My Genealogy Hound

REV. URIAH WEIDNER, a retired Reformed minister, residing in Montgomery township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, was born in Whitpain township, September 16, 1828. He is a son of Samuel and Mary (Sechler) Weidner. The ancestors of the Rev. Uriah Weidner were Germans, of Wurternberg, who left their native land because of the religious persecution which drove so many of the best people of that and other European countries into exile. Several brothers of the Weidner family came to America at an early date and located in Oley township, Berks county, Pennsylvania.

In the line of descent from one of these was Leonard Weidner (grandfather), who resided in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He married Christians Hinckle, whose father owned very extensive tracts of land in Bucks county. Their children were: Samuel (father), Hannah (Mrs. Rhoads), David, Maria (Mrs. Thomas), all now deceased.

Samuel Weidner (father) was born in Quakertown, Bucks county, in 1790, and spent his early life there. When he was eighteen years of age he removed with his parents to Whitpain township, where his father had purchased a farm, now the site of the Mercer Home for Disabled Clergymen, located near the borough of Ambler. He was employed in farming there until 1853, when he sold his farm to Saunders Lewis and purchased five acres on the opposite side of the road, where he spent the latter part of his life in retirement. Mr. Weidner was a quiet and unassuming man. In the old Jackson days he was a Democrat, but he forsook that party when the American Union was menaced by rebellion and became a Republican, voting for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. He was a pronounced prohibitionist, and was one of the first to dispense with liquor on all occasions. He was for a long time a member of the Reformed church, but subsequently became a member of the Methodist church, in which he took a very active part, being a class leader and steward. He served as corporal in the war of 1812. He married Mary Sechler, and their children were: Mary Ann, who died in childhood. Josiah, born May 2, 1821, married Louisa Malloy, and their children were: Mary, wife of Theodore Worthington, Samuel E., who married Sarah Peterson; Elizabeth, wife of a Mr. Russell; Ethan, unmarried; Uriah, married a Miss Long, and is now deceased; William, deceased; Amanda, deceased; and Henrietta. Both Josiah and Louisa (Malloy) Weidner are deceased. Lavina, born February 14, 1825, married Henry Taney, and is now deceased; their children were: Albert, deceased; Flora, deceased; Ida, wife of Newton Watson, of Hatboro; Harry, Eva, wife of Abraham Hallman, of Norristown; and a son deceased. Uriah, subject of this sketch. Ethan J., born April 27, 1832, married Anna Ellis, deceased, and their children were: George Washington, deceased; Loretta, deceased; Lavinia, wife of Harry Wallton; Mary, Sherman, who married a Miss Clare; Leonard; Ethan, deceased; Emma, deceased; Minnie, Carrie, and Annie.

Uriah Weidner resided on the homestead farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits until he was twenty-two years of age. He acquired his education in the common schools of Whitpain township, which was supplemented by a course at Treemount Seminary, Norristown, conducted by the Rev. Samuel Aaron, a celebrated teacher in his day. After leaving school he became a teacher, and was engaged in that occupation for a period of fourteen years, twelve years being spent in teaching at Mount Pleasant school, which he had attended in his boyhood. The following two years he taught at Marble Hall school in Whitemarsh township. In 1866 he abandoned teaching on account of failing health, and engaged again in farming in Worcester township, Montgomery county. In 1869 he removed to New Britain, Bucks county, purchased a farm of sixty acres, and resided there until 1881. In that year he purchased the farm on which he now resides. Mr. Weidner until 1875, was a member of the Methodist church, and held the office of deacon. In 1875 he was ordained a minister in the Reformed church, and in the same year installed as a minister in the Pleasantville church, and held this charge fourteen years. In 1889 he resigned this charge, and since that time has not engaged in the work of the ministry by filling any particular charge, although still fulfilling many of the duties of the position.

Rev. Uriah Weidner married, at Norristown, June 21, 1855, Margaret L. Supplee, daughter of Joel and Phebe (Supplee) Supplee. Mrs. Weid ner was born in Worcester township, May 31, 1838. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Uriah Weidner were: Frank N., born October 22, 1856, married R. Ella Danehower, and has one child, Myrtie; Flora A., born November 8, 1857, died March 31, 1862; Willing U. G., born May 18, 1863, married Catherine (Kate) Fillman, and has five living children, Maggie, Gertrude, Irene Viola, Raymond Atwood, Judson; and Vivian, and another, Frank, died in childhood; Charles L., born November 1, 1868, married Sarah McNair, November 12, 1888, their children being: Elsie Mildred, Ivy Pearl, Irma Pauline, Melva Valeria, Geraldine Alphea, and Margaret Supplee; Lily May, born May 1, 1871, wife of Charles Kramer (married November 28, 1895), and has six children, Stanley, Uriah, Lawrence, Marcus, James P. and Margaret W.; Rose M., born December 17, 1881, married March 19, 1902, Harry Tyre, died January 12, 1903, and had one son, Sylvan W.

Joel Supplee, the father of Mrs. Weidner, was born May 5, 1810, in Worcester township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, a son of Nathan and Sarah (Wetherill) Supplee. He was a resident of Worcester township until 1851, at which date he purchased a farm in Whitpain township, and removing there spent the remainder of his life on that farm. He married Phebe (Supplee) Supplee, October 7, 1834. He died April 21, 1883, his wife died May 25, 1877. Mrs. Weidner was their only child. Phebe Supplee was a daughter of Jesse and Mary Supplee, and was born in Norriton township, October 7, 1811.

Nathan Supplee, paternal grandfather of Mrs. Weidner, was born June 24, 1783. He married Sarah (Sallie) Wetherill, March 26, 1806, who was born April 5, 1786. He died February 21, 1871; she died November 25, 1854. Their children were: Euphemia, born April 5, 1807, married Joel Smith; she died October 13, 1881. Emeline, born October 20, 1808, married John Taney; she died February 21, 1879. Joel (father), Franklin, born September 27, 1811, died May 20, 1886. Abraham, born October 10, 1814, died March 23, 1891. Jonathan, born April 6, 1816, died December 16, 1872. William, born April 12, 1817, died July 20, 1817. Eliza M., born April 8, 1819, died July 4, 1863. Amanda, born June 11, 1820, died December 15, 1880. Melissa, born April 5, 1822, died January 5, 1823. Aaron, born April 12, 1823, died September 12, 1825. Maria Ann, born December 15, 1828, died May 14, 1850.

Abraham Supplee, great-grandfather of Mrs. Supplee, was born April 1, 1746, married Margaret McGlathery, who was born March 10, 1749. He died March 8, 1827; she died November 18, 1840. Their children were: Samuel, Nathan, Phebe, Sarah.

The great-great-grandfather of Mrs. Weidner was Hans, a son of Johannes Supplee, who was the progenitor of the family in America. He was a French Huguenot, and built the old Bethel Methodist Episcopal church on the Skippack road in Worcester township in I770. He died the same year. It was free for all denominations for fourteen years, and afterwards was used by the Methodists, the first regular pastor being Joseph Pillmore, a minister sent from England.