are two children, a daughter, Mary Grace, and a son, Edwin Carver Freedley, both now at school. It may be added that Mr. Freedley has taken considerable interest in Freemasonry and is now a life member in and Past Master of Lodge No. 296. MAHLON PRESTON, M. D. Dr. Mahlon Preston, now so long and favorably known as a homœopathic practitioner at Norristown, was born in East Caln, now Valley township, Chester county, January 22, 1839 His ancestors were mostly Friends, of English nationality, his father being Isaac Coates Preston, and his paternal grandfather Mahlon. His early education was obtained in the schools of the locality until well grown, when he was sent to receive an academic training in the celebrated private academy of Jonathan Gause, at Greenwood Dell, on the Brandywine, near West Chester. In his nineteenth year, 1858, he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. J. Bayard Wood, of West Chester, and graduated at the Homœopathic College of Pennsylvania (now "Hahnemann"), Philadelphia, March, 1861. Looking abroad for a location, he was induced to settle at Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he remained but a few months, when receiving favorable overtures from Dr. William F. Owen, "a reformed allopath," of Spring Centre, near Conneautville, he was induced to form a partnership with him. But not finding that arrangement satisfactory, soon after removed to Rome, New York, where he was associated a winter and summer with Dr. Samuel O. Scudder. This was late in the winter of 1861 and spring of 1862, when an uncle, living at Chester, Pennsylvania, falling sick, sent an urgent message for him to return home and attend him, which he did until he recovered, when soon after, August, 1862, he came to Norristown, at the invitation of Dr. Rufus Sargent, who had just accepted a surgeon's position in the army, Dr. Preston taking the office in the front of the old Powell mansion, site of present Music Hall. Here he remained a year or two and acquired considerable practice, when he shortly after removed his office to Swede street, above Airy, his practice continuing to increase rapidly. In 1867 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary, third daughter of Catharine and Hon. David Krause. The children born of this union are Frederick, Catharine and Emily. Not long after Dr. Preston's marriage Judge K. sold his mansion and farm, near Montgomery Cemetery, and erected a large stone cottage on Penn street, beside the Court House, where he resided until his death, 1871, when it became vacant, and so remained nearly a year. The place having some family associations, and being centrally located, Dr. Preston moved into and purchased it at the widow's valuation in the fall of 1872, and has enlarged it by erecting an office in front in a style becoming the original main building. He also built a convenient stable and carriage house back so that it is now one of the most completely furnished dwellings and offices adapted to a physician's use in Norristown or elsewhere. Dr. Preston has enjoyed an extensive and lucrative practice for the last fifteen years, and for nearly twenty-five has held on his way practicing strictly on homœopathic principles in Norristown and surrounding country within a radius of ten miles, and he has accomplished this in the face of the prejudice always existing against new "pathies" in the healing art. And further, he has settled himself into a wide paying practice, where a number of predecessors and competitors in homœopathy failed or retired. A few of these early ones may be enumerated, such as Drs. John Ezra, Bloede, I. L. Sutton, Casselberry, Pierce and W. R. Power. Dr. Preston assures us that from an early period his practice has been conducted strictly on the Hahnemann idea, and has conformed strictly to his doctrine: "Of the totality of the symptoms constituting the sole idea which the mind is capable of conceiving of the disease; that the single remedy in a dynamized form is the sole means of cure. The law of similars the only rule for selecting the remedy, and the infinitessimal dose the only form in which it may be conscientiously and advantageously applied." Doctor P. assumes, and with fair warrant, that his success as a physician (and he is entirely satisfied with it) is the triumph of homœopathy, inasmuch as he rejects and repudiates all commingling of other systems with it. The following physicians studied the homoeopathic system under him and are now in successful practice: Drs. Alonzo C. Rembaugh, Samuel Long, of Norristown; Franklin Powel, of Port Kennedy, since settled in Chester, Pennsylvania; Horace Still, located on Cherry street, Norristown; William R. Powel, of Port Kennedy, and Dr. Preston's brother, Frederick L. Preston, now settled in Chester, Pennsylvania. In 1881, Doctor Preston decided to attend the Worlds' Homœopathic Congress, which convened at London, of that year. To this Congress he was accredited a delegate from the American Institute of Homœopathy, Pennsylvania. Several months of travel in Britain and on the Continent reinvigorated him and returned him professionally reinforced by interchange of ideas with many of the best Homœopathists of Europe. JACOB M. COWDEN. "There's a tide in the affairs of men which taken at the flood leads on to fortune." The well known citizen whose name stands at the head of this sketch, aptly illustrates Shakespeare's above quoted aphorism. Mr. Cowden is but little past middle life, and yet with rare judgment and prudence he has successfully caught hold of one real estate enterprise after another usually "making a strike" at each move on the business board. He nearly always knows just where the "ripe pear is hanging" and how to have it "drop into his own lap." He does not, however, pretend to be learned or wise above others, but simply watches the tide of real estate operations, and like a dis creet mariner knows just when "to put in his oar." It is not "luck" which some rely upon for prosperity, or to have "something turn up by chance," but patient watching of surrounding movements, with capacity to see opportunities that give success in nearly every case. Mr. Cowden's fortune is found in that homely quality shrewdness, which enables any earnest looker-on to see farther "into the millstone than he who is dressing it." We judge, however, Mr. C. does busi'ness by the same rational rule that governed John Freedley, a famous land speculator, of Norristown, fifty years ago, who was ever prepared to buy when property was selling below its value and always ready to sell when advanced prices were offered. Such men also have the gift to see in advance the necessity and imminence of public improvements. In this respect they are often public benefactors, for it is hard at times to convince some persons that there can be any good that does not begin and end at their own doors. This remark was illustrated in the opposition encountered by the Norristown Passenger Railway Company, which Mr. C. was prominent in organizing and putting into operation, and of which he is now the efficient President. A brief detail of Mr. C.'s success in pushing this enterprise to a successful conclusion will better illustrate his business energy than anything else we could offer, so we shall state the incipient steps of the improvement as they occurred. In the spring of 1884 he was so impressed with the importance of it that he interested a number of other gentlemen in his views, and called a preliminary meeting at his office March 24. This first assemblage to consider the matter, at Main and Green streets, was organized by John J. Corson taking the chair, and Jacob M. Cowden acting as secretary. The principal movers in the enterprise at that stage were the following: Jacob M. Cowden, Joseph Blackfan, Morgan Wright, Henry Freedley, Jr., Harrison M. Lutz, Norman Egbert and John J. Corson. Considerable subscriptions of stock being pledged by those present, an adjourned meeting was agreed upon to appoint a committee to canvass for more stock subscriptions and apply for a charter. The committee was composed of Jacob M. Cowden, Harrison M. Lutz, J. Cloud Smith, Nathan Shultz, William R. Pechin, George F. Coleman, A. W. Geiger, Morgan R. Wills, Philip Quillman, Isaac Chism, Henry Freedley, Jr., and Joseph Blackfan. There being finally $15,000 subscribed in stock and a charter procured, the subscribers met again at Mr. Cowden's office June 9, 1884, and elected the following officers: President-Jacob M. Cowden. Treasurer-Norman Egbert. Directors-Jacob M. Cowden, Harrison M. Lutz, J. Cloud Smith, Nathan Shultz, William R. Pechin, Henry Freedley, Jr., George F. Coleman, A. W. Geiger, Morgan R. Wills, Philip Quillman, Isaac Chism, Joseph Blackfan. When the corporation got organized some discussion arose as to the streets to be laid with rails, but finally DeKalb was selected; but before proceeding far in the work they were met by an injunction issued at the instance of a few propertyholders who opposed the improvement. This obstacle, however, being overcome by decision of court, the sum of ten per cent. was called in and a track with turn-outs laid down for over one and a half miles, starting from the railroad stations, at Mill and Lafayette streets, and extending to Brown and DeKalb, where the company have a commodious depot and stables for their horses, of which they keep eleven. The two cars start at the terminus at intervals of fifteen minutes, making eighty trips a day, starting at 6.40 a. m. and suspending at 10.30 p. m. The company has paid its way for the first year with a small margin, which has been continually increasing ever since, and it is thought new tracks will soon be laid down on other principal streets, when the stock must soon be a profitable investment. Much of the success hitherto has been owing to Mr. C.'s devotion to this now indispensable convenience for all large towns. Mr. Cowden, who has been the leading spirit in this valuable enterprise, commenced the real estate and scrivening business in 1852, and for some years was associated in his office, near Main and Swede, by the late Jared Evans. In this interval he has purchased and disposed of a large amount of property, as also improved many eligible building sites, |