Limerick tract above described. From him it descended to Francis, his son, in 1748, thence to Moses Hobson in 1791, and to Francis Hobson again in 1831, who intermarried with Mary Matilda Bringhurst. These last were father and mother of the subject of this notice.

Frank M. Hobson received a good common school education, and afterwards completed his studies at Washington Hall, Trappe. He subsequently taught school in that village from 1849 to 1852. In 1856 he opened a store, in which he has successfully prosecuted the general mercantile business, fitting up also in the rear second story of his store-house a capacious room, usually called "Hobson's Hall," for the use of public meetings, societies, and the like. He has also for thirty years been engaged in surveying and conveyancing, having attained accuracy and aptness as a general business man, which, added to his acknowledged industry, integrity and fidelity, secure him increasing outside business.

Such being his qualifications, he has filled numerous public trusts, having been six years a school director, three a township auditor, fifteen an officer of Trinity Christian Church at Freeland, five a trustee, Secretary and Treasurer of Ursinus College, nine a treasurer of a building association, two a director of the Iron Bank of Phoenixville, three a manager of the Perkiomen and Reading Turnpike Road Company, on the resignation of William W. Taylor a director in the First National Bank of Norristown, and finally executor or trustee of the estate of the late Wright A. Bringhurst, Esq., of Upper Providence township.

This last duty, involving the disposal of a very large estate in charitable bequests, Mr. Hobson, in connection with Elijah F. Pennypacker, Esq., a man equally conscientious and public spirited, has been fulfilled to the letter of the will, wish of the testator, and satisfaction of the public. It was a blessed act to make such a will, and a high honor to be the instrument of carrying it into execution. The multiplication and continuance of these various employments are the best possible warranty of character.

In October, 1856, he was married to Lizzie Gotwalts. They

have two children, Freeland G., now in his twenty-first year and Mary Matilda, some years younger. The son has already graduated at Ursinus College, and is now pursuing the study of law; the daughter has completed her education at Pennsylvania Female College near by. These two promising youth are the only living representatives of the paternal branch o the Hobson family.

HON. JOHN THOMPSON.

What! Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?Job II, 10.

John Thompson, the son of William and Mary Thompson, was born in Pottstown, Montgomery county, on the 11th of February, 1799, and is now eighty years old, but robust for his age. His paternal grandfather was James Thompson, who came from Ireland previous to the Revolution, and settled in Pottstown, where he died in 1792 at the age of 65 years. He was a spinning-wheel maker by trade, and in religious profession an Episcopalian. The great-grandfather of John Thompson on the maternal side was Christian Markel, a German, who very early emigrated and settled in Berks. He was the owner of what was called "Moselem," in that county, and it is related of him that he made the first wagon ever built in that region of country. Joseph Markel, who was run for Governor many years ago by the Whig party, was a first cousin of the mother of John Thompson. The name of his mother's father, like that of his grandfather, was Christian, and he lived in Reading.

Young Thompson received the usual common school education of the time, and at the proper age learned the trade of a carpenter. After following that calling for a period, being of a ready, intelligent turn of mind, he was commissioned a Justice of the Peace by Governor Wolf in 1833, and reappointed and elected five times to fill the same office, which was the fullest proof of his capacity and integrity. In 1857 he served one

term in the lower house of Assembly, and the next year was chosen for three years to the State Senate. John Thompson was at first a Whig, but subsequently a Republican, and reached the Legislature in both instances as the result of the new county feeling so rife thirty years ago. He filled both places very acceptably, proving himself a careful, conscientious lawmaker.

Mr. Thompson has lived in Pottstown all his life with the exception of a short period at Philadelphia and Huntingdon county while engaged in the transportation of merchandise.

For many years, in connection with his service as Justice of the Peace, he has attended to a general scrivening and conveyancing business, enjoying in the highest degree the confidence of the people of that borough and vicinity. He was for several years a director of the Pottstown Bank. Till a very recent period he had accumulated a competence, but owing to forgeries and the perfidy of a friend to whom he had confided most of his estate, it has been swept away. A short time ago Mr. Thompson was elected President of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Pottstown, vice Owen Stoever, deceased. In religious profession Mr. T. is an Episcopalian. He is unmarried, and has one sister living.

REV. JOSIAH PHILLIPS. ✔

God never created an independent man
To jar the concord of his general plan.

A man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps.-Proverbs XVI, 9.

Rev. Josiah Phillips, pastor of Gwynedd Baptist church, at North Wales, is the son of Owen and Rachel Evans Phillips, of East Nantmeal township, Chester county, and was born on the 10th of September, 1817.

The progenitor of this branch of the Phillips family is traced back to Joseph Phillips, who emigrated from Wales in 1755, and settled in Chester county. He built a log house, and fol

One of

lowed weaving and farming, assisted by several sons. these, Josiah, settled on a farm near the present village of Lionville, in Uwchlan township. Here Owen, his son, was born in 1789, who, in 1814, married Rachel Evans, and purchased of his father-in-law a farm in East Nantmeal, where the following seven brothers were born: Jesse, Josiah, Lewis, David, Joseph, Thomas, and Abner. Our business is with Josiah, the second of these, who remained at home till his seventeenth year, when he left to learn the carpenter trade. He served an apprenticeship of three years with Isaac Miller, and with whom he also worked two years afterward. Being invited to teach a public school, he reluctantly accepted the offer, and spent the next two years alternately teaching and going to school himself. Although he enjoyed the former, he soon resolved to leave it, under the conviction of duty, to prepare himself to teach in a higher and more sacred calling.

Without making this purpose publicly known, he attended the boarding-school of Jonathan Gause, at Unionville, and entered a course of study preparatory to the gospel ministry. Previously to going to the Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution, New York, to pursue a scientific line of study, he also spent three years in a preparatory course in the seminary of Rev. Samuel Aaron, at Norristown. After some six years of preparation he entered the work of the christian ministry, and was publicly set apart to this calling by ordination as pastor of the Radnor Baptist church, in Delaware county, on the 14th of February, 1850. Here he enjoyed a pleasant and encouraging pastorate in that field of work for seven years.

At this time the subject of American slavery was at the height of its agitation, and being one of the most decidedly anti-slavery gospel ministers of the denomination, he was solicited to take an agency in behalf of the American Baptist Free Mission Society, which was organized "free from the avails of slave labor or fraternal co-operation with slaveholders." He accordingly accepted the call, and spent two years in missionary and agency work in behalf of home and foreign missionaries, under the auspices of this society. This agency

labor was pursued principally in the States of Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and Massachusetts.

After the expiration of this time, and a suspension of about six months on account of sickness, he accepted a call from a church at Euclid, a village on the shore of Lake Erie, near Cleveland, Ohio. Here he was permitted to see a favorable growth of the church under his care, and enjoyed there a pleasant home and work for more than seven years.

Excessive labor and consequent failure of health, however, made it necessary to withdraw for a season, on which account he returned to his native State to rest. In this retired capacity he lived one year in West Chester and two in Norristown, where he pleasantly renewed many old acquaintances. At the close of this recess, with regained health and anxiety to resume his life-work, he entered an open door at Milestown, within Philadelphia city limits, as pastor of the Baptist church of that place. Here also the Master seemed to own the relation by His constant blessing on the means of grace. After five years he was called to his present charge, leaving many warm and kind friends behind him. Accordingly, on the 1st of April, 1875, he received a kindly welcome where he is laboring at present, in the pretty borough of North Wales.

We return to record the domestic relations of Mr. Phillips. Shortly after his entrance to the ministry, March 29th, 1853, he married Mary Ann Davis, of Chester county. The only

issue of this marriage is a daughter, Clara R., who was born July 23d, 1854. She has received a superior education, having attended a public school one year at West Chester, and two years at Oak street, Norristown, where she graduated. She next spent a year at Jefferson Grammar School, Philadelphia, thence to the girls' normal school, graduating again, and at the next commencement was made one of the teachers or faculty. On the 29th of April, 1877, she was married to Mr. Eugene H. Austin, principal book-keeper of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank, Philadelphia.

As a preacher, Mr. Phillips is characterized by great plainness and boldness in "declaring the whole counsel of God," being a very outspoken opponent of intemperance and other popular sins.