My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL DRESHER, for many years a director in the Montgomery National Bank, and in other financial institutions of the county, is a native of Upper Dublin township, where he was born in the village of Dreshertown, March 17, 1830. He is the son of Oliver and Annie (Anders) Dresher.

The Dreshers are an old family in Montgomery county, having been the founders of Dreshertown, in the vicinity of which they resided for many years, they being among the best-known residents of that section. Dreshertown derived its name from Christopher Dresher (great-grandfather), who was born in 1771. A post office was established there in 1832 and the Upper Dublin elections were held there from 1840 to 1856, when they were removed to Jarrettown.

George Dresher and his wife Maria were among the Schwenkfelder immigrants who came from Germany to Pennsylvania in 1734, landing at Philadelphia. They settled largely within the boundaries of what is now Montgomery county, and their descendants are among its most valuable citizens. George Dresher had three children-Christopher, Maria and Rosina. His wife Maria died March 18, 1762. George died March 3, 1774.

Christopher, the next in the line of descent, married Anna, daughter of Christopher Kriebef, June 19, 1744. The children of the couple were: George, born in 1746; Rosina, in 1748; Abraham, in 1750; Susanna, in 1753; and Maria, in 1757. Christopher died August 2, 1770, aged fifty-two years. Anna, his widow, died July 4, 1786.

George Dresher (great-grandfather), the eldest child of Christopher, married Maria, daughter of Christopher Yeakle, October 23, 1770. Their children were: Christopher (for whom Dreshertown was named), born August 8, 1771; Samuel (grandfather) born November 6, 1773; and Maria, born January 17, 1779. George died October 17, 1822, aged seventy-six years. His widow died September 23, 1823. The Dreshers as a rule had small families of children and few of the name are living at the present time.

Samuel Dresher (grandfather) married Anna, daughter of Jeremiah Kriebel, October 22, 1801. Their children were: Susanna, born January 1, 1803; Oliver, born in January, 1804; Levi, born March 3, 1811; and Daniel, born September 10, 1823. Samuel died April 1, 1833. His widow died April 3, 1833, so that the husband and wife died within two days of each other.

Oliver Dresher (father) married Annie, daughter of Abraham Anders, June 5, 1829. Their children are: Samuel and Theresa. The daughter, born January 28, 1832, died March 29, 1853. Oliver Dresher died March 17, 1880, at the age of seventy-six years. He lived at the old mill at Dreshertown, which had been in the possession of the family for more than a century. He combined the occupations of farmer and miller. He was a Whig in politics during the existence of that party and after its day a Republican. He was a prominent man in his community, and served several years as supervisor of roads in Upper Dublin township, and also held the position of school director for a number of years. His wife survived him, dying on July 21, 1894, in the eighty-fifth year of her age.

Samuel Dresher was reared on his father’s farm, alternating in youth in attention to agriculture and the milling business and attendance at neighborhood schools. He has all his life been interested in farming, although of late years he has retired from active labors, his fine farm of a hundred acres in Norriton township having been rented for more than thirty years. He resides about a mile from Hartranft station on the Stony Creek Railroad. In addition to his ordinary occupations, he has found time to devote to public interests and is one of the most influential citizens of his community.

On November 9, 1854, Mr. Dresher married Susanna Seipt, daughter of George Seipt, of Worcester township. She died September 19, 1901, leaving no children.

In thirty-two years Mr. Dresher has had only two tenants on his farm. He is a member of the Schwenkfelder church, as was his wife, and he has been a deacon therein for more than thirty years.

Mr. Dresher is a member of the board of directors of the Montgomery National Bank, of Norristown, a position which he has filled acceptably for many years. He is also a director of the Montgomery Insurance, Trust and Safe Deposit Company. He was president of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Montgomery County for five years and a director for twenty-five years or more. He is a stockholder in the new Haymarket Company of Philadelphia. He is a trustee of Perkiomen Seminary at Pennsburg, an institution which is under Schwenkfelder control.

Mr. Dresher is a Republican in politics. He has filled various positions in his township, including the office of school director. He has never failed to exercise his right of suffrage when he had an opportunity to do so. He cast his fifty-second vote on November 3, 1903.