My Genealogy Hound

SARAH HUNSICKER LONGSTRETH, widow of the late Henry Longstreth, was born November 20, 1842, on the farm which was the home of her paternal grandfather, Jacob Hunsicker, near Collegeville. She received a liberal education, being graduated from the Pennsylvania Female College, under Professor Sunderland, of Freeland, now Collegeville, this being the first institution of the kind in the state. She taught school for a member of years before her marriage.

Jacob, Jr., and Mary (Bechtel) Hunsicker, the parents of Mrs. Longstreth, were natives of Montgomery county. He spent his life in farming, and built a house near the old homestead, where he was born. He never joined any church. In politics he was formerly a Whig, and later a Democrat, but held no office. He died in 1879 at the age of sixty-six years. His wife died in September, 1878. Their children were: Sarah (Mrs. Longstreth); Anna Jane (Mrs. Warren Grater), died in 1875, aged thirty years; Ella M., died unmarried, at the age of forty-three.

Jacob Hunsicker, grandfather of Mrs. Longstreth, was born in Skippack township, Montgomery county. He was a farmer and miller, and settled on a farm in Perkiomen Valley, near Collegeville, in 1811. Here he remained through life. He remodeled the house and made many improvements on the farm. He was reared a Mennonite, and was always a member of that church. In politics he was a Whig and a Republican. His children were: Catharine (Mrs. D. Allebach); Esther (Mrs. G. Bean); Sarah (Mrs. D. Culp); Martin, a farmer; Jacob (father); Henry, died young; Benjamin, a merchant, died and left two children. Some of the children of Jacob Hunsicker were Mennonites, and some had no church relations.

Henry Hunsicker, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Longstreth, was a descendant of Valentine Hunsicker, who came from Switzerland. As far as is known the family were all farmers and mechanics. They were all Mennonites, and some of them elders and bishops in the church. The children of Henry Hunsicker were: Abraham, Jacob (grandfather), John, Garret, Isaac, and Anna (Mrs. Johnson).

Abraham Bechtel, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Longstreth, was a farmer and a descendant of an old Montgomery county family. They were Mennonites. His children were: David, died in Montgomery county; Nancy (Mrs. H. Bechtel); Susan (Mrs. J. Kratz); Abraham, Elizabeth, married (first husband) Joseph Johnston, and (second husband) George Kratz; Mary (mother); Philip, Esther (Mrs. Rosenberger) and married (second husband) R. Longaker; John and Henry.

Sarah (Hunsicker) Longstreth still lives on the property formerly part of her father’s farm and where he died December 1, 1879. In 1865 she married Henry Longstreth, who was born in Chester county, January 6, 1838.

Henry Longstreth was reared on the old Longstreth homestead at Trappe, which was originally a hotel, but is now owned and occupied by Isaac Longstreth. He received a good education in the common schools and in Freeland Seminary. He afterwards taught school for several winters, and helped his father on the farm during the summer. He was a sergeant in Captain Benjamin F. Beans Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. He enlisted August 4, 1862, to serve nine months, and was honorably discharged May 18, 1863. He served again in the Emergency service in 1863, but saw no fighting. After his marriage in 1865 he removed to a farm near Linfield, Limerick township, Montgomery county, situated in the Schuylkill Valley, and spent the rest of his life in farming. He had the most improved farm machinery, and conducted his farm very successfully. He was a business man far above the average, and commanded respect of all who knew him. On August 25, 1875, death separated him from his sorrowing wife and children. In politics he was a Republican.

John and Catharine (Kline) Longstreth were the parents of Henry Longstreth. He was born in Chester county, and learned the blacksmith trade. Later he became a farmer, attending market regularly. He was a man of very strong convictions. He was of English origin. His wife was born in Montgomery county, and they both died there. She was of German descent, and a member of the Reformed church. Their children: Henry, married Sarah Hunsicker; Rebecca (Mrs. Rhoads); Anna, died at the age of twenty-two years; Morris, died unmarried; Samuel, Isaac, and two who died in infancy. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Longstreth kept her family together, and reared her children with credit. Her children were: Earnest H., born August 22, 1866, was graduated at Ursinus College, at Collegeville, and first obtained employment in the First National Bank of Norristown, and later held a position in the Manufacturers’ Bank of Philadelphia, and other trusted positions. He was secretary and treasurer of the Security Trust Company, Camden, New Jersey, when he died, March 30, 1900, cut off in a promising career. Mayne R., born February 27, 1869, graduated from Ursinus College, Collegeville, with two honors, in 1889, and later from the law department of the University of Pennsylvania. He is practicing his profession in Philadelphia, and shows great ability as a lawyer. He is at present assistant city solicitor of Philadelphia. He is unmarried. In politics he is a Republican, and takes an active interest in his party.