below Strawberry, one of which Mr. S. rented and opened within it a watch, clock and jewelry store, which he continued to the time of his death, over forty years. Not long after embarking in business he was married to Miss Adeline, second daughter of David and Cecilia Sower, and they had one daughter, who married, but died a few years later, leaving an only son.

During the great rebellion, in 1863, Mr. Stein, true to the patriotic instincts of his family, enrolled himself among the emergency men," called out by Governor Curtin, to repel the Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania; but draft riots occurring at the same time at Philadelphia, Mr. S.'s company was diverted to that city and suffered from exposure to sun and rain equally with soldiers in the field. From this cause Mr. Stein contracted disease (a complication of asthma), which never left him, and finally carried him off March 25, 1885, he having been a patient sufferer from it for years. He was confined to his bed only six weeks. His funeral was largely attended and conducted by Rev. Dr. Noble, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, of which the deceased had been many years an exemplary member. These sad obsequies were

made doubly solemn by the impromptu and touching remarks of Rev. D. Wesley Gordon, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, who, when a boy, had stood in his store and lived in his family. He feelingly stated that much of the web and woof of his early religious life had been formed under the kind admonitions of Mr. Stein, who had been both his master and preceptor during the most impressible years of his boyhood.

Mr. Stein was a man of general intelligence, but so modest and retiring that few but his intimate friends knew of his acquirements. He was besides a man of unvarying suavity and refinement of feeling, a gentleman always and everywhere. He had a fine voice and early sang in the choir of St. John's Episcopal Church, and for a much longer period in that of the First Presbyterian, to which he belonged at the time of his death.

The religious affiliations of the elder Mr. Stein's family had been with the Lutheran Church, but for many years D.

H. S. and wife were members of the First Presbyterian, of Norristown.

In politics Mr. S. had always been a Whig and Republican, but having no taste for the wrangles of political life he was never elected to any public office. In person, he was comely in feature, of dark, yet clear complexion, with well-formed person, slightly below the average height.

His death produced much real sorrow in Norristown, and was a deep bereavement to his consort, who recalls his genial nature and affectionate qualities as the dearest treasure that memory has now left her. His courteous demeanor and inflexible integrity will long be remembered by the people of Norristown.

SAMUEL M. BUNTING.

If a genial, kindly temper, a spotless life, an exemplary and successful business career of thirty-five years in one town entitles any person to a record in a book of county biography, then Samuel Miller Bunting, late of Pottstown, is worthy of such memorial. This opening sentence is the author's sincere tribute to his memory.

He was descended from Scotch ancestry, and born in Oxford, Chester county, June 23, 1827. He learned the hatter's trade as it was pursued many years ago, and came to Pottstown in 1850, when a young man of twenty-three, establishing a business in the manufacture and sale of hats, chiefly of his own manufacture, wholesale and retail, first in partnership with Wesley Boyer, but after a lapse of three or four years dissolved, continuing alone, and subsequently purchased the central lot, northeast corner of High and Hanover streets, where soon after (1864), he erected two of the then finest stores in the borough, with a dwelling attached, the corner one for his own occupancy.

Soon after settling at Pottstown Mr. Bunting's mind was deeply interested in religious things, and he became an active

member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which was then feeble and but recently organized in the place; and it is hardly too much to say, that by his devotion, as much as through that of any other man, the congregation was built up and established; for at the time of his decease his brethren made this record, that "For twenty-seven years he had been a worthy member, twenty-five years a Trustee and Steward, twelve years Superintendent of the Sabbath school, and also class leader for a time."

On the 6th of December, 1853, Mr. Bunting was united in marriage with Miss Hannah, daughter of the late Michael and Margaret Sloanaker, of Chester Springs, Chester county, and there were born to them five sons and one daughter, namely, John A., Howard S., William M., I. Newton, Charles W., (who died in infancy), and Annie M.

In politics Mr. B. was always a consistent Democrat, but never seeking political preferment was only elected a member of Town Council and School Board, of which latter he was President for a time. Here we must award our subject grateful remembrance for his active and efficient labors while in the Board and all through his busy life, in elevating the efficiency and thoroughness of public school instruction. His service in this regard will long be remembered by the people of the borough.

Mr. Bunting's genial, affable deportment, joined to his uprightness and high sense of honor, made him popular with all, and gave abundant success in the particular business to which he had devoted his life.

His health was never robust, so he was seized with a nervous disease of the chest that soon terminated his useful life July 10, 1885, aged fifty-eight years and seventeen days. On the fourteenth he was buried at Mount Zion Cemetery, followed by a very large concourse of sympathizing friends. Rarely, if ever, had Pottstown exhibited such general signs of mourning; most of the principal business houses on the line of the funeral cortege were closed. Ten prominent citizens of the borough, who had been associated with the deceased as members of the Quarterly Conference, walked in a body to

the house of mourning and served as pall-bearers. Religious services were conducted by the pastor, Rev. J. S. Hughes, assisted by five other Methodist and a Reformed minister.

In person Mr. Bunting was above medium height, well formed, light complexioned, of comely, agreeable countenance, and his kindly aspect will be fondly cherished by his surviving fellow-citizens. Few men have died in Pottstown more truly respected and mourned by all.

of the last century.

JAMES SHANNON.

One of the most reputable families in Montgomery county, dating from colonial times, is that bearing the surname at the head of this sketch. It is most probably Irish, possibly English or Scotch, and doubtless settled here in the first quarter It must have been wealthy and respectable from the first, as Dr. Robert Shannon, a great-uncle, owned a thousand acres of land on both sides of the Germantown turnpike, between the (now) Hartranft station and Penn Square, and was in extensive practice there at the commencement of the present century.

James Shannon, of the second generation, married Elizabeth Lane, of Evansburg, and one of his sons, Samuel, was the father of our subject. He was apprenticed to the celebrated John Markley, of Norristown (originally a tanner), he learning that trade with him, and at the same time the German language. Samuel Shannon was born in 1781, and completed his apprenticeship about 1802 or 1803. Not many years after he established a tannery for himself in Norriton township, on the line of Stony creek, which he successfully pursued until near 1840, when he retired from business and located in Norristown. Early in life he had been united in marriage to Elizabeth Harner, and there were born to them the following children: James, our subject; Ann, Rose, George, John, Joseph and Samuel Lane. George is elsewhere recorded in

this volume; two of the sisters, Anna and Rose, at this writing reside retired in Norristown.

Samuel Shannon, as most of his family, was an Episcopalian, connected, while he lived, with St. John's, Norristown. He was an expert in sacred music, and it is related of him that when that church was founded, and soon following, the First Presbyterian, service was frequently alternated between them, that there might be one house full of worshippers every Sabbath, on which occasions Mr. Shannon would generally lead the singing at either, as a convenience to both congregations. Mr. Shannon, the elder, was also a man of enlarged public spirit and one of the first School Directors and defenders of the public school system. Through his influence with those who, as himself, spoke German, in the back part of the township, he had much to do in getting the school law into early operation in Norriton township. Also, when the original Montgomery County Agricultural Society was formed, some forty years ago, Mr. Shannon, then retired from business, was one of the most active in securing its success with the people. While residing at the farm and tannery he was road Supervisor for near twenty years.

We come here to record the career of James Shannon, of Norristown, who is the proper subject of this memorial, now (1886) enjoying a green old age, while living in the family of an adopted daughter, Mrs. James Rowan.

Mr. Shannon was born in Norriton township, July 5, 1813, and at the proper age was apprenticed, in 1829, to John Shepherd, of Whitemarsh, to learn cabinet-making. Completing his term of service, he went, 1834, to Philadelphia to work at his trade, and after continuing a while there, like most enterprising mechanics, concluded to take a trip South; so in the winter of 1836 he went to New Orleans, working there and at Mobile about two years, until 1838, when he returned, and 1844 married Miss Hannah, eldest daughter of Joseph and Ann Abraham, of Upper Merion, who died in 1874 in Norristown.

Mr. Shannon's further business life has been somewhat varied, but entirely successful. For a short time he kept a furniture store on Main street, Norristown; 1862 he purchased