My Genealogy Hound

LOUIS F. SLOAN, one of the most prominent farmers of Montgomery township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, was born at Willow Grove, in Moreland township, January 1, 1848. He is the son of William and Eliza (Shiveley) Sloan.

William L. Sloan (father) was the son of James and Mary (Moore) Sloan, both natives of Ireland who emigrated to America. William L. Sloan was born in Philadelphia, where his parents resided at Thirteenth and Market streets, where is now the extensive establishment of John Wanamaker, September 5, 1812. He acquired his education in Philadelphia, and engaged in business in connection with his brother John, they conducting a store. Some years later he abandoned mercantile pursuits and removed to Willow Grove, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1859, when he purchased the farm of thirty-seven acres now occupied by his son, Louis F. Sloan. He spent the remainder of his life on the farm. He was a popular citizen, taking an active interest in public affairs. Although he was not in any sense an office seeker, he held for many years the position of school director. He was a Democrat in politics, being in his youth an earnest supporter of Andrew Jackson, and casting his last presidential ballot for Grover Cleveland. After a useful and well spent life he died December 6, 1888. His wife died March 28, 1882. The couple had ten children, as follows: William Henry, born November 24, 1836, married, July 3, 1862, Rachel Haman, and resides in Philadelphia; James Francis, born November 6, 1833, died in childhood; Virginia Adelaide, born June 29, 1840, wife of William Hamilton, and resides in Gloucester county, New Jersey; Ida G., born January 4, 1842, widow of Andrew Gault, and resides near Doylestown, Pennsylvania; Dorothea S., born April 20, 1846, wife of Frederick Arnold, and resides at Prospectville, Pennsylvania; Louis F., subject of this sketch; Eliza S., born October 1, 1849, wife of Edward Felton, and resides at Penn Square, Pennsylvania; Rosalie I., born October 22, 1851, wife of William Kirk, and resides at Doylestown, Pennsylvania; Ella B., born May 11, 1853, died September 15, 1859; Francis S., born August 4, 1855, married April 6, 1880, Ella R. Jarden. After her death he married Mary Gollogy, and resides in Lansdale.

Louis F. Sloan acquired his education in the schools of Montgomery township, and from boyhood has been engaged in the occupation of farming. He has resided on the homestead farm for more than forty years, having purchased it after his father’s death. He is a thoroughly practical farmer, and is deeply interested in public affairs. He is not an office seeker, but has held the position of school director for more than a dozen years. He married, at the home of his wife’s parents, near Ambler, March 16, 1876, Jane, daughter of James and Anna M. Gillin, born December 4, 1848. The couple have three children: 1. Robert H., born March 18, 1877, educated in the public schools of Montgomery township, from which he graduated in 1894, and then attending Schissler’s Business College, at Norristown, from which he graduated in 1896, and also graduated from the Conservatory of Music at Philadelphia in 1900, and is now a teacher of piano-forte at Lansdale and in the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music, and is organist at St. John’s Reformed church at Lansdale.

He married at Naugatuck, Connecticut, August 13, 1902, Miss Marie I. Payne, daughter of S. F. and Mary Payne. 2. Thomas M., born April 21, 1879, educated in the public schools of Montgomery township, Philadelphia Conservatory of Music, and Schissler’s Business College, Norristown, graduating from the public schools in 1894 and from the last named institution in 1896, and is now head bookkeeper for L. F. Miller & Sons, of Philadelphia; 3. Cynthia D., born August 30, 1881, graduated at Montgomery township schools, and attended the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music for several terms. Mrs. Robert H. Sloan is a graduate in music, and is leader of the choir of St. John’s Reformed church, Lansdale.

Mr. Sloan, his wife and family are all members of the Pleasantville Reformed church at Eureka, of which he is a deacon. In politics he is a Democrat. He has a beautiful home and surroundings, and is a man who enjoys the confidence and respect of the community in which he lives.