Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/321

 COLUMBIA ANT) MONTOUR COUNTIES ministering these varied positions of trust, reat labor and responsibility, he, like his aiher, w as a noted farm er. Gen. Daniel Montgomery died at his residence in D anvilk on Friday. Dec. 30. 18 3 1, aged sixty-six years. T he old family Bible ^ a r s the following rec­ ord o f his children: M argaret, bom Oct. 18, 179 2, died .April I, 1845, unm arried; Isabella, bom .Aug. I, 1794, died Oct. 1 1, 18 13 . unmar­ rie d; M ary, bom Ju ly 26, 1796, died Sept. 2, 17 9 7 : Thomas, bom Ju ly 19, 1798, died Feb. 2 2 . 18 0 0; Hannah, bom Oct. 16. i8oo, was m arried to J . C. Boyd in M ay, 18 20; William, bom Jan. i t . 1803. died Jan. 23. 1873, aged seventy, bachelor; Polly, bom Feb. 6. 1 ^ 5, m arried Dr. W. H. M agill M ay 1. 1828 (they had two sons and three d au gh ters); Chrisitna, bom March i, 1809, dicn M ay 26, 1836. unm arried; Daniel Strawbridgc, bom Ju ly 2, ] 8 i I . died March 26. 1839. J i'D G E W iL U .v M M o n t c o m f . r v was a son o f Daniel Montgomer>' the elder and a nephew o f (ien. William Montgomery. He was a merchant, doing business in the store at the co m er o f Mill and Market streets .and re­ siding on the opposite comer. H e was ap­ pointed the first ]x>stmaster o f Danville in j8 o 6 hy President Jefferson. T his position he held for seven years and in the administra­ tion of the office gave universal satisfaction. Ju d ge Montgomery was a man highly re­ spected in the church and in the community, and all his influence was used for the better­ ment o f mankind. Chiefly through his efforts the first Sunday school was established in Danville in 1816. On Aug. 5 .1 8 1 5. he was ap­ pointed associate judge o f Columbia county. P n i i. L i p M a c s w as bom in Prussia. 1 7 3 1 . In company with his parents he came to Phil­ adelphia in 17 4 1, being then ten years old. He attended school, and soon could speak and w rite both English .and German fluently. In 17 5 0 he was apprenticed to the trade o f manu­ facturing stockings, a circumstance that enabled him in the times of the Revolution greatly to aid and benefit the country. Within five years after he commenced to Icam his trade he established himself in the business, conducting it with great success for the next twenty years, when the troubles with the mother country suspended operations. His brothers were Frederick. Charles and Mathew. T he latter became a prominent surgeon in the w ar and was with General Montgomery in his expedition into Canada, and when Montgom­ ery fell before Quebec he aided Colonel Burr in carrying awa^r his body. Dr. Maus served through the entire w ar o f independence.

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Phillip Maus married Frances Heap, a native o f England, a most estimable w ife, mother and friend. When his business fur­ nished him the capital he invested it in the purchase o f 600 acres o f land. The patents from Thomas and Jo h n Penn are dated .April 3. 1769, and arc among the earliest in what is now Montour county. 'I'he proprietaries re­ served a perpetual quitrent o f twopence per acre, which w as paid until the Common­ wealth compensated the Penns and became the >roprietor of the lands. The tract of land ay in the rich and fertile valleys o f Valley township. A t the time of the purchase it lay on the outer fringe of the settlements, and hence no improvements were made on the property until after the Revolution. But as soon as peace and safety permitted M r. Maus brought his family to this place, and for more than thirty years it was liis home. The chil­ dren o f this happy union w ere: G eoige, bom 17 5 9; Elizabeth, 1 7 6 1; Phillip, 17 6 3 : Susan, 176 5 : Samuel. 17 6 7 : Lew is, 17 7 3; Charles, 177 S : joscph* 17 7 7; Jacob, 178 1. During the Revolution M r. Maus was an active and earnest patriot. He formed the intimate acquaintance, which extended to the end of their days, o f Beniamin Franklin and Koliert Morris. Mr. Maus invested very largely o f his ample fortune in furnishing clothing to the army* look his ]>ay in Conti­ nental money* and o f this money, when it became valueless* he had several thousand dollars on hand. Basketfuls o f this old cur­ rency may yet be found in the i>o$session of Philip F. Maus. What would a modem anny contractor think i f he was to hear this stop*? Here is a letter that now possesses a historical interest: Philadelphia, 9 Octo. 1776 . M r Samuel Updcgraff. S ir r ^ B y the bearer* M r Joseph Kerr, i sencT you the batlance of the price o f 8 do2 |>airft o f InKkskin breeches I bought o f ynu. having paid you 6) in advance, the balhnce being 1 1 43 3 s. which lie will pay you on delivering him the go<^s. I f you have any more to dispose of he wilt contract with you for tlicm. and 1 ihall be glad i f you and him can agree. Y ou r humble servant. P n it u p M

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Leather breeches* moccasins and hunting shirts of the same, were the clothing o f some of the grandfathers of many o f our most artistocratic and exclusive people o f fashion and wealth of the present day. A t the close of the w ar Mr. Maus* fortune w as so reduced that he turned his attention to his land in Montour county*