Jacobs many years ago, and was long known as the most stately brick house in Norristown. Attached to this dwelling, on the corner of Green street, was a large and valuable vacant lot, which he at once improved by erecting upon the site two stores and what is now a public house, all four stories high. This property, as also some real estate in Camden, New Jersey, Mr. K. still holds.

Mr. K., as is well known, has been for many years liberal with his capital in promoting enterprises for the increase of our home industry. Accordingly he assisted to found and erect the Barbadoes street and Ford street factories with the object just stated, superintending the erection of both, and at first had considerable money invested in each. When the project was afoot to build the Stony Creek railroad Mr. K. took a liberal amount of stock to further the enterprise, as also more recently helped to establish the Hubbard Gleaner and Binder Company, founded in the First ward. Always liberal, public spirited, yet frugal with his savings, he has money invested in most of our local corporations, and has served as a Director of some of the building and loan associations, as also of the Odd Fellows' Hall Association. Being besides a stockholder in the Montgomery National Bank, he was chosen a Director of that institution in 1872, and so continued until 1879.

There are few if any men in Norristown, we repeat, who have resolutely pursued business and the accumulating of property for nearly fifty years, whose standing for honesty and honorable dealing is so unexceptionable as Mr. Kohn's. He is now retired from active business with a competence.

Mr. K. was married in 1844 to Miss Susan Shafer, and there have been born to them seven children Three died in infancy, one son, Charles, at the age of fifteen, and three survive. Of these the eldest, Samuel, is married to Amanda Calhoun, and they have three children, Flora, Sue and Charles. The elder daughter, Rebecca, is the wife of Norman H. Stevens, and has one daughter, Norma. The younger daughter, Flora, is intermarried with Dr. Charles Houpt, and they have two childdren, Gabriella and Alfred.

HON. THOMAS P. KNOX.

Colonel Thomas P. Knox was for many years previous to the time of his death one of the best known citizens of Montgomery county. His ancestors were Scotch Irish Presbyterians, who emigrated from the north of Ireland and settled in our locality about the year 1730 or perhaps a few years earlier. David Knox, the great-grandfather of our subject, came, bringing his wife and son, Andrew, then several years old. settled at the afterwards well known homestead in Whitpain township, a little north of Norristown, and he died there in 1780. Their descendants continued to reside at the same farm and dwelling until a recent period.

They

At the breaking out of the Revolution, Andrew was the father of a rising family. He was a zealous patriot and an open adherent of the American cause, a magistrate charged with the duty of giving notice of foraging parties of British while they occupied Philadelphia, and preventing Tories of the locality. from carrying supplies of country produce to them. He thus became very obnoxious to some royalist neighbors who were frustrated by his vigilance, and they resolved to summarily get rid of him by a night attack. The following extract, from an extended article published in the Norristown Register just after his death, January, 1808, gives a circumstantial narrative of the attempt at his capture. It assumes to be an accurate obituary notice, written evidently by some intimate friend thoroughly conversant with his life. Being thus prepared by a cotemporary it may be received as entirely authentic:

"Died, at his home in Whitpain township, on the 17th ult., Andrew Knox, Esq., in the 80th year of his age. His office as a magistrate, and his zeal in the American cause, procured him the honor of a visit from certain royalists when the British army held Philadelphia.

"About four o'clock on the morning of the 14th of February, 1778, seven armed refugees approached his house; two stood sentry at the back windows, while the other five attempted the door. Finding it bolted they endeavored to gain admittance by artifice. Esquire Knox, but partially dressed, came to the door at their call, when a dialogue took place nearly as follows: What do you want?' 'I come to tell you that the enemy are coming, and to warn you to

'What enemy?' The British.'
'The British.'

escape for your life.' 'And who are you that speak?' (A friendly name given.) Looking out at the window the 'Squire now saw their arms, it being moonlight, and then said: 'I believe you are the enemy.' Upon this they burst open the door and attempted to force in. Mr. Knox, seizing the opening door with his left hand, and with a cutlass in the other, saluted the aggressors in a manner they did not expect, and repeated his strokes. The assailants meanwhile made repeated thrusts with their bayonets. By these Mr. Knox received two or three very slight flesh wounds, and had his jacket pierced in several places; but the door, standing ajar, covered his vitals and saved his life. By this time Mr. Knox's eldest son, then a young stripling, laid hold of a gun that was loaded with small shot, and came to the scene of action, asking his father if he should shoot. The 'Squire, who had just broken his cutlass on the enemies' guns, now apprehended that he must surrender, and thinking it imprudent to exasperate the foe to the utmost, told his son not to shoot. But trying his own weapon further, and finding it still capable of service, he continued to defend the pass; and the son, wishing to coöperate, struck one of the assailants with the barrel of his gun, and brought him to his knees and his prayers, it is hoped. This gave the besieged an opportunity to close the door, whereupon the party presented their pieces and fired five balls and several buckshot through the door, one of the bullets slightly wounding Esquire Knox. Thinking the reports of the guns would alarm the neighborhood, the enemy retreated toward the city. Esquire Knox, at the approach of day, collected some friends and went in pursuit. They tracked the party several miles by the blood on the snow. One of them, who took refuge in a house, was taken, brought back, and made an ample confession. This fellow being found to be a deserter from the American army, was tried by a court martial for desertion only, but condemned and executed near Montgomery Square. Another was apprehended after the British left Philadelphia, condemned by a civil court, and was executed. Of the rest little is known and nothing will here be said." [Names are purposely omitted in this narrative.] "In the madness of those times men may have done things which in moments of sober reflection they have condemned and regretted. God pardons the penitent; so should we."

From the closing words of this narrative it is plain that Tory partisans were mainly engaged in the attack, whose descendants were then still residing in the county, and were known to the writer.

The door as perforated with the bullets of that conflict has been preserved, and is still in possession of the family.

Andrew Knox, son of the Revolutionary Andrew, was born in 1773, and when a young man removed to Savannah, Georgia, where he was married in 1803 to Rebecca, widow of Job

Pray and daughter of Captain Thomas Rice. There, on the 8th of July, 1809, was born to them Thomas Pope Knox, the proper subject of this biographical sketch. This Andrew Knox was a shipping merchant at Savannah, but through business derangements caused by the embargo and subsequent war with England, together with the seizure of one of his vessels and the loss of another, his affairs resulted disastrously. Accordingly in 1821, when our subject was about twelve years old, the family removed to Norristown, purchasing from the heirs of General Andrew Porter the residence and farm since known as "Selma Farm," and continued to reside there until Andrew Knox's death in 1844 and his widow's demise in 1858.

Thomas P. Knox was one of nine children, most of whom died young, except John P., Andrew J., and himself. John P. studied theology, was ordained a minister of the Dutch Reformed church, and for eight years thereafter had charge of the church of that denomination at St. Thomas, West Indies. For the past twenty-five years he has been pastor of the Presbyterian church at Newtown, New York, where he now (1881) resides with his family.

Andrew J., the youngest brother, is a farmer and Justice of the Peace, residing in Plymouth township, Montgomery county. He married Miss Wilhelmina Detwiler, and has several sons and daughters.

Thomas P. Knox was educated at the Norristown Academy, and later at Rutger's College, New Brunswick, New Jersey. He never graduated, however, having the design to be a farmer, which was his life-long occupation.

Soon after reaching manhood, and while living with his parents at Selma Farm, he joined the Providence Presbyterian Church, of which he continued a member all his subsequent life, although he was a constant attendant at the First Presbyterian Church, Norristown, and many years one of its trustees.

In 1840 he was married to Sarah Ann, daughter of Dr. Jos. Leedom, of Plymouth, and there were born to them four children, Isabella, Joseph L., Ellen and Andrew, all of whom died in early childhood except Ellen, the wife of Joseph Fornance, attorney-at-law, Norristown. They reside at Selma Farm, before described.

The death of the wife of Thomas P. Knox, which happened in 1846, was a sad affliction to him. Occurring so soon after the loss of his three children, it was a crushing blow from which he did not recover for many years.

In 1847 he purchased of Isaac Williams the "upper Chain farm," now in Norristown, containing twenty-five acres of land, which he had formerly rented, and most of which he sold soon after to speculators at a handsome profit. In 1851 he removed to Selma Farm, having purchased the interest of his mother and brothers therein, and continued to reside there until his death.

Mr. Knox was a life-long Democrat, and during Bigler's administration was appointed Governor's aid, with the rank of Colonel. Being an active politician, and possessing unusual urbanity of manners, he was popular with the people, and so was nominated and elected to the State Senate in 1855, serving acceptably three years. During his Senatorial term he made extensive acquaintance at the State capital. Soon after he was chosen President of the State Agricultural Society, which office he held for several years. He at one time also filled the

office of Justice of the Peace for Norriton township, before the limits of Norristown were made to include his homestead. He was likewise several times urged by his friends for Congress, but never received the nomination.

In person Colonel Knox was of medium stature, fair complexion, and hair nearly snow-white in his later years. He possessed remarkable suavity and courtly gifts, and therefore was always an agreeable companion, having in social converse a pleasant word for each and all.

After a year of suffering he died at his home on the 29th of May, 1879, in the 70th year of his age. His remains are interred in Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown.