My Genealogy Hound

JACOB T. TRINLEY was born in Chester county March 6, 1838, being the son of John and Mary (Taney) Trinley. He was reared on the farm and obtained a good education in the schools of the neighborhood.

John Trinley (father) was born in Montgomery county and lived there until after his marriage, when he settled in Chester county. He was a laboring man and went from home in pursuit of work, when he died in 1853. He was a plain, honest man. Mrs. Mary (Taney) Trinley was born in Chester county, and they were married there. After the death of her first husband, in 1855 she married (second husband) Peter Miller, a native of Pennsylvania and a laborer and a butcher. They remained in Chester county, where they both died. The children of John and Mary (Taney) Trinley were: John W., a well-to-do farmer of Chester county; Priscilla (Mrs. John Bund); Jacob; William, went to England and has never been heard of since; Mary (Mrs. Philip Minch). Peter and Mary (Trinley) Miller had no children.

The paternal grandfather of Jacob Trinley came from Germany and died in America. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. His children were: Mrs. Nogengost; John (father). The family were Protestants.

John Taney (maternal grandfather) was of German descent. He was a laboring man, skillful with tools, and built boats for use on the Reading canal. He also worked on different farms. He maintained a good home and was comfortable but not wealthy. He was a member of the German Reform church. His children: Elizabeth (Mrs. A. Soures); Barbara, married Peter Yeager, who served in the war of 1812, his wife still drawing a pension; John, worked in iron foundries and became a skilled laborer, dying near Johnstown; Ablena (Mrs. Charles W. Wisner); Hannah (Mrs. David Lloyd), her husband being a machine molder; and Mary (mother), who was the second child.

Jacob T. Trinley remained at his home until he was fourteen years of age, when he obtained employment among the different farmers in order to assist his father in the support of the family. When he was eighteen years of age he was apprenticed to learn the trade of stone and brick mason. After the first year he worked under instructions and received better wages. He followed his trade for about six years in the country, and then worked for the Reading Railroad for four years. He went to Philadelphia and while there helped to build the foundation for the Masonic Temple, worked on Broad and Jefferson Street church, and other brown cut stone churches, among them the Jewish synagogue and buildings in West Philadelphia. During the war time wages were good and after working for fourteen years and saving his money, he returned to Chester county. He loaned his money and lost nearly all of it.

Obliged to make a second start he went to Linfield, in Limerick township, Montgomery county, and engaged in the manufacture of soap. He continued in this business for five years and succeeded well. At the end of that time he was able to buy a small tract of land, where he removed and still lives. He removed his factory to his own farm, and three years later, in 1876, started a fertilizer factory in a small way. He now operates his machinery by steam, and has the latest improvements. For some years he manufactured about one thousand tons annually, but since competition has increased, the market demands only about nine hundred tons each year, nearly all of which he sells in the vicinity of the factory. About 1883 he added a switch to his factory and has since sold coal in large quantities. He next added a feed mill to his factory, and does custom work and buys grain for the farmers, but depends on the west especially for his supply of grain. He also has a hay press, which he put in operation about 1890 and which does a large business. In 1902 he bought the mill at Limerick Square which he conducts, grinding and selling grain both wholesale and retail.

Mr. Trinley owns three well improved farms, some of which he manages himself, two tracts of land without buildings and one other with buildings. He is a self-made man, and by hard work and honest dealing he has been able to acquire a competency for himself, and also give work to from twelve to sixteen men in the business. He is a widely known and highly respected man.

His coal sheds are 160 feet long, his wareroom, 40 by 107 feet, his machine house 20 by 100, with the best improved machinery; his office is 16 by 20 feet with everything complete.

In 1861 Jacob Trinley married Miss Elizabeth Reifsnyder, born in Montgomery county. She is the daughter of Tobias and Elizabeth (Walt) Reifsnyder, he a prominent and successful farmer, and a member of an old Pennsylvania German family. In his younger days he was a choir singer and leader. He was a member of the Reform church, and she was a Lutheran. Their children: Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Trinley; Andrew, a blacksmith located at Royersford; Peter, farmer and creamery manager, residing in Limerick township; Catharine (Mrs. C. Umstead), residing at Trappe.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Trinley: John William, who operates the mill at Limerick Square; Webster T., engineer at the factory; J. Allison, clerk at the office, unmarried.

Mrs. Trinley and her husband are members of the German Reform church. In politics he is a Democrat, but votes usually for the best man.