My Genealogy Hound

GRANT RICHARD McGLATHERY, a member of the house of representatives, in the legislature of 1901, is of Scotch descent. He was born in Norristown, April 3, 1865. His name was given at the time of the overthrow of the Southern Confederacy, his two names being suggested by the surrender of Richmond, the rebel capital, to General Grant, a commander of the army of the United States. He is the son of Charles S. and Mary E. (Anderson) McGlathery, he a native of Plymouth township, and she of Norristown. They had seven children, four sons and three daughters, of whom four are now living, as follows: Miss Sarah, Grant R., George N. and Harry W., all of Norristown. George N. was for a part of 1902, register of wills of Montgomery county, filling the vacancy caused by the appointment of Rhine Russell Freed to be chief coiner at the United States Mint in Philadelphia.

Charles S. McGlathery (father) learned the trade of bricklayer and became a contractor, and later took charge of the construction of the brick work of the furnaces at Hooven’s Mills, Norristown, which he followed until within two years of the time of his death. He died December 26, 1901, in his seventieth years. His wife survives. She is a member of the Baptist church. He was not identified with any religious denomination, but inclined toward the Episcopalian faith. He enlisted in the Union army in 1861 in the Fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Company I, and was second lieutenant. It was General (then Colonel) Hartranft’s regiment, and participated in many important actions. After the war Mr. McGlathery resumed work at his trade in Norristown. He was a Republican, but never sought or held office.

Franklin McGlathery (grandfather) was a farmer by occupation. His wife was Eliza Hallman. They had a family of several children. Abraham H. Anderson (maternal grandfather) was a native of Chester county. He was a machinist, and owned a foundry and machine shops in Norristown, going to that place when a boy. He died there at the age of about sixty-four years. His wife was Sarah Finley. They had a large family.

Grant R. McGlathery has lived all his life in Norristown. He attended the public schools, graduating from the Norristown high school in the class of 1883. He then began clerking in Philadelphia for the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company, and labored in that capacity for two years; he then became a reporter on the Norristown Herald for five years, assisting also in the business department. Owing to impaired vision he entered the Tradesmen’s National Bank of Conshohocken as teller, which position he held for five years, but was compelled to resign because of defective eyesight. He was elected coroner of Montgomery county in 1898, serving two years, and then resigning upon being elected to the house of representatives of the Pennsylvania legislature, where he was an active member and was identified with much of the important legislation of the session during his term of two years. He served also as deputy register of wills under his brother, in 1902. He is now devoting his attention to the real estate and insurance business, still retaining an active interest in politics, and being close to the Republican leaders in the county. He is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church on DeKalb street, near Marshall. He is a member of Curtis Lodge, No. 239, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is past grand and the representative of that lodge, and grand conductor of the grand lodge of Pennsylvania for the past four years. Mr. McGlathery is one of the most active Odd Fellows in the state, devoting much time and attention to the upbuilding of the order. He is also past chief patriarch of Norristown Encampment, and a member of Norristown Lodge, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His home is at 630 West Lafayette street.

Grant R. McGlathery is an effective and eloquent public speaker, and he has been frequently called upon to take an active part in campaign work, doing good service to the Republican party, to which he is devotedly attached.