My Genealogy Hound

SETH S. SCHLATER. The Schlater family are among the old and respected settlers of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. The pioneer ancestors were Casper and Barbara Schlater, who came from Rotterdam in the ship “Thomas Coatman,” and landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 22, 1752. Their son, Casper Schlater, was born July 13, 1759, in Upper Dublin township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He became active and prominent in the affairs of Boehm’s church, at Blue Bell, and filled the offices of county treasurer and commissioner in Montgomery county. It is probable that all the families by the name of Schlater now resident in the county are descendants of Casper and Barbara Schlater.

William Schlater, father of Seth S. Schlater, was born on the old homestead in Plymouth township, Montgomery county. After completing a common school education he devoted his attention to farming, and his operations along that line were very successful. He was united in marriage to Sarah Snyder, a native of the same township, and six children were born to them-two sons and four daughters.

Seth S. Schlater, son of William and Sarah (Snyder) Schlater, was born on the old homestead in Plymouth township, Montgomery county, in 1819. He obtained a practical education in the schools of the neighborhood, and on attaining manhood applied himself to farming, which occupation he followed throughout the entire period of his active career, and in which he achieved a fair degree of financial success. He was a stanch adherent of the principles of Democracy, and an active worker in behalf of the interest of his party. He was chosen to fill the office of township supervisor, and served acceptably for a number of years.

Mr. Schlater married, October 8, 1852, Catherine Freas, who was one of eight children born to Daniel and Christiana (Gilbert) Freas, of Whitemarsh township, Pennsylvania. Their children were: 1. Sarah, born April 11, 1857, who became the wife of Harry Hall, and their children are Laura, Jesse, Katie, Ella, Mary E., Earle, Elizabeth, Elsie, and Seth S. and Harry, both deceased. 2. Horace F., born July 1, 1858; he married Ella Wolf, and they have one child, Elsie Schlater. 3. Mary Elizabeth, born February 1, 1862; she married Joseph Peters, and they have children---Annie H. (Mrs. ___Campbell), and Alice Peters. 4. Andrew Johnson, born April 5, 1868; he married Florence ____ and his children are Florence and Elizabeth P. Schlater. Seth S. Schlater, the father of the family, died November 10, 1891.

The Freas family are descendants of old settlers in that part of Montgomery county. They are of German origin, and have intermarried with many of the prominent families in the lower end of the county. Daniel Freas, father of Mrs. Schlater, was the son of George and Barbara (Wolf) Freas, who were the parents of ten children. Daniel Freas was born on the homestead farm in Whitemarsh township in 1792, and followed farming all his life. He died at an advanced age. This branch of the Freas family were Whigs in politics until the formation of the Republican party, when they cast their votes with that organization.