My Genealogy Hound

DR. ELMER N. SOUDER, a prominent physician of Souderton, is the son of Jonas and Amanda (Nicholas) Souder, of a family long resident in Franconia township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He is the only child of the couple.

Dr. Souder was born February 24, 1871. He was educated in the public schools of Richland township, and after completing the course very satisfactorily entered as a student at the State Normal School at West Chester. After completing the course there, he entered the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1895, and then located at his present home in Souderton. He has succeeded in establishing an extensive and profitable practice not only in Souderton, but in the surrounding country. He married, in 1897, Miss Bertha Hartzell, of Hilltown, Bucks county, belonging to an old and highly respected family of German descent. She is a daughter of Andrew Hartzell. The couple have one child, Gladys.

Dr. Souder is a Republican in politics, although he is too busy with his professional duties to become a candidate for public office. He is, however, a member of the board of health of Souderton. He is a member of the Patriotic Order, Sons of America. He and his family attend the Methodist church.

The Souder family is one of the oldest in Montgomery county, being of German origin. The founder of the family in America was Christian Souder, who came to Pennsylvania in colonial times and settled in Franconia township, Montgomery (then Philadelphia) county, near the Indian Creek Reformed church. He was there in 1755 if not earlier. He married and reared a family, among his children being Jacob Souder, who was reared on the farm and attended neighborhood schools. He became a farmer, which occupation he followed through life on the old Franconia homestead. Among the children of Jacob Souder was Christian, the grandfather of Dr. Souder, the subject of this sketch. He was born on the homestead in the year 1791. Christian Souder was a man considerably above the average in ability and good judgment. He acquired an ordinary education in the schools of the vicinity, and then devoted himself to the occupation of farming, dying at a very advanced age. He retained his faculties until his death in a very remarkable manner.

Christian Souder married Miss Catherine Nyce, of the same township, and reared a large family of children. Among them was Jonas, the father of Dr. Elmer N. Souder. He was born on the homestead in 1836, and died in 1873. After completing his studies at the schools of the vicinity he learned the shoemaking trade, and followed it successfully for a number of years. He removed from the old neighborhood to the vicinity of Telford, in Franconia township. He married Miss Amanda Nicholas, who is still living. Mr. Souder was a Mennonite in religious faith, and in politics a Republican.

The Souders are numerous in that section of Montgomery county, and are among the most respected and useful members of the community.