We return now to further narrate the life of Abraham Markley. As before stated, he removed to Norristown in April, 1837, and rented the Washington House (the building now occupied by Quillman & Koplin), which had just been vacated by "old Johnny Brock," the pleasant German inn-keeper so long domiciled there. Mr. Markley kept that house for six years. It had extensive stables adjoining on the east side. It was owned by Robert Stinson, Esq., and had a large country custom when court was held. Its main business, however, was in boarding lawyers and store-keepers' clerks. Among them we recall the names of Hon. Joseph Fornance, Lloyd Jones, and others.

Walter Paxson having left the Montgomery House about 1840, it was then kept for a year or two by William L. Twining, who removed to it from Spang's hotel, and kept it until 1843. Mr. Markley then purchased it of John Freedley, Esq., removed there, and set about improving and making additions to it. He erected of brick a wing running back over seventy feet to Middle alley, and built also a stable, ice-house, and other rear conveniences, thus putting the house and surroundings in complete repair. Here he remained until 1852, keeping what by common consent was "the first hotel of the town." During this period Mr. Sterigere, Mr. Fox, and a number of the attorneys and other leading citizens boarded there, the house being unusually full. At the date just mentioned Mr. Markley sold it to Daniel R. Brower, then of Phoenixville, who occupied it at once. The former and his family removed to Swede street, where he rented a house and lived retired for one year, though not then unemployed, as he had become interested in the various corporations organized to provide water, gas, and the like, and was also assisting in the management of the Ridge turnpike road, the DeKalb street bridge, and the Montgomery Cemetery companies. When the Norristown Insurance and Water Company was stretching its net-work of pipes over the borough, Mr. Markley was the superintendent, overseeing the hands and looking after the interests of the corporation. He was in like manner employed in the laying of the gas-pipes: after both works had been finished, and was a sort of general

superintendent of both. In all these he displayed great administrative ability; indeed, he served in these employments till near the time of his death.

Very soon after Mr. M. came to Norristown he was elected to the Town Council, and often re-elected to the same. He was also Borough Treasurer for many years, filling the post with exactitude and fidelity. He possessed a remarkable control over his tongue and temper, and was therefore eminently fitted to keep a hotel and manage public business with the people. For a number of years after coming to Norristown, Mrs. Markley's aged and infirm uncle, Mark Thomson, lived with them as one of the family until his death. Miss Rebecca Darrah, a sister, also lived with them, but subsequently with her niece, Sarah D. Acker, until her death, which occurred in August, 1878, at the age of eighty-four. In 1853 Mr. Markley purchased a dwelling on Swede street, and removed to it, remaining there till April, 1864, when he and his family went to boarding at the Veranda House. In July, 1866, he bought the dwelling, No. 518 Swede street, to which he removed, and where he died February 14th, 1872, at the age of seventy-six

years.

One of Abraham Markley's characteristics was his uniform kindness to the sick and his cheerful assistance and co-operation at funerals as a matter of charity or social duty. In this respect his death caused a vacancy in the list of those capable and willing to serve on such occasions. In person he was of medium height, dark florid complexion, and a man of quiet and placid deportment. The father-in-law, Archibald Darrah, also lived with the Markley family until his death in 1843.

To complete the family record we give as far as known all of Abraham Markley's brothers and sisters. They were born and intermarried as follows: Samuel, born January 14th, 1798, and married to Ellen Saylor; Lydia, born in 1799, and married to John Lehman; Frederick, born in 1801, and married to Susannah Casselberry; Sarah, born in 1803; Isaac, born in 1805, married to Lydia Williams, and who lived and died in Norristown, leaving a number of children; Elizabeth, born in

1807; Mary, intermarried with Charles McClennan, of Norristown, and who died in January, 1872, leaving four children; John, born in 1812.

The sisters of Mrs. Markley, whose mother was a Thomson, are as follows: Hannah T., born in 1792; Rebecca D., born in 1794, and died unmarried in Norristown in 1878, as stated before; Mary Ann, the youngest, already described as the wife of the subject of this notice.

Major Samuel Markley, before described, has a military record, which is here given. At the breaking out of the rebellion he was in the ranks of Company F, Fourth Regiment, but soon after going into service was detailed as Orderly under General Franklin, which post he filled till mustered out at the end of the three months' service. On the organization of the Fifty-first he enlisted again, and served in the ranks for some time till detailed by Colonel Hartranft as Orderly at regimental headquarters. Losing his health, however, after about two

years, he was discharged for disability.

On the reorganization of the volunteer militia after the war, and the appointment of Major General Bolton to the command of the Second Division, Mr. Markley was appointed aid-decamp, and subsequently paymaster, with the rank of Major, on the General's staff, which he held till the recent reorganization of the State militia and the mustering out of the old officers in 1878.

GOVERNOR JOHN F. HARTRANFT.

A soldier from necessity, like Washington; successful in arms by prudence, courage, and patriotism. As a politician, shrewd, cautious, and lucky. In statesmanship or policy, a friend of the common people by instinct, like Jefferson. As a citizen, looking to the public good rather than his own emolument.

Major General John Frederic Hartranft, late Governor of Pennsylvania, is the only child of Samuel Engle and Lydia Bucher Hartranft, of Norristown, where they have lived since 1844. John F. was born in New Hanover township, Montgomery county, on the 16th of December, 1830. At the time of the removal of his parents to Norristown, he was a school-boy of fourteen, and for some years attended our male seminaries, under the care of Rev. Samuel Aaron. Afterwards he passed Freshman year at Marshall College, at Mercersburg, where he was prepared for entrance to Union College, at Schenectady, New York. He sedulously pursued his studies there for three years, and graduated at that institution in 1853, in his twenty-third year.

John F. Hartranft had always been a quiet, thoughtful, manly boy, with none of those flashy qualities, born of conceit, which attract young men to the learned professions with the expectation of immediate distinction. His was rather the purpose to apply educational and natural gifts to some industrial employment, such as civil engineering, which looks to the material progress of the country. Accordingly he directed his studies to surveying and engineering, and his first employment after leaving college was in assisting to run a line for a railroad from Chestnut Hill to New Hope, via Doylestown, as also a road between Mauch Chunk and White Haven. The following year Sheriff Michael C. Boyer, of our county, selected him as his deputy, which post he filled until the expiration of Mr. B.'s term in 1856. He was continued in the same position for three years by Sheriff Rudy, Boyer's successor.

During this latter period Mr. Hartranft commenced the study of law, doubtless with the view of becoming more professionally familiar with the duties of the office he then held. The post of Deputy Sheriff is one of great delicacy, involving heavy responsibility, and requiring much firmness, joined to mildness, that the hand of the law may not rudely distress the unfortunate. Mr. H.'s proper discharge of those duties, so far as we know, was never called in question. On the 4th of October, 1860, therefore, he was admitted to the bar, and opened an office.

Some time previously he had joined the Norris City Rifles, being chosen Lieutenant, and afterwards Captain. He soon showed an aptitude and taste for military matters, and as the Rifles was a flourishing company, Captain Hartranft, at the next election held by the line officers of the county volunteer militia, was chosen Colonel. This was in the spring of 1859. There were five companies already organized in the vicinity of Norristown, and these formed the main part of the regiment of which he was chosen commander.

During the whole previous winter the conspirators at Montgomery, Alabama, had been organizing what they called the "Confederate States," and seeking a pretext to resist and defy the authority of President Lincoln, who had just been inaugurated. Accordingly early in April a telegram was sent from the rebel leaders to Charleston to open fire from their batteries on Fort Sumter, which fell on the 14th. This attack, which was expected to fire the Southern heart, as effectually aroused the Northern; for no sooner had President Lincoln issued his call for seventy-five thousand men than our home militia, with Colonel Hartranft at their head, offered themselves to the government through our patriotic Governor, Andrew G. Curtin. Colonel Hartranft went to Harrisburg on Tuesday, the 16th of April, leaving his company commanders at home filling up their ranks by extra enlistments. Being accepted by the Governor, the "Fourth Regiment of Pennsylvania Militia," as it was then numbered and called, consisting of seven companies, rendezvoused at Harrisburg on the 20th, and in a day or two was on its way to Washington, via Perryville and Annapolis. Here the regiment reported to General Butler, and did good service in keeping up our communication with the national capital.

After making Washington secure for the new administration, and driving the rebels from the approaches to it, General Scott and the government did not order an advance upon the insurgents until almost the expiration of the three months for which our regiment was enlisted. The order to advance on Bull Run, therefore, did not issue till the very day the Fourth Regiment was ordered to the rear to be mustered out. A few, however, were willing to go into the fight as volunteers. Among them was Colonel Hartranft, who was accepted as a volunteer aid to Colonel Franklin, who afterwards spoke of him in his report in words of commendation. He passed through the fray unhurt, and immediately returned home to recruit for the new call for three years. His gallantry and courage in the first encounter with the enemy pointed him out as a leader, and he