My Genealogy Hound

JEREMIAH BERRELL LARZELERE, JR., a leader among the younger members of the bar in Norristown, is descended from an old Moreland family of French Huguenots. The emigrant was Nicholas Larzelere, who, accompanied by his brother John, came to this country and settled on Staten Island, New York. In 1741 his son Nicholas removed to Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he settled in Lower Makefield township. He reared eight children, and died in that township at the age of eighty-four years, and was buried in the Episcopal graveyard at Bristol. His son Nicholas, born on Staten Island in 1734, married Hannah Britton, of Bristol township, and removed to Bensalem township, in Bucks county, where he owned a large estate and raised a family of ten children. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He died at the age of eighty-four.

Benjamin Larzelere, the eldest son of Nicholas, was the great-grandfather of J. B. Larzelere, Jr., the subject of this sketch. He married Sarah Brown, of an old Bucks county family residing in Bristol township, to which he removed. He had eight children, and died at the age of eighty-four years. Part of the present borough of Bristol is built on the site occupied by his farm.

The eldest son of Benjamin was Nicholas (grandfather). He married Esther, daughter of Colonel Jeremiah Berrell, of Abington township, in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He removed into that township about 1825, and resided there and in Moreland township, adjoining, the remainder of his life. He reared a family of twelve children. He died in the year 1858, at the age of sixty-seven years, and was buried in the Presbyterian graveyard at Abington, as was also his widow, who died February 20, 1895, at the age of ninety-two years.

Jeremiah B. Larzelere (father) was the third son of Nicholas. He was born in August, 1828, and with the exception of a short residence in the state of Ohio has always lived in Montgomery county. In 1858 he married Elmina, daughter of James Lovett, of Doylestown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, who died in 1874. Their children: Frank E., born June 8, 1859, now engaged in the livery business in Norristown; John Henry, born in 1861, died December 31, 1882; Bertmond, born in 1863, for many years engaged in the Baldwin Locomotive Works as a contracting superintendent; Jeremiah B., Jr., subject of this sketch; Samuel D., born in September, 1868, graduated second of his class in the veterinary department of the University of Pennsylvania, and is now a veterinarian at Jenkintown with a large practice; Esther Elizabeth, born in 1871, married H. Allen Krips, who is engaged in business in Philadelphia as a photographer; Florence E., born November 26, 1873, married William B. Vrooman, president of the American Trust Company, Philadelphia. Mr. Larzelere (father) married again in June, 1876, Caroline E., daughter of Dilworth Wentz, of Philadelphia, long since deceased. There are no children by the second marriage. Jeremiah Larzelere, when he was a young man, taught school in Horsham township. He was long engaged in business as a drover. He was one of the projectors of the Northeast Pennsylvania Railroad, opened in 1870, and became a member of its board of directors. He held for many years the position of school director in Moreland. He has also been a bank director for many years. Mr. Larzelere is a Democrat in politics. In 1871 he became the candidate of his party for sheriff, and was elected by more than a thousand majority, standing highest among the Democratic nominees. He held the position three years, performing its duties in a satisfactory manner. He now resides on his fine farm at Willow Grove.

Jeremiah B. Larzelere, Jr., was born at Willow Grove, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, November 26, 1866. He acquired his early education in the schools of Moreland township, and later the Central High School, Philadelphia, and the University of Pennsylvania. He very early in life displayed an aptitude for debating and elocution, and was for many years a member of the Willow Grove Debating Society. He participated in every debate except two, and was on the successful side except in a single instance. While a student in the Philadelphia High School he always received the highest average in elocution, the marks being given as the result of contests before the school. He took the University scholarship in the Philadelphia High School, and in 1887 entered the junior class of ‘89, in the higher institution of learning, taking the Wharton course in finance and economy. In the autumn of that year he passed a preliminary examination to read law in Norristown, and was registered as a student with his cousin, Nicholas H. Larzelere, a leading member of the Norristown bar. He was the first student under the rule requiring a three-year course of study. At the end of the three years he passed a very creditable examination, and was admitted to the bar of Montgomery county, December 5, 1892. He was subsequently admitted to practice in the supreme and superior courts of the state of Pennsylvania, and also in the United States circuit and district courts. In April, 1900, Mr. Larzelere became the senior member of the law firm of Hillegass & Larzelere, his partner being Jacob E. Hillegass, and the firm is generally recognized as one of the leading, most responsible and successful firms in Norristown. Hillegass & Larzelere have had charge of much important litigation, and they represent large interests, including many well known corporations. In 1903 Mr. Larzelere was elected borough solicitor of Jenkintown, and of the school district of Moreland, to which positions he has been re-elected each successive year, notwithstanding the fact a large majority of the members of the school board and of the town council are usually of the opposite party in politics.

Mr. Larzelere organized the Hatboro Water Company and the Hatboro Electric Company, and is solicitor for each, as well as a member of the board of directors of each. He has secured charters for a number of the important corporations of the county, and represents them as counsel. As a lawyer his characteristics are thoroughness in the preparation of his cases, and persistence in attention to the interests of his clients.

Mr. Larzelere is an earnest and active Democrat, and has always participated in campaigns, frequently speaking at various points in behalf of the party ticket. In the summer and fall of 1902 he was urged to become the Democratic nominee for congress, and has also been frequently suggested for county chairman and for the nomination for district attorney and assemblyman. The only position he has held is that of member of the town council of Norristown. He has been twice elected from the Tenth ward, in which he resides, by large majorities, although the ward has a normal Republican majority of about 250 in a poll of 500 votes. As a member of town council he has steadily endeavored to serve his constituents, looking carefully into the character of all proposed borough legislation. He has held the following positions in the Democratic organization: For several years secretary of the county committee; chairman of the campaign committee of the same body; chairman of its finance committee. He is the president of the Jefferson Club, the leading Democratic organization of the kind in the county. He is solicitor for Sheriff John Larzelere. He was one of the organizers of the Hancock Chemical Fire Engine Company of Norristown, and one of its board of directors since its organization.

Mr. Larzelere, on February 21, 1895, married Marie Louise, daughter of Josiah E. and Mary Melvina (Fable) Trumbauer, of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, and sister of Horace Trumbauer, one of the best known and most successful architects in the United States. Mrs. Larzelere’s ancestors on both sides were of Pennsylvania German stock. On her father’s side, her immigrant ancestors settled at Trumbauersville, Bucks county, Pennsylvania; where the family owned large estates. Her mother’s ancestors settled in Philadelphia, where they were large property owners in the vicinity of Fifth, Sixth and Buttonwood and Franklin streets. Five of the Trumbauer family, of Milford township, to which Mrs. Larzelere belonged, and one of her ancestors on her mother’s side, served in the Revolutionary war.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Larzelere are Marie Louise, born September 5, 1896; Clara Virginia, born November 3, 1897; Horace Trumbauer, born December 18, 1902. Mr. Larzelere has a handsome residence at the south corner of Main and Noble streets, Norristown. He is highly respected by all, and enjoys the confidence of the entire community.