ress; and the inscription, "The Chamber of Commerce, New York, honors valor, forbearance and fidelity. Fort Pickens, 1861." This medal was six inches in diameter. There was a second one struck also, in commemoration of the victory of patient endurance at Pickens, with this inscription, "The Chamber of Commerce of New York honors the defenders of Fort Pickens-far off, but faithful." These medals were distributed among the heroes, numbering fifty-three, including two officers.

This demonstration of gratitude by citizens of New York was followed by a public reception to Lieutenant Slemmer by the city. authorities of Philadelphia. He soon arrived home at Norristown.

After passing a short time at his father's house, seeking the rest so much needed, he was promoted two grades, being now Major of the Sixteenth Infantry. In the summer of 1861 he was assigned to duty as Inspector General under General Rosecrans, in West Virginia. The effects of his fatigue at Fort Pickens were not then wholly relieved, and exposure in the field caused him to be stricken. down with typhoid fever, his life at one time being in imminent peril. He recovered, however, and before perfectly convalescent was on duty. He recruited a battalion of men at Chicago for his regiment, and in May, 1862, with them rejoined the army in Tennessee. From this period he marched and fought with Buell's command, until at the head of his men at the battle of Stone River, in December, 1862, he was severely wounded in the knee. For gallantry in this action he was appointed Brigadier General of United States Volunteers. His wound was so serious that amputation was feared, but the limb was ultimately saved. Meanwhile, by direct command of President Lincoln, and at the urgent request of General Scott, he was made brevet Brigadier General of the United States Army for his gallant services at Fort Pickens. He next served as a member of the Board, ultimately becoming its presiding officer, to examine sick and convalescent officers, and subsequently as a member of the Board to examine disbanded volunteer officers who sought commissions in the regular army. He was eminently qualified for these positions, and was thus retained by the War Department, though he requested more active service in the field. After the close of the war he was placed in command at Sackett's Harbor, New York, and subsequently at Fort Laramie.

He was a strict disciplinarian, but kind withal, and everywhere enjoyed the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact; even the Indian looking upon him as more than an ordi

nary officer. His last official act was a conference with hostile Indians some distance from Fort Laramie, October 6th, 1868. He returned to the fort, and feeling indisposed retired early. During the night he suddenly expired, owing to a stoppage of the mitral valve of the heart. In the general orders of Colonel Deye announcing his death, his many brave deeds and services are recited, thus concluding: "During the eighteen years of honorable service he stood far above the temptations of the hour, and exhibited, in the discharge of his duties, economy and intelligence; also great zeal and uncompromising faithfulness, which were no less honorable to the army than to himself."

His remains were brought to Norristown, Pennsylvania, and from the residence of his father conveyed to Montgomery Cemetery, followed by a large concourse of sorrowing friends, both civil and military.

In personal appearance General Slemmer was rather under medium stature, lightly built, dark hair, and fair complexion. Over his remains is erected a neat marble cross, entwined by a heavy wreath of laurel leaves, to symbolize victory.

JAMES W. SCHRACK.

After my death I wish no other herald,

No other speaker of my living actions,

To keep mine honor from corruption.-Shakspeare.

James Winnard Schrack, son of Lewis and Phebe Schrack, was born in Norristown, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, January 25th, 1813. His father was the well known proprietor of the stage line between Norristown and Philadelphia in early times before railroads were thought of. He was a descendant of Jacob Schrack, who arrived from Germany in 1717, settling on two hundred and fifty acres of land at what is known as Trappe, in Upper Providence township, and who, at the age of 63 years, died in 1742, being 38 years old when he emigrated and settled here.

James W. Schrack's mother was a Griffith, and of Welsh extraction.

He received a common school education at Norristown Academy, and was trained to mercantile life in the dry goods and gro

cery store of John Bean, who had married his sister. Through nearly the whole subsequent period of his life he followed the business of a dry goods merchant in the place of his nativity. On the 13th of January, 1835, he was married to Lydia, daughter of Frederick Setzler, of Lawrenceville, Chester county, Pennsylvania, from which union there were born eight children, five of whom are living. In 1836 he became the junior member of the firm of Bean & Schrack, who did business for a number of years at the southwest corner of Main and Barbadoes streets. In 1845 Mr. Schrack commenced the dry goods business alone at the northwest corner of Main and DeKalb streets, where he remained engaged until the close of his life, associating Mr. A. A. Yeakle with him in 1854, after which the business was conducted under the firm name of Schrack & Yeakle until the time of his death.

He was a man of great business activity and energy, known in mercantile circles for promptness and integrity. At thetime of his death he was the oldest merchant of the borough, having been almost continuously in the dry goods trade for nearly forty years. Being a strict business man he never sought office, but his fellowcitizens in 1855 elected him one year to Town Council. He was nevertheless, constantly alive to matters of public interest in the town.

For nearly all his adult life he was a communicant, and during his later years a very active member of St. John's Episcopal Church and a warm friend of its former beloved rector, Rev. Nathan Stem, D. D. He labored constantly in the Sunday school, and for some years served in the vestry as Senior Warden. He also, as deputy, represented the parish in the diocesan convention.

His kindness of heart and generosity were often indulged beyond his financial ability. He was quick to observe wrong and condemn, but very forgiving in temper. He was a great lover of home and family, and took a deep interest in the education and welfare of his children, some of whom are good scholars and engaged in business.

In person Mr. Schrack was of medium height, light complexion, and of good appearance. Some years ago he erected on Airy street, opposite St. John's church, a handsome residence, which he occupied until March 22d, 1876, when he departed this life in the 64th year of his age. His remains are interred at Montgomery Cemetery. Mrs. Schrack still (1878) occupies the mansion.

From an obituary in the Episcopal Recorder we copy the following:

"We mourn with those who are afflicted by this bereavement, and feel that we have lost a friend and supporter of every good work and enterprise having for its object the preservation and spread of the true gospel of the word of God. As a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, Mr. Schrack was earnest, zealous, and heartily in sympathy with the movements which the evangelical portion made to preserve it from innovations and teachings not in harmony with its traditions as a Protestant body."

CHRISTIAN MEEH.

He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.-Proverbs X, 4.

Among the active business men of Norristown forty years ago no one more earnestly and worthily pressed his way upward than he whose name stands at the head of this page. He was born at Knittlingen, Wurtemberg, November 17th, 1812. Receiving a good primary education in his native town, and being of an enterprising turn, he, so early as his fourteenth year, resolved to emigrate to America, where he had an uncle named Christian Brown living at Harrisburg, with whom he apprenticed himself to learn the business of a baker. After ending his apprenticeship, and becoming master of the trade, he removed to Philadelphia and worked till he had accumulated a small start in life, when he looked about for a place to establish himself in business. This was about 1833 or 1834, in his twenty-first or twenty-second year. While residing in Philadelphia he formed the acquaintance of Justina, daughter of John and Clarissa Zeller, also German people from Wurtemberg, and soon after, on the 22d of March, 1835, they were married. In that year the railroad to Norristown was opened to the public, and population began to gather here. Mr. Meeh and his wife ascertaining that there was an opening (there being but one baker in the town, the late Frederick Naile), came to Norristown, and located on Washington street above DeKalb.

Here their activity, enterprise and industry, brought them business, and they succeeded to a very large daily sale of bread and cakes, being posted as to all the latest improvements in catering to popular tastes. About 1839 or 1840, having made some money, and finding their bakery inadequate to the increasing daily

business, impelled also by the same enterprise to which reference has been made, he resolved to procure a better locality. Accordingly the old Rising Sun tavern property, which for nearly threefourths of a century had stood on Main street near Swede, becoming dilapidated, was held for sale by John Freedley, Esq., and Mr. Meeh bought it for the site of an establishment. Removing part of the hotel building, he erected in 1840 or 1841 the spacious store, No. 12 East Main street, now occupied by Theodore E. Meeh, his eldest son. Not long after building this large brick dwelling, store, bakery, and confectionery, he also purchased of Mr. Freedley the lot in his rear, some fifty feet on Lafayette street, extending to Middle alley, on which latter avenue he erected a commodious brick stable, and afterwards an ice-house. At this time he went into the manufacture of all kinds of confectionery and fancy cakes, employing additional hands and several teams to wholesale them all over the surrounding country. This branch, in addition to his bakery, was pushed vigorously for several years, doing a large business and accumulating means rapidly. A short time afterwards he improved the Lafayette street front of the stable lot by erecting thereon a row of brick dwellings two and a half stories high, which still belong to the estate. About 1850 Mr. Meeh purchased the forty feet west of his bakery, and in 1851 put up three fine store-houses and a fourth store-room, affording space in the second story for a ballroom and ice-cream saloon for the use of parties and other assemblies, besides large, airy rooms fitted up in the third story for photographic uses. At this time a considerable family of children were growing up, and employed between school hours in the bakery, confectionery, and in waiting on customers. As may be supposed, in this tidy, well ordered, industrious family, children were no incumbrance, but all workers in the domestic hive. As a natural result their means increased rapidly, and another lot was bought and a large building erected on DeKalb street opposite the basin, then recently constructed. This property was intended for an ice cream and mead garden, but the enterprise did not meet his expectations. Shortly after the buildings were refitted and furnished as a boardingschool, and so occupied for a period. It was known for a number of years as the "Adelphian Institute" and the "Keswick Institute." This property, never remunerative, was finally sold.

During the speculative fever that annually broke out in Norristown, farms and lots changed hands rapidly, and Mr. Meeh frequently bought and sold as occasion offered. Once he purchased