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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company; Elwood Roberts, Editor.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JOSEPH HENRY CAREY, of Pottstown, was born in that borough, July 7, 1858. He is the son of Manning Force and Mary (Missimer) Carey.

Manning Force Carey (father) was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and was a butcher by trade. He removed to Montgomery county when a young man and settled in Lower Pottsgrove township, where he lived until he married. He then removed to Pottstown, and attended market there for a number of years. He died in 1879, at the age of forty-seven years. His wife died in Philadelphia, in 1900, at the age of sixty- five years. Both were Lutherans. Mrs. Mary (Missimer) Carey was born in Limerick township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Carey and four children: George W., of Philadelphia; Joseph Henry, of Pottstown; M. Force Carey, of Philadelphia; and Fred M., of New York city.

Joseph Carey (grandfather) was born in Pennsylvania and was a stone quarryman. He was killed by a blast when he was fifty-five years of age. He was a local Methodist preacher, and after his day’s work was finished he would walk seven or eight miles to Pottstown and conduct revivals, preaching and exhorting. His wife was Lydia Gruver, who lived to be about seventy- nine years of age. They had four children. After the death of Mr. Carey, Lydia (Gruver) Carey, his wife, married David Ganger (second husband) and they had two children.

George Missimer (maternal grandfather) was born in Limerick township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and farmed there for many years. During the last years of his life he lived retired in Pottstown, where he died when he was ninety-four years old. His wife was Susanna Christman and they had a large family. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. The father of George Missimer was Frederick Missimer, the son of Cassimer Missimer, who was the immigrant. He came from Alsace, France. Cassimer Missimer was the founder of the family in Montgomery county and in America.

Joseph H. Carey was reared in Pottstown and attended the public schools. At the age of fourteen years he began to learn the printing trade, at the Pottstown Ledger office, and for many years has been foreman of the job printing department. He is connected with the newspaper and printing department of the Pottstown Ledger, and for twenty years has been correspondent for various Philadelphia newspapers. He worked for J. B. Lippincott & Company, book publishers, in Philadelphia at one time, and was also reporter for the Norristown Register.

March 31, 1887, Joseph H. Carey married Miss Agnes A. Reinert, daughter of Benneville and Cecelia Reinert. They had two children, Mary and Pauline. Mr. and Mrs. Carey are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church. He is a steward in the church, and also Sunday-school librarian.

Politically Mr. Carey is a Democrat. He was a member of the school board for ten years, having been elected three times in a strong Republican ward, and was treasurer of the board. In 1901 Mr. Carey was appointed borough and school tax collector by Judge Weand, a vacancy having occurred. He resides at 326 Cherry street.

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This family biography is one of more than 1,000 biographies included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

View additional Montgomery County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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