AHLUM

Chapter XLII

Biographical Sketches – Richland

H. G. AHLUM

…hotel keeper, resides at Richland Center, Pa. The Ahlum family ranks among the pioneer families of Bucks county. Jacob Ahlum came from Germany about the year 1742. He was a wheelwright by trade and settled in what is now Haycock township, four miles east of Quakertown, where he purchased about three hundred acres of land. He had six sons: George, Michael, Philip, Jacob, John and David; and five daughters. John, the grandfather of H. G., married Catherine Yost, by whom he had Ephraim, born in February, 1809, in Haycock township. He married Levy Groman, born in this county July 15, 1813, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Pauff) Groman. The fruit of this union was our subject, Henry Groman, who was born October 8, 1836, in Milford township, where he grew to the years of manhood. He engaged in farming until 1867, when he began the hotel business at Milford Square, continuing there until 1875, when he came to Richland Center and purchased the hotel owned and run by Frank Hartman, which has ever since been known as the Eagle hotel, and in which he has been doing a good business. October 22, 1857, he married Belinda R. Miller, who was born in Montgomery county, in 1834, daughter of John and Henrietta (Faber) Miller. Mrs. Miller is a daughter of Rev. Theobold Faber, a well-known minister of Montgomery county. Mr. Ahlum has six children: Emma C., wife of Milton D. Tice, boot and shoe dealer; Charles is a bookkeeper for Strawbridge & Clothier in Philadelphia; Rosa is the wife of William Haney; Ellen, wife of J. F. Fisher, cattle dealer; Calvin E. and Carrie L. are at home. Mr. Ahlum is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 390, of Coopersburg, and also of the Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 372, of Trumbauersville.

JOHN F. AHLUM

…retired, P.O. Quakertown, is another descendant of Jacob Ahlum, the pioneer of the name. John Fluck Ahlum was born December 2, 1832, in Bedminster township. He is a son of Jacob and Hannah (Fluck) Ahlum. His father was born in Bedminster about the year 1802 and engaged in farming. A few years previously to his death he removed to Bridgeton and lived a retired life until his death, on December 17, 1873. He had been for many years a consistent member of the Lutheran church and was an esteemed citizen. The children born to him were Jesse, John, Francis, Jacob, Maria, Leannah and Hannah. Jesse removed to Colorado and is identified with the mining interests there; Francis located in Hellertown; Jacob in Bridgeton; Maria married Noah Fullman, of Telford; and Hannah married Joseph Wistler and resides in Bridgeton. John F. lived on the farm until he was eighteen years of age, when he engaged as clerk at Hagersville for Emanuel Hager, continuing three years. Afterward, in partnership with John Mangle, he purchased his employer’s store and conducted the same for three years. They afterward removed to Applebachsville. Three years later he sold out to Mangle, and a few months later purchased William Wood’s stock of goods at Applebachsville, where he remained three years. About this time his store was burned, and he lost heavily. He afterward discontinued merchandising and was associated one year with his former partner, John Mangle, in the cattle business. Then for seven years he was engaged in the hotel business at Applebachsville. He afterward farmed for several years. In 1885 he settled in Quakertown, residing on Broad street. During the summer months he entertains families from Philadelphia. He has been twice married. His first wife was a daughter of Joseph and Anna (Brown) Mann, and died leaving no issue. His present wife is Matilda, sister of his first wife. Hey had had three children: Annie Lizzie and Preston. The last died at the age of six years. Annie is the wife of the Rev. Nathan C. Schaeffer, principal of the Kutztown Normal school. Mr. Ahlum is a member of the Lutheran church, also of the Quakertown Lodge, No. 512, F. and A. M.

PAGenWeb Assistant State Coordinator (Western Counties)