CADWALLADER EVANS. Hope springs eternal in the human breast; Cadwallader Evans, of Bridgeport, is the son of Elisha and Rebecca Jolly Evans, and was born in Norristown on the 26th of July, 1808. His father at that time kept the Rising Sun Hotel, and some years after purchased two hundred acres of land, covering the chief part of the present borough of Bridgeport. He was a man of enterprise and public spirit, as evinced by the fact that when the people of Norristown objected to the canal on the left bank of the river, Mr. Evans stepped forward and offered to donate the ground on the west side for that purpose. The land he held had been part of the original Holstein tract, but had been bought by Du Portail, the celebrated French military engineer of the Revolutionary army, who neglected his purchase, and it was sold by the Sheriff in 1804 for taxes, from whom Evans received his deed. It was an informal contract of the managers or the Schuylkill Navigation Commissioners, of whom Mr. E. was one, that he was to have a water power for the right of way; but it was never fulfilled. Elisha Evans and his son did much to lay out and improve Bridgeport, which was first called "Evansville." The new State road being laid out, however, and the great bridge erected, it was thought more proper to name it "Bridgeport." A considerable part of this valuable property Mr. Evans has sold in lots, but still retains about fifty acres of farm land, with numerous lots and dwellings, beside his own mansion and the hotel, the latter of which he entirely rebuilt a few years ago. Cadwallader Evans' mother died about 1812, and his father in 1830. Elisha Evans, who belonged to the numerous Welsh family settled in Gwynedd, had a large family of children. The oldest, Jolly, went abroad by sea when a young man, and was never heard of again; Catharine married John Elliott, of Chester county, moved to Illinois, and died there, leaving a large family of children; Charles, intermarried with Ann Jolly, removed to Armstrong county, and in 1835 was a member of the Legislature, dying about 1840; William died while a young man; Sophia was married to Benjamin Levering, of Roxborough, and died, leaving three children; Cadwallader, our subject, was married in 1842, to Rachel Pawling, daughter of Daniel R. and Ann Farmer Brower. We turn aside here from pursuing a further notice of Cadwallader to continue and finish the record of his father's family. The seventh child was George W., who a few years ago was blown up and killed on board the steamboat Princess, at Baton Rouge, leaving four or five children in the West. The youngest of the family was Jared Brooks Evans, who removed to Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, and settled at Brookville, giving name to the county seat of that county. He married Jane Armstrong, and they had seven children, named William, Elisha, Sophia, Charles, George, Jared, and Belle. His wife died in 1874, and he is now living in that county and operating the Rockdale Mills there. Cadwallader and Rachel P. Evans have four living children, George, Charles B., Margery, and William. Ann B. died in infancy, and Cadwallader in 1862 at the age of fifteen. George Evans is intermarried with Sophia Braddon, and they have two children, Alice and Edna. Margery is married to Thomas H. Wilson, and they have one son, Frank E. When a young man Cadwallader Evans learned milling at Pottstown, and there followed it about eight years. He then worked at the Stony Creek mill, Norristown, and at that of David Harry, Conshohocken. Next he went to Philadelphia as an assistant in a wholesale store at Sixth and Willow streets. Some years after he rebuilt the old hotel property in Bridgeport, and kept the house himself for a time. Finally he retired in his large mansion at the corner of Second and DeKalb .streets. During and since the late rebellion Mrs. Cadwallader Evans and her sisters, Mrs. Dr. Holstein and Miss Lizzie Brower, were very active in providing comforts and supplies for our soldiers in the field. They also co-operated in all patriotic demonstrations in aid of the Union cause. DAVID NEWPORT. Those who would go to heaven when they die, must begin their heaven while they live.-Henry. The melancholy ghosts of dead renown All point to earth and hiss at human pride.-Night Thoughts. David Newport, of Willow Grove, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, is the son of Jesse W. and Elizabeth Newport, and was born in Philadelphia on the 18th of Twelfth-month, 1822. His mother was a very eminent minister of the society of Friends of that city. He has a sister, Martha E. Travilla, residing at West Chester, who is also an approved public Friend. The family is descended from an ancient English one, which dates its emigration to the year 1690, very soon after Penn founded the colony, and they have continued in all their generations since then members of that humble and devoted sect. David Newport attended school in Philadelphia, and subsequently one belonging to Friends at Alexandria, Virginia. Arriving at man's estate, he was inducted into the farming business at or near where he now resides. He is married to Susan Satterthwaite, and there have been born to them two children, William C. and Emma C., who have both received a goodi education. Mr. Newport early took a deep interest in all moral and political subjects, and was especially interested in the unfolding developments of the slavery issue forced upon the country just as he was entering manhood. Having inherited the ingrain love of liberty and hatred of oppression peculiar to Friends, he espoused the Northern side of the question with great fervor, and talked and wrote much against what Wesley called "the sum of all villainies." He was so early and earnestly interested against the system that he was in 1848 one of seven very distinguished radicals of Mooreland who in that year voted for Van Buren, the Free Soil candidate for the Presidency. There were very few more active citizens concerning public affairs than Mr. Newport for some years before the election of Lincoln and the breaking out of the war. He frequently wrote: in the papers, dividing his favors between the Herald and Free Press and the Republican, both Norristown publications. Accordingly, after the war began, and the new system of internal revenue was framed by Congress, President Lincoln appointed him collector for the Congressional district composed of the counties of Montgomery and Lehigh, with his office in the court house at Norristown. He chose Samuel Homer and Howard M. Jenkins as his deputies, and from 1862 to 1866 a very large sum of direct tax was annually received and paid over by him. He held the position till the death of Lincoln placed Andrew Johnson in the Presidential chair. Mr. Newport's courtesy, fidelity and uprightness were conspicuous while he held the place, and no man ever retired from a fiduciary trust with a cleaner reputation. Some time after his retirement from office he was busy with his pen, being an almost constant contributor to political, religious and scientific publications of the country. He also frequently courted the muse, and the following lines, written on hearing of the re-election of President Lincoln in 1864, are given as a specimen of his style: LINCOLN AND LIBERTY. From where the placid Delaware winds onward in its course, To where Niagara's waters flow with their resistless force; From where New England's stalwart sons amidst the woods of Maine, The axe rings forth the anthem-rings forth the glad refrain. The miner in the land of Penn, the boatman at the oar, The farmer in the teeming West among his garnered store, All, all have caught the glad acclaim-"Lincoln and Liberty!" And o'er Pacific's gentle wave far toward the setting sun, There in that land where Broderick lived, there where he fought and fell, David Newport is also the author of a small volume entitled "Indices Rational and Historical," which was written about the same time as the previous piece. Being born into membership with Friends, his mind a few years ago became more deeply impressed with religious things than during early life. So, in 1871, after much earnest thought and meditation, he felt a drawing to the ministry of the Word, and in due time was acknowledged by Friends as such according to the order had among them. David Newport's utterances at meetings are marked by great earnestness and plainness, he feeling it to be his mission to simplify the truths of religion, and to call men to truth as authority rather than to authority as truth. And further, that truth is to be realized by the immediate inspiration of the Spirit of God to every individ ual soul, and that His dispensations to men have ever been according to their state. Hence to the outward He appears outward. "With the pure Thou wilt show Thyself pure, and with the froward Thou wilt show Thyself unsavory." Friend Newport is a member of Abington monthly meeting, and is held by his brethren as a very acceptable minister. Of course, since his relations have become more intimate with the meeting, he takes but little active part in political or party matters. GEORGE STEINMETZ. Why life a moment; infinite desire? Our wish eternity? Our home the grave ?-Night Thoughts. Among the most prominent business men of Norristown, forty years ago, were Jacob and George Steinmetz, brothers, doing a lumber and coal trade, under the title of J. & G. Steinmetz, at Main and Markley streets. This firm was established about 1836, and continued until 1849 or 1850. They were careful, energetic dealers, doing a large trade, and having the benefit of a period of great activity and improvement were quite successful. Shortly before the Messrs. Steinmetz retired from business the father, who was quite wealthy, authorized his sons to erect for themselves fine residences, George building his on Main street, above Barbadoes, and Jacob choosing the corner of Swede and Marshall streets. Shortly after both had occupied their houses the old gentleman to whom they belonged died, when Jacob bought and concluded to move to the "Roberts farm," in the suburbs, whereupon his brother George sold the Main street house and took that of his brother Jacob, which then, almost without outside conveniences, he began to improve. The inheritance from the father and another from a wealthy uncle, who died some years later, added to what they had made in business, placed them both in easy circumstances. After having followed the lumber trade about fifteen years, they sold it and retired. Some time after, the subject of this notice, in connection with the late Nicholas Bechlar, purchased a lot on Main street, above Swede, and erected for a hardware store, a large three storied brick store-house, which they occupied three or four years under the firm |