square and remained there until 1900. In that year he removed to his farm in Worcester township where he farms and manages his blacksmith shop at the same time. He has twenty-seven acres and nine perches of good land, and does a dairy business, selling milk to the Center Point Creamery. He is a Democrat in politics and a member of the Wentz Reformed church.

John M. Weber (father) was born in Worcester township, February 5, 1835, and is the son of John H. and Elizabeth (Markley) Weber. He was educated in the public schools and early in life learned the blacksmithing trade. He carried on this business in Worcester and North Wales for twenty-five years, being one of the old type of mechanics who are proficient either in country or city work. He was employed at the Cramp’s shipyard and by the Rapid Transit Company in Philadelphia for some time. He removed to Norristown in March, 1882, and was employed at his trade by William M. Singerly; proprietor of the Philadelphia Record, for eight years. Since that time he has been engaged in the box department of the William K. Gresh & Son Cigar Manufactory.

John M. Weber (father) filled the office of mercantile appraiser in 1872. He was employed in the custom house at Philadelphia under Grover Cleveland’s administration, when John R. Reed was collector of the port, serving for a period of four years. In politics the family have always been Democrats.

John M. Weber married Barbara Ann Custer, who was born in Worcester township, a daughter of Nathan and Catharine (Umstead) Custer. Mr. Custer was a carpet weaver and farmer at Fairview, and had eight children. The children of John M. and Barbara Weber are: Warren C., born October, 1859; Catharine, who died young; Emma, who died at the age of ten years; John Howard; Ida May, who died at the age of four years; and Clara Ella, who married Winfield Rosco Hartzell, principal of the Plymouth high school. Warren C. Weber was one of the first five to be appointed mail carrier in the borough of Norristown, and has held that position ever since. He married Martha Famous, daughter of Hiram and Catharine Famous. Mr. Famous is a carpenter in Conshohocken. Warren and Martha Weber have one son, Carbon Lester Weber.

John H. Weber (grandfather) was born in Worcester township, April 8, 1798. He married Elizabeth Markley, born in Bucks county, in 1799. She was the daughter of George and Elizabeth Markley.

Abraham Weber (great-grandfather) was born in Worcester on the same farm. He married Elizabeth Hoot, a native of Gwynedd township. She was born on the old Hoot homestead.

Jacob Weber (great-great-grandfather) was born in Towamencin township. His wife was Elizabeth.

Christian Weber was the founder of the family in America. He emigrated from Germany, September 27, 1727, locating in Philadelphia for one year, and then removing to Towamencin township, at that time in Philadelphia county, and now Montgomery. The family have all been farmers from one generation to another.

John H. and Elizabeth (Markley) Weber (grandparents) had six children, of whom four reached maturity: Abraham, deceased; George M., a school teacher in early life, who was born in Worcester township, and died in January, 1900; Emeline Margaret, born in Worcester township, wife of James W. Slough, now living retired at West Point; Jacob M., who died in 1888, in North Wales.

The Custer family, to whom the mother of J. Howard Weber belongs, emigrated from Holland among the early settlers of Pennsylvania. The grandfather of Mrs. John M. Weber, Harmon Umstead, at one time owned a large portion of what is now Franklin Square, at Sixth and Vine streets, Philadelphia.

J. Howard Weber married (first wife) Livia Stohlberger, also of Gwynedd Square, April 1, 1886. They were married by Rev. W. F. Burns. Mrs. Weber died October 26, 1894, and was buried in the Baptist cemetery in Upper Gwynedd. Their children: Philip S., born February 24, 1887, at Gwynedd Square, residing with his father; and Linda, born October 21, 1891, attending school.

J. Howard Weber married (second wife) Kate F., daughter of Simon K. and Esther (Freyer) Cassel. She was born November 25, 1868, and the marriage took place September 26, 1896, Rev. W. S. Anders performing the ceremony. Her mother was the daughter of Bernard B. and Catharine (Kriebel) Freyer. Simon and Esther (Freyer) Cassel were married September 5, 1865. Their children: Allen F., born December 4, 1866; Jacob, a deaf mute, born November 6, 1870; Kate F., wife of Mr. Weber; Charles F., born October 3, 1872; Annie F. (deceased), born August 10, 1874; Edith F. (deceased), born July 20, 1876; Susanna, born July 20, 1878, wife of Wilson Keller; George, born December 13, 1879; Elizabeth, born October 14, 1881, wife of Irwin Underkiffler.

Daniel K. Cassel (grandfather of Mrs. Weber) was the well-known genealogist and historian, author of the “Kulp Family,” “Cassel Family,” etc. He was born April 22, 1820, and has been deceased several years. His wife was Elizabeth Kulp.

The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Weber, Bernard B. Freyer, married Catharine Kriebel, daughter of Job Kriebel, September 13, 1840. Their children: Esther (mother), born August 31, 1841; Jacob, born April 26, 1844; Judia, born October 2, 1846; and Susanna, born November 13, 1850.

The Cassel family have been very prominent in Montgomery county. They were originally Mennonites.