ELIAS HICKS CORSON.

And in thy right hand lead with thee

The mountain nymph, sweet Liberty.-L' Allegro.

E. H. Corson, son of Alan W. and Mary Corson, of Whitemarsh township, Montgomery county, was born Second-month (February) 19th, 1816. His father, a distinguished mathematician, botanist and scholar, and for many years himself engaged in teaching, was able to give Elias the best opportunities of instruction. To these primary stores of knowledge he added all his life by reading and observation.

About the time of his majority he engaged in the lime-burning business in Chester county, but soon came back and commenced the same in Plymouth, where he continued it with energy and profit till his death, which occured Eleventh-month 5th, 1877. Being of a peculiarly bland and pleasant turn of mind, and of remarkably clear judgment, he did a very heavy business for many years, partly exchanging lime for cord-wood, which farmers in the northern line of the county brought to his kilns. This wood he used for burning the best descriptions of lime for building purposes in Philadelphia and elsewhere. He was also extensively engaged in the general lime and coal business. Thus his works were annually adding value to and developing both city and country at the same time, as also yielding him a steady profit. A farm of ninety-three acres belonged to the quarries he worked, and which he tilled to its fullest capacity.

After he was well settled in business, he married Emily R. Harris, of Philadelphia, on the 13th of Third-month, 1845. The children of this union were Mary, Henry H., George, Charles A., Ellen W., Gertrude H., Emily, Martha, Walter H., Carroll, and Percy H. Of these, Mary, Charles A., Ellen W. and Gertrude, are deceased. Henry H. now resides at Minneapolis, Minnesota, being there engaged in business.

"Hicks Corson," as he was usually called (having been named after the famous Quaker preacher, Elias Hicks), was educated a Friend, and, as befitted his name, of the Hicksite branch of the society. He "married out of the meeting," how

ever, a lady who had been bred a Baptist, but, like himself, of a kindly, genial temper. The union was a most happy one. Notwithstanding his breach of the rules of the society he never lost membership in Plymouth Meeting, but continued an active and efficient worker in the same until his death. Few men had more humane, generous sympathies than Elias H. Corson, or were more true to all the reforms, such as anti-slavery, temperance, peace, and the like. Many a kindly expostulation he employed with his brethren, who, as he thought, often relied on the plain coat and speech instead of standing up in word and deed to the "testimonies of Friends." He was eminently fitted for that particular work, for no amount of opposition and inconsistency of others could draw him into unbecoming violence, or prevent his reproving them if he thought it deserved. He ever had the same caustic but pleasant rebuke to administer to those who shirked what he thought to be duty, and perhaps he did more of what we may characterize as "Quaker fighting," without making enemies, than any other man whose history we can recall. He rarely employed the direct and aggressive mode of disputation with an opponent, but the satirical and inferential, thus laughing him out of his views rather than driving him to the wall as an enemy. Rarely was an object of charity or a scheme of public improvement commended to his judgment but received some favorable response at his hands.

He took a lively interest in matters connected with agriculture, and was a director of the Montgomery County Mutual Fire Insurance Company. In common with most Friends, he was all his life a total abstainer from alcoholic drinks, and his health as a consequence, up to the time of his death, had been good. In person he was tall, stoutly built, and the picture of robust health.

Early in the autumn of 1877 he was taken with a slight rheumatism, which developed into acute peritonitis, resulting in death after a month's sickness.

A general sketch of the origin of the Corson family is found elsewhere in this volume.

As an indication of the confidence of the business commu

nity in Mr. Corson, we append the testimonial adopted at the time of his death by the officers of the First National Bank of Conshohocken, of which he was a director:

CONSHOHOCKEN, Wednesday, November 17th, 1877.

At a special meeting of the Board of Directors of the First National Bank of Conshohocken, held at the banking house, the following paper was unanimously adopted:

It is with feelings of the deepest regret that we have been called upon to record the death of our associate, Elias H. Corson, who has been from the organization of this bank one of its most faithful officers.

Mr. Corson's unflinching integrity, extensive information, punctuality, and conscientious discharge of every duty devolving, made him a most valuable bank director.

His devotion to right in the face of every opposition, his meeting all questions with intelligence, thought, and investigation-his firm adherence to his convictions-made his opinion and advice reliable, trustworthy and influential upon all points brought before

us.

We shall feel his loss in the deliberations of our Board with a pointedness that time and circumstances cannot entirely obliterate.

We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his family, where the affectionate husband and loving father has left a vacancy in the hearts of that stricken household and happy home that nothing on earth can fill; and we commend them to the God of all grace who alone I can heal the wounded heart.

We agree to attend the funeral of our former associate and esteemed friend.

It is ordered that a copy of these proceedings be signed by the officers of the bank and forwarded to the family, and also be published.

William McDermott, Cashier; George Bullock, President; Evan D. Jones, William Davis, Jr., George Sampson, Michael O'Brien, A. D. Saylor, Lewis A. Lukens, Samuel Pugh, Directors; Charles W. Holmes, Teller.

The Universal Peace Union, of which Mr. Corson was a member, also adopted an extended and flattering memorial, which, handsomely engrossed, and signed by Lucretia Mott, the venerable President of the Pennsylvania Peace Society, Alfred H. Love, President of the Universal Peace Union, and others, conveyed their sorrow and condolence to the family. After referring to his active benevolence, the testimonial quotes the following stanza as descriptive of the man:

Such was our friend. Formed on the good old plan,

A true and brave, and downright honest man!

His daily prayer-far better understood

In acts than words-was simply DOING GOOD.

So calm, so constant was his rectitude,

That by his loss alone we know its worth,

And feel how true a man has walked with us on earth.

There were also extended obituary notices of his death in the Norristown Herald and other local papers. The Friends' Fournal, of Philadelphia, in quite a lengthy notice of him, says:

Those who To them he

"His conversation and presence were magnetic. knew him well will never be able to call him dead. will ever remain a bright memory and a spur to good and noble deeds in the cause of humanity. On the day of his funeral men and women came by scores from the surrounding region, as well as from Bucks, Chester and Delaware counties, and from Philadelphia, to testify the sorrow which they felt for the great loss to themselves and society."

HON. PHILIP S. MARKLEY.

Of all the phantoms fleeting in the mist of Time, though meagre all and ghostly thin, most unsubstantial, unessential shade, was earthly fame.-Pollok.

There is perhaps no eminent family in Montgomery county which has filled a larger space in the public eye during the present century than that of the Markleys. The original progenitor we have not been able to accurately name, but are assured that most of the family in this county, perhaps all, have descended from a common head who came over from Germany with the Protestant exodus between 1730 and 1740, and settled in Whitpain or Worcester townships, as many are interred at St. John's Lutheran Church, Centre Square. The first of the name who became prominent in public stations were Benjamin Markley (maternal grandfather of Hon. B. Markley Boyer), who was appointed Associate Judge in 1791, and John Markley, chosen Sheriff in 1798, and who in 1800 was United States Collector of distillery taxes, a very important office at that time. John was very shortly afterwards interested, possibly as County Commissioner, in the construction of the bridge

over the Manatawny at Pottstown, as his name, with those of Philip Boyer, Christian Weber, Philip Hahn and Thomas Humphrey, are chiseled on the date-stone. Late in life, in 1824, he was appointed Register and Recorder by Governor Shulze, and again in 1826.

This John Markley was one of the most eminent and influential business men that ever figured in Norristown annals. He probably removed here when elected Sheriff, and it is supposed founded and occupied for a number of years the celebrated tannery where the Slemmer Brothers' oil works now stand. He also became the owner of a large amount of valuable real estate beside the tannery, including the Egypt Mill (the old part of which he erected), the Judge Wilson mansion (site of Oakland Female Institute), as likewise owning what has recently been called the "Elijah Lewis farm," north of the borough. This last tract was then very heavily wooded, and estimated to be worth four hundred dollars an acre on account of its timber. After being cleared, however, and under the subsequent war prices, it was sold to Mr. Lewis for about forty dollars per acre. Mr. Markley traded it for Barbadoes Island.* For many years John Markley lived on Main street above Swede in the house which had been built by William Moore Smith, and afterwards in the dwelling now the Derr mansion, where he died July 28th, 1834. John Markley was the first really enterprising and successful business man that located in Norristown, and for nearly forty years was the leader in that line.

Mr. M. was not only a man of careful speculation in business, but of public spirit also. He largely assisted the Ridge turnpike road enterprise by taking many shares of its stock, as most other works of a public nature. In his domestic intercourse with neighbors and friends he was charitable to all, many poor men enjoying his free bounty as long as he lived. He was twice married, first to Elizabeth Swenk and afterwards to Elizabeth Henderson. By his first wife there were born to him eight children: Samuel, Betsy, John (who died young), Hannah, Philip S., Sally, Molly, and Hetty.

*These statements are given on the authority of the late Zadok Thomas, Esq.