My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE M. DETWILER, a well known contractor of Norristown, is a native of Chester county, where he was born June 30, 1862, his parents then residing at Spring City. From that place his father removed to Philadelphia, when he was six years of age. The elder Detwiler kept the Sorrel Horse Hotel, at Fourth and Vine streets, for four years, and then removed to Phoenixville, where he stayed until George M. had reached manhood.

George M. Detwiler was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia, Phoenixville and Norristown. When he was seventeen years of age, he started out to learn the trade of plastering with his father. He served as an apprentice four years and after he had finished his trade he remained with his father until the latter’s death, about 1888. After his father’s death the son finished the contracts on which he was engaged, and then worked for five years in Philadelphia, Washington and New York, thus thoroughly mastering his trade and gaining the experience which was to be of great value to him in after life. In this way he fitted himself for any kind of work in his line, however difficult.

In 1893 Mr. Detwiler returned to Norristown, and, though almost without capital, entered upon the career of contractor and business man in which he has been so successful. He has completed some of the most important contracts in Norristown, among them the reconstruction of the interior of the Montgomery National Bank; the upper stories of the cigar manufactory of Gresh & Sons; the Elks’ Home on Main street; the parish building of All Saints’ church; the new Jeffersonville Presbyterian church; the Bridgeport Baptist church; the magnificent building of the Norristown Trust Company; the work on the plant of the Adam Scheidt Brewing Company; work at Watt’s Mill; the residences of Assemblyman John H. Rex, Attorney Hillegass, Louis N. McCarter, and many others of the finest mansions on DeKalb and West Main streets, the most prominent thoroughfares of Norristown. Mr. Detwiler is straightforward in his business methods, always takes care that his employes receive their wages at the end of the week and never leaves any bills unpaid.

Mr. Detwiler is a member of Tecumseh Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, of John F. Hartranft Conclave of Heptasophs; and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, all of Norristown. He and his wife are both members of the Central Presbyterian church. He is a Republican in politics, but not an office-seeker, although never missing an opportunity to cast his ballot for the candidates who represent his party principles.

On May 3, 1881, he married Hattie S., daughter of Levi Bolton, who was born June 20, 1861. Their children are: George, born March 19, 1885; Raymond B., born October 19, 1886; Amos L., born June 1, 1888; Alice N., born April 26, 1890; and Willis Bland, born March 9, 1901.

Amos Detwiler (father) was born October 25, 1816, and died December 14, 1888. He was born and grew to manhood in Lower Providence township, Montgomery county. Before his removal to Spring City in 1861, he learned and followed the trade of plasterer. He built the Spring City Hotel and managed it for five years until he leased the Sorrel Horse Hotel in Philadelphia, where he remained six years. He afterwards managed the Western Hotel, on Market street, on the site of Gimbel Brothers’ store and later the Ellerton House at Fourteenth and Ridge avenue. In 1872 he went to Phoenixville and engaged in the business which he had learned in his youth, that of a contracting plasterer, and in 1876 settled in Norristown, continuing as a plasterer until his death. Many of the best residences of Norristown contain specimens of his work, among others the home of Charles Templeton. He was a member of the Knights of Friendship. Though his life was too busy for him to devote much time to politics, he was a staunch Republican. In religion he remained in the faith of his father, the Reformed Mennonite.

Amos Detwiler was buried in the burial-ground of the Trinity Reformed church of Collegeville. He married Elizabeth Vanderslice and they had ten children, as follows: Kate; Mary; Warren, who enlisted in 1861 and served until after he lost his arm at Antietam, when he was discharged, and remained at home for a short time, since which time he has lived in Manayunk, serving as a mail carrier and working in a mill; Anthony, who died young; John; Sarah; Frank; Milton; Martin; and one who died in infancy.

After the death of his first wife Amos Detwiler married, in 1858, Mrs. Hanna Bland, daughter of Peter and Hannah Hill. She was born October 28, 1824. Amos and Hanna Detwiler had children, as follows: Bessie, who married (first husband) Milton Harley, and (second husband) David Allabaugh; Ellie M., who married Dr. John D. Weaver, and resides in Norristown; George M.; and Howard A., who died in infancy. Mrs. Hanna Detwiler died March 7, 1904, in her eightieth year. By her first husband Mrs. Detwiler had two children: Henrietta and H. Willis Bland, a self-made man who is judge of the Orphans’ Court of Berks county. H. Willis Bland enlisted in the Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry at the age of sixteen years.

John Detwiler (grandfather) was also born in Montgomery county. His wife was Catherine Krupp.

Levi Bolton, the father of Mrs. George Detwiler, was born June 16, 1836, at the house in Norristown where he still lives. At the age of eighteen he became an apprentice to Lewis H. Davis to learn the trade of bricklaying. He had been working at his trade for several years when, on September 12, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Fifty-first Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, to serve three years. On December 3, 1864, he was promoted to the rank of commissary sergeant. He sustained a gun-shot wound, at Antietam, and also at Spottsylvania, and each necessitated his remaining in the hospital for three months. He was mustered out of service July 27, 1865, after engaging in the following battles: Roanoke Island; Newbern, North Carolina; Camden, North Carolina; Chantilla; South Mountain, Maryland; Antietam; Vicksburg, Mississippi; Siege of Jackson; Loudon, Tennessee; Campbell Station; Knoxville; Wilderness; Spottsylvania; Hatches’ Run; Fort Steadman; Petersburg and Richmond. At the close of the war he returned to his home and has followed his trade ever since. He has been a member of the Humane Fire Company of Norristown since 1858, and belongs to Zook Post, No. 11, Department of the Pennsylvania G. A. R.

John Bolton, the grandfather of Mrs. George Detwiler, was also a resident of Norristown. He married Sarah Shiffy, and their children were: Caroline, Isaac (deceased), William, Josiah, and Levi. John Bolton was a prominent contractor and carpenter in Norristown for many years.