My Genealogy Hound

ZIEBER HART, in his day one of the best-known contractors of Norristown, was also very prosperous, owning a large number of dwellings, in different sections of the borough.

He belonged to an old Montgomery county family, of German origin, but long settled in the county seat and its vicinity. Mr. Hart was born on what is now known as the Scott Farm, within the present limits of Norristown, February 8, 1825. He was the son of Jacob and Hannah (Zieber) Hart, both natives of the vicinity. The couple had twelve children, of whom but two are now living: George, of Norristown, and Jacob, of Plymouth, near Cold Point.

Jacob Hart (father) was a farmer all his life, residing in Plymouth township, near Norristown, where he owned a farm of two hundred acres, on which he died at the age of sixty-four years. His wife died some years previously, at the age of forty-seven years. Mr. Hart afterward married Mrs. Anderson, whose maiden name was Highley. There was one son by the second marriage-Lane S. Hart, long a resident of Harrisburg.

John Hart (grandfather) was born in Germany, and came to Montgomery county in youth. He was a farmer by occupation, and lived to be eighty-five years of age. His wife was Catharine Wolf, and the couple had two sons, Jacob and John.

John Zieber (maternal grandfather) was a farmer and miller, and lived in Norriton township. He lived to an advanced age, and left a large family of children.

Zieber Hart was reared on his father’s farm in Plymouth township, until he was eighteen years of age. He then went to Norristown where he resided the remainder of his life, a period of more than sixty years. Most of that time he lived on Swede street. He received his education at the country schools of the neighborhood, and afterwards learned the trade of a bricklayer, at which he worked as a journeyman for ten years then becoming a contractor on his own account. He did the brickwork on a great number of houses, among them the first brick on the west side of Stony creek, which now divides the borough of Norristown into two nearly equal portions. He built the house for Barney Beaver, on West Main street, and it is now owned and occupied by Walter S. Hutchison.

In 1852 Mr. Hart married Miss Mary Streeper, of Plymouth township, daughter of John and Ann (Deal) Streeper. The couple had three children, one of whom is now living, Harry, also a bricklayer, and residing in Norristown. He married Miss Annie Humphrey, who is now deceased. They had one daughter, Mary. Mrs. Mary Hart, wife of Zieber Hart, died about 1857. She was a Lutheran in religious faith, as were the family generally. In 1862 Mr. Hart married Miss Mary Hallman, of Whitpain township, daughter of Henry and Mary (Weber) Hallman. They had two daughters, Katie and Mazie. Mrs. Mary Hart (second wife) died in 1881, aged fifty-three years. The parents of Mr. Hart’s second wife removed to Norristown and spent their declining years. He died thirty years or more years ago, aged seventy years, his wife surviving him some years, and dying at the age of eighty-seven. They had ten children, most of them now deceased.

Politically Mr. Hart was a Democrat although he never sought or held office.

Mr. Hart’s death was due to an accident, which occurred in Plymouth township, near Black Horse Hotel, where he was superintending the work on a blacksmith shop which he was erecting. While standing on the edge of the roof he lost his balance and fell to the ground, a distance of ten or twelve feet. It was found that he was seriously injured and an ambulance was summoned, which conveyed him to his home. He lingered a few days, and died on October 30, 1903.

Mr. Hart was an energetic, enterprising builder, who achieved success in life entirely through his own exertions. He was genial and affable, very kind-hearted, and as a very natural consequence highly esteemed wherever he was known. Few men have done more to benefit the community.