Robert McMillan
Robert was born in Londonderry, Northern Ireland to John and Margaret McMillan. Three years later they immigrated to Philadelphia and he became a naturalized citizen when he was 21. On…
Read MoreEbenezer Locke Mason, Jr.
Ebenezer never liked his name. He shortened it to Eben but as an author he used Edward or Ned. He was born in Portland, Maine but eight years later his…
Read MoreElizabeth “Betsy” Ross
It’s well known that Betsy Ross sewed flags. The claim that she made the first American flag is doubted by most historians, a legend that was popular as part of…
Read MoreRobert Russell
Robert is listed on a passenger list arriving by himself from Londonderry, Ireland in August of 1853. He married Sarah Wilson, also of Ireland, 18 months later. It’s not known…
Read MoreWilliam Galbraith
A fascinating story should accompany one of Mount Moriah’s more notable monuments, but in this case the story may not seem as impressive as the structure. Not that William Galbraith…
Read MoreJacob Nathan Hoeflich
Some of the most interesting moments in Jacob’s life were in his first and his last days, although his life turned out to be anything but dull. The last years…
Read MoreWilliam Edward Harpur
William’s family came from England and settled on the Maryland coast south of Delaware. As a teenager he came to Philadelphia to learn the craft of watchmaking. Completing his apprenticeship…
Read MoreThompson Carson
Thompson stepped off a ship onto American soil in New York in the summer of 1857. Less than four years later, while still a citizen of Ireland, he joined the…
Read MoreJonathan Prichard
A mausoleum is erected because someone had the means to afford one, and that was the case with Jonathan Prichard. Although his name is over the entrance, he had it…
Read MoreJohn H. Jones
Well known in West Philadelphia as a butcher, John was more diverse than his plain name would suggest. Fortunately, he regularly used his middle initial; without that letter the ability…
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