Ref: Town and Country Newspaper Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA Saturday - June 11, 1904 MONTGOMERY'S YOUNGEST JUSTICE OF THE PEACE Faglesyville lays claim to the youngest Justice of the Peace in Montgomery county in the person of J. Lawrence GEIST (picture), who was born in that village, January 25, 1880. His father being the late Captain Jesse GEIST, while the maiden name of his mother was Elizabeth PENNYPACKER. Mr. GEIST was educated in the public schools of Fagleyville and graduated from the Grammar School in 1899, and is at present President of the Fagleysville Grammar School Alumni Association. In 1900 he passed an examination for a teacher's certificate and was successful in his efforts although receiving no further instruction than that required for graduation from the public school. The two subsequent years were spent as teacher of the Primary School of his native village. In the Spring of 1902 he entered the West Chester State Normal School and after an attendance of four weeks passed an examination in all the sub-junior branches and entered the Junior Class. On his return from the Normal School he was appointed teacher of the Jacksonville school and served in that capacity for the past two terms. During the Fall of 1902, his father who had been Justice of the Peace for many years, resigned on account of bodily infirmities, when the present incumbent circulated a petition and applied to the Governor to be appointed to the vacancy. The petition was favorably received and on September 25, 1902 the Governor appointed him to fill the unexpired term ending in May 1903. At the election proceeding the expiration of his term of office he entered the field for re-election. The campaign was spirited, as there were three Democratic candidates contesting for the office, but Mr. GEIST succeeded in defeating his two competitors. Justice GEIST is a brother to the celebrated pigeon shot, A.P. GEIST. He is a member and Past Commander of Sparta Castle, No. 11, Ancient Order Knights of the Mystic Chain of Fagleysville, and was Representative to the State Select Castle at Philadelphia in 1904 and there took the Mark Degree of the Order. During the winter of 1901 when small-pox broke out in his village and the post-office and post-master and family were quarantined, he was appointed post-master, which position he held for five weeks and successfully attended to the mail business of the Fagleysville post-office. He is also the correspondent to Town and Country for Fagleysville and vicinity. RESIGNS AS TELEGRAPH OPERATOR E.V. HENDRICKS, of East Greenville, operator at the Pennsburg station, resigned his position. The same to take effect on June 20, and accepted a position with Hoops Bros'. & Thomas, Nurserymen, of West Chester, with offices at 224 and 225 Stephen Girard Building, Philadelphia. THE GOVERNOR CANED Governor PENNYPACKER was twice caned last week. One of the canes presented to him was made from the wood of the first house that was built in Bethlehem and the other one was made from wood from the old State House in Philadelphia. He prizes both very highly. BARN NEAR HILLEGASS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING The large frame barn of Wm. FOX, of near Hillegass, was struck by lightning and was slightly damaged during the heavy storm of Monday night. BOY LOST HIS LIFE BY DROWNING On Tuesday morning the 9 year old son of Stanford B. LEWIS, in some manner, fell into the mill race and was drowned. Mr. LEWIS bought what is known as Deetz's mill some time ago, and on Saturday last he moved his family there from Philadelphia. The boys was missed only a short time and a diligent search was made, but no trace of him could be found, when finally a neighbor who was present thought of the mill race and the water was drained off, when the body was found at the bottom. An old tub was floating on the surface and it is supposed the boy in his efforts to get the tub must have slipped in, and having on a pair of heavy gum boots, sunk in a moment. There being no witnesses the accident it will probably remain a mystery. The body was taken to Philadelphia for burial. NEW POSTMASTER FOR BARTO Horace F. TYSON, has been appointed postmaster of Barto. Mr. TYSON will take charge of the office July 1st.