My Genealogy Hound

WALTER DePREFONTAINE, organist at the First Presbyterian church, Norristown, is a native of Whitpain township, where the DePrefontaines, originally of French extraction, have long been domiciled. He was born at Blue Bell, February 23, 1874, being the son of Charles Paradee DePrefontaine and Emma Elizabeth (Shields) DePrefontaine. Walter DePrefontaine attended the Central public school at Blue Bell, also assisting his father in the store, and graduated from the township high school at sixteen years of age. He then for one year attended Sunnyside Academy, the well-known school kept for many years by the Misses Knight, at Ambler. At the same time he took up the study of instrumental music under private tuition, and ultimately entered the musical profession.

Mr. DePrefontaine married, September 26, 1895, Rachael Mitchell, daughter of Charles and Mary Shaw (Conard) Shoemaker, of Blue Bell. They have one son, Charles LeRoy, born October 25, 1896.

Mr. DePrefontaine was for nine years organist at St. Thomas’ Episcopal church, at Whitemarsh. He also did much teaching of instrumental music in Whitpain and adjoining townships until December, 1902, when he removed to Norristown, where he continues his profession of musical director, making a specialty of the organ, and occupies the position of organist at the First Presbyterian church, corner of DeKalb and Airy streets, one of the largest and most important of that denomination in the county of Montgomery.

Mr. DePrefontaine, apart from his devotion to his profession, takes an active interest in public affairs. He is a Republican in politics. In religious faith he is a Methodist, as have been the DePrefontaines for many generations.

Charles P. DePrefontaine (father) has for many years conducted the general store and post office at Blue Bell. He is the oldest child of John and Mary (Megargee) DePrefontaine. Their son Charles (father), born January 7, 1844, at Milestown, married, February 22, 1866, Emma Elizabeth Shields, born May 3, 1842, and their children are: Mary, born January 20, 1868, married Nathan James, son of William and Elizabeth Megargee, of Milestown, they living in Denver, Colorado, and having two children, Glenn Earle and Nathan Leslie. Kate, born August 19, 1870, married March 27, 1894, Albert A. Tyson, of Horsham, their children being, Emma D., born August 17, 1895, Horald, born October, 1898, and Albert R., born 1900. Anna Rebecca, born August 21, 1872, died in April, 1895. Walter is the next of the family. Clara, born November 14, 1875, married July 30, 1895, Albert, son of John Fry, and has four children, Alice, born January 19, 1897; Florence May, born July 19, 1899; Rachel, born in May, 1901; and Albert. Emma, born April 18, 1877, married, March 24, 1897, Oliver Edward, son of Edward Judson and Mary Jane (Child) Stannard, of Whitpain, their children being, Clara Elizabeth (1898); Ethelyn Minerva (1898, died 1899); Mary Jane Child (1901). Alice born March 16, 1880, is unmarried; Charles born August 8, 1882, married Clara Ward Shook, March 23, 1904.

John DePrefontaine (grandfather) and Mary Megargee, his wife, had the following children: Charles Pardee (father); Walter, born in 1845, died unmarried in 1866; Anna, born in 1848, married Francis Houpt, of Dreshertown; Joseph, born June 6, 1850, died January 28, 1854; Albert, born in 1852, married Emily Irvin and lived in Philadelphia; William, born April 12, 1853, married Ida Tyson, of Horsham, and lived at Jarrettown.

Rachel Mitchell, daughter of Charles and Mary Shaw (Conard) Shoemaker, was born at Barren Hill. Her parents soon afterward removed to Blue Bell, where she attended the public schools and later the Abington Friends school, and, after taking a course at Pierce’s Business School, Philadelphia, was employed at office work for several years. Charles and Mary Shoemaker had the following children: Joseph Conard, born July 10, 1865, married February 17, 1886, Tacy Conard, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Conard) Warton, their children being: Elizabeth Walton, born September 15, 1887; Sarah Pearl, born in 1893; Violet, born 1897; and Joseph Conard, born November, 1899; Enoch (deceased); Ella, born July 9, 1868, married, March 7, 1895, John Bothwell, son of David and Mary (Bothwell) Park, of Horsham township, their children being, Benjamin Pennypacker Wertsner, born December 19, 1895, and John Bothwell, born in July, 1899; Rebecca Jane, born January 23, 1871, unmarried and lives in Judson Place, Philadelphia; Rachael Mitchell, born September 10, 1873, married, September 26, 1895, Walter DePrefontaine; Annie C., born August 26, 1876, unmarried, resides at Judson Place, Philadelphia; Mary Klauder, born March 29, 1879, and Charles, born September 30, 1881, are unmarried; Frank, born August 31, 1884, is living in Philadelphia.

Benjamin DePrefontaine, father of John DePrefontaine, was born in 1790 and died October 5, 1828. He married Phoebe Walters.

Charles Shoemaker, father of Rachael M. Shoemaker, was born July 8, 1836, and died January 6, 1898. He married December 24, 1863, Mary Shaw Conard, born December 9, 1840.