Abington Township, Pennsylvania, USA
1923 - Abignton Township

ABINGTON - This township, in the extreme southeastern section of the county, is bounded on the northwest by Upper Dublin, northeast by Moreland, southeast by Philadelphia, and southwest by Springfield, Cheltenham, and the borough of Jenkintown. The last named was made a borough In 1874. The township was organized prior to 1704. The soil is a fertile loam, and contains limestone sufficient to produce excellent crops. For many years the making of lime was a leading Industry in this township. Its streams are Inclusive of Pennypack, and Sandy Run. Cheltenham, Willow Grove and Middle Road turnpikes traverse the territory in several directions; the first named was completed in 1804, and the second in 1857. These highways cost $8,000 per mile. For railway lines, see chapter on Railroads. The township had a population in 1790 of 881; in 1840 it was 1,704; 1880, it had reached 2,125, and in 1920 it was 8,864. Next to Springfield, in 1882, this township was highest rated of any in the county, the amount of taxables being $2,655,030.

Among the first to effect a settlement here are known from record to have been the Fletchers, Morrises, Jenkins, Parry, Thomas, Bonds, Jones, Thompsons, Kenderlines, Pauls, Roberts, Hufty, Williams, Dorland, Kirke, McVaugh, Tysons, Hallowells, Knights, Waterman, Trott, Weems, many of whom still have descendants in the township and county at this date. Germany, England and Wales all had their share in settlements here. Gordon, in his "State Gazeteer," stated that Abington village had in 1832, "ten or twelve dwellings, a tannery, a boarding school for boys, a tavern, two stores, and a Presbyterian church." A post office was established here in 1816 and continued two years. A hotel was kept here by Mary Moore, having a sign reading "Square and Compass." At the little hamlet of Weldon in this township occurred a skirmish between the British and Washington's forces, resulting in the killing of more than one hundred persons. An anti-tramp association was organized here in 1877 to protect the people against roving bands of would-be laborers, but who were worthless fellows making their way through from one part of the county to another and who were for the first time known (that year) as "tramps." Five officers were employed by the citizens to see that this lawless gang did no harm,

The churches and schools are treated in special chapters of this work, and include those of Abington township. One of the first Friends' meeting-houses in Pennsylvania was situated here, and was formed in 1683. The former historical volumes, especially Bean's "History of Montgomery County" (1884), give detailed accounts of many interesting things which this work has no space to insert.

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania - A History, Clifton S. Hunsicker, Lewis Historical Publishing, 1923

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