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garden of Philip R. Freas. Philip R. Freas, farmer, 
gardener, and founder of "The Germantown Telegraph" 
was born at Marble Hall, a few miles west of Germantown's 
Township Line, February 22, 1809. February 22, 1830, he 
came to Germantown, and upon March 17th, of the same 
year, issued the first number of the "Village Telegraph," a 
rural weekly. 
This soon was changed in name to "The Germantown 
Telegraph," which, as an agricultural paper, gained a circu- 
lation throughout the entire United States. Philip R. Freas 
located his residence where indicated, and planted a garden 
which became noted for its vegetables and fruits, but locally 
it was better known because of a fine spring, the source of 
"Royal's Run," which the lot contained. Wjthin the narrow 
confines of his estate, for 53 years the proprietor continued 
his active useful work until his retirement, August 1, 1883, 
and April 1, 1886, he passed to his rewards. 
During his editorship of the "Telegraph," "Major" 
Freas was offered desirable and lucrative positions, but these 
without exception were declined. Perhaps the most im- 
portant was that of "Commissioner of Agriculture" in 1870, 
tendered him by President Grant. Major Freas' method of 
work much resembled that of Dr. Samuel Johnson. His 
capacity was enormous, and he practically prepared "copy" 
for the entire paper, tumbling the manuscript from his work- 
room through a hole in the wall, into the compositors' room 
just in advance of the type-setters, but always keeping them 
busy. He was seldom away from his home or garden, and 
upon the streets, he in later years appeared only in fair 
weather to take an afternoon drive, his favorite route being 
Manheim Street, Greene Street, Wissahickon Avenue, and 
near-by streets in lower Germantown. 
From "Heft's" to "Conyngham" House, there is an 
unbroken line of fine old gardens, but we shall pass them to 
stop at the latter, now known as the "Hacker House," owned 
by Mr. Edward I. H. and Miss Anna Howell, and occupied 
by Dr. John A. Murphy. Upon the front lawn here was a 
