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Subject: [PAMONTGO-L] Bio: Squire Henry J. Smith 1844-1909
Date: Tue, 14 May 2002 21:55:29 EDT


The Hearthstone Town and Country
Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA
Thursday - May 9, 2002

HENRY OF ALL TRADES

Justices of the peace, under the old common law of England, were judges of
record appointed by the King to serve within certain limits for the
conservation of the peace. The person appointed to serve in this ancient and
honorable office was selected from knights, esquires and gentlemen of law.
The position came to the colonies with the first settlers, only here the
governor made the appointment. It has been written that the early Montgomery
County country squire, or justice of the peace, was of 'conspicuous
character...second only to the country parson,' and often the two dignitaries
were hand and glove in their communities. Justices enjoyed the confidence and
respect of a wide circle of acquaintances, and in many instances transacted
the business of large communities. One such local personality to fill that
bill was Henry J. SMITH. Born in Pennsburg in 1844, he would come to be
hailed as "one of the best known justices in Montgomery County" for many
years. He received his education at the pay schools in Upper Hanover
Township. When the public school system was established there in 1852, he
attended them until he was 15. He entered Washington Hall Collegiate
Institute at Trappe, graduating when he was 21. After completing his
education he began to teach. For seven years he taught at what was known as
the Smith Schoolhouse near Red Hill. In 1870 he married Hanna HEVENER, oldest
daughter of Peter HEVENER, one of the oldest German families in the area. A
year later they moved to Pennsburg, and SMITH began teaching at the Warner's
Schoolhouse in Upper Hanover. Warner's School had an interesting beginning.
In 1854 and 1855 the Upper Hanover School District built nine schoolhouses in
the township. Most were a standard 25-feet wide and 33-feet long. Several had
bell towers. When it came to building the tenth (Warner's), the school
directors decided on a much smaller, one-room building of 24-square feet for
the children of farms by the Macoby Creek, north of Greenvillle (East
Greenville). SMITH was a man of deep public spirit. He was first elected to
the position of justice of the peace for Upper Hanover Township in 1878.
After the incorporation of Pennsburg as a borough in 1887, he was elected to
serve there. One of his duties as a justice was to clerk at public auctions.
During his career, he clerked at over 3,000 auctions! SMITH also served as
the borough's secretary for over 10 years, and his wide knowledge of the area
made him a valuable person to serve as borough engineer. The Pennsburg Horse
and Detective Insurance Company was formed in 1885 for the purpose of
insuring horses and livestock in the area. At one time it insured 1,000 local
animals! For many years SMITH served as Secretary of the Company, writing
thousands of dollars woth of insurance. SMITH also served as secretary for
the Pennsburg Water Company and the Pennsburg Manufacturing Company. He even
served a few terms as a school director for the Pennsburg School District!
For 33 years, he served as secretary of the Pennsburg Lodge of Odd Fellows.
In addition to his justice of the peace duties, SMITH was a skilled surveyor
and conveyancer. According to Hunsicker's History of Montgomery County,
SMITH's Pennsburg Manufacturing Company brought him a bit of notoriety as
well. He was hailed a pioneer in Montgomery County in two branches of effort
- founding the first lumber business in Pennsburg, and also achieving wide
renown as a weaver. In the latter, he became locally famous as the originator
of the autograph blanket. Of Henry J. SMITH, it was written that 'money had
no attraction for him. To be useful was the aim of his life. No one could
ever accuse him of overcharging. To clerk a sale for a few cents, no matter
how inclement the weather, was his delight.' Henry's son Horace went on to
become a respected and exceptional local justice of the peace - just like his
father. By Larry Roeder.

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