Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-16
.LANSDALIE! HONORS
IT'S Two DADD|ES''
DR., John Jacobs and w. D. hesb-
nor to Play Prominent Part
In Semi Centennial
BOTH HELAeD TOWN GROW

r.nsdsle's two 'Adaddfes'' will take
mart in the semi-centennial celebration
n that thriving Montgomery County
Snvn, which begins tomorrow. One is
william D. Heebner, a former Con-
troller Of Montgomery County, and a
tormer member Of the State Legisla-
t,rc. The other IL DR.. John Jacobs.
s;tbe grand old man Of Lansdale." And
tbe citizens, VINO call are shouting, Z"
a. DR.. Jacobs expressed It, for the
1emi. centennial salso are cheering for
Dr. Jacobs for the part he has played
IN the history Of the city.
White hair standing on end, one hand
Alternately pulling at his bushy eye
.brows and his snowy goatee. DIR. Jacobs
turns tolerant II somewhat impatient
eye upon all visitors and rather
brusouely inquiries what they want. It
r. the second glance at the tall, broad
shouldered figure which shows the twin
kle in the keen eyes and kind lines
which eighty three years Of thought
f,,lness have drawn on his face.
For fifty years he has lived in Lans-
dale, from the time when there were
only three houses on one side Of the
railroad. and only about 200 inhab.
itants. until today. when the population
numbers more than 5000.
"Whcn I came home from the war in
'65." said DIR. Jacobs. 81 -practiccd
medicine for four years and wasted
them. Yes. made fizzle of the whole
thing. and then ! came here, and here
! have been ever since.
after had finished college at, Get
tysburg I thought ! knew II ALL he
declared. chuckling. "Yes, every bit Of
II. But found out differently, and I
1oo~ ~,ntn hat 20
what's the matter with the young peo-
ple today. They are all right, but they
think they know everything-they al.
ways do :. ,t
He gave another pull to an eyebrow
as he reached over and transferred a
''pinch'' of tobacco from the box OH
the desk to his mouth. A few minutes
OF silence and then he continued: II
finally gave up prnctfcing medicine and
have been in the banking business
ever since. Still am" he ended shortly.
"Have too many irons in tho frc."
Probably the most startling thing
DR.. Jacobs ever did was to refuse a
salary of S19, 1888 due him for his four
years and ten months service as Con-
irolcr of Montgomery County. Always
county hundreds Of thousands of dol
lars every year he held the Office, but
when his term expired he refused to
accept any remuneration.
ri told 'em when I took the Office
that I wouldn't take a penny for my
work. and l WON'T" he said. "Im.
no millionaire, but I didn't need the
money and didn't want It,"
DR.. Jacobs served in the Council for
many years, acting as president. He
started bank IN East Greenville. the
Montgomery Trust Company, at Nor
rstown. and is still president of the
National Bank of Doylestown. Some,
Of his other irons bore the marks of
railroads. and he was president Of the
Spring Garden Farmers Market Com
pany.
Still interested in the community
watching its progress with the same
sincere interest. half concealed under
his rather ironical attitude. he still is
active in busipess. His hobby is Lans
dale. And president Of the Lansdac
Borough Council. he may often be seen
during the summer days with his shirt
eleeves rolled up, riding with driver
an q oh dumn Cort