twenty-five thousand to thirty thousand cubic feet of sawed stone per year.

Some years ago Mr. Potts purchased a large lot in the First Ward, extending from the Ridge turnpike road to the Schuylkill river, on which, by that stream, he has erected a large icehouse. On the Egypt street front, on an eminence, he has built of marble one of the most spacious and costly mansions in Norristown. This fine residence, with its handsome observatory, in consequence of the deflection of the avenue just above Stony creek, enjoys the rare advantage of bounding the view from all points of Main street in the Second Ward.

THOMAS COWDEN, SR.

Of loss and profit balancing, relieved at intervals, the irksome task, with thought of future ease.-Course of Time.

The Cowden family is of Irish or Scotch-Irish origin, and dates back a few years previous to the Revolutionary war. The head of the Montgomery county line was Samuel Cowden, who came from Ireland previous to the war for independence, and occupied a small dwelling in the eastern suburb of Norristown. Being a poor laboring man, he left his wife and one or two young children to the care of herself and neighbors, and enlisted in the Continental army. When, therefore, the British marched through our county on their way to Philadelphia, learning that Samuel Cowden was a soldier in the American army, they sacked his dwelling, cutting open perhaps the only feather bed in his house and giving the contents to the winds. To this act the late Thomas Cowden, who was then a child, could never refer without an ebullition of anti-English feeling. Returning after the war he lived a few years, died, and was buried in Providence Presbyterian Cemetery. Samuel Cowden, the emigrant, had three children, Hester, Thomas, and Samuel.

Hester, the eldest, married a man named Creighton, and afterwards William Stewart. By the latter she had three daugh

ters and one son: Martha, who was never married; Mary, intermarried with Mahlon Ranier, who had one son and one daughter; Hester, who married A. Frowart; Benedict D., the youngest, who was for many years an extensive and successful manufacturer of morocco in Philadelphia. The latter has a number of sons and daughters living in that city. All branches of the Stewart family reside in Philadelphia.

Samuel Cowden, the Revolutionary soldier, had a son named Samuel, who married and removed to the West.

Thomas Cowden, Sr., the subject of this biography, and son of Samuel Cowden the soldier, was born near Norristown February 6th, 1775. He learned the trade of a blacksmith with John Miller, the father of Isaac H. Miller, of Norristown, in that borough. After working a short time as a gunmaker at Evansburg, about 1798 he married Hannah Couch, of Upper Providence, and set up his trade at Hickorytown, Plymouth township, where he continued some years, till a family began to grow about him. He then purchased a farm half a mile above, removed his smithy, and carried on both farming and smithing together. Here he remained till he acquired a competence, when he gave his business to his sons, but lived on the farm till his death, which took place in September, 1847, at the age of 73 years. His widow, on the death of her husband, removed to Norristown, and lived with an unmarried daughter, where she died in September, 1850, also aged 73 years. They both lie buried in the cemetery of the First Presbyterian Church, Norristown.

Thomas Cowden was a man of athletic frame, very industrious, frugal and self-reliant; one who pushed whatever he took hold of with indomitable will and energy. He was also a man whose word was as good as his bond.

The children of Thomas and Hannah Cowden were: Samuel, William, Hester, Ellen (died in childhood), Charles, George, John, Mary, and Ann. This family of children are further recorded, as follows: Samuel, like his father and most of his brothers, was at first a smith, but afterwards bought a farm in Upper Dublin township. His first wife was Mary Printz, who died young, leaving one daughter, who died at the age of 14.

He married a second wife, who survives him, but they had no children. William was intermarried with Abigail Mitchell, of Whitemarsh township, and they had two sons, Thomas C. and Jacob M. He (William) died in 1837, aged 37 years, and his widow in 1860. Thomas Cowden, the elder of these two grandsons of Thomas Cowden, Sr., married Catharine Culp, by whom he had seven children, Jerome W., Samuel, Kate, Jennie, Anne, Martha, and Thomas. Thomas Cowden, Jr., whose children are just named, died in the West. His brother, Jacob M. Cowden, now of Norristown, as his brother, was left an orphan when a small boy, and lived with his grandfather Cowden till old enough to learn a trade. His mother then apprenticed him to Andrew Fisher, of Chestnut Hill, to learn the family trade of a blacksmith, and when free he married Angeline, the daughter of his employer. Soon after he set up his trade in Norristown, followed it some time successfully, then bought a small farm on DeKalb street, in Norriton township, and erected a large house upon it. After remaining there a few years he sold the property, returned to Norristown, and went into the real estate and scrivening business, which he has followed to this time. He owns considerable real estate in the borough, generally investing in such properties as yield a good income. Jacob M. Cowden had but a moderate school education, but has risen in fortune by shrewd judgment and close attention to business. His wife has been dead about twenty years, leaving three daughters and one son, whose names are Emily Virginia, Mary Ella, Amanda, and John.

We return now to the elder branches, the other children of Thomas and Hannah Cowden.

Hester, the third child of Thomas Cowden the elder, died in 1863. She was never married. Her remains are in Providence Presbyterian Cemetery.

The next son is Charles, who lives in Illinois. He was intermarried first with Emeline Jones, by whom he had one daughter, Mary, who lives in Norristown. His second wife he married in the West, and by whom he has several children.

George, the fourth son of Thomas Cowden the elder, mar

ried Harriet, daughter of Abraham Butz, of Norriton. He moved to Illinois and died there, leaving several children.

John, the fifth son, was intermarried with Charlotte, daughter of Jacob Zimmerman, of Whitpain. He was many years a farmer on the homestead, was elected County Commissioner, and served during the erection of the court house. Subsequently he was warden of the prison several years, and died in September, 1876. He had four children, Mary, Hannah, Charles, and Samuel. Mary was married to Ellis W. Baily, of Ohio, and died in December, 1872, leaving one daughter, Gracie. Hannah was intermarried with J. Jones Wright, and died in 1873, leaving one son, Carroll. Charles died young and unmarried. Samuel, the youngest of John's family, is intermarried with Eliza, daughter of William Keiger, and has two children, Lottie and Harry.

The seventh child of Thomas Cowden the elder is Mary, wife of Moses Auge. They have two children living and two deceased, referred to elsewhere.

Thomas and Hannah Cowden's youngest child is Ann, the widow of James B. Evans, Esq., attorney-at-law, Norristown, who died June 30th, 1857, aged 37 years, leaving one son and two daughters, Charles W., Mary, and Ella.

HON. ABRAHAM BROWER.

Pleased to do good,

He gave and sought no more, nor questioned much,

Nor reasoned who deserved; for well he knew the face of need.-Course of Time.

Abraham Brower, farmer and State Senator, was born May 22d, 1787, on the left bank of the Schuylkill, in Upper Providence township, Montgomery county, where he always lived, and where he died. The tract of about two hundred acres descended to him from his father. It is situated not far from the famous Fatland ford, where the British army crossed the river in 1777, and almost opposite the junction of the Reading and

Perkiomen railroads. He was trained to the business of a farmer, and followed it all his life. When young he was married to Margaret, daughter of Joseph Crawford, of the adjacent township of Lower Providence. There were born to them

eight children, two or three dying young. The following are the five who grew up: Ann, intermarried with Charles Shepard; Joseph Crawford and John E.-the last still occupying the family homestead and the former son a farm adjoining; Frances was married to Samuel H. Umsted, but died soon after; Abraham, when a young man, was accidentally killed by the fall of a tree while felling timber in the woods.

Abraham Brower was a man of very superior natural endowments, physical, mental, and moral, as any one could see by his gigantic frame and lofty brow. He enjoyed but ordinary opportunities of education, yet his keen, penetrating mind grasped any subject of which it took hold. He was distinguished all his life, therefore, for strong common sense. He was never at any time an office-hunter or politician, though a hearty Whig and Republican. In 1840 the party nominated him, unsolicited on his part, for State Senator, and he was elected by a considerable majority over Hon. John B. Sterigere, who had occupied the seat at the previous session. Although no talker on the floor, Mr. Brower was an industrious member, and filled his term of three years service to the satisfaction of his constituents. In private life he was distinguished for great probity and kindness of heart, the latter quality being so prominent that his house in winter was a general refuge for the poor and unfortunate. In truth, his benevolent instincts were so marked and dominant that he could never turn the needy or hungry away from his door without lodging them or supplying their wants. As a consequence he was often imposed upon by the unworthy, who sought his bounty when it was in their power to provide for themselves.

The Schuylkill canal passed through his farm, and outlet locks were on his property. For many years he kept a store at the place for the provisioning of boatmen, which, added to careful and judicious farming, made him wealthy at the time