Miscellaneous News Clippings

The records below were collected by the Historical Society of Chester County, and were old newspaper clippings that were pasted to large cardboard pages, indexed by name. Due to the small print of the pages, and the quality of some of the articles, it made it impossible for me to scan these articles to show you the exact copy. These records are copied to this page without any modifications. I attempted to color the background of each clipping, and use a font which depicts a font similar to the text of the articles, but unfortunately, it does not give the reader the true feel of these old articles.  

02/24/1876 Mr. George Stubblebine, of North Coventry, Chester County, is the possessor of an old family bible printed in the year 1711, one hundred and sixty-five years old. This old volume is still in an excellent state of preservation. (Curator note: This bible mentioned in this article, I believe still exists, and is in the possession of Ms. Catherine Tuttle Stubblebine of Mount Holly, New Jersey. It is my hope that she will allow me to photocopy or take a picture of it so we all can enjoy it on this site!)

12/29/1887 On Sunday last, Christmas Day, George Stubblebine of North Coventry, celebrated his 70th birthday. He, too is still in good health.

03/26/1890 "I was borne in North Coventry township and have lived there for seventy years, having been absent two years. My grandfather came from Germany and settled in that township, and he was the parent of nine sons. The entire family lived in that locality. My brother also has nine sons, who at present live in Easton, and they are engaged in some manner connected with railroads. There were thirteen children - four daughters and nine sons. My grandfather had nine brothers, who are dead. The survivors may therefore claim to be descendants of one of the early settlers of Chester County." - Geo. Stubblebine (Curator note - it is unclear where this clipping came from; it was attached to the obituary clippings located at the Historical Society.)

02/07/1895 NEWS CLIPPING 02/07/1895: An Unusual Event to be Celebrated by an Aged Couple. Wedded for 64 years is the story of Peter Stubblebine and his faithful wife, residing in Pottstown. Golden Weddings are not very common, but it is rare indeed, that any couple is permitted to enjoy three-scores and four years of married life. On February 7th, 1831, sixty-four years ago to-day, the marriage of Peter Stubblebine to Elizabeth Halderman took place at Ridge, now known as Ridgeville, Chester County. Mr. Stubblebine is a weaver by trade and he came to that town in 1866. Ten children blessed this union, six of whom are living. Mr. Stubblebine has turned his 84th year, and his wife her 81st year. They are both well and active physically and mentally, and Mr. Stubblebine may still be found at his desk in a coal office here nearly every day.

03-14-1902 The Pottstown News of yesterday tells the following: Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Stubblebine celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage at their home in South Coventry, Chester county, on Tuesday. All the children and grandchildren were present. Mr. Stubblebine, who has long been well know and highly esteemed in the community in which he resides, has for many years been a successful farmer. He is 73 years of age, but both looked as hale and hearty, youthful and "chipper" as they welcomed their guests that few would have suspected from their appearance that they had yet reached the age of three score years and ten. Guests were present from Royersford, Pottstown, Phoenixville, Norristown, Wilmington, Lancaster and Ambler. Among some of the most distinguished guests were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Snyder, of Frankford. Mr. Snyder is Vice President and Superintendent of the Union Traction Company, of Philadelphia. Horace Fetterolf and family, of Ambler. The later is an extensive carpet manufacturer at Wayne Junction. Mr. and Mrs. Stubblebine received many handsome presents, principally in gold, silver and fine linen. Covers were laid for fifty guests. The event was a very enjoyable one, and everyone returned home very much pleased with the manner in which the anniversary was observed.

07/22/1902 The Pottstown News of this morning has the following: George Stubblebine, of North Coventry, Chester county, was in Pottstown yesterday for an hour or two he occupied a comfortable chair at the Shuler house. Mr. Stubblebine has been a frequent visitor at the Shuler house for half a century and more as he is just as welcome now as in the days of his vigorous manhood. He is nearing the 85th anniversary of his birth, and is not so sprightly of action as when a youth, but just as big-hearted as ever. Sebastian Stubblebine, grandfather of the present George Stubblebine, came to this country nearly two hundred years ago and settled in North Coventry. Here he raised a large family of sons and daughters, among whom was Jacob Stubblebine, the father of George, of whom we are now writing. Mr. Stubblebine was born in the house now occupied by Constable John Ecker, near Shenkel. When a youth he learned blacksmithing with the late Jacob Root, at Pottstown Landing. Afterwards, he worked at his trade for the late Mathias Geist, in a shop on the site now occupied by the Dives, Pomeroy & Stewart store and afterwards he did "journey" work for Archie Thompson in a shop on West High Street on the site now occupied by Andrew Fenstermacher. Later on he branched out for himself at Pottstown Landing. her he shod the horses and sharpened the plowshares for the yeomanry of that section of Chester county for several years. During the Presidential campaign of 1840, Mr. Stubblebine was a Harrison man, and when the opportunity offered he cheered lustily for his favorite candidate. During this campaign, one day in early Autumn, he laid aside his leather apron, smothered his hearth fire, left the old bellows to do its own blowing and came over to Pottstown and soon found himself at the Farmers' Tavern, kept by Barney Weand (now the Shuler house). Here he met his friend, Isaac Webb, who was a Van Buren man. Webb greeted his smith chum with "Hurrah for Van Buren!" and George responded with "Hurrah for Harrison!". The next instant Webb landed one on Stubblebine's left shoulder, which caused a dislocation. A fight followed, fast and furious, and when the finish came Mr. Stubblebine was minus one good shoulder joint. He was not a drinking or a carousing man and the rumpus was not the result of a drunken brawl, but simply came from a red-hot political campaign. Well, after the excitement was over Mr. Stubblebine discovered that his shoulder was a trifle shaky. He quit blacksmithing an dipped into live stock dealing. He went up into Berks county and then into Lebanon county and purchased cattle -- bulls, steers and milch cows, and drove them to this place. In those days there were no stock yards. The dealer rented meadow pasture and the farmers who wanted milch cows came and purchased, so did the butchers and when the stack was all sold...buy more stock and return in the good old-fashioned way by driving the herd. On one of these trips Mr. Stubblebine purchased a fine pair of milch cows in Indiana county for which he paid $10 each. When he reached Pottstown the late Major Brook, of Lower Pottsgrove, who happened up town, was attracted by these cows and said: "George, I will give you $200 for that pair of cows." The bargain was quickly closed. Major Brook took the cows and George Stubblebine the cold cash. Mr. Stubblebine made money in the live stock business, but his success made him generous (he always had a big heart). One day, he reached Pottstown with five carloads of sheep, hogs and cattle and in half a day's duration he sold the entire lot for a net profit of $1000. He was a trifle elated over the deal and told a friend of his amazing success. Early next morning that same friend wanted Mr. Stubblebine to endorse for him a promissory note for $1000. He did it and some years after paid it. he made some money in live stock, but by aiding friends he lost it, and to day, though a worthy citizen of North Coventry, he is not wealthy by a good deal. His faithful wife died some years ago and five children remain to comfort the "old man" in his declining years, one of whom, a daughter, has never left him, but cares for him as he cared for her in years ago. Five children are yet living - Mrs. Morris Painter, Mrs. Jacob Urner, Miss Annie and Jacob M., and George Stubblebine, all of North Coventry.